The Gunk is the perfect "Game Pass" type of game since it's enjoyable, fairly short, and straight to the point.

The game doesn't waste any time with long cinematic sequences and instead drops you in the action right away by exploring this unknown planet where you find the existence of gunk-like organisms that need to be cleared to restore the wilderness. This mechanic is extremely rewarding since you keep "cleaning" and beautifying your surroundings as you progress through the game (it reminded me of Okami). This very same mechanic can become tiring since you will be doing this for the rest of the game. There are other components to the gameplay such as platforming, exploration, minor puzzle solving, and minor combat against gunk enemies. All these components are kept to a basic level and never become a challenge, making The Gunk a good palette cleanser type of game. The characters and world are interesting but nothing outstanding.

Overall, this is a good game worth checking out as part of your Game Pass subscription or if you can find it at a reduced price point.