Two more games and a free trial have hit Xbox Game Pass, available for subscribers to play right now, expanding Microsoft’s August 2026 lineup across several subscription tiers. Xbox Game Pass has already had a busy start to August, with several new releases and previously available games moving into additional tiers for wider access to subscribers.
The latest Xbox Game Pass catalog update follows the substantial August 4 additions of Beast of Reincarnation and Premium-tier expansion of Heretic + Hexen, giving players several new options within the first week of the month. Additionally, the Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer beta opened to eligible Game Pass members on August 6, but it runs only until August 10 before reopening the following weekend to all players. With the two recent additions and a big EA Play bonus this week, the August lineup covers just about everything from action RPGs, sports games, and shooters to strategy-heavy roguelites.
Xbox Game Pass Just Added More Games for August
- Madden NFL 27 (10-hour trial through EA Play, XGP Ultimate, PC Game Pass)
- PowerWash Simulator 2 (XGP Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass)
- Monsters are Coming! (XGP Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass)
The first of the two main Xbox Game Pass additions is Monsters Are Coming!, a tower-defense roguelite from developer Ludogram. Like many tower defense games, players defend a constantly moving city from waves of monsters while gathering resources, building defensive structures, and improving their character over the course of each run. The game originally launched on PC in November 2025 and has continued to receive updates since then, with Ludogram adding additional heroes, systems, and content based on player feedback. Its recent August 6 release on Game Pass and Xbox Series X/S also marks its official console launch.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
PowerWash Simulator 2, meanwhile, is not making its Xbox Game Pass debut, but is expanding to the Premium tier. FuturLab’s sequel to the 2022 hit PowerWash Simulator launched in October 2025 and was already available through the service, but the August 6 update expands access to lower-tiered subscribers. The sequel keeps the relaxing cleaning-focused gameplay of the original while introducing a fresh campaign, additional locations, improved equipment, and expanded co-op options. Fans and critics online have widely praised PowerWash Simulator 2 for its cozy vibes and satisfying gameplay.
Fans looking for something a little more competitive have another option with an early-access look at Madden NFL 27 ahead of its August 13 launch. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members can access a 10-hour trial through EA Play on Xbox Series X/S and PC, allowing them to briefly sample the latest entry in the Madden series before deciding whether to buy it. Unfortunately, it’s not a full catalog addition, but there should be enough time within those 10 hours to keep sports fans coming back throughout the weekend. Madden NFL 27‘s standard edition launches on Thursday, August 13, while the Deluxe Edition launches on Monday, August 10.
August still has plenty left for Xbox Game Pass even after these early additions. Not all of the new games represent brand-new releases on Xbox Game Pass, as some are expanding to additional subscription tiers, but the schedule gives members a steady stream of additional options across action, survival, sports, and indie games through the middle of the month.
- Released
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August 13, 2026
- ESRB
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Everyone / Mild Lyrics, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op, Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
