10 New Games You’ll Be Able To Play On Xbox Game Pass In 2024

Dec. 20, 2023, midnight

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10 New Games You’ll Be Able To Play On Xbox Game Pass In 2024

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Summary Xbox Game Pass is expanding its library in 2024, adding exciting new games for subscribers to enjoy.

Despite potential changes and shake-ups, the service remains committed to providing a strong selection of games.

The already-revealed slate of games coming to Game Pass in 2024 includes a number of multi-platform titles, as well as console exclusives.

Xbox Game Pass is going to add plenty of new games to its library in 2024, expanding the variety of choices available to anyone who subscribes to the service. Although it's impossible to say what the full scope of changes to the library will be in the coming year, a number of planned titles have already been revealed. Among these options, a select number stand out as especially exciting additions to the service, and all are expected to arrive on Game Pass the day they release.

Although it's been going strong for a number of years, Xbox Game Pass has seen some recent changes, from raised prices to the rebranding of Xbox Live Gold as Xbox Game Pass Core. Things have the potential to change even more in 2024, most notably with the possibility of a free Xbox Game Pass model supported by ads. Regardless of any possible shake-ups, however, it seems that the service will still deliver on its core promise of providing a strong selection of games for subscribers.

Related 10 Most Anticipated Xbox Series X/S Games Of 2024 2023 has been a banner year for acclaimed video game releases, but 2024 has plenty in store for the Xbox Series X/S consoles, including exclusives.

15 Another Crab's Treasure

Aggro Crab, April 25

One of the more inventive titles to enter the souslike genre, Another Crab's Treasure is an indie release from fittingly named studio Aggro Crab. Kril the hermit crab stars in the underwater adventure that sees his shell repossessed, sending players on a mobile home-swapping journey through a collapsing underwater ecosystem. Another Crab's Treasure is releasing on April 25, 2024, for PC and all modern consoles, but is going to come to Xbox Game Pass day one.

In what is likely to be an environmentalist text, Another Crab's Treasure has players rifling through trash on the ocean floor, not only to be used as Kril's new shell, but for new weaponry as well. Its underwater theme appears to be rather thorough, too, as Kril will learn various Umami Techniques throughout the game, giving players a host of new abilities learned from other aquatic creatures. While Another Crab's Treasure intends to continue the tradition of soulslike difficulty, it will also feature assist options to help any newcomers attracted by its vibrant art style.

14 Indiana Jones & The Great Circle

MachineGames, 2024

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has been hotly anticipated ever since Bethesda Softworks announced it would be publishing the title in 2021. While initial speculation pinned it as likely being akin to Uncharted, developer MachineGames leaned into its first-person expertise for what appears to be an immersive, whip-cracking, and globe-trotting adventure. The game's first ever gameplay trailer revealed an incredibly authentic rendition of a younger Harrison Ford, who has starred as the eponymous archeologist in all five of the franchise's mainline films.

A cast of new and returning characters will join Indy in Great Circle, which takes place in 1937, between Raiders of the Lost Ark and Last Crusade. This setting, and the titular mystery which places ancient sites of spiritual significance in a perfectly-aligned circle around the globe, will bring Jones into conflict with all three of World War 2's Axis powers. Early looks at Indian Jones and the Great Circle are promising, and it's expected to arrive on Game Pass day one sometime in 2024.

13 Ara: History Untold

Oxide Games, Fall 2024

Ara: History Untold is expected to launch on PC in Fall 2024, coming to PC Game Pass day one. Developer Oxide Games includes veterans of the Sid Meier's Civilization series, having previously worked at Firaxis Games. This gives Ara immediate appeal as a newcomer to the grand strategy genre. Much of Ara's gameplay appears similar to Civilization at a surface level, but there are hints that Ara will potentially be more complex.

Rather than relying on a hex grid like Civ, Ara appears to adopt another popular RTS method of city-building, letting players position new structures wherever they'd like. Players will pick a historical leader, such as Joan of Arc or George Washington, and guide their society through the ages. Ara promises a living and reactive game world to add nuance to its already intricate diplomacy and management systems.

12 Still Wakes The Deep

The Chinese Room, June 18

Still Wakes the Deep is shaping up to be one of 2024's most interesting horror games, releasing on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5 on June 18, including a day one launch on Game Pass. Developer The Chinese Room has a wealth of experience in the genre, having previously created Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, among others. The studio is also set to release the long-awaited Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 in 2024.

Related All Horror Games Releasing In 2024 (PS5, Xbox, PC, Switch) Following the strong horror game releases of the previous year, 2024 has a strong lineup of classic remakes and original releases to offer.

