Key Takeaways
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has added Nine Sols.
- The taopunk action platformer with Sekiro-inspired combat bolsters the selection of critically acclaimed metroidvanias on Microsoft’s subscription service.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has added Nine Sols to its content library. This day-one release marks the eighth new title to join Microsoft’s subscription service in November, as well as the 131st addition to Xbox Game Pass since the start of 2024.
Developed by Taiwanese studio Red Candle Games, Nine Sols is a colorful 2D metroidvania that was originally released for Windows and macOS machines in late May 2024. The existence of console versions of Nine Sols was then leaked in mid-August, with an official announcement following six weeks later.
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The critically acclaimed title landed on the Nintendo Switch and the latest two generations of Xbox and PlayStation consoles on Tuesday, November 26. Much like Microsoft promised back in September, this new version of Nine Sols debuted as a day-one Xbox Game Pass release. PC Game Pass users can now also play it as part of their subscriptions, while XGP Ultimate members are even able to stream it via Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Nine Sols joins the likes of Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition, SteamWorld Dig 2, and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night in bolstering the selection of well-received metroidvanias on Xbox Game Pass. Its high level of acclaim is reflected in its “Mighty” rating on OpenCritic, derived from an average score of 85 and a near-perfect 96% reviewer recommendation rate. The game also boasts “Overwhelmingly Positive” user reviews on Steam, based on over 15,000 impressions, with many players praising its parry-focused, Sekiro-inspired combat and memorable taopunk setting. Its strong reception made the lack of Nine Sols nominations at TGA 2024 a surprising disappointment for indie game fans.
Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Games
|
Game |
Date Added |
Game Pass Tier(s) |
Platform(s) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nine Sols |
Nov 26 |
Ultimate, PC |
Cloud, Console, PC |
Day-one (Xbox version) release. |
|
Aliens: Dark Descent |
Nov 27 |
Standard, Ultimate, PC |
Cloud, Console, PC |
|
|
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle |
Dec 9 |
Ultimate, PC |
Cloud, PC, Series X/S |
Day-one release. |
TGA 2024 snub aside, Nine Sols is widely touted as one of the best indie sci-fi metroidvanias ever made, so anyone who enjoys this classic genre is likely to find it very much worth their time. Microsoft’s release track record indicates that Nine Sols is likely to be available on Xbox Game Pass for at least a year.
The popular metroidvania is the penultimate title in the Xbox Game Pass November 2024 lineup. This month’s XGP roster will be concluded by Aliens: Dark Descent, which is scheduled to reach the service on November 27. Nine titles are then set to leave Xbox Game Pass three days later, including cozy farming life sim Coral Island and sci-fi ARPG Remnant: From the Ashes. Microsoft is expected to announce the next wave of XGP releases, which will include Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, in early December 2024.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the highest tier of Microsoft’s flagship game subscription service that offers over 100 game titles that you can play with a single purchase, making it one of the most outstanding value propositions of the Xbox ecosystem to date.