It is already halfway through September, which means that all of Xbox Live's Games with Gold this month are already available for players to download for free. For those who missed Microsoft's announcement, September's Games with Gold consists of Warhammer: Chaosbane, Mulaka, Zone of the Enders HD Collection, and Samurai Shodown 2.
Luckily for Microsoft, this month's Xbox Games with Gold was positively received by its subscribers, mostly for the titles offered to the Xbox 360. In the next few weeks, Microsoft is expected to announce next month's roster of free games, and here are the titles that should be added to October's Xbox Games with Gold to maintain the positive reception the program has received since August.
InnerSpace (Xbox One)
Headlining this wish list for October's Xbox Games with Gold is InnerSpace, an action-adventure game developed by PolyKnight Games that was released in 2018. It is worth noting that InnerSpace is the studio's debut game, and is inspired by other character-driven titles such as Journey and Grow Home. Shortly after its release, InnerSpace received positive reviews thanks to the strange worlds players can explore and its impressive visuals.
Shovel Knight (Xbox One)
Next up is Shovel Knight, a 2D side-scrolling platformer game developed and published by Yacht Club Games. After a successful crowdfunding campaign, Shovel Knight was released in 2014, offering players nostalgic 8-bit graphics. Players control the titular character as he collects treasure and battles the Order of No Quarter. Shovel Knight received critical acclaim, and a puzzle spin-off title called Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is currently in development and is scheduled to release this winter.
Alan Wake (Xbox 360)
Next month, Remedy Entertainment is releasing a remastered version of Alan Wake, first released back in 2010. While the upcoming remaster will surely bring massive improvements to the original game, some players would probably want to check out the original. Especially if it will be offered for free as part of Xbox Game with Gold, just to compare how different it is from the remaster.
For the uninitiated, the original Alan Wake received positive reviews from both players and critics thanks to its impressive visuals, deep narrative, and excellent pacing and atmosphere. Shortly after its release in 2010, Alan Wake was awarded the first spot in Time Magazine's list of the top 10 video games of the year. Of course, many would probably prefer the remastered version of Alan Wake that will be released on October 5, but for those who still haven't played it, the original remains a must-play game.
Metal Gear Solid HD Collection (Xbox 360)
For September, Microsoft added Zone of the Enders HD Collection to Xbox Games with Gold and is currently the most popular title in the entire roster. Given this, it would probably be a good move for Microsoft also to include another popular Konami franchise, which is of course, Metal Gear Solid. In 2011, Konami released Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, a bundle consisting of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.
It is worth mentioning that Metal Gear Solid 2 and Solid 3 are among the most popular entries in the franchise, which is why it would undoubtedly lead to the success of next month's roster of Games with Gold. Not to mention, these games were never released to the Xbox One, and while Xbox consoles offer backward compatibility, not all are probably willing to pay for these games since MGS 2 was released in 2001 and MGS 3 in 2004.
However, offering the collection for free as part of the Xbox Live's Games with Gold program will surely capture the interest of longtime Metal Gear fans since it's been years since Konami released a mainline Metal Gear game. Additionally, Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection is also an excellent way for a generation of gamers to experience these classic games.