Each month, Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus members receive a selection of free games alongside online multiplayer access. Each platform usually offers its users a completely different crop of games for $59.99 a year, per program.
Xbox owners can expect to receive up to four games for Xbox One and Xbox 360 through the Games With Gold Program, and PlayStation fans are offered up to six titles for PlayStation 3, 4, Vita and VR.
Amazon and the popular streaming platform Twitch also offer free PC games for Twitch Prime subscribers. Since Twitch Prime is a branch of Amazon Prime, anyone with an Amazon subscription can download these titles.
Heres a quick look at this month's offerings, including the description, critical score, and ESRB rating of each title, as well as important information for parents regarding mature titles.
PlayStation Plus
PS Plus games are made available on the first Tuesday of every month and can be downloaded for free throughout the month. Unlike Xboxs free games, anything obtained through PS Plus will become inaccessible if your membership expires. Thankfully, your free games will be waiting for you if you subscribe again.
XCOM 2
Platform: PS4
Metacritic Score: 87
ESRB Rating: T for violence, blood and use of tobacco
Following a devastating alien invasion, humanity has been beaten and enslaved. As the commander of an elite XCOM unit, strike back against these invaders to save the Earth. Take control of your elite soldiers through deep tactical gameplay, where every decision can impact your chances of survival.
Trials Fusion
Platform: PS4
Metacritic Score: 79
ESRB Rating: E10+ for mild violence and language
This platform-racing game challenging players to complete harrowing obstacle courses while riding a BMX bike. Compete with people around the world for the fastest track records.
Zombie Driver HD
Platform: PS3
Metacritic Score: 64
ESRB Rating: M for violence, blood and gore and language
Use multiple vehicles to plow through hordes of zombies and race for survival in this post-apocalyptic racing game. By causing destruction and chaos, players can increase their score and challenge their friends around the world.
Tom Clancys Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
Platform: PS3
Metacritic Score: 79
ESRB Rating: M for strong language, blood and intense violence
In Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, join an elite team of highly trained special-ops soldiers. Heavily armed with top-notch combat technology and cutting-edge military hardware, Ghost Recon takes you to the globes most deadly war zones to hunt down the highest value targets. Players will use stealth, teamwork and powerful weapons to complete a variety of objectives across multiple levels.
What Parents Should Know: Ghost Recon: Future Soldier puts players in the shoes of black-ops soldiers who are tasked with defeating enemy forces by lethal means. Players are encouraged to plan out tense firefights and use various weapons to complete their objectives. A variety of swear words, including the F-word, are used frequently in cutscenes and gameplay. The near-future setting also features a cynical imagining of the future and could frighten some younger players.
Atomic Ninjas
Platform: PS Vita
Metacritic Score: 61
ESRB Rating: T for violence and blood
Fight against your friends using superpowered ninja abilities as one of eight Atomic Ninjas. Players can use special weapons and gadgets to outsmart and overpower their opponents.
Squares
Platform: PS Vita
Metacritic Score: 67
ESRB Rating: E
"Squares" is a puzzle game challenging you to turn blue squares into gray squares within a time limit. The game features 91 challenging levels and a puzzle creator, according to the PlayStation Store.
Xbox Games With Gold
Xboxs free games are usually divided across both of Microsofts consoles, with two titles featured for Xbox One, and an additional two for Xbox 360. Its important to note Xbox One owners can also download the Xbox 360 titles, thanks to backward compatibility. Additionally, any games downloaded as an Xbox Live Gold subscriber will stay in your digital library, even if your subscription lapses.
Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia
Platform: Xbox One
Date Available: June 1-30
Metacritic Score: 60
ESRB Rating: T for blood, language and violence
As assassin Nikolai Orelov, infiltrate the Templar ranks during the October Revolution in Russia. Players can utilize the series' signature stealth, parkour and combat mechanics to steal treasure and save the princess in this stylized 2D adventure.
Smite: Gold Bundle
Platform: Xbox One
Date Available: June 16-July 15
Metacritic Score: 80
ESRB Rating: T for blood, partial nudity, use of alcohol and violence
As an addition to the free "Smite" experience, the gold bundle offers $100 worth of content, including 20 playable characters and skins. Players can choose from nearly 100 characters based on mythological gods and heroes and fight against each other online in this third-person MOBA.
