Games with Gold: May 2016

Is it May already? Well, then. It must be time a peek at this month’s Games with Gold, a set of free Xbox One and Xbox 360 games for Xbox Live Gold subscribers.

Note: Remember, all Xbox 360 games in the Games for Gold promotion are now guaranteed to work on Xbox One in compatibility mode too. So that means Xbox One users are now really getting four free games each month. (I’m also now curious when Games for Gold will no longer include Xbox 360 titles. I assume they’ll continue throughout this calendar year at least.)

I’m not quite as excited about this month’s offerings as I was in April, which was possibly the best Games for Gold month yet. But I just added Defense Grid 2 and GRID 2 to my library, and that latter game is the one that is most interesting (to me).

Here’s what’s free this month.

Xbox One

Defense Grid 2
Normal pricing: $14.99
Availability: May 1 to 31

Description: Defense Grid 2 is the next evolution in tower defense. In Defense Grid 2 players will discover new additions that will require the player to change their tower strategy. Defense Grid 2 offers dynamic content where gameplay is constantly changing. There are a million different ways you can beat a level so your solution is truly your solution. The addition of cooperative and competitive multiplayer brings a whole new experience to Defense Grid. The mix of strategy and puzzle gameplay promises to be fun and engaging.

Costume Quest 2
Normal pricing: $14.99
Availability: May 16 to June 15

Description: Trick, treat and pick a fight with villianous dental soldiers in Costume Quest 2, the sweet sequel to Double Fine’s hit original, Costume Quest, that turned fans of all ages into candy obsessed crusaders. This inspired RPG adventure includes a range of new features and gameplay improvements to double the amount of mischievous fun. Explore spooky time-traversing landscapes, don adorable new costumes that transform into powerful Hallo-warriors, and collect even Creepier Treat Cards to wield in combat against a legion of hygiene obsessed baddies. Only heroic siblings Wren and Reynold can save Halloween forever!

Xbox 360

GRID 2
Normal pricing: $24.99
Availability: May 1 to 15

Description: Be fast, be first and be famous as the race returns in GRID 2, the sequel to the BAFTA-award winning, multi-million selling Race Driver: GRID. Experience aggressive wheel-to-wheel competition, advanced AI, stunning visuals, jaw-dropping damage and feel the thrill of racing iconic cars in a new word of evolving motorsport.

Peggle
Normal pricing: $24.99
Availability: May 16 to 31

Description: Experience the ball-bouncing, peg-busting phenomenon! Do you have what it takes to become a Peggle Master? Take your best shot! Conquer 55 levels with 10 mystical Magic Powers and rack up bonus points. Face off against friends in 4-player Xbox LIVE multiplayer play, and test your skills in 75 Grand Master Challenges.