From 2D side-scroller to a massive open-world space exploration game. Here are our most anticipated 'Day One' games to the Xbox Game Pass. For more games releasing soon, check out our list of all upcoming Xbox Series X and Series S games.
1. Planet Of Lana
This picturesque adventure feels like a fever dream. Together with her cat-like friend, Lana must embark on a trip to save her missing sister and uncover the mysteries of this alien world. Planet Of Lana’s gorgeous hand-painted art style goes hand in hand with its somber story. Its unfamiliar setting feels like a Studio Ghibli project, especially with all its bizarre sci-fi designs and distinct character styles.
2. Forza Motorsport 8 (2023)
Forza's next contender for "most realistic racing game " will be a Day One release on Game Pass. Microsoft is excited about showing us this latest title. As always, they upped the ante on visual realism. The real star is the driving simulation. By popular demand, they're adding tire and fuel management and car build optimizations. It doesn’t have a definite release date yet, but Turn10 Studios have confirmed its launch this year.
3. REPLACED
An action-side scroller oozing with style. REPLACED showcases an impressive pixel art style set against a backdrop of a cyberpunk dystopia. The trailer showed off its fast-paced gameplay, futuristic visuals and synthwave soundtrack. A major sell for fans of Blade Runner and retro games.
4. Cocoon
Developers of LIMBO and INSIDE work together for this passion project. Cocoon is a space-bending puzzle adventure where you play as a cosmic beetle solving intricate dimensional levels. Warp between time and space to find the solution. Judging from the trailer, It will be a relaxing experience. We can’t wait to get our hands on it.
5. Flintlock: Siege Of Dawn
Flintlock’s is an open-world that mixes high-fantasy elements…with Pirates. You’ll be out slaying powerful Gods with a boomstick and a sword. This melee and ranged hybrid brings in new possibilities to combat. The gameplay trailer actually sells it. It could pass off as the God of War on Game Pass.
6. Starfield
There’s no denying that Starfield is Microsoft’s biggest triple A game this year. It’s so big, it could rival Skyrim and the Fallout series. It’s an ambitious open-world. Sci-fi fans will be delighted to step into this new universe. With up to 100 planets, that’s thousands of unique dialogue, and hours and hours of exploration. Make your own ship, gain allies, and breeze into space. Whether or not it cames out this, Game Pass subscribers will get it on Day One.
7. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
The next STALKER game is finally within our grasp. This immersive shooter is a playground for anyone who enjoys irradiated wastelands. Making our way across the Chornobyl exclusion zone will be dangerous, but you’ll be fully equipped to deal with them using a variety of weapons and tools. After recently being struck with a major delay, the latest STALKER game will come out this Holiday season.
8. Exoprimal
CAPCOM’s upcoming multiplayer shooter is unlike anything we’ve seen before. It’s not about zombies this time around. It looks like Dinosaurs are raining from the skies. Sure, there was Dino Crisis, but Exoprimal is just on another level with its wide-range of online possibilities. Stop a swarm of these reptilian monsters with a group of friends in crazy PvE action. Gear up your characters with powerful guns and let loose in this twisted new world. It’s a surprise to see this game come out on Game Pass, considering it’s not a Microsoft exclusive. But yeah, props to CAPCOM for this one.
9. Lies Of P
No this isn’t a FromSoftware game, but Lies of Ps inspirations are clear though. Taking a page from Bloodborne and the Dark Souls series, this is a soulslike game taking place in a twisted version of Pinnochio. Face off against your creator, Geppeto, in this gothic realm teeming with man-made horrors. It’s a great soulslike alternative for Game Pass users especially if they really want to scratch that Bloodborne itch.
10. Hollow Knight: Silksong
Is this game even real? Silksong’s was so close, yet so far now that the game was recently delayed to god knows when. But that’s always a good case as long as we know the game is still being developed. Once it comes out, everyone’s gonna lose their minds with how polished and content-heavy it is. Maybe it could even rival the original. So let’s just keep our hopiums and copiums and maybe we’ll see this game come out within the year.