Games with Gold: All the Free Xbox Games for April 2015

By on March 27, 2015

Microsoft is doubling the number of free games as part of the Xbox Live Games with Gold promotion next month (April 2015), with two going free on Xbox One and four dispersed about for the Xbox 360. According to Microsoft, the reason for this has something, or nothing, to do with April Fools. In any case, gamers benefit with some pretty substantial new and old games alike.

Remember, you need to be a paying Xbox Live Gold member to benefit from the Games with Gold promotion. It’s sort of in the name. Here’s the line-up:

Games with Gold on Xbox One

As always, both Xbox One games are available for free during the entirety of April, 2015.

Pool Nation FX

Cherry Pop Games’ budget pool simulator is going free for its first month of release on the Xbox One. Eventually it will cost $13.99, but you wouldn’t guess at that number by the looks of it. It’s running onthe  Unreal Engine 4, glamorous lighting effects and lavish environments included. Expect an extreme focus on realistic physics. Think Madden instead of NFL Blitz. A number of game modes, including a unique trick shot mode (shown in the video above) and, of course, online multiplayer, should keep the budding hustlers happy for a while.

Child of Light

Child of Light Xbox One

Ubisoft’s experimental RPG/Moving Poem hybrid has been dancing from one console to the next for a while now. It’s freedom from the tyranny of dollar signs comes almost a year after release on the Xbox One, and still it stands alone in its visuals and thematic ambitions. It’s not a long experience by any means, but it goes for the emotional gut-punch most games can’t even see around the bullet-riddled corner. Whether it accomplishes its goals is another question entirely. Still, the turn-based RPG elements are a definite hoot.

Games with Gold on Xbox 360

The following will be free from April 1-15, 2015.

Gears of War: Judgement

Gears of War: Judgement

The fourth installment in the Xbox 360’s juggernaut Gears of War franchise didn’t quite live up to all the numbered releases. Developed by a new team at People Can Fly, Judgement made some mildly ambitious changes in both the (Baird-focused) campaign and multiplayer, though the relative shortage of content could never match up to the ludicrous amount of stuff to do in Gears of War 3. Luckily, that doesn’t really matter when you aren’t paying for it. At the very least, you’ll get to experience a miraculous one-month burst in the online community population. The sixteen people that only ever see each other in the lobbies are sure to be rejoicing at this very moment.

Terraria

Think of it as a side-scrolling Minecraft. That’s what I do since I actually have no idea what or why this game is. You should probably just watch the video, especially if you’re interested in wandering around and collecting resources with only an ambiguous sense of purpose.

The next two games are free from April 16-30, 2015.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Expanding on the very popular ship-driving element to the colonial-era Assassin’s Creed III, the pirate-themed Black Flag ended up a far more polished and entertaining game. And, as the final Assassin’s Creed game gracing the previous generation of consoles, anybody still jamming on his or her Xbox 360 should jump at the opportunity. Ubisoft finally dropped the overly-serious tone of the earlier games in favor of some pure escapism. Never any less than confounding, they backtracked in a bad way a year later with Assassin’s Creed Unity. Black Flag may end up being the last great game in the series.

Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel

Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel

Frankly, Army of Two is a franchise that could only ever want to be really good. It only ever brushed up against cooperative greatness; the mechanics were just never quite there. That said, if you have a friend you can play anything with, Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel might just be worth your time, and that “might” includes the fact that it’s free. Cool name though.

About Trevor Ruben

Though I contribute to many online publications on a regular basis, including The Checkout, the crux of my writing lies in video games. When not writing, I'm often streaming a variety of games on Twitch.