Next Week on Xbox: what’s launching December 9-12

Microsoft’s latest “Next Week on Xbox” round-up confirms a busy December 9-12 window across Xbox Series X|S and PC. The slate mixes a high-profile remake, narrative experiments, retro revivals, and several survival horrors. Death Howl lands day one in Game Pass, while Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater resurfaces on PC with modernized visuals and audio. Indie highlights span slapstick platforming, roguelites, shmups, puzzlers, and visual novels. Release dates are provided below and may be subject to change.

Highlights for the week

Death Howl – December 9 (Game Pass)

A grief-stricken hunter crosses into a spirit realm and builds power through card crafting and shamanic totems. Encounters blend melee and ranged spells, with each new card tweaking tactics for the next showdown.

Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater (PC) – December 9

A remake of the 2004 classic retains its story and stealth-survival structure while adding new graphics and 3D audio to sell the jungle’s tension and ambience. The core loop remains infiltration-first.

Thank Goodness You’re Here! – December 9 (Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere)

A comedic “slapformer” where odd jobs snowball into stranger tasks as your antics reshape the Northern English town of Barnsworth. Expect hand-drawn animation, fully voiced dialogue, and escalating unlocks as the clock ticks to a mayoral meeting.

Terminator 2D: No Fate – December 12 (Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery)

Key events of “Judgment Day” are reimagined in pixel-art action with missions for Sarah Connor, the T-800, and John Connor. Iconic scenes are bridged with original scenarios and multiple endings.

Montezuma’s Revenge – The 40th Anniversary Edition – December 10 (Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere, Smart Delivery)

The 1983 platformer returns in 2.5D with the creator’s expanded vision: 100 rooms to explore and the option to play as Pedro or Rosita.

Cakey’s Twisted Bakery – December 11 (Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery)

Stealth survival in a deranged bakery where you gather ingredients and bake color-coded pies to stun or destroy roaming mascots while searching for your brother.

Kemco RPG Selection Vol. 8 – December 11 (Optimized for Xbox Series X|S)

A four-game bundle – Monster Viator (monster recruiting), Crystal Ortha (party race with flexible skills), Armed Emeth (golem customization), and Justice Chronicles (guardian-beast saga) – wrapped as classic-style JRPG adventures.

Daily lineup and key gameplay beats

December 9

• Death Howl – Deckbuilding through crafted cards, spirit totems, and hybrid spell combat. Game Pass.
• Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater (PC) – Remake with new graphics and 3D audio; stealth-survival remains.
• Thank Goodness You’re Here! – Comedy platformer where odd jobs unlock new town areas; hand-drawn, fully voiced. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere.
• Beautiful Sakura: Surfing Club 2 – A returning trio revives their surf club for one last summer. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S.
• Brok: Natal Tail, A New Christmas Special – Choice-driven prequel in the Brok universe; designed for consoles. Optimized for Handheld, Xbox Play Anywhere.
• A Game About Digging A Hole – Dig, sell, upgrade, and push deeper for the truth. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere.
• Sanctum Push – Pixel-art sokoban where you position enemies to clear rooms.
• She’s Leaving – Forensic-led survival horror with only a taser and the option to run, hide, or fight. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S.
• Snaky Snakes – Obstacle-dodging runs while collecting cherries to grow and unlock biomes. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere, Smart Delivery.
• Unbeatable – Two-button rhythm action meets freeform exploration, split across performance and downtime. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S.

December 10

• Ah, Love! Season 4 – Swap tiles to guide two hearts into a meeting. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S.
• Montezuma’s Revenge – The 40th Anniversary Edition – Classic platforming expanded to 100 rooms with dual protagonists. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere, Smart Delivery.
• Teeny Tiny Trains – Route-building puzzles with track switches and playful obstacles.

December 11

• Dunjungle – Roguelite runs through changing jungles, crypts, and temples with weapons, spells, and relics. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Optimized for Handheld, Xbox Play Anywhere.
• Cakey’s Twisted Bakery – Stealth, crafting, and mascot evasion in a confectionary nightmare. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery.
• Kemco RPG Selection Vol. 8 – Four JRPGs in one bundle focused on recruiting, customization, and classic turn-based battles. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S.
• Sintropia Fruits Together – Solo or co-op ability-switching puzzles across buttons, lifts, and fans. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S.
• Too Many Santas! – Dating-sim visual novel with six Santa archetypes. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery.

December 12

• Terminator 2D: No Fate – Pixel-action take on T2 with original scenarios and multiple endings. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery.
• Aery – Winter Wonderland – Relaxed flight through snowy landscapes collecting crystals to unfold a story. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S.
• Ascendance Unbound – Minimalist first-person 3D platformer using wind platforms and evolving environments. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S.
• Christmas Mutilator – Stealth horror in an isolated cabin as a mother evades a stalker. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere.
• Detective Girl: The Case of Immortality – Renaissance Florence intrigue around a secret to eternal life. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery.
• Dino Land – A gentle dino ball-rolls into enemies to protect friends and restore peace. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery.
• Gravity Escape From The Maze – Flip gravity to sprint through trap-laden mazes under time pressure.
• Knight with Tactics – Plan routes, pick weapons, and clear foes in the correct order across puzzle-like stages.
• Military Logistics Simulator – First-person logistics ops: manage vehicles, expand a base, secure supply lines; solo or co-op. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S.
• Night Ranger – Elven archer platforming against a corrupting force draining the forest. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S.
• Night Swarm – Vampire-themed roguelite bullet hell building allies and abilities against werewolf hordes. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery.
• Panda Bamboo Adventures – Precision platforming with double jump, dash, and head-bounce attacks.
• Pyramid Quest 2 – Artifact-hunting platformer with traps, enemies, and collectible treasure.
• Recipe of Love – School-day romance that begins with a shared bento; includes Japanese voice acting. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere, Smart Delivery.
• Space Elite Force II – Reloaded – Classic shmup intensity with local 2-player co-op and multiple modes. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere, Smart Delivery.
• SpotCat vs The Cheddar Mafia Back to Past – Find-the-difference with hidden-object twists across time. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere, Smart Delivery.
• Treasure Drop – Underwater merge puzzler with varied map layouts. Optimized for Handheld, Xbox Play Anywhere.

Release schedule at a glance

The table below compiles dates alongside notable flags like Game Pass, Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere, Optimized for Handheld, and PC. Use it to plan download queues during the December 9-12 window.

Date	Title	Key formats/features
Dec 9	Death Howl	Game Pass
Dec 9	Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater	PC
Dec 9	Thank Goodness You’re Here!	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere
Dec 9	Beautiful Sakura: Surfing Club 2	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Dec 9	Brok: Natal Tail, A New Christmas Special	Optimized for Handheld, Xbox Play Anywhere
Dec 9	A Game About Digging A Hole	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere
Dec 9	Sanctum Push	—
Dec 9	She’s Leaving	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Dec 9	Snaky Snakes	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere, Smart Delivery
Dec 9	Unbeatable	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Dec 10	Ah, Love! Season 4	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Dec 10	Montezuma’s Revenge – The 40th Anniversary Edition	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere, Smart Delivery
Dec 10	Teeny Tiny Trains	—
Dec 11	Dunjungle	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Optimized for Handheld, Xbox Play Anywhere
Dec 11	Cakey’s Twisted Bakery	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery
Dec 11	Kemco RPG Selection Vol. 8	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Dec 11	Sintropia Fruits Together	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Dec 11	Too Many Santas!	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery
Dec 12	Terminator 2D: No Fate	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery
Dec 12	Aery – Winter Wonderland	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Dec 12	Ascendance Unbound	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Dec 12	Christmas Mutilator	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere
Dec 12	Detective Girl: The Case of Immortality	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery
Dec 12	Dino Land	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery
Dec 12	Gravity Escape From The Maze	—
Dec 12	Knight with Tactics	—
Dec 12	Military Logistics Simulator	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Dec 12	Night Ranger	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Dec 12	Night Swarm	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery
Dec 12	Panda Bamboo Adventures	—
Dec 12	Pyramid Quest 2	—
Dec 12	Recipe of Love	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere, Smart Delivery
Dec 12	Space Elite Force II – Reloaded	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere, Smart Delivery
Dec 12	SpotCat vs The Cheddar Mafia Back to Past	Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere, Smart Delivery
Dec 12	Treasure Drop	Optimized for Handheld, Xbox Play Anywhere

Read also our article: Digital Xbox gifts in 2025 – a quick guide for console and PC

Why it matters – four days, many niches covered

From a stealth-survival remake to rhythm adventures, roguelites, and retro platforming, this week’s window touches most tastes without leaning on a single genre. If you plan your time, there’s room to sample indies while keeping an eye on the bigger names – and to prioritize formats like Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere, or Optimized for Xbox Series X|S where they matter most for your setup.