Xbox rolled out some drastic changes to Xbox Game Pass last month: It lowered the price of the subscription service, but also announced future Call of Duty titles won’t be day-and-date releases on Game Pass. Because of that, there was a spotlight on the first wave of additions since the price change. Would a drop in price mean fewer games? That wasn’t the case, as May’s new titles are absolutely stacked, headlined by a new Forza and several indie games launching day one on the service.
We’re enjoying a handful of games on Xbox Game Pass this weekend. Our recommendations include a bloody good fighter, a nostalgic narrative adventure, and a cinematic puzzle platformer that’s set to leave Game Pass this month.
1
Mortal Kombat 1
Mortal Kombat 2 debuts in theaters this weekend, and critics are split on it; it holds a 48 on Metacritic and 68% on Rotten Tomatoes, as of this writing. Polygon’s reviewer Jake Kleinman called it a forgettable film, writing Mortal Kombat 2 “feels more like a series of well-choreographed fight scenes set against meticulously crafted backdrops, then strung together with a plot and dialogue that recreates the experience of watching a video game cutscene.”
Fighting is the hallmark of the franchise, so it’s no surprise that’s what stands out in the new film. If, after catching Mortal Kombat 2 in theaters this weekend, you want more blood-soaked action, check out Mortal Kombat 1 on Xbox Game Pass. It’s the latest MK game and acts as a reboot for the franchise, preserving the backstories of well-established characters while giving others new roles. The combo-heavy fighting returns from prior entries, and assisting Kameo Fighters add a new dimension to bouts.
2
Mixtape
Mixtape is a story-first game dripping in nostalgia for the 1980s and ’90s. It follows three high school friends in California on their last night together before one of the trio flies off to New York City to pursue her dreams of working in the music industry. She’s constantly rocking headphones and listening to a custom-made mixtape for their evening, full of bands like Devo, Joy Division, Iggy Pop, and more. The game flashes back to key moments from the trio’s friendship, like when they broke into an abandoned dinosaur theme park. You can make your own mixtape on the game’s website, and Polygon reviewer Giovanni Colantonio did just that to complement his Mixtape review.
3
Planet of Lana
Planet of Lana leaves Xbox Game Pass next Friday on May 15, so this is your last weekend to binge the indie hit. And it’s definitely doable in a weekend — Planet of Lana will only take about four or five hours to complete. It’s a narrative-driven adventure following Lana and her new companion Mui, who looks like an alien cat. They set out into the unknown to rescue Lana’s friends and neighbors, who have been kidnapped by robots. Along the way, Lana and Mui will work together to solve environmental puzzles and to avoid the dangerous creatures ready to take a bite out of them. Planet of Lana 2 is also on Game Pass, so you can roll right into the sequel after hitting credits on the first game.
The 25 best games on Game Pass
Here’s what you should be playing on Xbox and PC
