For the past several months, Xbox’sGames with Goldprogram has been heavily criticized for the lackluster games it offers and failure to include an Xbox Series X/S title consistently. However,the reception to August 2021’s Games with Gold was better, thanks to its selection of Xbox One and Xbox 360 games.
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Headlining this wish list isCuphead, a run-and-gun game developed by Studio MDHR. One thing that separatesCupheadfrom most video games is its homage to the music and aesthetics of hand-drawn animation from the 1930s. Each character inCupheadhas been carefully designed to embody the best elements of the era, making it fun to play and gorgeous to look at.
Beyond its nostalgic visuals and sound,Cupheadwas widely praised for its precision gameplay that offers a challenging experience that doesn’t hold the player’s hand. Just three years after the game was released,Cupheadwas able to sell three million copies, andan animatedCupheadseries is currently in production at Netflix.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (Xbox One)
Another Xbox One game that would be perfect for September’sXbox Games with GoldisHellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice.Originally released in 2017,Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrificeis set in a dark fantasy world that takes inspiration from Norse Mythology and Celtic culture. The game follows Senua, a warrior who is on a quest to Helheim to rescue the soul of her dead lover from the goddess Hela. Senua will face otherworldly entities throughout the game with a combat system reminiscent of games likeDark Souls.
Since its release four years ago,Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrificebecame a critical and commercial success for developer Ninja Theory thanks to its unique take on psychosis, its immersive story, and its main character. At The Game Awards 2019,Ninja Theory announced a sequel calledSenua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, which is currently in development.
LEGO Dimensions (Xbox 360)
Next up isLEGO Dimensionsfor the Xbox 360, one of the more popularLEGOgames on the console.LEGO Dimensionsfeatures an action-adventure experience andcharacters from thirty different franchisessuch asDC Comics, Harry Potter, Jurassic World, The Lord of the Rings,and more. At its core,LEGO Dimensionswas applauded for taking on the difficult task of bringing together iconic characters from various comics, film, and TV franchises while retaining the classic gameplay and interactivity one could expect from aLEGOgame.
Portal 2 (Xbox 360)
Last isPortal 2,a first-person puzzle-platformer originally released by Valve. Although the originalPortalwas more of a tech demo,Portal 2introduced a full-fledged experience complete with an in-depth story and seamless gameplay.This year marksPortal 2’s10th anniversary, and given that the franchise has not released another game since, now is the perfect time for Microsoft to release it to Xbox Games with Gold.
Shortly after its release in 2011,Portal 2received overwhelmingly positive reviews, earning a score of 95 on Metacritic. Critics and players praisedPortal 2for its balanced gameplay, pacing, dark humor, and story. Although thePortalseries has been on hiatus for a decade now, the recent celebration of its anniversary revealedjust how popularPortalstill is.
MORE:What To Expect From Xbox’s Free Games with Gold in September 2021
