Games Coming to Game Pass: May 2026
May 2026 is shaping up to be one of the strongest Game Pass months this year. Microsoft has confirmed 10 games so far, and 8 of them are day-one releases. The headliner is Forza Horizon 6, the first-party open-world racer set in Japan, followed closely by Subnautica 2 entering Early Access with co-op multiplayer for the first time.
Here's everything coming to the service next month.
May 2026 Game Pass Lineup
| Game | Date | Platforms | Day One? | Metacritic | Time to Beat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Fantasy V (Pixel Remaster) | May 5 | Console, PC, Cloud | No | 85 (OpenCritic) | ~32 hrs |
| Mixtape | May 7 | Console, PC, Cloud | Day One | TBD | TBD |
| Call of the Elder Gods | May 12 | Console, PC, Cloud | Day One | TBD | TBD |
| Forza Horizon 6 | May 19 | Console, PC, Cloud | Day One | TBD | TBD |
| Beastro | May 21 | Console, PC, Cloud | Day One | TBD | TBD |
| Luna Abyss | May 21 | Console, PC, Cloud | Day One | TBD | TBD |
| Echo Generation 2 | May 27 | Console, PC, Cloud | Day One | TBD | TBD |
| Crashout Crew | May 28 | Console, PC | Day One | TBD | ~8-10 hrs |
| RV There Yet? | TBD (May) | Console, PC, Cloud | No | 72 | TBD |
| Subnautica 2 (Early Access) | TBD (May) | Console, PC | Day One | TBD | TBD |
More games will be announced. Microsoft typically reveals additions in waves throughout the month.
Highlight Picks
Forza Horizon 6 (Day One) - May 19
This is the big one. Playground Games is finally taking the Horizon festival to Japan, the setting fans have been requesting for years. The open world is the largest in franchise history, with a fictionalized Tokyo that's five times bigger than any previous Horizon city. It launches with 550+ cars.
For context, Forza Horizon 5 scored a 92 on Metacritic with universal acclaim from 110 critics. The bar is high, but Playground Games hasn't missed yet with this series. The standard edition retails for $69.99, so Game Pass subscribers are getting serious day-one value here.
If you have any interest in racing games, this is the reason to keep your subscription active in May.
Play if you like: Forza Horizon 5, Need for Speed Unbound, Gran Turismo 7
Subnautica 2 Early Access (Day One) - TBD May
Subnautica 2 drops players on a new alien ocean planet, but the headline feature is co-op multiplayer for up to 4 players with cross-play between PC and Xbox. That's a franchise first. Unknown Worlds has also confirmed there will be no microtransactions, no season passes, and no battle passes.
This is an Early Access launch, so expect a game that's playable but not feature-complete. The full release is estimated for 2027-2028. If you're comfortable with that tradeoff, diving into a new alien ocean with friends on day one through Game Pass is a low-risk way to try it.
Play if you like: Subnautica, No Man's Sky, Raft, Astroneer
Mixtape (Day One) - May 7
From Beethoven & Dinosaur, the studio behind the BAFTA-winning The Artful Escape, comes a coming-of-age narrative adventure about three high school friends spending one last night together. A curated playlist pulls them into dreamlike reenactments of their formative memories, featuring licensed music from Iggy Pop, The Cure, Joy Division, and more. Published by Annapurna Interactive, which has a strong track record with narrative-driven games.
This is the kind of game that benefits from the Game Pass model. It's likely a shorter, story-focused experience that you might not buy at full price but will absolutely enjoy if it's already in your library.
Play if you like: The Artful Escape, Life is Strange, Oxenfree, Kentucky Route Zero
Call of the Elder Gods (Day One) - May 12
The sequel to Call of the Sea (2020) steps up to Unreal Engine 5 and expands the Lovecraftian puzzle-adventure formula. You swap between two protagonists, Professor Harry Everhart and Evangeline Drayton, as they travel the world searching for missing loved ones while confronting ancient horrors. Voice acting by Yuri Lowenthal (Spider-Man) and Cissy Jones (Firewatch, Baldur's Gate III).
The original was a solid puzzle game that flew under the radar. If you like atmospheric, story-driven adventures with brain-teasing puzzles, this one's worth flagging.
Play if you like: Call of the Sea, The Witness, Outer Wilds, Myst
Luna Abyss (Day One) - May 21
A single-player action-adventure that blends first-person platforming with bullet-hell combat. You play as Fawkes, a prisoner exploring a massive derelict megastructure beneath the surface of a mimic moon orbiting Earth. The art direction draws from Junji Ito and Lovecraftian cosmic horror. Developed by Kwalee Labs (formerly Bonsai Collective). Preview coverage has been consistently positive.
This is the wildcard pick of the month. The bullet-hell-meets-platformer concept is ambitious, and the visual style looks unlike anything else on Game Pass right now.
Play if you like: Ghostrunner, Returnal, Neon White, Ultrakill
Value Assessment
May's lineup is genuinely strong. Forza Horizon 6 alone at $69.99 exceeds the monthly cost of Game Pass Ultimate ($19.99/month), making this a clear win for subscribers on day-one value alone. Stack Subnautica 2, Mixtape, and the rest of the day-one titles on top, and you're looking at hundreds of dollars in retail value.
Genre variety is solid too. Racing, survival, narrative adventure, Lovecraftian puzzles, cozy cooking, sci-fi deck-building RPG, physics-based co-op, and bullet-hell platforming. There's something here for most tastes.
The one caveat: most of these day-one titles require Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass. Only Final Fantasy V and RV There Yet? are confirmed for the lower Premium tier. If you're on Standard or Core, you won't have access to the majority of May's additions.
Expect more titles to be announced throughout the month. Microsoft's typical wave-based reveals mean this list will grow.
What's Leaving in May?
No official announcement of games leaving Game Pass in May 2026 has been made yet. Removals are typically announced mid-month. We'll publish a full breakdown once Microsoft confirms the list.
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Last updated: April 28, 2026. Sources linked below.
FAQ: Game Pass May 2026
What games are coming to Game Pass in May 2026?
10 games are confirmed so far: Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster (May 5), Mixtape (May 7), Call of the Elder Gods (May 12), Forza Horizon 6 (May 19), Beastro (May 21), Luna Abyss (May 21), Echo Generation 2 (May 27), Crashout Crew (May 28), RV There Yet? (TBD), and Subnautica 2 Early Access (TBD). Microsoft reveals additions in waves, so more titles will be announced throughout May.
Is Forza Horizon 6 on Game Pass day one?
Yes. Forza Horizon 6 launches on Game Pass on May 19, 2026, available on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. It's a first-party Xbox Game Studios title. The Premium Edition with early access (May 15) requires a separate purchase.
Do I need Game Pass Ultimate for the May games?
For most of them, yes. 8 of the 10 confirmed titles are day-one releases that require Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass. Only Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster and RV There Yet? are confirmed for the lower Premium tier. Standard and Core subscribers won't have access to the majority of May's additions.