Xbox Game Pass Gets Cozy: Time to Run Your Own Adorable Japanese Town!
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Xbox Game Pass is adding *Minami Lane*, a super-cute Japanese-inspired town sim, along with a bunch of other games this July – including *Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4* and a couple of day-one releases. Sounds like a cracking month!
Right, so Xbox Game Pass is chucking another game into the mix, and this one's got me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. We're talking about *Minami Lane*, a cozy little life sim absolutely dripping with Japanese small-town charm. Think Studio Ghibli meets *SimCity*, but, you know, without the Godzilla attacks (probably).
Every month, Microsoft gives the Game Pass library a good shake, adding some new gems and bidding farewell to others. Keeps things fresh, doesn't it? And July's looking like a corker already. We've had *Little Nightmares 2* creeping us out, *Rise of the Tomb Raider* bringing the adventuring, and a bunch of *Mana* games for those classic RPG vibes. Not to mention *The Ascent*, for a cyberpunk blast.
But let's get back to *Minami Lane*. Dropping on July 9th, this bite-sized management sim looks perfect for a chilled-out weekend. Developed by Doot and Blibloop, it's been floating around since August 2024, but now Game Pass subscribers get to dive in for free. Fair dinkum!
The whole game takes place on one adorable street, packed with ramen shops, boba cafes, bookstores, and all sorts of charming villagers. Your job? To help the town thrive. Chat to the locals, figure out what they need, build the right shops, stock 'em up with tempting goodies, and set prices that'll keep everyone happy (and your coffers full, naturally).
But hold your horses, there's more! July 11th sees the arrival of *Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4*, a remake that's got old-school skaters like myself itching to ollie. And *High on Life* is making a comeback on July 15th, after a brief hiatus. Then, towards the end of the month, we're getting two day-one releases: *Wuchang: Fallen Feathers* and the early access version of Obsidian's *Grounded 2*. Blimey, that's a lot of gaming!
So, will you be diving into *Minami Lane*? Reckon it sounds like the perfect way to unwind after a long day of… well, writing about games, I suppose! And remember to check out the rest of July's Game Pass goodies. There's something for everyone, mate.
Tags: Xbox Game Pass, Minami Lane, Cozy Games, Indie Games, Japanese Culture
Original article: Game Rant