Game Pass or Pass

This week on Game Pass or Pass , we're covering two games that couldn't be more different but are generating plenty of excitement: Forza Horizon 6 and Black Jacket . We start with Forza Horizon 6 , as Playground Games finally brings the Horizon Festival to Japan. It's a setting fans have been requesting for years, and after seeing the reveal, it's easy to understand why. From winding mountain road...

This week on Game Pass or Pass , we're hitting rewind and pressing play on Mixtape , the coming-of-age road trip adventure from Beethoven & Dinosaur and Annapurna Interactive. More than just a narrative game, Mixtape is a love letter to music, memory, and the awkward, exhilarating moments that define growing up. We dive into how the game's soundtrack drives the entire experience, why its unapologe...

Xbox Showcase 2026: Somehow...Exclusives Returned... The Xbox Games Showcase 2026 brought a packed lineup of announcements, including the reveal of Persona 6, a new look at Fable, more details on Gears of War: E-Day, and the surprise return of Spyro. Microsoft also continued to showcase its evolving strategy of bringing more of its games beyond the Xbox ecosystem, while also announcing console exc...

After a year packed with Game Pass drops, sequels, surprises, and a few wild swings, it is time to settle it. This is our Game of the Year 2025 episode. In this special episode of Game Pass or Pass, we break down every game that made our final nomination list and debate which one truly defined 2025 not just on paper but in how it felt to play. Our Game of the Year 2025 nominees are Balatro Clair O...

This week we dive into PowerWash Simulator 2 , the long-anticipated sequel that finally launched in October 2025 and arrived day-one on Xbox Game Pass. We explore whether this follow-up keeps the relaxing magic of the first game or if it leans too heavily on the formula. In this episode, we break down: How the core loop evolves across 38 full jobs throughout Caldera County, with multi-stage tasks...

Sometimes Game Pass drops something serious, sometimes something cinematic… and sometimes it drops a game where you launch balls into a pit and cause absolute mayhem. This week, we’re talking about Ball X Pit , a deceptively simple arcade-style title that’s all about physics-driven chaos, fast scoring, and “one more try” addiction. In this episode of Game Pass or Pass , we break down what makes Ba...

As we roll into the end of 2025, Xbox feels like it’s in the weirdest place it’s ever been. In this episode of Game Pass or Pass , we sit down and talk through the massive shift Microsoft made at the start of October 2025: the full Xbox Game Pass revamp with new tiers (Essential, Premium, and Ultimate), the 50% price hike on Ultimate to $29.99/month , the jump in PC Game Pass pricing, and the conf...

Two very different games. One episode. In this week’s Game Pass or Pass , we’re taking a look at the upcoming dark action RPG Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and the hands-on creativity of Spray Paint Simulator . They couldn’t be further apart in tone, but both raise the question: does uniqueness automatically mean quality? We discuss: Wuchang: Fallen Feathers – How its Soulslike combat, plague-ridden se...

We kick off this episode with a write-in discussion on the recent Microsoft layoffs and game cancellations , including the uncertainty around projects like Perfect Dark . It’s a tough conversation about the state of Xbox, studios, and what this means for players moving forward. In this episode of Game Pass or Pass , we dive in deep on the remaster’s biggest questions: Skating remade, but gospel in...

What happens when you mix stop-motion-inspired visuals, card-based combat, and a dice companion that can literally change your fate? You get Lost in Random: The Eternal Die — a bizarre, Tim Burton-esque action-adventure that’s equal parts whimsical and unsettling. In this episode of Game Pass or Pass , we dive into: How the dice-rolling mechanic impacts combat pacing and strategy The blend of real...

n this episode of Game Pass or Pass , we put on the gear and hit the streets with two procedural-heavy sims: Firefighting Simulator: The Squad and Police Simulator: Patrol Officers — both from the same publisher, both promising realism and co-op-friendly gameplay. But what we found was... odd. These games aim for authenticity, but somehow miss the mark in both realism and gameplay depth. They're n...

Rip and tear… but this time with a flail and shield. In this episode of Game Pass or Pass , we break down everything we know so far about DOOM: The Dark Ages , the next brutal entry in id Software’s iconic franchise — and it’s unlike anything we’ve seen before. Set in a dark medieval world, this prequel to 2016’s DOOM reinvents the Slayer as a knight-like figure, battling demonic hordes with bruta...

