Are the free Xbox Games With Gold titles for February 2018 any good?

Van Helsing, Tomb Raider, Army of Two, ZOMBI! Four names that just flow off the tongue. But they are four games that are fairly similar to each other. I mean, you’re not going to be wanting your kids to spend an evening playing ZOMBI and your Nan won’t have a clue what is going on with Van Helsing.

But they are also four titles that are now being superseded – at least in the free stakes – as the latest batch of Xbox 360 and Xbox One games are now being given away for nothing. So what replaces Lara Croft and friends? Well how about something a whole ton more ‘fun’? How about Crazy Taxi perhaps? Or the awesome arcade racing of Split/Second? Or another episode of the Assassin’s Creed Chronicles trilogy? All those sound great – and when you see that the brilliant Shadow Warrior is accompanying them, by being stripped of its price tag, then chances are the Xbox Games With Gold scheme is delivering once more.

Are the free Xbox One and Xbox 360 games given away throughout February 2018 really any good though? Should we be clamouring to play them? Or should they just be left in the past whilst we concentrate on the deluge of triple A and Indie titles coming our way over the coming months? Sit back as we take a look at what is on offer.

Shadow Warrior – 1st-28th Feb 2018 – Instant Download

When thinking back to classic titles, Shadow Warrior is one many fans will remember fondly. The original 1997 release reached cult status in mere days, and for good reason too.

In 2014 however, Xbox One players welcomed Lo Wang back once more, this time in glorious rebooted fashion, as fans of the series were treated to a quality adventure full of humour, fast-paced hack and slash action, and some fantastic FPS gunplay.

Unfortunately, it’s release on Xbox One was never met with the level of love and affection it deserved but with a free download available right now on Xbox One via Games With Gold, the perfect opportunity to dive in has finally arrived. This is one adventure you definitely don’t want to miss.

Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India – 16th Feb – 15th Mar 2018 – Tempting

We’ve already had a free holiday to China thrown in as loyal Xbox Live Gold members, but this time we have a trip to India planned – Assassin’s Creed style!

Whilst the Chronicles trilogy isn’t your everyday AC game, instead swapping the magical open worlds that the likes of Ezio and, more recently, Bayek, have had to play in for a more linear affair, should you like a bit of 2.5D platforming action, then Chronicles India is worth a download and look.

Playing as Arbaaz Mir, a delightful guy who just so happens to be a dab hand with a sword, you’ll get to work your way through the platforming world of 19th Century India in order to try and secure the famous Koh-i-noor diamond for the Brotherhood, all whilst discovering the real reason behind why the Templars have turned up in India.

Bugs and slightly dodgy combat aside, the strategic stealthy affair that you will find yourself thrust into is worth taking in – if only because the bright and beautiful visuals warrant a bit of exploration.

It may not be Assassin’s Creed in the true sense of the word, but as a freebie on Xbox One, we could be given a whole load worse.

Split/Second – 1st-15th Feb 2018 – Instant Download

Is Split/Second the most talked about free Games With Gold title of the last few months? Yes it is, and for good reason.

Intense arcade racing is what Split/Second is all about and if you’re looking for a racer that will see tracks change and situations unfold – as you’re blasting down the straights – then this is the game for you. Hunkering down for tedious lap after tedious lap is not what happens in Split/Second.

New routes will be created on the fly, as bridges fall, buildings crumble and cars are ripped to pieces with huge explosions, ensuring that what you once thought was track has turned into a new challenge.

Whilst we await a new Burnout game to appease the arcade racing masses, Split/Second for free will have to do. Hell no, it won’t ‘have to do’, it’ll provide much more entertainment than that.

Crazy Taxi – 16th-28th Feb 2018 – Save your bandwidth

Part of the joy of the Xbox Games With Gold scheme isn’t that we get given free games each and every month. For it also signals the arrival of more Xbox 360 games making the most of the backwards compatibility feature on Xbox One, with many recent GWG additions rocking up on the latest console for the first time. That is no more evident than with Split/Second above, but Crazy Taxi on the other hand was one of the original BC games that turned up on Xbox One way back at the end of 2015.

To be included in that original list, you would therefore think that Crazy Taxi has something about it then, wouldn’t you? Well yes, you would, but even though the original game was one full of joy, humour and madness, the weird crazy antics have been somewhat diluted in recent years and Crazy Taxi is becoming more aged as every day progresses.

Xbox owners shouldn’t be hailing this cab in a hurry – no matter how much they loved the trip back in the day and you’ll find very little reason to ever go back to this after your first couple of plays.

So, 2018 is now in full swing and with January behind us and another 11 months to look forward to, the Xbox Games With Gold scheme is once more delivering the goods. With Split/Second sitting head and shoulders above the other games given away throughout February, you could well be forgiven for thinking that it is a bad month for the freebies. But look into things a little closer and both Assassin’s Creed Chronicles India and Shadow Warrior are worth a little look, with the latter more so than the former. That leaves just Crazy Taxi sitting waiting for a fare, and I’d be hugely surprised if anyone is still playing this more than a week after first downloading it. Even nostalgia can’t save it from being ignored.

But what are your thoughts on the latest Xbox One and Xbox 360 games being given away in February 2018? Are they games you are looking forward to playing? Let us know in the comments section down below. We’d love to hear from you.