As the year winds down, December 2025 arrives with a diverse and exciting collection of new Xbox and Game Pass titles, promising to keep you hooked through the holiday season.
This month you should prepare for epic cosmic battles with Marvel heroes, brave an abandoned lunar base in a chilling sci-fi horror, or strategise your way through alien hordes in a Day One Game Pass roguelike.
Whether you’re into deep narratives, frantic action, or unique indie gems, December has something special in store to make your gaming merry and bright.
But what are the best new Xbox, Play Anywhere and Game Pass games that are set to launch in December 2025? We’ve narrowed down seven of the finest…
MARVEL Cosmic Invasion
A cosmic battle awaits in MARVEL Cosmic Invasion, a frenetic action beat ’em up crafted by Tribute Games and Dotemu in collaboration with Marvel Games.
Choose from 15 iconic Marvel heroes like Nova, Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Captain America to fight the deadly Annihilation Wave threatening the galaxy. Journey from the streets of New York City to the depths of the Negative Zone, battling across the stars in a love letter to the Marvel Universe.
The Cosmic Swap tag-team system allows instant character switching, enabling unique combos and tactical team-ups for both old-school fans and newcomers alike. Enjoy dynamic combat and dazzling pixel art solo or with friends via local/online play.
- Developer: Tribute Games
- Publisher: Dotemu
- Store Page: Not yet available
ROUTINE
Immerse yourself in ROUTINE, a first-person sci-fi horror title set on a chillingly abandoned lunar base, envisioned with an authentic ’80s aesthetic.
What begins as curious exploration quickly descends into a desperate fight for survival when the base goes silent, and you discover the real threat might be you.
Roam through contrasting sectors, from eerie abandoned malls to deteriorating living quarters, investigating your surroundings to piece together a gripping mystery. With full body awareness, diegetic audio, and a minimal UI, the experience is intensely atmospheric.
Your Cosmonaut Assistance Tool (C.A.T.) is vital for navigation and clues, but in a last resort, it might be your only defence against unknown horrors.
- Developer: Lunar Software
- Publisher: Raw Fury
- Store Page: https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/routine/9pcjt6tlcggv
OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0
Embark on a new journey in OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0, where you start from zero to discover an epic saga of restoration and retribution over divine rings in the realm of Orsterra.
After the original OCTOPATH TRAVELER and OCTOPATH TRAVELER II, this entry brings back beloved features like the stunning HD-2D graphics, fusing retro pixel art with 3DCG, and the strategic Break and Boost system that can turn the tide of battle.
Uniquely, character creation allows you to design your own protagonist, choosing appearance, voice, and even favourite dish.
Engage in exhilarating command battles with a party of up to eight from over 30 allies, and use Path Actions to invite people to your custom-built hometown, acquire items, or challenge foes.
- Developer: SQUARE ENIX
- Publisher: SQUARE ENIX
- Store Page: https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/octopath-traveler-0/9N5PJHZ88G5V/0017
Thank Goodness You’re Here!
Arriving early for a crucial meeting in the bizarre Northern English town of Barnsworth, a traveling salesman finds himself undertaking a series of increasingly odd jobs in Thank Goodness You’re Here!
This “comedy slapformer” from Panic (previously behind the likes of HERDLING) unfolds as your exploration and antics leave their mark on the strange locals, all brought to life with vibrant hand-drawn animation, fully voiced dialogue, and constant double entendres. With each completed task, new areas of the town open, stranger jobs emerge, and the clock ticks towards your big meeting.
The game offers a unique blend of humor and exploration, with the town’s colourful inhabitants eager to push you into their quirky routines.
- Developer: Coal Supper
- Publisher: Panic
- Store Page: https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/thank-goodness-youre-here/9P14ZTSR0LS9/0010
Dome Keeper
Day One on Game Pass
Defend your dome against relentless waves of alien monsters in this unique roguelike action mining game, coming Day One to Game Pass.
Between attacks, use your drill and keeper equipment to dig deep beneath the surface, searching for valuable resources and ancient relics. Deliver these finds back to your dome to unlock powerful upgrades, enhance defences, and discover useful new gadgets.
The core tension lies in your choice: risk delving deeper into the procedurally generated mine for more loot, or return to base to prepare for the next imminent attack?
Strategise your resource spending to improve your drill, movement speed, or dome weaponry to ensure your survival against diverse enemy types.
- Developer: Bippinbits
- Publisher: Raw Fury
- Store Page: https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/dome-keeper/9P8XKV2D5DZ5/0010
Injection π23 ‘Tabula Rasa’
Injection π23 ‘Tabula Rasa’ plunges players into a classic survival horror experience, heavily focused on intricate puzzle-solving and strategic gameplay.
You control a lonely character, isolated from society, whose desperate search for his beloved dog inexplicably draws him into a dark and unsettling conspiracy. The narrative delves into the sinister world of secret societies and mind control programs, drawing inspiration from actual historical facts and real-world events to weave a chillingly plausible tale.
Navigate a nightmarish environment, managing limited resources and relying on your wits to uncover the truth behind the bizarre occurrences and fight for survival against unseen forces.
We’ll see how this one compares to Injection π23 ‘Ars regia’ in full review soon.
- Developer: Abramelin Games
- Publisher: Abramelin Games
- Store Page: https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/injection-%CF%8023-tabula-rasa/9mxzhk71bm6r
A Game About Digging A Hole
We’re super excited for this one and just as the title suggests, A Game About Digging A Hole offers a relaxing yet engaging adventure where your primary goal is to dig, explore, and uncover secrets beneath the surface.
With every spadeful, you delve deeper into the earth, collecting treasures and resources to sell. Use your earnings to upgrade your equipment, allowing you to venture further and further into the unknown.
There’s no rush, no strict rules, just the tranquil joy of the journey underground.
Previously on Steam and described as costing “as much as a coffee, but is fun for longer,” this charming indie title promises endless, stress-free exploration for those who enjoy a simple, rewarding loop.
- Developer: DoubleBee, Mi’pu’mi Games
- Publisher: rokaplay
- Store Page: https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/a-game-about-digging-a-hole/9NGLST31DG26
A Perfect End to the Gaming Year?
December 2025 wraps up the year with a bang, delivering a diverse and captivating selection of games for Xbox and Game Pass subscribers. And of course, seeing as EVERYTHING is an Xbox, there’s going to be some strong Xbox Play Anywhere support with a host of these games.
Whether you’re assembling a super-team to save the galaxy in MARVEL Cosmic Invasion, meticulously building a town and forming a party in OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0, or frantically digging for, well, whatever you find in A Game About Digging A Hole, there’s a unique adventure waiting.
Get ready to dive into these new releases and make the most of your holiday gaming!
As always, let us know what you’ll be playing this month.
