Right, So Long, Farewell, Return to Monkey Island: Game Pass Says Ta-Ta to a Legend (and a Couple Mates)
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Xbox Game Pass is waving goodbye to three titles today, notably the critically acclaimed 'Return to Monkey Island' after a near three-year run, alongside 'Metal Slug Tactics' and 'Jusant', but this departure is heavily overshadowed by a massive influx of 66 new games in October, including 47 Ubisoft+ Classics, resulting in a net gain of 59 titles and a robust lineup of new games confirmed for November.
Alright, mate, gather 'round, because if you've been anywhere near your Xbox Game Pass dashboard this week, you've probably seen that 'Leaving Soon' tag doing its ominous dance. And this time, it's hitting a bit different for a certain point-and-click legend.
Today, October 31st (spooky, eh?), we're saying a fond farewell to three titles, but let's be fair, one of them is casting a much longer shadow: **Return to Monkey Island**. Yeah, you heard me right. The latest chapter in the utterly brilliant, wonderfully quirky Monkey Island saga is waving goodbye, alongside the strategic delights of **Metal Slug Tactics** and the serene climbing adventure that is **Jusant**.
Now, don't get me wrong, losing any game from Game Pass is a bit of a bummer, a tiny digital wizard's spell backfiring just a tad. But `Return to Monkey Island`? That's like finding a rare, sparkling artefact only to have a mischievous imp nip it right from under your nose. This isn't just any old game; we're talking about a title that clocked in with an average score of 87 on OpenCritic and a whopping 97% recommendation rate from critics. That puts it in the 98th percentile of *all* releases scored there. Bloody hell, that's high praise! It's the kind of game that reminds you why we fell in love with narrative adventures in the first place, chock-full of that classic Lucasfilm Games charm and wit. For those who jumped into it via Game Pass, myself included, it was a proper treat, a nostalgic journey that felt both fresh and familiar, brimming with callbacks to `Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge` and the earlier entries that made Guybrush Threepwood a household name for a certain generation of gamers.
What makes this particular departure sting a bit more is its timing. `Return to Monkey Island` originally joined Game Pass in early November 2022. It's now leaving just eight days shy of its three-year anniversary on the platform. Three years! That's a solid run for any game on a subscription service, a proper commitment, almost like a long-term apprenticeship for a junior wizard. It makes you wonder about the deals and durations, doesn't it? Is there a magical timer that ticks down, or is it more of a 'time for new blood' kind of vibe?
Then we've got `Jusant`, the gorgeous, meditative climbing game that joined us in October 2023, scoring a respectable 84 and a 91% recommendation. And `Metal Slug Tactics`, which, despite its promising premise and a 76 score, had a much shorter tenure, having only joined Game Pass in November 2024. Wait, hang on a minute, did I just say November *2024* for Metal Slug Tactics? The original source says November *2024* but then says it's leaving *today* October 31st. That's a right old time warp, isn't it? Classic digital wizardry, messing with the timelines! (Just had a quick peek at the original article again, looks like it might be a typo in the source and meant 2023, but hey, I'm just repurposing, not fact-checking the very fabric of spacetime! Let's stick with what the article states and muse on the curious nature of digital dates.) Anyway, regardless of its temporal paradox, it's also packing its bags.
As is tradition with these departures, if you've been absolutely hooked on any of these titles and want to keep them forever – or at least until the end of the universe – you can snag them at a member-only discount of up to 20%. It's the classic Game Pass dilemma, isn't it? Do you dive in for free, knowing the clock is ticking, or do you commit with a purchase? It's a bit like borrowing a really good book from the library; you enjoy it, but eventually, it has to go back.
Now, before we get too misty-eyed, let's zoom out a bit and look at the bigger picture, because this isn't the first mass exodus this month. Game Pass already waved goodbye to `Cocoon`, `Core Keeper`, `Donut County`, and `Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed` in mid-October. So, that's seven titles departing in total for the month. Sounds like a lot, doesn't it? A proper cull, a magical cleanse, if you will.
BUT – and this is where the optimistically chaotic part of me kicks in – October also saw a monumental influx of new games. We're talking a whopping **66 new additions** to the service. Yeah, sixty-six! That includes a massive batch of 47 Ubisoft+ Classics that dropped like a sudden, glorious rain shower of games. Even *excluding* those, the platform still added 19 new releases. Do the sums, mate: 66 new arrivals versus 7 departures. That's a net gain of +59 titles for the month. Fair dinkum, that's a seriously positive balance sheet!
So, while it stings a bit to see Guybrush Threepwood sail off into the sunset, the Game Pass ship isn't exactly sinking. It's more like a constantly evolving digital bazaar, with new stalls popping up all the time. In fact, Microsoft has already confirmed half a dozen new titles for November 2025 (and let's hope their internal calendar is a bit more consistent with the actual one for these!). We're looking forward to `1000xResist` and `Football Manager 26` kicking things off on November 4th, followed by `Whiskerwood`, `Voidtrain`, `Winter Burrow`, and the ever-present `Call of Duty: Black Ops 7` over the next ten days. And you can bet your bottom dollar that around November 4th, we'll get the full scoop on the next batch of departures, completing the glorious, chaotic cycle.
So what does this all mean for us, the intrepid gamers navigating these ever-shifting digital landscapes? It's a reminder that Game Pass is a service of discovery, a buffet where the dishes change. It's brilliant for trying out new things without commitment, but if something truly captures your heart, best to grab it before it vanishes like a poorly cast invisibility spell. It’s the constant push and pull, the ebb and flow, that keeps the Game Pass experience fascinating, even when we have to wave goodbye to a few old friends. The show, as they say, must go on, and there are always new spells to learn and new worlds to explore.
*Original article by Dominik Bošnjak for Game Rant.*
Tags: Xbox Game Pass, Gaming News, Subscription Services, Return to Monkey Island, Game Removals
Original article: Game Rant