Highlights
- Xbox Game Pass has become a dominant game subscription service with 25 million subscribers and possibly nearing the 30 million mark.
- Mineko's Night Market, a business management sim, is a unique addition to the Xbox Game Pass lineup and is already gaining attention within the cozy gaming community.
- Xbox Game Pass allows users to have access to a wide range of games, including indie titles like Mineko's Night Market, giving players the freedom to play as much or as little as they want.
It's no secret that Xbox Game Pass has become one of the most dominant game subscription services over the years. Not only is it extremely helpful for users of Microsoft's console, but the subscription can also be utilized by PC gamers. Even though the Xbox Game Pass prices could see an increase soon, it's still doing well to serve as an alternative to the likes of PlayStation Plus.
Xbox Game Pass reported an impressive 25 million concurrent subscribers in January 2022, according to Statista. While there haven't been any official numbers reported since last year, there's been quite a bit of speculation that the subscriber count may be nearing its 30 million user milestone. For those interested in creative alternative titles on Xbox Game Pass, Mineko's Night Market from Meowza Games needs to be on their radar.
The Cozy Atmosphere of Mineko's Night Market is Coming to Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass is often referred to as the Netflix for gamers, which seems like an apt description. As of April, Microsoft's subscription service boasted over 400 playable titles, including heavy-hitters like Bethesda games, Halo Infinite, and Minecraft. For October, Xbox Game Pass confirmed eight more unique titles will be making their debut, with more expected to be revealed early next month. Interestingly, among the line-up of Gotham Knights, Headbangers: Rhythm Royale, and Forza Motorsport is the wholesome business management sim Mineko's Night Market.
For those unaware, the Japanese-inspired Mineko’s Night Market is actually already playable on some platforms. After eight long years in development, the 2D adventure game launched this past week via Humble Bundle on both PC and Switch. Unfortunately for PlayStation and Xbox gamers, Meowza Game's labor of love is still being optimized for a late October release date, but it'll come to PS4, PS5, and Xbox One soon.
One of the most notable advantages for Xbox Game Pass users is that by being members, they get access to hundreds of titles for a base cost. Reviews for Mineko's Night Market have praised the story of Mineko, a young girl who just moved with her father to an unfamiliar island brimming with adorable cats, but they've also noted that this type of game won't be everyone's cup of tea. After all, crafting items, collecting flowers, and running a stall at the weekly night market may sound more enticing to some than others. Of course, this is precisely the reason that Xbox Game Pass has become so successful since it allows its users to play as much or as little of a game as they want.
Perhaps given time, Mineko's Night Market will join the ranks of the best indie games on Xbox Game Pass. Though this list can vary by personal preference, it's generally agreed that titles such as Hollow Knight and Celeste are the gold standard for indie titles in terms of visuals, story, mechanics, and music. Even so, various elements of Meowza Games' latest work seem to have already captured the attention of the cozy gaming community, which is a good sign for its future. When it comes out on October 26 for Xbox Game Pass, it could gain an even larger following that solidifies its status as an indie game that players won't want to miss.
Mineko's Night Market is available now for PC and Switch. It releases October 26 for PS4, PS5, and Xbox One.