Scrubchub

@Gemini53 thanks for the pep talk! Been looking forward to this game for a while (was planning on buying it actually before it was announced for GP) and was aware of the learning curve so definitely going to persevere!

Started KCD2 on Gamepass this morning. Was really enjoying Avatar but it does that irritating Ubisoft thing of needing to grind in the open world before realistically being able to continue the main story - in this case having to go off and find materials to craft better armour with. And basically, I got bored of it. KCD2 is really cool, but as everyone who's played it has said at first - the combat seems impossible.

@evan23 thanks for the write up. Sounds worth a go. Enjoyed this game the first time around, got a lot of crap but there was a good game beneath the bugs and it was pretty solid a 12 month after release.

Would definitely do a New Vegas remaster - what a game that was. But would rather have a new Fallout entirely.....

@dkxcalibur I REALLY need to try that game! It's in the Play Later list but I've been waiting for KCD2 since it was announced for Gamepass so not sure they're two games that would work for a simultaneous play through......

The horse has bolted. All Xbox games are multiplatform and there's no going back. As long as the games still exist then I'm happy, but it would nice if there were a few of the PS big hitters that went the other way..... which is obviously rather unlikely.

@Gemini53 sorry for the slow reply, had a job interview yesterday so was prepping for that (I got it!).

I have literally just hit Gamepass to get it downloaded for later! I feel like I should finish Avatar as that is a fairly complex game with a lot of systems that I think I'll probably forget if I go to another game but I'm genuinely excited about KCD2 which doesn't happen often so I think I'll give it a go this evening.

Won't even bother reading the comments from the usual whiners. Just finish with Gamepass and stop going on about how much you dislike it on every article.

Cyberpunk is an absolute masterpiece and one of the greatest games of all time (in my opinion) but like Witcher 3 last month I suppose it doesn't add a huge deal of value as it's sold such a massive number of copies already. Absolute steal for those who haven't played it though.

Premium looking like the best balance out of the three tiers again though.....

KCD2! Can't wait. But need to finish Avatar first as they're both too involved to be played alongside each other.

I've mentioned this a few times - it's less like a simple backwards compatible game and more like a full remaster. Looks and sounds fantastic (what a soundtrack) and the gameplay hasn't aged a day - it's still perfect.

How has this franchise died off?! Surely due a reboot.

@Gemini53 sounds brilliant. Going to finish up Avatar to really clear the floor to get into it.

Looking forward to KCD2. The first was excellent, hoping for a slightly more refined experience this time though!

@Globo definitely go for it, they're all as good as each other. Resi 3 got a bit of a pasting due to its short length but putting that to one side it's just as good as the other ones to play. Resi 2 remake is magnificent. They're as good as gaming gets.

Edit - don't forget the Separate Ways DLC for 4. It's more like a second campaign for the main game than a DLC.

@Globo enjoy Resi 4 - as close to perfect as gaming gets.

Just got to the point of Avatar where it 'opens up' (I'm being careful with the spoilers) and my word this is a good looking game. Not many games actually make me stop and take it all in, and now this after Avowed means I've played two games in a row that have actually made me go 'wow' at multiple different moments. Game wise, it's a bit fiddly with a lot of different game systems but definitely enjoying it.

@Fiendish-Beaver this is in no way an insinuation towards you as I'm sure her being female doesn't matter to you as you stated, but it will absolutely, 100% colour the reaction towards her from certain quarters. Misogyny and sexism is absolutely rampant on the internet and I think it's a little naive to think that it hasn't found its way to this situation.

Beyond that, it's remarkable that people care so much. Even if she has doctored her gamerscore - who cares?

@PsBoxSwitchOwner they do these polls for lots of big Gamepass releases and there is always someone (well, the same few people) who make that exact same comment. They're making the poll because it's a Gamepass release - they wouldn't be talking about a 3 year old game otherwise. Seems such an inconsequential quibble.

Anyway, 7/10 for me so far. Looks great and is fun but there seems to be quite a lot of different systems to get used to. Only about 3 hours in (just after the opening credits actually, in true Ubisoft fashion). From what I've read, it gets much better as it opens up so looking forward to that.

Nothing that's tempting for me, so maybe a chance to get a couple of games off the 'Play Later' tab. Which is fine by me. KCD2 in a couple of weeks so wouldn't mind clearing the decks a little before that.

For all his faults, he seemed an 'Xbox man'. But not going to get too worried about the comings and goings of millionaire executives in billion (or even trillion) dollar companies. Not really my world.

Back to playing some games.

@FraserG I've mentioned SSX3 a few times on this site so would look forward to any article. It's ridiculous how good it works - it's more like a full remaster than a simple backwards compatible title. Looks great and plays absolutely perfectly. I don't imagine there are many, if any, games from the PS2/Xbox generation that have aged better. In fact, I'm adding it to my list this weekend.

