On November 10, the Xbox Series X/S finally launches to fans, and so too does another selection of Games with Gold. It's unclear if this schedule will change with the next-generation Xbox, but every month Xbox Live Gold members receive free games as part of their Live subscription. Xbox's selection process for Games with Gold is typically nebulous, ranging from random triple-A games in their twilight to indie delights that deserve attention. Last month was Halloween-themed with Slayaway Camp: Butcher's Cut, Maid of Sker, Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy, and Costume Quest.
Even if the program changes in the near future, there's still a few games that'd be perfect for the Games with Gold service. These aren't necessarily predictions on what to expect, but a selection of games that would succeed on the Games with Gold lineup. Considering Xbox's selection process seems entirely random, it's hard to gauge what will come to Xbox's Games with Gold each month. That said, here's a few games worth adding to Games with Gold for November.
Tom Clancy's The Division 2
While September featured Ubisoft's The Division on Games with Gold, it almost makes more sense to add The Division 2 to Games with Gold next. Sure, it's a little redundant, but so is releasing the original The Division when The Division 2 has been the focus, making a comeback play with its new content updates. Much like the original game, players are tasked with rebuilding Washington D.C. after a pandemic led to lawless crime taking over America's capitol. The game is a loot-based third-person shooter, with various activities and raids designed for replayability.
The Division 2 also recently received an ambitious expansion, bringing the game back to the first game's original setting in a new area. Even though the game released relatively recently in the last generation, The Division 2 could see new life on next-gen consoles. Plus, as a live service game that's only about a year-and-a-half old, there's still plenty of potential in the game's future.
Halo 5: Guardians
Even though Halo Infinite isn't launching with the Xbox Series X/S anymore, it wouldn't be the welcoming of a new Xbox without another Halo game available to fans. It certainly isn't the favorite of the series for many fans, but Halo 5: Guardians still received a lot of attention when it came out, even from competitive scenes. Spartan Locke's story may not have had the same gravitas as previous entries, but 343 Industries' different take on the Halo universe showed that at least the series could morph and change. That was especially true with the gameplay, which was a bit more fast-paced and complicated compared to past titles.
Again, certainly not the favorite of the series. But considering it's not going to be part of The Master Chief Collection, at least give players the option to give it a shot for Xbox One/Xbox Series X if it's still going to be sold separately.
Forza Horizon (Xbox 360)
Three newer iterations have come out since 2012, but the first Forza Horizon game was easily the best. Back when Forza was best known for its simulation-focused racing games, eventually the team at Playground Games put out a more arcade-like racer in Forza Horizon. The game doesn't go full Need for Speed and is still a genuine racing challenge, but Forza Horizon is centered on a much more campy and entertaining premise of a car and music festival.
The first game was where the Forza Horizon series was its most focused, crafting a solid balance of progression between engaging races and campy stunt race events. The car selection's variety was also insanely good for the time, despite subsequent entries literally doubling the car count. Plus, who doesn't want to zip around Colorado in the immaculate 2012 redesign of the Dodge Viper?
Freedom Fighters (Original Xbox)
Recently enjoying a successful re-release on PC, the underrated gem Freedom Fighters should also join November's Games with Gold as the Original Xbox selection. Releasing back in 2003, Freedom Fighters was almost like a prototype for what modern open world games would become, being a third-person shooter with persistent world elements. Players are tasked with liberating the United States from an occupational force from the USSR, all during an alternate history where Russia won World War II and was a larger world power.
Players would liberate various neighborhoods with a controllable squad of revolutionaries throughout New York City, sabotaging various elements of the USSR's army. This in turn affected the difficulty of other areas, like destroying enemy helicopters and preventing air support on Russia's side attacking the player. It was a surprisingly innovative shooter at the time, and while it's not perfect, it experimented with ideas that would later become pervasive in modern open world shooters like Metal Gear Solid 5.