New to Xbox Game Pass – October 2022 Wave 2

Xbox Game Pass subscribers had a lot of options thrown at them last month, and the first wave of October was no slouch either with two headliners being the day-one releases of Scorn and A Plague Tale: Requiem. We now know that there are eight games coming for the remainder of the month, and it should be no surprise that half of them line up well with the spooky season.

Four titles kick it all off when they’re added on October 20th. Amnesia: Collection is the first and will be available on cloud, console, and PC. This collection includes the first three works from the Amnesia series of games: Amnesia: The Dark Descent, its expansion Amnesia: Justine, and Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs. The first two were handled by developer Frictional Games, while the latter was developed by The Chinese Room. For horror game fanatics, it’s worth checking out the series that changed the genre’s landscape.

Joining them on cloud, console, and PC is the next and latest entry in the series, 2020’s Amnesia: Rebirth. It’s a return to the series for the original developers and contains links to their original 2010 title as well. Having every part of the series available through Xbox Game Pass is a great opportunity for anyone who hasn’t played them yet.

If you especially enjoy what Frictional Games brought to the table, it’s certainly worth checking out their 2015 title Soma. Available on cloud, console, and PC, this underwater Sci-Fi horror was released right in the middle of their Amnesia-developed works. Stealth aspects and puzzles return in what is seen as an evolution of what they accomplished in the first entry.

Taking a break from the horror but providing a much different sense of intensity is Phantom Abyss on cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Sacred relics await players within procedurally generated temples filled with traps and obstacles. There’s only one chance to challenge each temple and the phantoms of those who failed before you repeat the steps that led to their failure.

Coming out on the 21st is likely one of the most looked-forward-to additions since its announcement at this year’s Xbox & Bethesda Showcase. The standout RPG Persona 5 Royal will be available to play on cloud, console, and PC. This enhanced version adds to the experience with new characters, new story events, and numerous quality-of-life improvements that can create a refreshing experience for those who played the original release.

Everything else is set to come out on October 27th. As serious and complex that the mysteries of the previous game are, it helps to enjoy something a bit more light-hearted. Coming to PC is Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery. This collection includes all three of the humorous Frog Detective games, including the day one release of Frog Detective 3: Corruption at Cowboy County. For an example of what to expect, you can read Alexx’s review of Frog Detective 2: The Case of the Invisible Wizard here.

Procedurally generated levels and FPS action await in Gunfire Reborn for cloud, console, and PC. Six animal-based heroes are available to choose from and they each come with their own unique abilities. These levels can be played alone or with friends in up to four-player co-op.

Rounding out the month on cloud, console, and PC, is the day one release of Signalis. Inspired by classic survival horror games, players take on the role of Elster as she searches for someone in an unknown and dangerous facility filled with monsters. I’ve detailed all the creepy fun I had within the first three hours of the game in my preview piece here.

As of the time of this being written, the Xbox app does list The Legend of Tianding being added for console and PC on the 31st. This may have been moved to the November wave though. It similarly lists Persona 5 Royal with a one-day early release date, so I would give more precedence to their official posts.

Making room for this new wave of titles is some select games that we have to say goodbye to. Players have until October 31st to start playing and/or finish the following: Alan Wake: American Nightmare, Backbone, Bassmaster Fishing 2022, Nongunz: Doppelganger Edition, Project Wingman, Second Extraction, Sniper Elite 4, and The Forgotten City.