Some of next week’s highlights include Core Keeper (Game Pass), Smite 2’s Closed Alpha with the Founder’s Edition, and The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, all of which launch on August 27. A couple of days later, on August 29, we have the bloody Gori: Cuddle Carnage, Monster Jam Showdown, and action-RPG Visions of Mana. Finally, on August 30, we close out the week with a big one: Star Wars Outlaws.
Here’s everything coming to the world of Xbox next week. Let us know which of these you’re planning on picking up in the comments!
August 27
Core Keeper — Xbox Series X|S
In this award-winning, 1-8 player mining sandbox adventure, your choices shape an epic journey.
Harvest relics and resources, craft advanced tools, build your base, and explore a dynamically evolving world waiting to be unearthed.
Level up your skills, defeat legendary Titans, and unveil the power of the Core.
Grow your garden, fish in mysterious waters, master a vast array of recipes, raise and care for animals, encounter the Cavelings, and carve out your own unique world in an enchanting underground adventure.
Disclaimer: Xbox One version not available, releasing on a future date to be announced
Crypt Custodian — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Step into the shoes of Pluto, a mischievous cat who has just died, and landed in the afterlife’s palace. After a brief and disastrous meeting with the Afterlife Guardian – Kendra – you’re banished from the palace and sentenced to clean… FOREVER!!!
Explore the vast grounds that surround the palace, battle beasts with your trusty broom, and gain new abilities to expand your world. Hang out with doomed ghosts, solve puzzles, discover secrets, and… organize an ambush to break back into the palace!
SMITE 2 (Closed Alpha)— Xbox Series X|S
As a Founder, enjoy exclusive early access* to the Battleground, with all Gods unlocked and legendary content to boost your Alpha experience in the pre-launch Alpha Weekend Events (see website for event details).
Play as Gods from across mythology and wield unique godly abilities. Hurl bolts of lightning as Zeus, master the arcane powers of death as Anubis, or backstab your foes as Loki – The choice is yours with the SMITE 2 Founder’s Edition.
Plus, pre-order during the Closed Alpha to unlock the SMITE 2 Cacodemon Ymir Skin.
With the Founder’s Edition, you’ll unlock:
– SMITE 2 full game access
– All current and future SMITE 2 Gods, forever
– SMITE 2 Founder Avatar
– Cross-Gen SMITE 2 Mega Fan Title
– 2x Legacy Gems Booster
– Alpha Weekend Event access
Special pre-order bonus:
– SMITE 2 Cacodemon Ymir Skin
*SMITE 2 game access is granted only on the platform this pack is purchased on
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria — Xbox Series X|S
Summoned to the Misty Mountains by Lord Gimli Lockbearer, players take control of a company of Dwarves tasked to reclaim the lost spoils from the Dwarven homeland of Moria—known as Khazad-dûm or Dwarrowdelf—in the depths below their very feet. Their quest will require fortitude, delving deep into the Mines of Moria to recover its treasures.
Set in a procedurally generated Dwarven realm of Moria, no two adventures will be alike, and every expedition is traversable either solo or online with companions. Players can mine to craft greater gear and resources, but beware, mining makes noise, and noise created in the quiet deep threatens to awaken the dangers below: where there’s clatter, there’s combat. Excavate the mysteries of three legendary mountains, extract precious metals, scrape to survive, and battle unspeakable forces to learn the secret of the Shadow that lurks within.
August 28
Espresso Tycoon — Xbox Series X|S
Espresso Tycoon – coffee shop simulator. Create your brand, decorate your coffee shop, manage your employees and take care of your customers. Use the Coffee Editor to create unique coffee recipes, order deliveries and collect popularity points. Build an entire coffee business and complete all missions!
Cubic 2 3 4 Player Games — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
All you have to do is, click one button control and beat your friends!
– 35 Different Mini Party Games!
Challenge with your friends, This game contains polished mini games for tons of fun. Playable local games up to 4 players on same device.
