All Xbox Game Pass Games Confirmed for January 2026
At the time of this writing, there are only two new games confirmed to be coming to Xbox Game Pass in January 2026. 2025 was one of the biggest years in Xbox Game Pass history, but it likely left many subscribers with mixed feelings. On one hand, Xbox Game Pass received some of its best games ever in 2025, but on the other hand, Microsoft also increased the price of the Ultimate tier from $19.99 per month to $29.99 per month.
Whether Xbox Game Pass is still worth it or not after the price hike will depend on what exactly you want from it. If you are someone that would otherwise be purchasing the new games added to Xbox Game Pass, then even with the price hike, the service still likely pays for itself. If you are someone that only plays a Game Pass game every once in a while, then you may want to be more selective with the months you are signed up for it. Regardless, there’s no denying that Microsoft does make a big effort to ensure that there is a steady pipeline of high-quality games for Game Pass, with even more day one titles on the way to help justify the price increase.
The 4 Biggest Xbox Game Pass Games of 2026 Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg
Four huge Xbox Game Pass games are already on deck for 2026, with many more games expected to join the service next year as well.
When it comes to the Xbox Game Pass January 2026 lineup, though, a lot of it still remains a mystery. Microsoft will likely reveal more about its Xbox Game Pass January 2026 plans at some point in the next few weeks, but in the meantime, we do know of at least two titles that are on the way. Mio: Memories in Orbit will join Xbox Game Pass on January 20, while Nova Roma will hit the service on January 22.
List of New Xbox Game Pass Games Coming in January 2026
- Mio: Memories in Orbit – January 20
- Nova Roma (PC) – January 22
For those unfamiliar with the games, Mio: Memories in Orbit is one of the first notable new game releases of 2026. A sci-fi Metroidvania, Mio has players exploring “an enormous technological ark” filled with deadly machines. In typical Metroidvania fashion, players will have to acquire new upgrades to expand their combat and exploration capabilities as they make their way through the game’s visually-striking world. Metroidvania fans should definitely mark their calendars for Mio: Memories in Orbit, and those with a Game Pass Ultimate subscription will be able to play through the game in its entirety without paying anything beyond their normal fee.
Nova Roma, meanwhile, is offering something completely different. Nova Roma is a city-builder where players build a Roman city. Managing the city is one part of the equation, but players also have to deal with Roman gods. Offending the gods can have major consequences, which adds an interesting wrinkle to the city-builder formula. Nova Roma is only confirmed for PC, so Game Pass subscribers on Xbox consoles will need to keep that in mind.
Other Xbox Game Pass Games Coming in 2026
- MENACE (PC) – February 5
- High on Life 2 – February 13
- Death Howl (Xbox Series X) – February 19
- Replaced – March 12
Besides Mio: Memories in Orbit and Nova Roma, there are only four other Xbox Game Pass games with specific release dates confirmed for 2026 so far. There’s MENACE on February 5, High on Life 2 on February 13, Death Howl on February 19, and Replaced on March 12.
MENACE is a sci-fi turn-based tactics game from the developers of Battle Brothers, and it will be launching in early access on February 5 on PC. PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to play it on PC that day, but those on consoles will have to wait until some point later on.
The original High on Life was a great day one Xbox Game Pass game, and so it’s fitting that the sequel is also debuting as a day one release on the service as well. High on Life 2 will deliver more of the same kind of zany sci-fi first-person shooter action that the first game did, and looks like it will be plenty hilarious. It’s one of my most-anticipated Game Pass games of 2026, and I can’t wait to play it.
Death Howl is a tough-as-nails deck-building card game that is currently available to PC Game Pass subscribers. Console gamers on Xbox Series X/S will get to see what all the fuss is about for themselves on February 19.
Finally, Replaced is coming to Xbox Game Pass on March 12. An action-platformer that Game Pass subscribers have been waiting ages for, the long road to Replaced is nearly at an end and if it lives up to the hype, it will undoubtedly be one of the biggest new Game Pass releases of the entire year.
There are many other Game Pass games with TBA 2026 release dates penciled in, including four massive titles from Microsoft itself. Forza Horizon 6, the Fable reboot, Gears of War: E-Day, and the Halo 1 remake are all planned for 2026 releases as a way to help celebrate Xbox’s 25th anniversary. More details on those games and other titles could very well come at the Xbox Developer Direct in January, so stay tuned for more information on that front.