Starting today, January 2, Xbox Game Pass members can dive into Carrion, the first new game added to the subscription service in 2025. This title marks the beginning of the new year’s roster for Xbox Game Pass, with Microsoft typically unveiling new games twice a month. Interestingly, December 2024 saw a deviation from this norm, as only one wave of new games was released, which stretched into early January.
Carrion, developed by Phobia Game Studio in Warsaw, Poland, is now available on Xbox Game Pass for the second time. Originally launching as a day-one Xbox Game Pass title in July 2020, the 2D horror game was removed from the service in July 2022. As part of its return to the catalog, Carrion is now accessible to all non-Core Xbox Game Pass tiers starting on January 2.
The game offers a unique "reverse horror" experience, where players take control of a monstrous, amorphous blob determined to escape its prison and consume all in its path. As the alien protagonist wreaks havoc across a mysterious facility, it gains new powers to enhance its destructive abilities. While the concept of a monster-centered horror game isn’t new, Carrion has been widely praised for executing this premise effectively, earning it recognition as one of the best horror games featuring a monster as the protagonist.
In terms of reception, Carrion has garnered a strong following. It holds a “Strong” rating on OpenCritic with an average score of 76, backed by a 75% recommendation rate from reviewers. The game also boasts nearly 24,000 "Very Positive" user reviews on Steam and a 4.5-star rating on the Xbox Store from around 1,900 ratings.
With its impressive critical acclaim, Carrion joins the growing list of high-quality horror titles on Xbox Game Pass. Additionally, the service has more exciting games coming up this month. On January 7, 2021’s Road 96 will return to the service, followed by the day-one ARPG Eternal Strands on January 28. Two more highly anticipated day-one releases, Sniper Elite: Resistance and Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, are set for launch on January 30 and 31, respectively.
This move is part of Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to compete with other gaming platforms and enhance the Xbox experience across devices.

At the end of your gaming journey, if you're looking to save on your next purchase, the Z2U website offers a variety of deals for digital games. Whether you're interested in Cheap Microsoft Games or looking to Buy Cheap Digital Xbox Games, Z2U provides a trusted platform for accessing great offers. With a wide selection of titles available, gamers can enjoy competitive pricing while expanding their collection without breaking the bank. Explore the Z2U.COM website for affordable gaming options and start your next adventure today!