We’ve got a huge selection of titles coming to the Xbox Game Pass this month. From GOTY nominees to Indie darlings, Xbox is spoiling us ahead of the Big Day. So, if you’ve recently acquired a new Xbox Series X (or S), or you’re still playing around on the Xbox One, there’s plenty to keep you busy.
So, stop scoffing mince pies, put away your festive hat, and check out the real season of joy.
Available from: 3rd December
Control
Available on: Android & Console
Published by: 505 Games
Developed by: Remedy Entertainment
“After a secretive agency in New York is invaded by an otherworldly threat, you become the Director struggling to regain control. This third-person action-adventure game will challenge you to master a combination of supernatural abilities that will keep you on the edge of your seat”.
Xbox
Doom Eternal
Available on: PC
Published by: Bethesda Softworks
Developed by: id Software
“Hell’s armies have invaded Earth and now you must become the Slayer in an epic single-player campaign to conquer demons across dimensions and stop the final destruction of humanity. Experience the ultimate combination of speed and power in Doom Eternal – the next leap in push-forward, first-person combat”.
Xbox
Haven
Available on: Console & PC
Published by: The Game Bakers
Developed by: The Game Bakers
“Does love really conquer all? Play as two lovers who gave up everything and escaped to a lost planet to be together. Glide through a mysterious landscape, explore a fragmented world and fight against what’s trying to tear them apart in this RPG adventure about love, rebellion, and freedom”.
Xbox
Rage 2
Available on: Android
Published by: Bethesda Softworks
Developed by: id Software, Avalanche Studios
“Dive headfirst into a dystopian world devoid of society, law, and order. Rage 2 brings together two studio powerhouses – Avalanche Studios, masters of open-world insanity, and id Software, creators of the first-person shooter – to deliver a carnival of carnage where you can go anywhere, shoot anything, and explode everything”.
Xbox
Slime Rancher
Available on: Android & Console
Published by: Monami Park, Skybound Games
Developed by: Monami Park
“Slime Rancher is the tale of Beatrix LeBeau, a plucky, young rancher who sets out for a life a thousand light-years away from Earth on the ‘Far, Far Range’ where she tries her hand at making a living wrangling slime. Attempt to stake a claim, amass a fortune, and avoid the continual peril that looms from the rolling, jiggling avalanche of slimes around every corner”.
Xbox
Va-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
Available on: PC
Published by: Limited Run Games, Playism, Ysbryd Games, Wolfgame
Developed by: Sukeban Games, Wolfgame
Welcome to Va-11 Hall-A, the original cyberpunk bartending simulator! Take on the role of Jill Stingray, bartender at the downtown watering hole of Va-11 Hall-A (affectionately nicknamed “Valhalla”). In this story-driven game you’ll influence a myriad of decisions through the drinks you prepare, so listen carefully to your clients and mix the drink that will change their lives.
Xbox
Yes, Your Grace
Available on: Android, Console, & PC
Published by: No More Robots
Developed by: Brave at Night
“In this kingdom management RPG, petitioners will arrive in the throne room each turn to ask for your advice and assistance. Decide whether to help them with their problems or to conserve resources for more important matters. Remember: supplies are limited, and not everyone has the kingdom’s best interests at heart…”
Xbox
Available from: 4th December
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definite Edition
Available on: Console & PC
Published by: Square Enix
Developed by: Square Enix
“Follow the perilous journey of The Luminary who must uncover the mystery of his fate with the aid of a charismatic cast of supporting characters. This Definitive Edition includes all the content from the acclaimed Dragon Quest XI, and adds extra scenarios, a grand orchestral version of the music, the ability to switch between 2D and 3D graphic modes, a Japanese audio option, and much more!”
Xbox
Available from: 8th December
Call of the Sea
Available on: Android, Console, & PC
Published by: Raw Fury
Developed by: Out of the Blue
“Dive into an otherworldly tale of mystery and love set in the 1930s, South Pacific. Play as Norah, an enigmatic woman on the trail of her missing husband’s expedition. The search takes place on a strange but beautiful island in the South Pacific, filled with secrets waiting to be unearthed. Call of the Sea is a story-led game with puzzles, where every clue leads you deeper and leaves you questioning everything”.
