Try something new this weekend with Free Play Days! Sherlock Holmes Chapter One, South Park: Snow Day, This War of Mine: Final Cut and Cult of the Lamb are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members to play from Thursday, January 22 until Sunday, January 25.

How To Start Playing

Scroll down and find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

Keep The Fun Going

Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.

Free Play Days (Game Pass Membership Required)

Sherlock Holmes Chapter One

Frogwares

☆☆☆☆☆
130

★★★★★

$44.99

$4.49

Get it now

Sherlock Holmes Chapter One
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Sherlock Holmes Chapter One lets you step into the shoes of a young Sherlock Holmes, long before he became the world’s greatest detective. Drawn back to a Mediterranean island by the mysterious death of his mother, Sherlock takes on what may be the first—and most important—case of his life, one that will shape his future. Explore a vibrant city marked by crime, corruption, and moral ambiguity, gather clues from across the island, and solve cases using deduction, disguise, or force. Try it during Xbox Free Play Days and save 90% on the full game for a limited time.

SOUTH PARK: SNOW DAY!

THQ Nordic

☆☆☆☆☆
266

★★★★★

$29.99

$13.49

Get it now

South Park: Snow Day
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Play as the New Kid in South Park and join Cartman, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny, in three-dimensional glory, to celebrate the most magical day in any young child’s life – a snow day! Grab up to three friends, in this four-player co-op, and battle your way through the snow-piled town of South Park on a quest to save the world and enjoy a day without school. It’s a Snow Day, dude!

This War of Mine: Final Cut

11 bit studios

☆☆☆☆☆
207

★★★★★

$19.99

$1.99

Get it now

This War of Mine: Final Cut
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere
The critically acclaimed indie bestseller, This War of Mine, puts you in the role of a group of civilians trying to survive in a besieged city, struggling with lack of food, medicine, and constant danger from snipers and hostile scavengers. The game provides an experience of war seen from an entirely different perspective. This War of Mine: Final Cut contains all the updates and free expansions released and is 90% off during the Free Play Days.

Cult of the Lamb

Devolver Digital

☆☆☆☆☆
393

★★★★★

$24.99

$12.49

Get it now

Free Trial

Cult of the Lamb
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery
Start your own cult in a land of false prophets, venturing out into diverse and mysterious regions to build a loyal community of woodland Followers and spread your Word. Crusade through dungeons, slay heretics, build your cult, and seek new powers together. But there’s more. As well as the addition of co-op play, the Unholy Alliance expansion also adds new tarot cards, relics, buildings, fleeces, follower traits, follower quests, and other secrets to discover!

Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.

As you’re set to bolster the Imperium’s ranks next week, Space Marines, we wanted to reward your ultimate commitment with exclusive details about our upcoming new playable class, the Techmarine.

Set to release with our Patch 12 “Techmarine Update” in just a few weeks, it’ll join its Tactical, Assault, Sniper, Vanguard, Bulwark and Heavy Battle-Brothers as the game’s seventh playable class. Of course, it’ll come with its own unique brand of Xenos and Heretic purging, and that’s what we’re here to discover!

New to Space Marine 2? Follow the Guide

Before we do, let’s go over some basics if you are looking to jump into the grim darkness of the far future for the first time next week: The new Techmarine class will be available for Space Marine 2’s PvE and PvP modes (i.e., Operations, Stratagems, Siege and Eternal War), where you get to customize and play as your very own Space Marines. Even better, it’s free for everyone! No DLC or in-game purchases required.

Operations, Stratagems and Siege modes will have you team up with up to 2 players to fight as loyalist Space Marines and defeat the enemies of the Imperium. Eternal War however, also allows you to play as a Chaos Space Marine as it pits you against other players in ferocious 6v6 PvP matches where the Imperium faces off against its Chaos archenemy.

The new Techmarine class will be available across all of these modes, with the only exception being the Narrative Campaign, as it centers around the story of Ultramarines Lieutenant Demetrian Titus himself.

