There’s a few heavy hitters and well-known indie favourites available on the cheap to start the New Year.

If you’re paying for online multiplayer on the consoles- or if you’re on a PC and looking for some cheap games- here’s a list of freebies available this January. I’ll be playing through some of them on my Twitch channel if you want to check them out before you hit the ‘download’ button, and those scheduled times are below.

Xbox One

• Celeste (PG) – “Indie platformers with pixel art” are a dime a dozen, but Celeste‘s story and mechanics had critics raving in 2018. Available until January 31. Streaming January 8 and 9, from 8:30pm Queensland time.
• Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light – Xbox 360 version, Xbox One compatible. A smaller Tomb Raider release originally made available on the Xbox Live Arcade service. Available until January 15.
  
• WRC 6: FIA World Rally Championship (G) – available from January 16 to February 15. Streaming January 22, from 8:30pm Queensland time.
• Far Cry 2 – Xbox 360 version, Xbox One compatible. Available from January 16 to February 15.
• Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) – A platformer influenced by Inuit culture and history. Available until 15 January.

PlayStation Plus

• Steep (PG) – Ubisoft’s open-world skiing, snowboarding and occasionally paragliding game. Streaming January 15 and 16, from 8:30pm Queensland time.
• Portal Knights (PG) – a sandbox RPG with randomly-generated maps and online multiplayer, with a touch of the Minecraft. Streaming January 29 and 30, from 8:30pm Queensland time.
• Fallen Legion: Flames of Rebellion (PG) – A side-scrolling action RPG with anime-style sprite graphics. Available for PS4 and the PS Vita.
• Zone of the Enders: HD Collection (M) – Konami’s much-loved anime robot combat title (and its sequel) gets a high-definition remaster. PS3 only.
• Amplitude – Rhythm-action racing game has you jumping tracks and following the music. This Kickstarted update of the classic PS2 title is, sadly, PS3 only (there is a PS4 version but that isn’t included in the Plus deal this month). (Disclosure: I was a backer of the Kickstarter.)
• Super Mutant Alien Assault (M) – colourful platform run-and-gun shooter with co-operative play. PS Vita only.

Epic Games Store

To play these games you need to download the Epic Games launcher from epicgames.com. (If you play the PC or Mac versions of Fortnite or Unreal Tournament you’ll have it already.)

• Super Meat Boy (M) – fiendishly difficult indie platformer. Available until January 10. Streaming on Monday, January 7, from 8:30pm Queensland time.
• What Remains of Edith Finch (M) – A critically-acclaimed ‘walking simulator’ with an amazing story and atmosphere. Available January 10-24. Streaming January 23, from 8:30pm Queensland time.