We’re getting close to the Xbox Games Showcase, so you still have a little more time to download and play these games before we throw more at your “to be played” wishlist! For now, we have more updates, some day ones, and a few blasts from the past. Let’s get to it!

Available Today

Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Editions (Cloud and Console) – June 5
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Standard

Gather your party; the RPG saga returns. Immerse yourself in an epic RPG series where every choice matters. Play over 100 hours of adventure in enhanced editions of Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II!

Coming Soon

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – June 10
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Step into the armor of a relentless Space Marine and use a combination of lethal weaponry to crush overwhelming Ork forces. Immerse yourself in an intense and brutally violent world based on the richest science fantasy ever created. Enhanced for a new generation, this edition brings quality of life & graphical improvements.

Barbie Project Friendship (Cloud, Console, and PC) – June 11
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

Get ready for the ultimate Barbie gaming adventure as Barbie and Barbie work together to save a beloved Malibu landmark, the Malibu Waves Community Center! The once thriving destination is nearly abandoned and on the verge of being closed. It’s time to band together to restore the beloved community center to its former glory. Complete fun quests, unlock exciting minigames, and earn valuable community points to give outfits and spaces a stylish upgrade.

Kingdom: Two Crowns (PC) – June 11
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Collect coins, build defenses, and reclaim your Kingdom. Explore and uncover secrets, unlock technologies, and protect your crown against waves of Greed monsters. Kingdom: Two Crowns is a solo/co-op side-scrolling strategy and tower defense game set in a beautiful pixel world.

EA Sports FC 25 (Cloud, Console, and PC) via EA Play – June 12
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Lead the line and write league history for the club in EA Sports FC 25, coming soon to The Play List. Members can light up the stadium with stunning, title-winning tactics with unlimited access through Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), PC Game Pass, or Game Pass Ultimate via EA Play. Claim the limited-time Supercharge Pack from June 12 through July 12, featuring 11x Rare Gold Players (82+), including one player with an 87+ OVR and one 93+ OVR TOTS Loan, and more.

The Alters (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – June 13
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one with Game Pass! The Alters is a sci-fi survival game where you play as Jan, stranded on a hostile planet. Create alternate versions of yourself — each shaped by different life choices — to survive, gather resources, and navigate deep moral dilemmas. Your past becomes your crew in this unique sci-fi survival.

FBC: Firebreak (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – June 17
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one with Game Pass! A cooperative first-person shooter set within a mysterious federal agency under assault by otherworldly forces. As a years-long siege on the agency’s headquarters reaches its boiling point, only Firebreak — the Bureau’s most versatile unit — ­has the gear and the guts to plunge into the building’s strangest crises, restore order, contain the chaos, and fight to reclaim control.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time (Console and PC) – June 17
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

Crash fourward into a time-shattered adventure with your favorite marsupials. Neo Cortex and N. Tropy are launching an all-out assault on not just this universe, but the entire multiverse! Crash and Coco are here to save the day by reuniting the four Quantum Masks and bending the rules of reality.

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – June 17
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one with Game Pass! Lost in Random: The Eternal Die blends dynamic real-time action, tactical combat, and risk-reward dice mechanics for thrilling second-to-second battles. Unravel an original stand-alone story as Queen Aleksandra, the once great ruler of Random on a mission for vengeance and redemption.

In-Game Benefits

Zenless Zone Zero: Xbox Game Pass Benefits (Cloud and Console) – June 6
Game Pass Ultimate

Get this bundle and obtain the following Zenless Zone Zero in-game rewards: Polychrome ×80, Ether Battery ×2, Senior Investigator Log ×10, W-Engine Energy Module ×15, and Denny ×75,000!

Splitgate 2: Aeros Javi Ace Skin (Cloud, Console, and PC) – June 6
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Splitgate 2 is the only free-to-play shooter with portals. This Ace character skin is designed with Game Pass members in mind, with characteristic green and black stylings.

The Finals: Urban Ronin Set (Cloud, Console, and PC) – June 12
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Claim the Urban Ronin Set and a sleek collection of matching weapon skins, an emote, a gun charm, 25% Bonus Match XP, and 500 Multibucks!

