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Windows Central

Technology

Zachary Boddy

New Xbox Game Pass games (Jan. 2026): Full list of games coming and leaving soon, day one games, and more

Xbox Xbox Game Pass Windows Microsoft Xbox Cloud Gaming Xbox Game Studios

I've been managing this hub of all the latest (and upcoming) Xbox Game Pass additions and departures for years at this point, making this the best way to stay up to date with the latest Game Pass announcements.

I'll even let you know if a game is a day one addition to Game Pass, is being added via the EA Play or Ubisoft+ subscriptions included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and if it's new to specific platforms or subscription tiers with a little bit of bold text.

Those looking for more information on Xbox Game Pass and its assorted benefits can refer to our ultimate Xbox Game Pass FAQ, which honestly contains an absurd amount of knowledge (I can't claim credit for that one, it was my colleague, Jez Corden).

What are the best new Xbox Game Pass games this month?

Say hi to the best recent Xbox Game Pass games. You'll rarely go wrong with the diverse selection of games on Xbox Game Pass, but there are always a handful of titles that stand above the rest. These are the best new games that have recently arrived on Xbox Game Pass that you shouldn't hesitate to play.

Star Wars Outlaws

Available: Jan. 13 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate)

Star Wars is one of the biggest franchises in existence, and there's no shortage of movies, TV shows, video games, books, toys, and more set in the massive sci-fi universe. Star Wars Outlaws is one of those video games, but it's a little different than many of the others.

Rather than focus on the endless battle between the Jedi and Sith, Star Wars Outlaws focuses on the crime syndicates of the galaxy, following the adventures of one scoundrel desperately trying to build her own life in the stars. It's a stealthy, third-person action-adventure with a lot to explore and see, all in a very typical Ubisoft fashion.

In our 4/5-star Star Wars Outlaws review, my colleague Rebecca Spear concluded:

"Star Wars Outlaws is a fun single-player open-world RPG that allows players to take part in the criminal underworld. Being able to decide which syndicates to work for and who to betray during each quest adds a level of strategy hereto unseen in previous Star Wars games. Infiltrating restricted areas, exploring familiar locales, stealthily taking down enemies, and hacking into terminals adds to the scoundrel experience."

Now, like many other Ubisoft games, Star Wars Outlaws is joining the Xbox Game Pass catalog.

ROUTINE

Available: Dec. 4 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)

It's no secret that video games are taking longer and longer to develop as they become larger and more photorealistic, but 13 years between a game's reveal and its release is still almost unheard of. That's the case for ROUTINE, an indie survival-horror game with some hardcore retro-futuristic aesthetics.

ROUTINE has been on my radar since its re-reveal (which was still over three years ago), and it has finally arrived. Seems all the waiting was worth it, because ROUTINE is now one of the best horror games you can play on Xbox Game Pass.

In my 4.5/5-star ROUTINE review, I concluded:

"ROUTINE is a wonderful addition to the survival-horror genre, debuting on Xbox Game Pass with a meticulously realized retro-futuristic world set on the moon. ROUTINE's gameplay can feel clunky and your objectives can feel nebulous, but Lunar Software has absolutely nailed the art direction, audio design, and horrifying atmosphere."

There are definitely some rough edges and awkward elements in ROUTINE, but overall I absolutely adore this sci-fi spookfest. ROUTINE is definitely worth sinking a few hours into.

Mortal Kombat 1

One of the most legendary fighting game series has been rebooted, and it's now on Xbox Game Pass. (Image credit: Warner Bros. Games)

Available: Dec. 10 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)

Mortal Kombat is one of the longest-running and most-successful fighting game franchises, but its timeline has grown increasingly messy with each successive entry. A couple of years ago, Warner Bros reset the universe with Mortal Kombat 1, a new beginning for the series.

The game has grown a lot since its release, with plenty of updates, new characters, and more. In our original 4/5-star Mortal Kombat 1 review, we concluded:

"Mortal Kombat successfully resets the timeline with a strong campaign and fun gameplay. Not everything receives the same care and attention, as customization in multiplayer leaves a fair bit to be desired, with microtransactions aplenty. It's still a game worthy of the Mortal Kombat name however, and a great excuse to test your might by yourself or with friends."

Now, Mortal Kombat 1 has joined the Xbox Game Pass library. It's not the first MK game to come to the service, but it is the latest. Fighting game fans shouldn't ignore this addition.

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What games recently came to Xbox Game Pass?

Revisit one of the most legendary entries in the expansive Warhammer: 40,000 universe on Xbox Game Pass. (Image credit: SEGA)

It can be easy to lose track of all the new games coming to Xbox Game Pass, so we've compiled the full list for your convenience. In this section of our Xbox Game Pass guide, learn what games have been released on Xbox Game Pass recently, when they became available, and what platforms on which they're available.

