Xbox Game Pass November Refresh: Marvel Day-One Drop and Don't Nod Double Feature

Just in time for the holiday season, Microsoft has dropped one of the strongest late-year Game Pass waves in recent memory. Rolling out over the next two weeks, the lineup is headlined by a surprise day-one Marvel title and two critically acclaimed Don't Nod games that ooze 90s summer vibes and emotional storytelling. Whether you're looking for couch-co-op chaos, supernatural drama, or heartfelt coming-of-age tales, this refresh has something to keep you indoors while the weather outside is frightful.

The Big Day-One Surprise: Marvel Cosmic Invasion (December 1)

Developed by Tribute Games (the studio behind the near-perfect Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge), Marvel Cosmic Invasion launches straight into Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on December 1.

This is a love letter to 90s/early-2000s arcade beat 'em ups with a great Marvel twist. You can pick from 15 playable heroes, including Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, Star-Lord, Rocket, Wolverine, and Ghost Rider, each with unique movesets, supers, and combos. The story pits Earth's mightiest against Annihilus and his Annihilation Wave sweeping across the galaxy, taking you from the streets of New York to the Negative Zone in gorgeous hand-drawn pixel art.

Gameplay hooks:

  • Classic side-scrolling brawler action with modern flair: light/heavy attacks, dodges, parries, and team-up assists.
  • Drop-in/drop-out local or online co-op.
  • Level up heroes, unlock alternate costumes and skill trees.
  • Roguelite “Cosmic Runs” mode for endless replayability.

If you loved Shredder's Revenge or Streets of Rage 4, this feels like a perfect fit. Based on early hands-on the combat is buttery smooth at 120 fps on Series X and perfectly playable streamed to handhelds. If you're a Game Pass subscriber you definitely won't want to miss this.

Don't Nod Double Feature: Ghosts and Camcorders

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

Don't Nod has built a reputation for gut-punch narratives, and now Game Pass subscribers get two of their best recent titles in quick succession.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden (November 25 | Cloud, Console, PC)

Originally released in early 2024, this action-RPG flew under the radar despite stellar reviews. Set in a cursed 1695 New England, you play as a pair of ghost hunters, Red mac Raith and Antea Duarte, investigating hauntings amid colonial tensions. When tragedy strikes, your choices literally decide whether spirits ascend, are banished, or resurrect with dire consequences.

What makes it special:

  • Deeply branching narrative where every side quest impacts the ending.
  • Satisfying third-person combat blending rifle shots, swordplay, and spectral powers.
  • Gorgeous world design and one of the best romantic partnerships in gaming.

Compared to past Don't Nod hits: Think Vampyr's moral weight meets Life is Strange's emotional intimacy, but with way better action. Tip: Always listen to both sides of a haunting before judging, your karma affects Antea's abilities and the finale.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (December 2 | Cloud, PC, Series X|S)

The spiritual successor to Life is Strange from the original creative team (Don't Nod Montréal). This is pure 90s nostalgia fuel: four teenage girls in 1995 Michigan film their last summer together on a Hi8 camcorder before life pulls them apart. Flash-forward to 2022, and they're reuniting... with secrets.

Split into two “tapes” (episodes), the game alternates between 1995 exploration/relationship-building and 2022 consequence-revealing. Expect band practice, lake swims, supernatural mystery, and that signature Don't Nod butterfly-effect decision making.

If you cried at Max & Chloe's goodbye, stock up on tissues. Player tip: Pay attention to the camcorder footage you record — hidden clues unlock secret endings.

Microsoft is Doing Their Best to Earn the Price Increase

At a time when many subscribers are burning through Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 or replaying indies, these additions bring some nice variety without spending extra. The value on this wave is good, Marvel Cosmic Invasion alone would retail for $39.99, and both Don't Nod titles launched at $49.99–$59.99. And there are even more titles in this release wave that help to round it out:

  • The Crew Motorfest (Nov 20) – Open-world Hawaii driving paradise with 700+ vehicles.
  • Kill It With Fire 2 (Nov 25) – 4-player co-op spider-extermination madness.
  • Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault – Roguelite dungeon crawling + shopkeeping.
  • Monsters are Coming! Rock & Road (PC) - Tower Defense meets Vampire Survivors!

Microsoft may have angered gamers with the recent Game Pass Ultimate price increase but landing a day-one release for Marvel: Cosmic Invasion and bringing Don't Nod's underrated gems to the service shows they are trying to provide something for all kinds of gaming tastes. If you're a fan of emotional stories, retro beat 'em ups, or just need something new while traveling for the holidays, fire up your Xbox (or phone via cloud) and get started. This wave is an early Christmas present from Xbox.

Which one are you downloading first? Let us know over on X or Facebook.