While there aren’t a ton of games coming out this week for Xbox and Xbox Game Pass, the ones that are will surely open some eyes. Microsoft is blowing the lid of the gaming world with the launch of Halo Infinite and there are a bunch of other terrific titles available that are sure to keep any gamer engaged happily throughout the coming holiday season. Check out what’s new for Xbox for the week of December 6-10, 2021.
Already Released
Ever Forward
Ever Forward is an adventure puzzle game — it is the story of Maya. Maya is lost in a strange world somewhere between reality and imagination. She is alone to confront her despair on her journey of discovery, where she must unlock her memories and confront her fears to unravel the secrets of the world. Players will need to use their observational skills and intelligence to solve multiple puzzles to piece together the mystery of Maya’s past and what dark secrets she has buried.
Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator (optimized for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Game Pass)
Everyone has them, and everyone wants them. You are an Organ Trader, the funnel for fleshy meat parts into a strange, evolving, and desperate universe full of clients.
Ball laB
Roll and bounce through tough-but-fair platforming stages in minimalistic retro style! Stripping away modern complexities to return to a simpler, more challenging style of gaming, Ball laB is a straightforward precision platformer presented in minimalistic greyscale pixel art graphics. Each puzzling stage fills a single screen, with the objective being to get from one end of the level to another without falling victim to spikes, pitfalls, or other hazards.
Transient: Extended Edition (Xbox One X Enhanced)
In the distant, post-apocalyptic future, what is left of mankind lives in an enclosed citadel created to survive the harsh outside environment? Delve deep into this dystopian world and investigate what is happening to you and your friends. Solve puzzles, hack systems, and plug in to explore other dimensions. Discover a truth that might tear apart your sanity and question your very existence.
Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space (Xbox one X Enhanced)
Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space is a remastered version of Telltale’s second season of episodic Sam & Max games, lovingly updated by a small team of original developers. Sam is a six-foot canine detective with a nose for justice. Max is a hyperkinetic rabbity-thing with a taste for mayhem. Together, they’re the Freelance Police—an irreverent comedy duo whose esoteric crime-fighting style has been entertaining comic book and video game fans for more than thirty years.
Halo Infinite Campaign (Optimized for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Game Pass)
When all hope is lost and humanity’s fate hangs in the balance, the Master Chief is ready to confront the most ruthless foe he’s ever faced. Step inside the armor of humanity’s greatest hero to experience an epic adventure and explore the massive scale of the Halo ring.
Thursday, December 9
Antarctica 88 (Xbox One X Enhanced)
The game takes place at the station “Antarctica 1”. Over the past six months, the expedition of your father Vladimir Efimov has been engaged in drilling ice and exploring prehistoric minerals found in it. Six weeks ago, the expedition stopped communication. As a part of a four-man rescue squad, you have to figure out what happened there. Nobody will hear your scream!
Wytchwood
Wytchwood is a crafting adventure game set in an expressive land of gothic fables and fairytales. As the mysterious old witch of the woods, you will explore a strange countryside, collect magical ingredients, brew sorcerous enchantments, and pass your twisted judgment upon a capricious cast of characters and creatures. After all, how will they ever learn if you don’t teach them the moral of the story?
Friday, December 10
Alexio
The premise is simple: this is the game about the little duckling Alex. The day when he turned 6 he learned the hard truth from his father — to become a true drake he had to complete the journey on his own and find his monobrow during his travels. Alex had a hard time trying to get some sleep because he knew that this journey would be the most exciting thing for him ever. You will have to travel with Alex, overcome a set of obstacles, and get through the meadows, lakes, mountains, woods, caves, and ancient ruins on your way to the temple that keeps your hard-earned reward. Intriguing, right? This means it’s time to stop reading this and start playing!
Collapsed
Collapsed is a post-apocalyptic roguelike action-platformer. Hunt your prey through vast procedurally-generated levels filled with tough enemies, useful loot and experience points.
Mini Madness
Mini Madness is an arcade racing game inspired by such titles as Re-Volt or Micro Machines. Players are racing on crazy, expanded vertically tracks placed in a single-family house and in its large garden, by taking control over miniature remote cars.
Mr. Prepper
Mr. Prepper is about being prepared. You know something is wrong. The risk of a nuclear war is in the air and you need to get ready for what’s coming. Struggle for your freedom and deal with the authoritarian government in this survival crafting game.
Trash Quest
Trash Quest is set on the space station Deliverance. The crew has just begun preparations for the long voyage to Tau Ceti. The AI has been activated, and it’s performing a quick system check.
Vaporum: Lockdown
Vaporum: Lockdown, a prequel to Vaporum, is a grid-based dungeon crawler RPG in an original steampunk setting, inspired by old-school classics of the genre. Follow the story of Ellie Teller, a scientist struggling to survive disastrous events that happened in the tower of Arx Vaporum.
A Year of Springs (Optimized for Xbox Series X/S)
Experience the stories of Haru, Erika, and Manami in A YEAR OF SPRINGS, a visual novel trilogy about three friends navigating their feelings of love, connection, and just wanting to belong. In ONE NIGHT, HOT SPRINGS, visit the hot springs with Haru, a young and anxious trans woman who just wants to enjoy herself on a trip with Manami but doesn’t want to cause any trouble.
