Next up is Lightyear Frontier (available in Game Preview), My Time at Sandrock, Rolling Hills and Robin Hood – Sherwood Builders, all playable on January 8th for Game Pass Standard subscribers. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can experience EA Sports UFC 5 on January 14th for Xbox Series X/S and the cloud.

The original Diablo is also playable on PC for Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers on the same. It’s an eclectic range of titles across various genres and platforms.

Of course, as is the case every month, several titles will leave Game Pass on January 15th. Members can purchase them at up to 20 percent off for permanent ownership. Check out all the games leaving next week:

• Common’Hood (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Escape Academy (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Exoprimal (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Figment (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Insurgency Sandstorm (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Those Who Remain (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Of course, there’s more to come, with the sandbox farming title My Time at Sandrock coming June 19th for cloud, consoles and PC. Keplerth is available on June 20th, exclusively for PC, while EA Sports FC 24 is being added on June 25th via EA Play. SteamWorld Dig 1 and 2 go live on June 26th, and though both are playable on the cloud, the former is restricted to consoles, while the latter is only playable on PC.

Open-world RPG base-builder Robin Hood – Sherwood Builders caps off the month, arriving on June 27th for cloud, PC and Xbox Series X/S. Several titles will be leaving on June 30th, though subscribers can gain a 20 percent discount on purchasing them. Check out all five of them below:

• FIFA 22 (Console and PC)
• F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Stranded Deep (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Sword and Fairy Together Forever (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Much like its predecessors, My Time at Sandrock will feature plenty of traders that not only give you a medium of selling or purchasing goods, but you can also interact with them to get to know more about the world. The trailer showcases different merchants related to building, food, science, and much more.

In addition to this, we also got a brief look at the side activities on offer which range from card games to friendly fencing to slide races and much more. The developer also stated that seasonal events will add even more content to the experience, which should make My Time at Sandrock a game that’s worth sinking your teeth into.

Players start out by creating a custom character with their choice of skin, hair, and styles to better express themselves in this world. The gameplay revolves around building the town with new structures and upgrading existing structures through the use of building tools and different resources. The trailer showcases the player character exploring caves and deserts in search of these resources, and there will be times when you will have to fight different creatures to get a hold of something valuable.

Apart from looting and constructing structures, building meaningful relationships will also be an integral part of the gameplay loop. You can engage in different conversations, gift stuff, and play mini-games with your in-game companions to build these relationships. My Time at Sandrock releases for all major console platforms and PC on November 2, 2023.

It’s unknown whether the full version will launch at the same time as the Switch version. Nevertheless, it’s been making steady progress in early access. The latest update, Knives Out, added new main and side stories and additional relationship quests for characters like Qi, Fang, Pen, Catori, and many more. There’s also the North Mesa Plateau, a brand new area to explore, and a marriage system.

There’s also a new weather effect, special weapon, the Advanced Water Tanks and Advanced Fire Powered Generator, and much more. Stay tuned for more details on subsequent updates leading to the Switch version’s launch.

Of course, the early access version only contains part of the first Act with some friendship and romance missions available. More content will be coming during its year-long development cycle, including multiplayer. In a new video, the developer explained the mode’s absence and how it’s currently aiming for a time-limited playtest for all early access players near August end or early September.

Another global playtest will be held for early access players in October and if both tests are positive, then multiplayer should be added by year end. Dates are subject to change based on the playtests so keep that in mind. Multiplayer also has some interesting features like dedicated town-building quests, all players getting resources from cutting trees together and so on.

My Time at Sandrock is currently exclusive to PC. It’s also coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch.

The farming RPG sees players in the role of a Builder who ventures to Sandrock to restore it. The desert region poses its fair share of challenges (like sandstorms) so you’ll need to adapt accordingly. Along with constructing buildings, raising livestock and growing crops, interacting with the community is key. There are more than 30 new NPCs and tons of side quests to pursue.

Retailing for $25, the early access version contains the first story act. Development is expected to last for a year during which more quests, visual improvements and so on will be added so stay tuned. My Time at Sandrock is also coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.

Trek to Yomi

Flying Wild Hog’s side-scrolling hack and slash title takes clear inspiration from the works of Akira Kurosawa. It focuses on Hiroki who embarks on a mission of revenge against those who destroyed his village. Light and heavy attacks are your bread and butter in combat but combined with directional inputs, it’s possible to execute thrusting attacks or slice enemies that are behind you. Of course you can also use a bow and arrows, bo-shurikens and environmental hazards to slay foes. With four different endings, a Cinematic mode with a lower difficulty and a tougher One-Hit Kill mode, Trek to Yomi caters to a wide variety of players. It’s out on May 5^th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and PS5.

Source of Madness

Roguelites have come and gone, some better than others. Then you have Source of Madness, a side-scrolling roguelite with Lovecraftian horrors born of procedural generation and powered by neural network AI. As a magic user, you venture through the Loam Lands and the Tower of Madness, battling these horrors with different skills and spells. Multiple classes and loot help keep things fresh while the art-style provides a surreal landscape to explore. Source of Madness is currently in early access on Steam but will launch on May 11^th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

Flippin Kaktus

Flippin Kaktus is a side-scrolling action platformer that embodies that 80s punk aesthetic. After Kaktus, who happens to be a living cactus, has his home raided by the cartel and his foster family abducted, he embarks on a journey for vengeance. There are a surprising number of ways to approach combat, either using traps and the environment or relying on the power of rage (with some decent armor and dodging). With 11 locations and hand-crafted levels, not to mention the spirit of pulpy VHS action films, Flippin Kaktus promises a rollicking good time when it releases for PC, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox and PlayStation platforms on May 12^th.