Now, let us tease how the Techmarine actually PLAYS!

Techmarines Have a Few Tricks up Their Power Armor Sleeve

At their core, Techmarines in Space Marine 2 are specialists in crowd control and area defense. They’ll shine with their combat prowess as much as they do with the technology they bring to the fight.

In melee, they’re able to take on large groups of enemies with wide swipes of their Omnissian Axe — an upcoming Patch 12 weapon available to them only — while their arsenal and armor augmentations grant them solid efficiency in ranged combat, especially at short and medium distances.

Like all classes, the Techmarine comes with a unique Combat Skill (an “ult,” so to speak) and his own perk tree with 25 levels to unlock. But more than anything, what makes him special are the mechanical arms and automatic turret bolted directly onto his Power Pack.

While you’re busy swinging and smashing opponents around with your mechanical arm, your Combat Skill will put your turret to good use: Activate it with the Y button to unleash the Techmarine’s mounted Servo-Gun and rain divine retribution onto your enemies with a barrage of heavy fire. No need to aim: just watch as Tyranids and Thousand Sons get vaporized before your very eyes.           

Another feature of the automatic Servo-Gun is that it frees you up by executing Gun Strikes for you! When other classes must do it themselves following Perfect Dodges or Parries, Techmarine players will be free to continue aiming at other targets while their turrets stagger or kill their most pressing assailants.

And that’s not even everything! With Techmarines being master engineers and technicians within their Chapter ranks comes a unique ability to locate and service Tarantula Sentry turrets during missions. Though they can’t be carried or placed freely, these can provide much welcome support to your Combat Squad by attacking your enemies automatically until they either run out of ammunition or get destroyed.

Will you be running it?

Before You Go! A Quick Patch 12 Breakdown

You know, the Techmarine and his Omnissian Axe are far from being the only gameplay additions to come with Patch 12! We’re working on adding a 12th mission to Operations and Stratagems modes, a new mission pick-up type, 3 new Hero weapon variants and new customization options for Space Marine helmetless heads! We’ll reveal more as we get closer to release, so stay tuned to our channels if you don’t want to miss it.

If you own the Season Pass 2 of course, you’re also set to receive a brand-new Assault Champion skin celebrating the Raven Guard and a unique Cosmetic Pack for the Carcharodons, a first for this Chapter! But that may be a story for another day…

Looking forward to seeing all of you on the battlefield, Techmarines. The Emperor protects.

Heed the call of war on January 29, 2026 when Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 releases on Xbox Game Pass, with Xbox Play Anywhere support.

Finally. 2XKO, the free 2v2 fighting game featuring League of Legends champions, launches today on Xbox Series X|S.

If you’ve been dying to get your hands on the game, you probably want to jump in right away. At the same time, booting it up for the very first time can be a little overwhelming. From champions, to Fuses, to teamplay mechanics, there’s a lot of information to absorb – especially for anyone new to tag fighters, or fighting games in general.

Here are some quick tips to help you get in-game and start having fun right away.

Grab a Duo Partner

2XKO is a 2v2 game, which means you can team up and fight as a duo. Whether you’re testing combos in Training mode or climbing the Ranked ladder together, the highs and lows of fighting games are better with friends.

Use your champ’s Assist moves by pressing A or back + A when they’re offscreen. Each champion has unique Assists, but here’s how to use a few:

• When Braum uses Stand Behind Me Assist (back + A), he leaps to shield his ally from an attack. If you’re under pressure from the enemy team, this Assist can help you get some space back.
• When Blitzcrank uses Rocket Grab Assist (A), they’ll extend their robotic arm to pull an enemy champion towards your team. Use this Assist to bring in opponents and follow up with your big hits.
• When Vi uses Crater Maker Assist (back + A), she punches the ground and creates a hextech aftershock. It can hit opponents out of the air, so try this move if they’re jumping in.

