Every month, Xbox gives away free games as part of its Xbox Games with Gold program, typically giving away two Xbox One games and two Xbox 360 games. The Xbox free Games with Gold for August 2021 are no exception to that rule, with Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers able to add four games to their digital library next month.
From August 1 to August 31, Xbox Live Gold subscribers can claim Darksiders 3 for their collection. Darksiders 3 is the latest numbered entry in the Darksiders franchise, putting players in the role of Fury and adopting a gameplay style somewhat inspired by the Dark Souls series. Darksiders 3 reviews were heavily mixed at the time of its release, mainly due to its technical issues, but it's possible that those issues have been ironed out by now.
And then from August 16 to September 15, Xbox Live Gold subscribers can snag Yooka-Laylee for free. Yooka-Laylee is a 3D platformer by Playtonic, developed by former Rare developers and designed to be a spiritual successor to the Banjo-Kazooie series. Yooka-Laylee didn't quite reach the same heights that Banjo-Kazooie did, but the game was still a big success on Kickstarter and was popular enough to spawn a sequel.
On the Xbox 360 side of things, subscribers can download Lost Planet 3 from August 1 to August 15. Lost Planet 3 is a prequel to the original Lost Planet game, with it being a third-person shooter that sees players exploring the snowy planet of E.D.N. III. Like Darksiders 3 and Yooka-Laylee, Lost Planet 3 reviews were mixed at the time of its release, but it wouldn't hurt for Xbox Live Gold subscribers to try it out for themselves.
And finally, Garou: Mark of the Wolves will be free through the Xbox free Games with Gold program from August 16 to August 31. Garou: Mark of the Wolves is part of the Fatal Fury franchise of games and is actually considered one of the most underappreciated fighting games ever. This version is the Xbox 360 port of the game, but it's worth pointing out that Garou: Mark of the Wolves originally released in 1999 in Japanese arcades.
Of course, Xbox Live Gold subscribers still have some time to download the free Games with Gold for July 2021. One of the free games will actually be available to download until August 15, Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break, so subscribers don't have to rush to claim that particular game. Everything else will be gone come August 1, when they'll be replaced by the new games.