The latest addition to Xbox Game Pass is the day-one title Party Animals, which follows yet another solid addition and precedes a couple more. Indeed, if anything's clear, it's just how good of a month September 2023 has been for Xbox Game Pass.
Thus far, the service has added Starfield, Gris, Spiritfarer, Lies of P, and now Party Animals. It's such a strong and varied selection, coming off a strong month in August too. Ultimately, it remains to be seen how the coming months shake out, but it's an exciting time to be a subscriber. Party Animals is officially added to Xbox Game Pass today for PC and consoles, perhaps in celebration of the strong month.
Party Animals is a physic-based brawler and party game, and the easiest point of reference is Gang Beasts. They play very similarly, except in Party Animals players take on the role of animals such as Nemo the corgi, Underbite the dinosaur, Harry the duck, Otta the otter, Macchiato the cat, and so forth, as they punch, kick, jump, headbutt, and use weapons to ensure they are the last one standing. Its launch comes with three key game modes such as the free-for-all Last Stand or the Capture-the-Flag style Snatch Squad. Luckily, there is plenty of map variety and the limited game modes don't detract as much as one may think. After all, it's a solid game if not exactly anything new.
As we wrote in our review of Party Animals, "People who enjoy Gang Beasts and other physics-based multiplayer games will have a blast with Party Animals as it's easily the most polished and fully-featured game of its kind. However, it's unlikely to convert any newcomers, and it remains to be seen how its monetization will play out. The game's budget price and its availability on Xbox Game Pass make it an easy recommendation for those needing a new mindless multiplayer game for their rotation, but don't go in expecting anything groundbreaking."
If Party Animals isn't someone's cup of tea, there's plenty more on the way for Xbox Game Pass in September and October 2023. This includes, but is perhaps not limited to, Payday 3 on September 21, Cocoon on September 29, Gotham Knights on October 3, and The Lamplighter's League on October 3 as well.
Xbox Game Pass subscribers get a handful of games every month.