Game Pass Ultimate Perks

Stumble Guys: Neon Bundle – Available now
Grab the Neon Legendary skin, Popped Bubble emote, plus 250 gems and 50 tokens.

Minecraft: 1 Month Marketplace Pass – Available now (US ONLY)
Get access to the Marketplace Pass for 1 month! Discover and customize your adventures with worlds, add-ons, skin & texture packs, and more.

Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms: 5 Free Champions – Available now (US ONLY)
Adventure through the Forgotten Realms and beyond with the Dungeon Master’s Champions of Renown! Claim this perk to get 160 Platinum Champion Chests and to unlock five Champions, including Dungeon Master, Eric, Hank, Sheila, and Diana!

Apex Legends: Gold Tribal Mask Weapon Charm – June 5
Flex your style like a true warrior with the Apex Legends Gold Tribal Mask Weapon Charm, available with your EA Play membership.

Rainbow Six Siege X: Mute Pack – June 10
Rainbow Six Siege X marks its biggest evolution in the game’s history, bringing a visual overhaul, an enhanced player experience, and gameplay changes that deepen the game’s tactical core. For a limited time, claim a free pack that includes headgear, uniform, and weapon skin for Mute! Only available for console.

Leaving June 15

The following games will be leaving the Game Pass library soon, so be sure to pick back up where you left off or jump in fresh before they go! You can save up to 20% off your purchase on these games before they leave to keep them in your library.

• Dordogne (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Hypnospace Outlaw (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Isonzo (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Keplerth (PC)
• My Time At Sandrock (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Depersonalization (PC)

We’re adding more games over time to the ‘Stream your own game’ collection for Game Pass Ultimate members. Go to Xbox.com/Play to see the list of available cloud playable games to stream on supported devices if you own them.

As always, keep your eyes here or on Xbox, Game Pass, and PC Game Pass for the latest announcements, surprise drops, or handy reminders when these “coming soon” games are actually “available today”! We’ll talk soon!

Get ready for precise, fast-paced action, ever-evolving challenges, and a dash of mystery. Section 13 is now live on Xbox Series X|S!

A World of Secrets

What exactly turned a top-tier facility into a paranormal creature-infested zoo? Section 13’s story takes inspiration from SCP-style lore, immersing you in a world of classified experiments, scientific anomalies, and monstrous boss creatures lurking in the depths. Playing as different S2P agents, you’ll not only uncover what happened to Section 13 but also piece together fragments of each character’s past, their connection to the facility, and the ties that bind them together.

Precision Combat Meets Roguelite Mayhem

At its core, Section 13 is all about precise twin-stick controls and fast, responsive combat. The action is quick and chaotic, rewarding sharp reflexes and strategic positioning.

Thanks to procedurally generated map layouts and randomized encounters, no two sessions play out the same way. And when you inevitably fall? Embrace death as an opportunity. Every failure in Section 13 helps to build up permanent rewards such as new weapons, upgrades, and more that make your next run even stronger.

Stay in the Light, Stay in Control

With the facility’s power offline and lighting scarce, the Fear System introduces a new kind of threat: your own panic.

Darkness isn’t just an aesthetic choice in Section 13—it’s a mechanic. Stay in the darkness too long, and you’ll enter a state of panic and accuracy takes a hit as your vision distorts, heart thumps louder, and the walls seem to close in. That’s not all, of course. You also take more damage, reload slower, and can’t regain HP.

To shake off the panic, find a strong light source—not some flickering flashlight, but something bright enough to make your interior designer wince. Step into the glow and get back in control.

Co-Op Mode: Team Up, Watch Your Fire

Fighting through Section 13 alone is thrilling—but bringing a friend (or two) kicks up the action to another level. Teammates boost your firepower but co-op mode plays differently from solo mode, so you’ll need to think twice before spraying bullets.

Online co-op is on the way, with couch co-op to follow. Here are some key  changes you’ll be able to find in the updates:

• All characters will be unlocked from the get-go.
• Friendly fire and ammo limits will be toggleable.
• Enemies will be even tougher!
• Key resources such as Medkits won’t be shared—anyone can grab them.
• No narrative progression will be unlocked.

Whether you’re here for action or the intrigue, there’s always something waiting to be discovered.

Are you ready to face the darkness and uncover the secrets of Section 13?

