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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.
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).
Dec. 10, 2025 @ 12:10 p.m. ET — Mortal Kombat 1 is now available on three tiers of Xbox Game Pass. I added it to our list of the best new games on XGP.
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.
Mortal Kombat 1
- 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.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
- Available: Nov. 25 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
DON'T NOD is one of my favorite developers/publishers because of its undeniable talent for crafting emotional, heart wrenching narratives in video games. One of its most ambitious projects yet, though, is Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, a dark Action-RPG with a flair for the supernatural.
I've actually been waiting for a good sale to pick up this game for myself, but now I have no excuse not to find time to play it. Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden has arrived on Game Pass, and it's absolutely a title you should keep an eye on.
In our Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden review, my colleague Cole Martin concluded:
"Don't Nod has carefully crafted a heartwarming tale of ghost hunting lovers that breaks down the need for human connection and forces us to grapple with hypocrisy, sacrifices, and the pain of loss. Despite its heavy subject matter, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden still manages to just be a fun action RPG experience, though its message will continue to haunt me long after the console is shut off."
If only there weren't so many brand-new 2025 games on my backlog, I'd be booting this one up right now.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
- Available: Nov. 14 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)
Call of Duty is a yearly ritual for the video games industry, dominating sales charts and conversations on social media at the beginning of each holiday season, just to start it all again the next year. Well, this year's Call of Duty has arrived, and it's a little different.
Don't get me wrong, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is still CoD, but it's the biggest release for the franchise so far, with an unprecedented amount of content across the campaign, multiplayer, and zombies game modes. Of course, it's also a day one addition to Xbox Game Pass, now that Call of Duty is an Xbox franchise.
In our 4.5/5 star Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 review, my colleague Cole Martin concluded:
"Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is nothing short of ambitious, expanding on the classic Call of Duty formula with more cooperative gameplay opportunities and just enough nostalgia to keep things interesting. Not all of the game's "seven pillars" hold up due to light content at launch, but there's potential for post-launch seasonal content to make up for shortcomings."
I'll personally be skipping Call of Duty this year, but that's mostly because I've grown tired of online multiplayer games in general. For the millions of CoD fans, Black Ops 7 should be a good one — and the journey is just starting.
What games recently came to Xbox Game Pass?
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 Dec. 10
- Mortal Kombat 1 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
Added Dec. 9
- A Game About Digging a Hole — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate on day one)
- Death Howl — Xbox on PC & Xbox Ally (PC & Ultimate on day one)
- Dome Keeper — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate on day one)
- Ultimate Sheep Raccoon — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)
Added Dec. 4
- 33 Immortals — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate in Xbox Game Preview)
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
- ROUTINE — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)
Added Dec. 3
- Monster Train 2 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
- Spray Paint Simulator — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
- Stellaris — Xbox on PC (Essential, Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
- Stellaris Console Edition — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Essential, Premium, & Ultimate)
- World War Z: Aftermath — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Essential, Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
- Medieval Dynasty — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Essential, Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
Added Dec. 2
- Lost Records: Bloom and Rage — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
What's the full list of Xbox Game Pass games coming soon?
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 Dec. 11
- Bratz: Rhythm & Style — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
Coming Jan. 20
- MIO: Memories in Orbit — Xbox Series X|S & Xbox on PC (PC & Ultimate on day one)
Coming Feb. 13
- High on Life 2 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, & 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
Which Xbox Game Pass games are leaving soon?
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 Dec. 15
- Mortal Kombat 11 — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
- Still Wakes the Deep — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
- Wildfrost — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
Leaving Dec. 31
- Carrion — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
- Hell Let Loose — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Ally, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
What day one Xbox Game Pass games have been announced?
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
- ID@Xbox Showcase — Oct. 2025
- Gamescom & Opening Night Live — Aug. 2025
- Xbox Games Showcase — Jun. 2025
- ID@Xbox EMEA Developer Session — Apr. 2025
- ID@Xbox Showcase — Feb. 2025
- Xbox Partner Preview — Oct. 2024
- Xbox Games Showcase — June 2024
- Xbox Partner Preview — Mar. 2024
- Xbox Games Showcase — Jun. 2023
- Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase — Jun. 2022
- Xbox @ Gamescom — Aug. 2021
- Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase — E3 2021
- ID@Xbox Games Showcase — Mar. 2021
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) in Late 2025
- Echo Weaver — Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One (Ultimate on day one) in 2025
- Ultimate Sheep Raccoon — Xbox Series X|S (Ultimate on day one) in 2025
- 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) in 2025
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
- 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)
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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