9 Best New Xbox and Game Pass games to play in May 2024

Even though our ever-burgeoning review lists continue to grow, in reality, it’s been a reasonably quiet few months; at least in terms of the really big games. That changes with May, as the gaming world kicks into gear with some beauties – and yep, the hotly anticipated Hellblade II is on the agenda.

But what joins it? Well, we’ve narrowed things down to 9 of the best new games to release on Xbox and Game Pass through May 2024. The question is, what will you be playing?

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II – Game Pass Day One

Easily the most anticipated new Xbox release of May is that of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. The fact that it drops onto Game Pass Day One just makes it all the more appealing. 

Following on as the sequel to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, a game that wowed pretty much every person who played it, Hellblade II promises to provide another brutal journey of survival. A game that we’re expecting to fall deep into, we’re not sure how the darkness of this one will do anything but excel. 

Of course, stick around for our upcoming review. 

MotoGP 24

Another year, another MotoGP game. This time around we get access to MotoGP 24 as the Milestone team look to lean on past glories to deliver a new motorbike racer to the masses. 

Focusing on the MotoGP season of 2024, you’ll find the opportunity to race in MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3 and the FIM Enel MotoE World Championships, with all the official riders and tracks in place. 

But of course, new features should allow this to stand out from previous games – the Riders Market and MotoGP Stewards for instance. 

If you’re a fan of lids and leathers, crack on. 

Little Kitty, Big City – Game Pass Day One

It’s a little kitty in a big city – what on earth could go wrong?

Much more in line with Untitled Goose Game than the usual feline frolics like Stray, Little Kitty, Big City is another of those much anticipated Game Pass Day One drops. If you’re looking for a world to explore, and want to do so as a little kitty cat, we’re not sure there’s a better game available.

Presented with an open-world playground, in Little Kitty, Big City you’ll get the opportunity to go visit some friends, to complete some quests, to help out others and to kit yourself out in a number of little hats. Why? Why not!?

And of course, as you’re playing as a cat, you can do what the hell you want, when you want it. Sleeping in the day? Causing havoc at night? The world of Little Kitty, Big City is your oyster. 

Indika

We don’t have an exact Xbox release date for INDIKA, but the Odd Meter and 11 bit studios teams behind it have promised us that it’ll be released in May. So here goes…

Due to land on Steam come May 2nd, an Xbox release will follow. If you can’t wait, hop onto Steam and fill your boots. If not, hold tight, just for a few weeks. 

Wherever you play, INDIKA will send you off to an alternate Russian land, one that is playing through the XIX century. It’s here where the story-driven, third-person moments will roll out, telling of a nun who decides to head off on a journey of self-discovery. The problem is, she’s got the devil alongside… 

Frankly, INDIKA looks brilliant and we cannot wait to go about hitting up Russia and taking in the depths of the puzzles and the immersion of the story. 

Braid Anniversary Edition

Ah, Braid. How we absolutely adored your world and time mechanics back in 2008, as you became a staple Xbox 360 must-player. But what’s that? It’s time for us to enjoy that world all over again with your Anniversary Edition? Oh, go on then…

We’re pretty sure that every single person who has ever played Braid will have come away adoring what has been offered. It’s a game that has stuck with us for years, some 16 since we first laid eyes on it. But now Braid gets upgraded, improved, reworked for a more modern era, with the release of Braid, Anniversary Edition. 

There are a host of improvements being made here, and we’ll have them all detailed in our launch article as Braid, Anniversary Edition lands come mid-May, but expect to be treated to visuals that have been hand-repainted, the chance to switch between old and new Braid on the fly, multiple hours of dev comms and more. That ‘more’ being 40 brand new or alternate designs of the original levels. 

This is one we’ll be heading into the second it releases – it only so we can muster up even more Braid memories. 

Crow Country

Retro inspired survival horror your bag? You’ll want to fly away with Crow Country. 

Crow Country takes us to an abandoned theme park, as we trawl the shadowy depths and enjoy the love letter vibes of 1990s horror. We do so in hope of uncovering the secrets behind the owner’s disappearance as well as discovering more about ourselves. 

Atmospheric, sinister and full of secrets, Crow Country is nothing but curious. But it’s also full of enemies and foes to encounter too, with an old school ‘every bullet counts’ set up ensuring that things are consistently kept tense. 

Neatly then, if you prefer to go exploring without that combat, an included Exploration Mode should suit. 

Crown Wars: The Black Prince

Crown Wars: The Black Prince has had a bit of a rough ride, originally due to launch earlier in the year, it’s now set for a late-May release. We’re not totally convinced that will come true, but we sit here in hope. 

You see, Crown Wars: The Black Prince is one of those games that are much anticipated. Running as a turn-based tactics and strategy game set in a dystopian mediaeval period with added touches of dark fantasy, it throws us into the 100-Years-War; a war in which the crown of the most powerful of kingdoms is at stake. 

What plays out will be nothing short of the most bloody of combat, as we attempt to change the course of history, taking our domain from ruin to riches. 

If strategic calls and tactical honing is your bag, you really should be crossing those fingers in hope that Crown Wars: The Black Prince doesn’t get pushed back again. 

F1 24

Codemasters and EA combine once again as they continue to jump on the back of F1 fever – although, honestly, Codies were there well before the Drive to Survive masses.

F1 24 looks to be more of the same, as the development team continue to work in small improvements, hopefully pushing the franchise to the next level after F1 23. When you consider that the F1 games usually build nicely from one year to the next, it all kinda makes sense, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be things to look out for here.

Secret meetings, circuit upgrades, a revamped career mode, the return of F1 World and all new game physics and models – if you’re a fan of F1, F1 24 is going to eat up the hours. 

PAC-MAN MEGA TUNNEL BATTLE: CHOMP CHAMPS

Chomp, chomp, chomp. Who dat? It’s only bloody Pac-Man again, this time coming to Xbox with full cross-platform, 64-player, pellet eating competition with the mouthful that is Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs. 

The latest in a stupidly long line of Pac games – they kicked off back in 1980, so you can imagine the sheer number – Chomp Champs will see you working your way through multiple mazes, interconnected as you look to be the last Pac standing. 

Various game modes await, as does that of ‘Ranked’, so if you have honed those Pac-Man skills over the decades, now is the time to prove your worth. 

What’s coming to Xbox in June?

We’re pretty sure you won’t go wrong with that little list of new Xbox and Game Pass releases for May 2024. But what is set to follow? Well, June is looking very bereft of big games, aside from the release of the new DLC for Elden Ring. We guess no other devs want to be found sitting in the Shadow of the Erdtree, except for the indie magicians. We’ll be back with a full list of those games very soon.

For now, the comments are below. We’d love to know what you’ll be playing in May.