Game Pass Leaving Soon May 2026: 5 Games to Play

The Game Pass leaving soon May 2026 list includes five titles that will exit the service on May 15. If you have been meaning to try any of these games, now is your last chance. After May 15, you will need to purchase them separately to keep playing.

This post lists every departing game, gives you estimated completion times, and helps you prioritize what to play before the cutoff. For what is arriving in May, see the Xbox Game Pass May 2026 full lineup calendar.

Full List of Games Leaving on May 15, 2026

Game	Genre	Estimated Playtime (Main Story)	Priority
Planet of Lana	Puzzle‑adventure	5 hours	High
Galacticare	Management sim	15+ hours	Medium
Go Mecha Ball	Roguelite twin‑stick	8 hours	Low
Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo	Platformer	4 hours	Low
Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship	Kids racing	3 hours	Very Low

Planet of Lana – Must‑Play Before It Goes

Priority: High

Planet of Lana is the standout departure. This puzzle‑adventure game features stunning hand‑painted visuals, a beautiful orchestral soundtrack, and a touching story about a young girl and her loyal companion (a creature reminiscent of The Last Guardian or Ori). You solve environmental puzzles, avoid enemies, and progress through a mysterious alien world.

The entire game takes about five hours. You can finish it in one or two evenings. If you have Game Pass, there is no excuse to miss this. Start it immediately. Many players have called it one of the best indie games on the service.

Planet of Lana is available on Cloud, Console, and PC via Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, or PC Game Pass. After May 15, it will cost $19.99 to buy.

Galacticare – For Management Sim Fans

Priority: Medium

Galacticare is a quirky hospital management sim set in space. You build and run medical facilities for bizarre alien species. The humor is dry, the systems are deep, and the game offers 15+ hours of content. It is not for everyone – management sims require patience. But if you enjoyed Two Point Hospital or Parkitect, give it a try.

Galacticare is available on Console and PC. It leaves on May 15. The purchase price after departure is $29.99.

Go Mecha Ball – Fast Arcade Action

Priority: Low

Go Mecha Ball combines roguelite progression with twin‑stick shooting. You control a mech that can transform into a ball for high‑speed movement. Runs are short (20–30 minutes), and the game encourages replayability with unlockable weapons and upgrades.

It is fun but not essential. If you have no other games to play, try it. If your backlog is full, skip it. Go Mecha Ball is available on Console and PC. It costs $19.99 after departure.

Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo – Short Platformer

Priority: Low

This is a minimalist platformer where you guide souls through limbo to the afterlife. The art style is black and white with neon accents. The gameplay is similar to Celeste but easier. Completion takes about 4 hours.

Kulebra is charming but not a must‑play. Only prioritize it if you love indie platformers. It is available on Console and PC. Post‑departure price: $14.99.

Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship – For Young Kids

Priority: Very Low

This is a racing game for young children (ages 3–7). It features the Paw Patrol characters. Gameplay is very simple – essentially an auto‑runner with minimal controls. If you have a young child who loves Paw Patrol, they might enjoy it. Otherwise, ignore it.

Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels is available on Console, Cloud, and PC. It costs $39.99 after leaving (but you can find physical copies cheaper).

How to Prioritize Your Playtime (May 10–15)

With only five days left before the May 15 removal, here is a suggested order:

Planet of Lana – 5 hours. Play this first. It is excellent and short.
Kulebra – 4 hours. If you finish Lana and have time, play this.
Galacticare – 15+ hours. You cannot finish it fully in five days unless you play non‑stop. Try the first two hours to see if you like it. If yes, consider buying it.
Go Mecha Ball – 8 hours. Only if you finish everything else and still want more.
Paw Patrol – Only if you have a young child who demands it.

What Happens to Your Saves and Achievements?

When a game leaves Game Pass:

Your save files remain on your Xbox console or PC. If you later buy the game (even a physical disc or digital copy), you can pick up where you left off.
Achievements you earned stay on your Gamerscore. You do not lose them.
Cloud saves are preserved via Xbox Cloud Saves (for Ultimate subscribers) as long as you maintain an active subscription.

If you want to keep playing after May 15, you can buy any of these games at a 20% Game Pass discount (available until the removal date). The discount applies automatically in the Microsoft Store.

Will These Games Return to Game Pass?

Possibly, but not soon. Games sometimes rotate back after 6–12 months. Planet of Lana has a good chance of returning because it is a critically acclaimed indie. Galacticare is less likely. The others are unpredictable.

Do not rely on a return. If you love a game, buy it at the discount before May 15.

How to Check Your Personal “Leaving Soon” List

Xbox consoles and the Game Pass mobile app have a “Leaving Soon” section. To find it:

On Xbox: Go to Game Pass > Full Library > Leaving Soon.
On PC (Xbox app): Click Game Pass > Scroll down to “Leaving Soon.”
On mobile (Game Pass app): Tap Library > Leaving Soon.

Check this section weekly. Microsoft usually announces departures 15–30 days in advance.

For a recurring monthly guide, bookmark our Game Pass leaving soon monthly updates (cluster post placeholder).

The Bottom Line

The Game Pass leaving soon May 2026 list includes one essential game: Planet of Lana. Play it before May 15. The others are optional. Use the five days you have to prioritize what matters.

And remember: while games leave, new ones arrive. The Xbox Game Pass May 14 lineup brings DOOM: The Dark Ages and Subnautica 2 on the same day that Planet of Lana departs. That is a fair trade.

We will update this post with any late additions to the leaving list.