January Brings Death Stranding and a Classic Ninja Gaiden to Xbox Game Pass Members

As January wraps up, many gamers are already strategizing their playtime for 2026. Don’t forget to carve out space for some classics, as Microsoft has just announced a lineup of titles coming to Xbox Game Pass between now and the first week of February. Among these are some standout games that could be worth revisiting in 2026.

This new batch joins the previously revealed Game Pass additions for January, which feature titles like Resident Evil Village, Star Wars Outlaws, and Mio: Memories in Orbit. Early buzz suggests that Mio: Memories in Orbit is already shaping up to be one of the top Metroidvanias of 2026.

One of the highlights is the arrival of Death Stranding: Director’s Cut from Kojima Productions. Often dubbed a big-budget walking simulator—unlike the indie title Baby Steps—this game lands on January 21. Originally released on PlayStation 5 in 2021, the Director’s Cut is making its way to Xbox Series X in 2024, bringing with it several quality-of-life improvements and exciting new features, such as the ability to build racetracks for speedy traversal.

In addition, Game Pass subscribers can look forward to titles like Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, and RoadCraft.

Check out the full list of games set to join Xbox Game Pass in the coming weeks.

There will also be some updates and DLC releases for Game Pass in the next couple of weeks. Players of The Sims 4 on the Ultimate, Premium, or PC tiers can access The Sims 25th Birthday Bundle on January 22. Other titles receiving updates before the month wraps up include Grounded 2, Dead by Daylight—which is adding more Stranger Things content—and Sea of Thieves, with season 18 act 2 launching on January 22.

Of course, all good things must come to an end. Here’s what’s leaving Game Pass on January 31.