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Xbox Game Pass continues to prove that the real joy of gaming is often found in the element of surprise: the delight of a player stumbling into something they didn’t know they needed. This week, the library delivers a slate of titles that couldn’t be more different on the surface, yet all share a commitment to delivering deeply immersive, well-crafted experiences. Whether someone is a fan of atmospheric storytelling, blistering combat, narrative-heavy crime dramas, or nostalgia-fueled thrills, there’s something in this Xbox Game Pass lineup for everyone. These titles will demand full attention, and possibly an entire week to truly dive in.
Some games take players back to perhaps some of the very first moments of their gaming obsession, offering a polished return to legendary franchises that helped define entire genres. Others invite exploration into ancient wars waged across dimensions, or unravel personal mysteries that unfold over decades. There’s a dose of high-flying rebellion, a heavy splash of hellish combat, and even a ticking timer for one game that won’t be sticking around on the service much longer. From slow-burn storytelling to adrenaline-soaked action, this week’s offerings are just a highlight of Xbox Game Pass’ July catalog. Most of all, it is a reminder that Game Pass isn’t just about access: it’s about curation. And this curation is firing on all cylinders.
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Xbox Game Pass July 2025 – Pentiment
Xbox Game Pass has tons of hidden gems begging to be discovered by players who crave an exceptional journey. Yet, there may be no overlooked gem such as Pentiment. This highly stylized title from Obsidian boasts more than just stunning artwork: it features mystery, drama, and a conspiracy that spans literal generations in a quiet Bavarian town.
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Pentiment chronicles 25 years in the life of Andreas Maler, an illustrator momentarily residing in Tassing who hopes to perfect his art. Yet, in the pursuit of a masterpiece, Andreas is caught in the middle of a murder plot that shakes up the village’s quiet life. Andreas is tasked with conducting his own investigation, even though he has limited time, while also possessing the complete power to change the town’s fate for decades to come. Pentiment is a perfect title for historical fiction fans, as they get to embark on a carefully crafted journey that is bound to shock even the most seasoned true crime fan. And some players may need a tissue box at the ready.
Pentiment
7/10
- Released
- November 15, 2022
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
- Engine
- Unity
From Obsidian, this game is a historical narrative-driven game focusing on character development, heavily stylized art, and choice-driven storytelling in early 16th century Bavaria. Players will play as Andreas Maler, a clever illustrator caught up in a series of murders in Tassing and Kiersau Abbey over the course of twenty five years. Players will be responsible for conducting their own investigation to decide the fate of the community, but each decision will have lasting consequences and inexorably draws Andreas closer to the center of an underlying conspiracy.
Illustrated world: Experience 16th century Europe as the master artists of the time saw them. Art inspired by great illuminated manuscripts and the earliest printed books becomes a living, breathing world in Pentiment.
Uncover mysteries: Choose different academic and social backgrounds and meet a colorful cast of characters as you discover the stories and secrets that lie within the small Bavarian town of Tassing and nearby Keirsau Abbey.
Impact a changing world: In an era of great religious and political change, each decision you make can have a profound impact on the community’s future. Find your own way through this turbulent time and see the consequences of your choices play out over generations.
Xbox Game Pass July 2025 – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4
This week, nostalgia gamers can rejoice by revisiting a fond old memory—revamped, reworked, and remastered. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 was released on Xbox Game Pass recently, and some players are clamoring over this remaster as much as Tony Hawk himself is. The buzz about post-2020s projects like this one has inspired Tony Hawk’s campaign to remaster Tony Hawk’s Underground, so perhaps this isn’t the only title fans will get to enjoy.
Whether someone has played a Tony Hawk title before or is catching up on the decades-long hype, every player will find something to enjoy. This edition of this nostalgic title boasts both new parks and old, alongside challenges that will result in hours of fun. And with an expanded Create-A-Skater, a New Game+ mode, and cross-platform capabilities that can support up to 8 players, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 players can shred like they’ve never shredded before.
Xbox Game Pass July 2025 – Doom: The Dark Ages
For players itching for a first-person shooter on Xbox Game Pass, they should look no further than Doom: The Dark Ages. The prequel to Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal forges its own identity by implementing its own challenges, from combat to villain redesigns. Despite its changes and focus on the past, Doom: The Dark Ages is a welcome addition to the modern Doom series, enhancing Xbox Game Pass’ offerings.
