In this article, I am going to look into the offerings of PS4 games with the PlayStation Plus service, and Xbox One games with the Games With Gold service in 2016. By the end of the article, we will find out which service offered more value for the customers in 2016 by using the Xbox One and PS4 games offered only. To make this as accurate as possible, I will be using the retail price of the titles on the respective stores at the time they were offered.
I am allowing PlayStation Vita titles which allow PS4 cross play, as it’s offering the actual PS4 version of the game also. I’m not allowing Xbox 360 games which are playable on Xbox One, because they are still technically Xbox 360 games.
January 2016
Games With Gold Xbox One games –
- Killer Instinct Season 1 – $39.99
- Zheros – $19.99
Total Price: $59.98
Playstation Plus PS4 games –
- Grim Fandango Remastered – $14.99
- Hardware Rivals: $14.99
Total Price: $29.98
Winner: Games With Gold
February 2016
Games With Gold Xbox One games –
Styx: Master of Shadows – $29.99- Hand Of Fate – $19.99
Total Price: $49.98
Playstation Plus PS4 games –
- Nom Nom Galaxy – $14.99
- Helldivers – $19.99
- Nova-111 – $14.99
Total Price: $49.97
Winner: Games With Gold
March 2016
Games With Gold Xbox One games –
- Sherlock Holmes: Crimes And Punishments – $29.99
- Lords Of Fallen – $39.99
Total Price: $69.98
Playstation Plus PS4 games –
- Broforce – $14.99
- Galak-Z – $19.99
Total Price: $34.98
Winner: Games With Gold
April 2016
Games With Gold Xbox One games –
- Sunset Drive – $29.99
- The Wolf Among Us – $24.99
Total Price: $54.98
Playstation Plus PS4 games –
- Dead Star – $19.99
- Zombi – $19.99
Total Price: $39.98
Winner: Games With Gold
May 2016
Games With Gold Xbox One games –
- Defense Grid 2 – $19.99
- Costume Quest 2 – $19.99
Total Price: $29.98
Playstation Plus PS4 games –
- Tropico 5 – $59.99
- Table Top Racing – $19.99
- Switch Galaxy Ultra – $11.99
Total Price: $91.97
Winner: PlayStation Plus
June 2016
Games With Gold Xbox One games –
- Goat Simulator – $9.99
- The Crew – $29.99
Total Price: $39.98
Playstation Plus PS4 games –
- NBA 2K16 – $59.99
- Gone Home – $19.99
Total Price: $79.98
Winner: PlayStation Plus
July 2016
Games With Gold Xbox One games –
- The Banner Saga 2 – $19.99
- Tumblestone – $19.99
Total Price: $39.98
Playstation Plus PS4 games –
- Saints Row IV: Gat Out Of Hell – $14.99
- Furi – $24.99
Total Price: $39.98
Winner: DRAW
August 2016
Games With Gold Xbox One games –
- WWE 2K16 – $39.99
- Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate – $59.99
Total Price: $99.98
Playstation Plus PS4 games –
- Tricky Towers – $14.99
- Rebel Galaxy – $19.99
- Ultratron – $9.99
Total Price: $44.97
Winner: Games With Gold
September 2016
Games With Gold Xbox One games –
- Earthlock: Festival Of Magic – $29.99
- Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China – $9.99
Total Price: $39.98
Playstation Plus PS4 games –
- Journey – $14.99
- Lords Of Fallen – $19.99
- Badland – $11.99
Total Price: $46.97
Winner: PlayStation Plus
October 2016
Games With Gold Xbox One games –
- The Escapists – $19.99
- Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings – $19.99
Total Price: $39.98
Playstation Plus PS4 games –
- Resident Evil HD – $19.99
- Transformers: Devastation – $39.99
Total Price: $59.98
Winner: PlayStation Plus
November 2016
Games With Gold Xbox One games –
- Super Dungeon Bros – $19.99
- Murdered: Soul Suspect – $19.99
Total Price: $39.98
Playstation Plus PS4 games –
- Everybody’s Gone To Rapture – $19.99
- The Deadly Tower Of Monsters – $14.99
- Letter Quest Remastered – $9.99
- Pumped BMX+ – $9.99
Total Price: $54.96
Winner: PlayStation Plus
December 2016
Games With Gold Xbox One games –
- Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition – $29.99
- Outlast – $19.99
Total Price: $49.98
Playstation Plus PS4 games –
- Invisible, Inc. – $19.99
- Stories: Path of Destinies – $14.99
- Tiny Troopers Joint Ops – $7.99
- Color Guardians – $14.99
- Hyper Void – $9.99
Total Price: $69.95
Winner: PlayStation Plus
Conclusion & Final Verdict
So with all those games listed, we can find out some interesting information about both services for their 2016 offerings. Check them out below
Winning months
- PlayStation Plus: 6
- Games With Gold: 5
- DRAW: 1
Best value month
Games With Gold August 2016: $99.98
Worst value month
Tied between PlayStation Plus January 2016 & Games With Gold May 2016: $29.98
Biggest value difference months for both
- May 2016: PlayStation Plus had $61.99 more in value than Games With Gold
- August 2016: Games With Gold had $55.01 more in value than PlayStation Plus
Total Values
- Games With Gold: $614.76 (Xbox One Games Only)
- PlayStation Plus: $643.67 (PS4 Games Only)
Overall Winner
PlayStation Plus just edged Games With Gold in 2016 with six better value months, compared to the five that Games With Gold had. PlayStation Plus also had $28.91 more in value compared to Games With Gold’s offerings. So it wasn’t a huge win for PlayStation Plus, but it’s still a victory for the service in 2016.
Let us know in the comments section below whether you have been happy with either service or not in 2016.
R.Hoffmann
The article result is BS since you omitted the PS4 games that are cross platform titles.
Guess that is why this piece was not available on N4G anymore even before I could report it as the 2nd one.
Tzk tzk..try to do a good job if you want to be respected by the people there.
ThisGenGaming
It’s being re-edited currently to be more accurate with the PS Vita/PS4 cross play titles, now that it has been pointed out. That’s why it was deleted on N4G.
Jacob Hinkle
Not counting the 24 other free games given away on Xbox one is a gross oversight. They are playable on Xbox one, and are free…and they still have value, so I am not sure why you excluded them from which service has the best value. You also didn’t mention how much each service costs…Nor did you count the free weekends of some games.
Orionsangel
Do like free Indie games? Plus is the way to go.
Do you like free Triple A titles. Gold is the way to go.
xboxmaster
what about the 5/12 months were GWG had only indies? or the 3/4 out of 12 months where PS+ had AAA games?
CrazyJua♏
lol, what a garbage way to asses either.