Xbox Games with Gold May 2022

We all love stuff that is free. It’s a massive part of why people look forward to Games with Gold and PlayStation Plus every month. And now that we are in May, we have a new lineup of Xbox Games with Gold to look forward to.

Xbox Games with Gold typically has some pretty underwhelming games. And it certainly looks like it is the same this month. With four games that I am sure that most of you have never heard of before.

Yoku’s Island Express

The first of the four games with Xbox Games with Gold May 2022 is the platforming game Yoku’s Island Express. Originally released in 2018 by Team17 Digital, Yoku’s Island Express puts you on a platforming adventure through a vast island called Mokumana. Made up of multiple regions and biomes, like dense forests and icy mountains, you take on a quest to help the island’s inhabitants who need help.

Yoku’s Island Express offers a unique pinball style when it comes to gameplay. A style that pushes you through the game and its various questlines. On the way through, you will unlock new abilities, meet new characters, uncover some deep secrets and of course, fight some major bosses.

Priced at £20 on the Xbox store (and now free for Xbox games with gold holders), Yoku’s Island Express received some quite positive reviews online. With a user score of 7.8 on Metacritic, the game gained praises for its innovative game mechanics and entertaining levels. Yoku’s Island Express is available for free from May 1st to May 31st.

The Inner World – The Last Wind Monk

Second, on the lineup is The Inner World – The Last Wind Monk. Published by Kalypso in 2017, The Inner World The Last Wind Monk puts you straight into a world of mystery. In this point and click action-adventure game, you are on a quest to save the family of the flute noses. Who have become hunted by dark forces.

Take on a huge variety of puzzles throughout the world and enjoy hours of fun brainteasers as the two heroes Robert and Laura. Discover numerous secrets and find the Last Wind Monk to save the family of flute-noses.

Also priced at £20 on the Xbox store, The Inner World – The Last Wind Monk received average reviews. With a user score of 6.3 on Metacritic, the game received praises for its puzzles and style. But the story and game controls received some very mixed reviews. The Inner World – The Last Wind Monk will be available with Games with Gold from May 16th to June 15th.

Hydro Thunder (Xbox 360)

The third game in the Games with Gold May lineup is Hydro Thunder. Published by Microsoft Studios in 2010, you can play this water racing game through backwards compatibility on any of your Xbox consoles.

Hydro Thunder has a simple premise. You can select from a range of changeable rocket-powered boats and race others through various environments. You have the single-player race and championship modes along with the Ring Master and Explosive Gauntlet modes.

Priced at under £10 on the Xbox Store, Hydro Thunder received generally favourable reviews online. With a user score of 8.1 on Metacritic, Hydro Thunder was praised for its courses and fun races while also staying true to the original. Hydro Thunder is available from May 1st to May 15th, so if you want this game for free you must act quickly.

Viva Pinata Party Animals (Xbox 360)

The last game of this month's lineup is Viva Pinata Party Animals. Also published by Microsoft Studios in 2010. This game offers a variety of minigames mixed with numerous race events. You can compete as different characters in over 40 minigames.

Viva Pinata Party Animals received average reviews online. Obviously, a game designed to keep your kids entertained. The modes were often labelled as repetitive and a bit lacklustre. This game is normally worth under £10 on the Xbox store and will be available with Games with Gold from the 16th of May to the 31st. 

This month with Games with Gold you will be saving roughly £60 on games. It isn't a great month for sure and is very lacklustre when compared to the lineup we got with PS Plus.