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Our monthly update on new games being added to PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass and other subscription services.
Editors’ Picks
The following hand-picked games are either part of a subscription services at the time this articles gets published or were made available recently.
Lies of P
(Included in Xbox and PC Game Pass since 19.09.2023, Author: Patrick)
Who would have thought that the children’s fantasy novel Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi would one day be made into a Soulslike which we’ve played for about an hour. The story is close to the original: We wake up as the wooden puppet Pinocchio in an abandoned train station in the run-down town of Krat in the late 19th century. A mysterious woman named Sophia sends us into the darkness with our trusty talking lantern Gemini to save our creator Gepetto. A story full of lies and intrigue unfolds.
At the beginning we can choose between three fighting styles: “Path of the Cricket: Balanced” (balanced between strength and speed), “Pad of the Bastard: Dexterity” (with this we can abuse the weak points of opponents) and the “Path of the Sweeper: Strength ” (this is intended to enable us to face even the strongest opponents in battle). We choose the balanced path of the cricket. In classic Souls style, we target enemies individually, hit the machines with our sword – either with a simple or charged blow, rolling or dashing – and parry enemy blows. Parrying consumes stamina and the reduced damage we take can be used to restore our life energy thanks to Guard Regain. Fury attacks can be defended with Perfect Parry. While in Souls games we lose our souls after a death and start again at a bonpfire, here we lose Death Ergo and can respawn at Stargazers. Although our health points and stamina as well as the pulse cells that we use to restore our health are replenished, all enemies in the area are also brought back to life. If we die again without collecting the Death Ergo, it will be reduced. While the first enemies are quite easy to defeat, the first police bot miniboss already provides a tough battle.
Ever since the game was announced, the gothic, dark and gory style has reminded us of the FromSoftware classic Bloodbourne, whose remaster/remake fans have been waiting for years. The feel of the game and the combat system are also reminiscent of Bloodbourne. However, if you have little experience with Soulslikes, you will get along quite quickly. The game explains just enough that you can quickly celebrate successes and not spend ages in a tutorial. Lies of P looks fantastic. We played it on the PlayStation 5. This version is identical to the one on Xbox Series X. We stood on the market square in the driving rain surrounded by destroyed caravans and monsters and compared the two graphics modes and couldn’t find any significant differences. We therefore recommend performance mode as it offers twice the frame rate at 60 to 30 frames per second. Owners of a VRR-ready TV benefit from a very stable performance. There is no 120 Hz mode with unlocked frame rate.
After just one hour of play, Lies of P succeeds in introducing a combat system that is easy to learn but difficult to master and with the fantastically staged story it leaves you wanting more. Whether you’re a fan of the genre or a newbie, Lies of P is definitely worth a look.
Unpacking
(Included in PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium since 19.09.2023 and in Xbox und PC Game Pass since 02.11.2021, Author: Patrick)
In Unpacking, our job is to unpack virtual personal items from boxes and place them at their destination. The simple game formula quickly develops its addictive potential. In the role of the world-traveling protagonist, who moves seven times between 1997 and 2018, we furnish each room individually, from the initial one-room apartment to her first house. The operation is quite intuitive, but as soon as we have to set up the house, many players will reach their limits, as the navigation between the floors needs improvement and many objects are initially not in the room where they should be.
Neat detail: Various video game references to different console generations can be found and some placements provide fun trophies/achievements. Of course, a photo mode should not be missing in a modern game and the zen puzzler also offers this mode and various graphic filters. Unpacking has no dialogue, the story is all the stronger because of the way it is told while you’re unpacking for three to four hours in total. The beautiful pixel look and the relaxed music set the scene. Unpacking is the ideal game for a rainy Sunday afternoon and we recommend you play it once.
Monthly update
It’s easy to lose track of new games being added to the countless subscription services. Catch the latest titles below. All information is subject to change. We try to update this post as soon as new titles get announced.
PlayStation Plus Essential
€8.99/£6.99/$9.99 per month. Included in PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium. Playable on PlayStation 5/PlayStation 4. Available from 5.9.-2.10.2023.
- Black Desert – Traveler Edition (PS4)
- Generation Zero (PS4)
- Saints Row (2022) (PS5, PS4)
PlayStation Plus Extra
€13.99/£10.99/$14.99 US-Dollar per month. Included in PlayStation Plus Premium. Playable on PlayStation 5/PlayStation 4. Available since 19.9.2023.
- 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (PS4)
- Call of the Sea (PS5, PS4)
- Civilization VI (PS4)
- Cloudpunk (PS5, PS4)
- Contra: Rogue Corps (PS4)
- NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139 (Remastered) (PS4)
- Odin Sphere Leifthrasir (PS4)
- PAW Patrol the Movie (PS5, PS4)
- Planet Coaster: Console Edition (PS5, PS4)
- Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 (PS5, PS4)
- Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness (PS4)
- Star Ocean: The Divine Force (PS5, PS4)
- Tails Noir (PS5, PS4)
- This War of Mine: Final Cut (PS5)
- Unpacking (PS5, PS4)
- West of Dead (PS4)
Left PlayStation Plus Extra on 19.9.2023:
- Chicory: A Colorful Tale
- Death end re;Quest 2
- Deathloop
- Nidhogg 2
- Steep (31.8.2023)
- Through the Darkest of Times
- Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands
- Watch Dogs
- Watch Dogs 2
PlayStation Plus Premium
€16.99/£13.49/$17.99 per month. Playable on PlayStation 5/PlayStation 4. Available since 19.9.2023.
