Free Games: 'Borderlands 3', 'Windbound' and 'CrossfireX'

I've been playing a disgusting amount of UFC 4 since it went onto PS Plus last week. I got my fighter ranked up and fought my way to the Middleweight belt, forcing Dana White to offer me the biggest bucks around to keep me on. Eventually, I found myself too dominant in that division, so took on a superfight against Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones. I won that one too - and what a feeling that was.

I'm trying to get better at my ground game though - my main form of victory is through kicking someone in the face extremely hard until they collapse like a wet duvet. 

What's next for this week, then? Here's what should keep you busy for free, and the best new games coming to your subscription services for the next seven days.

Koch Media

Windbound

Available for free on the Epic Games store this week is Windbound. You find yourself shipwrecked on a never-before-seen island, separated from your companions and alone. It's up to you to find your own way. 

If the open seas of Wind Waker appeal to you, this'll be just what you're after. Build a boat, explore the land and ocean, and craft tools to hunt your way to survival. Ewan praised it in his review back when it came out, and his praise is just as valid today. 

"Those of you looking to scratch that open-world survival itch could do a heck of a lot worse. While it could definitely have used a little more time in the oven to really smooth over its rougher aspects, 5 Lives has still managed to create a seafaring adventure that, for the most part, feels truly grand."

That's pretty high praise! Sure, Windbound won't be for everyone, particularly people looking for an action-packed adventure. However, if you're looking to start a lengthy survival adventure, well there's one available for free right now!

2K

Shooty Bang Bang

Sometimes you just wanna shoot stuff.

Borderlands 3 is available for free with Humble Choice this month, so if you've been waiting for several years for an excuse to finish the series off with the game's fanciest weapons yet. Famous for its fancy loot and its fandom's penchant for adult content, Borderlands 3 is a silly romp through a world that's just waiting for you to grab an oversized gun and blast your enemies to bits with it.

I'll probably give this one a miss, mostly because the idea of hanging out with Claptrap for more than two seconds makes me see red and want to do violence, but there's plenty to enjoy if you're in the mood.

Neowiz Games

Skul: The Hero Slayer

Back in 2021, you might've had this game pass you by. Skul: The Hero Slayer ranked in Mike's 2021 games round up, and now you can get it for free on Xbox and PC Game Pass!

What are this game's selling points, then?

It's an action-packed platformer with roguelike elements. If that sentence immediately turned you off, go ahead and skip to the next game.

If that sounds enticing though, why not read on?

It's got some absolutely gorgeous pixel art visuals, and your character, Skul, is a quirky little lad who changes abilities based on which head is currently sitting atop his skeleton body. 

There are some truly imposing-looking enemies to face off against, and if you've finished games like Dead Cells and Hades, then Skul could be exactly what you need to scratch that itch.

Remedy Games

CrossfireX

Ever played a Crossfire game before? I haven't, but they're hugely popular in China and South Korea. 

If you've been desperate to try it, CrossfireX is here now, so fear not! It's a first person shooter and is console only, available for free on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One Game Pass.

There's a campaign, which explores the rivalry between two rival mercenary military factions, along with a multiplayer mode which the devs will hope takes off and cements its place in the pantheon of FPS franchises in the future.

It plays similarly to CS:GO, with game modes which Counter Strike veterans will find familiar. Planting and defusing bombs will feel second nature, but there's also going to be a 'Spectre' mode in which attackers only have knives but can turn invisible when standing still. Truly chilling stuff.

---

There we go - nearly through February already! I knew it was a short month, but it's still weird that there's only a couple of work weeks left of it anyway.

Every day we get closer to spring time, and every day I become more excited. It'll start getting dark later soon, which means I'll be able to feel like the day isn't over when work ends at 5pm! Yay!

Have a great weekend! It's Super Bowl Sunday for NFL fans out there, so I'm excited to eat unhealthy foods and stay up until a ridiculous hour because the USA doesn't realise there's an international audience for their sport so maybe they should put it on at a normal time. I'll live.