For a monthly fee, Xbox Game Pass subscribers receive access to an ever-growing catalog of games ranging from first-party hits to smaller indie darlings. Every month, Microsoft adds new games to the service, and this month brings some exciting titles for players to enjoy.
Of course, for all of the great content that gets added, some games have to go away. Fortunately, there's still a little more time to play these games before they leave Game Pass and, if you enjoy them, purchase them for 20 percent off.
NBA 2K20
The latest entry in this hit basketball series is now on Game Pass. While the game did receive criticism for its microtransactions, it was also praised for its gameplay and realism. Gamers can create their own basketball players in MyCareer mode and further customize them with clothes, haircuts, tattoos, and power-ups in the Neighborhood. Or, players can choose from existing teams, including lineups from past eras and all 12 WNBA teams.
Train Sim World 2020
Fans of simulation games and locomotives can now play Dovetail Games' latest release. Players get to navigate various real routes like the Long Island Rail Road and Britain's Great Western Express. With 24 hours of scenarios and new challenges, there's no shortage of on-the-rails fun.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
The highly anticipated follow up to Ori and the Blind Forest, Moon Studios' new Metroidvania drops on Game Pass the same day that it launches. For those who loved the last game and new players alike, Ori and the Will of the Wisps allows players to explore a gorgeous setting with Ori and Sein as they fight bosses and solve puzzles. The new Spirit Trials and Spirit Shines modes will also give experienced players even more challenges to face in this platforming adventure.
Pikuniku
The last game coming this month is a quirky indie puzzle adventure game. In Pikuniku, players explore a colorful but strange world that's far darker and more dystopian than it first appears. Kick and push objects and swing with Piku's legs to get through levels and uncover a conspiracy. The game also has a co-op mode where one player will get to control Niku, Piku's orange friend.
Leaving: Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
This month, action-RPG fans will have to say goodbye to this 2016 game published by Square Enix. The fourth game in the Deus Ex series, Mankind Divided follows Adam Jensen, an augmented human who lives as an outcast in a world that has come to hate his kind. Using various weapons and stealth, Adam will explore Prague and uncover a worldwide conspiracy. Players can also compete for high scores in Breach Mode, in which they control a hacker trying to break into the Palisade Bank for information.
Leaving: Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition
Also leaving this month is an action-arcade game that puts a futuristic twist on ancient Germanic mythology. Players will explore a land full of Penguin Vikings and Hipster Ice Giants while fighting off enemies with their throwable Lichtspeer. Plus, Rage Quit and New Game+ modes offer additional challenges for those who want more Wunder Boss fun and glory.
Leaving: Shenmue I and Shenmue II
Fans of Sega's critically acclaimed action-adventure game have a few weeks left to play these cult hit games. These high definition ports of the 1999 game and its 2001 sequel follow Ryo Hazuki, a teenage martial artist who fights criminal gangs in Japan and China in search of his father's murderer. Players can explore a 3D open world and engage in battles, social activities and mini-games. Despite being commercial failures, the games' cult status led to a third game, which released in 2019, eighteen years after the previous title.
Leaving: Thimbleweed Park
The last game leaving this month is a point-and-click mystery set in a small town. In Thimbleweed Park, players control five different characters who find themselves drawn to a rundown town. By picking up items and talking to other characters, players will uncover the strange mysteries the town holds. Fans of The Secret of Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion should be sure to check out this game, as it is full of references to developers Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick's previous collaborations.