It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and that can only mean one thing. Black Friday is almost here. For many, this involves the unhappy task of waking up at 6 AM, standing outside a big box store in the unpleasant weather, and hoping that all the bargains haven’t been snapped up.
But for gamers, this means something else. Year after year, Black Friday presents itself as an opportunity to get the latest and greatest games for not very much money. And you don’t even need to leave your house.
There are a lot of bargains on offer, including some for Microsoft’s Xbox 360. Although it’s since been superseded with the Xbox One, there are still some great games for the platform. Even better, Microsoft is offering 58 of them with discounts of up to 85%.
You can find the full list here, and you can get your hands on them through the Xbox Live store. If you’re struggling to work out what to spend your hard-earned money on, here are 7 of the best.
The third installment in the Max Payne series is set in Brazil’s second largest city, Rio de Janeiro. It’s a lush, sun drenched affair that takes you from the cocktails and nightclubs of the ultra-rich, to the favelas and the shantytowns of the ultra-poor. But don’t let it’s tropical auspices fool you; Max Payne Three is just as dark as the earlier episodes in the series.
Between dodging bullets in slow-motion, a la The Matrix, you have to uncover the shadowy figure who kidnapped your boss’s family. It’s a frantic, story driven tour-de-force that has garnered a mountain of critical acclaim, and you can get it for only $3.74 (a reduction of 75%).
When it first launched, Crysis became the benchmark for polygonal beauty. But with the passage of time, this legendary game is showing its age; especially in light of the likes of Ryse: Son Of Rome and Alien: Isolation. It happens to the best of us.
However, it still remains a fun, ultra-violent romp through the jungle. And did I mention it has zombies? Yes. North Korean zombies. You can get your hands on a copy for only $2.99, which is a reduction of 85%.
Do you miss Tony Hawk? Skate doesn’t quite hit the spot as well as the classic skating games, but it certainly comes close. Perhaps it’s most compelling feature is a soundtrack that boasts the likes of the Bloodhound Gang, Blues Traveler, and the Beach Boys.
Gameplay is pretty stellar, too. It comes with well-designed game dynamics, and some phenomenal level design. You can download it at the low, low price of $2.99. That’s a reduction of 80%!
Cowboy shooters are a mix of good, bad, and ugly. Whilst some didn’t quite hit the mark, Red Dead Redemption unambiguously falls into the first category. It takes you to a beautiful, open-ended world, back when the West really was wild, and a revolver round to the face was regarded as an appropriate way to settle disputes.
It’s gritty. It’s violent. It’s fun. And it can be yours for only $7.49. That’s a quarter of the normal retail price!
It’s almost three years old. Other first-person shooters have come and gone. So, why does Gears Of War 3 remain infinitely playable? Is it because of the highly lauded downloadable content? Is it because of the earth shattering graphics and award-winning gameplay? You’ll just have to find out.
You can pick it up through your Xbox 360 for less than $10. That’s a saving of almost 80% off the full price. As an added bonus, it comes with every weapon skin unlocked from the beginning. Because who doesn’t love a freebie?
I’ve always wanted to take up parcour, but I wasn’t terribly keen on the broken bones and the physical exercise bit. Does that sound like you? Don’t worry. Mirrors Edge has you covered.
For only $2.99 (a saving of 80%), you can jump, run, and climb across the world as you try to bring down an totalitarian regime. It’s also surprisingly nonviolent, as you’re encouraged to flee, rather than fight. And surprisingly, for a game that story driven, It’s incredibly easy to dip in and out of. And for $2.99, what have you got to lose?
Most driving games encourage you to avoid colliding with the competition. But then again, most driving games aren’t Burnout Paradise. Rather, you’re left to race around an open ended world in a souped-up sports car. Progression in the game comes as a condition of you setting up and executing acts of vehicular mayhem.
We’re big fans of Burnout Paradise at MakeUseOf, with my colleague Mihir Patkar listing it as one of the most important driving games ever. You can get a copy for only $2.99, which is a reduction of 80%. Just don’t try it at home.
The Xbox 360 Black Friday sale consists of 58 outstanding games, all costing a pittance and promising hours and hours of fun. And if they don’t satisfy you, why don’t you try these awesome indie titles? They’re affordable, and like the games I listed above, they’re available through the Xbox Live store.
I’ve told you the seven I feel stand out from the crowd. But what about you? What will you download? I want to hear about it. Leave me a comment below and we’ll talk.
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