Beyond that, I finished Avowed today (fantastic game. Enjoyed every minute but ready for a break before New Game plus) so I'm looking at Gamepass for something new. Either Star Wars Outlaws or Avatar. Haven't decided yet.

Not a huge Day One kind of guy but will certainly get it at some point. Assuming there's no further delays pushing it back to 2027, it may be a Christmas present to myself.....

@jesse_dylan it does appear to be the way, doesn't it..... This is soooo much better than at launch, so why wouldn't you just wait.....

Really recommend this to anyone who hasn't got around to it. I bounced off it at launch partly due to the lifeless first city that just seemed so soulless but since going back to it then it's like a different game, and that is before this update. It's just fun to play and nicely streamlined in all the right places compared to some more hardcore RPGs.

Personally looking forward to changing my characters appearance as the style I had in mind when starting the game is completely different to how I ended up playing it and he just doesn't look right now!

KCD2 is a great addition! Though rather surprised to see it on the Premium tier as that feels like an Ultimate tier kind of addition to me..... something to keep an eye on going forward.

It's a little exasperating to see the same comments, yet again, regarding Gamepass (whether it's worth it, how it definitely isn't worth it, how someone is cancelling etc). Surely - SURELY - it's all been said umpteen times at this point?! At this point the truth of the matter is so, so clear; it's worth it for some and not worth it for others. That's basically it. Nothing else to say.

And in an announcement of one of the all time greats coming to the service (Witcher 3), one of last year's top 2 or 3 games (KCD2), a huge franchise sports game (College Football) and a small bunch of well thought of indies (Towerborne), plus another drip feed of the very well received FF Remasters, it's a bit baffling to see people just dismiss it as a 'meh' month. It's also just the first announcement for next month. That is as close to a non subjective 'good' announcement as you'll ever see.

But it does seem to be the way of it, unfortunately. Microsoft/Xbox just can't garner a positive reaction anymore. Self inflicted, I guess.

Anyway, I've got my next couple of months lined up at least - Avowed, Avatar and KCD2 with some Outlaws sprinkled in. And I'm still paying less than £15 a month for Ultimate using Loaded.com. I'll reassess Ultimate Vs Premium when those keys run dry but for the time being, it still seems like a good deal to me.

Looking forward to playing Avatar with my son as he likes the movies. Coincidentally playing through Avowed though (and enjoying it) so many have to wait a bit!

@RiverGenie hmm, interesting - I wasn't aware there was an update! Maybe I should put it to one side for another few days! It's already a much more polished game than I remember it being at launch. The main city in the first area is transformed and now actually feels and looks like a city instead of a deserted town. I'm sticking with it anyway as now it's clicked it's really my sort or game. Hopefully Bethesda have taken note of how well a game of this type can actually play when making the best Elder Scrolls (love the Elder Scrolls, but mechanically this is in another league).

Taken an entire year but Avowed has finally clicked for me. Really enjoying adventuring around the second big area and the combat is really good fun. Also looks fantastic. Beyond that, finishing Space Marine 2.

Space Marine 2 (that I bought last month in the sale before it came to Gamepass - always the way). So much fun.

Also having a great time messing around with mods on Skyrim which I've never done before. You really can turn it into a pretty modern version of itself. And it's still a magnificent game.

And also playing Tales of Vesperia on the Switch for some classic JRPG action.

Menace looks cool. Might give it a go if I can find the time!

My son will be chuffed about Avatar as he's wanted that since seeing the new film. Also been wanting to try it out now it has that 3rd person mode.

A good few solid additions in there.

Well that trailer was flipping weird. Like, really weird. But the best thing about Gamepass for me isn't the big hitters, it's the chance to try games that I would never usually buy. So I'll give it a dutiful go to that end. Looks like an experience, if nothing else.

Funnily enough I just went back to it the day before yesterday. Bounced off it a little at launch. Not because there was anything wrong with it, I just felt it would be better in a little while after some updates.

It is! The world is so much more lived in and busier and it plays really well. Makes going back to something like the Oblivion remaster difficult as that is just so archaic in comparison. It also looks absolutely fantastic.

Great, fun RPG. Enjoy it on its own terms and not as 'Temu Elder Scrolls' as some put it.

First High on Life was a fun game. Didn't live long in the memory particularly but food while it lasted. Will get around to the sequel but possibly not for a while.

Love Star Trek Voyager - that's about as nostalgic as it gets for me. No idea what the game is about but I'll take a look.

Going to have to day 1 Resi as well - that series just hasn't missed for years now and the remakes are, in my opinion, amongst the greatest games ever made.

Was a great, great game of the time and one of the formative gaming experiences for me. But it is rough to play today, let's be honest.

They actually both look pretty cool but unfortunately the kind of games that always fall prey to my backlog and don't get a look in. Maybe I should make the effort to play them as it's always nice to play different styles of games.

Space Marine 2 is just a great game. It isn't big, it isn't clever, but it is fun, violent, over the top and bursting at the seams with spectacle. Plus, Space Marines are awesome and this game nails the feeling of being a 9 foot tall walking tank.

If you like action games, this is a good one.

@Old_Man_Harper wait for it - there is a sequence in that game that is, for me, as scary as RE has ever been. You'll know it when you see it and it is very well known so you may already have read about it somewhere! Apart from that though, you are right - it isn't a hugely scary horror game. Good game though.

Going to try Death Stranding. Can't decide if it looks daft or fantastic. No reason not to try it now.

Bought Space Marine 2 in the sale (typical). It's flipping awesome. Doubly so if you're a Warhammer nerd.

How hard is Ragebound? Like the look of it but not sure I've got it in me for something too hardcore.

I've had Starboujd on my Play Later for months but never got around to it. Those small indy games always seem to get pushed to the back of the backlog which is a habit I need to change as I've had some great experiences with that type of game.

Maybe I should just drop what I'm playing and actually get on with it!!

People really should try it for themselves. The 'backlash' went to an unhinged degree. Much like DA Veilguard which is another game that people should give a go before writing it off.

Looks good and is fun to play. The changes they made to the stealth improved it a huge amount so credit to them for that. Though, seeing a 5 foot something slimly built female punching a stormtrooper in the helmet (oo-er) and knocking them unconscious still looks pretty silly.

But the atmosphere is brilliant. Playing sabacc in some smoky cantina in a spaceport is really evocative.

Just try it.

@Bobobiwan agreed. It isn't the greatest game ever but it nails the Star Wars atmosphere, looks great and is fun to play. Definitely a case of one to try for oneself.

I'm going to finish off a co-op play through of Gears of War with a mate, who, despite being an Xbox man since the 360, has somehow never played a Gears game. Which has got to be pretty rare. Anyway, we're going to run through the whole series on Gamepass ready for the new one.

Also having a nice relaxing run through Child of Light. And I also downloaded Wolfenstein New Colossus as I haven't got around to playing it despite loving the series as a whole (including the 90s originals!).

Lots to play. And also enjoying painting some 40k miniatures with my son, despite my skills being not close to good enough to do the expensive little lumps of plastic justice.

What a list. Splinter Cell was such a great series and hopefully will make a comeback sometime. Another series is SSX that needs to come back. Glad to see only just outside the top 10. That is possibly the best use of backwards compatibility of ANY game. The original but in 4k and full fat frame rate. It's a rare slice of absolute gaming perfection. Looks and plays a dream and hasn't aged a day.

Outlaws is a good game. Same as Dragon Age Veilguard, it seemed to be the 'victim' of the most bizarre online campaign against it. It certainly isn't the greatest game ever made but it's fun, has lots of content and looks brilliant with a great Star Wars atmosphere. Worth a play to make up your own mind.

Village is also a brilliant game with possibly the most skin crawling set piece in Resident Evil history.

Just Mafia Trilogy for me. Mafia 1 Definitive is great, Mafia 2 is really showing it's age but tells a good story (bit sneaky to call them both Definitive Editions but only the first one is a remake). Haven't got to 3 yet.

Going to grab Space Marine 2 as my son has just got into Warhammer so makes sense and looks great.

Phantom Liberty, AC Shadows, Baldur's Gate 3, Alan Wake 2, Avatar and FF16 are all on the maybe list but I might leave it at Mafia and SM2 as I've got plenty to play already.

@RegnumSolipsi good for you. Don't need the same comments on every single Gamepass article though. It's all been said a million times over.

Solid top 10 there. Not my exact order but not going to get my knickers in a twist like some other posters always do whenever a majority opinion isn't exactly the same as their own.

The two Ninja Gaiden games would be in there for me but I know they aren't everyone's cup of tea.

Also surprised to see Hogwarts in there as that seems to be a game that people like to dump on. I loved it, personally, so glad it's there as it's a hell of an achievement for the first game in the series.

@Hern4ndeZzz definitely try Fable 2 afterwards as well. It improves on everything on the first game and still has that awesome British sense of humour running through everything.

Personally, finally starting Banishers on Gamepass. Haven't played much but seems like my kind of thing.

@RiverGenie you're wasting your time. You're talking to people who KNOW their opinion is just so much more expert than other people's, for whatever reason they have imagined.

The state of these comments is really peak internet. How anyone can take a poll about videogames so seriously and, bizarrely, personally is astonishing. Some people just need to get a life.