When you’re playing with a friend, they can swap to you by hitting A right after your champion Assists. Coordinate to attack together, defend each other, and pull off tricky combos.

Find Your Main

Each character in 2XKO has a unique playstyle. For your first games, just pick the ones that look the coolest to you – you can always choose someone new in the next game.

Caitlyn, the Sheriff of Piltover, is our newest addition to the roster. Use her traps and deadly aim to stay ten steps ahead of the enemy duo.

Don’t forget that you’ll have two champions on your team, and they can play off of each other. If you’re looking for team-building suggestions, here are a few:

• Caitlyn and Vi
  • Caitlyn uses her hextech-powered rifle to line up headshots, while Vi loves to brawl up-close. With their combined strengths, you’ll take down opponents at any range.
• Darius and Ekko
  • Darius deals massive damage with his battle axe and makes opponents Bleed, but he’s on the slower side. Ekko can keep enemies guessing with fast movement and a teleport. Use Ekko to jump in (or out), and land big hits with Darius.
• Ahri and Braum
  • Ahri is a quick spellcaster who excels in the air, while Braum is a supportive champion that can defend allies with a shield. Use Ahri’s magical foxfire to blast opponents, and if you find yourself under pressure, bring in Braum’s shield to retreat or position for your next move.

Try Pulse Combo

A combo is when you put together unique moves to damage an opponent. This can feel complicated when you’re still learning what your champion can do, but Pulse Combo is here to help.

In champion select, press RT to enable Pulse Combo. Once it’s on, you can press the same attack button repeatedly to automatically do a combo (if you land the first hit).

There are unique autocombos for the X, Y, and B buttons. Try each one to get an idea of the moves your champion can combine.

Play Tutorials

If you’re looking to improve your game, there are tons of tutorials to choose from in the Learning Hub. Here are the different types available:

• Bot Beatdown: Win battles against bots to unlock chromas that change the color palette of four champions.
• Tutorial: A series of fights to teach the basics of 2XKO, including movement, attacking, blocking. Completing this unlocks a set of cosmetics for your avatar.
• Combo Trials: Learn combos for each champion, from beginner to expert-level difficulties.
• Advanced Lessons: Level up with more advanced techniques for offense, defense, teamwork, and movement.

You can also find Training mode in the Learning Hub, where you can play against bots at your own pace.

Experiment with Fuses

Fuses are playstyle modifiers that change how your team works together. You pick your team’s Fuse after choosing your champions, so you can try each one out to see what suits you best.

Here are the Fuses that are available when you launch 2XKO for the first time:

• Juggernaut: Play as a single champion with extra power. You can’t use Assists, but gain a few buffs, including bonus health, damage reduction, and additional bars of meter.
• Sidekick: Your Point champion gains health and a defense boost. Your Assist champion can’t tag in, but gains supporting abilities.
• Double Down: Combine your Point and Assist champions’ Super attacks.

There are two more advanced Fuses that can be unlocked by completing tutorials in the Learning Hub: 2X Assist and Freestyle.

2XKO is available for free in the Microsoft Store for Xbox. Check out the 2XKO website and YouTube channel for more on how to play and to get a look at each champion. See you in the lobby!

2XKO

Riot Games

☆☆☆☆☆
12

★★★★★

Get it now

TEAM UP. TAG IN.
Welcome to 2XKO, the free-to-play fighting game from the makers of League of Legends and VALORANT.

2V2 COMBAT
In 2XKO, good teamwork makes the difference between victory and defeat. Fight solo to control both champions on your team, or grab a friend to duo with. Switch up your game every match with Fuses, powerful playstyle modifiers that change the rules your team plays by.

LEGENDARY FIGHTERS
League of Legends’ iconic champions take the stage with fresh movesets inspired by the MOBA and reimagined for fighting games. Immerse yourself in the world of Runeterra with beautifully crafted stages, cutting-edge 2D graphics, and original music tracks that bring your battles to life.

LOBBIES & MATCHMAKING
Step into a virtual arcade where your next duo partner—or rival—awaits. Ranked, Casual, and Private lobbies let you play your way whether you wanna compete, spectate, or just mash. Plus, with best-in-class rollback netcode and anti-cheat systems, 2XKO delivers fair, lag-free gameplay every time you queue up.

Commanders,

VaMP He here — the lone creator behind Greedland — and this isn’t just another launch. Today, Greedland arrives on Windows PC with full Xbox Play Anywhere support, and it brings with it the massive Version 1.0 Update — a true milestone in our journey together.

Buy once, own it everywhere: Xbox Series X|S and Windows. Your progress, your arsenal, your relentless runs — all seamlessly synced across platforms.

First — Thank You.

Your support has been the fuel for this four-year journey. Greedland 1.0 is here, and this update represents a major milestone in our fight together.

What’s New in 1.0 — The Fire Rises

New Map: Lava Area

You’ve survived the Jungle, Desert, and Icefield. Now descend into the molten core of Greedland. The Lava Area introduces ten fiery new levels, plus endless mode, with new environments, deadlier mutants, and greater rewards. The heat is truly on.

New Mode: Base Defense

The alien swarm is launching a counterattack. Defend our mercenary outpost in this brand-new gameplay mode. Hold the line — and when overwhelmed, call in the Titan Mechas.

Titan Mechas: Unleash the Giants

Customize your loadout like never before. Pre-equip two devastating mechas:

• Bipedal Titan

• Light Titan

Build “Titan Power” during your run and summon these war machines from the sky to break enemy sieges.

New Equipment & Arsenal Expansion

The Logistics Department has delivered:

• Two new Power Armors
• Two new wide-area damage weapons
• Five new equipment items
• Three new fused equipment

Gear up — the Lava Area won’t go easy on you.

New Equipment – Ice Cyclone

Fused Equipment – Phantom Guard

New Achievements — 1000G Added

For the completionists and the glory seekers: the 1.0 update brings a full 1000 Gamerscore in new achievements. Master the Lava Area, dominate in Base Defense, unleash the Titans, and collect every piece of new gear to prove your mercenary legacy.

But a Quick Note on Multiplayer

While XPA lets you play anywhere, local co-op remains a shared-screen experience. This means cross-platform play between Xbox and PC is not supported — the mutant-slaying partnership is designed for couch-to-couch chaos, not cross-play.

The Time to Act Is Now

Whether you’re a PC veteran or a dual-platform devotee, Greedland is ready for you. Suit up, sync up, and unleash devastation — anytime, anywhere. Get it once, play it everywhere with Xbox Play Anywhere.

Your progress travels. The mutants don’t rest. Neither should you.

– VaMP He

Greedland

E-Home Entertainment Development Company Ltd.

☆☆☆☆☆
96

★★★★★

$12.99

$9.09

Get it now

Play Anywhere, Slay Everywhere: Greedland Hits Windows with Xbox Play Anywhere & Major 1.0 Update!

Commanders,
VaMP He here — the lone creator behind Greedland — and this isn’t just another launch. Today, Greedland arrives on Windows PC with full Xbox Play Anywhere support, and it brings with it the massive Version 1.0 Update — a true milestone in our journey together.
Buy once, own it everywhere: Xbox Series X|S and Windows. Your progress, your arsenal, your relentless runs — all seamlessly synced across platforms.

Featuring limited-time savings on almost 200 different games and DLCs, THQ Nordic’s 2026 annual Publisher Sale is its biggest to date!

From January 20 through February 2, Xbox players can take advantage of savings of up to 90% across a robust catalogue of action, racing, adventure, platform, puzzle, horror, RTS, RPG, wrestling, and yes, even singing, games! Plus, the highly-anticipated Reanimal is available to pre-order with 10% off!

Check out just a few highlights from the THQ Nordic 2026 Publisher Sale below:

Reanimal Pre-Order – 10% Off!

