3 new Xbox Game Pass games to play this weekend (November 1-3)

By Tomas Franzese Published November 1, 2024

xbox game pass recommendations november 1 throne and liberty — Xbox Game Studios

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was a monumental addition to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate last week, so no week of additions to the service will live up to that for a while. Still, that didn’t stop some more games from trickling onto Microsoft’s subscription service in the wake of the latest Call of Duty. In fact, the games that came to the service were quite good. If you’re wondering what you should be checking out next as a Game Pass subscriber after you’re done with Black Ops 6, consider trying one of these games.

Ashen

ASHEN | Gamescom 2018 Gameplay

In July, A44 released Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, and it was part of Xbox Game Pass from day one. Now, the studio has brought its previous Soulslike to the subscription service. Originally released in 2018, Ashen stood out from the crowd at the time thanks to its distinct, grayish cel-shaded look and open-world design years before Elden Ring came out. Ashen still stands as one of the best indie Soulslikes ever released, so those who have never played it before should give it a shot now that it’s on Xbox Game Pass. It’ll also make for an enjoyable Game Pass Soulslike double-feature with Flintlock.

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The PC and Xbox One versions of Ashen are available now with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. It’s also available on PS4 and Nintendo Switch.

Dead Island 2

Dead Island 2 - Extended Gameplay Reveal [4K Official]

Halloween may be over, but you should still check out this zombie game. Dead Island 2 is an action game infamous for switching developers multiple times and being released over seven years after its initial announcement. Despite that, Dead Island 2 is a surprisingly enjoyable game with visceral melee combat and one of the most impressive enemy dismemberment systems since Dead Space. If you’re not ready to let go of Halloween just yet, Dead Island 2 should be your de facto choice on Xbox Game Pass.

The PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S versions of Dead Island 2 are now part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate catalog. It’s also available on PS4 and PS5 via PlayStation Plus Extra.

Throne and Liberty

THRONE AND LIBERTY: Claim the Throne | Launch Trailer

Throne and Liberty is a free-to-play game released by Amazon Game Studios earlier this month. It’s a fantasy MMORPG sporting some truly massive battles and a fun mechanic where players can transform into many different fantasy creatures. It’s not a bad choice for those looking for a new live-service RPG to grind and kill some time playing. It’s a particularly good game for Xbox Game Pass subscribers to check out because they get the Clay and Mischievous Bundle for no additional cost, granting them a unique costume and Amitoi pet. Those are nice bonuses in a free-to-play game like this that you just won’t get elsewhere.

Throne and Liberty is free-to-play across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

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A former Gaming Staff Writer at Digital Trends, Tomas Franzese now reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting…

Gaming

3 new Xbox Game Pass games to play this weekend (January 24-26)

Two warriors in Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess.

There are an overwhelming number of upcoming video games in February that will be competing for your time between the heavy hitters of Civilization 7, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Like a Dragon: Yakuza Pirate in Hawaii just to name a few. Before the deluge of games hits, Xbox Game Pass has a suite of games coming out to hold you over. Rather than give you a ton of giant experiences that you won't be able to finish before February's games hit, we've found a nice selection of games that you can easily finish before the month is up. While not especially long, these games all offer something special and shouldn't be missed. If you need something to play this weekend, you can't go wrong with any of these picks.

And don't forget that Xbox Game Pass just got a surprising new game on Thursday: Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. We'll be digging into that this weekend ourselves to let you know if it's worth your attention.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess - Launch Trailer

Gaming

Xbox Game Pass is getting 2 of January’s biggest games

Citizen Sleeper 2 cover art.

Both Sniper Elite: Resistance and Citizen Sleeper 2 are making their way to Game Pass before the end of the month, along with a slew of other must-play titles. Although games come and go from the service, Game Pass rarely adds as many notable games at once as it has this month. January is host to several day-one releases, as well as several updates and DLC that promise to change up your most-played games.
Sniper Elite: Resistance — January 30

Few games can compare themselves to the Sniper Elite franchise in terms of gameplay. Combining stealth and tactical combat, Sniper Elite: Resistance isn't just a sniping sim. You'll have to think carefully about your targets and find the right way to line up your shot without being targeted.
Citizen Sleeper 2 — January 31
The original Citizen Sleeper was one heck of an RPG, and Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector builds on that formula with an amnesiac android with a busted body. Find a ship, find a crew, keep flying. It's like cyborg Firefly, kind of — and that's incredibly exciting.
Lonely Mountain: Snow Riders — January 21
Lonely Mountain: Snow Riders is a follow up to Lonely Mountains: Downhill, a Trials-like experience that has you master the mountain trails on skis, racing against other players in online multiplayer or trying to set the best time possible. Lonely Mountain: Snow Riders is available today on Game Pass.
Flock — January 22

Gaming

3 new Xbox Game Pass games to play this weekend (January 17-19)

Key art for Diablo 1.

While Xbox Game Pass is off to a slow start in 2025, some new games have come to the subscription service this week. Namely, a classic Blizzard game that revolutionized the loot-driven RPG space, Diablo, got added to PC Game Pass a few months after the early Starcraft games did. Meanwhile, console Game Pass Ultimate subscribers got access to the latest EA Sports UFC games. Those two games, plus an enjoyable early access game that recently became available to Game Pass Standard subscribers, are worth your while this weekend.
Diablo
Diablo – Opening Cinematic

The original Diablo was a very important one for Blizzard Entertainment. It was the studio's first big success after Warcraft, proving Blizzard wasn't a one-trick pony and kick-started another franchise that's still ongoing today. On top of that, it also played a large role in popularizing loot-driven RPGs with procedurally generated content and online multiplayer gaming as a whole. Although it's dated by modern standards, Diablo is an important piece of video game history worth revisiting today. Hopefully, Diablo II: Resurrected and Diablo III will make their way to the Game Pass soon so the whole franchise can be played on Microsoft's gaming subscription service.

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