If you do console gaming in your schools or libraries then Playstation Plus and Xbox’s Games with Gold can be an amazing way of adding new games to your collection each month. However, not every free game may be appropriate for your space. We’ll be going over all the Xbox One titles this month so that you can decide what works for your space.
Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide
Single Player
M for Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Alcohol Reference
The game where you play as fantasy Pest Control.
Vermintide is a first person hack and slash game about defending the city of Ubersreik from waves upon waves of rat people. Players will choose from 5 unique characters and three of the remaning characters will be their party members, played by either AI or other players online. They’ll have to work together if they have any hope of saving the city.
Vermintide is a bloody mess of fun and sets a really great atmosphere. If you have a collection of M rated games, go ahead and give this game a whirl.
Child of Eden
Single Player
E for Mild Fantasy Violence
Where the rule of thumb is to shoot anything that glows.
Child of Eden is a rail shooter game that was meant to be played with the kinect, but plays on controller just fine. Players delve through really abstract levels shooting their way through targets to save Lumi, a newly awoken human turned AI internet consciousness. This game is also best played either with the sound on or a set of headphones due to the sort of musical aspects of the game.
Child of Eden is both a fascinating game to play and to watch. It’s mesmerizing. It’s also fairly simple to play so it’s good for a range of ages. It’s worth a download.
Back to the Future: The Game - 30th Anniversary Edition
Single Player
T for Drug and Alcohol Reference, Language, Mild Blood, Mild Violence, Sexual Themes
Now with a secret Bioshock level.
Back to the Future: The Game is one of Telltale’s episodic adventure games. The game is more story than game. The gameplay is about interacting with objects and people to keep the story moving forward, like searching for clues or using certain objects on other objects.
Back to the Future is at its best if you’ve seen the movie. If your players are big fans of the movie then go for it.
Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death
Single Player
M for Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
That feel when you don't know whether to deal with the explosion or the guy with the scythe.
Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death is a hack slash game. Players take on the role of Marlow Briggs who is taking a break from his work as a Smokejumper, while his girlfriend Eva is working as a translator of Mayan codex for an archaeological dig. Eva finds the work questionable and decides it may be time to go, but her boss has other plans. Her employer kills her boyfriend, Marlow, with an ancient Mayan weapon that ends up bringing him back to life. With the help of a dead Mayan Monarch, Marlow is off to slay everything that stands between him and rescuing Eva.
Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death has all the chaos of a good action flick. If you have an M rated games collection and blood and gore isn’t an issue, give it a download.
Stephanie Frey can be found roaming Twitter. She can also be found selling goodies on Society6.
Games in Schools and Libraries is produced in association with Inverse Genius and the Georgetown County Library System.
Games in Schools and Libraries Guild at Board Game Geek
Email us: schoolsandlibraries@gmail.com