Section 13

Kakao Games

☆☆☆☆☆
1

★★★★★

$19.99

Get it now

Section 13 is a roguelite twin-stick shooter packed with action and challenges. As an Agent of the S2P Corporation, it’s up to you to investigate a crisis at the most top-secret facility of a company whose whole thing is keeping secrets.

NOTE: Planned feature updates will bring online and couch co-op modes*, with optional friendly fire for maximum madness in the narrow corridors of Section 13!

CONSPIRACIES TO UNCOVER

When an Omega-level containment breach puts an off-the-books company black-site on lockdown, it’s up to expendable peons like you to get to the bottom of it. Literally.

Step into the shoes of Agents Red, Boy Scout, Beaker, and Scalpel, as they fight to unearth the buried secrets of Section 13… and solve a few personal mysteries of their own. Collect data on paranormal entities running amok and find out what it all has to do with you.

TENSE TWIN-STICK ACTION IN THE WEIRDEST WORKPLACE EVER

As a Tier-1 paranormal containment facility, Section 13 is full of unique hazards, and it’s up to you to overcome them with quick wits and reflexes.

Time your dodge-rolls and reloads to stay one step ahead of a horde of hungry monsters. Back against the wall? Pop off with a special ability… or grab a melee weapon and smash your way out.

But keep an eye on your Fear level, or risk a debilitating mid-mission panic attack!

CUTTING-EDGE TOOLS TO MASTER

Add some spice to every run with unlockable (and customizable) weapons, gameplay-altering Synaptic Enhancements, and of course, recreational genetic modification. (Some side effects may apply).

Utilize special abilities and unique tactical items to outsmart pissed-off cryptids, navigate a series of shifting levels, and push deeper into the base with every attempt.

Between deaths, you’ll also unlock persistent upgrades that change how you play and radically alter your chances of success.

* Co-op modes will be added as feature updates (online co-op in June 2025 and couch co-op in September 2025).

Online co-op will not support crossplay.

Xbox believes in the power of connection — and during Pride Month, we honor LGBTQIA+ people who have long shown the world what it means to build a community that transcends borders and expectations.

LGBTQIA+ individuals have formed networks of support and deep friendships rooted in love, resilience, and care. They remind us of the importance of community, connection and chosen family that encourages, uplifts, and cares for one another. Xbox celebrates exactly that: affection, support, and a shared belief that everyone deserves to be seen and celebrated by their communities.

In many ways, gaming offers new ways to connect with the community.

Whether you’re teaming up online, voice chatting in a cozy co-op farming sim, or building entire worlds together, games create spaces where connection thrives. For LGBTQIA+ players, these experiences often go beyond fun — they can help fill the need to find belonging.

This Pride Month, Xbox is proud to highlight a collection of games from LGBTQIA+ creators — stories that explore identity, celebrate self-expression, and reflect the beautiful complexity of the LGBTQIA+ experience. These creators are helping us see the world through different perspectives — telling stories where everyone can feel at home.

We’re committed to making gaming for everyone, which includes supporting LGBTQIA+ creators and communities — not just during Pride, but all year long. For more than 30 years, Microsoft and our employees have stood alongside LGBTQIA+ communities, contributing over $17 million to organizations advancing equity, dignity, and human rights. Last year, we gave more than $1.3 million to support this work globally, and this year we’re deepening that commitment with an additional $100,000 donation to organizations doing critical work for the community.

From the games we feature to the programs we support, our goal is to continue fostering a platform where everyone can play, create, and connect authentically. That’s the heart of what we’re celebrating this Pride: the power of community, built by choice and strengthened by care.

We have each other.

PLAY

Show Your Pride in Overwatch 2

Pride returns to Overwatch 2 with more meaningful ways to celebrate and connect! From free rewards and a festive fan-favorite map, to a charity tournament with Twitch drops, plus community artwork and new narratives, Pride 2025 is a moment to reflect, express, and commemorate everyone who makes our world—and the game—stronger. Whether you’re rocking the Resilient Soldier: 76 skin, skipping through Midtown celebrating after a parade, or simply showing up as your authentic self, this event is about standing proud and honoring our diverse community.

So, we’re celebrating our heroes, players, and stories with heartfelt touches, creative moments, and a space to be exactly who you are. You belong here, and we’re proud to compete by your side.

