Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Goes Big: Adds Hot “Balatro-Style” Game on Launch Day

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate continues to expand its massive game “treasure” with the addition of Wildfrost, a deck-building roguelike game set in a world of eternal ice. This is the 5th game to “land” on Microsoft’s on-demand games service in December and the 138th game to be added to Xbox Game Pass in 2024.

Developed by Deadpan Games and Gaziter, Wildfrost gives players the challenge of ending eternal winter in a snow-covered world. Although the theme is completely different from Balatro, both of these indie games have similarities in design, especially the deck-building gameplay with countless different strategies. In June 2024, Wildfrost even collaborated with Balatro by adding Jimbo the Joker to the list of unlockable lucky charms.

Nearly 20 months after its debut on Nintendo Switch and PC, Wildfrost officially arrived on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on December 10. The game is also accessible via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, offering versions for console, PC, and Cloud Gaming, enabling players to enjoy it across multiple platforms.

Quality has been confirmed

Wildfrost has received many positive responses from critics and players on different platforms. On OpenCritic, the game has a “Strong” rating with a 79% recommendation and an average score of 78. On Steam, Wildfrost also has a “Very Positive” rating from users. With its proven quality, Wildfrost is a great addition to the roster of deck-building roguelikes on Xbox Game Pass, alongside the likes of Slay the Spire and Inscryption.

When is Wildfrost expected to be available on Xbox Game Pass Standard?

Since the Xbox Game Pass updates this summer, Microsoft has said that new titles can take anywhere from six to 12 months to appear on Xbox Game Pass Standard. So Wildfrost may not be available until mid-2025.

However, those who signed up for Xbox Game Pass Standard before the update will still be able to experience Wildfrost and other new titles from day one.