Offering over 300 excellent titles for a small subscription price, Xbox Game Pass is living up to its initial elevator pitch as the "Netflix for games." Each month, more and more games are added to the service, meaning the value keeps getting better. While some titles are only offered on xCloud or PC, it's clear just how much value Game Pass has for Xbox owners.
It's important to note that unlike services like Xbox Games With Gold or PS Plus, the games coming to Game Pass aren't available all at the same time. Instead of all releasing on the first of the month, they're spread out and have different release dates. Four new games are being added to Game Pass in June 2021, so here's a breakdown of each game in the order they're coming to the service.
The Wild at Heart (xCloud), June 1
One of the two recently released games coming to Game Pass, The Wild at Heart released at the end of May and is an excellent addition to the service. The Wild at Heart is a Pikmin-esque fantasy adventure game where the player takes control of Wake and Kirby to explore the fantastical Deep Woods. On their journey, Wake and Kirby enlist the help of a group of magical Spritelings to collect loot and crafting items, solve puzzles, and fight enemies.
The indie game also features a unique art style that captures a hand-drawn, colored pencils aesthetic. In addition to having a striking art style, The Wild at Heart has an excellent soundtrack full of ethereal-sounding songs that help illustrate the themes of childlike wonder and adventure present throughout the game. While it does have Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC versions, The Wild at Heart is only joining Game Pass for xCloud.
For Honor (Console and xCloud), June 3
For Honor is the only AAA title coming to Game Pass in June, and seems like the perfect fit. The game revolves around four factions of warriors; Vikings, Samurai, Knights, and Wu Lin, fighting it out for supremacy. Not only does it have a full-length single-player campaign, but For Honor also features a competitive multiplayer scene for all types of gaming fans with its inclusion on Game Pass. Despite releasing in 2017, Ubisoft Montreal has supported the game with frequent updates and multiple seasonal expansions keeping For Honor's community alive and well.
The game is a third-person, class-based action fighter that pulls players into one-on-one duels when set up for climactic moments. For Honor' s story has the player jump between the different factions for each chapter, so if someone is looking to get a good feel for the game and its multiple armies, the campaign would be a great place to start as opposed to jumping right into the multiplayer.
Backbone (PC), June 8
Backbone is headed to Game Pass exclusively on the PC the day it releases, June 8. Taking heavy inspiration from classic CRPGs of the past, Backbone follows raccoon detective, Howard Lotor, as he explores a dystopian Vancouver full of anthropomorphic animals. The game sees players investigate cases by sneaking around the city's seedy underbelly, interviewing and interrogating witnesses, and putting the clues together by completing puzzles.
With a film-noir aesthetic as a background, the game has a pixelated art style that gives each character a real sense of life and unique personality. Backbone wears its influences on its sleeve and would pair well with 2019's Disco Elysium as a one-two punch of throwback CRPG detective gameplay. While Backbone is releasing for PS4, Switch, Xbox One, Windows, Linux, and MAC, it's only coming to Game Pass for PC.
Darkest Dungeon (Console, PC, xCloud), June 10
Not for the faint of heart, Darkest Dungeon is a rogue-like RPG where the player takes command of a team of adventurers and helps them navigate the stresses and traumas of their job. The game is designed to be punishing and to keep the player as well as their team on their toes. Dealing with the stresses of exploring dark caves, dungeons, and crypts takes a toll on the heroes which often leads to untimely deaths and sometimes run-ending failures.
A sequel for Darkest Dungeon was announced late last year, so its inclusion on Game Pass will hopefully put the game in new hands and help excitement grow for its successor. Despite being an overall bleak and dark game, it's gained something of a cult following ever since its release. Luckily for anyone looking to play it, Darkest Dungeon and will be coming to Game Pass on console, PC, and xCloud on June 10.
What's leaving Game Pass in June?
While there are four excellent titles coming to Game Pass in June, there is also a handful leaving the service as well. Similar to the way that games don't always come to the service on the first of the month, this short list of games won't be leaving until the 15th. As of June 15, the games no longer available on Game Pass are:
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (Console)
Night Call (Console, PC, xCloud)
Observation (Console, PC, xCloud)
West of Dead (Console, PC, xCloud)
Wizard of Legend (Console, PC, xCloud)