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Platform: Xbox 360
Date Available: June 1-15
Metacritic Score: 82
ESRB Rating: E10+ for animated blood, mild cartoon violence and mild language
Join Sonic the Hedgehog and friends in fast-paced races across land, sea and air. Use special abilities and car customization to improve your chances of winning each race in this colorful kart racing game.
Lego Indiana Jones 2
Platform: Xbox 360
Date Available: June 16-31
Metacritic Score: 71
ESRB Rating: E10+ for cartoon violence
Relive Indiana Jones' adventures with a Lego twist. Players can team up to defeat enemies and solve puzzles across four campaigns and limitless custom levels.
Twitch Prime
Just like PlayStation and Xbox, streaming platform Twitch offers five free PC games on the first of the month for Amazon/Twitch Prime subscribers. While the free games arent offered for Mac, Windows users can access their monthly free games through the free Twitch Desktop App.
Strafe
Metacritic Score: 64
ESRB Rating: N/A
"Strafe" is a tribute to classic first-person shooters from the late 90s like "Doom," "Quake" and the Unreal series. Using a wide variety of weapons, run and gun through a fast-paced gauntlet of enemies and obstacles.
The Banner Saga
Metacritic Score: 80
ESRB Rating: T for alcohol reference, blood and gore, mild language and violence
The Banner Saga is a beautifully animated role-playing Viking saga, according to Twitch. Guide two armies across a devastated nation in an attempt to defeat an overwhelming evil force.
The Banner Saga 2
Metacritic Score: 82
ESRB Rating: T for alcohol reference, blood and gore, mild language and violence
With the choices from The Banner Saga impacting your current journey, continue your adventure through a dark fantasy-themed world. Players will guide their armies in combat against the powerful Dredge and make dcisions that will impact the outcome of their journey.
Tumblestone
Metacritic Score: 91
ESRB Rating: E
Fight against your friends in this action puzzle game featuring multiplayer battles as well as a single player story mode. Players will solve hundreds of puzzles to discover the whereabouts of the missing Tumblecrown.
Treadnauts
Metacritic Score: N/A
ESRB Rating: N/A
Battle it out with your friends in this arena-based fighting game featuring flying tanks. Use special abilities and physics-based skills to come out on top.
Xbox owners can expect to receive up to four games for Xbox One and Xbox 360 through the Games With Gold Program, and PlayStation fans are offered up to six titles for PlayStation 3, 4, Vita and VR.
Amazon and the popular streaming platform Twitch also offer free PC games for Twitch Prime subscribers. Since Twitch Prime is a branch of Amazon Prime, anyone with an Amazon subscription can download these titles.
Heres a quick look at this month's offerings, including the description, critical score, and ESRB rating of each title, as well as important information for parents regarding mature titles.
PlayStation Plus
PS Plus games are made available on the first Tuesday of every month and can be downloaded for free throughout the month. Unlike Xboxs free games, anything obtained through PS Plus will become inaccessible if your membership expires. Thankfully, your free games will be waiting for you if you subscribe again.
XCOM 2
Platform: PS4
Metacritic Score: 87
ESRB Rating: T for violence, blood and use of tobacco
Following a devastating alien invasion, humanity has been beaten and enslaved. As the commander of an elite XCOM unit, strike back against these invaders to save the Earth. Take control of your elite soldiers through deep tactical gameplay, where every decision can impact your chances of survival.
Trials Fusion
Platform: PS4
Metacritic Score: 79
ESRB Rating: E10+ for mild violence and language
This platform-racing game challenging players to complete harrowing obstacle courses while riding a BMX bike. Compete with people around the world for the fastest track records.
Zombie Driver HD
Platform: PS3
Metacritic Score: 64
ESRB Rating: M for violence, blood and gore and language
Use multiple vehicles to plow through hordes of zombies and race for survival in this post-apocalyptic racing game. By causing destruction and chaos, players can increase their score and challenge their friends around the world.
Tom Clancys Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
Platform: PS3
Metacritic Score: 79
ESRB Rating: M for strong language, blood and intense violence
In Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, join an elite team of highly trained special-ops soldiers. Heavily armed with top-notch combat technology and cutting-edge military hardware, Ghost Recon takes you to the globes most deadly war zones to hunt down the highest value targets. Players will use stealth, teamwork and powerful weapons to complete a variety of objectives across multiple levels.