The highly-anticipated co-op mystery horror adventure Reanimal is scheduled to release worldwide on Friday, February 13, just in time for Valentine’s Day. From the creators of Little Nightmares I & II, Reanimal features the relentless journey of orphaned siblings trying to survive a hellish gamescape to rescue their lost friends. Reanimal has already won critical praise for its haunting, cinematic environment, and features couch and online co-op multiplayer options.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide – 25% Off!

Just released this past November, SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide is an all-new adventure through Bikini Bottom. Prepare to be scared as a clash between the Flying Dutchman and King Neptune has unleashed ghostly mayhem all over Bikini Bottom. Titans of the Tide features the ability to switch from player from SpongeBob to Patrick and back again – a long-time request from SpongeBob gamers and a first for the franchise!

Wreckfest Complete Edition – 60% Off!

Wreckfest, the high-octane, no-rules demolition derby and racing franchise was made famous by its realistic damage model and unique blend of arcade and simulation style. Sophisticated driving dynamics and in-depth vehicle upgrading meet demolition derby and traditional track races to deliver breakneck racing and over-the-top crashes. Wreckfest requires that every driver Drive Hard to Die Last!

Way of the Hunter: Ultimate Edition – 50% Off!

Way of the Hunter quickly became the go-to hunting experience for hunting enthusiasts that value authenticity, realism, and the most immersive and ethical of online hunting worlds. As the new owner of a hunting lodge nestled among varied, gorgeous habitats with rich animal populations, players can explore vast, open environments and hunt with a premium selection of licensed firearms. Hunt on your own or with friends in co-op mode.   

MX vs ATV Legends – 70% Off!

MX vs ATV Legends challenges every off-road racing fan to become a world-famous professional rider. Race your way to victory on bikes, ATVs, and UTVs. Experience the risks and rewards of world-class competition in the robust career mode or explore the varied terrain in massive open environments. Become an off-road racing legend in MX vs ATV Legends – your time is now!

AEW: Fight Forever – 65% Off!

AEW: Fight Forever combines nostalgic arcade-wrestling with All Elite Wrestling finishers and moves. Featuring a big roster of AEW talent, multiple match types, robust career mode, tons of customization options, more than 40 weapons, and so much more!

Alone in the Dark – 45% Off!

Alone in the Dark is a love letter to the 90’s cult classic, survival horror game. This return to Derceto Manor features a single-player narrative set in the 1930’s. Players can choose to play as Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood as they make their way through the mansion to uncover mysteries.

Take advantage of special savings on these games and many more!

• Wreckfest Complete Edition – 60% Off
• MX vs ATV Legends – 70% Off
• SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide – 25% Off
• South Park: Snow Day! – 55% Off
• Wreckreation – 25% Off
• Way of the Hunter: Ultimate Edition – 50% Off
• Oddsparks: An Automation Adventure – Ultimate Edition – 20% Off
• Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed: Dressed to Skill Edition – 70% Off
• Alone in the Dark – 45% Off
• Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning – 75% Off
• Darksiders III – 75% Off
• Reanimal Pre-order – 10% Off

Welcome back to your routine “what am I going to play next?” suggestion list! We’ve got some favorites, some surprises we snuck in last week (and a cheeky reminder to join us for our fourth Developer Direct for even more games coming your way). Let’s get to the games!

Available Today

Resident Evil Village (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

Resident Evil Village is the eighth main entry in the Resident Evil series. Set years after Resident Evil 7 biohazard, players follow Ethan Winters into a haunting European village, fighting for survival against brutal enemies as danger and mystery lurk around every corner.

MIO: Memories in Orbit (Cloud, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one with Game Pass! A hand-crafted metroidvania set within a vast, decaying world reclaimed by nature and robots. Play as Mio, a nimble android exploring labyrinthine environments, battling rogue machines, and uncovering lost memories in a richly atmospheric adventure filled with secrets and danger.

