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Xbox Game Pass is about to have an unbelievably good month

Tom Orry avatar
Article by Tom Orry Editorial Director, Gamer Network
Published on

A bumper release schedule shows how good this service has become, and that's without AAA.

I've said it before, and will no doubt say it again in the future, but Game Pass is a bit good, isn't it? The line-up of games coming to the service, especially on console, in the next month or so is perhaps the best we've ever seen.

Just look at this for a line-up:

  • Cris Tales - July 20
  • Atomicrops - July 22
  • Last Stop - July 22
  • Raji: An Ancient Epic - July 22
  • Blinx: The Time Sweeper – July 26
  • Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge – July 26
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator - Xbox release July 27
  • Lethal League Blaze - July 29
  • Omno - July 29
  • The Ascent - July 29
  • Project Wingman - July 29 (PC only)
  • Hades - August 13
  • Twelve Minutes - August 19
  • Psychonauts 2 - August 25

You might look at that list and think, "well, there's nothing big there," and you'd kind of be right. But just look at it again and consider the quality (hopefully) in that list of games.

Cris Tales is an absolutely glorious looking indie love letter to classic JRPGs. Early reviews are strong, making this a brilliant get for Game Pass. Last Stop is a sci-fi body-swapping adventure from the developers of indie hit, Virginia, and it looks like a perfect Game Pass addition.

Microsoft Flight Simulator dazzled on PC last year and finally arrives on Xbox Series consoles on July 27. Many people would have dismissed this had it been locked behind a $60 purchase, but on Game Pass it will find a huge new audience.

While rather po-faced, this one could surprise a lot of people after initially being tempted by the incredible visuals. While I said this list isn't AAA, there's no denying that Flight Simulator is about as AAA as sims can get.

Omno, a non-violent game about exploration, was made by a single developer but looks brilliant. Game Pass has brought plenty of superb indie games to players on day one, and this could be another top notch addition if the game can match its otherworldly visuals.

The Ascent, one of the first Xbox Series games to be revealed, is an isometric action RPG with the potential to be superb (and looks top notch, visually). Games with that cyberpunk vibe are pretty on trend at the moment, but this one has the potential to be really very good.

Hades needs little introduction, the game having mopped up during the 2020 Game of the Year awards. It's a great get for Game Pass, coming to the service on the day it releases on Xbox. Get on it if you haven't already sampled its delights on PC or Switch.

Twelve Minutes is a unique looking thriller from Annapurna Interactive in which you must solve a mystery by replaying a 12-minute sequence inside an apartment. It looks super neat and has voice work from James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe.

Towards the end of August we have Psychonauts 2, the much wanted and very late sequel to the Xbox cult hit original. A recent round of previews painted the game as a Game of the Year contender, so having it on Game Pass on day one is wonderful.

Yet that isn't even the whole list of games coming in the next month.

Atomicrops is a well-rated roguelite tower defense game, Raji: An Ancient Epic is like an indie God of War set in ancient India, Project Wingman is a much-loved fight action game, and Lethal League Blaze is an action packed ball game crossed with a fighter. All great additions to Game Pass. Add to this lot the double whammy of nostalgia in the form of Xbox classics Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge and Blinx: The Time Sweeper, and, well, it's a lot.

It's a storming line-up of games, and it's unlikely to be all that's coming to Game Pass in the period. A smattering of other titles, new and old, will likely fill in the gaps, adding to what I reckon might be the best month in Game Pass history.

Later in the year Game Pass members will benefit from Xbox Game Studios titles day one, with Halo Infinite releasing in the holiday season and likely to be huge. We've also got Back 4 Blood and Forza Horizon 5 in October, both day one on Game Pass. Next year we'll see the fruits of the Bethesda acquisition, with Starfield, Deathloop, and Redfall all due on Xbox and Game Pass.

For more games coming in the next few months, head over to our video game release dates page. What do you think. Has there been a better period in Game Pass history? Let us know in the comments.

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