• Show Your Pride: Log in during the Pride event to instantly unlock the Resilient Soldier: 76 skin and matching emote as thanks for helping to build this amazing community.
• Midtown Parade: Step into the Pride Festival Midtown map, back in rotation and looking more joyful than ever. Celebrate after the Pride parade with whimsical rainbow crosswalks, confetti-covered sidewalks, and love in the air.

Pride Ahoy! A Celebration Fer All Crews in Sea of Thieves

During Pride Month, pirates sailing in Sea of Thieves can pick up the Progress Pride Flag from the ever-reliable Larinna outside the tavern! Proud pirates in participating territories will now be able to attach this fabulous fabric to their flagpole forevermore. While introduced as part of Pride Month 2025 activities, this beautiful banner is a permanent addition to Sea of Thieves and will be available to claim from the shipwright at any Outpost after June has passed.

Sowin’ Seeds of Pride in Farm Heroes Saga

Farm Heroes Saga is celebrating Pride Month with a vibrant Pride Season that sows the seeds of community, visibility, and joyful self-expression. Now in its third year, this celebration brings a fresh crop of Pride-themed events and mini-games to players around the world. From nurturing a magical Rainbow Superfruit in 1-2-3 Grow, to collecting cropsies in the Farmer’s Market and unlocking special rewards in the colorful Choo Choo’s Challenge; there’s something for every hero on the Farm.

With the Pride-themed Farm Pass and the premium Golden Pass, players can earn even more farmtastic rewards. Whether you’re digging through the Hidden Garden, playing Amelia’s Arcade, or making wishes at the Wishing Well, this month is all about growing love, celebrating identity, and having a fabulously good time.

Tell Me Why – Free This Month

Tell Me Why, the award-winning narrative adventure from Don’t Nod Entertainment and Xbox Game Studios Publishing, will be available for free on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Steam for the entire month of June 2025. As in past years, the Tell Me Why team encourages players to give what they would have spent on the game to an independent trans creator or a trans-inclusive charity in their community.

Discover Games Shaped by the LGBTQIA+ Community

This June, immerse yourself in a curated collection of games that highlight the incredible creativity and storytelling from LGBTQIA+ developers and creators. These games offer a window into the diverse experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community, showcasing how their unique perspectives continue to shape and enrich the world of gaming.

Check out a few highlights from our full Xbox Game Collections celebrating Pride Month:

Tell Me Why – This celebrated narrative adventure game comes from Don’t Nod, the studio behind the beloved franchise, Life is Strange. In this intimate mystery, reunited twins Tyler and Alyson Ronan use their supernatural bond to unravel the memories of their loving but troubled childhood. Set in beautiful small-town Alaska, Tell Me Why features true-to-life characters, mature themes and gripping choices. As you conjure up memories of the past, your choices will affect the twins’ relationship, determine the strength of their bond, and shape the course of their lives.
 
Play Tell Me Why Today

Overwatch 2 – An always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl featuring new heroes and maps, different ways to play, and unique cosmetics! Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your
allies as one of Overwatch’s 40 distinct heroes. Team up with friends, take them into battle across 25+ futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master multiple unique game modes.

Play Overwatch 2 Today

Thirsty Suitors  – From Outerloop Games, Thirsty Suitors is a stylish, story-driven adventure that unfolds through turn-based battles, skateboarding, and cooking. Help Jala confront her mistakes, make up with her exes, reconcile cultural differences, and become the person she was meant to be. Easy, right?
 
Play Thirsty Suitors Today

Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Enter the world of Thedas, a vibrant land of rugged wilderness, treacherous labyrinths, and glittering cities – steeped in conflict and secret magics. Now, a pair of corrupt ancient gods have broken free from centuries of darkness and are hellbent on destroying the world. Thedas needs someone they can count on. Rise as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. Be who you want to be and play how you want to play as you fight to stop the gods from blighting the world. But you can’t do this alone – the odds are stacked against you. Lead a team of seven companions, each with their own rich story to discover and shape, and together you will become The Veilguard.