- Dragon’s Crown Pro (PS4)
- Star Ocean First Departure R (PS4)
- Star Ocean: The Last Hope (PS4)
- Star Ocean: Till the End of Time (PS2)
Xbox Game Pass Core
€6.99/£6.99/$9.99 per month. Playable on Xbox Series/One. Available since 14.9.2023.
- Among Us
- Astroneer
- Celeste
- Dead Cells
- Descenders
- Dishonored 2
- Doom Eternal Standard Edition
- Fable Anniversary
- Fallout 4
- Fallout 76
- Firewatch
- Forza Horizon 4 Standard Edition
- Gang Beasts
- Gears 5 Game of the Year Edition
- Golf with your Friends
- Grounded
- Halo 5: Guardians
- Halo Wars 2
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
- Human Fall Flat
- Inside
- Limbo
- Ori & the Will of the Wisps
- Overcooked! 2
- Payday 2: Crimewave Edition
- Powerwash Simulator
- Psychonauts 2
- Slay the Spire
- Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition
- Stardew Valley
- State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition
- Superliminal
- The Elder Scrolls Online
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
- Unpacking
- Vampire Survivors
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Xbox Game Pass: €10.99/£9.99/$10.99 per month, PC Game Pass: €9.99 Euro/£7.99/$9.99 per month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (Xbox + PC Game Pass): €14.99/£12.99/$16.99 per month. Playable on Xbox Series/One.
- Gris (Cloud, Console, PC) – 5.9.2023
- Starfield (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) – 6.9.2023
- Solar Ash (Cloud, Console, PC) – 14.9.2023
- Lies of P (Cloud, Console, PC) – 19.9.2023
- Party Animals (Cloud, Console) – 20.9.2023
- Payday 3 (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) – 21.9.2023
- Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Cloud, Console, PC) – 26.9.2023
- Cocoon (Console, PC) – 29.9.2023
Left Xbox Game Pass Ultimate:
- Amazing Cultivation Simulator (PC) – 15.9.2023
- Aragami 2 (Cloud, Console, PC) – 15.9.2023
- Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Anniversary Edition (Cloud, Console, PC) – 15.9.2023
- DC League of Super-Pets: The Adventure of Krypto and Ace (Cloud, Console, PC) – 15.9.2023
- Fuga: Melodies of Steel (Cloud, Console, PC) – 15.9.2023
- Metal: Hellsinger (Cloud, Console, PC) – 15.9.2023
- Sid Meier’s Civilization 6 (Cloud, Console, PC) – 15.9.2023
- Tainted Grail: Conquest (Cloud, Console, PC) – 15.9.2023
- Train Sim World 3 (Cloud, Console, PC) – 15.9.2023
- Beacon Pines (Cloud, Console, PC) – 30.9.2023
- Despot’s Game (Cloud, Console, PC) – 30.9.2023
- Last Call BBS (PC) – 30.9.2023
- Moonscars (Cloud, Console, PC) – 30.9.2023
- Outriders (Cloud, Console, PC) – 30.9.2023
- Prodeus (Cloud, Console, PC) – 30.9.2023
- Weird West (Cloud, Console, PC) – 30.9.2023
Nintendo Switch Online
Nintendo Switch Online: €3.99/£3.49/$3.99 per month or €19.99/17.99/$19.99 per year. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack: €39.99/£34.99/$49.99 per year.
- Nintendo Switch Online – 6.9.2023
- Downtown Nekketsu March: Super-Awesome Field Day! (NES)
- Kirby’s Star Stacker (SNES)
- Quest for Camelot (GameBoy)
- Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack – 29.9.2023
- Kirby & The Amazing Mirror (GameBoy Advance)
EA Play
EA Play: €3.99/£3.99/$4.99 per month. Included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. EA Play Pro: €14.99/£14.99/$14.99. Available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Xbox One.
- EA Play Pro
- EA Sports FC 24 – 22.9.2023
Ubisoft+
€14.99/£12.99/$14.99 per month, available on PC. Ubisoft+ Multi Access: €17.99/£14.99/$17.99, available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Amazon Luna.
- The Crew Motorfest – Ultimate Edition – 14.9.2023
Humble Choice
€9.99/£8.99 Pfund/$11.99 per month. Available on PC from 5.9.-2.10.2023.
- Aces & Adventures
- Autonauts vs Piratebots
- Deceive Inc.
- Foretales
- Patch Quest
- The Forgotten City
- Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands Chaotic Great Edition
- Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus
Prime Gaming
€8.99/£8.99/$14.99 per month. Available on PC.
- Football Manager 2023 [Epic Games Store] – 7.9.2023
- Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim [GOG] – 14.9.2023
- Absolute Tactics: Daughters of Mercy [Amazon Games App] – 14.9.2023
- Dexter Stardust: Adventures in Outer Space [Amazon Games App] – 21.9.2023
- Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate [Amazon Games App] – 21.9.2023
- Unsolved Case: Murderous Script Collector’s Edition [Legacy Games Code] – 28.9.2023
- Hundred Days — Winemaking Simulator [Amazon Games App] – 28.9.2023
We captured the screenshots on PS5. Xbox and PlayStation provided us with access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PlayStation Plus Premium. The publisher provided us a PS5 code for Lies of P.