Coming Soon

Death Stranding Director’s Cut (Cloud, PC and Xbox Series X|S) – January 21
Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now available on Xbox Game Pass! Take on the role of Sam Porter Bridges on his mission to deliver hope to humanity. Are you ready to unite the divided – one more time?

RoadCraft (PC) – January 21
Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

In the wake of natural disasters, RoadCraft calls on you to rebuild what’s broken. Operate a fleet of over 40 authentic construction vehicles to clear debris, repair roads and bridges, and restore essential infrastructure. Tackle realistic challenges solo or in cooperative play across expansive, physics-driven environments shaped by destruction and recovery.

Ninja Gaiden Ragebound (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 21
Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

A brand-new side-scrolling entry to the Ninja Gaiden series from the team behind Blasphemous, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound redefines the classic platformer saga in a spectacular, thrilling and challenging ninja adventure.

The Talos Principle 2 (PC and Xbox Series X|S) – January 27
Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

A thought-provoking first-person puzzle experience that greatly expands the first game’s philosophical themes and stunning environments with increasingly mind-bending challenges.  Born into a new world where biological humanity is extinct but human culture lives on in a city of robots, get swept up in a mind-bending adventure involving a mysterious megastructure hiding enormous powers.

Anno: Mutationem (Cloud, PC, and Console) – January 28
Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

Welcome to the neon-covered, 2D-meets-3D Cyberpunk world of Anno: Mutationem. In thisAction-Adventure game with RPG elements you become Ann: a highly skilled, combat-trained lone wolf on a personal mission in the giant Metropolis, full of sinister mega-corporations, mysterious fringe groups and creatures more bizarre than words can express.

Drop Duchy (Cloud, PC, and Console) – January 28
Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

Build your duchy piece by piece in this refreshing hybrid rogue-lite game. Use block-dropping mechanics to collect resources, recruit troops to fight against belligerent armies, and let every block shape your realm, leading your path to victory! Complete Edition includes all additional content.

MySims: Cozy Bundle (PC) – January 29
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Befriend cute characters and discover creative adventures across retro re-releases of two lovable games in MySims: Cozy Bundle. Use your imagination to rebuild a town in MySims and help a cute magical land become an even better place in MySims Kingdom. There are stories to uncover, locations to explore, and lots of characters with big personalities to meet.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 29
Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

Your craft is death. Purge the relentless Tyranid swarms as legendary Space Marine Demetrian Titus in a spectacular new campaign, solo or in three-player co-op, and save the Imperium as your own Space Marine in endlessly brutal PvE and PvP games with 6 playable classes to choose from!

Indika (Cloud, PC and Xbox Series X|S) – February 2
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Indika is a story-driven adventure set in an alternative 19th-century Russia, following a young nun on a surreal journey of self-discovery. Blending dark humor with serious themes like faith, morality, and religious authority, the game mixes exploration, light puzzles, brief action moments, and symbolic RPG elements. Its narrative is enriched by retro-style arcade flashbacks and a strange companionship with the devil himself, creating a unique experience that balances comedy and tragedy while pushing the boundaries of conventional game design.

Final Fantasy II (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – February 3
Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

A remodeled 2D take on the second game in the world-renowned FINAL FANTASY series! Our epic tale begins with four young souls orphaned during the struggle between the Palamecian Empire and the rebel army. On their journey, the youths join forces with the white wizard Minwu, Prince Gordon of Kashuan, Leila the pirate, and many others. Behold the beautiful and sometimes tragic twists of fate that await you on your adventure.

In Case You Missed It

Quarantine Zone: The Last Check (PC) – Play today!
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Command the checkpoint in a collapsing city. Screen survivors, manage scarce resources, and hold back the undead. Every choice matters and one mistake could unleash the plague beyond your walls.  

DLC / Game Updates

The Sims 25^th Birthday Bundle (PC) – January 22
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Celebrate a Sim-sational New Year with EA Play on the Xbox PC app. This month, embrace classic chaos with re-releases of The Sims and The Sims 2, coming to EA Play on January 22. Keep the cozy vibes rolling with MySims: Cozy Bundle joining The Play List on January 29.