Xbox just dropped its Summer Showcase 2025, and we’re breaking down what that means for Game Pass players. In this reaction episode, we cover: Hardware reveal: Xbox-branded Asus ROG Ally and Ally X handhelds — portable Game Pass everywhere 🎮 Big game drops: The Outer Worlds 2 (Oct 29, day‑one), High on Life 2 (Winter 2025), Super Meat Boy 3D (early 2026), Ninja Gaiden 4 , Call of Duty: Black Ops...

The train from hell is back — and it’s brought more cards, more chaos, and way more combos. In this episode of Game Pass or Pass , we dive deep into Monster Train 2 , the sequel to one of the most addictive roguelike deckbuilders in recent memory. With new clans, refined mechanics, and a surprising twist on multiplayer, is this sequel just more of the same — or a worthy evolution? We cover: How Mo...

Surprise announcement or long time coming? In this bonus episode of Game Pass or Pass, we break down the recent news that Microsoft is increasing prices on Xbox Series X consoles and first-party games. We get into: What’s changing and when Why Microsoft is making these moves now How it stacks up against Sony and Nintendo’s pricing strategies What it means for the value of Game Pass moving forward...

A deadly painter. A cursed number. A world slowly being wiped from existence. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 drops players into one of the most visually striking turn-based RPGs in years — where every brushstroke is a weapon and every year could be your last. Inspired by Final Fantasy and Persona , but drenched in surrealist French art, this is a game that’s not afraid to get weird — or emotional. In...

A nuclear disaster, a quarantined countryside, and something lurking beyond the fog — Atomfall drops players into a chilling alt-history Britain, blending survival horror with open-world exploration. In this episode of Game Pass or Pass , we dig into the atmosphere-heavy world of Atomfall: Does its survival crafting loop feel rewarding or repetitive? How well does Atomfall’s eerie setting stack up...

In this episode of Game Pass or Pass , we break down why Balatro is far more than a gimmick. With combo-stacking strategy, addictive progression, and just enough chaos to keep every run fresh, this game turns your brain into a bluffing machine. Whether you’re a poker veteran or a card game rookie, there’s a lot to unpack: Is Balatro just a trend ride, or does it have real staying power? How does i...

AI is stepping off the sidelines and into your controller. In this episode of Game Pass or Pass , we dive into Microsoft’s new Xbox Copilot for Gaming , a groundbreaking accessibility tool that uses AI to assist players in real-time . Whether you're tackling tricky sections, learning mechanics, or just exploring a game world, Copilot offers a second set of hands — or brains. But what does this mea...

Get ready for neon-soaked chaos, synth-heavy gunfights, and pure retro-future adrenaline — this week we’re diving headfirst into Mullet Mad Jack . This over-the-top, roguelite FPS throws you into a 90s anime-inspired hellscape where your life literally depends on how many likes you get. With a ticking time bomb of dopamine addiction, every kill buys you seconds. Every missed shot? A step closer to...

In this episode of Game Pass or Pass , Cory and Bronson take a deep dive into Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled , the full remake of the PlayStation classic. With a fresh coat of paint and modern refinements, does this nostalgic kart racer still hold up, or has time left it in the dust? Topics covered in this episode: Visual Overhaul: The updated graphics bring new life to classic tracks and characte...

In this episode, we dive into Avowed , the upcoming RPG from Obsidian Entertainment. This game promises to offer a unique experience, combining a structured, linear world with immersive combat and a strong emphasis on story. We explore how the weighty combat mechanics and the game’s more focused, structured world differ from the sprawling open-world experiences many RPGs offer. One of the most exc...

In this episode, we talk about Metal Slug Tactics , a tactical strategy game that brings the Metal Slug franchise into a new genre. We dive into the grind, difficulty, and whether it’s more of a puzzle game than you’d expect. Metal Slug Tactics isn’t a game you can rush through. It requires patience, strategy, and time. The difficulty is steep, with enemies coming at you in waves. Tactical decisio...

On this episode of Game Pass or Pass , we dive into Eternal Strands , the new open-world action-adventure from Yellow Brick Games. Inspired by giants like Shadow of the Colossus and Breath of the Wild , Eternal Strands aims big with physics-based combat, elemental manipulation, and full climbing mechanics. But does it deliver on that promise? Well… not exactly. There’s no denying that Eternal Stra...

Ninja Gaiden Black set the standard for high-speed, brutally challenging action games, but Ninja Gaiden 2 Black aimed to take things even further with more weapons, bigger enemies, and an overhauled combat system. But does this sequel refine the formula, or does it stumble under the weight of its own ambitions? In this episode, we break down how Ninja Gaiden 2 Black compares to its legendary prede...