PlayStation Plus vs Games with Gold (Image: SONY)
The PS Plus and Games with Gold free games have been revealed for July 2020.
The first wave of Xbox One free games are available to download now, while the PlayStation Plus free games launch on July 7.
PS Plus subscribers will be able to download and play NBA 2K20 and Rise of the Tomb Raider for PS4.
The high-profile blockbusters will also be joined by Erica as a special ten-year anniversary bonus.
Xbox Gold subscribers, meanwhile, can pick up WRC 8 FIA World Rally Championship on Xbox One, and Saints Row 2 on Xbox 360.
This will be followed by Xbox One game Dunk Lords on July 16, and Xbox 360 release JuJu on the same day.
Now that the July 2020 free games have been announced for Xbox One and PS4, it’s time to pit the games against each other in a battle to the death… or, you know, for a bit of fun.
Who’s getting the better deal in July 2020? The battle may be closer than you think…
First up let’s talk PS4, which is headlined by NBA 2K20 and Rise of the Tomb Raider.
“NBA 2K has evolved into much more than a basketball simulation,” reads the PlayStation Blog description.
“With its immersive open-world Neighborhood, NBA 2K20 is a platform for gamers and ballers to come together and create what’s next in basketball culture.
“Take your skills to the next level, featuring an upgraded motion engine with signature styles, advanced shooting controls, a new dribble size-up system, refined off-ball collisions, and a new read & react defensive game.”
Rise of the Tomb Raider, meanwhile, shifts the action to Siberia, where Lara Croft uncovers a lost city and ancient mystery.
“Featuring epic, high-octane action moments set in the most beautifully hostile environments on earth, Rise of the Tomb Raider delivers a cinematic survival action adventure where you will join Lara Croft on her first tomb raiding expedition.
“Explore Awe-Inspiring Deadly Tombs – Huge ancient spaces littered with deadly traps, solve dramatic environmental puzzles, and decipher ancient texts to reveal crypts as you take on a world filled with secrets to discover.”
Over on the Xbox One side of things, WRC 8 FIA World Rally Championship is a rally driving sim featuring over 100 stages.
“Play the most complete and authentic WRC simulation yet,” reads the official description.
“Featuring a dynamic weather system with true-to-life physics, preparation and management before each stage are vital as you compete in the sun, rain, and snow. With 50 teams, 14 rallies, and over 100 stages, WRC 8 has the deepest content ever available in an off-road racing title.”
Xbox Gold subscribers can also grab Dunk Lords, which is clearly inspired by the likes of NBA Jam.
“You can ball… but can you fight?” reads the Dunk Lords description. “Find out in this fantastic two-on-two basketball beat ‘em up.
“Choose from 20 of the baddest ballers around, each with special attacks and insane abilities, and battle it out on 15 unique courts. Play powered-up pickup games with four friends or guide your young star, Slice, to the very top in Story Mode. Make sure not to miss out on this new-to-Xbox title!”
It’s clear from both line-ups that PlayStation Plus has the higher-profile games, although that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re better.
Sitting pretty with a Metacritic score of 88%, Rise of the Tomb Raider is the pick of the bunch in July 2020.
Not only does the game boast some of the best visuals on the PS4, but it also features a smattering of excellent puzzle tombs, as well as some fantastic action set-pieces.
NBA 2K20 has a Metacritic score of 78%, although that’s mainly because of the game’s aggressive use of microtransactions and in-game gambling.
Featuring dynamic weather and improved physics, WRC 8 FIA World Rally Championship has a 76% score on Metacritic. Sadly, Dunk Lords is yet to be scored on Metacritic, but it does have positive feedback on Steam.
Unfortunately, however, even when Dunk Lords does show up on Metacritic, it’s unlikely to best Rise of the Tomb Raider.
Indeed, the strength of Rise of the Tomb Raider coupled with the superb on the court action of NBA 2K20, means that PS Plus wins the July 2020 battle of the free games.