Xbox
Monster Sanctuary
Available on: Android & Console
Published by: Team17
Developed by: Moi Rai Games
“On your quest to become the ultimate Monster Keeper, you’ll unravel the cause of a mystery that threatens the peace between humans and monsters. With over 100 monsters to encounter and dangerous lands ahead, you’ll need to build a powerful team if you want to save the Monster Sanctuary“.
Xbox
Starbound
Available on: PC
Published by: Chucklefish
Developed by: Chucklefish
“In Starbound, you can create your own story! In this space-sandbox adventure, you may choose to save the universe from the forces that destroyed your home, uncovering greater galactic mysteries in the process, or you may wish to forego a heroic journey entirely in favour of colonizing uncharted planets. Farm, collect, craft and build – the possibilities are limitless”.
Xbox
Available from: 9th December
Unto the End
Available on: Console & PC
Published by: Digital Uppercut Productions
Developed by: 2 Ton Studios
“Unto The End is a challenging combat adventure game in the style of a cinematic platformer. The story is simple: get home to your family. Master read-react combat in intense sword fights. Spot opportunities to trade and use items. An adventure told through your actions; how will you make it home?”
Xbox
Available from: 10th December
Assetto Corsa
Available on: Android & Console
Published by: 505 Games
Developed by: Kunos Simulazioni
“Assetto Corsa is the ultimate racing simulator. Featuring legendary circuits such as Monza, Silverstone and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, each track has been reproduced using Laser scan technology, offering racers the most realistic experience possible out on the track. Assetto Corsa features advanced aerodynamic simulation, with each car developed using knowledge gained through collaboration with manufacturers”.
Xbox
Gang Beasts
Available on: Android & Console
Published by: Double Fine Productions
Developed by: Boneloaf
“Gang Beasts is a silly multiplayer party game with surly gelatinous characters, brutal slapstick fight sequences, and absurd hazardous environments, set in the mean streets of Beef City. Customize your character and fight enemies in the melee game mode or fight with friends against the gangs of Beef City in the gang game mode”.
Xbox
GreedFall
Available on: Android, Console, & PC
Published by: Focus Home Interactive
Developed by: Spiders
“Engage in a core roleplaying experience with GreedFall, and forge the destiny of a new world seeping with magic, and filled with riches, lost secrets, and fantastic creatures. With diplomacy, deception, and force, become part of a living, evolving world. Influence its course and shape your story”.
Xbox
SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE
Available on: Android & Console
“Time moves only when you move. The long-awaited third game in the groundbreaking Superhot franchise, Mind Control Delete gives you more insight into the signature power fantasy world of Superhot with more story, more signature gameplay, more action, more guns. Keep dancing the slow-motion ballet of destruction for so much longer than ever before”.
Xbox
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
Available on: Android, Console, & PC
Published by: Team17
Developed by: Playtonic Games
“Get the Royal Beettalion ready to take down Capital B and his Impossible Lair! Join Yooka and Laylee in an all-new 2.5D adventure! Run, jump, and roll your way through a series of challenging 2D levels and explore a puzzling 3D Overworld packed with secrets and collectables”.
Xbox
Alas, all good things must come to an end. And, so too is the case with the following Xbox games. Be sure to purchase any of the following if you wish to carry on playing them after the fact. To sweeten the deal, each of the following titles are on sale by 20% off their usual RRP thanks to your Game Pass subscription.
Leaving on: 11th December
eFootball PES 2020
Leaving: Console
Published by: Konami
Developed by: Konami
“PES 2020 continues the series’ dedicated pursuit of realism and authenticity with significant improvements both on and off the pitch”.
Xbox
Leaving on: 15th December
Age of Wonders: Planetfall
Leaving: Console & PC
Published by: Paradox Interactive
Developed by: Triumph Studios
Age of Wonders: Planetfall is the new strategy game from Triumph Studios, creators of the critically acclaimed Age of Wonders and Overlord series, bringing all the exciting tactical-turn based combat and in-depth 4X empire building of its predecessors to space in an all-new sci-fi setting.
Emerge from the cosmic dark age of a fallen galactic empire to craft a new future for your people. Explore the planetary ruins and encounter other surviving factions that have each evolved in their own way, as you unravel the history of a shattered civilisation. Fight, build, negotiate and technologically advance your way to utopia, in a deep single-player campaign, on random maps and against friends in multiplayer”.
Xbox
Infinifactory
Leaving: PC
Published by: Zachtronics
Developed by: Zachtronics
“Infinifactory is a sandbox puzzle game by Zachtronics, the creators of SpaceChem and Infiniminer. Build factories that assemble products for your alien overlords, and try not to die in the process”.
