Next week, the Microsoft Store will be filled with an impressive list of new releases—more than thirty projects across a wide range of genres and scales. Four of them will be available in Game Pass on release day, and among the rest are some real gems: a co-op Lovecraftian horror game, a cozy sequel to a hit about ghost bears, a non-VR version of a cult adventure game, and a Japanese remaster that has been unavailable outside of the Land of the Rising Sun for three decades. We’ll break down the week’s releases day by day—and get straight to the main points: what’s truly worth checking out.
Table of Contents
What’s coming to the Microsoft Store from July 13th to 17th?
July 13th: Ascend to ZERO, Beholder: Conductor, and a detective thriller
Ascend to ZERO is an isometric roguelike from Korean studio Flyway Games (owned by Krafton), where the main mechanic is time management. In the year 2225, humanity is wiped out by a mechanical invasion, and you, the last survivor, travel through time to rewrite that fate. You have only 30 seconds, but with the power to stop time, you can turn the tide of any battle. Players rewind and fast-forward to outsmart enemies and survive every encounter. The game is coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Another nice feature: Xbox Play Anywhere—saves sync between console and PC.
Beholder: Conductor—in this game, you play as the senior conductor of the legendary train “Determination Bringer,” maintaining order in the carriages and helping passengers. The game supports Smart Delivery and Xbox Play Anywhere.
Forensics: Crime Scene Detective is a forensic simulator from Aerosoft and Binary Impact, where you investigate crime scenes, analyze evidence, and piece together the events. No shooting, just meticulous fact-finding. Coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Forest of Deceit — rounds out the first day.
July 14: The Crimson Maid and Collector’s Editions for Hidden Object Adventurers
Collector’s Edition Day for Hidden Object Adventurers:
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Amazing Weekend Search and Relax Collector’s Edition
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The Crimson Maid — a romantic detective story with visual novel elements
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I Love Finding Pups Collector’s Edition
July 15 — the most action-packed day: Cozy Grove, Lovecraft, and a skateboard train
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is a co-op horror game from ACE Team and Nacon, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s novella “The Mound.” Four players descend into the cursed jungles of the 16th-century New World, where something ancient and unknowable lurks. Released simultaneously on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, the game features a deep madness system that distorts perception, blurs the line between reality and illusion, and sows paranoia within the group. Co-op (2-4 players) and cross-platform play between Xbox and PC are available. A Deluxe Edition with exclusive missions and in-game items is available for pre-order.
Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit is a sequel to the cozy hit from Spry Fox, where you befriend ghostly bears and help them find peace. The game releases on July 15th on all platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and PC (Steam). Previously, the project was only available on mobile devices. The sequel adds animal companions, asynchronous multiplayer, and expanded crafting and building features. The demo is now available on Xbox and PC.
Denshattack! — “Tony Hawk of trains” from Spanish studio Undercoders and Fireshine Games. Classic skateboarding gameplay in the spirit of Jet Set Radio, but with a train instead of a skateboard. Releases on July 15th on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Other releases on July 15th: Incremental Epic Hero 2, Magnetail, Mayor May Knott, Nom Nom: Cozy Forest Café, ShapeHero Factory, Sweet Home: Look and Find Collector’s Edition.
July 16: MAVRIX, Moss without VR, Geppy-X, and a K-pop simulator
MAVRIX by Matt Jones is an extreme cycling simulator from professional Red Bull rider Matt Jones. It features a 100-square-kilometer open world with downhill, slopestyle, and bike park tracks. The game offers authentic physics with separate brake and suspension controls, as well as multiplayer for up to 50 players. Released July 16 in Game Preview for Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass.
Moss: The Forgotten Relic is a reimagining of the Moss duology into a single adventure game. You control the small but courageous mouse Quill in a living storybook. Released July 16 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch (1 and 2), and PC. A demo is already available on Steam.
70s-style Robot Anime Geppy-X Hi-Res Remastered Edition is a remaster of the 1999 Japanese shooter from Bliss Brain, releasing outside of Japan for the first time. A homage to Japanese mecha anime of the 70s, the game features over 8,000 frames of hand-drawn animation, an all-star Japanese cast, and themes performed by legendary anime artists. Releases July 16th on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, and PC. Supports 9 languages, including Russian.
K-pop Idol Stories: Road to Debut is a Korean pop group management sim.
Wreck Runners is a co-op extraction horror game set in the Bermuda Triangle from Disruptive Games. Releases July 16th on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Streetdog BMX is an extreme BMX simulator with a focus on technique and skill. Releases July 16th on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Not included in Game Pass.
Other releases on July 16th: Farlands, Feudal Baron: King’s Land, Looking for Fael, Project 7: Escape Room, Secrets of Velendar Castle – Escape Room, Sir, You Are Being Hunted.
July 17th: Fogpiercer, FixForce, and the end of the week
Fogpiercer is a sci-fi roguelike deckbuilder from Hooded Horse, where you control a train in a foggy post-apocalypse. Build your train by choosing a starting deck, navigate a world teeming with bandits, and prepare for high-octane turn-based tactical combat. Over 170 cards with various effects, supports, damage, and more allow you to customize your train to your preferred playstyle. Releases on July 17th on Game Pass for PC.
FixForce is a co-op extraction shooter. Also in Game Pass.
Others: Ultra Pixel Survive 2, Split Crystal, Wrap House Simulator.
Which new Xbox titles are coming to Game Pass immediately after release?
Four games—all available with a subscription on release day:
Ascend to ZERO is an isometric time-management roguelike. Denshattack! is the “Tony Hawk of trains” with insane gameplay. MAVRIX is an extreme cycling simulator from a professional rider. Fogpiercer is an atmospheric sci-fi deckbuilder.
If I had to choose one game of the week, The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu stands out: a co-op Lovecraftian horror game with cross-platform play and an atmosphere of despair—a rare combination.
For those who love cozy comfort, there’s Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit on all platforms. For skateboarding fans, there’s Denshattack! (Game Pass) and Streetdog BMX. For connoisseurs of Japanese classics, there’s Geppy-X, which has finally made it to the West. For those seeking something a little different, there’s Beholder: Conductor and Forensics: Crime Scene Detective.
It’s been a busy week—and it’s only the beginning of July.
