Overview of Carrion’s Return to Xbox Game Pass
- Carrion is now included in Xbox Game Pass.
- This self-described “reverse horror game”marks the first addition to Xbox Game Pass for the year 2025.
- This is Carrion’s second appearance on the subscription service, having originally been available from July 2020 until July 2022.
Starting January 2, Xbox Game Pass members can dive back into Carrion as part of their subscription. This game’s launch kicks off the inaugural wave of titles for 2025.
Microsoft generally makes announcements regarding new titles for its subscription service twice a month. However, in December 2024, they broke this pattern, with the only batch of games extending into early January 2025.
The first game launching from the 2025 lineup is the intriguing Carrion, developed by Phobia Game Studio based in Warsaw, Poland. It arrived on the Xbox Game Pass content library on January 2. This is not the first time gamers have had access to this title through the service; Carrion initially debuted on day one in July 2020 before its removal in July 2022.
Carrion presents itself as a distinct “reverse horror game,”where players take control of a monstrous blob aiming to devour those who once confined it. Throughout their sinister journey, the alien entity instills terror in a foreboding facility, gaining new abilities to facilitate its rampage. This unique gameplay concept, while not entirely new, is expertly executed, solidifying Carrion’s status as one of the most acclaimed horror games featuring a monster protagonist.
Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Releases for Q1 2024
| Game | Date Available | Game Pass Tier(s) | Platform(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrion | Jan 2 | Standard, Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | Making a return after last being available in July 2022. |
| Road 96 | Jan 7 | Standard, Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | Rejoining the lineup after being last available in June 2023. |
| Eternal Strands | Jan 28 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | Available on day one. |
| Sniper Elite: Resistance | Jan 30 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | Available on day one. |
| Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector | Jan 31 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | Available on day one. |
| Avowed | Feb 18 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | Available on day one. |
| Football Manager 25 | Mar? ? | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | Day-one release; exact date to be confirmed. |
| Atomfall | Mar 27 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | Available on day one. |
Carrion has received critical acclaim, earning a “Strong”rating on OpenCritic with an average score of 76 and a 75% recommendation rate from reviewers. Player scores mirror this success, with nearly 24,000 “Very Positive”reviews on Steam and a 4.5-star rating on the Xbox Store from around 1,900 ratings. Thus, Carrion significantly enhances the selection of quality horror games available on Xbox Game Pass.
Since Carrion is not a day-one title, it is accessible to all tiers of Xbox Game Pass, excluding Core members. This month, a total of four more titles are confirmed to join the service: Road 96 on January 7, Eternal Strands on January 28, and two additional day-one titles—Sniper Elite: Resistance and Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector—launching on January 30 and 31, respectively.
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