Xbox Live Games with Gold December 2016 free games list news update: Four new hit games offered

Microsoft rolled out an arguably great set of "double-double" release for Xbox Live Games with Gold members for the last month of the year in time for binge playing over the holiday season.

Larry Hryb, more popularly known as his online persona, Major Nelson, delivered the announcement via his website, which lists the four games that will be available to service subscribers this month. The batch is composed of two titles for Xbox One users in "Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition" and "Outlast" another two for Xbox 36 gamers in "Outland" and "Burnout Paradise."

First up from the batch are the ones for the Xbox One console with "Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition." The open-world, action-adventure game first came out in 2012 and developed by United Front Games and Square Enix London. It follows the adventures of undercover Hong Kong-American police officer Wei Shen in contemporary Hong Kong as he tries to infiltrate the Sun On Yee Triad organization. Upon its release, the game received positive reviews and was even nominated for the "Action Game of the Year" and "Outstanding Achievement in Story" at the 2013 D.I.C.E. Interactive Achievement Awards.

"Outlast" is a first-person survival horror video game that was released in 2014. It tackles a narrative that is set in a psychiatric hospital swarming with homicidal patients. It also garnered mostly good reviews with its gameplay being its most impressive feature.

Xbox 360 games meanwhile have "Outland," which is a 2D platformer title also rolled out in 2014. Its schematic involves using Light and Dark energies which will then help players pass through respective barriers. It was met with great reception thanks to its dynamic visual style enhanced by its musical accompaniment. And lastly, the seventh title from the "Burnout" racing game series, "Burnout Paradise," which first made its debut way back in 2008. Set in the fictional Paradise city, it offers gamers several types of races in an open-world background. And like all the other games from this month's set of Xbox Lives Games with Gold, it has also been a huge hit with critics and players alike during its initial release.

"Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition" ($29.99 ERP) is available for the whole month while "Outlast" ($19.99 ERP) will be live from Dec. 16 to Jan 15. "Outland" ($9.99 ERP) is now also downloadable and will still be until the 15th of December. After its run, "Burnout Paradise" ($14.99 ERP) will take its place on Dec. 16 until 31.