Gaming is a hobby that demands your time and money. It’s a luxury that asks you to curate your taste carefully, because not everyone is going to play every title that costs $60. And for that, Game Pass is a cost-effective solution.
With an affordable monthly fee, players can experience some of the best games on Xbox Game Pass. These include a carefully selected array of AAA and indie titles. Here are the best options in Game Pass’ massive collection right now.
Editorial note: This list is updated every month, so make sure to come back and check out the new, worthy additions to Game Pass.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection (2014)
Action/Adventure
The Master Chief Collection highlights Master Chief’s journey, making it more accessible than ever before. The collection culminates 343 Industries’ efforts to preserve the Halo franchise. Every major Halo game is included, apart from Halo 5: Guardians.
The Master Chief Collection celebrates the cherished story co-op, explosive Firefight encounters, and enduring multiplayer modes. The Xbox Game Pass title is a must-play for everyone who considers themselves a Halo enthusiast.
Amnesia: The Bunker (2023)
Horror/Survival
The Last Case of Benedict Fox (2023)
Puzzle/Adventure
The Last Case of Benedict Fox’s unique visual aesthetic immediately draws your attention. As you guide Benedict into the inner workings of memory and other spatial regions, brilliant colors with hazy orange backgrounds blend with ominous dark themes. The game’s graphic style superbly captures Lovecraftian concepts, and fortunately, it provides you with plenty of room to breathe in this charming ambiance. As you go through The Last Case of Benedict Fox, you’ll also realize how difficult the riddles are.
Puzzles frequently take a back seat to platforming in games that market themselves as a cross between a puzzle game and a platformer. In the instance of Benedict Fox, the reverse is true.
Ghostwire: Tokyo (2022)
Action/Adventure
Ghostwire: Tokyo brings to life the scary thought of exploring a Tokyo full of nothing but creatures from Japanese horror legends. To add to this, the empty ‘presence’ of residents who have been ghosted out of existence haunts you. Although, Ghostwire paces itself slowly while placing more of an emphasis on combat action than jump scares.
You take on the role of a young guy who survived the inexplicable “vanishing” of the rest of Tokyo’s residents and now works with a supernatural being. The group in charge of all that has happened, and other spirits, must be defeated by him after that.
Quantum Break (2016)
Action/Adventure
Quantum Break took its time to find its place within the gaming community. Each chapter of the game is backed by detailed cutscenes with brilliant actors, all of which add to the realism of its storytelling. The game boasts fantastic visuals, a ton of amusing superpowers, and a gripping yet absurd plot. Like many Xbox exclusives from the early Xbox One period, Quantum Break is a frequently disregarded yet excellent single-player adventure. This will likely remain on our list of best games on Xbox Game Pass for a while.
Minecraft Legends (2023)
RTS/Adventure/Action
If you’re a real-time-strategy fan and love Minecraft, this game is the perfect deal for you. For the most part, the game successfully provides a simplified take on the genre. Controls have been made more accessible so that even if you are unfamiliar with the strategies required to play a traditional RTS game, you can still keep up with the action. And if you’re a fan of the original sandbox game, Minecraft’s overworld is simple to navigate.
You’ll be leading an army, farming resources, and building defenses before you notice how the hours fly by as you play Minecraft Legends.
Goat Simulator (2014)
Open World/Action
Sometimes, you need a goofy game to chill for a while. Goat Simulator is that and more. After discovering many of the game’s hidden accomplishments and humorous references, you may still find yourself engrossed in the game’s charming world for hours.
Coffee Stain Studios’ wild game captures the delight of being a destructive goat. Additionally, the game’s fantasy elements maintain entertainment levels at an all-time high.
Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom – The Prince’s Edition (2018)
RPG/Action/Adventure
Ni No Kuni 2 is a family-friendly JRPG that allows players to explore a stunning setting that was influenced by Studio Ghibli films. The universe of Ni No Kuni 2 is as endearing as ever. It’s difficult not to fall in love with the game’s clever narrative and simple but exhilarating action sequences. It’s not a game that will keep players busy for weeks on end, but it’s a simple universe to get lost in.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (2016)
RTS/Simulation
Civilization VI makes you in charge of the world’s history. It perfectly encapsulates what distinguishes a Civilization game from other games. Civilization VI may have a somewhat high learning curve because it is a turn-based strategy game. Still, the game tries its best to introduce unfamiliar concepts to new players.
The burden of keeping track of all the many systems required to maintain your expanding society is nothing short of a mammoth one. Yet, the game will keep you hooked. That’s what we’d like to call excellent game design. Easily one of the best games on Xbox Game Pass for those who like challenges and have the time to build a civilization.
Valheim (2021)
Adventure/Survival/Open World
Valheim mixes your favorite sandbox elements with Norse roots. Many people have been anticipating Valheim’s console debut for a long time, but it is still in early access and available as a Game Preview in the Game Pass collection tiles.
In this endless realm, you and your companions construct your Viking homestead and go up against the various bosses in this procedurally created universe. Like any sandbox survival game, Valheim offers a wealth of exploration opportunities.
Guilty Gear Strive (2021)
Fighting
Guilty Gear Strive is a modern fighter with more depth than meets the eye. The game comes with the accessibility required to draw in newbies to the genre and keep them interested.
