Home   >   Bens Bytes   >   Here are the Free Games for PS Plus and Xbox Live Gold Members in March

Here are the Free Games for PS Plus and Xbox Live Gold Members in March

By on March 4, 2015

It took an extra day or two for Sony to get the news out, but now we have the full list of free games available to members of both Playstation Plus and Xbox Live Gold. As always, this news comes directly from Sony and Microsoft, and it’s expected that the following games will only be free for the month of March. There have been exceptions in the past, allowing for certain games to go free for an extra month. You shouldn’t make that your excuse not to download these games immediately though. March’s selection is one of surprising quality across all five consoles.

Let’s start with Xbox Live, since Microsoft was so kind to get its information out far in advance.

Xbox One

Microsoft consoles aren’t really known for their local multiplayer games. Maybe that’s changing with the Xbox One.

Rayman LegendsRayman Legends Games with Gold March Xbox Live One

Ubisoft hit it out of the park with Rayman Origins back in 2011, embracing a beautiful hand-drawn style in collaboration with an emphasis on music and air-tight platforming. Rayman Legends, originally meant as a Wii U exclusively, just couldn’t be held away from every other console. Now Xbox One owners can get their hands on this $40 title for free, marking the best deal of the bunch.

#IDARB

#IDARB screenshot Games with Gold Xbox Live One March

Here’s one of those exceptions we talked about, a very indie, very simple twitch-multiplayer game that was free in February as well. Up to eight players can rumble over the possession and subsequent scoring of a ball in a goal. That’s it. It’s soccer coupled with the insanity and good execution of a very simple set-up. You can pass, shoot and tackle each other. And play as a bacon. The screaming is optional.

Xbox 360

Don’t forget, Xbox 360 games are only distributed during half of their free month. There’s a reason for this; I don’t know what it is. In any case, this March we’re reminded of the Xbox 360’s great character-driven phase late in the generation, one half-month at a time.

Tomb Raider – Available March 1 – 15

Romb Raider Games with Gold March

Rebooting Lara Croft as a gritty, character-driven story adventure was always going to be a risky move. It payed off, though, and now we’re getting a sequel exclusive to the Xbox One sometime in the future. Naturally, Microsoft wants to make sure nobody forgets this, so the original is going free. Strangely, the HD remaster released on Xbox One last year isn’t part of the deal. Yet.

BioShock Infinite – Available March 16 – 31

BioShock Infinite

On the second anniversary of its release, the trans-dimensional mind warping, sociological, psychological explanation for why a city is floating in the sky tries once again to make its case for never becoming an alcoholic with a death wish. There’s shooting and a whole bunch of dialogue that either makes a lot of sense or none at all. You choose. Or don’t. Or can’t.

PS4

Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee – New ‘n’ Tasty!

Oddworld New n Tasty Abe's Oddysee

Sony is running a nasty little trick here by making this PlayStation remake free for March. The game is set to come out on the Xbox One by the end of Q1 2015. Thankfully, in healthy competition the consumer benefits, assuming that consumer prefers his or her controller with a square and a triangle on it.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War

If Microsoft is getting Ubisoft’s AAA artsy game, Sony is getting its faux-indie artsy game. Here’s a unique tale of World War I participants, soldiers and medics alike, connected through some classic 2D puzzling gameplay and a loyal canine companion. It’s also the beneficiary of some of the best video game trailers ever produced.

OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliworld

OlliOlli2 Screenshot PSN Free Games March

This sequel celebrates its release day with a discount of 100 percent. There are many who might argue for it as the absolute best title available free this month. The mechanics at play in this 2D, high-score chasing skateboarding game are so satisfyingly intuitive, the combo-system so deceptively deep, IGN said there’s basically “no limit to how good you can get” in its review, granting it a 9/10.

CounterSpy

With a noir, comic book-driven art-style, CounterSpy is a mix of stealth, gunplay and James Bond impressions that bends the divide between 2D platforming and 3D shooting. The trailer does a far better job of explaining things.

PS3

Papo & Yo

Papo and Yo

A young boy guides his behemoth, monster friend through some puzzle/platformer challenges. That’s just the surface of things. Finding out who is creating this story, and why, is what makes the game worth your time.

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments

Sherlock Holmes Crimes and Punishments

Solve crimes as Sherlock Holmes, because indulging in that fantasy in real life will only result in disappointment and possible incarceration. This is why video games exist. To prevent wannabes from filling up our jails.

CounterSpy

(available as a cross-buy purchase across all PlayStation platforms)

PS Vita

OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood

(available as a cross-buy purchase between the PS Vita and PS4)

CounterSpy

(available as a cross-buy purchase across all PlayStation platforms)

About Trevor Ruben

Though I contribute to many online publications on a regular basis, including The Checkout, the crux of my writing lies in video games. When not writing, I'm often streaming a variety of games on Twitch.