Today is a Very Good Day in Game Pass terms, as two rather headline-worthy titles drop onto Game Pass. Sorry Hello Neighbor 2 (Console, Cloud and PC): on any other day you would have made it into the title, but you’ll have to make do with the opening paragraph this time out. That’s because the honour instead goes to LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Console, Cloud and PC).
Yep, one of 2022’s best games has dropped onto Game Pass. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is a contender for TheXboxHub’s end-of-year lists, which means getting it in time for Christmas is a surprise, and a wonderful one at that. If you have a Game Pass subscription, you can finally find out what the fuss is all about.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is an all-encompassing compendium of every character, location and scenario that you can possibly think of with regard to the Star Wars universe. It’s bursting with minifigs, and you can be sure that you will still be unlocking elements after dozens of hours. Better still, Travellers Tales haven’t rested on their laurels: this is an ambitious step forward, with a deep upgrade system, a sprawling hub (or series of hubs) and improved combat.
Want a second opinion? Our reviewer gave it a 4.5/5, saying “LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga oozes the feel good factor. It’s a comprehensively charming and loving tribute to the source material that also happens to be the biggest and best LEGO game to date”.
Hello Neighbor 2 is the other game out today, in danger of being eclipsed by the Death Star of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. But it’s still one to get excited about, not least because it’s a day-one launch from a third-party. It’s also an ambitious sequel, which takes the relatively one-trick approach of Hello Neighbor and adds in a sandbox open world and a multitude of ghastly neighbours to avoid.
tinyBuild are quick to highlight the complexities that each neighbour offers. They have differing AI, so you will have to watch their behaviours and construct bespoke plans for each. Don’t worry, though: there’s a new arsenal of traps and tricks to keep you one step ahead.
Since we last talked to you, the Game Pass games for December have been announced, and there are some beauties. You can expect Chained Echoes (Console, Cloud, PC) and Metal: Hellsinger (Console) on Dec 8th; High on Life (Console, Cloud, PC) and Potion Craft (PC) on Dec 13th; and Hot Wheels Unleashed (PC and Console) and Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan (Cloud, Console and PC) on December 15th.
As with most things in life, negatives come with the positives. Leaving Game Pass on the 15th of December are Aliens: Fireteam Elite (Cloud, Console, and PC), Breathedge (Cloud, Console, and PC), Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (Cloud, Console, and PC), Firewatch (Cloud, Console, and PC), Lake (Cloud, Console, and PC), One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 (Cloud, Console, and PC), Neoverse (Cloud and Console), Race with Ryan (Cloud, Console, and PC), Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth (Cloud, Console, and PC), Rory McIlroy PGA Tour (Console) and Transformers: Battlegrounds (Cloud, Console, and PC).
So, what would you prefer for Christmas? A LEGO set, or a shopping spree in a neighbour’s house? Let us know in the comments or on our social media.
