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High On Life Is Biggest Xbox Game Pass Launch Of 2022, Microsoft Confirms

The new game from Rick and Morty's Justin Roiland is performing well on Xbox.

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Squanch Games' wild and wacky shooter High On Life is tearing it up on Xbox Game Pass. Benji Sales on Twitter found a list that showed the new game from Ricky and Morty's Justin Roiland as the No. 1 "most-popular" Xbox Game Pass title earlier this week. The game's own Twitter account re-shared the tweet.

Microsoft subsequently confirmed that High On Life is Xbox Game Pass' "biggest" release of 2022 and the biggest third-party launch of all time on Game Pass. It's also the biggest single-player game launch on Game Pass in history.

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Now Playing: High On Life Video Review

"Those stats are measured in terms of engagement, based on the number of hours played in the first five days of release," Microsoft said.

On the Xbox.com website, High On Life ranks No. 5 on the current "best-seller" list and No. 3 for "most-played."

Microsoft promoted the game heavily as a day-one launch title for Xbox Game Pass, and it advertised the game with a takeover banner on Xbox.com and with prominently placed promotional materials on the Xbox dashboard.

High On Life released on December 13 not just for Xbox, but also PC. On Steam, High On Life doesn't rank in the top 100 most-played games but it currently sits at No. 3 on the best-seller list for games (it is technically fourth overall, as Valve's Steam Deck hardware platform ranks No. 1). Squanch Games has not announced if High On Life is coming to PlayStation or Nintendo Switch.

GameSpot's High on Life review scored the game a 7/10. "The story, off-beat as it may be, is told incredibly well, with characters and moments I'll be referencing for a while. Even if you're not a fan of the kind of humor High On Life presents, the game that's here is worth the trip," Jason Fanelli wrote.

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GamerBum

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Congratulations and well deserved it’s a great game. Was pleasantly surprised at how good the gameplay is and the humor is the icing on the cake. Solid 8/10.

Game Pass really has been the saving grace this year what with Xbox’s poor 1st party support. Basically carried Xbox all year. Have never been without something to play.

Tunic, As Dusk Falls, A Plagues Tale Requiem, Metal Hellsinger, Vampire Survivors, Scorn, Moonscars, and HOL are all fantastic. Completed them all. So addicted to Vampire Survivors right now, it digs its fangs in and doesn’t want to let go that game. Highly recommend it!

Next year looks even better on XGP. It’s absolutely stacked.

Persona 3 Portable,

Persona 4 Golden,

Monster Hunter Rise,

Age of Empires 2,

Age of Empires 4,

Atomic Heart,

Stalker 2,

Wo Long Fallen Dynasty,

Flintock The Siege of Dawn,

Minecraft Legends,

The last Case of Benedict Fox,

Valheim,

Ark 2,

Lies of P,

Cocoon,

Hollow Knight Silksong,

Ereban Shadow Legacy,

Party Animala,

Ravenloc,

Replaced,

Warhammer Darktide.

What a lineup and I didn’t even include the 1st party heavy hitters. Most of these games will be day one and landing first half of 2023 which is just crazy. 2023 is shaping up to one of Xbox Game Pass’s best yet.

playstation on the other hand is looking pretty bare. Unless sony has some unannounced games in the works it’s looking like it could be one of PlayStations weakest years in quite a long time!

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StickEmUp

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@gamerbum: It is so funny how Xbox players constantly lie to themselves and somehow convince themselves that there are actually better 1st party games on Xbox than the ones Sony has. There is no one more in denial than an Xbox fan.

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GamerBum

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@stickemup:

But it’s subjective right? That’s what everyone seems to say right? What I like might not be what the guy next to me likes yeah?

But there’s no denying it. Xbox Game Pass is looking absolutely phenomenal in the year to come.

playstation/playstation plus? Not so much. ps plus looks terrible in comparison. In fact there really is no comparison. XGP destroys it.

sony really need to change their ways and start releasing the 1st party games day n date or ps plus is just going to end up next to ps now dead in the subscription graveyard LMAO!

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Rolento25

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@gamerbum: "1st party heavy hitters" LOL, thanks for the Christmas laugh, Cheers

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Gifford38

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Well nothing else worth it all year on gamepass. I'm loving the game bit it's been dry all year

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GamerBum

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@gifford38:

WOW. You really must have quite a limited taste in games, which is totally fine of course. 😉

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sladakrobot

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@gifford38: My favorites this year:
Persona 5(if you didnt played it on a ps),Vampire Survivor,Plagues Tale,Immortality,Signalis,Danganronpa,Soccer Story,Fuga,Ninokuni(if not played on a ps),Opus,Chained Echoes,Edge of Eternity,Solasta,Immortals Phoenix,Gungrave,Eastward,Ghost Song...and thats only half of what i still want to play but have no time *stupid time lol*
Maybe there is game for you among them?
When i look back,i played this year more games than ever before

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GamerBum

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@sladakrobot:

Yup me too. I’m not only playing more but I’m saving more money at the same time. Xbox Game Pass is just so god damn good!

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deactivated-64a3ced8b46b8

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@gifford38: I recently wrapped up A Plague Tale: Requiem, that was awesome. Not sure if you played the first, (which was also on GamePass), but getting the sequel made me pretty happy.

