If you want to experience the next game in Dontnod’s Life is Strange series but are still skeptical about purchasing the entire season, then take note. Episode 1 of Life is Strange 2 is now available on Xbox Game Pass, according to its listing on the Microsoft Store. Another new addition to the service is Studio Wildcard’s ARK: Survival Evolved, a large open world survival game with dinosaurs, technology, and bling.

Interestingly, it seems that more Game Pass announcements are inbound. Matt Percy, who is Xbox Live business lead for Gold and Game Pass, teased on Twitter that we could expect to hear more on January 3rd. Considering the sheer volume of big name releases that have arrived on Game Pass over the past month, from Ashen and Below to Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden and Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, we’re interested to see what January 2019 holds.

Xbox Game Pass is available for $9.99 per month or $59.99 for six months. The subscription service essentially provides access to a wide library of first and third party titles, with new games added every month. It also provides day one access to first party exclusives, like the upcoming Crackdown 3 and Gears 5.

Expect to hear more January 3! pic.twitter.com/ofnkRqQKKK

— matt percy (@mattpercyprime) January 2, 2019

Dontnod has finally released the very first episode of the follow up to their widely beloved and immensely successful 2015 graphic adventure game Life is Strange. No, this is not a prequel like Before the Storm, or a bridge game like The Incredible Adventures of Captain Spirit. This is a new story, following new characters.

The story follows two brothers who, after a fateful tragedy in Seattle, decide they need to make for Mexico, across the country so that their lives aren’t torn apart. The first episode throws us right into the middle of this very heated conflict and setup, and it never lets up from there.

Maybe you’re confused about what the right choice to make is. Maybe you want to see what the other choice is than the one that you made. Maybe you just want to see a playthrough of the episode, before deciding whether or not to jump in.

Whatever it is, you want a walkthrough, and we have it- just, uh, spoiler alert. As always.

Spider-Man

The biggest release of the month, bar none, Insomniac’s highly anticipated Spider-Man game will finally be available. Releasing exclusively for PS4 on September 7^th, Spider-Man will feature the enormous open city of Manhattan to explore and several villains like Electro, Vulture, Shocker, Mister Negative and much more. Though Spidey will be mostly on his lonesome, he’ll have a number of different suits to help him out – like the Velocity Suit and Iron Spider. With the wit and adventure that dictates a Spider-Man tale, we can’t wait to see how this exclusive shakes out.

NBA 2K19

So last year’s NBA 2K wasn’t exactly well received by the community – and people in general. NBA 2K19 appears to stay close to its roots, celebrating its 20^th anniversary and bringing the Neighborhood out once again for players to roam in. With a soundtrack curated by Travis Scott and some good looking visuals, maybe this will be the redemption that the series deserves. NBA 2K19 is out on September 11^th for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Set two months after Rise of the Tomb Raider, Shadow of the Tomb Raider continues the journey of Lara Croft as she tries to stop Trinity. Of course, she accidentally triggers the apocalypse in the process and must make things right. Along with expanded combat and weapon customization options, Shadow of the Tomb Raider will feature tougher tombs and full underwater exploration. Perhaps even more interesting are the different settings for each gameplay aspect, letting players make certain parts easier or harder. Shadow of the Tomb Raider is out on September 14^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Valkyria Chronicles 4

The Valkyria Chronicles series has had a number of follow-ups including the ill-fated Valkyria Revolution. However, it’s been a long time since we’ve had a title that follows the overall atmosphere of the first game. Valkyria Chronicles 4 seems intent on going that route, even taking place around the same time as the first game. It introduces a new Grenadier class and also has the Brave System, which adds further customization when a unit dies or is fatally wounded, allowing for stat increases and AP restoration. Valkyria Chronicles 4 will be out on Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch on September 25^th.

Life is Strange 2 – Episode 1

Dontnod’s Life is Strange 2 will see its first episode releasing on September 27^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC. Moving on from the saga of Max and Chloe, the sequel follows the Diaz brothers, Sean and Daniel. Following an incident of sorts, the duo is on the run and heading to their home in Mexico. Like the first game, different decisions will lead to different outcomes, though it will also have the effect of influencing young Daniel’s thinking as the story progresses. Whether the game can still tug at our heartstrings and deliver a compelling story remains to be seen but for now, it’s looking pretty good.

FIFA 19

Another year, another FIFA and another chapter in the Journey of Alex Hunter. Along with including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup for the first time, FIFA 19 also revamps a number of its gameplay features. Though the Active Touch and 50/50 systems sound “meh”, the Dynamic Tactics system lets players create different strategies and then change between them during a match. It’s all well and good but will this year’s FIFA shake things up? We’ll find out when it releases for Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC on September 28^th.

The Bard’s Tale 4: Barrows Deep

A follow-up to the classic RPG series, The Bard’s Tale 4: Barrows Deep features much of the same party-based dungeon crawling that made the old games so endearing. With several unique classes, dozens of different skills, seven cultures and tons of puzzles to solve, The Bard’s Tale 4 looks to be an absolutely compelling experience set in a beautifully detailed world. Look for it to release for PC on September 18^th.

Dakar 18

Lest you think this is another underwhelming racer from Milestone, Dakar 18 is actually an open world racing game. It’s centred on the real world Dakar Rally endurance race, taking place in South America across 9000 kilometres. Along with an immense world, players can expect five different types of vehicles from cars and motorcycles to quad bikes. You can even walk around on foot if necessary. Dakar 18 releases on September 11^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Dragon Quest XI

The epic follow-up in Square-Enix’s famous RPG series (no, not that one. The other one). Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age takes place in Lotozetasia and follows a hero who is also called “The Luminary”. The hero’s role is to battle the forces of darkness and prevent the “Dark One” from being resurrected. Though the premise seems cliched, Dragon Quest XI offers a compelling adventure with memorable companions and solid turn-based combat. It’ll release on September 4^th for PS4 and PC.

The Walking Dead: The Final Season – Episode 2: Suffer the Children

Telltale Games kicked off the final season of The Walking Dead pretty well with Episode 1: Done Running. With Clementine and AJ finding a safe haven of sorts with other kids, Episode 2: Suffer the Children will continue to amp up the drama and potential dangers to come. And yes, we’re doing our best not to spoil things for you. Episode 2 releases on September 25^th for Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC.