‘Xbox Games With Gold’ offers ‘Gears of War 4,’ ‘Torchlight, ‘Forza Motorsports 6,’ ‘Castlevania: Lord of Shadow’ for free

Microsoft and Xbox will be releasing this month’s new games, and all of them are great titles. First up is “Forza Motorsports 6.”

Released on September 2015, the racing title has been received positively by both critics and gamers, earning a Metacritic score of 87/100. For anyone who has hankering to drive down the grid on their Xbox, this is an easy pickup for you.

The next free Xbox game is “Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.” This title was also received positively by the gaming community in 2010 and was one of the most anticipated titles coming out that year.

The setting is Eastern Europe during the time of the Middle Ages. Players will control a character named Gabriel Belmont, who means to crush a malicious order, while simultaneously trying to find a way to resurrect his wife. The gameplay for Xbox console is great for this game but what really makes it stand out its music.

Indeed, Spanish composer Óscar Araujo received a lot of praise for his work in the title and was awarded “Best Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media.” Xbox players will have a ton of fun with this game despite nearly a decade old. And it’s free, so why not take it for a spin, right? It will be free from Aug. 16 to Aug. 31.

Next up is “Gears of War 4.” The title scored 84 percent on Metacritic but received mixed reviews from game critics due to a few stumbles here and there. Overall, however, “Gears of War 4” delivers a riveting experience and would be a great pickup for Xbox players. Also, its successor, “Gears of War 5,” is set for release on Sept. 10. So if you’re someone who’s interested in checking out that game, there’s no better time to jump in the series and introduce yourself to its beloved characters. The title is free for the entire month of August.

Last on our list is a throwback all the way from 2009. A hack-and-slash dungeon crawler, “Torchlight” provides a compelling grinding experience for Xbox players who are itching to slay some monsters Diablo-style. The problem for “Torchlight” is that its narrative isn’t all that compelling, a point of criticism that has plagued the title from day one.

For “Diablo” fans, however, this a great pickup. You can easily lose yourself in the game’s grinding experience trying to level up your hero, acquire legendary items, and get that sweet ability to blow up the next monster at the other end of the hall. This game will be free for those who have Xbox Games With Gold from Aug. 1 to Aug. 15.