New Xbox Game Pass games (December 2023): What's coming, leaving soon

Xbox Game Pass sign
Time for new Xbox Game Pass games! (Image credit: Matt Brown | Windows Central)

It's a new month, which means new Xbox Game Pass games! 

Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and the all-encompassing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate each provide numerous perks to subscribers, including unlimited access to the best Xbox Game Pass games and many more. It's often considered to be one of the greatest values in the video game industry, and Xbox is intent on driving that idea home with new additions to the services every single month.

Xbox Game Pass is available on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One consoles. PC Game Pass is available on Windows PCs. Xbox Cloud Gaming grants remote access to hundreds of titles on practically any device through streaming. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, as the name implies, is the quintessential subscription that includes all the aforementioned services, online multiplayer, exclusive perks, and EA Play access. With new games arriving all the time, it can be easy to lose track of new additions.

Here's every single game leaving the service, as well as all the new Xbox Game Pass games right now. If you want the complete list, be sure to bookmark our ultimate guide to every game on Xbox Game Pass. This list isn't as applicable to Xbox Game Pass Core and its curated library of Xbox games, but you can still keep up to date with all the titles available in the main Xbox Game Pass catalog.

Note: Bold text indicates the game in question is coming to that platform, but is already available on other platforms through Xbox Game Pass.

Xbox Game Pass: Best new games this month

Use Agent Style to beat up multiple opponents at once in The Man Who Erased His Name. (Image credit: SEGA)

Say hi to new 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 — including, but not limited to, exceptional indie games, addictive multiplayer games, expansive AAA games, and Microsoft's first-party titles and projects. These are the best new games that have recently arrived on Xbox Game Pass that you shouldn't hesitate to play.

Remnant II

  • Available: Nov. 29 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Remnant 2 is the long-awaited sequel to the beloved Soulslike-with-guns, expanding and building upon the original in every conceivable way. It's brutal and visceral, with countless ways to build your character to be as powerful as possible. It also supports co-op, so you can rip and tear your way through hordes of enemies alongside a friend.

In our Remnant 2 review, we called it a "well-deserved sequel that delivers on making every aspect of the original game all the better." It wasn't perfect at launch, but the game has steadily improved since then. On Xbox and PC Game Pass, it's in the best condition it has ever been, making this the perfect time to play. You can also score a discount on Remnant 2: The Awakened King, the game's first major DLC.

Persona 5 Tactica

  • Available: Nov. 17 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Much of Persona is or has been featured on Xbox and PC Game Pass, but this isn't a mainline game. Persona 5 Tactica is a spin-off that trades the traditional JRPG gameplay for a new strategy-RPG formula, and to great success. In our Persona 5 Tactica review, we called it an "entertaining introduction to strategic RPGs for Xbox gamers."

Now available on Xbox Game Pass, this is a great one both for strategy and Persona fans, and could be a good introduction to either for new players. It's a solid, fun game with a lot of content. It's not the most challenging title, though, so those who demand difficulty from their games maybe won't enjoy their time as much.

Spirittea

  • Available: Nov. 13 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Love Stardew Valley but want it to be a little more spooky? Spirittea has you explore a large and diverse city filled with all manner of spirits. You'll befriend a huge number of characters, creatively and charmingly written to win over your heart. There's so much to do in Spirittea, enough to keep you occupied for dozens of hours.

This is one of the best recent indie releases onto Xbox Game Pass, and it as already been a huge success. If you want another game to obsess over, Spirittea is a good choice. In our Spirittea review, we called it a "charming and amusing way to spend a spare hundred hours managing your own bath house and meeting troublesome spirits."

Xbox Game Pass: Full list of new games

Remnant: From the Ashes and its long-awaited sequel are both on Game Pass. (Image credit: Gearbox Publishing)

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.

Nov. 29

  • Remnant: From the Ashes (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
  • Remnant II (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Nov. 28

  • Dune: Spice Wars (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
  • Rollerdrome (Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Nov. 17

  • Persona 5 Tactica (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Nov. 14

  • Coral Island (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Nov. 13

  • Spirittea (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Xbox Game Pass: Full schedule of games coming soon

The latest Far Cry game will be easier to play than ever on Xbox Game Pass. (Image credit: Ubisoft Entertainment SA)

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.

Dec. 1

  • Spirit of the North (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
  • SteamWorld Build (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Dec. 5

  • Clone Drone in the Danger Zone (Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
  • Rise of the Tomb Raider (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
  • While the Iron's Hot (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
  • World War Z: Aftermath (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Dec. 7

  • Goat Simulator 3 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Dec. 8

  • Against the Storm (Windows PC)

Dec. 12

  • Tin Hearts (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Dec. 14

  • Far Cry 6 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Xbox Game Pass: List of games leaving soon

I guess I'm playing Chained Echoes next. (Image credit: Windows Central)

For the most part, more games join Xbox Game Pass than leave. However, most games do leave the service eventually, so Microsoft likes to give players a heads up if they haven't gotten around to playing that game yet. Keep an eye on this section of our Xbox Game Pass guide for games you still want to play. If you see a game you've played and loved, be sure to purchase it with your Xbox Game Pass discount so you can keep it forever.

Nov. 30

  • ANVIL: Vault Breaker | Game Preview (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
  • Battlefield 1943 (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) via EA Play
  • Battlefield: Bad Company (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) via EA Play
  • Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC) via EA Play
  • Disc Room (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
  • Eastward (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
  • Grid (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) via EA Play

Dec. 15

  • Chained Echoes (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
  • Opus Magnum (PC)
  • Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
  • Rubber Bandits (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Xbox Game Pass: All known upcoming launch games

(Image credit: Source: Xbox Game Studios)

Microsoft gives us updates on games heading to Xbox Game Pass a few weeks before those games become available, usually twice a month. However, Xbox and ID@Xbox events toss aside this expectation to announce a flurry of games that are hitting Xbox Game Pass day and date, meaning they're launching into the service when they land on Xbox platforms. That 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. We'll constantly update this list as we get new information about release dates, when games become available, and what platforms are getting them.

The following events, as well as upcoming Xbox Game Studios games, have been added to this section, including Xbox Games Showcase 2023:

ID@Xbox Games Showcase — March 26, 2021

  • S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC) — 2023
  • Dead Static Drive (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC) — Unknown release date
  • She Dreams Elsewhere (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC) — Unknown release date
  • Way to the Woods (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Unknown release date

Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase at E3 2021 — June 13, 2021

  • REPLACED (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & Windows PC) — 2023
  • S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — 2023
  • Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — April 24, 2024
  • Contraband (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC) — Unknown release date
  • The Outer Worlds 2 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC) — Unknown release date

Xbox Gamescom 2021 event — Aug. 28, 2021

  • Bushiden (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Unknown release date

ID@Xbox Showcase — March 16, 2022

  • Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — Unknown release date

Summer Game Fest 2022 — June 2022

  • Routine (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC) — Unknown release date

Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2022 — June 12, 2022

  • League of Legends: Wild Rift (Mobile) — Unknown release date
  • Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Unknown release date
  • Ark 2 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Unknown release date
  • S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — 2024
  • Lightyear Frontier (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Early 2024
  • Ara: History Untold (Windows PC) — Unknown release date
  • Ereban: Shadow Legacy (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Unknown release date
  • Hollow Knight: Silksong (Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Unknown release date

Gamescom 2022 — Aug. 23-26, 2022

  • Mad Streets (Windows PC) — Unknown release date

ID@Xbox Fall Showcase 2022 — Sept. 14, 2022

  • Born of Bread (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC) — 2023
  • Turnip Boy Robs a Bank (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC) — 2023

Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2022 — Sept. 15, 2022

  • Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — April 24, 2024

Xbox Games Showcase 2023 — June 11, 2023

  • Galacticare (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC) — 2023
  • Persona 3 Reload (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC) — Feb. 2 2024
  • Cities: Skylines 2 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized) — Spring 2024
  • Harold Halibut (Xbox) — Early 2024
  • Little Kitty, Big City (Xbox) — Early 2024
  • Still Wakes the Deep (Xbox Series X|S) — Early 2024
  • 33 Immmortals (Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC) — 2024
  • Another Crab's Treasure (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — 2024
  • Avowed (Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC) — 2024
  • Dungeons of Hinterberg (Xbox Series X|S) — 2024
  • Go Mecho Ball (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC) — 2024
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC) — 2024
  • Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 (Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC) — 2024
  • Towerborne (Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC) — 2024
  • Clockwork Revolution (Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC) — Unknown release date
  • Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (Xbox Series X|S) — Unknown release date
  • Fable (Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC) — Unknown release date
  • Neon White (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — Unknown release date
  • South of Midnight (Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC) — Unknown release date

Annapurna Interactive Showcase 2023

  • Bounty Star (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — 2024
  • Ghost Bike (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — 2024
  • Flock (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — Unknown release date
  • to a T (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — Unknown release date

Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2023 — Sept. 2023

  • Persona 3 Reload (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC) — Feb. 2, 2024
  • Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — April 24, 2024

Xbox Game Studios & Bethesda Softworks upcoming games

  • Avowed (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC) — 2024
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC) — 2024
  • Senua's Saga: Hellblade II (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC) — 2024
  • Towerborne (Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC) — 2024
  • Ara: History Untold (Windows PC) — Unknown release date
  • Clockwork Revolution (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC) — Unknown release date
  • Contraband (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC) — Unknown release date
  • Everwild (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC) — Unknown release date
  • Fable (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC) — Unknown release date
  • Perfect Dark (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC) — Unknown release date
  • South of Midnight (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC) — Unknown release date
  • State of Decay 3 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC) — Unknown release date
  • The Outer Worlds 2 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC) — Unknown release date

Xbox Game Pass adds new games all the time, but there's already a vast selection of high-quality titles available for gamers to play. Check out our list of best Xbox Game Pass games for some fantastic ideas on what you should play next. You can also pick up one of the best external SSDs for Xbox Series X|S to ensure you always have enough storage for all these games.

Zachary Boddy
Staff Writer

Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. You can find Zachary on Twitter @BoddyZachary.

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