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Our monthly update on new games being added to PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass and other subscription services.
Editors’ Pick
The following hand-picked games are either part of a subscription services at the time this articles gets published or were made available recently.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
(Part of Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass since May 21st, 2024; Author: Patrick)
Set in the 18th century, the critically acclaimed Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice received a sequel this week in the form of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. The eponymous heroine, Senua, has allowed herself to be captured by slavers and put on a ship in order to get to the root of the darkness that has devoured everything she holds dear. She teams up with her former slaver Thorgestr and a stranger named Fargrimr to defeat the giants scattered across the land. Once Senua finds out the names of the giants, she can fight them. We already know one of the giants, who appears later in the seven hour-long game, from an early trailer. He slowly drags himself ashore under a hail of arrows, while Senua tries to dodge his blows and defeat him with constant attacks. In addition, we are dealing with cannibals and, above all, our own demons.
Hellblade II is a linear narrative experience, cynically it is also often referred to as a walking simulator, but there are a few more game mechanics in it. We spend most of the game either watching high-quality in-game cutscenes, running from A to B, solving puzzles or fighting. Similar to Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture, some plot lines are told by ghostly figures. When it comes to pacing, Ninja Theory apparently used the first game as a reference, but they also addressed the criticisms of said predecessor. Combat is much more dynamic, better integrated and easier to manage. Senua can deal light and heavy sword strikes, dodge incoming attacks and parry to either side. In addition, she can use a very personal magical item to slow down time and thus eliminate enemies with one combo. To do this, however, she must first score a few successful hits, which is not that easy when enemies with spears, swords and torches are swarming in from all sides. However, you only fight one enemy at a time and the waves of enemies we know from the first Hellblade have been reduced significantly, though towards the end of the game there’s a lot more fighting and there could’ve been a few more checkpoints. In smaller areas it is again important to identify certain shapes that have been pasted in yellow paint on ship masts, walls and mountains and to look at them from the right angle in order to progress. Additionally, in a new form of puzzles we have to place balls in containers which we acquire by changing the game world. Therefore we put our focus on orbs to unlock new pathways and collect said balls. Over time those puzzles get a bit trickier and it loosens up the gameplay in a good way. Assassin’s Creed-style signposting prevents us from spending too much time trying to climb up edges that aren’t intended for that purpose. This and the numerous invisible walls take us out of the extremely dense atmosphere caused by the partly photorealistic graphics. Overall, like its predecessor, Hellblade II is not an action adventure in the vain of God of War, even if, like the 2018 reboot of the PlayStation series, it was heavily inspired by Norse mythology.
The great strength of Hellblade II is its presentation: two voices accompany Senua, who suffers from psychosis, on her journey and either encourage or discourage her – sometimes simultaneously and constantly, whether in cutscenes with other characters or while roaming around the partly picturesque landscapes. Hellblade II is a game that you have to let yourself fall into and then stick with it. The symbiosis of the above-mentioned audio layer – including the great score by Heil and David Garcia as well as the fabulously fitting end credit song by AURORA – and the fantastic performance by the actors, especially Melina Jürgens’ as Senua, the character development of the protagonist and the search for the source of the darkness keeps us hooked until the end, with numerous twists and turns which we didn’t see coming in-between. The facial animations sometimes look shockingly good, but the environmental graphics vary from extremely detailed to dull and dreary. The game runs pleasantly smoothly on modern systems, such as our Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, and supports most common technologies, such as the upscale technologies Nvidia DLSS 3, AMD FSR 3 and Intel XeSS, Nvidia Frame Generation and Lumen reflections since the game uses Unreal Engine 5. A few graphical errors are currently still present in the few brighter external areas.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is an interesting art project and shows that games can be more than the sum of their parts. The story doesn’t let you go even days after completing it and although it’s not unnecessarily mysterious, there’s still enough room for interpretation. We had a great experience with the game. If you’re looking for an action-adventure focused on gameplay, this is not it. However, if you like narrative experiences such as Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, INDIKA or Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, we can recommend Hellblade II.
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 7.5.-3.6.2024.
- EA Sports FC 24 (PS5, PS4)
- Ghostrunner 2 (PS5)
- Tunic (PS5, PS4)
- Destiny 2: Lightfall (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 from 21.5.2024.
