Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Game Pass is closing out June and kicking off July with a robust injection of eleven titles across its Ultimate, PC, and Standard tiers. Whether you’re craving nostalgic RTS throwbacks, moody platformers, or high-impact shooters, this roster has some serious heat. Here’s a deeper look at each addition, what makes them worth your time, and where they land.
Strategy Legends Return with Warcraft Series Remasters
A major highlight lands on June 26 as Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, and Warcraft III: Reforged arrive on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. These iconic Blizzard real-time strategy entries helped define the genre in the ’90s and early 2000s, and now longtime fans and newcomers alike can revisit (or discover) their strategic depth and lore-soaked fantasy world.
Warcraft 1 Remastered and Warcraft 2 Remastered stay close to their original roots but with modern resolution support and slight usability updates. Meanwhile, Warcraft III: Reforged (Metacritic: 59) gets the most visual attention, though it’s worth noting that reception has been mixed since launch—criticisms surround its feature cuts and online integration issues. Still, for historical importance and campaign replayability alone, this trio gives Game Pass a hefty jolt of genre-defining content.
Call of Duty: WWII Reloads the Shooter Quota
On June 30, Call of Duty: WWII (Metacritic: 79) lands on Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard. Developed by Sledgehammer Games, this 2017 installment rolls back the futuristic tech in favor of grimy, boots-on-the-ground combat in World War II’s European theater.
While its campaign hits some predictable story beats, the spectacle and cinematic intensity feel authentic and brutal. More importantly, the game’s Zombies mode still holds up as a fast-paced, squad-coop blast machine, and its multiplayer arena may find a second life in the hands of Game Pass players who missed it first time around.
Survival and City Building Fuse in Against the Storm
Against the Storm joins Game Pass Ultimate on June 26, bringing a rare crack at roguelite colony-building. It’s a city builder that makes you rebuild regularly under high-stakes, ever-changing weather effects and environmental stressors.
Rather than building for the long haul, you’re racing against an apocalyptic storm cycle across multiple campaigns. With its clever interplay between strategy and time optimization, Against the Storm (Metacritic: 91) has quietly become one of the slyest successes in PC gaming over the past year. This one’s for fans of Frostpunk and loop-based gameplay momentum.
Little Nightmares II Creeps In
On July 1, Game Pass adds Little Nightmares II (Metacritic: 84) across Ultimate, PC, and Standard tiers. It’s a follow-up to the cult hit, dripping with a gloomy Tim Burton-like aesthetic and unsettling audio design that nails the feeling of oversized horror through the eyes of a child.
It ditches words entirely but tells a powerful story with atmosphere alone. The platforming is better refined this time, and while some trial-and-error remains during chase sequences, the overall tension and pacing make this sequel one of the stronger indie horror offerings in recent years.
Rise of the Tomb Raider Reemerges
Also on July 1, Rise of the Tomb Raider (Metacritic: 86) climbs back onto Game Pass. This is Lara Croft’s second outing in the rebooted trilogy, set against Siberian blizzards and mythic lost cities. It leans harder into open exploration and puzzle tombs compared to its more linear predecessor.
With slick shooting mechanics, grounded performances, and satisfying Metroidvania-style backtracking, this remains one of the best modern adventure games. If you’re a fan of Uncharted or Assassin’s Creed, this long-form quest through ancient crypts and high-stakes conspiracies still holds major appeal.
Volcano Princess Brings Heart
On June 24, Volcano Princess lands on Ultimate and PC Game Pass. This one’s likely to fly under the radar but deserves attention. It’s a heartfelt simulation game where you raise your daughter in a medieval fantasy kingdom, shaping her education, friendships, and personal development across branching narrative paths.
The pixel aesthetic mixes cozy with melancholic charm, and despite its lighter, parenting-sim premise, it’s got surprising narrative depth. Released to positive fan reception, its Steam player base lauds its replayability and bittersweet storytelling approach.
Rematch Offers PvP Without the Grind
Launching June 19 on Ultimate and PC Game Pass, Rematch is a competitive PvP title focused on short-form, skill-based skirmishes. Unlike the time-sucking progression climbs of most modern shooters, Rematch trims the fat and drops players straight into clean, coaching-focused, low-barrier PvP.
Details remain light ahead of launch, but for players tired of bloated loadouts and season passes, this could offer a refreshingly stripped-down throwback to older Arena titles.
Star Trucker and Wildfrost Hit Game Pass Standard
On June 18, Game Pass Standard gets two low-key bangers. Star Trucker offers a charming blend of hauling cargo through space with retro-futurist vibes, while Wildfrost delivers hard-hitting roguelike deck-building underneath a deceptively cute art style.
Wildfrost (Metacritic: 75) will appeal to fans of Slay the Spire, offering tough fights that reward smart energy management and synergy-building. Star Trucker is more niche but oozes style. These two indie additions punch above their size.
