Xbox Game Pass needs no introduction. Dubbed “the Netflix of video games” by some, Xbox Game Pass offers multiple ways to play online with friends, hosting a slew of titles for console, PC, and cellular devices, letting players bring their titles wherever they go, and pick them up when they’re done playing on one device. This month, the company has spoken about new additions coming to the program. For fans of skating, driving, and RPG’s, there will be plenty to please fans this month. Here’s everything coming to Xbox Game Pass in August 2021.

The PS2 title remade a few years ago, Katamari Damacy tells the story of a cosmic prince, who’s tasked with remaking the sky after his father destroys every single star in the universe. It’s up to the player to create new ones by taking a ball and rolling up everything in sight, bringing all the stars back while causing massive amounts of havoc as the interior of houses to whole cities themselves are caught in the ever-growing balls of stuff. This bubbly, fantastic-looking and certainly wacky game is coming to Xbox Game Pass on PC, Console, and the Cloud on August 5^th, 2021.

The rouge-like mythological dungeon crawler makes its way to game pass this month. Players take on the role of the god of the underworld, Hades, who is cast down from Mount Olympus, Hades must work his way through the underworld to escape, using mythological weapons, and wit to defeat his enemies and seek his revenge. However, the constantly changing environment every time the player dies is one of the real challenges this game has to offer, but with every defeat, the player will grow stronger, as well as unlock the story as they progress. For players who are fans of games like Risk of Rain 2 and Binding of Isaac, this game will continue to scratch that Rouge-like itch. Hades is coming to console, PC, and the Cloud on August 13^th.

 If the rouge-like game Hades couldn’t scratch the rogue-like itch you’re looking for, perhaps this second title will. Curse of the Dead Gods tells the tale of a treasure hunter who’s cursed while inside of a temple whilst looking to make it big. Armed with the tools from the curse, they can use them to fight against the denizens of the temple looking for blood. However, the curse is a double-edged sword and can be used against the player as well. Using the same isometric view style from Hades, this second rouge-like game is certain to be a treat for fans of the genre. Curse of the Dead Gods comes to PC, console, and the Cloud on August 5^th.

The minds behind Rez Infinite and Tetris Effect are back, remastering one of their original puzzler games, Lumines. The gameplay is simple to understand and is reminiscent of Tetris, having players stack blocks to clear a board. However, it’s not the shape of the blocks that need to be matched, it’s the colors of the blocks, as a sweeping line will come across the playing field to the beat of the background music and remove any squares of a single color. While the puzzle game sounds simple to understand, much like Tetris, it’s very hard to master.

However, the original game isn’t all that’s included, as a mission mode will unlock more skins and songs that can be used in the infinite mode of the game. The game also comes with a CPU and local multiplayer mode where the wider playing area is split in half, and the more skilled a player is at placing their pieces carefully, the more the board will become theirs, pushing the losing player into a tighter area until they’re unable to place anything else. The game also comes with more modes, like a challenge mode that has the player stacking blocks to make specific shapes, or clearing out a board without losing the room. Lumines Remastered is a game that all fans of Tetris should try out, and while the gameplay is familiar, it’s nothing like the original block stacking game, and is one of the most unique puzzle games out there. Lumines Remastered comes to PC, console, and Cloud with Xbox Game Pass on August 5^th, 2021.

A dodgeball themed RPG title puts players in the shoes of Otto, a character going to a school where dodgeball is life. After touching the hero’s dodgeball, he’s able to unleash his full potential in battles around the school. While playing similar to something like Super Dodgeball, the game focuses on party building, to make the most out of the battles that players will engage in as they aim to take the top spot as one of the best dodgeball players in the land. Other challenges and an engaging story make for one of the more unique games on the list. Players can enjoy Dodgeball Academia when it launches on Xbox Game Pass day one for console, PC, and Cloud on August 5^th, 2021.

While the game looks to have a simple art style, the look Art of Rally isn’t to be underestimated, as the game’s mechanics focus on the golden era of Rally games. While beginners can master the track, the game itself encourages players to focus on their skills and work toward conquering the intricacies of the driving mechanics inside Art of Rally. Players who master the harder control schemes will be awarded with the thrill of racing through some of the harder tracks in the game. For players who want to just take a drive without competing in timed races, a free roam mode is included so players can focus on their driving skills before heading back to the tracks to beat their personal best. The game is launching on Xbox Game Pass with four new cars, six new tracks, and a new free-roam section. Art of Rally seems to be a pleasant, yet skill-based driving game that’s coming to Xbox Game Pass for Cloud, Console, and PC on August 5^th.

For players who own Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the fantastic Skate and Skate 3 are coming under EA Play, which will take players back to the roots of the fan-favorite skating game. While not as arcade-based like Tony Hawk, Skate and Skate 3 bring in some of the most tightly controlled and exciting gameplay that a skateboard-based game can provide. Skate lets players explore and ride through a vast city, making friends and annoying the citizens who end up on the wrong end of a player’s trick. Skate 3 amps up the skate world by bringing in new locales, more game modes, and the option to place props in the environment, letting players make their best tricks and videos online. Skate comes to EA Play on Game Pass for console, while Skate 3 makes its way to Game Pass Ultimate for Cloud, and both games become available to play on August 5^th.

While not the most exciting entry for Game Pass, Solitaire is one of the quintessential games for early PC players. However, with the newer versions of the title on Windows 10, ads have stopped players from enjoying a nice game of Solitaire. With the Solitaire Collection coming out for Xbox Game Pass, though, ads are a thing of the past. However, the removal of ads in the premium edition of the game isn’t the only thing players can get when downloading the collection onto their computers, as Daily Challenges, Achievements, Competitive events, as well as a Game Pass Card skin are being added to the game. For those who want to relive the glory days of playing games like Spider Solitaire, the Microsoft Solitaire Collection: Premium Edition is coming to Xbox Game Pass on August 17^th for PC only.

On top of all of this, more games are coming soon thanks to EA and Codemasters, with titles like Dirt 4, Dirt Rally, Dirt Rally 2.0, F1 2020, and Grid coming to Xbox Game Pass Ulitmate soon through EA Play.

There are some other titles that aren’t going to be staying on Game Pass this month. Grand Theft Auto V will be leaving Xbox Game Pass for Cloud and console on August 8^th, while other titles like Ape Out (PC), Darksiders Genesis (Cloud, Pc, console), Final Fantasy 7 (console and PC), Don’t Starve (Cloud, PC, console), Train Sim World 2020 (PC, Cloud, console), and Crossing Souls (PC) will be leaving Xbox Game Pass on August 15^th. However, player’s who want to keep playing these titles will be given a 20% discount on all the games from the list due to being Xbox Game Pass Subscribers.

Something also to mention is that Forza Motorsport 7 is going to be removed from the Microsoft Store on September 15^th, 2021, meaning that the game is also going to be removed from Xbox Game Pass. However, players who have played Forza Motorsport 7 and have purchased DLC for the game in any capacity will be given a token for the game through the Xbox Message Center, meaning that anyone who spent money on the title below the full price will be given the game for the amount of DLC they’ve purchased.

Xbox has also issued more challenges, updates, and perks for players who have subscribed to Xbox Game Pass, continuing the fun outside of the titles that are being added this month. For those who want more information about the updates to games, or the challenges that net players Gamerscore and more, visit the blogpost about the lineup for Xbox Game Pass this month as well.

Regardless, the lineup this month for additions to the ever-expanding Xbox Game Pass has certainly been for the better, with Xbox putting out quality games onto the platform which continue to scratch the itch of gamers from all tastes.