What Parents Should Know: Ghost Recon: Future Soldier puts players in the shoes of black-ops soldiers who are tasked with defeating enemy forces by lethal means. Players are encouraged to plan out tense firefights and use various weapons to complete their objectives. A variety of swear words, including the F-word, are used frequently in cutscenes and gameplay. The near-future setting also features a cynical imagining of the future and could frighten some younger players.
Atomic Ninjas
Platform: PS Vita
Metacritic Score: 61
ESRB Rating: T for violence and blood
Fight against your friends using superpowered ninja abilities as one of eight Atomic Ninjas. Players can use special weapons and gadgets to outsmart and overpower their opponents.
Squares
Platform: PS Vita
Metacritic Score: 67
ESRB Rating: E
"Squares" is a puzzle game challenging you to turn blue squares into gray squares within a time limit. The game features 91 challenging levels and a puzzle creator, according to the PlayStation Store.
Xbox Games With Gold
Xboxs free games are usually divided across both of Microsofts consoles, with two titles featured for Xbox One, and an additional two for Xbox 360. Its important to note Xbox One owners can also download the Xbox 360 titles, thanks to backward compatibility. Additionally, any games downloaded as an Xbox Live Gold subscriber will stay in your digital library, even if your subscription lapses.
Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia
Platform: Xbox One
Date Available: June 1-30
Metacritic Score: 60
ESRB Rating: T for blood, language and violence
As assassin Nikolai Orelov, infiltrate the Templar ranks during the October Revolution in Russia. Players can utilize the series' signature stealth, parkour and combat mechanics to steal treasure and save the princess in this stylized 2D adventure.
Smite: Gold Bundle
Platform: Xbox One
Date Available: June 16-July 15
Metacritic Score: 80
ESRB Rating: T for blood, partial nudity, use of alcohol and violence
As an addition to the free "Smite" experience, the gold bundle offers $100 worth of content, including 20 playable characters and skins. Players can choose from nearly 100 characters based on mythological gods and heroes and fight against each other online in this third-person MOBA.
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Platform: Xbox 360
Date Available: June 1-15
Metacritic Score: 82
ESRB Rating: E10+ for animated blood, mild cartoon violence and mild language
Join Sonic the Hedgehog and friends in fast-paced races across land, sea and air. Use special abilities and car customization to improve your chances of winning each race in this colorful kart racing game.
Lego Indiana Jones 2
Platform: Xbox 360
Date Available: June 16-31
Metacritic Score: 71
ESRB Rating: E10+ for cartoon violence
Relive Indiana Jones' adventures with a Lego twist. Players can team up to defeat enemies and solve puzzles across four campaigns and limitless custom levels.
Twitch Prime
Just like PlayStation and Xbox, streaming platform Twitch offers five free PC games on the first of the month for Amazon/Twitch Prime subscribers. While the free games arent offered for Mac, Windows users can access their monthly free games through the free Twitch Desktop App.
Strafe
Metacritic Score: 64
ESRB Rating: N/A
"Strafe" is a tribute to classic first-person shooters from the late 90s like "Doom," "Quake" and the Unreal series. Using a wide variety of weapons, run and gun through a fast-paced gauntlet of enemies and obstacles.
The Banner Saga
Metacritic Score: 80
ESRB Rating: T for alcohol reference, blood and gore, mild language and violence
The Banner Saga is a beautifully animated role-playing Viking saga, according to Twitch. Guide two armies across a devastated nation in an attempt to defeat an overwhelming evil force.
The Banner Saga 2
Metacritic Score: 82
ESRB Rating: T for alcohol reference, blood and gore, mild language and violence
With the choices from The Banner Saga impacting your current journey, continue your adventure through a dark fantasy-themed world. Players will guide their armies in combat against the powerful Dredge and make dcisions that will impact the outcome of their journey.
Tumblestone
Metacritic Score: 91
ESRB Rating: E
Fight against your friends in this action puzzle game featuring multiplayer battles as well as a single player story mode. Players will solve hundreds of puzzles to discover the whereabouts of the missing Tumblecrown.
Treadnauts
Metacritic Score: N/A
ESRB Rating: N/A
Battle it out with your friends in this arena-based fighting game featuring flying tanks. Use special abilities and physics-based skills to come out on top.
