The whimsical cartoon RPG Garden Story is available now on Xbox Game Pass for consoles and PC. The new arrival also supports touch controls and Cloud Gaming so that players can stream it to their mobile devices.
RELATED: Xbox Game Pass Adds 3 New Games Today
Originally released for PC and Nintendo Switch in 2021, Garden Story officially launched for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on July 11. Published by Rose City Games and developed by Picogram, players take the role of an adventurous young grape named Concord. As the newly-appointed Guardian of the Grove, it’s their duty to protect their island and its inhabitants from the invasive Rot. Along the way, Concord will make new friends while helping to change their world for the better.
Developers describe Garden Story as “A satisfying journey of rebuilding and collecting.” Players will travel from village to village, defending their teammates, collecting items, and repairing buildings and friendships alike. Concord’s job is to unite the fruit, frogs, and fungus while inspiring them to help fight back against the encroaching Rot. Players will also see their actions affecting the world around them as they restore structures and clear out signs of the Rot’s presence. Garden Story players will also help Concord grow alongside their world, collecting their predecessor’s memories as he uncovers the Grove’s secret past.
However, while Concord is a busy grape, Picogram still wants players to go at their own pace, whether that means quick 12-minute bursts or hours-long gameplay sessions. Players can cultivate gardens and collect libraries as they enjoy the Grove’s idyllic atmosphere and charming music. While there are plenty of adventures to go on, developers wanted Garden Story to be a cozy and relaxing game rather than a challenging action RPG.
Garden Story enjoys a “Very Positive” rating on Steam, with 95% of players recommending the game. However, the game’s Metacritic scores are decidedly more mixed, with the PC and Nintendo Switch versions scoring a 70% and 73%, respectively. In addition, it usually retails for $19.99, about the cost of two months of Game Pass for PC. Still, while it might not be worth subscribing to Game Pass just for Garden Story, it could be a great addition to some players’ libraries.
Garden Story is available on PC, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE: Garden Story Looks Like a Mix of Stardew Valley, Undertale
Source: Pure Xbox
title: “Xbox Game Pass Adds New Game Today” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-29” author: “Amy Burruss”
Roboquest puts players into the roles of “a high-powered, hyper-mobile robot” that must fight through randomly generated roguelite levels left behind on an unrecognizable earth. It promises locations packed with secrets, upgrades, and enemies; plenty of bosses to face like the drill-like Diggy Mole, the bulbous Dr. Turret, and the obviously insect-like Beetle Royale; and, true to the roguelite genre, plenty of upgrades, abilities, and customization options for players and the base camp, some of which can be taken in the next run.
RELATED: Xbox Game Pass Recently Added One of the Highest Rated Games Ever Made
Roboquest won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it does seem like a chaotic and fun firefight. What’s more, for those sold on the premise, playing a Game Preview title on Xbox Game Pass is great for feedback and community. The Anacrusis, Slime Rancher 2, and others have entered the Game Preview program before, and it’s perhaps one of the most undersung parts of Xbox Game Pass as a whole.
Of course, for those who may pass on Roboquest or want more to play, there’s plenty on the way. January 31 will see the additions of the real-time strategy game Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition, the ink-based strategy game Inkulinati, and the fighting game JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle R. Before fans know it, the Xbox Game Pass games for February 2023 will begin rolling out too.
While some new ones will be announced early in February, fans already know that 4 games are already announced. The turned-based RPG Darkest Dungeon, the racing simulator Grid Legends, the racing game Hot Wheels Unleashed - Game of the Year Edition, and the alternate history FPS game Atomic Heart join Xbox Game Pass sometime next month. And with those just being the start, it’s possible that Xbox Game Pass’ February games give an excellent January a run for its money.
Xbox Game Pass users get a handful of games every month.
MORE: The Best Games on Xbox Game Pass (January 2023)
