The countdown is almost over for the launch of the Games with Gold January 2019 lineup.
The first free Xbox One games will be made available on Tuesday, January 1, and will include some interesting titles.
As usual, Microsoft will be staggering their launches throughout the month, with new titles being added on the 16th.
The first new Xbox One game to go live will be Celeste, which recently won The Game Awards 2018 Best Independent Game category.
Celeste is one of the highest rated Games with Gold titles and has an average 8.3, based off 459 ratings on Metacritic.
“Help Madeline survive her inner demons and scale to the top of Celeste mountain in this tight, narrative-driven platformer.
“You’ll uncover a multitude of devious secrets and side chapters in 700+ screens of hardcore challenges, built into a touching story of self-discovery. Don’t miss out on this highly acclaimed title.”
On January 16, Microsoft will also add WRC 6 to the official GwG library, which will remain available until mid-February.
WRC 6 doesn’t fare as well on Metacritic, but its score is based on a much lower amount of ratings.
“On a race track, the car makes all the difference. In a rally, it’s all on you.
“Take your driving skills to the limit in World Rally Championship 6. Whether fog, mud, or punctured tires, you’ll deal with it all, in 11 Super Special Stages including local split-screen multiplayer. Experience rally racing like never before.”
Xbox Live subscribers can also download two Xbox 360 games very soon, including Lara Croft: Guardian of Light and Far Cry 2.
But gamers should also be warned that when these games start to go live, others from December will start disappearing.
Q.U.B.E. 2 for Xbox One and Dragon Age II will be disappearing from Xbox Live in the next 24 hours.
The race is on to add those titles to your digital collections before they disappear.
So what about the other big games coming to Xbox Live in January?
New titles are released nearly every week and can include both small and big games.
And Xbox One gamers will start to see new titles popping up on January 11, with Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition set to release first.
This will be followed by Onimusha: Warlords on January 15 and Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown on January 18.
And the final weeks will see some of the biggest titles of the month go live, including Resident Evil 2 Remake and Kingdom Hearts 3.
Resi 2 arrives on January 25 and does away with the traditionally fixed camera angles and tank controls.
The good news for Xbox One X owners is that Resident Evil 2 will be enhanced from day one, meaning better performance.
Resident Evil 2 is available in Standard Edition (includes Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield Samurai Edge Deluxe Weapons), Deluxe Edition (everything in Standard Edition plus Extra DLC Pack which includes 5 additional costumes, a specially-designed handgun, and the classic in-game soundtrack. weapon, and the original soundtrack).
Kingdom Hearts 3 will be one of the last releases of January and possibly the biggest of the bunch.
Having been in development for years, Square Enix is finally ready to unleash their biggest KH instalment yet.
Expect more news on the big Disney mash-up in the coming weeks.