Doom: The Dark Ages dives deep into the history of the conflict between humans and demons, as well as the lore surrounding the Night Sentinels and the Maykrs. The game explores Doom Slayer’s backstory and his early battles against Hell in Argent D’Nur, a planet engaged in a war against Hell long before the events of Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal. It is the first time that long-time fans of the Doom series have seen Doom Slayer fight alongside allies, which provides a great narrative sandbox with which to run wild.
DOOM: The Dark Ages
8/10
- Released
- May 15, 2025
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Developer(s)
- id Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda Softworks
- Engine
- id Tech
BECOME THE SLAYER IN A MEDIEVAL WAR AGAINST HELL
DOOM: The Dark Ages is the prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal that tells an epic cinematic story worthy of the DOOM Slayer’s legend. In this third installment of the modern DOOM series, players will step into the blood-stained boots of the DOOM Slayer, in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell.
DOOM: The Dark Ages is a dark fantasy/sci-fi single-player experience that delivers the searing combat and over-the-top visuals of the incomparable DOOM franchise, powered by the latest idTech engine.
REIGN IN HELL
As the super weapon of gods and kings, shred enemies with devastating favorites like the Super Shotgun while also wielding a variety of new bone-chewing weapons, including the versatile Shield Saw. Players will stand and fight on the demon-infested battlefields in the vicious, grounded combat the original DOOM is famous for.
STAND AND FIGHT
Experience an epic story of the DOOM Slayer’s rage in this cinematic and action-packed story. Bound to serve as the super weapon of gods and kings, the DOOM Slayer fends off demon hordes as their leader seeks to destroy the Slayer and become the only one that is feared. Witness the creation of a legend as the Slayer takes on all of Hell and turns the tide of the war.
DISCOVER UNKNOWN REALMS
In his quest to crush the legions of Hell, the Slayer must take the fight to never-before-seen realms. Mystery, challenges, and rewards lurk in every shadow of ruined castles, epic battlefields, dark forests, ancient hellscapes, and worlds beyond. Armed with the viciously powerful Shield Saw, cut through a dark world of menace and secrets in id’s largest and most expansive levels to date.
Xbox Game Pass July 2025 – Mafia: Definitive Edition
Tiles come and go on Xbox Game Pass, and it would be a shame if players missed out on Mafia: Definitive Edition before it leaves. Released in 2020, Hangar 13 took the 2002 title and delivered an expanded remake that features top-notch cinematic visuals and enhanced gameplay for a smoother experience on modern-day consoles. While some of its combat mechanics may feel dated in today’s FPS landscape, Mafia: Definitive Edition is a must-play, especially for fans of open-world games on Xbox Game Pass.
Mafia: Definitive Edition follows Tommy Angelo, a Sicilian-American mobster who lives in the fictional city of Lost Haven, Illinois. Set during the Great Depression of the 1930s, this game immerses players in the world of Prohibition-era crime syndicates that have inspired some of gaming’s best cult classics—from Mafia to L.A. Noire. But instead of fully embracing lawlessness, Mafia: Definitive Edition finds Tommy at a true moral crossroads. Tommy offers the unabridged story of his almost 10-year crime rampage to a police detective named John Norman in exchange for protection against his former associates of the Salieri crime family. Mafia: Definitive Edition leaves Game Pass on July 15.
Part one of the Mafia crime saga.
Re-made from the ground up, rise through the ranks of the Mafia during the Prohibition era of organized crime. After a run-in with the mob, cab driver Tommy Angelo is thrust into a deadly underworld. Initially uneasy about falling in with the Salieri crime family, Tommy soon finds that the rewards are too big to ignore. Live the life of a Prohibition-era gangster and rise through the ranks of the Mafia.
Lost Heaven, IL: a recreated 1930’s cityscape, filled with interwar architecture, cars and culture to see, hear and interact with. An inadvertent brush with the mob thrusts cabdriver Tommy Angelo into the world of organized crime. Initially uneasy about falling in with the Salieri family, the rewards become too big to ignore.
Faithfully recreated and now with expanded story, gameplay and original score. This is the Mafia you remembered and much more.