You can play this game even if you don’t have friend around you.
Mad Experiments: Escape Room — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows
Award-nominated cross-platform escape game. Alone or with up to 5 players, explore 3 unique rooms, solve mind-bending puzzles, and unravel the dark secrets of the Professor Cheshire and his experiments.
Mad Experiments 2: Escape Room — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Mad Experiments 2: Escape Room is the sequel of the award-nominated cross-platform multiplayer escape game Mad Experiments. Alone or with up to 5 friends, follow the story of Hildegarde and Professor Cheshire, explore rich environments to find clues, and solve mind-bending puzzles to escape!
Purrfect Rescue — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Keep your eyes open for ears, tails and noses – kittens are small, and there’s a lot of them around ^^
Features:
– Original soundtrack;
– 5 different scenarios;
– 505 cats to find;
– 5 special cats with personal rescue stories!
– Game experience designed for a bit of thought and relaxation ^^
SokoPenguin — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
A chill puzzle adventure awaits in SokoPenguin, a top-down pixel art block-sliding game where you take the role of a cute penguin and overcome a wide variety of single-screen challenges to help him reach his igloo! Master 100 levels of gradually increasing complexity as you slide power blocks onto their corresponding switches to power a drawbridge, then proceed to the goal!
Enjoy relaxing tunes as you figure out how to move the blocks and slide crates or other obstacles away and retry levels as many times as it takes the get the penguin back home!
Whacking Hell! — Xbox Series X|S, Windows
The gates of hell have opened: whack all the monsters before they whack you! Collect their souls, ramp up your weapons and your spells, and become a slaughtering machine in this frantic roguelite top-down 2D shooter!
August 29
Akimbot — Xbox Series X|S
In the action-adventure platformer, Akimbot, blast your way through armies of robots, control spaceships and forge your own path to save the universe from impending doom! Set in a sci-fi world where only robots exist, travel the galaxy and experience non-stop robot mayhem and explosive action!
Forklift Simulator — Xbox Series X|S
Take on a variety of different missions, a selection of vehicles and an extensive career mode in which you can put your skills to the test.
Are you ready for the challenges ahead?
CAREER-MODE
Start your career in the logistics sector by passing your theoretical and practical forklift driving licence test. After that you start working in a small company and progress to larger companies in the course of your career, where you can complete extensive tasks and unlock new vehicles.
After completing the career-mode you can continue your shift in free play mode to complete orders and missions as you wish.
MISSIONS
Complete a variety of different and authentic missions that occur every day in a logistics company. From assembling pallets and inspecting load conditions to sorting out broken loads and, of course, transporting freights, there are many different jobs waiting for you to take care of!
VEHICLES
Unlock a range of vehicles in the course of the career mode, including three different forklift trucks and an electric pallet truck. So you are well equipped for every job!
Gori: Cuddly Carnage — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows
Humanity has been destroyed – and it’s up to Gori, along with his deadly but wise-cracking sentient hoverboard, F.R.A.N.K, and morose AI companion, CH1-P, to shred and slay the evil Adorable Army!
Monster Jam Showdown — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Wait no more! Pre-order Monster Jam™ Showdown now. In addition to the full game, you’ll get Law & Disorder DLC, including 2 vehicles: Maximum Destruction™ and New Earth Authority Police™!
Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn — Xbox Series X|S
After 33 years in the shadows, prepare to see this legendary action adventure in a new light! Looking and playing better than ever before, Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is Tengo Project’s remake of a cult classic, that the fans have been waiting for.
In this thrilling action-adventure, you will use your striking katana along with a wide variety of weaponry that has greatly expanded from the NES original, as well as the acrobatic finesse of a ninja to face the onslaught of powerful enemies. Although, the challenge does not end here! 6 complex, expansive, and masterfully designed stages test your skills through devious traps and challenging platform puzzles.
