The Xbox Game Pass library is preparing for another significant turnover this week, headlined by a major narrative action-RPG and the long-awaited sequel to a chaotic indie hit.
Subscribers are set to dive into the emotional depths of Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden and the interdimensional mayhem of Kill It With Fire! 2. But note, this influx of content arrives just as a collection of exceptional JRPGs and Soulslike adventures prepares to make their final departure.
We’ll start with the new experiences that are arriving on Game Pass this week, and on the back of some shadow-drops of the likes of CloverPit, we welcome two games to the service, one of which is a day one debutant.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – November 25th
From Don’t Nod, the acclaimed studio behind Life is Strange, comes Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Set in 1695 New Eden, North America, you play as Red Mac Raith and his partner Antea Duarte – two experienced ghost hunters (Banishers). Following a disastrous mission, Antea is killed, becoming a spirit herself.
You must now navigate the world, using Red’s physical arsenal and Antea’s spectral powers in dynamic combat, while wrestling with an impossible choice: uphold your Banisher oath and ascend Antea’s soul, or sacrifice the living in the desperate hope of bringing her back.
This is a game that we love, running a 4.5/5 scored review of Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden back in 2024. We urge you to give it a read.
Kill It With Fire! 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – November 25th
Prepare to wage the arachnid war across time and space!
Kill It With Fire! 2 is the dimension-hopping sequel that brings hilarious, chaotic action to Game Pass.
The premise is simple: spiders have invaded the entire multiverse, and you, an exterminator, must obliterate every last eight-legged menace. Arm yourself with a ridiculous variety of weapons – from lasers and remote-controlled vehicles to, of course, flames – and utilise their weakness to most forms of violence.
Our full review is on the way, but if it’s anything like the original Kill It With Fire! from a few years back, this one is going to be a big old hit.
What’s Leaving Game Pass?
Of course, as we move towards the end of the month, the usual final call for some Game Pass oldies comes into effect. This time, it’s the JRPGs and Soulslikes that are preparing to shift out…
- Lords of the Fallen (Cloud, Console, and PC) – 4/5 review score – “There is a lot to like about Lords of the Fallen. The scope and scale of the two worlds is impressive, whilst the combat is fast and frantic. Even the exploration side of things, while tricky, is rewarding when you manage to pull it off.“
- Octopath Traveler (Cloud, Console, and PC) – 4/5 review score – “Octopath Traveler on Xbox is a game that expertly marries a traditional JRPG with more modern ideas. It should be immediately obvious that this is the intention with the “HD-2D” visuals, but even after only a short time playing it feels so well-executed.”
- Octopath Traveler II (Cloud, Console, and PC) – 4.5/5 review score – “Octopath Traveler II is challenging yet rewarding, full of narrative that you’ll want to immerse yourself in. It may initially feel a slog, but there are hours of play here, all of which play out across some great world design.”
- SteamWorld Build (Cloud, Console, and PC) – 3.5/5 review score – “Perhaps you shouldn’t come to SteamWorld Build looking to pile in hundreds of hours, but this is an extremely likeable, bite-sized city creating adventure. It all works very well, and only in the latter moments will you ever really feel too much tension of juggling elements.“
- Barbie Project Friendship (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Join Barbie (again) as she takes in a bit of a heartwarming tale, one that has you attempting to revitalise her beloved Malibu Waves Community Center.Â
Weekly Game Pass Summary
- Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden: Narrative Action-RPG, Emotional Choices (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S)
- Kill It With Fire! 2: Chaotic, Multiversal Co-op/PvP Action (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Leaving Nov 30: Lords of the Fallen, Octopath Traveler I & II, SteamWorld Build, Barbie Project Friendship
This week’s Game Pass update offers a fascinating choice between a profound story of love and sacrifice in Banishers and the pure absurdity of multiversal spider extermination in Kill It With Fire! 2. However, make sure your priorities are set – do not let the vast, intricate worlds of Lords of the Fallen or the Octopath Traveler series slip away before November 30th.
