Five games are leaving Xbox Game Pass on May 31, 2026, including the critically acclaimed Metaphor: ReFantazio and classic JRPG Persona 4 Golden. Here is everything you need to know before they rotate out.
Five games are set to leave Xbox Game Pass on May 31, 2026, and the list includes two of the most acclaimed JRPGs in recent memory. Metaphor: ReFantazio, which holds a 94/100 on Metacritic for PS5, and Persona 4 Golden, a genre-defining classic with a 93/100 on its original platform, are both rotating out at the end of the month. If you have been meaning to play either of them, you have less than two weeks left.
Every Game Leaving Game Pass on May 31
The Xbox Game Pass app has updated its “Leaving Soon” section with the following five titles, all confirmed to depart on May 31:
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Persona 4 Golden (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Against the Storm (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Crypt Custodian (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Spray Paint Simulator (Cloud, Console, and PC)
As reported by Vice, GamingBible, and confirmed through the Xbox Game Pass app, all five titles will be accessible until May 31. Game Pass subscribers can purchase any of these games at a minimum 20% discount before they leave the service.
Why Metaphor: ReFantazio Is the Biggest Loss
Metaphor: ReFantazio launched in October 2024 from Atlus, the studio behind the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series. It received universal acclaim, earning a 94/100 on Metacritic (PS5) and 92/100 on both PC and Xbox Series X|S. OpenCritic reported that 98% of critics recommended the game. The Washington Post called it “the year’s smartest, most exciting video game,” awarding it a perfect 4/4 stars.
The game is a fantasy RPG where players enter a royal tournament to fight for the throne, awakening magical “Archetype” powers along the way. It blends turn-based and real-time combat with deep social mechanics inspired by Persona’s relationship systems. It earned a Game of the Year nomination at The Game Awards and sold over 2 million copies by the end of 2024.
According to GamingBible, Metaphor: ReFantazio was added to Game Pass in June 2025, making it roughly 12 months on the service. This aligns with the typical pattern where third-party titles stay on Game Pass for approximately one year before licensing agreements expire.
Here is the key problem for anyone starting from scratch: How Long to Beat data shows the main story takes around 65 hours to complete, with side content pushing that to 88 hours and full completion requiring 108 hours. With under two weeks remaining, finishing the game before it leaves would require a serious daily commitment.
Persona 4 Golden: A Classic RPG Leaving (Again)
Persona 4 Golden originally released in 2012 for the PlayStation Vita and scored a 93/100 on Metacritic with all 61 critic reviews landing in the “positive” category. The game later received expanded releases on PC in 2020 and on current-generation consoles in 2023. It is an enhanced version of Persona 4 that adds a new character, additional story content, cosmetics, and social links.
This is not the first time Persona 4 Golden has left Game Pass. It was previously removed from the service in January 2024 before returning in August 2025. According to GamingBible, it spent roughly 9 to 10 months on the service this time around.
Completing the main story takes approximately 67 hours, with a completionist run requiring over 100 hours. Like Metaphor: ReFantazio, players who are deep into the game may want to consider buying it at the discounted rate to finish at their own pace. Cloud saves automatically transfer to a purchased digital copy on Xbox or the Microsoft Store.
Against the Storm: A Roguelite City Builder Worth Your Time
Against the Storm, developed by Eremite Games, is a fantasy city-building and management simulator with roguelite mechanics. On Metacritic, it holds an impressive 91/100 based on 18 critic reviews, with 100% positive scores across the board. On Steam, it currently sits at a “Very Positive” user rating.
The game tasks players with building settlements in a world battered by an endless storm. Each run features different conditions, resources, and objectives, giving it strong replayability. For fans of strategy and city-building games, this is one of the highest-rated entries in the genre and well worth trying before it leaves.
Crypt Custodian and Spray Paint Simulator
Crypt Custodian is a Metroidvania where you play as a cat exploring the afterlife. Released in August 2024, it holds a 95% positive rating on Steam from user reviews and earned a 9/10 from Console Creatures, who called it “an easy, cozy Metroidvania to recommend.” It is a charming, accessible entry in the genre that can be completed in a much shorter timeframe than the two major RPGs on this list.
Spray Paint Simulator launched as a day-one Game Pass title in May 2025. It is a creative simulation game built around spray-painting mechanics. While more niche than the other departures, it has its own dedicated audience.
What Has Been Added to Game Pass in May 2026?
While five games are leaving at the end of the month, May 2026 has been one of the strongest months for new Game Pass additions. According to Xbox Wire’s official announcement on May 5, the first wave alone brought 13 new titles to the service. The biggest highlights include:
- Forza Horizon 6 (May 19): The latest entry in Xbox’s flagship racing series, set in Japan with over 550 real-world cars. Available day one on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
- DOOM: The Dark Ages (May 14): The prequel to the modern DOOM series, telling the origin story of the DOOM Slayer in a medieval setting. Now available on Game Pass Premium alongside Ultimate and PC.
- Subnautica 2 Game Preview (May 14): The co-op underwater survival sequel from Unknown Worlds, launching day one on Game Pass.
- Mixtape (May 7): A coming-of-age narrative adventure, day one on Game Pass.
- Final Fantasy V (May 5): The classic Square Enix RPG added to Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass.
Earlier in the month, five other games (Galacticare, Go Mecha Ball, Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo, Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship, and Planet of Lana) already departed on May 15.
How to Keep These Games After They Leave
Game Pass subscribers can purchase any departing title at a minimum 20% discount before the removal date. Once bought, the game becomes a permanent part of your digital library regardless of your subscription status. This is particularly relevant for lengthy RPGs like Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona 4 Golden, where you may need weeks beyond May 31 to finish.
Cloud saves carry over seamlessly. If you have been playing through Game Pass and decide to purchase the game, your progress transfers automatically to the bought copy on Xbox or the Microsoft Store on PC. There is no need to start over.
How Game Pass Removals Work
Xbox Game Pass operates on a rotating library model. Microsoft secures time-limited licensing agreements with publishers, and when those agreements expire, games are removed. Third-party titles typically remain on the service for around one year, though some stay longer depending on renewed contracts and engagement data.
Microsoft announces departures in two waves each month, usually tied to the 15th and final day of the month. Games marked as “Leaving Soon” appear in the Game Pass app approximately two weeks before removal. The 20% purchase discount applies during this entire window.
Some games do return to Game Pass after being removed. Persona 4 Golden itself has cycled on and off the service before, so a future return is possible but never guaranteed.
Things Players Often Want to Know
When exactly do these five games leave?
All five titles depart from the Game Pass library on May 31, 2026. You can play them until that date as long as your subscription is active.
Can I realistically finish Metaphor: ReFantazio before May 31?
The main story averages around 65 hours. Starting today, you would need roughly 5 hours per day to complete it in time. A full completionist run at 108 hours is essentially impossible in the remaining window unless you are already well into the game.
Is there a discount for buying these games?
Yes. Game Pass members get at least 20% off any departing title until the removal date. The purchase is permanent and not tied to your subscription.
Will these games come back to Game Pass?
It is possible. Licensing renewals can bring games back. Persona 4 Golden was previously removed in January 2024 and returned in August 2025. However, there is no guarantee for any specific title.
Do my saves transfer if I buy the game?
Yes. Cloud saves on Xbox and the Microsoft Store automatically carry over from Game Pass to a purchased digital copy. You will continue exactly where you left off.
May 31 is the deadline. Whether you plan to sprint through these games or grab them at a discount, the clock is ticking on five solid titles, two of which rank among the most critically acclaimed RPGs of the past decade.