Xbox
Metro: Last Light Redux
Leaving: PC
Published by: Deep Silver
Developed by: 4A Games
“It is the year 2034.
Beneath the ruins of post-apocalyptic Moscow, in the tunnels of the Metro, the remnants of mankind are besieged by deadly threats from outside – and within.
Mutants stalk the catacombs beneath the desolate surface and hunt amidst the poisoned skies above.
But rather than stand united, the station-cities of the Metro are locked in a struggle for the ultimate power, a doomsday device from the military vaults of D6. A civil war is stirring that could wipe humanity from the face of the earth forever”.
Xbox
MudRunner
Leaving: Console & PC
Published by: Focus Home Interactive
Developed by: Saber Interactive
“MudRunner is the ultimate off-road experience, putting the players in the driver seat and daring them to take charge of incredible all-terrain vehicles, venturing across extreme Siberian landscapes with only a map and compass as guides!
Drive 19 powerful all-terrain vehicles, each with its own characteristics and attachable equipment. Complete your objectives and deliveries by enduring perilous conditions across wild, untamed landscapes in extreme conditions with dynamic day-night cycles. Explore an immersive sandbox environment, enhanced by improved graphics. Overcome muddy terrain, raging rivers and other obstacles that all realistically react to the weight and movement of your vehicle powered by the game’s advanced physics engine”.
Xbox
Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker
Leaving: Console
Published by: Bandai Namco
Developed by: Soleil Games
“The Naruto franchise is back with a brand new experience in NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER! This new game lets gamers battle as a team of four to compete against other teams online! Graphically, SHINOBI STRIKER is also built from the ground up in a completely new graphic style. Lead your team and fight online to see who the best ninjas are!”
Xbox
Pathologic 2
Leaving: Console & PC
Published by: tiny Build
Developed by: Ice-Pick Lodge
“Pathologic 2 is a narrative-driven dramatic thriller about fighting a deadly outbreak in a secluded rural town. The town is dying. Face the realities of a collapsing society as you make difficult choices in seemingly lose-lose situations. The plague isn’t just a disease. You can’t save everyone.
The plague is devouring the town. The chief local healer is dead, and you are now to take his place. You’ll have to look for unexpected allies. The local kids are hiding something. Try playing by their rules.
You only have 12 days”.
Xbox
The Turing Test
Leaving: Console & PC
Published by: Square Enix
Developed by: Bulkhead Interactive
“The Turing Test is a first-person puzzler that explores the phenomena of consciousness and challenges the meaning of human intuition.
Take control of Ava Turing, an engineer for the International Space Agency (ISA), and progress through a narrated story of introspection and morality whilst uncovering the hidden mysteries of Europa. Delve into The Turing Test’s human interaction puzzles and arm yourself with logical and methodical thinking.
Take on tests designed in such a way that only a human could solve them. In an evolving story based on mankind’s inherent need to explore, protect and survive; players search deeper into Europa’s ice crusted core and transcend the line between man and machine”.
Xbox
Ticket to Ride
Leaving: Console & PC
Published by: Asmodee Digital
Developed by: Next Level Games, Days of Wonder
“Re(discover) Ticket to Ride, the classic board-game. In this railway adventure, you’ll need to be the quickest to link up your cities and reach your destinations.
In this strategy game for all ages, try out different tactics, block your competitors’ lines and take over routes before the others do. With so many different strategies to try, each new game is a unique experience”.
Xbox
Untitled Goose Game
Leaving: Console
Published by: Panic Inc.
Developed by: House House
“It’s a lovely day in the village, and you are a horrible goose.
Untitled Goose Game is a slapstick-stealth-sandbox, where you are a goose let loose on an unsuspecting village. Make your way around town, from peoples’ back gardens to the high street shops to the village green, setting up pranks, stealing hats, honking a lot, and generally ruining everyone’s day”.
Xbox
So, there we have it. Plenty to fill your hard-drives up with this month. What do you think? Is there anything here that has piqued your interest? I’m not going to lie I’m distraught that Untitled Goose Game is leaving this month. However, there’s plenty more to make up for it.
As always, this is just what we currently know about coming to the Game Pass this month. Xbox has proven that plenty that the Game Pass often receives a lot more than previously announced.
ABG’s Senior Editor (News), YouTube content creator/streamer.