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.
Trackmania Turbo
1 - 4 players
E
So, 5th place then.
Trackmania Turbo is a racing game that allows up to four players to go head to head. It features modes such as Double Driver, where two players control a single vehicle, or a variety of party modes; split screen or hot seat where players take turns trying to get the best time.
Trackmania Turbo is a lot of fun to play and has already seen a lot of play with our own patrons. It’s a great multiplayer racing game for any collection because it appeals to such a broad audience and it’s easy to play.
Tales from the Borderlands
Single Player
M for Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
Full steam ahead!
Tales from the Borderlands is an episodic adventure game. It’s more like a story that players interact with and make choice, and those choices affect the way the rest of the game goes; such as helping certain characters might make them pay back the favor later in the story, or creating a vendetta with someone may see them make more trouble for the player later. This game follows Fiona, a con artist, and Rhys, a tech worker whose promotion has been swiped out from under him, as their worlds hilariously collide in an insane hostile post apocalyptic setting.
While this game is a blast, it’s much better for older audiences due to just how rough this entire setting is. Anything Borderlands pulls no punches, gorey things like someone being decapitated by a grenade happens and characters curse often. Unless you have an older teen/ adult gaming club or carry M rated content games then you may want to pass.
Nights into Dreams
Single Player
E for Comic Mischief
Gotta fly through all those rings.
Nights into Dreams is part side scroller part 3D action. Players take on the role of a Dreamer and with the help of Nights they try to thwart the evil Wizeman and bring peace to Nightopia. Gameplay switches between side scrolling flying and 3D running around, both of which you collect spheres and battle creatures.
Nights into Dreams is a gorgeous game to look at and while it takes a bit of figuring out it’s a lot of fun. It’s E rating makes it a good addition if you need another single player title. It’s also great if you’re looking for something retro, because this is a port from Sega Saturn.
Deadfall Adventure
Single Player
M for Blood, Language, Violence
Map, check. Gun, check. Pendulum of death, check.
Deadfall Adventures is an action adventure first person shooter. Players take on the role of James Quatermain as he escorts a US Agent to retrieve an ancient artifact, but there are Nazis and Russians also looking for it and as they delve deeper the supernatural becomes involved as well. Gameplay features frantic gun battles and puzzles.
This game has blood spatters as enemies are shot and dialogue has cursing. It’s a good addition if your collection already features M rated games.
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
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