Xbox Game Pass is continuing to expand its library with new releases, recently adding Routine by Lunar Software as a day-one title for December 2025. The service isn’t just about playing older games; many new titles are available to play on their launch day for Ultimate and PC subscribers. Plus, a lot of these games are ‘Play Anywhere’ titles, meaning you can enjoy them on your PC, Xbox console, or handheld gaming devices like the ROG Ally with just one purchase. Subscribers also receive additional benefits, including discounts and perks like free trials for Discord Nitro and exclusive in-game content, such as character skins for Call of Duty Warzone.
On December 1st, Marvel Cosmic Invasion joined the Xbox Game Pass library. Developed by Tribute Games, this retro-style beat ‘em up lets players take on the role of Marvel superheroes fighting to stop Annihilus’s cosmic invasion. Players have given it an average rating of 4 stars based on over 300 reviews, and critics on OpenCritic currently give it a score of 81. This is just one of several games launching on Xbox Game Pass this December.
Routine Joins the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Line-Up
Image via Lunar Software / Raw Fury
This December, Xbox Game Pass is adding Routine, a scary survival game from Lunar Software and Raw Fury. You play as a character trying to uncover a mystery on an abandoned moon base set in an alternate 1980s. Gameplay involves solving puzzles and improving your Cosmonaut Assistance Tool, which you’ll use for both fighting and exploring. While the game originally planned to have permadeath, it was removed – but that doesn’t mean it’s easy! You’ll often be better off avoiding or running from the many enemies you encounter in Routine.
Horror fans have been eagerly awaiting the game Routine for over ten years. Originally announced in 2012 with a planned 2013 release, its development faced numerous setbacks and was paused until 2020, when work resumed with a new vision. Early reviews of Routine are varied. Players generally appreciate the game’s frightening creatures and its distinctive retro-futuristic style, which brings to mind Alien: Isolation. However, some find the gameplay a bit slow-paced, and others haven’t found it as scary as anticipated. Those who enjoy solving puzzles, however, may find the game particularly engaging.
If Routine doesn’t satisfy your horror game cravings, or just leaves you wanting more, there are several other titles coming out soon. Resident Evil Requiem, expected on February 27, 2026, is one of the most anticipated. Another game generating buzz is Code Violet from TeamKill Media, launching January 10, 2026. It’s a third-person action horror game where you play as a character who wakes up in a futuristic lab overrun by dinosaurs.
Image via Lunar Software / Raw Fury If you’re having fun with ARC Raiders but wish it were scarier, you might want to check out The Midnight Walkers from Oneway Ticket Studio. This first-person shooter, with both player-versus-player and player-versus-environment elements, is launching in early access on January 28, 2026. You can play alone or with a team of up to three people, fighting against zombies and other players within the massive Liberty Grand Center complex.
Also Added to Xbox Game Pass on December 4
On December 4th, 33 Immortals comes to Xbox Game Pass. This co-op action game, where up to 33 players battle monsters and even God, has been available in Game Preview since March. Plus, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, already on Game Pass since December 2024, is now included for Premium subscribers. This critically acclaimed first-person adventure game has been nominated for awards, including Best Action-Adventure Game and Best Performance by Troy Baker at The Game Awards 2025.
As a big Xbox fan, I was thrilled to see Microsoft announce more games hitting Game Pass in December! There’s something for everyone – I’m intrigued by the relaxing simplicity of A Game About Digging a Hole, but also excited for the fast-paced action of Mortal Kombat 1. And if you like mining games, it looks like there’s a double dose! Dome Keeper, from 2022, is another one, but this time it’s a roguelike where you’re protecting your base on another planet. Sounds cool!
Xbox Game Pass: Still to Come in December 2025
| Game | Date | Game Pass Tiers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Routine | Dec 4 | Ultimate, PC | Day-one release |
| 33 Immortals | Dec 4 | Premium | Available on Ultimate and PC since Mar 2025 |
| Indiana Jones and the Great Circle | Dec 4 | Premium | Available on Ultimate and PC since Dec 2024 |
| A Game About Digging A Hole | Dec 9 | Ultimate, PC | Day-one console release |
| Dome Keeper | Dec 9 | Ultimate, PC | Day-one console release |
| Death Howl | Dec 9 | Ultimate, PC | Day-one release |
| Mortal Kombat 1 | Dec 10 | Ultimate, PC, Premium | |
| Bratz: Rhythm & Style | Dec 11 | Ultimate, PC, Premium |
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2025-12-04 18:09