Every month, Xbox Live Gold subscribers can look forward to a fresh batch of free games to download for their digital library. Typically, the Xbox Live Gold free games consist of two Xbox One titles and two Xbox 360, and the August 2021 lineup is no exception.
Microsoft has officially revealed the Xbox free Games with Gold for August 2021, with the lineup consisting of more notable games than have been featured recently. It includes Darksiders 3 and Yooka-Laylee on Xbox One, while the Xbox 360 offerings consist of Lost Planet 3 and Garou: Mark of the Wolves.
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Here are all of the Xbox free Games with Gold for August 2021 and what fans can expect from each game. Xbox Live Gold subscribers still have some time to claim the free Games with Gold for July 2021 as well, so anyone that has yet to do that should make sure to do so while they still can.
After THQ shut down, the future of the Darksiders franchise was in limbo. But eventually THQ Nordic was formed and Gunfire Games was given the reigns to develop a proper sequel in Darksiders 3. Released in 2018, Darksiders 3 earned mixed reviews from critics. Some heaped praise on the game and its pivot to a more Dark Souls-style setup, whereas others marked it down for the excessive glitches that it had at launch.
Darksiders 3 may be the most divisive entry in the series, but it has its high points and diehard fans should definitely give it a look. Thanks to the Xbox free Games with Gold program, they will be able to do so free of charge through their Xbox Live Gold subscription. One of the Xbox One offerings for the free Games with Gold for August 2021, those interested can download Darksiders 3 from August 1 to August 31.
As for what Darksiders 3 is about, the game takes place concurrently with Darksiders 2, serving as a prequel to the first Darksiders game. In it, players take on the role of Fury, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, who has to eliminate the Seven Deadly Sins on Earth. The game retains the Zelda meets God of War vibe found in previous Darksiders games but adopts more Dark Souls-style gameplay mechanics in the process.
There hasn't been a proper 3D platformer Banjo-Kazooie game in decades, and so the developers at Playtonic decided to take matters into their own hands. A studio comprised mainly of former Rare devs, Playtonic took to Kickstarter to fund Yooka-Laylee and found a great deal of success. Yooka-Laylee broke Kickstarter records and became one of the crowdfunding sites biggest video game success stories.
At launch, Yooka-Laylee reviews weren't all glowing, but the game should still definitely appeal to Banjo-Kazooie fans and those that like 3D platformers in general. It also has spawned a franchise of its own, with Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair faring far better with critics and fans alike. Those who have been on the fence about Yooka-Laylee due to its somewhat underwhelming review scores can now give it a shot without committing anything beyond the price of their Xbox Live Gold subscription.
Capcom's Lost Planet franchise is a bit strange in that each installment is vastly different from the next. The original Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is a unique mech shooter game set on an icy planet that sees players battle monsters and human enemies alike. And while it had multiplayer, the main focus was on the single-player campaign. Lost Planet 2 changes gears completely, trading the icy setting for a tropical one and focusing on co-op.
Lost Planet 3, meanwhile, is a different beast entirely. Far more linear and story-focused than the original Lost Planet, Lost Planet 3 is the story of Jim Peyton as he and his fellow colonists attempt to survive on the icy planet of E.D.N. III. The game features side quests and more RPG mechanics than its predecessors, and it seems these departures caused it to earn mixed reviews. However, it's still a solid third-person shooter experience and something fans of the Lost Planet franchise should check out while it's free through the Games with Gold program.
A common theme for the Xbox free Games with Gold is that each title has earned mixed reviews, but one exception would be Garou: Mark of the Wolves. Originally released in arcades in 1999, Garou: Mark of the Wolves is widely considered to be one of the most underrated fighting games of its time. The final entry in the Fatal Fury franchise, the version of Garou: Mark of the Wolves available through the Xbox free Games with Gold program is the Xbox 360 port, which originally released in 2009.
Besides these four games, Xbox Live Gold subscribers have a July 2021 leftover to claim for their digital collection as well. Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break remains a free Xbox Games with Gold game until it's removed from the service on August 15.
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