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Xbox Game Pass For January 2022 Includes Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, Spelunky 2, Outer Wilds

Get ready for more games.

35 Comments

Microsoft has announced the first wave of Game Pass titles for 2022, and the company is kicking off with the new year with a bang. There are eight titles coming to Game Pass in the first half of January, including three that are available right now and a big one, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, coming later this week.

Game Pass titles available today, January 4, include the hand-drawn puzzle game Gorogoa (console, PC, cloud), as well as the castaway game Olija (console, PC, cloud), and the 2.5D side-scroller The Pedestrian (console, PC, cloud).

January is another big month for Xbox Game Pass
January is another big month for Xbox Game Pass

On January 6, Game Pass will add Mass Effect: Legendary Edition for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers on console and PC. This is also the day that the game comes to EA Play for those who subscribe to that service individually. Additionally, January 6 marks the launch of the multiplayer fire-focused game Embr (console, PC, cloud), while the acclaimed action-adventure game Outer Wilds (console, PC, cloud) arrives that day as well.

January 13 will see the roguelike Spelunky 2 (console, PC) launch, as well as four-player first-person shooter The Anacrusis (console, PC), which is a day one release and will initially be available in Game Preview.

As mentioned, this is likely just the first half of Game Pass titles for January, as Microsoft typically announces a second wave later in a given month. A series of games are leaving Game Pass on January 15 as well, including Kingdom Hearts III and Desperados III, among others.

Game Pass Titles For January 2022

January 4

  • Gorogoa -- console, PC, cloud
  • Olija -- console, PC, cloud
  • The Pedestrian -- console, PC, cloud

January 6

  • Mass Effect: Legendary Edition -- console, PC
  • Embr -- console, PC, cloud
  • Outer Wilds -- console, PC, cloud

January 13

  • Spelunky 2 -- console, PC
  • The Anacrusis -- console, PC

For a look at what the service has to offer, you can check our guide to every game on Xbox Game Pass, the best Xbox Game Pass games, and the best Xbox Series X games to play right now.

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sippio

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Good God! i only bought 1 new AA game in the last 6 months.

MassEffect, lol whatevs

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GamerBum

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Edited By GamerBum

What a month for Game Pass. Been holding out for Mass Effect Legendary Ed in the hope that it'd come to GP. Fantastic. Microsoft are just killing it right now with GP. What a time to be an Xbox gamer!

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bigbabar34

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Good to see Mass Effect Legendary Edition coming to game pass. Definitely gonna check it out.

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XxPUBxX

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Edited By XxPUBxX

I used to be like that also, when it came to indie titles. I would usually brush them off as budget garbage not worth playing. I gotta say though, that after I did end up playing a few that were every bit of fun and addicting as a AAA tittle, I no longer ignore indie titles like I used to. I think it was just that I didn't really understand the concept of good games not being good because of how the graphics looked but because of the gameplay itself. I just started playing a game called Blasphemous the other day and it's honestly an amazing game that I'd recommend trying to anyone who comes across it. I see so many indie titles that have core mechanics in their gameplay that are totally original and brilliant concepts. Probably see that more in indie games than the ones with big budgets. Not sure why that is and maybe I'm wrong but that seems to be the case generally.

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Jendeh

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Edited By Jendeh

@xxpubxx: I feel exactly the same way. These days, indies are almost my favorite games. Dead Cells, Hades, and Slay the Spire all changed my outlook on indies. I'll take a look at Blasphemous!

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XxPUBxX

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Edited By XxPUBxX

@thecupidstunts: i didn’t say its not worth it just waste of money,

I mean, is that statement not contradicting itself? If I buy something that's not worth the price I'm paying then I believe that's a good candidate for being described as "money wasting."