Personally, between Plague Tale, Lego SW: The Skywalker Saga, High on Life, Tunic, Sniper Elite 5, Weird West, Deathloop, Pentiment, Immortality, TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, I definitely feel like I got my money's worth.

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Tiwill44

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Edited By Tiwill44

Game Pass is really becoming something great. It reminds me of renting games back in the day, but digitally. And you don't even have to think about how many games you're renting at once. It's an all-you-can-play buffet and I hope it keeps growing because in 2022, it has become my main way to try new games.

If a game is bad or starts dragging on, you can just drop it without feeling like you wasted money. Saves you time, too. And obviously if a game is great, there's no downside. If you want to own it, you can just buy it wherever you want after. If not, you just played a dope game for a fraction of the price.

Of course, not everything will release on Game Pass day 1, so I'll still buy the games I want most at launch on Steam, but it's really nice to have this option when it's there, like it was for this game. Had a blast with it.

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sladakrobot

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Edited By sladakrobot

It had some technical hiccups but most of them are adressed in the patch.
In fact,i think its graphically pretty appealing!
An 8/10 for me in current state.

Maybe the devs are encouraged to consider a DLC(cross fingers)

Overall,imo,the humor hits more than it misses and like others below mentioned...not for kids.

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Spartan_418

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@sladakrobot: Might be an 8/10 for me if there was more weapon variety. It seems off that I'm like 3 hours in, and have had to use just the 1 pistol the entire time. That gun looking weird and talking in the Morty voice isn't a substitute for the variety you'd get from all other shooters

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sladakrobot

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@Spartan_418: Dont give it up...you will get eventually the knife,shotgun and few other weps.
I lately switch weapons purposely to hear what comments they give in certain situations 😅

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lonewolf1044

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@sladakrobot: Yeah some games even the best has problems initially and acceptance is is determined in most cases on how soon the Developer addresses them. I did not preorder as I usually wait until most issues are resolved, The game reminds me of Journey to a Savage Planet.

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thenephariouson

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It's simply great 'fun'

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hardwenzen

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Watched the whole game on twitch. This game made me laugh more than anything this year, so i really hope there's a sequel or at least an expansion (or both).

That Buck Thunder 2 game should be sold on its own. I would buy it instantly if the writing is this funny.

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mogan

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mogan  Moderator

The gameplay is totally forgettable, but the humor is actually a lot more tolerable and fun than I was expecting.

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GamerBum

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@mogan:

Nonsense! The gameplay is a solid 7.5/10 and the humor/writing bumps it up to an 8 for me.

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mogan

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mogan  Moderator

@gamerbum: Nah. High on Life's gameplay is nothing special. The shooting and traversal are largely inoffensive, but the minute you get tired of the humor, this game is as vanilla as they come.

Fortunately, it's also fairly short and is over before it gets old.
In and out, 10 hour adventure.

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xavier141524

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amazing game

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GamerBum

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Edited By GamerBum

@donaldtrump69:

100%. But not just that. If this game was a playstation exclusive instead of an Xbox exclusive you can bet your house that it would’ve rated higher and reviewed better on gaming websites like this one.

The pony bias is STILL alive and well within the games media and critics. It’s pretty sad tbh and really needs to change!

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lonewolf1044

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@donaldtrump69: The game is rated M and I would expect some language that is used and I accept it, if it was rated T then that would be a different story. I am guessingsome of these people that are against such language failed to look at the rating, it is like one complaining about sex in a rated X movie. I am not bothered by them as I get what I like.

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hardwenzen

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Edited By hardwenzen

@donaldtrump69 said:

It just goes to show you how no one really listens to legacy gaming media anymore

Exactly. The boomers reviewing these games have little to no humour, and are offended by words that wouldn't be used inside a Starbucks.

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FanboyMan

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@hardwenzen: You do realize the Gaming Media is mostly comprised of Millennials and Gen Z, they’re the ones reviewing games, constantly offended, “Boomers” not so much.

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hardwenzen

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@fanboyman said:

@hardwenzen: You do realize the Gaming Media is mostly comprised of Millennials and Gen Z, they’re the ones reviewing games, constantly offended, “Boomers” not so much.

Plenty of millennials indeed. Millennials with boomers mentality.

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lonewolf1044

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@hardwenzen: Yep

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christophersays

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Funniest opening to a game I've ever seen. :-)

Definitely not for younger kids though (for all you parents out there reading this). If you've seen Rick and Morty, you know exactly what you're getting with this.

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deactivated-64a3ced8b46b8

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@christophersays: "Funniest opening to a game I've ever seen. :-)"

Truth. I fell in love with it instantly.

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lonewolf1044

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@thecupidstunts: Now you making me want to get it. :)

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deactivated-64a3ced8b46b8

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@lonewolf1044: It really does depend on what type of humor you're into. It pokes fun at things that some people would definitely be offended by. There's lots and lots, (and lots), of drug related things, graphic violence, (gore, dismemberment, gibs), and there's more F-bombs than a Tarantino movie.

I'd say that if something like South Park and Rick and Morty tickles your funny bone, then you'll be laughing your butt off. It also doesn't hurt that the gameplay is pretty good too.

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