Upcoming Xbox & Game Pass Releases: What’s Worth Playing This Week?

It’s time once again to take a look at what’s landing on Xbox and Xbox Game Pass this week—and whether any of it is worth your valuable time or money. It has been a minute since the last week-in-preview roundup (holiday chaos and all that), but we’re officially back on track with a fresh lineup of releases.

Now, this isn’t the busiest week we’ve ever seen, nor is it packed with huge triple-A blockbusters. But it is a solid collection of interesting titles, underrated picks, and some December releases that slipped under the radar. Let’s break it all down and see what’s coming to your console very, very soon.

Quarantine Zone: The Last Check Joins PC Game Pass

Xbox quietly announced over the weekend—via Twitter, of all places—that Quarantine Zone: The Last Check is joining PC Game Pass on January 12 as a day-one release.

Developed by Brigarda Games and published by indie powerhouse Devolver Digital, this tense management sim puts you in charge of a security checkpoint in the middle of a zombie outbreak. Your job? Spot signs of infection before things spiral out of control.

It’s already been available on PC for a bit, and you’ve probably seen clips popping up on TikTok or YouTube Shorts. There’s no confirmed console port yet, but if you want a full review, let me know in the comments and I’ll dig in deeper.

Star Wars Outlaws Hits Game Pass Trial on January 13

I’ll admit it—I actually liked Star Wars Outlaws when it launched. And after months of updates, the game is in a significantly better place than it was last year.

Instead of the usual Jedi-centric story, you play as Kay Vess, a small-time criminal just trying to scrape by in the Outer Rim. The shift in perspective still feels refreshing, and the updated stealth-and-blaster gameplay finally does justice to its potential.

Visually, it has always looked great, but now is genuinely the best time to jump in. You can try it for yourself starting January 13 if you have Game Pass Ultimate or Premium.

SimRail: The Railway Simulator Arrives on Xbox

Yes… another simulator has arrived. And yes… it involves trains. SimRail: The Railway Simulator releases this week, and despite the simple name, it’s surprisingly detailed.

This one features:

• Realistic environments created from geodetic data
• A robust multiplayer mode
• More depth than the traditional Train Sim series
• No overwhelming DLC requirements (at least for now)

I’m not a train person, but someone who is told me this could actually be a solid pick if you enjoy realism. So if locomotives are your thing, this might be worth checking out.

DreadOut Remastered Collection Drops January 14

Horror fans, rejoice—again. The DreadOut Remastered Collection finally arrives on Xbox on January 14. This bundle includes two beloved Indonesian horror titles:

• DreadOut
• DreadOut: Keepers of the Dark

Both games have been visually updated, enhanced with smoother controls, and wrapped into a single launcher so you can jump straight into the scares without jumping between apps. If you’ve never tried these cult classics, this is a great entry point.

The Last Case of Benedict Fox Comes to Xbox After Delay

Originally released on PlayStation and PC in November, The Last Case of John Moly is finally arriving on Xbox after a slight delay.

This first-person noir-inspired mystery takes place in the smoky atmosphere of the 1940s. You step into the shoes of detective John Moly, who’s dragged out of recovery when a countess begs for help solving her daughter’s 20-year-old murder case.

Reviews have been mixed. The consensus? It looks great and has an intriguing tone, but the gameplay is very on-rails and a bit too basic for some players. Not terrible—just lacking depth.

My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery Joins Game Pass

Game Pass continues expanding its family-friendly catalog, and honestly, that’s a good thing. My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery brings a colorful, accessible isometric adventure designed specifically for younger players.

Expect:

• Simple objectives
• Mini-games
• Bright visuals
• Easy difficulty
• A surprisingly quick bump in gamerscore

If you have kids, this is a cozy shared-play experience. If you don’t… well, achievements are achievements.

Cassette Boy: A Reality-Bending Indie You Shouldn’t Ignore

Here’s a strange—and delightful—surprise. Cassette Boy is an indie puzzle-adventure with a brilliant twist:

If you can’t see something, it doesn’t exist.

It looks like a standard 2D pixel game, but it’s secretly a 3D world disguised by perspective. Rotate the camera, and entire pathways appear or disappear. The puzzles reshape themselves. Obstacles collapse into new routes.

It also features:

• Real-time combat
• Exploration with upgradeable weapons
• Boss fights
• A quirky cast of characters

This one will absolutely get overlooked because of its art direction, but trust me—this is a hidden gem.

Broken Law: Unfollow – A New Psychological Horror Anthology

Toward the end of the week, horror fans get another treat: Broken Law: Unfollow. This isn’t a sequel—it’s part of a psychological horror anthology where each story feeds into a larger mystery.

Expect:

• Oppressive liminal spaces
• Unsettling puzzles
• Chase sequences where you are absolutely not the hunter
• Themes of identity, shame, and validation

The trailer alone wrecked me, so I’m personally staying far away. But if psychological horror is your thing, this one is definitely for you.

Divinity: Original Sin – Definitive Edition (December Pick)

Here’s a December release many people missed. Divinity: Original Sin – Definitive Edition hit Xbox at the end of the year and is absolutely worth your time—especially now that it runs at 60 FPS.

It was even 50% off recently (sadly the sale might have just ended). But sale or not, this is a phenomenal RPG experience and well worth diving into if you haven’t already.

The Axis Unseen – A Heavy-Metal Horror from a Former Bethesda Dev

This one came out of nowhere: The Axis Unseen, a primal, heavy-metal-infused horror survival game made by a former Skyrim and Fallout developer.

You’re dropped into a brutal wilderness filled with nightmare creatures pulled from ancient folklore. No tutorials. No hand-holding. Just survive.

Combat is centered around:

• Bow mechanics
• Tracking
• Unlockable supernatural abilities

The reviews are extremely positive so far, and if you like weird, atmospheric horror, don’t sleep on this.

Unbeatable Finally Releases – Rhythm Fans Rejoice

After a delay, Unbeatable is finally out—and players love it. This crowdfunded rhythm game is pure style and energy, combining striking visuals with a Scott Pilgrim-inspired aesthetic.

The music alone makes it a standout.

The only downside?

Some players report heavy bugs. But even then, fans insist it’s still worth pushing through because rhythm games of this quality are so rare these days.

Anthem Officially Shuts Down January 12

A quick but important note: Anthem shuts down forever on January 12. Servers will be offline permanently, and EA has confirmed there will be no offline mode, meaning the game becomes unplayable even if you own it.

It’s heartbreaking, especially after everything the BioWare team built. I posted a full retrospective yesterday covering Anthem’s rise, fall, and legacy—feel free to check it out and share your thoughts.

Five Games Leaving Game Pass on January 15

A quick reminder: these games are leaving Game Pass on January 15:

• Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
• Neon White
• Road 96
• The Ascent
• The Grinch: Christmas Adventures

If you’re playing any of these, finish them up soon—or grab them at a discount before they disappear.