As far as whether Gamepass is a waste of money; I'd have to say my opinion is that anyone who has tried the service and still thinks that probably isn't someone that can be called a gamer in the 1st place. Either that or they probably aren't very easy to please in general. Someone asked how many of the games people actually play and complete and then for some reason compared it to demos as if anyone playing a game they enjoy would be happy when it's cut off after a brief playthrough of the very beginning of the game. That's ridiculous. I think the more realistic way to look at it is how many of us beat a game and then keep playing it instead of moving on and then maybe if it was extremely enjoyable to someone they might decide to play it again in the far future. So Gamepass is by far good enough for most gamers. It's practical and you don't have to spend even remotely close to the amount you would have spent if you.had to purchase all of those games.I don't know.....gonna show my age here lol....but I'm sure some others who started gaming around the NES/Super NES days, can remember a time when you had to make a trip to the local video rental place and spend like 5 bucks to rent and try out a game for I think 2-3 days before it had to be returned. In that respect, yet again, Gamepass is a steal and I've yet to see another service that can compare. Even PS+ had quite a ways to go if they really want to deliver something on the same level but Sony is way too greedy of a company to get my hopes up as far as that goes. Apples.and Oranges as far as what's more important to them vs Microsoft, at least in the gaming industry. Besides, they even combined the EA pass with Gamepass which added like 60+ more titles to the service. Hard to believe anyone making negative comments about Gamepass is even believing their own words.

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sippio

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@xxpubxx: I like Gamepass alot and don't think ive missed a month since it started. Probably same w/ Gold since that started on 360 or whenevs.

But i do get annoyed at Gamepass for 90's of teh games being mediocre cannonfodder. Usually some lame Indie game with cheap pixelated or generic art and gameplay..

It's kinda rare to get a DeepRockGalactic or OuterWOrlds.

I am impressed with the wording "That person is most likely hard to plaease".. Most likely that person has a certain type of games that they like that aren't on GP...

I wish SOny would do something with it's back catalog. If they woulda made the PS5 backwards comapt w/ PS3 & PS2 games= my god gamers woulda seen this as a great counter happy to Game Pass..

But that's just me. I enjoy buying/collecting PS2/PS3 era games..

But it does suck that i need extra consoles.(im aware of emulators and it's not me)...

*Few years ago i went into GameExchange and left with a PS2,,Super HighDef Component monster cable and like 20 games all for $30 cause of some buy 3 get 2 free sale they had.. that and most games are between $3 and $7 bucks with siome exceptions of course....

It turned into a accidental hobby for sure... But SOny doesn't think this way with it's back catalog and it's unfortunate..

Same with Xbox. i wish the SX was 360 Backwards with physical discs.

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deactivated-64a3ced8b46b8

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@xxpubxx: Well stated! I absolutely understand that GamePass isn't for everyone, but no one will ever convince me that it's a waste of money.

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sladakrobot

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Bought ME LE few weeks back in a sale ,odd timing.
Didnt thought ME would land on GP that fast.

Heard good things about Gorogoa but i hate speedrun achievements so thats that.
Looks like The Pedestrian is the game i will be busy with.

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j3DiKNiGHtDAVE

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Finally I'll get to try the legendary edition on PC without have to pay $40-$50 bucks for 10+ year old games... Remastered or not.

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Gamerforlife96

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Meh... The only good thing is Mass effect

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Edited By Pyrosa

Consistently full backlog across GamePass, EGS, Steam, and GOG, only counting the included/free content on each. Zero complaints.

Handful of indie and new release purchases on top of that, and my gaming dollars in 2020-2021 are the most efficient they've ever been.

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saadred

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FINALLY BEEN WAITING FOR ME

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johnny0779

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Excellent selection!

Glad to see the Outer Wilds back on GamePass!

Now it's to jump on Mass Effect!

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sheep99

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Just got Mass Effect for PS5 30$

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johnny0779

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@sheep99: that could have been at least 3 months of GamePass right there!

