A huge wave of new games is set to hit the Xbox Game Pass library this week, offering something for every type of player, from tactical first-person shooting to chaotic arcade action and even cozy survival.
Leading the charge is the highly anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (we know you’ve been waiting on this one), which arrives as a day-one launch, alongside an old favourite in the form of Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris. There are several other innovative indies dropping in too.
But what are the new adventures taking over Game Pass this coming week? Well, you’ve got 6 games to cast your eyes over…
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – November 14th
Get ready for the next chapter in the iconic FPS series.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is a massive day-one addition for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers, continuing the espionage-driven narrative in the year 2035.
You’ll join a JSOC unit led by David Mason as they investigate a covert operation. The game features a thrilling single-player campaign, a robust multiplayer component with 6v6 and large-scale 20v20 modes, and the return of the popular round-based Zombies.
Expect near-future military equipment, highly detailed maps, and intense, adrenaline-fueled action across all available platforms. And also expect the usual madness of a CoD game.
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris (Cloud, Console, and PC) – November 11th
The iconic adventurer returns to Game Pass in this fast-paced, action-adventure game.
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is the sequel to Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. Hidden deep in the deserts of Egypt, Lara must team up with rival treasure hunter Carter Bell and the gods Isis and Horus to defeat the evil deity Set.
Players will work together to navigate ancient tombs, clear hordes of enemies in its isometric twin-stick shooter style, and solve complex environmental puzzles.
Great God Grove (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – November 11th
This time you’ll need to prepare for a journey into the delightfully absurd with Great God Grove, an IGF-nominated puzzle adventure.
The world is facing an apocalypse because the god of communication has gone AWOL, leaving the other gods squabbling. As a member of the Bizzyboys, you must suck up and launch speech bubbles to deliver messages, solve puzzles, and mediate disputes between the squabbling deities.
This one feels utterly unique – stay tuned for our review.
Pigeon Simulator (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – November 11th
Embrace the life of urban chaos in Pigeon Simulator.
You play as a pigeon that is part of a top-secret unit tasked with dealing with dangerous anomalies across New Squawk City.
This is a physics-based sandbox that fully embraces the ridiculousness of playing a pigeon with a secret mission.
Expect chaotic multiplayer fun (supporting up to four players) as you explore the city and cause mayhem, all while fulfilling your duties for your top-secret unit.
Relic Hunters Legend (Cloud, Console, and PC) – November 12th
Dive into a colourful, fast-paced looter-shooter RPG with Relic Hunters Legend.
The evil Emperor Duke Ducan has stolen the past to legitimise his oppressive galactic regime, and you must join the Relic Hunters to recover lost memories and take him down.
The game offers deep character customisation, three fully realised skill trees for each Hunter, and an endless stream of rare loot (Exotic, Legendary, etc.) that can fundamentally change your playstyle.
Winter Burrow (Cloud, Console, and PC) – November 12th
Get ready for a cozy challenge with Winter Burrow, a charming woodland survival game.
You play as a mouse returning from the big city to find your childhood home in ruins and your Aunt missing. Your mission is to explore, gather resources, craft tools, and knit warm sweaters to restore your broken-down burrow in preparation for the brutal winter ahead.
This game blends exploration and crafting with a heartwarming narrative about family and community, all set in a beautifully rendered woodland environment.
Final Call: Major Titles Leaving Game Pass on November 15th
A significant portion of the library is cycling out this week, including a handful of critically acclaimed and highly popular titles. Be sure to jump back in before they depart the service on November 15th, and check out our reviews if you need to know more about any of the games.
- Blacksmith Master (Game Preview) (Cloud, Console, and PC):Â Blacksmith Master hands you the keys to your very own medieval forge, a humble workshop with the potential for greatness.
- Football Manager 2024 (PC) / Football Manager 2024 Console Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC):Â “Football Manager 2024 Console Edition allows you to create a story of your own, dealing with your destiny across one club or many, all as you get to oversee every last detail.“
- Spirittea (Cloud, Console, and PC): Give our exclusive interview with the Spirittea devs a read and find out more.
- Frostpunk (Cloud, Console, and PC): “Frostpunk is another incredible title from 11 Bit Studios, and an utter triumph for the genre. It’s an incredibly unique and engaging deep dive into the bowels of the icy tundra, a textbook example of emotional storytelling through gameplay. If you can stomach it and face the cold, Frostpunk is an experience you will likely never forget.“
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl (Cloud, Console, and PC): “S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. There’s no doubt that this is one of the most immersive, grittiest, most brutal of games, for multiple reasons. It’s also one that will allow for a ton of opportunities, no matter whether you follow missions, help out the odd friend, or go it alone, exploring the world forevermore. There’s also no doubt that aurally, it’s of the very highest standard, helping complete the immersion.“
This week’s Game Pass update is truly monumental, balancing the day-one firepower of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 with a wide array of engaging indie titles. More importantly, make sure you don’t miss your final chance to experience the brutal, immersive world of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 before it departs the service.
As always, drop into the comments and let us know your thoughts.