Still Wakes the Deep puts players into the role of Caz McLeary, an electrician from Glasgow who's become trapped on an oil rig in the North Sea. Inclement weather and a mysterious creature doggedly pursuing Caz gives this survival horror game shades of Alien: Isolation, since players are unable to fight back – only hide and run. In what may be a fascinating period piece, Still Wakes the Deep is set in 1975, and hopes to authentically recreate oil drilling platforms of the era.

11 Towerborne

Stoic, 2024

Towerborne comes from development house Stoic, creator of the lauded The Banner Saga series. Stoic's latest venture, however, appears to be much brighter in tone, as Towerborne adopts a vibrant, slightly cel-shaded art style. The co-op, side-scrolling beat-em-up is expected some time in 2024, and since it's being published by Xbox Game Studios, will come to Game Pass on launch day.

With up to four players in a session, Towerborne sees heroes called Aces venturing out from the City of Numbers' Belfry – the game's hub – to reclaim territory lost to hordes of monsters. The game is surprisingly envisioned as a live-service title, and Stoic is planning to expand the experience after it launches. Customizable players, a wide range of weaponry, and the potential for an ever-evolving gameplay landscape make Towerborne a game to keep an eye on.

10 Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn

A44 Games, Q3 2024

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is an ambitious open-world RPG, and it could be a challenge for developer A44 Games to realize its full potential. At any rate, however, a unique fantasy setting and an unsurprising focus on flintlock firearms give it an edge that make it an especially interesting 2024 Xbox Game Pass release. God-killing gameplay could make it an interesting alternative to games like God of War, and it doesn't look overly beholden to any particular inspiration.

God of War is an apt comparison, with the series' more recent games influencing the relationship between the Flintlock's player character, Nor Vanek, and a fox-like creature known as Enki. Kratos and Atreus' relationship particularly influences Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn's gameplay, but it does have a noticeable influence from soulslike games, including Elden Ring.

9 Ark 2

Studio Wildcard, 2024

Anticipation for Ark 2 has had its ups and downs, with the various problems in Ark: Survival Ascended and a number of delays serving to manage expectations of greatness. At any rate, the game should look beautiful in Unreal Engine 5, especially if it can improve on the variable frame rates found in the console release of Survival Ascended. Trying it out through Xbox Game Pass can't hurt, and it could be a major hit if everything comes together.

The survival genre is enduringly popular, and Ark has been a leader in the space for years. It's still unclear what types of advancement or changes Ark 2 is hoping to bring, but with Vin Diesel's involvement, it seems like a dedicated narrative may at least be in the cards. Ark: Survival Ascended's DLC roadmap is currently making its way back through the Survival Evolved expansions, so it seems up to Ark 2 to bring entirely new pre-historic survival gameplay.

8 Manor Lords

Slavic Magic, April 26 (PC Early Access)

Manor Lords is a lot of ideas rolled into one strategy game, with city-building, management, and battle tactics all playing central roles in the experience. All of that is being juggled by a solo developer going by the name of Slavic Magic, which helps explain why a PlayStation port isn't currently planned, despite the lack of an exclusivity contract. The Xbox release also won't come until after PC, but Xbox Game Pass availability has already been confirmed.

Related Manor Lords Release Date, Trailer, & Gameplay Details The strategic city builder/real-time tactical game Manor Lords is coming soon. Here’s everything to know about the medieval town sim ahead of launch.

Manor Lords early access release date is set for April 26, with an unspecified amount of time expected to pass before it arrives on consoles. An early access release will hopefully help the solo developer iron out any kinks that may arise, hopefully leading to a polished release on Xbox. Xbox does have the Game Preview program, which operates similarly to Steam's Early Access, meaning an in-progress version could come to Series X and S consoles as well.

7 Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Rabbit & Bear Studios, April 23

It's been over a decade since the release of a Suikoden game, but Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes aims to take up the mantle of the classic Japanese RPG series. Helmed by the original creator of Suikoden, Eiyuden Chronicle boasts the same unique appeal of a rich tapestry of characters that can be recruited to form the perfect party. If it's anything like most Suikoden games, it should be an easy way to get plenty of playtime out of Xbox Game Pass in 2024.

As the title promises, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes will feature more than 100 possible playable characters, though a core cast is likely to dominate the narrative. The game also takes advantage of the 2.5D art style that's been growing in popularity with turn-based RPGs like Triangle Strategy and Octopath Traveler.

6 Cities: Skylines 2

Colossal Order, Q2 2024 (Console Release)

Cities: Skylines 2 had a rough launch on PC, with plenty of great elements being obscured by major bugs and optimization issues. Hopefully, the delayed console release in 2024 will patch over enough of these issues to be worth a download, and Xbox Game Pass offers a good way to check out the situation. If Cities: Skylines 2's console release is polished, it could eventually attain the more widely beloved status that its predecessor still enjoys.