Play Dragon Age: The Veilguard Today

Spirit Swap: LoFi Beats to Match-3 To – Samar is a young witch working the spirit-swapping night shift in the eastern outskirts of Demashq. A recent spike in spirits crossing over from another dimension breaks the chill atmosphere of their night shift, so with her trusty FamiliarZ by her side, she sets off into the city to find out what’s happened. With a popular band scheduled to kick off their big comeback tour in Demashq, Samar needs to work quickly before the city is overrun with stans and spirits alike!
 
Play Spirit Swap: LoFi Beats to Match-3 To Today

Psychroma – A psychological horror side-scroller set in a haunted cyberpunk house. Collect cards and explore the memories stored on them to piece together your past. But the deeper you go, the more you expose yourself to the brightest heat, the warmest color… Discover the hidden corridors and uncover the sordid past of a house out of time and place within a futuristic cyberpunk city. Collect the memory cards of three main characters, An underground cultist, an ambitious philanthropist, and a drifter.

Play Psychroma Today

DISCOVER

Xbox Gear Shop

The Xbox Gear Shop is celebrating Pride 2025 by bringing back our most popular designs for a limited time! These classic designs were made by and with the LGBTQIA+ community, and will be available through Pride month only, and only in the Xbox Gear Shop!

Blizzard Gear Shop

Celebrate Pride month with the new Blizzard 2025 Pride Collection exclusively on the Blizzard Gear Store!

Led by the Blizzard LGBT+ Employee Network, this year’s Pride Collection features all-new logo designs for each of our games, available on t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, and hoodies—all benefitting* GLAAD from June 2 through June 30, 2025.

*From June 2, 2025, to June 30, 2025, Blizzard Entertainment will donate 100% of the amount Blizzard receives from Blizzard’s e-commerce store operator from the sale of each of the products from the 2025 Blizzard Pride Collection to GLAAD. This represents approximately 25% of the purchase price (less any chargebacks, refunds, and Value Added Taxes (VAT), or similar taxes paid.)

GIVE

Gaming with Impact

Rewards members in the United States can earn and donate points to organizations supporting LGBTQIA+ communities with Xbox. The organizations below will be available on the Rewards hub:

• GLAAD: Founded in 1985, GLAAD – the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization – works with television, film, video games, Spanish-language media, journalists, and social media to tell stories and consult on LGBTQ media representation. GLAAD tackles tough issues and provokes dialogue that leads to cultural change through increased media accountability, public campaigns, corporate engagement initiatives, and advocacy programs that help to ensure 100% inclusion and acceptance of the LGBTQ community. (US)

• Outright International: Outright International is dedicated to working with partners around the globe to strengthen the capacity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) human rights movement, document and amplify human rights violations against LGBTIQ people, and advocate for inclusion and equality. (US)

• Advocates for Trans Equality Education Fund: Advocates for Trans Equality fights for the legal and political rights of transgender people in America. Leveraging decades of experience on the frontlines of power, we shift government and society towards a future where we are no less than equal. A4TE was founded in 2024 as the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF), two long-time champions for the trans community, merged together as one organization. A4TE builds on their successes to boldly imagine a world where trans people live our lives joyfully and without barriers. In a time of increased extremism against trans people and our allies, protecting and expanding our freedom to be who we are has never been more important.

Xbox players 18 and older can earn Rewards points in various ways, such as playing games, completing Game Pass Quests (terms apply), and purchasing games and other eligible items at the Microsoft Store (exclusions apply). Start earning for impact today and redeem your points for great rewards. Donate your points on the Rewards hub or on the Rewards redeem page.

Wallpapers and Dynamic Backgrounds

The Xbox Pride Month design is available today as an Xbox wallpaper and dynamic background on console – follow these steps to apply the dynamic background:

• Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.
• Select Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization > My background > Dynamic backgrounds.

You can choose between Games, Xbox, or Abstract dynamic backgrounds. Choose the background art that you want with the A button.

Eternal Evil is a first-person survival horror game that captures the spirit of the genre’s roots. With two playable characters, limited resources, and a city on the edge of collapse, players must think fast, aim carefully, and survive the night.

In Eternal Evil, Every Mistake Fuels Your Enemy

Vampires don’t just attack – they feed. If you let them get close, they’ll grow faster, tougher and harder to kill. This survival horror FPS turns every encounter into a choice: strike first, or be bled dry.

