Xbox Game Pass Weekend Picks: Mortal Kombat 1, Mixtape, and Planet of Lana
Xbox Game Pass had a pretty spicy month. After Xbox recently cut the subscription price, it also confirmed that future Call of Duty games will not arrive on Game Pass day one. Naturally, everyone started watching the next batch of additions closely. Cheaper subscription, but weaker library? That was the fear.
For now, at least, May is not looking dry. The latest wave is stacked enough, with a new Forza leading the charge and several indie games landing on the service from day one. For Malaysian and SEA players who game across PC and Xbox, this is exactly the kind of weekend where Game Pass still makes sense: you can sample a few very different titles without committing RM200+ to one full-price game.
If you are scrolling the library and cannot decide what to boot up, these three picks cover very different moods.
Mortal Kombat 1
With Mortal Kombat 2 hitting cinemas this weekend, this is the obvious pick if you walk out of the movie wanting more gore, combos, and ridiculous finishers. Critical reaction to the film is mixed so far, sitting at 48 on Metacritic and 68% on Rotten Tomatoes at the time Polygon reported it. Polygon’s own review called it forgettable, though the fight choreography seems to be the part that still lands.
That makes Mortal Kombat 1 a much safer weekend bet. It is the latest mainline entry and also works as a franchise reboot, keeping familiar character histories in play while remixing certain roles. The core appeal is still that heavy, combo-focused fighting, but the Kameo Fighter system gives matches an extra layer by letting support characters jump in during bouts.
For Malaysia’s fighting game crowd, especially players who enjoy Tekken nights or casual couch battles, MK1 is a low-friction way to jump in without buying it outright. Just be warned: this one is not subtle. It is bloody, loud, and very much Mortal Kombat.
Mixtape
If you want something less sweaty and more vibes, Mixtape is the indie pick to watch. It is a story-first game built around 1980s and 1990s nostalgia, following three high school friends in California during their final night together before one of them leaves for New York City to chase a dream in the music industry.
The soundtrack is a major part of the hook. The character carries a custom mixtape packed with bands like Devo, Joy Division, and Iggy Pop, while the story jumps back to important moments in the trio’s friendship. One of those memories includes breaking into an abandoned dinosaur theme park, which honestly sounds like the exact kind of weird coming-of-age scene indie games do best.
SEA players who grew up on old CDs, downloaded MP3 folders, or shared playlists with friends will probably get the emotional angle here, even if the setting is American. Mixtape looks like one of those games you play not for boss fights, but because it reminds you of people you used to hang out with after school.
Planet of Lana
Planet of Lana is the urgent one because it leaves Xbox Game Pass on May 15. If it has been sitting in your backlog, this weekend is the time to clear it. The good news: it only takes around four to five hours to finish, so it is very doable in one or two sittings.
The game follows Lana and her companion Mui, who looks like an alien cat, as they journey to save Lana’s friends and neighbours after they are taken by robots. It is a cinematic puzzle-platforming adventure built around environmental puzzles, teamwork between Lana and Mui, and avoiding dangerous creatures along the way.
This is a good fit if you want something polished but not exhausting. Finish it before it leaves, then you can jump straight into Planet of Lana 2, which is also available on Game Pass.
For Malaysian players trying to maximise subscription value, this weekend’s Game Pass lineup is a solid mix: one brutal fighter, one nostalgic narrative game, and one short indie adventure you should not leave too late.
Source: Polygon
