December is set to be an exciting month for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, as a fresh lineup of games, including prominent titles such as Mortal Kombat 1 and ROUTINE, is on the way. While the arrival of new games is always a highlight, this month also sees existing games becoming accessible to more subscription tiers, bringing a wider array of content to players.
New Games and Releases
Among the games debuting on Xbox Game Pass this month, ROUTINE and Death Howl stand out as day one releases. Fans have eagerly awaited ROUTINE since its initial announcement at Gamescom 2012. Joining it is Death Howl, a unique Soulslike deck builder bringing strategic combat to the service. Mortal Kombat 1 is a major addition, taking its place as Mortal Kombat 11 leaves on December 15. Similarly, while ROUTINE joins, Still Wakes the Deep makes its exit on the same day.
Expanding Access Across Tiers
Bringing more value to different Game Pass subscriptions, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle now becomes available to those with a Premium subscription, previously exclusive to Ultimate subscribers. Additionally, 33 Immortals, still in a preview state, joins the Premium tier. Essential tier subscribers can now enjoy World War Z, Stellaris, and Medieval Dynasty, expanding their gaming options.
Optimized Gaming and Upcoming Departures
Another noteworthy update is Xbox’s step to indicate which games are optimized for the ROG Xbox Ally handheld devices, enhancing playability on the go. This list includes the announcement of ‘Handheld’ as a platform for these optimized titles. Among games leaving the service, Mortal Kombat 11 and Still Wakes the Deep depart on December 15, followed by Wildfrost. As the month closes, Hell Let Loose and Carrion will also bid farewell on December 31.
Here’s the full list of Xbox Game Pass games for the first half of December 2025:
- Lost Records: Bloom and Rage – December 2 – PC, Cloud, Xbox Series X/S – Game Pass Premium and up
- Monster Train 2 – December 3 – PC, Cloud, Xbox Series X/S – Game Pass Premium and up
- Spray Paint Simulator – December 3 – PC, Cloud, Console – Game Pass Premium and up
- World War Z: Aftermath – December 3 – PC, Cloud, Console – Game Pass Essential and up
- Stellaris – December 3 – PC, Cloud, Console – Game Pass Essential and up
- Medieval Dynasty – December 3 – PC, Cloud, Console – Game Pass Essential and up
- 33 Immortals – December 4 – PC, Cloud, Console – Game Pass Premium
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – December 4 – PC, Cloud, Xbox Series X/S – Game Pass Premium and up
- ROUTINE – December 4 – PC, Cloud, Console, Handheld – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
- A Game About Digging A Hole – December 9 – PC, Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, Handheld – Game Pass Premium and up
- Death Howl – December 9 – PC, Handheld – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
- Dome Keeper – December 9 – PC, Cloud, Console, Handheld – Game Pass Premium and up
- Mortal Kombat 1 – December 10 – PC, Cloud, Xbox Series X/S – Game Pass Premium and up
- Bratz: Rhythm and Style – December 11 – PC, Cloud, Console – Game Pass Premium and up
This exciting selection of games concludes just before The Game Awards on December 11, hinting at potential new announcements and releases on the horizon for Xbox Game Pass. Stay tuned to see what surprises may be in store.