- Cat Quest 1 & 2 (PS4)
- Crime Boss: Rockay City (PS5)
- Deceive Inc. (PS5)
- Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS4)
- Stranded: Alien Dawn (PS4, PS5)
- The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame (PS4)
- The Settlers: New Alliances (PS4)
- The Sims 4: City Living (PS4, The Sims 4 is required)
- Watch Dogs (PS4)
- Dredge (PS5, PS4) – 29.5.2024
- LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 (PS4) – 31.5.2024
Leaving on 21.5.2024:
- Absolver (PS4)
- ABZÛ (PS4)
- ADR1FT (PS4)
- Ashen (PS4)
- Darksiders 2 (PS4)
- Darksiders 3 (PS4)
- Darksiders Genesis (PS4)
- Darksiders Warmastered (PS4)
- ELEX (PS4)
- ELEX II (PS5, PS4)
- Final Fantasy IX (PS4)
- Final Fantasy VII (PS4)
- Final Fantasy VIII Remastered (PS4)
- Final Fantasy X HD Remaster (PS4)
- Final Fantasy X-2 HD Remaster (PS4)
- Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age (PS4)
- Final Fantasy XV (PS4)
- Horizon Zero Dawn – Complete Edition (PS4)
- How to Survive 2 (PS4)
- I Am Dead (PS5, PS4)
- Jotun Valhalla Edition (PS4)
- Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning (PS5, PS4)
- Last Stop (PS5, PS4)
- Minit (PS4)
- Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 (PS4)
- MX vs ATV (PS5, PS4)
- My Friend Pedro (PS4)
- Observation (PS4)
- Sundered Eldritch Edition (PS4)
- The Artful Escape (PS5, PS4)
- The Messenger (PS4)
- This is the Police (PS4)
- This is the Police 2 (PS4)
- World of Final Fantasy (PS4)
- Wreckfest (PS5, PS4)
PlayStation Plus Premium
€16.99/£13.49/$17.99 per month. Playable on PlayStation 5/PlayStation 4. Available from 21.5.2024.
- 2Xtreme (PS5, PS4; originally PS1)
- G-Police (PS5, PS4; originally PS1)
- Worms Pinball (PS5, PS4; originally PS1)
Xbox Game Pass Core
€6.99/£6.99/$9.99 per month. Playable on Xbox Series/One. Available from 23.4.2024.
This post will be updated if and once the games coming to and leaving Xbox Game Pass Core have been announced.
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.
- Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition (Cloud, Console, PC) – 2.5.2024
- Kona II: Brume (Cloud, Console, PC) – 7.5.2024
- Little Kitty, Big City (Cloud, Console, PC) – 9.5.2024
- Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (Cloud, Console, PC) – 14.5.2024
- Chants of Sennaar (Cloud, Console, PC) – 15.5.2024
- EA Sports NHL 24 (Cloud) EA Play – 16.5.2024
- Immortals of Aveum (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) EA Play – 16.5.2024
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) – 21.5.2024
- Galacticare (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) – 23.5.2024
- Hauntii (Cloud, Console, PC) – 23.5.2024
- Moving Out 2 (Cloud, Console, PC) – 28.5.2024
- Humanity (Cloud, Console, PC) – 30.5.2024
- Lords of the Fallen (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) – 30.5.2024
Leaving on 15.5.2024:
- Eastern Exorcist (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Eiyuden Chronicle Rising (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Ghostlore (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Just Cause 4 Reloaded (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Norco (Cloud, Console, PC)
- SD Gundam Battle Alliance (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Supraland Six Inches Under (Cloud, Console, PC)
Leaving on 31.5.2024:
- Chicory: A Colorful Tale (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Farworld Pioneers (Cloud, Console, PC)
- JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Little Witch in the Woods (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Pac-man Museum Plus (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Railway Empire II (Cloud, Console, PC)
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 – GameBoy – 14.5.2024
- Alleyway
- Baseball
- Super Mario Land
EA Play
EA Play: €5.99/£5.99/$5.99 per month. Included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. EA Play Pro: €16.99/£16.99/$16.99. Available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Xbox One.
- EA Play
- Immortals of Aveum – 16.5.2024
- EA Play Pro
- F1 24 – Champions Edition – 28.5.2024
Ubisoft+
Ubisoft+ Premium: €17.99/£14.99/$17.99, available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Amazon Luna. Ubisoft+ Classics: €7.99/£6.99/$7.99, available on PC, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 and included in PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium.
This post will be updated if and once the games coming to and leaving Prime Gaming have been announced.
Humble Choice
€9.99/£8.99/$11.99 per month. Available on PC from 7.5.-3.6.2024.
- Amanda the Adventurer
- Bravery and Greed
- Hi-Fi Rush
- King of the Castle
- Loddlenaut
- Mediterranea Inferno
- Steelrising
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Prime Gaming
€8.99/£8.99/$14.99 per month. Available on PC.
- Tomb Raider Game of the Year Edition [GOG Code] – 2.5.2024
- LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars [GOG Code] – 2.5.2024
- Dark City: International Intrigue [Amazon Games App] – 9.5.2024
- Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition [GOG Code] – 9.5.2024
- Nine Witches: Family Disruption [Amazon Games App] – 9.5.2024
- Electrician Simulator [Epic Games Store] – 9.5.2024
- 100 Doors Games: Escape from School [Legacy Games Code] – 16.5.2024
- The Forgotten City [Amazon Games App] – 16.5.2024
- Spirits of Mystery: Whisper of the Past [Amazon Games App] – 23.5.2024
Updates
8.5.2024 – We updated Humble Choice.
10.5.2024 – We updated PlayStation Plus Extra.
14.5.2024 – We updated EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
15.5.2024 – We updated PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium.
25.5.2024 – The Editors’ Pick was added and Nintendo Switch Online updated.
29.5.2024 – We updated PlayStation Plus Extra.
Xbox and PlayStation provided us with access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PlayStation Plus Premium. Xbox provided us with the screenshots of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II.