January’s Xbox Game Pass offerings have been relatively light so far. While a couple of notable titles dropped this week, the month has been somewhat quiet. However, a new day-one release is on the horizon, arriving in less than a week: Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders from Megagon Industries. Launching simultaneously on Xbox Game Pass and Steam on January 21st, the game will feature cross-platform multiplayer, allowing players to shred the slopes cooperatively or competitively.
The name Lonely Mountains might ring a bell, and for good reason. Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders is the successor to the well-received Lonely Mountains: Downhill. While the original game featured mountain biking, Snow Riders retains the core gameplay but shifts the focus to skiing. The Xbox One version of Downhill currently holds a 79 score on Metacritic, and the Steam version boasts a “very positive” rating from over 2,300 players, setting a high bar for the new title.
Snow Rider Gameplay
Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders looks promising based on early footage, and it seems poised to be the kind of Xbox Game Pass gem that encourages players to explore genres they might not typically consider. The Game Pass announcement came directly from Megagon Industries, rather than Xbox itself, leaving some details unclear. As a day-one release, it’s likely to be exclusive to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, but its availability across console, PC, and Cloud platforms remains to be confirmed.
Will Snow Riders Warm Up a Chilly Game Pass January?
Hopefully, this new addition will inject some excitement into the January Game Pass lineup. While 2025 has started quietly for Xbox fans, things appear to be picking up speed. Several highly anticipated first-party titles are scheduled for release this year, many of which will be available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Next week marks Xbox’s first Developer Direct of 2025, showcasing at least three confirmed titles: Doom: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. A fourth, mystery game has also been teased, with rumors swirling about a new entry in a “legendary” Japanese franchise.
Looking Ahead at Xbox’s 2025 Lineup
The upcoming Developer Direct promises a glimpse into Xbox’s 2025 plans, and the addition of Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders to Game Pass offers a welcome diversion in the meantime. With a strong lineup of first-party titles and continued support for Game Pass, the future looks bright for Xbox fans.
Will you be hitting the slopes in Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders? What are your thoughts on this month’s Xbox Game Pass offerings so far? Let me know on Twitter @Marcdachamp, Bluesky @Marcdachamp, or Instagram @Dachampgaming!