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sheep99

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@johnny0779: or add 10$ get ps+ for a year what’s your point

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packard1

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@sheep99: oh no! Bad timing mate. Sucks when that happens

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sheep99

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@packard1: no Gamepass or PSnow is wast of money

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Pyrosa

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@sheep99: LOL

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sheep99

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@Pyrosa: yeah some people can’t handle the truth, but that’s my opinion

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Wahsobe

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@sheep99 said:

@packard1: no Gamepass or PSnow is wast of money

lol

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deactivated-64a3ced8b46b8

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@sheep99: GamePass is a waste of money? How so?

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lonewolf1044

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@thecupidstunts: Depends on how you use it or see it as not everyone sees it your way. I use GP as a way demoing and there is an awful lot of game that I can demo instead om buying the game right off especially if it is a digital gor you can get no money back if you do not like the game and have to eat it. Also, if I like the game, I can get an 20% discount and 10% on DLC. I rather play the game free while I am a subscriber than buy the game and do not like and waste money.

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GooberMcDermit

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@lonewolf1044: For me Im mainly a PS player, however I picked up a Series S specifically for Gamepass. I think I have only bought 1 or 2 games on Xbox at this point. It certainly helps with the boredom of waiting for a game or 2 to be released and Im not disappointed what so ever in my purchase of the Series S or Gamepass.

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deactivated-64a3ced8b46b8

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@lonewolf1044: "not everyone sees it your way". - I wouldn't expect them to, (which is why I mentioned several times that I respect other's opinions).

I agree with everything you said though.

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sheep99

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@thecupidstunts: the only good thing or bad thing about Gamepass is 1st day exclusive releases, which in the future will affect quality of games which is debatable we will find out later, the only good game on the list is mass effect rest is crappy indie games, Mass Effect might take some people 4-6 months to beat

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deactivated-64a3ced8b46b8

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@sheep99: Hmm. I appreciate your opinion, but definitely disagree.

I personally play a lot more than just the day 1 releases. There's actually so many good games on GamePass at any given time, that I can't even keep up. And if I was to buy all those games individually, (even used), I would easily be well beyond the $10 a month for the GamePass sub. 🤷‍♀️

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sheep99

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@thecupidstunts: let me ask you this how many games since you have Gamepass have you played and how many of those have you completed, to me subscription services for games are useless gamers have so many options to look up games that seem interesting game demos, YouTube to see the gameplay, but right it seems we are getting less and less demos for games until they completely disappear and will hide by a pay wall called subscription services

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deactivated-64a3ced8b46b8

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@sheep99: How many games I have played and beaten in all would be a bit tough to answer, (since I've had GamePass for a while now).

But since September, I have played and completed Yakuza: Like a Dragon, The Medium, Psychonauts 2, Forza Horizon 5, and Halo Infinite. Forza and Halo pay for the year sub all by themselves.

And I don't need demos at all if I can just DL the entire game, and keep it installed if I want to play through it, (or delete it if I don't).

Like I said, I don't discount your opinion, but you're not making compelling arguments as to why GamePass isn't worth $10 a month.

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sheep99

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@thecupidstunts: i didn’t say its not worth it just waste of money, Gamepass has good value just because of 1st day exclusive on Gamepass, i rather download a 5gb demo than 50gb games to test it out, my back catalogue just on ps+ games is big, my yearly budget for gaming is 150$ every year and i started buying more digital games since there is no point anymore to own physical copies of games because of day one updates, right now I have 235$ in my wallet, games i recently purchased is MassEffect, Jak and Daxter Bundel, Spyro and crash remastered bundel, that’s about 75$, and still have person 5 and now persona 5 strikers, last guardian, shadow of colossus, that ps+ games and few more 110$ , just no point of subscription services like Gamepass or PSnow

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deactivated-64a3ced8b46b8

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@sheep99: Sounds like you have a lot of great games to keep you busy then. Enjoy! 😄

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sheep99

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@thecupidstunts: just like you i just don’t like subscription services at all even ps+ but i get the Value in all of them

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lonewolf1044

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@thecupidstunts: I do not think he either.

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