At the core of Eternal Evil is its “feeding mechanic” – the longer a vampire is on you, the stronger it becomes. What starts as a basic fight can quickly become a deadly chase if you hesitate. You’re not just trying to survive. You’re managing your own downfall.

Every Bullet Matters

Combat is slow, deliberate, and brutal. Ammo is scarce. Headshots are everything. You won’t blast through hordes – you’ll count every round and pray you brought enough.

The game demands tight inventory management, attention to detail, and preparation. Puzzles are embedded in the environment. There are no glowing objectives or quest markers. Progress comes from observation, not hand-holding.

Two Storylines. One Outbreak.

You’ll play as two characters: detective Hank Richards, locked inside a hotel during the first wave of infection, and his ex-military ally Marcus, navigating the city from the outskirts. Each path reveals a different part of the story – and only one of them makes it to the end.

Environments shift from cramped hallways to burned-out streets and abandoned facilities. Enemy placement and pacing are designed to keep tension high throughout both campaigns.

No Shortcuts, No Hand-Holding

There are no tutorials. No mini-maps. No regenerating health. Eternal Evil respects your ability to adapt – and punishes those who don’t.

If you’re stuck on a puzzle, an optional item allows limited auto-solves – but nothing comes free. Everything in Eternal Evil has a cost.

Pure Survival Horror

Eternal Evil doesn’t chase spectacle. It builds fear through restraint. Minimalist UI. Cold, comic-style cutscenes. No noise – just tension.

This is what defined the golden age of survival horror: constant pressure, deliberate pacing, and the kind of dread that doesn’t let go. Eternal Evil is now available on Xbox Series X|S.

Eternal Evil

Axyos Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99

Get it now

In Eternal Evil, you’ll immerse yourself in a dark, blood-soaked atmosphere filled with terrifying enemies and a gripping, mysterious storyline. Armed with a diverse arsenal of firearms, you’ll experience realistic shooting mechanics as you battle evolving ghouls.

The game challenges you with intricate puzzles. As you explore diverse and immersive locations, you’ll manage your inventory carefully, all within a classic survival-horror experience. The game also features a physics-based damage system, allowing for enemy dismemberment, adding to the intense and visceral horror.

Fans of traditional survival-horror gameplay—featuring tight corridors, limited resources, and a constant sense of dread—will feel right at home. The experience pays homage to the golden age of the genre with a modern edge, offering methodical combat, strategic exploration, and a deeply atmospheric world.

As the saying goes, the night is dark and full of terrors. That adage is proven true time and time again in Elden Ring Nightreign, the latest game from the merciless game design wizards at FromSoftware. Taking a page (or, rather, multiple pages) from their entire catalog dating back to the first Dark Souls, Nightreign somehow manages to offer an experience that simultaneously feels familiar and brand-new.

A lot of the familiarity is due to the fact that the environments, weapons, and combat look and feel a lot like Elden Ring. On the flip side, the game’s multiplayer-only focus and its bevy of new gameplay mechanics, from wall-jumping up cliffsides to sprinting around the countryside, almost make Nightreign feel like a totally different game than anything From has made before. Of course, there’s one way in which Nightreign feels like every other game in FromSoftware’s oeuvre: It’s going to kick your butt and it’s going to kick it often.

The basic gist of the game is this: three players swoop into Limveld to survive for two in-game nights as they battle their way around the map, leveling up and collecting gear so they can eventually defeat the Night Lord on the third night. It’s obviously much, much more detailed than that, so we’ll leave it to you to read the Elden Ring Nightreign: Answering 20 Burning Questions feature we wrote earlier this year while we focus on something more important. Namely, helping you to stay alive.

Hopefully these tips will not only help you survive the night’s terrors but can even give you a fighting chance at taking down the first Night Lord on your first try. [Editor’s Note: you won’t, but it’s nice to have dreams.]

Take a Few Minutes to Get Acclimated

As mentioned above, there are a number of new gameplay mechanics introduced in Elden Ring Nightreign that might take longtime players some time to get used to. You can sprint, you can climb up to high areas thanks to a double wall jump, and you’ve got a number of new attacks like Character Skills and Ultimate Arts to play with. Thankfully, the game does offer a tutorial of sorts when you fire it up for the first time, so you can learn the basics.

