With a new year upon us, bringing a fresh wave of highly anticipated video games, it also serves as an opportune moment to dive into your unfinished game collection. This is particularly true for titles slated to depart from subscription services like Xbox Game Pass. Our focus this week is on three outstanding games that will be leaving Xbox Game Pass on January 15th, providing a final chance to experience their unique offerings.
These three titles—Neon White, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, and The Ascent—each present a distinctive gaming adventure. From a fast-paced, genre-blending shooter to a challenging action RPG and a visually striking cyberpunk experience, they collectively showcase a breadth of creativity and engaging gameplay. Before they become unavailable on the platform, now is the perfect time to explore what makes each of them a memorable addition to the gaming landscape.
Neon White: A Unique Blend of Speed and Strategy
Neon White stands out as a truly singular gaming experience, defying easy categorization. This action game from Angel Matrix ingeniously combines elements of a first-person shooter, a speed-focused parkour platformer, and a card game into a cohesive and stylish package. Players take on the role of a sinner tasked with slaying demons to earn a place in Heaven, navigating intricately designed levels with the dual goal of eliminating enemies and reaching the finish line rapidly. The core mechanic revolves around weapon cards that can either be used to fire at foes or discarded to execute platforming maneuvers like double jumps.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn and The Ascent: Diverse Adventures Await
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, an action-packed third-person title, invites players into a challenging world officially described as "Souls-lite." This game delivers impactful melee combat, emphasizing parrying and strategic encounters with formidable bosses. While it offers a significant challenge, it maintains a more accessible difficulty curve compared to the infamously tough titles from FromSoftware. Players embody a soldier, accompanied by a divine companion, on a quest to vanquish the undead legions and thwart vengeful gods. The seamless integration of magic and gun combat within its unique setting truly differentiates Flintlock from other games in its genre.
For fans of cyberpunk narratives, The Ascent, developed by Neon Giant, provides a richly atmospheric experience. While its upcoming title, No Law, is still some time away, The Ascent offers a compelling glimpse into the studio's stylistic prowess before it departs Game Pass. This game masterfully blends various genres, incorporating elements of a twin-stick shooter, an RPG, and a Diablo-esque loot system. Although these diverse components don't always align perfectly, the game's distinctive aesthetic and immersive world-building—drawing from a broad spectrum of dystopian fiction—create an unforgettable "vibe." Furthermore, its cooperative multiplayer mode adds an enjoyable dimension to exploring its meticulously crafted cyberpunk future.