Grounded 2 Garden Update (Cloud, PC, and Console) – January 27
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Explore the new Community Garden biome in The Toxic Tangle update, packed with hidden paths, twisting trellises, and earthy caverns. Battle new creatures, craft Tier III gear, and ride the Ladybug Buggy with its water cannon as you face fresh challenges across the Garden.

Dead by Daylight – Stranger Things DLC – January 27

The battles fought. The pain endured. All of it leads back to him. Stranger Things Returns To Dead by Daylight: Vecna, Dustin, & Eleven Enter The Fog.

Sea of Thieves Season 18, Act 2 (Cloud, PC, and Console) – January 22
Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

The Trading Companies are calling on Emissaries to raid Molten Sands Fortress and recover valuable treasure from its vault! During the event, those who reach Emissary Grade 5 can accept a special quest that will awaken this fiery fort. Which flag will you fly?

Leaving January 31

The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon. Jump back in to tie up any loose ends, or save up to 20% off your purchase to keep the fun going!

• Shady Part of Me (Cloud, PC, and Console)Cataclismo (PC)
• Starbound (Cloud, PC, and Console)
• Lonely Mountains Snow Riders (Cloud, PC, and Console)
• Paw Patrol World (Cloud, PC, and Console)
• Citizen Sleeper 2 Starward Vector (Cloud, PC, and Console)
• Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Cloud, PC, and Console)

Excited to see you all back here in just a few days for our next Developer Direct! In the meantime, go charge your batteries and get those games downloaded. Cheers!

_{Note: Games with a ‘Handheld’ designation represent those that are optimized for handheld play.}

Hey Xbox players! With Escape from Ever After launching fairly soon, we thought now’s the perfect time to dive into what makes this game tick. So, if you’ve ever wondered what happens when classic storybook heroes get stuck in a soul-crushing office job, you’re about to find out.

Escape from Ever After is a Paper Mario-inspired RPG that takes the hero’s journey and tosses it straight into corporate bureaucracy. It’s equal parts adventure game, turn-based combat, and workplace satire—and it’s weirder than it sounds.

Meet Flynt Buckler, your typical storybook hero out to settle the score with his nemesis, Tinder the dragon. But when he finally reaches her castle, things get weird. The fire-breathing villain he expected? Nowhere to be found. Instead, her once-majestic fortress has been gutted and rebuilt as a soulless office complex, complete with fluorescent lighting, mandatory coffee breaks, and employees trapped in the worst kind of grind.

Turns out Ever After Inc.—a megacorporation from the real world—has discovered storybooks make for excellent cheap labor. Dragons file TPS reports. Knights optimize synergies. Heroes attend team-building exercises. And there’s no dragon to slay that can fix this mess.

So Flynt does the only logical thing: he joins the company. To take down Ever After Inc., he’ll need to climb the corporate ladder from within, rallying other trapped storybook characters and figuring out how to rewrite the rules before it’s too late.

Combat That Keeps You In the Fight

Escape from Ever After builds on classic turn-based RPG combat but keeps you engaged every single turn through timing-based action commands. When Flynt throws his buckler or an enemy winds up for an attack, you need to nail your button presses. Perfect timing means extra damage on offense and flawless blocks on defense. Mess up your inputs and you’ll pay for it.

It’s the kind of system that makes every turn feel active rather than passive. No sitting back and watching animations play out—you’re always involved.

More Than Button-Mashing

Raw damage only gets you so far. Enemies have their own tricks: armor that shrugs off weak hits, metal shields that deflect certain attacks, poison that chips away at your health, and battlefield hazards that punish careless aggression.

The Research system lets you study enemies mid-battle, permanently revealing their health and weak points. That information gets saved to your Bestiary, giving you an edge in future encounters. The more you learn, the smarter you can fight.

