Microsoft gives away two more of the Xbox free Games with Gold games a day early, so subscribers don’t have to wait to claim them.
Xbox Live Gold doesn't get as much attention as Xbox Game Pass, but it still has its good months from time to time. While some may have been quick to dismiss the Xbox free Games with Gold for May 2022, this month's lineup is actually one of the better ones that the service has had all year, giving subscribers the chance to claim four solid games for their digital libraries.
Microsoft releases the Xbox free Games with Gold for any given month in two phases. One Xbox 360 game and one Xbox One game are given away at the beginning of the month, with two more games given away in the middle of the month. The free Games with Gold games that started May 2022 were Yoku's Island Express, available until May 31, and Hydro Thunder Hurricane, which will be removed from the lineup after May 15. Yoku's Island Express is a well-reviewed platformer that also features pinball elements, whereas Hydro Thunder Hurricane is a cult classic boat racing game that was a hit on Xbox Live Arcade back in the day.
The Xbox free Games with Gold games for the middle of the month technically shouldn't be available until May 16. However, Xbox has made it possible for Xbox Live Gold subscribers to get the free Games with Gold games a day early in most cases, and that holds true for the free Games with Gold for May 2022.
If Xbox Live Gold subscribers search for them in the Xbox Store, they can download the rest of the free Games with Gold for May 2022 a day early. The games on offering are The Inner World – The Last Wind Monk, which is available to claim until June 15, and Viva Pinata: Party Animals, which subscribers can snag until it's removed on May 31.
The Inner World – The Last Wind Monk is a point-and-click adventure game that earned mostly positive reviews at the time of its original release. It's true that the point-and-click adventure game genre is fairly niche, but it should be something that appeals to fans of those games. Viva Pinata: Party Animals, meanwhile, has the lowest review scores out of all the Xbox free Games with Gold for May 2022, but it should be a solid game for those looking for a Mario Party-style party game to play on Xbox.
Dalton Cooper is an editor for Game Rant who has been writing about video games professionally since 2011. Having written thousands of game reviews and articles over the course of his career, Dalton considers himself a video game historian and strives to play as many games as possible. Dalton covers the latest breaking news for Game Rant, as well as writes reviews, guide content, and more.
