Xbox Game Pass – September 2025 Update
Full Breakdown: New Arrivals, Departing Titles, and What to Play First
September’s Xbox Game Pass refresh brings a mix of long-awaited sequels, inventive indie releases, and strategic survival titles — while also bidding farewell to several fan favourites. Whether you're planning a weekend binge or curating content for youth groups, libraries, or community centres, this guide offers everything you need to know.
New Games Joining Xbox Game Pass (September 2025)
Here’s a detailed look at the confirmed titles arriving this month, including genre, release date, platform availability, and early ratings.
| Game Title | Genre | Release Date | ESRB / PEGI | Critic/User Rating | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollow Knight: Silksong | Metroidvania / Action | 4 Sept | Everyone 10+ / PEGI 12 | 85 Metacritic / 8.7 User Score | A long-awaited sequel starring Hornet, offering faster, more dynamic combat and a haunting new world. Builds on the original’s tight platforming with new healing mechanics and agile movement. |
| Cronos: The New Dawn | Survival Horror / Shooter | 5 Sept | Mature 17+ / PEGI 18 | TBD / Early Praise | A brutal time-travel horror set in dystopian Poland. Players must burn monsters before they merge, extract souls from the past, and survive in a collapsing future. Developed by Bloober Team. |
| Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor | Auto-shooter / Roguelite | 17 Sept | Teen / PEGI 16 | 80–90 Early Access Score | A solo spin-off of the co-op classic. Mine, shoot, and upgrade as a lone dwarf battling alien swarms in procedurally generated caves. Inspired by Vampire Survivors. |
| Frostpunk 2 | Strategy / City Builder | 18 Sept | Mature 17+ / PEGI 18 | 85 Metacritic / 7.5 User Score | A chilling sequel set 30 years after the original. Manage a sprawling frozen city, navigate political factions, and make morally complex decisions to ensure survival. |
| Hotel Barcelona | Roguelite / Horror Comedy | 26 Sept | Teen / PEGI 16 | TBD / Cult Anticipation | A surreal, genre-bending collaboration between Suda51 and Swery65. Expect bizarre bosses, time loops, and a hotel full of murderous guests. Designed to be replayed endlessly. |
Additional Rumours: Borderlands 4 is speculated to drop mid-September, but no official Game Pass listing yet.
Games Leaving Xbox Game Pass (End of August – Early September)
These titles are confirmed to leave the service by 31 August or shortly after. If you’re mid-playthrough, consider purchasing at a discount before removal.
| Game Title | Genre | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Borderlands 3: Ultimate Edition | Looter Shooter | Includes all DLC; leaving ahead of Borderlands 4 launch |
| This War of Mine: Final Cut | Survival / Narrative | Emotionally intense; praised for its moral dilemmas |
| Sea of Stars | JRPG / Pixel Art | Indie darling with turn-based combat and retro visuals |
| Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition | Management / Narrative | Heartfelt story about saying goodbye; may leave early Sept |
| Cocoon | Puzzle Platformer | Critically acclaimed; one-year anniversary approaching |
