Microsoft once again served up 48 video games, for Xbox 360 and Xbox One, to Xbox Live Gold subscribers in 2018. Were they any good? What would they cost otherwise? What do the numbers say about the value of this Xbox Live Gold benefit?

We’ll try to answer that question this year as we have the past four years. To that, however, we’ve added a few more questions: How old is the game? Did Microsoft publish it? What publisher did Games With Gold use the most?

These questions may shed light on where these free games programs are headed, particularly as the previous console generation ages and the Xbox One’s backward compatibility program continues to pile up old titles.

Getting Started

In all, there were 48 games in Xbox Live Games With Gold for 2018, with an average critical score of 76.9 and a combined retail price (as of yesterday) of $866.28. The review average of this year’s free games is 1.1 points better than 2017 but the total dollar value is sharply lower, by $163.24

All Xbox 360 games in Games With Gold are compatible with Xbox One.

January

Tomb Raider: Underworld

Army of Two

Zombi

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing 3

Average score: 72.25

Average age: 5.9 years

Total value: $53.96

February

Split/Second

Shadow Warrior

Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India

Crazy Taxi

Average score: 69.75

Average age: 5.1 years

Total value: $69.96

March

Superhot

Quantum Conundrum

Brave: The Video Game

Trials of the Blood Dragon

Average score: 70.25

Average age: 5.6 years

Total value: $69.96

April

Dead Space 2

The Witness

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

Cars 2: The Video Game

Average score: 81.5

Average age: 4.7 years

Total value: $129.96

May

Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

Vanquish

Sega Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage

Super Mega Baseball 2

Average score: 86

Average age: 4.06 years

Total value: $79.96

June

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

Smite

Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues

Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia

Average score: 73.75

Average age: 4.375

Total value: $59.97

July

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction

Assault Android Cactus

Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown

Death Squared

Average score: 82.5

Average age: 4.13 years

Total value: $56.96

August

Forza Horizon 2

For Honor

Dead Space 3

Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two

Average score: 75.5

Average age: 4.17 years

Total value: $99.96

September

Livelock

Prison Architect

Lego Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars

Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World

Average score: 74.75

Average age: 4.71 years

Total value: $69.96

October

Hitman: Blood Money

Overcooked!

Victor Vran

Stuntman: Ignition

Average score: 78.5

Average age: 6.7 years

Total value: 83.75

November

Battlefield 1

Race the Sun

Assassin’s Creed

Dante’s Inferno

Average score: 81.25

Average age: 4.9 years

Total value: $54.96

December

Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction

Dragon Age 2

QUBE 2

Never Alone

Average score: 77.25

Average age: 6.6 years

Total value: $59.96

By the Numbers:

Average score: 76.9

Average price: $18.05

Average age: 4 years, 11 months

Highest scoring month: May (86)

Highest dollar value month: April ($129.96)

Month with newest games on average: March (3 years, 9 months.)

Lowest scoring month: February (69.75).

Lowest dollar value month: January ($53.96)

Month with oldest games on average: October.

Free games published by Microsoft: 1 (Forza Horizon 2).

Publisher with the most titles: Ubisoft, 8. (Assassin’s Creed, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, For Honor, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction, Trials of the Blood Dragon, Zombi.)

Total value: $866.28

Platform Averages

Xbox 360: 76.63 score, 7 years, 9 months, $15.19 per title.

Xbox One: 77.25 score, 1 year, 20 days, $20.91 per title.

Highest rated Xbox 360 game: Dead Space 2 (90).

Highest rated Xbox One game: Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain (95)

Highest price Xbox 360 game: Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed ($29.99).

Highest price Xbox One game: Assassin’s Creed Syndicate ($49.99).

Lowest rated Xbox 360 game: Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two and Crazy Taxi (59).

Lowest rated Xbox One game: Trials of the Blood Dragon (57).

Lowest price Xbox 360 game: Stuntman: Ignition ($3.74)

Lowest price Xbox One game: Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia, Livelock and Race the Sun ($9.99)

Review score ranges

90 and up: 2

80 to 89: 19

70 to 79: 20

60 to 69: 4

59 and below: 3

Price ranges

$40 and up: 1

$30 to $39.99: 2

$25 to $29.99: 4

$20 to $24.99: 2

$15 to $19.99: 16

$10 to $14.99: 9

$5 to $9.99: 11

$4.99 and under: 3