You may host and invite friends to fight, practice fighting alone, or participate in The Tower’s multiplayer options. The huge cast allows for a lot of experimentation, and once you’ve settled on your favorite character and learned their combinations, you’re in for battles that will last a lifetime.
Age Of Empires II: Definitive Edition (2019)
RTS
Age of Empires II is simply the best in the series. It’s widely regarded as one of the best real-time strategy games available and one of the all-time top video games. This classic game’s much-welcomed Definitive Edition has now been included among the best games on Xbox Game Pass collection.
With improved aesthetics and a more comprehensive selection of civilizations, it upgrades many elements of the dated original while still staying loyal to Age of Empires II’s most cherished elements.
Atomic Heart (2023)
Action/Adventure
Atomic Heart looked a lot like BioShock on its arrival. However, it is vastly different regarding narrative, gameplay, and world design. Mowing down the hordes of AI enemies becomes mindlessly pleasurable as you progress through the game. You can build new weapons, use your own tech abilities, and discover darker secrets to the dystopian society you are a part of. Atomic Heart continually attempts to present different ambient types to dazzle your eyes. The beginning sequence alone is enough to wow visually.
Astroneer
Open World/Survival (2016)
Astroneer is an adorable space-themed sandbox game. You explore many planets while gathering resources to go on to the ‘next one’ and construct little bases on each one to better your journey. Moving about on the different planets can be wonky at times, and you can build new ideas and other forms of transportation to become stuck. But the challenges you experience as you explore each planet’s surface are all a part of Astroneer’s appeal.
A Plague Tale: Requiem (2022)
Action/Adventure
Requiem expands on the story, mechanics, and world of A Plague Tale: Innocence. There is no doubting the magnitude of what Asobo Studios aims for in its sequel, even though some might prefer the more intimate meetings and story bits seen in Innocence. Amicia and Hugo have returned, bringing a political dispute and much more fierce foes to deal with. Requiem is undoubtedly capable of managing the situation, especially with the game’s emphasis on battle and zone exploration.
Hi-Fi Rush (2023)
Platformer/Action/Rhythm
Hi-Fi Rush is a smooth and stylish rhythm action game. Everything in this world works in sync, and moving along with that beat-per-minute will earn you points. Fortunately, Hi-Fi Rush takes excellent care in its design to ensure that even rhythm-challenged gamers will enjoy its fight.
From its quick pace to its stunning candy-colored visuals, Hi-Fi Rush charms you at first glance. The game’s quality is immediately evident, thanks to entirely spoken cutscenes and level design that flourishes at every step. Without giving anything away, Hi-Fi Rush does a fantastic job with its licensed music, blending several genres to make the game’s soundtrack lively and new.
Monster Hunter Rise (2021)
Open Zone/Action/Adventure
This entry to the series is precisely what new players need. However, comparing Monster Hunter Rise to World before playing is simply a mistake. Sure, many of the mechanics and narrative decisions stay the same, but a lot of interface, combat, and movement changes make the game more accessible. Anyone new to the series will find Monster Hunter Rise to be a great place to start. Its mechanics have been simplified, eliminating many of the difficulties seen in Monster Hunter World.
High On Life (2022)
Shooter/Adventure/Platformer
High on Life is the outrageously hilarious first-person shooter experience we need but don’t deserve. It’s created by some of the geniuses behind Rick and Morty. There are seldom more than three minutes in a game without Justin Roiland’s trademark humor and crudeness being there.
Putting humor aside, though, High on Life is a great shooter that blends a strong base of FPS gameplay with the kind of platforming you’d see in classic 3D platformers.
Dishonored 2 (2016)
Stealth/Open Zone/Adventure/Action
Dishonored 2 has some of the best level designs you’ll witness in a video game, so it’s no surprise that it claimed a permanent spot on our best games on Xbox Game Pass list. The follow-up to the outstanding stealth game continues in its footsteps while making significant leaps on its own. Dishonored 2 is a treasure that has received very little attention. It follows Corvo and Emily’s journey as they attempt to reclaim the crown following a coup. Since Corvo and Emily each have their own unique abilities and players may choose between them, Dishonoured 2 is highly replayable.
Doom Eternal (2020)
Shooter/Action/Adventure
Doom arrived with a bang (a blast, a head-smash, and more) in 2018. Its follow-up, Doom Eternal, built on everything great about the first game and multiplied its brutality by 100 times.
The armies of Hell have occupied Earth due to what happened during the Doom Slayer’s first appearance. From this point onward, the Doom Slayer has a task to complete that will need a lot of bullets and weapons along with equipment that brings his doom-slaying potential to its best. Doom Eternal rips and tears until it’s done. And then asks you to do it once again, for the millionth time.
Forza Horizon 5 (2021)
Racing/Open World
To Xbox and PC players, Forza Horizon is simply one of the best racing experiences. Rewinding time, cruising across Mexico, collecting the finest vehicles. These are just some of the many experiences you’ll have with Horizon 5. It’s the latest entry to the series, and everything about the game feels fantastic. It’s also one of the most visually stunning games on next-generation platforms.
Like its predecessors, Horizon 5 requires players to complete various tasks and races while exploring an open environment. When not focusing on an objective, you can drive through beautiful locations while preparing for the Horizon Festival abound in Mexico.
We will keep updating this list as new games meet (or leave) the Game Pass collection. What are some games you’d like to see on the list? Let us know in the comments below.
