New Xbox Game Pass Day One Game Officially Best of 2026 So Far

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Okay, so I just heard about a new game hitting Xbox Game Pass on day one, and apparently it’s getting amazing reviews. According to Metacritic, it’s the best game we’ve gotten on Game Pass so far this year. Now, it’s not the highestrated game of the year overall – that title goes to Pokémon Pokopia. But, it is* the 15th highest-rated new release, and what’s cool is that it’s the first Game Pass day-one title to even crack the top 15! All 14 games above it launched on other platforms or weren’t part of the Game Pass service at launch.

For a while, Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors was the highest-rated game added to Xbox Game Pass on day one. It took that spot from MIO: Memories in Orbit, which held the title from January to April. Now, Mixtape from Annapurna Interactive and Beethoven and Dinosaur is currently the top-rated, boasting an 85 on Metacritic. It just came out yesterday, so the score could change as more reviews come in, but it’s currently ahead of Vampire Crawlers.

Available on PC and Xbox Series X via Ultimate and PC Game Pass

Not only did Mixtape receive a strong score of 85 on Metacritic, but players are also enjoying it. While the Xbox Store doesn’t have user reviews yet due to the game’s recent release, it has a 96% positive rating on Steam based on over 100 reviews. It’s worth noting that these Steam reviews are from players who were among the first to buy the game, so they might be more positive than average.

If you haven’t heard of it, Mixtape is the second game from the creators of The Artful Escape, which came out in 2021 and was also well-received. Like its predecessor, Mixtape seems likely to appeal to a smaller audience, but it’s expected to earn positive reviews and a respectable amount of sales for an independent game.

Mixtape is a story-focused adventure game about three friends spending their final night together. Players experience their memories as if they were songs on a mixtape.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers will get access to the game without needing to buy it separately, which normally costs $20. The game itself is relatively short, taking most players between three and five hours to finish, depending on how much they choose to complete.

So, yeah, I’m always happy to hear what you guys think! Hit me with a comment or two, or jump into the discussion over on the ComicBook Forum – we’re always talking games there.

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2026-05-08 14:10