The Roundtable Hold has also returned from Elden Ring, offering a new area to test your skills against dummies (while also allowing you to tweak the combat settings to your heart’s desire). Finally, you can also launch a solo mission from the Hold; while we can essentially guarantee you won’t survive the first night, it’s a great way to get your bearings and figure out the new mechanics.

Find Your Fighter (and Your Friends)

When you start Nightreign, you’ll see that there are six different characters to choose from, each with a different gameplay style (there are two more that are unlocked after you defeat your first Night Lord). A very quick breakdown: Ironeye is a ranged fighter, Guardian is the defensive bulwark, Raider acts as massive, up-close-and-person brawler, Executor is a high-dexterity Cuisinart, Recluse is an elemental sorceress, and Wylder is an all-around, middle-of-the-road fighter.

It’s worth experimenting at the aforementioned training ground to see if any of them strike your fancy, but a lot of your decision will boil down to choosing a character that compliments the others in your group of three. We found great success in using two melee fighters in Raider and Wylder, with Ironeye hanging back and reviving us with his arrows whenever we fell (in addition to taking off big chunks of enemy health with his Ultimate Art). It’s definitely worth experimenting and mixing things up the more you play though. Or, hey, try going with three of the same character just to see what happens!

Use Your Map and Plot a Course

After you land in Limveld, it’s natural to want to get fighting. After all, you’ve got a storm closing in on you! However, it’s always good to take a minute to check your map to see what’s nearby. Flask upgrades found in chapels always come in very handy, as do easy-to-defeat mini-bosses (lol “easy”) often found under churches that can help you get a few levels right off the bat. The pin system in Nightreign works quite well, as your teammates can essentially accept your pin to prioritize it on the directional map at the top of their screen. While plotting a course is helpful, the most important survival tip is knowing when you’re better off turning tail and running away from a mini-boss that’s too powerful – or any time you’re stuck in a bad situation.

Bigger Isn’t Always Better

If RPGs have taught us gamers anything over the years,  we should always pick up gear with bigger numbers. While that might sometimes be the case when it comes to Nightreign’s weapons(particularly the ones you get from defeating bosses and mini-bosses), there’s a new strategy at play here. In addition to raw attack power, each weapon possesses passive bonuses that you’ll get just for having them in your inventory. So take a minute to look past that red number that’s lower than the one you’re already holding and see if this so-called weaker weapon can provide an advantage to your build – even if you never swing it – that might help you make it just a little further.

Communication is Key

We all know that communication is essential in multiplayer games, but I’m convinced that it might be more important in Nightreign than any other. Breaking free from the group and going your own way is almost always a recipe for disaster, both for you and for whatever unfortunate teammate comes to rescue you (I’ve been on both sides of that equation). There will also be plenty of times when you’ll pick up an item that would be better suited to a teammate’s character. And while Nightreign does offer a number of great, easy-to-use non-verbal communication tools (like the pins mentioned above), they’ll never be as good as good old-fashioned microphones and party chat.

Cooperation? Collaboration? Yep, Do Those

Sticking together and communicating won’t matter much if you’re not actually working together. There are plenty of examples in Nightreign where three heads are better than one. For example, we found great success when our Ironeye plinked away at an enemy’s shield from the front, allowing us melee gents to circle around and attack from the back. There were also a number of occasions in which one of us would find an item that would provide a minor passive upgrade to our character but would be much better in the hands of another. Timing our Ultimate Arts made a huge difference in some boss battles, as one Ultimate would stun the boss and allow the others to land theirs without the risk of missing and wasting it.

If at First You Don’t Succeed…

The tips above are definitely going to be helpful, but let’s be real: you’re probably going to die a few times before you even get to the first Night Lord (a three-headed, sword-wielding canine named Gladius) – and then die again a few times before you can defeat him.

It’s OK though! Not only will every run reward you with precious Relics that can give your character a boost heading into the next run, you’re almost guaranteed to learn something along the way that will help you the next time.

We’ll see you in Limveld, Nightfarer!

[Editor’s Note: a tip of the cap to Will for not try to work “Night Train” by Guns N’ Roses or “Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight and The Pips into this Nightreign feature. Woo woo!]

ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
124

★★★★★

$39.99

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ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN is a standalone adventure within the ELDEN RING universe, crafted to offer players a new gaming experience by reimagining the game’s core design.

RISE TOGETHER
Join forces with other players to take on the creeping night and the dangers within featuring 3-player co-op.

BECOME A HERO
Take command of uniquely skilled heroes, each possessing their own abilities and distinct flair. While individually formidable, their skills create powerful synergies when they unite as a team.

TAKE ON THE NIGHT
Overcome a relentless environmental threat that sweeps through a land that changes between each game session and defeat the magnificent boss of that night!

*There is also a Deluxe Edition product available. Please be careful not to purchase the same content twice.

Cryptmaster, a narrative adventure where your words are your power, had a popular in-universe card minigame, “Whatever,” that you could play against certain characters to win more cards to add to your deck. First, let’s take a look at Whatever and understand how this deckbuilding minigame became so popular.

In Whatever, your goal is to eliminate your opponent’s life before they destroy yours. This is accomplished by playing letter tabs (think the letters in Scrabble!) that match the letters in the names of the cards in your hand. If you complete a card’s name, then its ability goes into effect, which ranges from healing yourself, dealing damage to the opponent, increasing your hand size, and way more.

If you defeat your opponent, you can win a card to integrate into your deck and win souls that can be used in the main game for powerful attacks. This is why it’s a minigame– Whatever card battles break up the flow of your progression through the dungeon crawler and provide resources for you to continue progressing. What we never expected was how much players would get into it.

In the Anniversary Update, there are a few improvements to Whatever which shake up the minigame, add more opportunities to strategize and strengthen your deck, and face new opponents bringing their own strengths and weaknesses to challenge you. We thought of this as “maximizing the minigame.” What if a player wanted to play Cryptmaster entirely for Whatever? How could we serve that player best?

First off, we added so many new cards to the minigame. I’m talking triple digits amounts! Over 100 new cards with new effects and combinations for players to play with. Part of it is giving new tools for players to play with but we also wanted to maximize card synergies to making deck construction more compelling. Do you go risky and have many cards share the same letters? You’d deal more damage and get more effects off but you could spend entire turns missing your needed letters. Or you could play more conservatively where you’re more likely to hit your letters but less likely to hit multiple cards at a time. I’ll be curious how players will play with the new cards.

With so many new cards, we also brought a new place to play Whatever and meet new characters to play with. The tavern was built in the Downwood area and many familiar faces come there to play. If players defeat all five opponents, they move onto the next floor to face off against the more competitive players of the dastardly card game. Meet the Innkeeper who runs the building and the mysterious Highwayman who hides in the shadows but is willing to keep their side of the deal. More opponents means more decks to play against, more challenges and puzzles to solve so players can continue to collect the cards and refine their strategies.

When we saw people connecting with Whatever and how much they enjoyed playing the minigame, we were ecstatic to think of new ideas and new content to support the growing love for Whatever. With new characters each with their own stories, over 100 new cards with unique abilities, new locations to play in, and more, there are hours of new content to dive into for the in-universe card minigame, Whatever. Simply type “whatever” and deal the cards.

Whatever…direction you choose, you’re sure to find new challenges in the Cryptmaster Anniversary Update, out now on Xbox.

Cryptmaster

Akupara Games

☆☆☆☆☆
13

★★★★★

$24.99

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SAY ANYTHING in this bizarre dungeon adventure where words control everything. Fill in the blanks with text or voice to uncover lost abilities, embark on strange quests, and solve mindbending riddles. Can you conquer the crypt and uncover the mystery at the heart of CRYPTMASTER?

In the ancient past, four brave heroes banded together to destroy a terrible evil, giving their lives to save countless others. But now their eternal rest has been disturbed by the Cryptmaster, a capricious necromancer in whose thrall they must ascend through the buried strata of the city above them – the gloomy Bonehouses, mysterious Sunken Sea and freakish Downwood.

With the enigmatic Soulstone in hand, the four adventurers must recover their memories, solve whimsical puzzles and defeat outlandish enemies. From fishing and card games to bardic rap battles, finding the right word is the key to success. Who knows, maybe you’ll even remember a little more than you bargained for…