Microsoft releases its Xbox free Games with Gold in two batches. The first set of new games are added at the beginning of each month, while another pair of games are added in the middle of the month. The Xbox free Games with Gold for December 2021 are no exception to that rule, meaning Xbox Live Gold subscribers now have another two free games to claim and add to their growing digital libraries.

Technically the next set of Xbox free Games with Gold games for December 2021 aren't supposed to arrive until December 16, but they're available for subscribers to claim a day early. From December 16 to January 15, Xbox Live Gold subscribers can claim Tropico 5, letting them play the 2014 version of the construction management sim for free. Tropico 5 has co-op and multiplayer support, so Xbox Live Gold subscribers can bring friends along to play as well.

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The other new free game that Xbox Live Gold subscribers can snag is Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet. Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is a 2D side-scroller that earned mostly positive reviews at the time of its original release in 2011, considered one of the stronger XBLA games released that year. Like other Xbox 360 free Games with Gold games, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet's availability is more limited, so subscribers only have until December 31 to claim it.

Xbox Free Games with Gold Games for December 2021

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  • Orcs Must Die (until December 15)
  • The Escapists 2 (until December 31)
  • Tropico 5 (December 16 - January 15)
  • Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet (December 16 - December 31)

At the time of this writing, Xbox Live Gold subscribers still have time to claim Orcs Must Die, though they only have until the end of the day. They have a little more time to claim The Escapists 2, which is a prison construction management sim and may scratch a similar itch as Tropico 5. Like Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, The Escapists 2 will be available for Xbox Live Gold subscribers to claim until December 31.

Xbox Live Gold subscribers can expect Microsoft to reveal the Xbox free Games with Gold for January 2022 at some point within the next couple of weeks. It's anyone's guess as to what the games will be, as there have been no legitimate leaks about next month's lineup. However, when one considers how Microsoft has been treating the Xbox free Games with Gold program as of late, don't expect anything too big. The more likely scenario is that the bigger, more notable releases will be focused on Xbox Game Pass instead.

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