Update 1/4: Microsoft has since confirmed more games coming to Xbox Game Pass in January 2022 with Embr, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, and Outer Wilds coming on January 6. Spelunky 2 and The Anacrusis will be available on January 13.
Microsoft adds new games to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service on a regular basis, and it's now added the first new Xbox Game Pass games for 2022. Perhaps because of the holidays, Microsoft didn't announce any of the new Xbox Game Pass games in advance, giving subscribers three surprise games to check out. And better yet, all three games earned positive reviews when they originally launched.
Starting January 4, 2022, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can check out Gorogoa, Olija, and The Pedestrian at no additional charge. All three games are available across the Xbox Game Pass spectrum, meaning fans can play them through the Cloud, on their home consoles, and on PC. Microsoft typically does not announce removal dates for new Xbox Game Pass games, but it's likely that the titles will stay on the service for at least a year if not longer.
For those unfamiliar with the games, Gorogoa is a critically-acclaimed puzzle game released in 2017 by Jason Roberts and Annapurna Interactive. It earned high praise from critics and won multiple awards, making it one of the stronger new additions to the Xbox Game Pass lineup in January 2022.
Xbox Game Pass New Games January 2022
- Gorogoa - January 4
- Olija - January 4
- The Pedestrian - January 4
- Embr - January 6
- Mass Effect: Legendary Edition (Xbox Game Pass Ultimate/PC Game Pass) - January 6
- Outer Wilds - January 6
- Spelunky 2 - January 13
- The Anacrusis - January 13
Gorogoa is considered by many to be one of the better games released in 2017, but Olija and The Pedestrian are much newer titles. Olija is not even a year old yet at the time of this writing, and The Pedestrian is just now making its Xbox debut as a day one game. Both games are platformers, with Olija offering a retro art style and The Pedestrian hanging its hat on a gimmick where players have to navigate the game world as a stick figure, moving from sign to sign while completing platforming challenges and solving puzzles.
All three of these new Xbox Game Pass gamers were well-received by critics and should make strong additions to the Xbox Game Pass lineup. Microsoft has not revealed the full scope of its Xbox Game Pass January 2022 plans at the time of this writing, so it's possible that there are even more new games on the way for subscribers later in the month. For now, Game Pass subscribers can check out Gorogoa, Olija, and The Pedestrian.
In the meantime, there are some games leaving Xbox Game Pass in January 2022 as well. One of the most notable of these is stealth tactics game Desperados 3, which is one of the higher-rated games currently available on the service.