Instead of releasing its free games for any given month all at once, Microsoft likes to stagger them. This way fans get a couple of free games at the start of the month, with the next pair of free games coming about halfway through. So is the case with the Xbox Free Games with Gold for August 2021, and while the next pair of free games weren't technically supposed to be available until August 16, subscribers can download them now, a day ahead of schedule.
The Xbox free Games with Gold for August 2021 lineup now includes Yooka-Laylee on the Xbox One side of things and Garou: Mark of the Wolves as the Xbox 360 offering. Those interested in the 3D platformer Yooka-Laylee have until September 15 to claim the game for their collection, while the free window for Garou: Mark of the Wolves is a little smaller, expiring at the end of the month on August 31.
For those who may be unfamiliar with these games, Yooka-Laylee was developed by Playtonic Games, serving as a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie. Yooka-Laylee reviews weren't exactly on fire at the time of its release, but it still has its fans and should appeal to those who long for the heyday of the 3D platformer genre.
Garou: Mark of the Wolves, meanwhile, is the latest entry in the Fatal Fury fighting game series. It earned strong reviews and was considered an underrated fighting game for its time. Garou: Mark of the Wolves originally launched in 1999 before making its way to the Xbox 360 as an XBLA game 10 years later in 2009. While it may be one of the more obscure Xbox free Games with Gold games for August 2021, it's also one of the more critically-praised games in the lineup, so fighting game fans should definitely make sure to add it to their collection while they still can.
Of course, the other Xbox free Games with Gold for August 2021 are still available as well, so anyone that has yet to claim those should make it a point to do so ASAP. They include Darksiders 3, which will be available on August 31, as well as Lost Planet 3, which will be available until August 16. Darksiders 3 is the latest numbered entry in the Darksiders franchise, going with a more Dark Souls-inspired setup, whereas Lost Planet 3 is similarly the latest numbered entry in its franchise. It's also a departure from that series' norms, embracing a more narrative-focus and RPG elements.