This is the first game of the year you must play with Xbox Game Pass

Here is our first recommended game for 2026 with Xbox Game Pass.

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We’re starting a new year and, to keep up the tradition, we’re bringing you a recommendation to kick off 2026 with Xbox Game Pass. 2025 has left us with hundreds of games, but we want to recommend one special title to make the first day of the year even more special, if that’s possible.

• You might be interested in: First games for Xbox Game Pass in 2026

For now, we have to wait a few more days for the new games for Xbox Game Pass to be announced in the first weeks of January. We have several confirmed titles, although there are still days to go before they’re released, and these are just a taste of what’s to come.

Start 2026 with a great Xbox Game Pass game

Frostpunk 2 takes the urban survival genre to a whole new level. Take on the role of a Leader and guide the city through a series of calamities unfolding in a snowy post-apocalyptic environment. Build large districts with their own needs and demands.

Face the conflicting interests of the different factions living in your metropolis. As the city’s needs and each group’s power grow, only you can steer society towards an uncertain future.

• Frostpunk 2 – Available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate