From horror to cozy: Xbox adds more games to its June Game Pass lineup

By Carli Velocci Published June 18, 2024

A beam of light surrounding a large tendril in between two broken metal platforms. — Secret Mode

Microsoft has announced the rest of the games coming to Xbox Game Pass in June, and it’s a mix that leans from wholesome to dark and foreboding.

Out on Tuesday is Still Wakes the Deep, the latest horror game from Dear Esther developer The Chinese Room and Secret Mode, which was previously announced to be launching on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Game Pass day one. In this deep sea nightmare, you have to survive a sinking oil rig in the North Sea while not getting taken in by a mysterious eldritch horror.

Recommended Videos

Things are definitely lighter from there. If you’re looking for something more soothing, My Time at Sandrock is hitting the service on Wednesday. This farming/crafting open-world life sim from Pathea Games has a ton to do, from conquering dungeons to farming and romancing other characters. It also features co-op, so you can play with friends. It’s an immensely detailed, adorable-looking game, and if you’re drawn in by its cozy, Stardew Valley-esque vibes, you’ll have a good time.

Ahead of the release of SteamWorld Heist 2 in August, you can catch up on some Metroidvania goodness with SteamWorld Dig and SteamWorld Dig 2 on June 26 for cloud and console, and console and PC, respectively.

Other games coming to Game Pass are the RPG Keplerth (PC Game Pass only) on June 20, EA Sports FC 24 on June 25, and Robin Hood — Sherwood Builders on June 27. Minecraft players will also get access to the Tricky Trials updates, which is now available for download.

However, games being added means some games have to leave. Here’s the list.

Leaving June 30

FIFA 22 (console and PC)
F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch (cloud, console, and PC)
Stranded Deep (cloud, console, and PC)
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town (cloud, console, and PC)
Sword and Fairy Together Forever (cloud, console, and PC)

Leaving July 5

Cricket 22 (cloud, console, and PC)

Contributor, Games

Carli is a technology, culture, and games editor and journalist. They were the Gaming Lead and Copy Chief at Windows Central…

Topics

Gaming

3 new Xbox Game Pass games you should play this weekend

Aliens: Dark Descent key art.

It's Black Friday weekend, so there's a good chance that you just picked up an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S and are planning to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Standard. If so, you'll need to decide what you should play first. While first-party games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 or Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 are good choices, some other new Xbox Game Pass titles are also worth your time this weekend.
Aliens: Dark Descent

If you've been on an Aliens kick this year thanks to Alien: Romulus and the announcement that Alien Isolation is finally getting a sequel, then you'll want to check out Aliens: Dark Descent. This is a real-time strategy game where players control a small squad of Colonial Marines dispatched to Planet Lethe to take care of a Xenomorph threat. It's a tense, exhilarating title that finds a middle ground between the bombastic shootouts of Aliens: Fireteam Elite and the quiet horror of Alien: Isolation. Aliens: Dark Descent flew under the radar when it launched last year, so I'm happy it has another chance at notoriety by getting added to Game Pass.

Gaming

3 new Xbox Game Pass games to play this weekend (November 22-24)

A cockpit view in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

While November has been a quieter month for Xbox Game Pass, this week saw three games launch on Xbox to the benefit of Game Pass subscribers. One is the latest entry in Microsoft's longest-running video game series, another is the long-awaited sequel to a supernatural horror cult classic, and the last one is a popular fantasy MMO that has finally made its way to Xbox Series X/S with bonuses for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. If you have an Xbox Game Pass subscription, but aren't sure what you should be playing this weekend, these are the three most obvious choices.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 – Xbox Games Showcase 2024

Before Microsoft started releasing video game consoles, it made flight simulators. This storied hardcore flying simulation franchise is getting a new entry this year, aptly named Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The latest entry in the Microsoft Flight Simulator series builds upon the strong foundation of its revival in 2020. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 not only sees improved environmental simulation, visuals, and physics, but lots of new content as well. There are now missions where players can participate in aerial firefighting, search and research, and more. While the appeal of simulators like this one is someone niche, those looking for a new flight simulator will adore this game.

Gaming

Xbox is finally letting you cloud stream games you own, with some limits

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty's new character. She's in a security uniform leaning against a railing with a fiery cityscape in the background.

Years after Xbox promised that users could stream games they own through the cloud, the company is finally launching that functionality, albeit with some restrictions.

Starting Wednesday, Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to use Xbox Cloud Gaming to stream games they already own, even if they're not in the Game Pass catalog. However, they can only stream from a list of 50 supported games right now. You can view the full list on Xbox's website, but it's a good mix of titles, ranging from AAA releases like Cyberpunk 2077, Star Wars Outlaws, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to recent indies like Animal Well, Fear the Spotlight, and Dredge. This applies to any version of the game you own, like if you have Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition.