It's no secret that despite its incredible library, Xbox Game Pass has been somewhat starved of great party games throughout its lifespan thus far. The are notable exceptions like Overcooked! 2 and Golf With Your Friends, but with the addition of Gang Beasts, it feels like the service has very consciously bolstered its party game lineup.
Despite having an interest in the game ever since it first released, I'd never actually played Gang Beasts until it arrived on Game Pass last week. I downloaded it, booted it up, and was greeted with (in all honesty) a very barebones menu system that doesn't make a whole lot of sense and is very light on fancy presentation elements.
However, once you get into the game itself, it's very easy to see why Gang Beasts consistently sits among the most popular Xbox titles on the Microsoft Store. I ventured online right away, and even so, I felt like I'd got the hang of the physics-based mechanics within a few minutes, and I was already on-par with the other competitors.
The action consists of failing your arms around, trying to grab and pull opponents, and jumping for dear life every time you feel like you're about to fall off the edge of something. It's really no more complicated than that, and the strategy centres around navigating obstacles, trying to manipulate your character's body to get an advantage, and temporarily knocking out your opponents so you have a better chance of dragging them to their impending doom.
It also helps that it's absolutely hilarious at times, watching these characters fail around in desperation. My first match ended in a duel between me and another player, the two of us both clasping onto the side of a ledge as we tried to hang on. It's the sort of game that gets everyone shouting and screaming at tense moments, even if they're not involved.
Gang Beasts could be described as a breath of fresh air for Xbox Game Pass, then, and while it's certainly not perfect in every area, it doesn't really need to be. It's just that kind of silly, multiplayer fun that Xbox Game Pass has been lacking a bit over the years, accessible to anyone and everyone, and a total blast to play with friends or strangers.
Have you tried Gang Beasts on Xbox Game Pass yet? Let us know down in the comments below.
Comments 5
Not my thing, but so long as meme-y party games like this don't start dominating, I think it's good to have some variety on the service.
It's okay. Some of the matches dragged. Got a few laughs out of my girlfriend and I. Definitely a game I hope stays with the service. Can always see redownloading it with some friends over and sitting around with some bud and brews.
My son wanted this and I actually paid $20 for this.
No idea how this is like 8-10GB, there's no content here...
I was hoping there was a short side scrolling beat'em-up campaign, but no.
All we found was a few goofy multiplayer arenas for screwing around in with AI bots.
"Xbox Game Pass has been somewhat starved of great party games throughout its lifespan thus far."
I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it until it happens: a new f2p Fuzion Frenzy, run in seasons like a Fall Guys-type thing, is a game that Microsoft should make happen. Also a new Doritos Crash Course and 1 vs. 100 while we're at it. Microsoft is great at trying innovative/weird & fun party games, but TERRIBLE at building on them and turning them into successful series.
It made me laugh the first time I played it. As time's gone on, I've found it less and less fun. It's just so samey and the controls suck the life out of it for me. My son loves it so I play it with him but I can't shake the feeling that it is really lacking.
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