Highlights
Xbox Game Pass continues to be a great deal with a lineup of big titles like Starfield and The Lamplighters League.
The Lamplighters League, drawing inspiration from action-adventure serials, presents a captivating art style and exhilarating turn-based combat.
In this XCOM-like game, players have the opportunity to enlist new Lamplighters, acquire upgrades, and carefully select their missions.
Xbox Game Pass has consistently been regarded as one of the best gaming values, and in recent months, it has continued to strengthen its position. Following a successful August, the September 2023 line-up for Xbox Game Pass was exceptional, featuring highly anticipated titles such as Lies of P, Payday 3, Party Animals, and the highly anticipated Starfield. The momentum doesn't stop there, as Xbox Game Pass has already confirmed eight games for October 2023, including the intriguing addition of Harebrained Schemes' The Lamplighters League.
Set to debut on October 3, 2023, The Lamplighters League is an exciting addition to Xbox Game Pass. Drawing inspiration from XCOM, this game allows players to take control of a group of scoundrels and adventurers from the 1930s, embarking on a mission to protect the world from supernatural threats through intense turn-based battles. With its captivating alternate universe concept, unique art style, and engaging combat mechanics, The Lamplighters League has the potential to become a standout hidden gem of the year.
Xbox Game Pass' The Lamplighters League's Story Explained
Xbox Game Pass' The Lamplighters League's Gameplay Explained
Influenced by classic action-adventure serials, The Lamplighters League puts players in control of an unlikely group of heroes who embark on a mission to save the world from the ancient evil cult, the Banished Court. This alternate version of the 1930s presents a charmingly animated art style, reminiscent of Pixar films, bringing characters to life with their cartoony qualities. The game's environments showcase stylized lighting and architecture, evoking the spirit of the adventure movies that served as its inspiration.In terms of gameplay, fans of XCOM or similar turn-based strategy titles will find themselves right at home with The Lamplighters League. At the beginning of the game, players are given a roster of three agents to control. Each agent possesses their own distinct set of abilities and weapons, necessitating different tactical approaches to succeed in battle. Prior to engaging in combat, players are able to navigate their team through the environment in real-time, seeking out collectibles and dispatching enemies quietly. However, once their cover is blown, the turn-based action kicks into gear.
Players will visit the Lamplighters League's home base between encounters. Here, they can recruit new Lamplighters and purchase upgrades for their team. Similar to Marvel's Midnight Suns, these upgrades are in the form of cards that provide bonus abilities or stat boosts to the Lamplighters but also come with negative traits, like reduced health. To avoid increased stress and maintain optimal performance in combat scenarios, players are encouraged to frequently swap out team members and give each character a chance.
Similar to XCOM, players will manually select missions from a world map screen in The Lamplighters League. This screen displays the game's three enemy factions, and players must strategically choose which missions to undertake in order to maintain peace worldwide. Additionally, players can send out agents on side missions from this screen, which will reward them with more card upgrades for their Lamplighters.
The Lamplighters League is set to release on October 3, 2023 for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.