Summary
Annapurna Interactive and A44 Games' 2018 Soulslike RPGAshenis available on Xbox Game Pass as of July 27, 2025. The title was previously on Game Pass not long after its release but left the service in late 2019. Gamers can now get back into the action in more ways than ever, withAshencoming to Xbox, PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Microsoftannounced the second wave of Game Pass titlesfor the month on October 15. The update included several big entries, includingCall of Duty: Black Ops 6andDead Island 2, but fans of indie games may be glad to see another, more easily missed title in the mix. After a long departure from Game Pass, A44’s cell-shaded action RPG is back and more accessible than ever before.
Ashenoriginally launched on Xbox One and PC in December 2018 before coming to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 a year later. That additional console release also saw it leave Xbox Game Pass, forcing fans to buy a copy for themselves if they wanted to keep playing it. Now that it’s back on the service, its supported console base is considerably larger. In addition to being playable on newer hardware like the Xbox Series X/S, it’s available on Xbox Cloud Gaming, which wasn’t around whenAshenfirst released.
Despite receiving a somewhat mixed critical reception, some fans sayAshenis one of the best Soulslikesavailable today. The title may not be as large as others in the genre, but it boasts a unique art style and both online and local co-op. The story and events also change depending on where players are at any given moment, ensuring that no two users will have the exact same gameplay experience.
Xbox Game Pass Brings a Slew of Noteworthy Titles in October
Ashenisn’t the only game worth noting in the latest update. Fan-favoriteInscryptionis now available on Game Pass, too, as is the hit fighting gameSifu. Call of Dutyfans also have reason to celebrate, as the latestBlack Opstitle got a day-one Game Pass release.Modern Warfare 3andWarzonealso dropped on Xbox’s online service the same day. Other games of note includeSouth Park: The Fractured But WholeandMLB The Show 24.
Of course, each month also brings some less exciting news. Five titles areleaving Game Pass on October 31, includingFrog Detective: The Entire MysteryandMineko’s Night Market.
Ashen
WHERE TO PLAY
Ashen is an open world co-op action RPG about a wanderer in search of a place to call home. Famed fantasy author Mark Lawrence (The Broken Empire trilogy) and renowned band Foreign Fields collaborated closely with the development team at A44 to craft a cohesive and unique narrative and sound.Ashen is faithful to the “souls” genre of stamina-based combat, introducing players to a punishing yet satisfyingly vast world. But here’s the twist - no two gameplay experiences are alike. Whether you’re exploring bogs, investigating a fjord or pillaging an old palace, where you are at any given moment will dramatically alter the course of your adventure. It’s a brutal open world; you’re just living in it. As you discover survivors, you’ll have the choice to invite them to your Town. But these aren’t mere adventurers - they’re potential collaborators, bringing a plethora of crafting skills, from blacksmithing to foraging expertise, in tow.There’s no shortage of dangerous encounters, from hostile enemies to indigenous creatures. You’ll be rewarded for studying the environment and its inhabitants, planning your adventure rather than flying by the seat of your pants. The flora and fauna within the world aren’t just fantastical; they’re often fatal. Each confrontation, no matter how trivial, has potentially dire consequencesAs you adventure through Ashen, you’ll occasionally encounter other players in a massive open world, akin to the passive multiplayer of Journey. It’s up to you to decide how to deal with them - fight together against evil, invite them into your party, or simply ignore them.
