It’s a Sprint: Games Leaving Game Pass December 15th Edition
Forza Horizon 4 by Playground Games and Microsoft Studios
It’s already December.
It’s been a difficult year for a lot of people I know but there is a certain level of comfort in still being here regardless (and who has time to dwell on the negative when we have so many games to play on such strict deadlines?).
Here is everything scheduled to leave Game Pass in the first half of this month. If more is added later (which hopefully it won’t be–I’m pulling this list straight from the Xbox app), I’ll post an update at the bottom of this article.
The Quarry
Metacritic Score: 79
Playtime estimate according to HowLongToBeat: 9-33 hours
Tin Hearts
Metacritic Score: 66
Playtime estimate according to HowLongToBeat: 16-30.5 hours
Forager
Metacritic Score: 78
Playtime estimate according to HowLongToBeat: 15.5-40.5 hours
Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan
Metacritic Score: 81
Playtime estimate according to HowLongToBeat: 11-24 hours
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Metacritic Score: 86
Playtime estimate according to HowLongToBeat: 13.5-35 hours
Hello Neighbor 2
Metacritic Score: 59
Playtime estimate according to HowLongToBeat: 4.5-5.5 hours
Forza Horizon 4
Metacritic Score: 92
Playtime estimate according to HowLongToBeat: 14.5-152 hours
Amnesia: The Bunker
Metacritic Score: 77
Playtime estimate according to HowLongToBeat: 5.5-13.5 hours
This is an interesting group.
I’ll definitely be finishing the terrifying Amnesia: The Bunker. I’m also curious about Rainbow Billy, but frankly, after playing too much Klonoa, I think I’ve fulfilled my 2.5D puzzle platformer quota for the year.
Forza Horizon 4 is as excellent as the rest of the series and has one of the slickest openings to a game I’ve ever seen (flashy, yet seamless, transitions between different seasons and different supercars). Even though Playground Games is owned by Xbox, not even Microsoft is safe from the doomsday clock that is licensed music. If you already own it, you’re safe–but this is just another sobering reminder that when we buy things digitally we don’t ever truly own them.
As always, I’ll be back to report on the second batch of departures in a couple weeks. I’m absolutely buzzing that I get to watch 500ish trailers between now and then at the Game Awards and the other satellite events that have sprung up around it.
Until then, remember to be nice (or naughty within reason) and get those Christmas lists in.