Video games are an expensive hobby, so it's a good thing that gamers are treated to free games every month. Sometimes these free games come as bonuses to paid subscription services, and other times they are completely free. Generally speaking, the various free game programs avoid giving away the same game twice, but there are rare exceptions to that rule. Oddly enough, both the Epic Games Store and Xbox free Games with Gold program are giving away "rerun" free games in the month of May 2022.
Right now, the Epic Games Store free game is Terraforming Mars. A digital version of the board game, this marks the first time that Terraforming Mars has been free on the Epic Games Store. It will remain the Epic Games Store free game until Thursday, May 12 at 10:00am CT. At that point, Terraforming Mars will be cycled out and replaced by the two free Epic Games Store games for May 12 through May 19.
The two Epic Games Store free games for May 12 through May 19, 2022 are Jotun: Valhalla Edition and the 2017 Prey reboot. Jotun is a 2D action adventure game with a hand-drawn art style, whereas Prey is a big budget FPS from Arkane Studios, best known for its Dishonored series.
Epic Games Store Free Games for May 2022
- Terraforming Mars (May 5 - May 12)
- Jotun: Valhalla Edition (May 12 - May 19)
- Prey (May 12 - May 19)
It's cause for celebration for Epic Games Store users whenever the launcher gives away two free games in any given week instead of just one. However, dedicated Epic Games Store users that make sure to always claim the free games may realize that Prey has already been available as a free Epic Games Store game in the past. This makes it a "rerun" game that means nothing to those that managed to claim it before, but could be exciting for Epic Games Store users that missed out on it being free the first time around.
As far as Epic Games Store free games go, Prey is also one of the more high profile and significant. Even though it's five years old at this point, Prey is one of the bigger budget Epic Games Store free games that's been given away, and it should be a solid pick for FPS fans. The game has been favorably compared to heavy hitters like BioShock, so fans of that series will want to seriously consider checking it out as well.
Those interested in grabbing Prey for free through the Epic Games Store will have from Thursday, May 12 at 10:00am CT until Thursday, May 19 at 10:00am CT. At that point, the game will be replaced with a different Epic Games Store free game offering. It's unclear what exactly that next Epic Games Store free game will be, but more information will come to light next week.
Xbox Free Games with Gold for May 2022
- Yoku's Island Express (May 1 - May 31)
- The Inner World: The Last Wind Monk - (May 16 - June 15)
- Hydro Thunder Hurricane (May 1 - May 15)
- Viva Pinata: Party Animals (May 16 - May 31)
As far as the Xbox free Games with Gold for May 2022 are concerned, this month's offerings are actually stronger than some of the other months this year. It's no secret that Microsoft has stopped investing much effort in improving the Xbox free Games with Gold, with the company instead mostly interested in bolstering its Xbox Game Pass lineup. But while there aren't any huge, big budget games as part of the lineup, the Xbox free Games with Gold for May 2022 are still solid offerings.
The Xbox free Games with Gold for May 2022 consist of Yoku's Island Express, The Inner World: The Last Wind Monk, Hydro Thunder Hurricane, and Viva Pinata: Party Animals. The way the Xbox free Games with Gold work is that their releases are staggered, so two are available on the first of the month while another two are made available on the 15th of the month. This is true for the Xbox Free Games with Gold for May 2022, with subscribers currently able to claim Yoku's Island Express and Hydro Thunder Hurricane.
Yoku's Island Express is available for Xbox Live Gold subscribers to claim until May 31. Hydro Thunder Hurricane, meanwhile, is free until May 15. Both games are well-received in their own right, though some Xbox Live Gold subscribers may have deja vu when it comes to Hydro Thunder Hurricane.
Boat racing game Hydro Thunder Hurricane has been part of the Xbox free Games with Gold program in the past. Previously, it was given away as one of the Xbox free Games with Gold games for September 2017. So Xbox Live Gold subscribers that have been good about claiming the free games as they're made available every month should already have it in their library, but those who missed out now have a second chance at grabbing it.