Xbox Live With Gold Free Games for February 2016: ‘Hand of Fate’, ‘Styx: Master of Shadows’, ‘Sacred Citadel’, and ‘Gears of War 2’

Jan 27, 2016 07:07 PM EST

Subscribers of Microsoft's popular Games with Gold always look forward to what games will be available to play free for the month, and the games have just become available.  The list includes a lot of science fiction/fantasy games like Hand of Fate and Styx: Master of Shadows for the Xbox One, with Scared Citadel and Gears of War 2 for the Xbox 360.  There isn't much word on March 2016.

According to Major Nelson, the first game that Xbox One Game with Gold subscribers can download for free is Hand of Fate from February 1-29.  This is a game described by The Geek Church on a full review as being "definitely unique as it combines an action game with a card game".  The game involves the player in visiting some fortune teller who is using magical Tarot cards to put the player in a real life (within the context of the game) Role Playing Game (RPG). 

The next game available for players of the Xbox One is Styx: Master of Shadows, but only on February 16th until March 15th.  It actually sounds quite similar to Hands of Fate, with the fantasy RPG elements, but there is an aspect of infiltration as well. According to the game's Steam entry, the game is named after Styx, the main character of the game who is a two hundred year old Goblin. 

Available for the Xbox 360 from February 1-15 is Sacred Citadel.  This game is a side-scrolling action brawler that is part of a series, and it is the prequel to Sacred 3.  The Sacred series takes place on a magical continent known as Ancaria, with all kinds of fantasy races like elves, dwarves, and even vampires making appearances. 

Xbox 360 players will then be given a special treat with Gears of War 2, available from February 16-29.  Unlike all the other free games for this month, which take place in a very fantasy or alternate medieval history, Gears of War 2 takes place in the future.  According to the official game site, this is a "highly anticipated sequel to a blockbuster action game and one of the most popular Xbox 360 games in history".  It takes place six months before its predecessor, putting humans up against a battle for survival against the nightmarish force of underground creatures known as the Locust Horde.  The Player comes back as Marcus Fenix, the leader of the Delta Squad.  The game was released back in 2008, and if you have been wanting to get yourself involved in the Gears of War gaming franchise, this is a free chance. 

So far, there is no word as to what could be available in March 2016, and at this point, it is too early to say.  Usually word of free games doesn't make news until towards the end of the month, but some good guesses can be made.