There are some solid additions for Xbox Game Pass subscribers to enjoy as we kick off 2024. With the headliners of the month being Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Resident Evil 2.
One title, Close to the Sun, is out now for Game Pass owners. The rest will be spread out through the rest of January. Close to the Sun is a first-person adventure game from 2019 that has a bit of a Bioshock feel to it. It earned a 75 on Metacritic upon release, with critics coming away impressed for the most part with its atmosphere and story.
Following that is Hell Let Loose, which arrives January 4. It’s a World War 2 shooter that touts 50 v. 50 battles on large-scale maps. It’s a game that demands teamwork, but with a Metascore of 84, it’s said to be pretty fun for those who take the time to learn the ropes.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (the Viking one) comes to subscribers on January 9. Destructoid gave it an “Okay” when it hit in 2020. Also on January 9, there’s Figment from Bedtime Digital Games. The indie action-adventure game was received pretty favorably back in 2018.
The line-up continues with Super Mega Baseball 4 arriving on January 11 via EA Play. It’s an arcadey alternative to MLB The Show that gets steadily stronger with each iteration. We Happy Few makes a return to Game Pass on January 11, too. But that’s also the same day Resident Evil 2 arrives, and if you haven’t played, you’re going to want to. Chris Carter considered it “superb” when Capcom released it in 2019.
Finally, Those Who Remain arrives on January 16. It’s a horror title that earned middling reviews when it launched. And with Resident Evil 2 in the mix this month, it’s probably a skip.
Alongside new additions, there are also games that are being pulled from the Xbox Game Pass library. And this month is no exception with some big boys being removed from the subscription service. Grand Theft Auto V leaves Game Pass on January 5. And on January 15, players lose access to both Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden.