Added Jan. 13

Star Wars Outlaws — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate)
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check — Xbox on PC (PC & Ultimate)

Added Jan. 8

FINAL FANTASY — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)

Added Jan. 7

Atomfall — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
Lost in Random: The Eternal Die — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
REMATCH — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Master Crafted Edition — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)

Added Jan. 6

Brews & Bastards — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)

Added Dec. 11

Bratz: Rhythm & Style — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)

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What's the full list of Xbox Game Pass games coming soon?

The sequel to this zany, chaotic first-person shooter is also coming to Game Pass on day one. (Image credit: Squanch Games Inc.)

Microsoft loves to give Xbox Game Pass subscribers plenty of time to prepare for upcoming additions by announcing them early. This section of our Xbox Game Pass will help you keep track of all the games coming to Xbox Game Pass shortly, so you can decide what you want to play and whether you need to free up some space.

Coming Jan. 15

My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)

Coming Jan. 20

MIO: Memories in Orbit — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)
Resident Evil Village — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)

Coming Feb. 13

High on Life 2 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)

Coming Feb. 26

Towerborne — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)

Coming Mar. 12

REPLACED — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox on PC (PC & Ultimate on day one) on Mar. 12, 2026

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Which Xbox Game Pass games are leaving soon?

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn launched into Xbox Game Pass, but it's almost time for it to leave the service. (Image credit: Kepler Interactive)

Microsoft gives players a heads up when games are about to leave the Xbox Game Pass service (and most eventually do), so keep an eye on this section for games you want to play before they're gone. If you won't have time, be sure to take advantage of your Game Pass discount to buy the game before it leaves.

Leaving Jan. 15

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
Neon White — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
Road 96 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
The Ascent — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
The Grinch: Christmas Adventures Merry & Mischievous Edition — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)

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What day one Xbox Game Pass games have been announced?

A reboot of a legendary RPG franchise is in the works. (Image credit: Xbox Game Studio)

Xbox and ID@Xbox events toss expectations to announce a flurry of games that are hitting Xbox Game Pass day and date, which means day one access to all of these games for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, including some of the best upcoming Xbox games.

Many of these games are far enough out that they don't even have a release date, and we're not certain exactly which platforms they'll come to through Xbox Game Pass. Still, this list in our Xbox Game Pass guide will give you an idea of what to look out for in the future of Xbox Game Pass.

The following events, as well as upcoming Xbox Game Studios games, have been added to this section:

Xbox Partner Preview — Nov. 2025

Erosion — Xbox on PC (PC & Ultimate on day one in Xbox Game Preview) in Spring 2026
Roadside Research — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one in Xbox Game Preview) in Q1 2026
Armatus — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
Echo Generation 2 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
Crowsworn — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)
Erosion — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)
Raji: Kaliyuga — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)
Vampire Crawlers — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate on day one)

ID@Xbox Showcase — Oct. 2025

TCG Card Shop Simulator — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in Q1 2026
Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in Early 2026
Aphelion — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
AWAYSIS — Xbox Series X|S & Xbox on PC (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
Darkwood II — Xbox on PC (PC & Ultimate on day one)
Sledding Game — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)

Gamescom & Opening Night Live — Aug. 2025

High on Life 2 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) on Feb. 13, 2026
Denshattack! — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in Spring 2026
Beastro — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
Freestyle Football 2 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
Tropico 7 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
Wildekin — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)

Xbox Games Showcase — Jun. 2025

High on Life 2 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) on Feb. 13, 2026
Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in Early 2026
Super Meat Boy 3D — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in Early 2026
Aphelion — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
At Fate's End — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
Beast of Reincarnation — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
There Are No Ghosts at the Grand — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
Clockwork Revolution — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)
Persona 4 Revival — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)

ID@Xbox EMEA Developer Session — Feb. 2025

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)

ID@Xbox Showcase — Feb. 2025

TANUKI: Pon's Summer — Xbox Series X|S & Xbox on PC (PC & Ultimate on day one)
Echo Weaver — Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One (Ultimate on day one)
Ultimate Sheep Raccoon — Xbox Series X|S (Ultimate on day one)
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)

Xbox Partner Preview — Oct. 2024

Subnautica 2 — Xbox Series X|S & Xbox on PC (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026

Xbox Games Showcase — Jun. 2024

REPLACED — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox on PC (PC & Ultimate on day one) on Mar. 12, 2026
Fable — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
Gears of War: E-Day — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
Mixtape — Xbox Series X|S & Xbox on PC (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
State of Decay 3 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)

Xbox Partner Preview — Mar. 2024

Sleight of Hand — Xbox Series X|S & Xbox on PC (PC & Ultimate on day one)

Xbox Games Showcase — Jun. 2023

Fable — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
Cities: Skylines 2 — Xbox Series X|S & Xbox on PC (PC & Ultimate on day one)
Clockwork Revolution — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)

Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase — Jun. 2022

Ark 2 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)

Xbox @ Gamescom — Aug. 2021

Bushiden — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)

Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase — Jun. 2021

REPLACED — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox on PC (PC & Ultimate on day one) on Mar. 12, 2026

ID@Xbox Games Showcase — Mar. 2021

She Dreams Elsewhere — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox on PC (PC & Ultimate on day one)
Way to the Woods — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)

Xbox Game Studios & Bethesda Softworks upcoming games

Towerborne — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) on Feb. 26, 2026
Fable — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
Forza Horizon 6 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
Gears of War: E-Day — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one) in 2026
Clockwork Revolution — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)
Marvel's Blade — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)
OD — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)
State of Decay 3 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)
The Elder Scrolls VI — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)

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Xbox Game Pass FAQ

Xbox Game Pass is wildly considered to be one of the best values in the video games industry, as it's an all-in-one subscription that includes unlimited access to hundreds of video games across Xbox, PC, and the cloud.

Day one releases, modern titles, and even beloved classics are all available, and there are a ton of other perks for being subscribed, too.

I do recommend checking out our in-depth guide and FAQ to everything you need to know about Xbox Game Pass for a complete run down, but I'll answer some of the more common questions here.

What is Xbox Game Pass?

Put simply, Xbox Game Pass is an optional subscription service tied to the Xbox gaming ecosystem. It's available across Xbox consoles, Windows PCs, and the cloud on many other devices (including smartphones, tablets, and TVs).

Nowadays, Xbox Game Pass has expanded to be the ultimate subscription for gaming, and includes (but isn't limited to) unlimited access to hundreds of Xbox and PC games, premium online multiplayer access on Xbox consoles (previously branded as "Xbox Live"), discounts on games and DLCs, exclusive offers and perks, cloud gaming on all your devices (including for some owned games), and more.

What are the different Xbox Game Pass tiers?

There are four Xbox Game Pass tiers, which may seem confusing at first, but there is a method to the madness.

First is Xbox Game Pass Essential, which costs $10/month and strictly includes premium online multiplayer on Xbox consoles, access to a small, curated collection of Xbox and PC games, Xbox Cloud Gaming for included and owned games, discounts on included games and DLC, and other in-game perks and benefits.

Next is Xbox Game Pass Premium, which costs $15/month and includes everything from Essential, but with hundreds more Xbox and PC games and access to most first-party Xbox games (added up to a year after release).

Then there's PC Game Pass, which costs $16.49/month and includes access to a huge collection of Windows PC games, including all first-party Xbox titles from day one, EA Play, and Ubisoft+ Classics, and discounts on included games and DLC.

Finally, we have Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. At $30/month, this is the flagship Xbox Game Pass tier and includes absolutely everything in all previous tiers, a much larger library of Xbox and PC games, Ultimate-exclusive perks, a Fortnite Crew subscription, and a guarantee of 75 or more day-one additions every year.

Where is Xbox Game Pass available?

Despite having "Xbox" in the name, Xbox Game Pass isn't just limited to consoles. In fact, Microsoft wants you to believe that most anything can be an Xbox, and it's thanks to Xbox Game Pass.

Depending on the tier you're subscribed to, Xbox Game Pass is available across Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One consoles, Windows PCs, and literally millions of other devices via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

That last point is important — Xbox Game Pass lets you stream Xbox games to your mobile smartphone, tablet, smart TV, and almost any other modern device that has an internet browser. You don't even need to connect a controller all the time, as many of these streamable games support touch controls on mobile devices.

How many games are available on Xbox Game Pass?

This depends on the tier. If you're talking about Xbox Game Pass Core, that's a few dozen. Standard or PC? A few hundred. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes all of the above, though, and on my Xbox Series X that's over 400 unique games at time of writing (and that doesn't include PC-specific games).

Many of those games are available via PC Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming, too, with cross-progression thanks to Xbox Play Anywhere, so you can move between devices.

You can refer to our complete list of every game on Xbox Game Pass for more information.

Which tier of Xbox Game Pass should I subscribe to?

With four tiers to choose from, it may seem confusing which subscription is the best for you. I'll quickly break it down with my final recommendation to make that decision easier.

Xbox Game Pass Essential is mostly for those that strictly play premium online multiplayer games like Call of Duty on Xbox consoles (free-to-play multiplayer games like Fortnite and Apex Legends do not require a Game Pass Core subscription). As a bonus, you get a taste test of the full Xbox Game Pass experience with a few dozen carefully selected games.

Xbox Game Pass Premium is for those who do play more than premium online multiplayer games, and like the idea of having access to a wide variety of games they might otherwise not play.

PC Game Pass is for those same people, but the ones who exclusively play on Windows PC and don't use or own an Xbox console. For many, Premium or PC are the best overall value right now.

Finally, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is for those who want it all. If you want unfettered access to all the games (including permanent access to all first-party Xbox exclusives from day one), want to stream games on the go, play across Xbox and PC, want the best discounts and exclusive perks, or any combination of the above — this is the subscription.

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