RELATED:New Xbox Game Pass Game is Already the Most Popular on the Service
Death’s Door (January)
Tunic (March)
Anyone that enjoyedDeath’s Doorwould likely get a kick out ofTunicas well, as the games share a similar concept of mashing togetherDark SoulsandThe Legend of Zelda. WhereasDeath’s Doorhas a dark and gloomy aesthetic,Tunichas more upbeat visuals, with players taking on the role of a sword-wielding fox who goes off on a grand adventure.Tunicreviews were mostly positivewhen the game released as a day one Xbox Game Pass game this past March, and it was even nominated for multiple awards at The Game Awards.
Norco (March/November)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge (June)
Deathloop (September)
After Microsoft acquired Bethesda, it still had to fulfill certain contractual agreements that were made between Bethesda and Sony prior to the buyout. This meant releasing some Bethesda-published games as timed-PS5 console exclusives, likecritically-acclaimed first-person shooterDeathloop.Deathloopspent a year as a PlayStation 5 exclusive, but as soon as the exclusivity window was up, it joined Xbox Game Pass as a day one game.Deathloopis one of the few Xbox Series X-only games on Game Pass, and it’s also one of the better FPS experiences one can have with their subscription.
RELATED:Arkane Reveals How the Deathloop and Dishonored Timelines Match Up
A Plague Tale: Requiem (October)
A Plague Tale: Requiemis one of the highest-rated new game releases of 2022, and so its status as a day one Xbox Game Pass game was huge for the service. The sequel to cult hitA Plague Tale: Innocence,A Plague Tale: Requiemcontinues thestory of Amicia and Hugoas they fight to survive against supernatural forces and human foes alike.A Plague Tale: Requiemputs the next-generation hardware to good use, showing over 300,000 rats on-screen at once, all of which swarm together and chase players down like literal rat tsunamis.Requiemboasts impressive graphics, various improvements over its predecessor, and an emotional story that stands out as one of the year’s best.
Persona 5 Royal (October)
For decades, the mainPersonafranchise was console exclusive to the PlayStation brand, but now that’s changed.Persona 5 Royal, one of the highest-rated video games of all time, has finally jumped ship to other platforms, and it made its Xbox debut as a day one Game Pass game.Persona 5 Royalis the definitive version ofPersona 5, giving fans even more content to check out than the original release and providing a fuller experience. Even morePersonagames are making their way to Xbox Game Pass in the new year, asPersona 3 PortableandPersona 4 Goldenare both scheduled tojoin the Xbox Game Pass lineup in January 2023.
Pentiment (November)
Obsidian Entertainment is one of Xbox’s most-consistent first-party studios. It launched survival gameGroundedout of early access earlier this year, and it also released thewell-reviewedPentimentas a day one Xbox Game Pass game. Described as a narrative RPG,Pentimentuses a unique art style inspired by medieval paintings to tell an engrossing murder mystery story. Obsidian has long been praised for its stories, andPentimentproves that the studio still has plenty to offer in that arena.
Chained Echoes (December)
High on Life (December)
Justin Roiland’s Squanch Games hit out of the park with comedic first-person shooterHigh on Life. While professionalHigh on Lifereviewshave admittedly been pretty mixed, the game has been embraced by the Xbox Game Pass community, propelling it to the top of the subscription service’s most-played charts.High on Lifemay not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s one of the most successful new Xbox Game Pass additions of the year andRick and Mortyfans will likely find it to be one of the funniest titles they’ve played in years.
MORE:High on Life is the Kind of Game That’s Perfect for Game Pass
