Microsoft unveiled the lineup for Xbox Game Pass Wave 2 in January 2025, with a host of exciting day-one releases and popular titles landing on the service. The new batch of games has been available since January 21 and continues with fresh additions throughout the rest of the month. There’s a mix of genres for Xbox Game Pass members, from competitive shooters to heartwarming adventures and epic RPGs. Here are some of the highlights you need to know:
January 21: A New Adventure Begins
The wave starts with Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders, launching on January 21. This game brings a snowy twist to the popular Lonely Mountains: Downhill series. Players will crash and race down snow-covered hills while mastering difficult terrains. The game supports up to eight players through cross-platform multiplayer, offering a unique cooperative experience. Whether racing to the finish or exploring the mountain with friends, Snow Riders provides fun challenges for all types of players. Available on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S, it’s a great addition to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on day one.
January 22: Multiplayer Co-Op and Tactical Combat
On January 22, the Game Pass library expands with several exciting titles. Flock joins Game Pass Standard on Console, offering a multiplayer co-op experience. In this game, players take flight as they soar through beautiful landscapes, collecting adorable flying creatures. The cooperative element is at the heart of the game, with players working together to add rare creatures to their flocks while exploring vast environments.
Next up is Gigantic: Rampage Edition, a 5v5 MOBA hero shooter available on Cloud, Console, and PC. Released on Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard, this premium version brings a dynamic, team-based multiplayer experience. New players who have just Buy Xbox Game Pass Accounts can choose from a diverse roster of unique heroes and work with their team to control objectives and take down the opposing team's Guardian.
The lineup on January 22 continues with Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, an action strategy game with a distinct Japanese flavor. Available for Console on Game Pass Standard, players will purify villages by day and fend off dark forces at night in a fast-paced, cyclical gameplay experience. It combines Kagura-inspired mechanics with intense strategy elements.
Also arriving on January 22, Magical Delicacy (Console), Tchia (Xbox Series X|S), The Case of the Golden Idol (Console), and Starbound (Cloud and Console) all join the service, expanding Game Pass’s diverse range of offerings. Magical Delicacy invites players into a whimsical world of culinary magic, while Tchia offers a heartfelt open-world adventure. The Case of the Golden Idol challenges players to solve a series of quirky mysteries, while Starbound lets players explore infinite procedurally generated worlds.
January 28: Epic Fantasy and Action-Packed Defenses
The first day of the final week of January delivers two highly anticipated day-one releases. Eternal Strands (Cloud, Console, and PC) is a debut title from Yellow Brick Games, an indie studio formed by industry veterans from Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Watch Dogs, and Assassin’s Creed. In this third-person, action-adventure game, players blend powerful weapons with magic to fight towering creatures in a fantasy world on the brink of collapse. Available on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, Eternal Strands promises a thrilling experience for action-adventure fans.
Also on January 28, Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) joins Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass as a day-one release. This action-packed third-person shooter combines traps and defenses in a rogue-lite style, where players fight off orc hordes with up to four players. The game’s tower defense mechanics mixed with fast-paced shooting action will surely appeal to fans of both genres.
January 29: Emotional and Surreal Journeys
On January 29, Shady Part of Me (Cloud, Console, and PC) lands on Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard. This surreal adventure invites players on an emotional journey where they control a little girl and her shadow, solving puzzles in dream-like environments. The game's art direction is striking, with voice acting from Hannah Murray (known for Game of Thrones and Skins) adding an extra layer of depth to the emotional narrative.
January 30: Sniping in Co-Op
One of the most exciting announcements is the arrival of Sniper Elite: Resistance (Cloud, Console, and PC) on January 30. Available for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, this title puts a fresh spin on the Sniper Elite series, focusing on covert operations behind enemy lines in occupied France during WWII. The campaign can be played solo or in co-op, and players can expect tactical third-person combat, stealth, and sniping mechanics that the series is known for.
January 31: RPG Fans Rejoice
On January 31, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) hits Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. The long-awaited sequel to the acclaimed 2022 RPG, this title features dice-driven mechanics in a sci-fi world. Players assume the role of an escaped android with a malfunctioning body, a bounty on their head, and no memory of their past. Citizen Sleeper 2 promises an immersive narrative with a unique approach to role-playing.
February 4: Far Cry Joins the Fray
Lastly, Far Cry New Dawn (Cloud, Console, and PC) lands on Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard on February 4. Set 17 years after a global nuclear catastrophe, the game takes players to a transformed Hope County, Montana, where they must defend against the Highwaymen and fight for the last remaining resources in the post-apocalyptic world.
Games Leaving January 31, 2025
As always, some titles will leave Game Pass at the end of the month. The following games will no longer be available on January 31, 2025:
Anuchard (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Broforce Forever (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Darkest Dungeon (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Death’s Door (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Maquette (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem (Cloud, Console, and PC)
With so many new games to explore, it’s clear that January Wave 2 is shaping up to be a great month for Xbox Game Pass Subscribers. Whether you're into co-op adventures, epic RPGs, or tactical shooters, there's something here for everyone.