Microsoft has unveiled the list of "Games with Gold" titles for January 2020 and it's a little underwhelming. While nothing here is bad, per se, the vastly different genres represented means not everyone is going to be pleased. It's also kind of strange that you'd mix an adventure game, fighter, children's game, and RPG together. Talk about eclectic.
On the Xbox One side comes Styx: Shards of Darkness and Batman: A Telltale Games Series. Likely riding off the news of the "Shadows Edition" bundle, Batman is a decent enough way to kill 10 hours. It never really culminates in an interesting way, but the title attempts to do something different with the character from the basic brawling most of his games focus on.
For Xbox 360 players, you'll have Tekken 6 and LEGO Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy to add to your collection. Both are solid grabs, but Tekken 7 exists (and is headed to Game Pass) while LEGO Star Wars 2 is going to be 14 years old. Chances are, you've either already played these or have moved onto the sequels. As a matter of fact, LEGO Star Wars is getting rebooted, of sorts, with The Skywalker Saga next year.
Here are the exact dates you'll be able to grab the above games.
Xbox One
Styx: Shards of Darkness - January 1 - 31
Batman: A Telltale Game Series - January 16 - February 15
Xbox 360
Tekken 6 - January 1 - 15
LEGO Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy - January 16 - 31
If all of this "Games with Gold" news wasn't enough, Microsoft has detailed the titles joining Xbox Game Pass next month. Just in time to compliment your viewing of Netflix's series, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be up for download for Game Pass subscribers. Untitled Goose Game also accompanies Geralt and will see you stealthing around to cause havoc in a quaint little town. It's...odd.
In all honesty, Game Pass has practically made Games with Gold redundant. Microsoft is constantly adding new titles to its subscription service that the paltry offerings for Live feel unnecessary. Instead of trying to broker deals for free titles, Microsoft should lower the overall price for Live Gold and work on adding features players will actually use. Leave the game selection for game pass.
Source: Xbox Wire