Critically acclaimed as one of the best 2-player co-ops of its time, Shadow of the Ninja—Reborn lets you play together locally as the legendary ninjas Hayate and Kaede.
In addition to the contributions of Tengo Project, this remake also features Iku Mizutani, the star composer who helped create the iconic Natsume sound and renowned tracks for various NES games. Fans of Mr. Mizutani and retro gamers across the world will find delight in his renowned guitar riffs and fast-paced retro melodies!
Our fearless heroes, Hayate and Kaede have undergone a massive visual upgrade over their original 8-bit models. And the improvements don’t stop there: From the deadly foes to the no-less deadly stages, every part of this title has been faithfully recreated in stunning high-quality sprites.
So, cloak yourself in shadows and slash your way through a treacherous concrete jungle of the future in this dark action gem Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn!
Snooker Blitz — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows
The world is ready for a truly unique snooker game! Challenge your friends, enter snooker tournaments, and go head to head against other players in real-time. Shoot snooker with ultra-realistic physics, breath-taking graphics, and have more fun than you’ve ever had in real life!
Download Snooker Blitz for free today, and enjoy a unique concept with super easy controls, and fun and intuitive gameplay!
Valfaris: Mecha Therion — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
After escaping Valfaris, Therion’s hunt for the evil Lord Vroll has taken him across the galaxy. As the final, inevitable showdown looms, Therion harnesses the awesome combat ability of his secret weapon – Mecha Therion!
A formidable suit of weaponised metal, Mecha Therion can be equipped with an array of devastating firepower, including enemy eviscerating favourites such as Bringer of Mayhem, Skysplitter, and Therion’s trademark Hellwraith.
Visions of Mana — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
The protagonist Val and his childhood friend Hinna, the newly appointed Alm of Fire, set off on a journey to the Mana Tree.
This game’s iconic vibrant and vast semi-open field contains adorable yet ferocious monsters, allowing you to enjoy swift three-dimensional battles using the power of the Elementals.
Through adventures with friends met along the way, they start to see the truth about the world.
Must we accept our fates?
A new “Mana” tale begins here as a classic fantasy series returns to its roots.
▸Bold graphics full of characteristic “Mana” flair
The characters journey across a vibrant world alive with spirits.
▸Exploring the world
Explore the vast, semi-open field that stretches as far as the eye can see. Traverse the environment quickly and safely with new companions, the “Pikuls”
▸Harness the power of the Elementals
In this game, you will fight enemies using weapons that house the power of the Elementals. Change between different classes and characters to suit your playstyle and enjoy combat that has evolved both three-dimensionally and strategically.
▸ Breathtaking and immersive soundtrack
A total of 100 background music tracks by a talented team of creators who have worked on countless tracks throughout the series. The music in field areas feature interactive music, heightening the mood for adventure.
Wer weiß denn sowas? – Das 3. Spiel — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Did you know that the highest prize money ever won by the audience was 208.29 euros per head?
WitchSpring R — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
WitchSpring R is a story-driven RPG combining elements of simulation, collecting & crafting, and battling. Play as Pieberry, a white-haired, bunny-eared witch growing up in a forest filled with monsters. To relive her childhood memories (eating delicious food!), she longs to venture among humans, but she can’t find a way to the outside world… until your story begins! A world of new experiences is waiting for YOU to explore with her.
August 30
112 Operator — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Danger has escalated
Help on a scale bigger than ever before. The sequel of the award-winning 911 Operator lets you act on many, completely different levels – from taking care of a single neighborhood to coordinating several operators’ work in the world’s biggest metropolises. Full 3D visualization will give you the inside view of your units’ actions. Choose from over 100 000 areas, such as districts, municipalities, and tens of thousands of real cities from all over the world.
To all units: a storm is coming…
Face the dynamic weather, based on authentic, historical data. Watch the incidents change as day or night comes, traffic increases and seasons pass. Watch out for extreme conditions that may lead to cataclysms and natural disasters. Try to tame big wildfires spreading across the map. Weather isn’t your only problem though – be careful when dealing with terrorist attacks and gang wars.