Evil Dead: The Game

The Deadites just never know when to quit, but thankfully, neither does Ash Williams. Evil Dead: The Game sees Ash teaming up with characters from across the franchise in a PvEvP game of survival. Up to four players team together, each choosing a character from four different classes with unique abilities. Explore different maps and acquire more than 25 different weapons like the classic boomstick and chainsaw.

Meanwhile, a single player chooses one of three demons – the Warlord, Puppeteer and Necromancer – to slay the Survivors. This can be done by possessing Deadites, spawning powerful enemies, and controlling environmental objects (including cars and trees). The asymmetrical multiplayer genre has had more lows than highs over the years but maybe Evil Dead: The Game ends up being groovy. We’ll find out when it releases on May 13^th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC (via the Epic Games Store).

Deliver Us The Moon (Xbox Series X/S, PS5)

Deliver Us The Moon first released in 2018 for PC and after launching for Xbox One and PS4 last year, it’s getting an Xbox Series X/S and PS5 upgrade at last (that too for free). Set in the near future where Earth’s natural resources have been depleted, you play as an astronaut who must investigate a lunar colony with vital energy reserves after it goes dark. It’s a suspense thriller with puzzles, anti-gravity sections and even vehicles to control.

The current-gen versions will benefit from 4K support, ray traced shadows and reflections, and faster loading times. There’s even support for the DualSense’s adaptive triggers and speakers. If a creepy vacation in space sounds nice, then it’s worth checking out Deliver Us The Moon when it releases on May 19^th for Xbox Series X/S and PS5.

Sniper Elite 5

Rebellion’s definitive sniping experience returns with a brand new instalment. It sees protagonist Karl Fairburne venturing to dismantle the Nazis’ mysterious Project Kraken. Maps are larger than ever with multiple points of infiltration and traversal tools like ziplines, though a fair bit of platforming may also be necessary. Along with a campaign and multiplayer support for up to 16 players, there’s the new Invasion Mode where players can invade others’ games and hunt them. Of course, if you want to co-op the campaign with a friend, that’s also possible. Launching on May 26th, Sniper Elite 5 will be available for PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising

If the wait for Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, a Suikoden spiritual successor from the original creators, is too long, then Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising may help. As a prequel set in the same world, the story sees CJ, Garoo and Isha all exploring the Runebarrows that have emerged beneath New Nevaeh for their own reasons. The 2.5D side-scrolling action RPG lets players switch between each character, performing Link Attacks in combat. Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising releases on May 10^th for PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, PS5 and Nintendo Switch.

My Time at Sandrock

Pathea Games’ My Time at Portia offered a nice little Harvest Moon-style adventure but faced its share of performance issues at launch. However, it received enough support to become a fun little life sim while paving the way for the sequel, My Time at Sandrock. Entering early access for PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on May 26th, it takes place in a “wholesome” (their words, not ours), post-apocalyptic world where most modern technology has been destroyed.

You venture to Sandrock as the newest Builder and do everything necessary to fix it up. Gather materials, process them in your workshop, create structures and other unique items while handling various requests. Improvements to combat along with new weapons and mechanics are also promised. During open beta, players have access to some of the story’s first Act, though the exact range of content hasn’t been detailed. My Time at Sandrock will be in early access for a year and release for PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S down the line.

As the new Builder, you’ll have to restore Sandrock to its once-brilliant state. Though set in a desert region, you’ll still plant crops, level up different skills, construct buildings and build connections with over 30 new NPCs. There are “hundreds” of side quests to complete, advanced commissions to undertake and much more to experience.

You’ll also do plenty of fighting, venturing to ruins and taking on foes using melee and shooting with the combat system seeing improvements. Celebrating festivals and settling down is also a key part of the experience along with decorating one’s home with furniture and decorations.

Early access is expected to last a year with part of the first story act and various missions available from the outset. More quests, graphical improvements and so on will be added over time. Stay tuned for more details, especially regarding release dates for Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch versions.

After My Time at Portia, Panthea Games is expanding on its Harvest Moon-style of RPG gameplay with My Time at Sandrock. It’s coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch in 2022. However, it will also be available on Steam Early Access starting in March 2021. Check out the announcement trailer below.

Much like its predecessor, My Time at Sandrock sees the player working as a Builder in the city-state, which is located in the Eufaula Desert. Wood and water are fairly rare but there are several other things to discover, like relics. Along with expanding on the Free Cities lore, the developer is also looking to add multiplayer for “at least four players in an open world map, separate from the single-player map.”

Farming and building relationships with different characters is still key while the battle system, though requiring more depth, “feels and plays much better than in Portia.” Skills, new Dungeon types and mini-games, and more will also be included. To further aid in the development of multiplayer and allowing the developer to self-publish, a Kickstarter with a $100,000 goal is currently live.

My Time at Sandrock will launch for PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG and so on in Spring 2022. Current and next-gen consoles will get it in Summer 2022. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.