7 Immediate Xbox Game Pass Debuts I Can't Wait to Dive Into on Day One, Eagerness intensified for additional releases

7 Immediate Xbox Game Pass Debuts I Can't Wait to Dive Into on Day One, Eagerness intensified for additional releases

I've cleaned up that backlog of mine with 197 video games across Xbox and PC, but let's talk about the games that are about to join the queue.

I'm a sucker for new video games that pique my interest, and Xbox Game Pass is my silent accomplice in this addiction. A whole lot of those additions can be blamed on the subscription service, making it easier than ever to download an exciting release and play it whenever I find the time.

While there are already quite a few games coming my way, there are seven day one additions on Xbox Game Pass that have me particularly hyped up - so much so that they'd jump the backlog queue and get played immediately.

7. The Monster Reborn

• Coming to Xbox and PC Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 in 2026

Yes, you read that right. This game hails from the creators of the Pokémon games, Game Freak, but don't get too excited yet.

The company steps out of the familiar once in a while and creates something entirely different for consoles other than Nintendo's. The Monster Reborn is the first non-Pokémon title from Game Freak in years, and you'd be forgiven for thinking it was the work of Capcom or Bandai Namco instead.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by monstrous beasts, The Monster Reborn has captured my attention with its fascinating premise and eye-catching art design. The question is, can Game Freak deliver a polished, performant, and stable game at release? We'll have to wait and see.

6. Mixtape

• Coming to Xbox and PC Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 in 2025... Probably

I didn't get to preview Mixtape during Summer Game Fest 2025, but I did get a perfect review from us when The Artful Escape came out in 2021. Mixtape follows the journey of three friends desperately holding onto their childhood for one final party. This coming-of-age tale should be right up my alley.

Mixtape doesn't look nearly as trippy as The Artful Escape, but it has a peculiar art style and a powerful score filled with legendary songs that defined a generation. I can't wait to jump into Mixtape and experience this emotional adventure alongside the rest of you.

5. Grounded 2

• Coming to Xbox and PC Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC on Jul. 29, 2025 in early access

Not even a pandemic could slow down the lip-smacking, content-packed action-survival-adventure of Grounded, which was one of the greatest hits from the Xbox Game Studios family. Now, we have the next story in this insect-sized universe: Grounded 2.

The developers at Obsidian Entertainment are making everything bigger and better, with our returning heroes exploring a park infested with all-new creatures and riddled with all-new secrets. Everything I've seen of Grounded 2 so far looks incredible.

4. Resonance: A Tale from the Plague Chronicles

• Coming to Xbox and PC Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 in 2026

A Plague Tale counts two of the most ambitious "AA" games in the last decade that actually deliver, and I absolutely loved following the tale of Amicia and Hugo de Rune in both games. Now, we're getting a prequel set 15 years before the events of Requiem, following a new main character named Sophia, a battle-tested plunderer. Resonance: A Tale from the Plague Chronicles looks to be a wide departure from the first games, while still following the theme of battling for your independence.

As fully expected from a A Plague Tale title, Resonance looks absolutely stunning in its debut trailer, and leans even further into the otherworldly visuals and twisted dimensions that are sure to tie into its dramatic narrative.

3. The Outer Worlds 2: The Eternal Exodus

• Coming to Xbox and PC Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 on Oct. 29, 2025

Obsidian Entertainment gave us a sneak peek into The Outer Worlds 2 at the recent Xbox Games Showcase, and it's shaping up to be a far larger and grander video game than its predecessor. Deeper RPG mechanics, massively improved combat, and a new setting are all part of this groundbreaking sequel to the tongue-in-cheek sci-fi RPG.

I can't wait to delve back into the wickedly funny universe of The Outer Worlds 2 and experience the adventure that lies beyond those familiar stars.

2. The Haunting of Grand Designs

• Coming to Xbox and PC Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC in 2026

What game could possibly be so far up this list? A quirky indie game with a crazy premise, of course. In this case, The Haunting of Grand Designs combines Blue Prince, Ghostbusters, House Flipper, Broadway, and some other unidentifiable ingredients into one glorious soup. Even if you were just renovating a spooky hotel with guns, that'd be enough to make me interested in this game... But there's also layer upon layer of supernatural mystery stacked below the surface, and I just need this game injected directly into my brain.

I just hope the musical number in the trailer isn't confined to the marketing trail, because I want the entire game to be riddled with songs. The talking cat better be a recurring character too - I can never say no to a talking cat, especially if it's helping me renovate a hotel haunted by ghosts!

1. The Guardian

• Coming to Xbox and PC Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC on Oct. 17, 2025

Obsidian Entertainment is the true MVP of Xbox, kicking off the year with Avowed and following that epic fantasy RPG with the sequel to its tongue-in-cheek sci-fi RPG, The Outer Worlds. Now we have The Guardian, a vibrant narrative-adventure told entirely without words.

In The Guardian, you play as a sentient lighthouse that has awakened after a long period of abandonment and embarks on a journey alongside its new companion, a lively seabird. It's trippy and wild, and (in typical Double Fine fashion) is not restricted in any way to the real world. This lighthouse is traveling through otherworldly realms during its adventure.

I can't imagine the pitch meeting for a game where you're a sentient lighthouse, but I love that this exists. It's just the kind of game I've come to expect from Obsidian, so I've marked my calendar and can't wait to delve into this wacky world.

1. After updating my gaming library, I'm eager to jump into The Guardian, an upcoming narrative-adventure from Obsidian Entertainment, available on Xbox Game Pass and Windows PC in October 2025.
2. Xbox Game Pass has also brought my attention to The Monster Reborn, a post-apocalyptic game by Game Freak coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 in 2026, questioning their ability to deliver a polished performance.
3. Mixtape, following the journey of three friends holding onto their childhood, is another addition to my gaming list, arriving on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 in 2025, with its unique art style and powerful score.
4. Grounded 2, the sequel to the popular action-survival-adventure game Grounded, is set to release on Jul. 29, 2025, in early access, with Obsidian Entertainment expanding the insect-sized universe with new creatures and secrets.
5. Resonance: A Tale from the Plague Chronicles, a prequel to the A Plague Tale series, will be joining my game queue with its dramatic narrative, set 15 years before the events of Requiem, and will be available on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 in 2026.
6. The Outer Worlds 2: The Eternal Exodus is another anticipated title on my list, with improved combat, deeper RPG mechanics, and a new setting, slated for release on Oct. 29, 2025, across various platforms including Xbox Game Pass.
7. Among the upcoming games on my radar, there's a quirky indie title called The Haunting of Grand Designs, which blends elements of Blue Prince, Ghostbusters, House Flipper, Broadway, and more into a supernatural hotel renovation game set to arrive on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC in 2026.

In addition to these games, I also keep an eye on emerging trends in fashion-and-beauty, lifestyle, gadgets, smartphones, and technology, as well as new releases on my Surface tablet or smartphone.

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