Blocky Farm — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Blocky Farm is vege-friendly. No animals are harmed during gameplay!
Forests, Fields and Fortresses — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
In the Puzzle Mode, play handcrafted levels with a small number of pieces of territory. Your goal is to place them in such a way as to earn the required amount of gold.
In the Adventure Mode, start the game with a random map and an endless supply of pieces of territory.
Unlock new spells, game events and different starting boards for increased variety.
Features
* Classic board game-inspired interface
* Choose from 2 modes of play
* Build your kingdom and prosper
* Unlock new tools and abilities
Lost Artifacts 6: Mysterious Book — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
The team of experienced treasure hunters rushes again to meet adventures!
During a regular inventory at the museum, archaeologist Claire comes across an unfamiliar book with a mysterious lock-puzzle adorned with precious stones.
After unsuccessful attempts to open the book, the girl, in anger, presses a strange mechanism, and all the stones from it fall out immediately!
The museum room quickly changes into a forest with giant trees – the book has taken Claire and the team to its world.
Will the brave treasure hunter be able to find the lost stones and return home?
Embark on a heroic mission with Claire – quench your thirst for adventure and help her find all the stones!
Convenient controls and clear training will help you easily get into the basics of the game.
Embark on an exciting journey through the world of the Enigmatic Book!
You will encounter funny dialogues, colorful comics and memorable characters!
On each level there are hidden objects – find them and collect the entire collection of ancient artifacts!
Complete all 40 exciting levels.
Visit 4 unique locations: Dense forest, Weightless oasis, Northern Islands and the Flame Mountain volcano – and solve their mysteries!
More than 6 hours of gameplay.
Perform a variety of tasks – from building buildings to fighting cunning enemies! Enjoy beautiful themed music and stunning sounds!
Raging Loop — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows
When the evening mist comes, that’s the sign of a murder ritual “the Feast of the Yomi-Purge” beginning! Repeat the death loop, experience the tragedies, and solve the mystery of paranormal phenomenon.
A psychological horror visual novel, boldly interpreting the “Mafia/Werewolf”.
What awaits at the end of the looping…?
Features
– Popular “Mafia/Werewolf” game interpreted daringly!
– Large-scale modern horror & psychological thriller visual novel!
– To escape from the death loop and the tragedies, make a good use of Scenario Chart!
– Discover Keys via a looping phenomenon, and unlock new routes!
– Incredibly voluminous text!
– Beautiful illustrations!
– Japanese voice acting (*Can be turned off)
Sparkle 2 EVO — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Control the evolution! Climb your way through the evolutional ladder. Start as a little organism and transform into a magnificent aquatic being. Explore the abyss in search of nutritional elements. Attack other species whenever you run out of other food sources. Enjoy beautiful surreal visuals and relax with minimalistic ambient soundtrack.
Star Wars Outlaws — Xbox Series X|S
If you’re willing to take the risk, the galaxy is full of opportunity.
Date Z — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Welcome to the heart-racing adventure of “Date Z”, an unexpected twist on high school drama, mystery, and romance. As a senior transfer student, your debut week at a new school spirals into an extraordinary race against time. It’s not just about making friends or acing classes. Your survival hinges on one task: finding a date by Friday.
Super Dark Deception — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Features:
– Beautiful hand-drawn 2D pixel art that gives a classic 16-bit RPG look and feel.
– Power System: Earn XP and unlock powers as you progress that will allow you to even the odds and survive longer against horrendous creatures.
– Fast-paced Arcade Horror: Run for your life and run fast. Enemies can be stunned and avoided, but not killed.
– Hazardous Environments: Enemies are not the only danger. The mazes themselves are full of traps, hazards, and other dangers to watch out for.
– Unique Enemies: Every nightmare presents a unique creature that has its own distinct AI. Players will have to change up their tactics in order to survive.