July 2022 is proving to be a pretty good time to be an Xbox Game Pass subscriber. Three Yakuza games unexpectedly returned to the service earlier today after leaving in 2021. Two new games are also arriving today, including yet another unannounced surprise.
Last Call BBS and Solasta: Crown of the Magister just arrived on Xbox Game Pass for PC and console, respectively. While Microsoft already announced the Last Call BBS’s arrival on the premium subscription service, RPG fans might be pleasantly surprised to see Solasta coming to consoles.
Solasta: Crown of the Magister is a turn-based tactical RPG developed by Tactical Adventures and with stats and mechanics based on 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons. Set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world, players create a party of four adventurers and lead them on a quest to recover enchanted gems from the ruins of an ancient Elven empire. Players can craft their party from a combination of five classes and seven races. Each character also has their own personality, which can affect how they interact with the game’s various NPC. It also boasts online co-op multiplayer, preserving the social aspect that drew many people to D&D in the first place.
Solasta was released for Mac and Windows last year and was already available on the PC version of Game Pass. However, its sudden arrival on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S was a pretty big surprise, with the developer announcing the port at the time of its release earlier today. Developers have fully optimized the game for Xbox consoles, with a redesigned interface and control pad integration. The game also supports cross-play, letting PC gamers team up with friends on the Xbox One or Series X/S.
The PC version enjoys a “Very Positive” rating on steam, with 89% of users recommending the game. Solasta’s Metacritic reviews are a bit more divided, with a lower but still respectable average of 77%. While the game is almost definitely not for everyone, it certainly seems to scratch some players’ itch for a Dungeons & Dragons-inspired tactical CRPG.
Solasta: Crown of the Magister isn’t Xbox Game Pass’ only new arrival, of course. Last Call BBS lets players try their hand at a collection of retro-inspired puzzle games as they uncover the story of Last Call’s mysterious system operator, “The Barkeep,” in a pixel-art throwback to PC gaming in the early 90s. Meanwhile, Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, and Yakuza Kiwami 2 all returned the subscription service today, with eight more titles coming to Game Pass this month.
Solasta: Crown of the Magister is available now on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: PureXbox