A Plague Tale: Innocence, Gris heading to Xbox Game Pass on PC in the coming weeks
And Children of Morta is available now.
If you've been wondering what's next for Xbox Game Pass on PC, Microsoft has the answer in the form of three new titles heading to the subscription service soon - and they're all good 'uns, taking the form of A Plague Tale: Innocence, Gris, and Children of Morta.
First up is developer Asobo Studios' stealthy third-person action-adventure, A Plague Tale. Released last year to positive reviews, it offers a bleak, but frequently gorgeous, jaunt through 14th century France, as players - in the role of nobleman's daughter Amicia de Rune - attempt to protect sickly younger sibling Hugo from the grip of the Inquisition.
Its stealth might be a little so-so, but the inventive puzzling - often based around manipulating the hordes of diseased rats ravaging the countryside - is much smarter, and considerably more enjoyable. All in all, it's a strong (if sometimes silly) story-driven adventure, with a cast of engaging, wonderfully realised characters and some frequently breathtaking historical sights. It'd frankly be rude not to give it a go when it comes to Game Pass.
Gris is another acclaimed treat, charting the frequently affecting adventures of a nameless young woman as she journeys across a strange, ethereal world of her own making. It's a supremely accessible experience, with no combat or death, meaning anyone can enjoy Gris' light platform-puzzling - built around the steady acquisition of new abilities - and, of course, lose themselves in its sumptuous audio-visual presentation.
Eurogamer contributor Vikki Blake called Gris "gentle, whimsical, evocative, emotional, magical, ethereal, therapeutic" in her Recommended review back in 2018.
Lastly, then, is story-driven action-RPG Children of Morta, which follows the tribulations of the Bergson family, custodians of Mount Morta. It sees players embarking on a fantasy adventure across the land and through various procedurally generated dungeons in a bid to stave off an evil force known as the Corruption. There's a rogue-like element to dungeons, which can be tackled using any available character, with failure returning players back to the family home. Resources accrued during a run should help make the next attempt easier (permadeath isn't a thing), and there's even support for local co-op play.
Children of Morta is available on Xbox Game Pass for PC right now, and Microsoft says the remaining titles will be added to the service in the next few weeks. Those yet to subscribe to the Xbox Game Pass beta on PC, incidentally, can currently get three months for £1.