Build Your Party Your Way

Between fights, you can customize your team through the Trinket system. Each character can equip trinkets that unlock new abilities, passive bonuses, or utility effects, limited only by their Trinket Points. Want a glass cannon? Stack damage. Prefer a support build? Load up on buffs and healing.

You can also upgrade individual attacks using resources scattered throughout the world. These systems reward experimentation over min-maxing, letting you find builds that match your playstyle.

Every Book Tells a Different Story

Combat is only half the game. Escape from Ever After is structured around distinct storybook worlds, each with its own genre and atmosphere. One chapter might be a cozy fairytale forest under threat of corporate development. The next could dive into noir mystery or Lovecraftian horror.

Exploration pays off. Hidden items, optional quests, environmental puzzles, and side stories are tucked into every corner. And it all connects back to the Castle—formerly a fairytale landmark, now the headquarters of Ever After Inc.. It’s your hub between chapters, where you’ll meet recurring characters, take on side missions, manage upgrades, and watch the megacorp’s influence spread.

A Story About Fighting the System

Beneath the humor and absurdity, Escape from Ever After tells a story about what happens when someone realizes their entire world has been quietly rewritten by forces beyond their control. Flynt starts out confident in his role as a hero, only to discover that “hero” and “villain” don’t mean much when everyone’s just another cog in the machine.

To fight back, he’ll need to make uncomfortable alliances—including with Tinder herself. The game balances sharp satire with character-driven moments that land harder than you’d expect from a game about storybook characters stuck in corporate hell.

Worth Turning the Page

Escape from Ever After thrives on contrast. It’s storybook whimsy meets office dystopia, classic RPG mechanics meets modern design sensibilities, and lighthearted satire meets genuinely thoughtful storytelling.

We’ve spent years building this world, and every character, combat system, and storybook chapter was designed with one goal: giving players something worth discovering. Whether you’re here for the timing-based battles, the exploration, or just the absurd premise of fairytales stuck in corporate hell, we believe there’s definitely something in here for you.

Thanks for reading, and we can’t wait to see you jump into the chaos!

Escape from Ever After

HypeTrain Digital

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$24.99

$19.99

Pre-order

Escape from Ever After is an adventure RPG inspired by the classic Paper Mario games, where fairytale and storybook characters must fight back against capitalism!

When Flynt Buckler, a classic fairytale adventurer, storms the castle of his evil dragon arch-nemesis Tinder, he finds the once intimidating fortress has been converted into… corporate offices? The villainous dragon is nowhere to be found and her castle is full of mindless coffee-sipping, report-filing drones. What happened?

It turns out that storybooks are an untapped market ripe with valuable resources, cheap labor, and profit to be had—so naturally, real-world conglomerate Ever After Inc. found a way to intervene! With Tinder’s Castle as their new corporate headquarters, Ever After Inc. is hellbent on taking over every storybook they can. With no choice but to get a job, Flynt Buckler must team up with his former nemesis Tinder in order to climb the corporate ladder and take down Ever After Inc. from the inside!

Dive into storybook worlds packed to the brim with colorful characters, captivating locales, and electrifying secrets! One moment you’ll be fleeing Lovecraftian terrors while solving a noir murder mystery, and the next you’ll be up against villainous versions of The Three Little Pigs as they try to bulldoze a fairytale forest for their real estate developments. The rules are always changing!

Face off against hordes of wacky enemies in snappy turn-based gameplay! Perfectly-timed action commands allow Flynt to finish off his foes with style, and an assortment of items, badges, and partners ensure there’s always a trick up his sleeve.

Fight in a fun, fast-paced battle system that rewards experimentation and strategy
Build and customize your party—every character has unique skills that can be equipped and upgraded throughout your journey
Engage in office banter, help your storybook coworkers, and decorate your office as you climb the corporate ladder
Explore vast storybook worlds brimming with sidequests, treasures, and secrets
Stories within stories: experience a charming and lively narrative where the rules are constantly changing
A jazzy, big-band soundtrack that keeps the energy pumping throughout