Hollow Knight: Silksong is finally here, after years of joyful development. We’ve been playing it (once Steam and other digital storefronts were back up) and learning its secrets, but it’s not the only game on Game Pass we’re enjoying.
If you’re in need of a new game to try out, or an old favorite to revisit, in between Silksong sessions, we’ve got you covered. This week’s recommendations include a Strange Scaffold hit, a Bioware classic, and a new roguelike from a Dead Cells co-developer.
I Am Your Beast
When it comes to first-person shooters, there’s no shortage of them on Xbox Game Pass. But rather than recommending one of the numerous Call of Duty or Halo games available on the service, I’m going to insist that you try I Am Your Beast if you’re looking for a new FPS. Strange Scaffold’s compact action game puts you in the role of a legendary shooter who’s called in for one last military job. Rather than taking it, he decides to take down the people trying to pull him back to a life he left behind instead. That sets the stage for incredibly fast-paced levels where you shoot, toss your empty guns at enemies, catch new ones out of midair, and perform all sorts of tricks that would make John Wick proud. It’s a remarkably snappy action game with some real narrative weight behind its shootouts. —Giovanni Colantonio
Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: The Veilguard came to Game Pass just last month, but I can’t start it just yet. While you can hop into the series with any of the first three Dragon Age titles, its fourth entry, The Veilguard, is a direct sequel to 2014’s Dragon Age: Inquisition, a wonderful Bioware RPG that I… never finished. I got close a few years ago, kicked the ending can way down the road, and ran out of time before The Veilguard dropped in Oct. 2024. I’ve been chipping away at a second playthrough of Inquisition, the last vestige of Bioware’s greatness before a coupla duds — Mass Effect: Andromeda, Anthem — wore off the sheen of the company’s brand.
Inquisition is definitely not a dud, and its wonderfully crafted characters, engaging storyline, and blend of tactical and real-time combat make sure it lives up to its Game of the Year accolades. As Dragon Age: Inquisition is on Game Pass via EA Play, it’s available via a Game Pass Ultimate membership. —Austin Manchester
The Rogue Prince of Persia
The phrase “Dead Cells but with wallrunning” likely triggers one of two reactions within you: “Ugh, it’s just Dead Cells but with wallrunning…” or “Dead Cells with wallrunning?! Hell yeah!” If you’re the latter, get on Rogue Prince of Persia immediately. It’s developed by Evil Empire, a studio with legit Dead Cells pedigree. (Evil Empire developed expansions for the popular roguelike.) When I say this really is like Dead Cells — albeit with more cartoonish visuals, an actual narrative arc replete with fully written characters, and, yes, wallrunning — I’m not exaggerating. The pace of the combat. The fragility of your character. The emphasis on platforming. Even the progression system is one-to-one. If you, like, me, couldn’t put down the original Dead Cells, then Rogue Prince of Persia is a legit treat. —Ari Notis