Related "An Enjoyably Intricate City Planning Game" - Cities: Skylines 2 Review While Cities: Skylines 2 doesn’t have the decade of DLC yet, it is a stunning city management game that is exactly what it should be right now.

Another roadblock to Cities: Skylines 2's success on Xbox consoles is gamepad functionality. Cities: Skylines 2 is notoriously complex, and citybuilders don't often translate especially well away from mouse-and-keyboard controls. Regardless, it'll certainly be a unique Game Pass release, and its predecessor did find success on a range of platforms beyond PC.

5 Persona 3 Reload

P-Studio, February 2

Like many Japanese RPGs, Persona spent a lot of its history on PlayStation consoles, but Persona 3 Reload follows the more recent trend of a multi-platform release. It freshens up a beloved entry in the franchise with some more recent quality-of-life improvements and a graphical overhaul that maintains the original style. Unfortunately, Reload doesn't contain any added content from the earlier re-releases Persona 3 FES and Portable, but it's still a game that any RPG fans with Xbox Game Pass should definitely check out.

Related Persona 3 Reload Review: "A Substantial Reawakening for Atlus' Momentous JRPG" Persona 3 Reload is more than a re-release of an old game. It is an entirely new & unique experience that leads by example for other remasters.

For an added bonus, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate users get the Persona 3 Reload expansion pass included. Some odds and ends in the DLC are just bonus content, but one chapter is also considered the definitive ending to the P3 story. A shame that it's locked behind an extra purchase, but an added convenience to Persona 3 Reload coming to Game Pass.

4 Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2

Ninja Theory, May 21

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice was a big hit for developer Ninja Theory, and Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 continues the story in an adventure through Iceland in the age of the Vikings. Although the original game was self-published, Xbox Game Studios acquired Ninja Theory in 2018 and is publishing Senua's Saga as an Xbox Series X/S console exclusive. Like Senua's Sacrifice, the new entry deals with mental illness and other issues through a unique and interesting lens.

While Hellblade 2 isn't shy about carrying the cinematic storytelling torch passed on by its predecessor, it is expected to have a renewed focus on combat. It will, however, remain rather secondary, primarily interested in pitting Senua against foes in one-on-one combat. Hellblade 2 is set for release on May 21, coming to Game Pass day one.

3 Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Asobo Studio, 2024

Microsoft Flight Simulator is a series with an extraordinary legacy behind it, starting with the 1982 original that predates Microsoft software like Windows. Like the most recent entry, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is being developed by Asobo Studio, the company behind A Plague Tale: Innocence and Requiem. It comes as no surprise that a game with Microsoft in its name is an Xbox console exclusive, and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 follows up the 2020 iteration of the game in joining Xbox Game Pass.

Flight Simulator 2024 will almost assuredly continue the series' legacy of being the definitive and most approachable flight simulator. To set it apart from its predecessor, Flight Simulator 2024 will include a number of new missions based on various aerospace jobs, including aerial firefighting, cropdusting, moutnain rescue, arctic cargo transport, and many more.

2 Avowed

Obsidian Entertainment, Q3/Q4 2024

Avowed is the next game from acclaimed developer Obsidian Entertainment, taking a first-person perspective to the fantasy world of Eora established in Pillars of Eternity. If the game lives up to its potential, it could be a great experience for fans of games like The Elder Scrolls, The Outer Worlds, and Fallout. As an Xbox console exclusive, it's likely to be a major draw for Xbox Game Pass in 2024.

As an Obsidian project, players can expect a certain depth to its writing and narrative, especially since hte Pillars of Eternity universe has already been fleshed out through two games. At first glance, Avowed looks like it might fill a similar niche to Skyrim, but it's taking a more streamlined approach, setting players loose in large zones rather than one contiguous world.

1 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

GSC Game World, September 5

STALKER 2 has suffered a number of delays during a difficult development cycle, but is now set for release on September 5, 2024. There's plenty of anticipation surrounding the title, as it marks the long-awaited return of a fascinating survival horror FPS series. The original games take inspiration from Andrei Tarkovsky's 1979 Soviet film, Stalker, and the novel it was based on, Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.

The games take place following a fictional, second Chornobyl disaster in 2006, and follow groups of trespassers into the exclusion zone known as "stalkers." The zone has given rise to all manner of strange phenomena, and the games' emergent storytelling has turned the original trilogy into cult classics. STALKER 2 is also going to be an Xbox Series X/S console exclusive, so its inclusion on Xbox Game Pass is merely the cherry on top for Xbox users who are fans of the franchise.