In 2026, Microsoft's Games with Gold program is a memory. The service, which once gave Xbox Live Gold subscribers a handful of free games each month, has been retired and replaced by Game Pass Core. Yet looking back at April 2020, the lineup remains a fascinating snapshot of Xbox's subscription strategy during a very strange time. Microsoft announced a four-game selection that split its attention between racing and role-playing games. The headliner was Fable Anniversary, a remaster of the original Fable, while Project Cars 2, Knights of Pen and Paper Bundle, and Toybox Turbos rounded out the month. The mix was not the most explosive batch ever offered, but it was a solid, replayable collection that gave subscribers plenty to do while much of the world was urged to stay home.
🧙 The Headliner: Fable Anniversary
Fable Anniversary was the clear standout. The game is a remaster of the 2004 Xbox original, an ambitious action RPG that promised players a world that would change based on their choices. It did not always live up to every lofty claim, but its reputation as one of Microsoft's flagship franchises was well earned. The remaster brought updated visuals, a new interface, and additional content to Xbox 360. For Games with Gold subscribers, it was available from April 1 to April 15. As an Xbox 360 title, it was also yours to keep forever, even if a Live Gold subscription lapsed later. That detail mattered. In 2020, many players were looking for a long, absorbing RPG to sink into, and Fable Anniversary delivered exactly that. Its moral choices, melee combat, magic, and quirky British humor gave it a distinct identity. In 2026, the Fable franchise has returned to the spotlight with a new entry, which makes this anniversary edition an even more interesting historical artifact.
🏎️ Project Cars 2 Brings Simulation Racing
Project Cars 2 was the newest game in the April 2020 lineup, though it had already been out for a few years. It arrived on Xbox One from April 1 to April 30. Developed by Slightly Mad Studios, the game focused on realistic racing with dynamic weather, day-night cycles, and a wide range of tracks and vehicles. It was not a casual arcade racer. It demanded patience, tuning, and precision. The Games with Gold version did not include the deluxe edition or its DLC, and Microsoft did not mention any extra content. As was common at the time, the season pass often went on sale while the base game was free, encouraging players to spend a little money on additional cars and tracks. Even without the DLC, Project Cars 2 offered a deep simulation experience. In 2026, racing fans have newer simulators to choose from, but Project Cars 2 still holds up as a challenging and rewarding title.
🎲 Knights of Pen and Paper Bundle
The second Xbox One title was Knights of Pen and Paper Bundle, available from April 16 to May 16. This one was a different flavor of RPG. It was a turn-based, pixel-art parody of tabletop role-playing games. Players controlled a party of adventurers, but also the game master and the players sitting around the table. The humor was meta, the combat was tactical, and the progression was surprisingly addictive. The bundle included the base game and additional content, making it a generous offering for fans of indie RPGs. It was not as flashy as Fable Anniversary, but it had a dedicated cult following and plenty of replay value.
🚗 Toybox Turbos and the Arcade Racing Alternative
Toybox Turbos filled the Xbox 360 slot from April 16 to April 30. This was a top-down arcade racer from Codemasters, often described as a spiritual successor to Micro Machines. It featured tiny vehicles racing across oversized household environments, such as pool tables, breakfast tables, and science labs. The game supported local multiplayer, which made it a perfect choice for families stuck indoors together. Like Fable Anniversary, it was an Xbox 360 title, so it remained in players' libraries forever. It was lightweight, chaotic, and easy to pick up, contrasting nicely with the more serious Project Cars 2.
📅 The Full April 2020 Games with Gold Lineup
| Platform | Game | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox One | Project Cars 2 | April 1 - April 30 |
| Xbox One | Knights of Pen and Paper Bundle | April 16 - May 16 |
| Xbox 360 | Fable Anniversary | April 1 - April 15 |
| Xbox 360 | Toybox Turbos | April 16 - April 30 |
🌍 Why This Lineup Mattered in 2020
April 2020 was an exceptionally long month. The COVID-19 pandemic had forced millions of people indoors, and social distancing became a daily reality. Microsoft's Games with Gold selection was not the most valuable lineup in the program's history, but it was well timed. Fable Anniversary offered dozens of hours of RPG adventuring. Project Cars 2 provided a demanding racing sim for players who wanted a challenge. Knights of Pen and Paper Bundle delivered quirky turn-based fun, and Toybox Turbos supplied instant multiplayer chaos. Together, they covered a wide range of moods and play styles. The lineup was a reminder that subscription services could offer more than just blockbuster shooters. It also highlighted the difference between Xbox One and Xbox 360 Games with Gold titles. Xbox 360 games were yours to keep regardless of an active subscription, while Xbox One games required an active Live Gold membership to play. That distinction shaped how players valued each offer.
⏳ Looking Back from 2026
In 2026, Games with Gold no longer exists. Microsoft retired the program and folded its benefits into Game Pass Core, which now serves as the entry-level subscription for Xbox players. The monthly free game drops that defined the Xbox Live Gold era are gone. That makes the April 2020 lineup a time capsule. Players who claimed Fable Anniversary or Toybox Turbos back then can still find them in their libraries. Project Cars 2 and Knights of Pen and Paper Bundle remain playable only with an active subscription for those who claimed them through Games with Gold. Newer players cannot claim them anymore, but they can still buy them separately if they are curious. The industry has moved toward larger subscription libraries, cloud gaming, and day-one releases. Yet the old Games with Gold model had a simple appeal: a small, curated set of games every month, free to keep or play for as long as you stayed subscribed.
🎮 Final Thoughts
The April 2020 Games with Gold lineup was not legendary, but it was dependable. Fable Anniversary was the obvious highlight, and it remains a classic of the action RPG genre. Project Cars 2 gave racing fans a serious simulation. Knights of Pen and Paper Bundle offered clever indie charm, and Toybox Turbos delivered accessible arcade fun. In 2026, this collection is a reminder of a different era in Xbox history. It was a time when a handful of free games could brighten a difficult month, and when Fable was still a dormant franchise waiting for its next chapter. For players who missed it, the lineup is worth revisiting. For those who were there, it is a nostalgic snapshot of a very unusual spring.
Details are provided by PEGI, and they help contextualize why the April 2020 Games with Gold lineup could appeal to very different households during lockdown: a whimsical fantasy RPG like Fable Anniversary, a demanding sim racer in Project CARS 2, a tongue-in-cheek tabletop parody with Knights of Pen and Paper, and the family-friendly party chaos of Toybox Turbos each imply different content considerations and player expectations, underscoring how curated monthly bundles often balanced genre variety with broad accessibility.