Game Pass Games – January 2025

0 0
Read Time:5 Minute, 26 Second

However you’ve been kicking off 2025, January Game Pass has a bunch of exciting titles to ensure a great virtual start to the year. With three day-one releases, two returning games, and a legendary action-RPG—to name a few!—we’ll be spoiled for choice!

Carrion

Genre: Horror
Longevity: 4.5 – 6 hours | Achievements: 21
Metacritic: 75 | OpenCritic: Strong
Available: Now (Console, PC and Cloud)
Tiers: Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Released: 23rd January 2020

The pixel art “reverse-horror” makes a return to Game Pass to kick the year off with a bang. Carrion lets you become the monster as you try to escape confinement and take revenge on the scientists that imprisoned you. Uncover ability capsules to learn new skills and adapt to your environment, but choose wisely; maximising certain assets will make others unusable. Experience a mix of puzzle-solving and combat as enemies will also adapt to your methods, making your escape more tricky and treacherous. Ever wondered what it would be like to be the fleshy tentacled abomination for once? Why not find out?

Road 96

Genre: Adventure
Longevity: 7.5 – 9.5 hours | Achievements: 12
Metacritic: 79 | OpenCritic: Strong
Available: Now (Console, PC and Cloud)
Tiers: Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Released: 16th August 2021

Another returner to the Game Pass library, this time from the adventure genre. Road 96 paints a picture of a ‘90s road trip to escape an authoritarian regime, inspired by Tarantino, the Coen Brothers and Bong Joon-ho but less bloody. Walk, hitchhike, hail taxis and commandeer your own method of transport to get yourself across the border. Explore procedurally generated stops to rest, salvage supplies, and learn a little more about your travelling companions. Every choice matters in your race for freedom and balancing your energy meter is key; one careless move and arrest or worse awaits you. Ready to hit the road?

EA Sports UFC5

Genre: Fighting/Sports
Longevity: 7 – 12 hours | Achievements: 31
Metacritic: 78 | OpenCritic: Strong
Available: Now (Cloud and Xbox Series X/S with EA Play)
Tiers: Game Pass Ultimate
Released: 27th October 2023

Step into the Octagon and go toe-to-toe with the greats of mixed martial arts in EA Sports UFC 5. Train with the returning Coach Davis in Career Mode and work towards earning G.O.A.T. status. Take the competition online and pit your custom fighters against players from around the world. Feel the impact of blows like never before with the Frostbite engine; injuries can lead to impairments and increased severity gets the ring doctor to step in. Initiate submission attempts more seamlessly with the improved grapple system and experience the thrill of knockouts and walkouts with slick new cinematics. Show ‘em what you’re made of!

Diablo

Genre: Action-RPG
Longevity: 13.5 – 29 hours
Metacritic: 94
Available: Now (PC)
Tiers: Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Released: 3rd January 1997

Whether for the first time or the hundredth, wind the clock back 28 years and experience the sword and sorcery epic that revolutionised a genre. Diablo thrusts you into the dungeons beneath Tristram Village as the mighty hero journeying into Hell against the titular Lord of Terror himself. Choose from the iconic three archetypal classes (Warrior, Rogue or Sorcerer) and mix and match skills to lay waste to hellish monstrosities. Find which weapons and armour suit your stats and keep their durability high to improve their efficiency. Complete numerous quests to obtain powerful items and learn valuable lore. Above all, learn the true meaning of what Hell spat out!

Eternal Strands

Genre: Action-Adventure
Tiers: Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Release Date: 28th January 2025

Shape magic to your will and prevent a world’s destruction in vibrant action-adventure Eternal Strands, the debut title from Yellow Brick Games. As young ‘Weaver’ Brynn, you must uncover the mysteries of the Enclave long sealed off from the outside world. Wield an arsenal of magical weapons and combine elemental magics to take down towering foes. Use your environment and temperature in unique ways to gain an advantage over enemies or open up new pathways. Feel the physics of magic like never before with real-time effects and destruction. And with every surface being climbable, this vibrant world is well and truly your oyster to explore!

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Genre: Shooter
Tiers: Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Release Date: 30th January 2025

Fight alongside the French Resistance in the newest instalment of the award-winning Sniper Elite series. As Harry Hawker for the first time, experience the nuances of sniper warfare taking down a Nazi Wunderwaffe. Choose how you accomplish objectives with multiple kill lists and infiltration/extraction points. Aid the Resistance with new time-sensitive Propaganda missions to help stop the Nazi occupation. Wield authentic WW2 weapons and factor in stocks, wind direction, heartbeat and more to land the perfect shot. With the return of X-Ray Kill Cam, see that shot play out in visceral slow motion with bone ricochets and multiple enemy takedowns. Vivre libre ou mourir!

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

Genre: RPG/Tabletop
Tiers: Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Release Date: 31st January 2025

Return to the galactic world of 2022’s acclaimed dice-driven RPG in its much-anticipated sequel Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector. Playing once more as the Sleeper, you must commandeer a ship and escape the clutches of the corporation that created you AND the gang that enslaved you. Build a network of allies and a skilled crew to keep your ship flying. Take on contracts that test your skills but may yield vital resources. Roll your dice to decide your fate and make difficult choices in your quest for freedom. Take a chance on your new “Push” ability to swing outcomes in your favour, but possibly risk a spiral into danger. Well, nothing ventured…

Standard players also get four new console additions to their libraries this month, all ready to download now. Lightyear Frontier (Game Preview) and Robin Hood – Sherwood Builders are available on Xbox Series X/S, My Time At Sandrock and Rolling Hills on all consoles.

 

Thumb Culture

YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Discord | Podcast

About Author

Average Rating

5 Star
0%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *