These Are Xbox's Free Games With Gold For August 2020

The July Xbox Games Showcase left fans with a lot of unanswered questions. While the answers likely won't arrive until the Series X launch draws closer, gamers at least have the free August Games with Gold lineup to look forward to.

During the month of July, Xbox Live Gold subscribers received complimentary copies of WRC 8 FIA World Rally Championship, Dunk Lords, Saints Row 2, and Juju. These games will disappear from the Games with Gold roster on July 31 (except Dunk Lords, which will remain until August 15 and Saints Row 2, as access ended on July 15) and be replaced by a new roster of titles. You probably want to know which games the new month has in store. Here's the dirt on August's free Games with Gold.

Have you ever played Minecraft and wondered what the game would be like if it was slightly less open-ended and focused more on combat and narrative? That's essentially Portal Knights.

Starting Aug. 1, you can download Portal Knights for free onto your Xbox One. Touted as a 3D action sandbox RPG, Portal Knights allows you wander procedurally generated, pixelated islands, craft an armory's worth of equipment, and team up with friends to conquer towering foes. Moreover, since Portal Knights utilizes a Minecraft-like voxel landscape, you can build any structure you can imagine, and you don't have to worry about losing all your hard work to a random exploding Creeper.

You have until Aug. 31 to claim your free copy of Portal Knights.

Who remembers Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee? It was an arena fighting game where players controlled classic Godzilla monsters, ran around cities, and punched the heck out of everything and everyone in their way. While a new Godzilla fighting game is overdue, Override: Mech City Brawl will keep you occupied in the meantime.

On Aug. 16, you can download Override: Mech City Brawl. Similar to Destroy All Monsters Melee, Override is a no-holds barred destruction simulator in which players can pilot towering engines of destruction. While the game doesn't feature any recognizable giant robots (sorry, Gundam fans), Override's playable robot roster comes in every flavor imaginable, from a giant luchador to a legally distinct Mechagodzilla-like design. Best of all, since Override is free with Xbox Live Gold, you already have an active multiplayer subscription to take the fight online.

You have until Sep. 15 to snag your free copy of Override: Mech City Brawl.

Even though the Tony Hawk line of extreme sports video games has seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to the upcoming Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2, skateboarding isn't the only contender in the world of virtual sports. Motocross is a good option, especially when it's free.

Starting Aug. 1, you can install MX Unleashed onto your Xbox One or 360. MX Unleashed challenges players to speed past the competition and overshadow them by performing sick tricks. Each race track features enough jumps, ramps, and curves to show off your skills, but also wipe you out and cost you the race if you get too cocky.

You have until Aug. 15 to claim MX Unleashed for your collection.

Sometimes, you need a break from the contemporary FPS. Your brain can't take any more realistic guns and locations inspired by real countries, and the best cure is a sci-fi FPS. If you are in the mood for a game with sci-fi weapons, locations, and plotlines, Games with Gold has you covered.

Starting Aug. 16, you can download Red Faction 2 onto your Xbox One or Xbox 360. Tthe game takes place on Mars and involves the time-honored task of overthrowing oppressive dictators and blowing up everyone who gets in your way. And, as is Red Faction tradition, it features destructible environments, so you can either creatively circumvent your enemies or witness the epic aftermath of your warpath.

You have until Aug. 31 to download Red Faction 2.