Xbox Free Games With Gold and Xbox Live Update (May 2021)

With every month, comes new Xbox free games available to Xbox Live Gold members. It’s always a wide range of titles, so you never know which one you’re going to get next. Previous games have included Resident Evil and Gears 5. Some of these games can only be claimed for only a few weeks, so make sure to get them while they’re available. 

On the topic of Xbox Live Gold, Microsoft announced that free games will no longer require players to be Gold members. 

Xbox Free Games for May

1. Lego Batman

2. Armello

3. Tropico 4

4. Dungeons 3

1. Lego Batman

The Lego video game series has earned a reputation for being fun, puzzle games, and this game is no exception. Lego Batman: The video game was released in 2008, and lets players control the Caped Crusader and Robin as they fought various criminals in Gotham City.

Included in the game are iconic villains such as The Joker, Two-Face, and Mr. Freeze. The game doesn’t stray away from the Lego formula which puts an emphasis on puzzles, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. 

Upon release, the game received a 7.3 from IGN, and it would be successful enough to spawn two sequels, one released in 2012, and the other in 2014. Lego Batman will only be available from May 1 - May 15, so make sure to claim it while you can. 

2. Armello

From developer League of Geeks is the strategy board game Armello. Originally released in 2015 on the PS4 and PC, Armello allows players to come together as they try to become the next king.

The trailer shows us beautiful cut scenes that add to the story of Armello. The board and characters themselves look bright and colorful, and it helps the game stand out from other board games. 

Since it’s release, the game has been lauded by critics, and on their official website they proudly present their achievements. Armello was a finalist at SXSW 2016, the Australian Game Developers Awards, and at IGF 2016. The beautiful game will be available the entire month of May. 

3. Tropico 4

If you’re looking for a different type of strategy, Tropico 4 might be the game for you. It’s a city-building game where you play as the leader of the island, Tropico. It’s up to you to make your island thrive as you build your nation, cater to the needs of your citizens, and deal with various factions that reside within Tropico.

Receiving a 78 on Metacritic and earning a “very positive” on Steam, it’s safe to say that Tropico 4 is a game you can get lost in as you try to upgrade your island. The game will be available from May 16 to the end of the month. 

4. Dungeons 3

It seems that this month’s Xbox free games theme is strategy, as Dungeons 3 is another strategy game that’s free to be claimed. But what sets this apart from the rest of the games is that this title is a dungeon builder (hence the name). Developed by Realmforge Studios, it’s the third installment in the Dungeon series that began in 2011. 

It is up to the player to build a dungeon that takes care of their characters and resources. The campaign gives you the task of becoming leader of the land. If you don’t want to go on this quest alone, the campaign also offers the option to go at it with a friend. Dungeons 3 is available beginning on May 16 until June 15. 

Fortnite Update: Do You Need Xbox Live to Play Fortnite? Not Anymore

And for news that will excite Gold members and non-Gold members alike, Microsoft announced that Xbox free games will no longer require a Gold subscription. What exactly does this mean? Online multiplayer games such as Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Fortnite will now be free to play. 

Although they were technically free games before, you couldn’t play online without having a subscription service with Xbox. And considering that that’s the whole point of these games is to play online, an Xbox Gold membership was a must-have.

The Xbox website also states that along with these three titles, more than 50 other games will now be truly free to play. 

It seems that this might be a new page for Microsoft. Just last year, it was announced that Halo:Infinite’s multiplayer mode would also be free to play. Xbox’s flagship game having a free mode, along with over 50 games now being legitimately free, hopefully signifies a new chapter for other consoles. 

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