So some might have completely forgotten about this program because, let's be honest, the past offerings have been less than stellar.

But in April we're amazingly getting two games that are less than 5 years old!

In the first half of the month, none other than - Hitman: Absolution!

While this game is a bit on the rough side, for free any Hitman fan should at least give it a shot. There are a few moments of brilliance, that much like the new Thief are unfortunately obscured by a plethora of bad game design decisions. At worst it's a mediocre game but at best it's a pretty cool Hitman experience.

(feel free to read my a-maze-ing review of this game)

For the second half of the month we're getting the zombie side scroller - Deadlight

Deadlight is surprisingly a really solid game with interesting gameplay mechanics and great flow. The biggest issue it may have is that very early on you find yourself in some sewers, the design of which is so far removed from the rest of the game that you'd think a completely different team designed it. Once you get past that small speedbump I'd say it's a really great take on the "puzzle sidescroller" genre with a zombie twist. There are some beautiful uses of lighting and the levels, apart from the aforementioned sewer escapade, manage to actually feel wonderfully organic.

(once again, feel free to read the review, which I also wrote)

Hopefully Microsoft continues this trend and we start seeing newer and better games than what they've offered in the past.

Nice, a excuse to plug my 360 back in.

Not bad, Microsoft. Other than the significantly larger number of games that Sony always offers, this is the first month that makes PS Plus and Games with Gold almost look like equal services.

I think these are okay at best!

Hitman Absolution is one of the first Games for Gold I've seen that's gotten an "Alright Microsoft" out of me.

Personally these games interest me less than Civ Rev and Dungeon Defenders, but hey, they're free. I'll check 'em out.

Hitman: Absolution, huh... you could do worse. And free is free.

You guys really shouldn't rule out Deadlight, I had more fun playing that than Hitman, which is somewhat sad in it's own way.

Never played a Hitman title before and I really liked what I played of the Deadlight trial so this is a pretty good month for me.

He has his wrong gun out for that situation.

More serious: I've never seen the difference between Games with Gold and PS+. Both give me games I either already own or have no interest in playing. What I like about both services, is that I'm a physical media guy, but also get to have the ease of also owning a digital copy of the game. That's pretty good.

April Fools! Here's Shaun White Skateboarding and Ride to Hell: Retribution for the month of April. We here at Microsoft thank you for your continued support.

@alecofthewest: That would actually be extremely funny if they did that.

Deadlight is worth playing but don't expect greatness to come out of it.

I disagree, Hitman: Absolution is absolutely bad.

I still haven't played the free copy of Absolution I got from PS Plus several months ago. Maybe it'll be more tempting on the 360? I'll definitely check out Deadlight.

Edit: It kind of looks like she's pressing her butt up against the glass.

@hatking: She is, and she's farting too.

This would be the third time i could play Absolution and probably wouldnt finish it. Is it a good selection overall or good by games with gold standards?

I got Hitman: Absolution when it was free on PS+ a few months ago and I really hated it.

Deadlight was pretty good. The narrative peters out toward the end but on the whole it was an enjoyable game.

Absolution is. Man. Whatever. I suppose "free" isn't a bad price to check that game out.

@spraynardtatum: Hot.

These games are very, well.... very okay. Absolution is pretty.... Yeah. Deadlight is also... yeah.

No Xbox One Games with gold still? Not surprising.

Radical, was always curious bout Deadlight but never quite curious enough to splash the cash on it. Maybe i'll super enjoy it and be all guilty about it

@hatking: It's the best part in the entire game.

I've played all of the Hitman games. I've gotten Silent Assassin on every Blood Money level several times over and I'm still tempted to go back for another. Absolution is painfully bad. It's the worst game in the series, by far. I had to keep actively forcing myself to finish it. Your mileage may vary.

It is bad, those games suck dude.

I know you emphasise free like that because of course you have to be a gold member for these games, however I would assume that you could basically just create a new 360 account complete with your free months worth of gold to then get the games literally for free. Unlike PS+, I believe you would keep them permanently too, even whence it's run out. Unless there's some way around that? Like you need to have been a gold member for so long?

It would most likely be tethered to that very account however, but eh, that's nosa bad. Although of course at the end of the day, this is probably still more effort than something like Hitman: Absolution is worth.

The now head of xbox said they're trying to improve the GWG service

Let's hope he stays true to his word and really starts to ramp up the service. This offering is much better than getting a game from 2006. One step at a time I guess.

Yah it was disappointing, but like I said, there were tiny kernals of hope spread here and there. For free it's at least worth seeing. Ironically the level with the nuns that people were so up in arms about was probably one of the better parts of the game for me as I actually felt like a hunter for a little bit.

@thatdutchguy well sorry I guess. Incidentally I don't think Deadlight sucks. Absolution isn't a great game but for free it's worth checking out. I mean no one is saying this is the cream of the crop right here, but rather that it's a step in the right direction.