July is getting a little more interesting for Game Pass subscribers. Not every month needs one massive headline game to feel useful. Sometimes the service works best when it gives players a few smaller releases they can try without overthinking it.
That is where Fogpiercer and The Planet Crafter come in. Both are now lined up as day-one Game Pass additions for July 2026, but they are chasing very different moods. One is built around tense card battles on a train. The other is about slowly turning a dead planet into a home.
Fogpiercer arrives on July 17 through PC Game Pass. It is a roguelike deckbuilder, but its hook is not only the cards. Players travel through a fog-covered world on a train, then build around that train as each run gets more dangerous.
The train setup gives the game a stronger identity than a normal card battler. Players are not just waiting for good draws. They also have to think about route choices, positioning, upgrades, and how each fight affects the next stretch of the journey.
That makes Fogpiercer one to watch for players who like games such as Slay the Spire but want a different rhythm. It looks smaller than a major Xbox release, but PC Game Pass is often a good place for that kind of game to find people who would have skipped it on Steam.
The Planet Crafter follows on July 21 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and cloud. This one already has a clearer audience because survival crafting games tend to work well on Game Pass, especially when players can jump in and see progress without a full purchase.
The game starts on a harsh planet where survival is the first job. Players collect resources, build machines, expand a base, and slowly change the world around them. Over time, the planet becomes warmer, wetter, and greener, which gives the game a strong sense of progress.
It also stands apart from survival games that lean heavily on combat. The pressure here comes from oxygen, thirst, exploration, crafting, and planning the next upgrade. That slower pace should appeal to players who like building toward something instead of fighting through every step.
These two additions help July feel more flexible. Fogpiercer gives PC players a tactical game built around runs and replay value, while The Planet Crafter gives a wider Game Pass audience something longer and more relaxed.
Some subscribers want a game they can test in one night. Others want a project that can take over the week. These two games do not compete for the same exact player, which makes the July schedule feel stronger.
The final Game Pass lineup for July may still add bigger names or more surprises. For now, the confirmed day-one dates are simple: Fogpiercer comes to PC Game Pass on July 17, and The Planet Crafter arrives on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and cloud on July 21.
