The Game Pass lineup is preparing for a hilarious and slightly chaotic shake-up this week – with new additions alongside the removal of others.
While the service welcomes a highly anticipated dose of irreverent humour and action, subscribers must also prepare to say goodbye to a collection of acclaimed titles. It’s a week that perfectly encapsulates the dynamic nature of Game Pass, offering fresh experiences even as some gems make their exit.
New to the Game Pass Library
There aren’t too many new additions to Game Pass this coming week, but we do welcome back an old favourite.
High On Life (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 15th
Get ready for a wild ride courtesy of Squanch Games as High On Life arrives on Game Pass.
This unique first-person shooter delivers a dose of the signature comedy of Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland. You play as a high school graduate with no ambition who suddenly finds himself thrust into an interstellar conflict when an alien cartel invades Earth, aiming to get “high” off humanity.
Armed with a team of charismatic, talking guns, you must step up to become the deadliest intergalactic bounty hunter the cosmos has ever seen. Travel across vibrant, bizarre biomes, collect wacky loot, and go toe-to-toe with the nefarious Garmantuous and his gang of goons.
Our review awarded High On Life a solid 4/5, noting its appeal to fans of Roiland’s humor: “Whether High on Life truly works for you or not will come down to your thoughts on Justin Roiland’s signature brand of humour. As someone who is a fan of Rick and Morty, I was laughing, out loud, constantly – when you couple that with the existing strengths of the gameplay and experience, I found this to be a trip well worth taking.“
Final Call: Games Leaving Game Pass on July 15th
The library rotation continues, and six titles are departing the Game Pass service on July 15th. This is your last chance to experience these diverse games before they are removed.
Flock (Cloud, Console, and PC) – 4.5/5 score – “Consider Flock like the finest of fine wines: enjoyed best with a group of friends having a chat, taken at your own pace, not rushed through! Minor bug-bears aside, especially with the inconsistent catching mini-game, what has been produced here is in the upper-echelon of cosy games.“
Mafia: Definitive Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) – “I will admit that I was wary of 2K choosing Mafia to remaster, as the game was old and middle of the pack, but in hindsight it was a masterstroke: the story and structural core of the original was exceptional, but everything else had room to improve. 2K has thrown the sink at Mafia: Definitive Edition to make sure those improvements make an impact, and it’s barely possible to recognise the original under the lacquer.“
Magical Delicacy (Cloud, Console, and PC) – 3.5/5 score – “Magical Delicacy has some tasty elements – the game looks gorgeous and revealing more of the map as you discover new, previously unreachable locations is exciting.“
Tchia (Cloud, Console, and PC) – 4.5/5 score – “Tchia is a game with longevity as finding every collectible, completing every mini-game and killing every bad guy can still be accomplished on completion of the main storyline. Complete with a beautiful location inspired by Caledonian culture, there should be no reason to not follow Tchia’s journey.“
The Callisto Protocol (Cloud, Console, and PC) – 3.5/5 score – “It is safe to say that fans of the original Dead Space may find The Callisto Protocol lacking in comparison. The story is inferior, combat isn’t quite on the money and the enemy variation is lacking. That said, there is still a good sci-fi survival horror game hiding within.“
The Case of the Golden Idol (Cloud, Console, and PC) – 4.5/5 score – “I thoroughly enjoyed The Rise of the Golden Idol. The core gameplay loop of solving intricate mysteries remains addictive, whilst the enhanced visuals, new puzzle types, and expanded narrative create a rewarding detective experience. While the occasional control issues are a minor annoyance, they don’t detract significantly from the overall enjoyment.“
Whether you’re diving into the comedic chaos of High On Life or squeezing in a final playthrough of Mafia: Definitive Edition, this week offers a clear choice for Game Pass subscribers. Don’t let these departing titles slip away before the 15th! You’ll be able to grab the downloads you need from the Xbox Store.
As always, jump into the comments and let us know your thoughts.