Darkwood and When the Past was Around are the two titles that make up the Xbox Games with Gold lineup for July 2023. They fit in very different genres, but both will be available for free with a Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription in July on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S–with Darkwood even being optimized for the latter.
A survival horror game, Darkwood has drawn comparisons to Don’t Starve and sees players scavenging during the day to fend off unsettling foes at night. GameSpot’s Darkwood review praised the game, saying that “rather than relying on jump scares–although they are present, to a minor degree–Darkwood psychologically unhinges you.” The game will be available from July 1-31, according to Xbox Wire.
Meanwhile, When the Past was Around couldn’t be more different. The point-and-click adventure game features hand-drawn art and focuses on love as well as loss. The story sees a girl named Eda finding herself and learning about her relationship with the owl. The title will be available from July 16-August 15.