As the Xbox Game Pass program has grown, so has our list of the best games on Xbox Game Pass. After the launch of the Xbox Series X, Microsoft has doubled down on Game Pass, now offering well over 350 games on the console alone. To help you through option paralysis, we rounded up the top games on Microsoft’s subscription platform.
Many titles are available on Xbox and PC, and some even have cross-save support. Most of the games are available for streaming on mobile, too, as long as you have Game Pass Ultimate. The Game Pass library is also constantly changing, so check out our monthly guide for addition and removal announcements.
Starfield
48%
3.5/5
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release
September 06, 2023
The biggest game for Xbox, and one of the biggest in a packed 2023, has to be Starfield. This latest Bethesda RPG isn’t quite Skyrim in space but shares all the DNA you love of those games in a sci-fi package. You’re free to carve your own path through the universe, joining factions, building outposts, crafting ships, and exploring hundreds of planets. There are hundreds of hours to spend here if you like what the game offers, and the main quest alone is well worth the time. However, don’t be surprised if you get sidetracked more than once. If you’re a Bethesda fan or just want a massive RPG, this game alone is a reason to subscribe.
Neon White
88%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5
Genre
Shooter, Platform, Indie, Visual Novel
Developer
Ben Esposito
Publisher
Annapurna Interactive
Release
June 16, 2022
If you have even a passing interest in speedrunning, Neon White is going to take over your life. Playing as an assassin named White, you will compete against other demon slayers for the chance to live in heaven. Gameplay-wise, this means completing individual levels as fast as possible. Part FPS and part puzzle game, you have to speed through the level, killing all the demons inside, and reach the end as fast as possible using Soul Cards. These act as your weapons, or as a unique ability that discards it, such as a handgun that can be spent to perform a double jump. Knowing which cards to save and when to spend them is key to completing the levels in record time.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
81%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Indie, Arcade
Developer
Auroch Digital
Publisher
Focus Entertainment
Release
May 23, 2023
The Warhammer franchise spans just about every genre imaginable. However, it feels most at home in the retro-inspired boomer shooter Warhammer 40k: Boltgun. If you have any love for the classic Doom or Duke Nukem games, Boltgun will blow your socks off. It retains the chunky look and feel of blasting gruesome enemies with massive weaponry but controls like a modern title. It is a fast, brutal, and addictive game that is just pure action from start to finish. If you need a power fantasy, look no further.
MLB The Show 24
Platforms
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Simulator, Sport
Developer
SIE San Diego Studio
Publisher
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release
March 19, 2024
It’s only been four years since Xbox players have even had the chance to play the Show series, but so far each entry has been a day one inclusion on Game Pass, and MLB the Show 24 keeps that tradition alive. As far as the game is concerned, well, it’s baseball! This is the premier MLB simulation game, and obviously, being the newest entry makes it the most realistic and content-filled package yet. Take your new player from the minor leagues all the way up to a pro-level to see if you can win it all at the World Series.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Fighting, Platform
Developer
Fair Play Labs
Publisher
GameMill Entertainment
Release
November 07, 2023
It might look like “we have Smash Bros. at home,” but Nickelodeon All Star Brawl 2 is not the lazy cash-grab most Smash clones are. Any fan of classic Nicktoons will love the roster here, including some deep cuts like Ember from Danny Phantom and Daggett and Norbert from The Angry Beavers. While it clearly is intending to be a Smash-like, Brawl 2 takes cues from Melee specifically, resulting in a very tight and fast fighter.
Sea of Thieves
68%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Simulator, Adventure
Developer
Rare
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios
Release
March 20, 2018
Sea of Thieves puts you in the shoes of a pirate, and not in the same way as Black Flag does (even though that’s still one of the best Assassin’s Creed games ever). It’s not just an open-world action-adventure game with a pirate skin — Sea of Thieves is a pirate simulator. From looting unexplored islands to piloting your ship with a group of friends, developer Rare manages to gamify every aspect of Sea of Thieves, making each game task engaging no matter how mundane it may seem. More importantly, the gamification leads to a sense of freedom. Nothing in Sea of Thieves is stringent, from the loose leveling system to the Tall Tales that make up the campaign. You’re free to explore and tackle objectives in any way you see fit, or simply ignore objectives altogether. Although a lonely experience on your own, Sea of Thieves is a must-play with a group of friends. The game even supports cross-platform play between the Game Pass and Steam versions, so stringing together a group of pirates is easy.
Still Wakes the Deep
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Adventure
Developer
The Chinese Room
Publisher
Secret Mode
Release
June 18, 2024
Xbox snagged Still Wakes the Deep as a day-one get for Game Pass, so you know there’s something special here. From The Chinese Room, developers of Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, and Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, this horror adventure places you on an abandoned oil rig in the North Sea. Or, at least you will wish it was abandoned. A monstrosity from the sea has found its way on board and you have no way to fight back and no way to call for help. All you can hope to do is run, hide, and try to find some way to escape the rig with your life.
Hi-Fi Rush
95%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Music, Platform, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Developer
Tango Gameworks
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release
January 25, 2023
Shadow-dropped at Microsoft’s Developer_Direct event at the end of January, Hi-Fi Rush has become an immediate banger on Game Pass. The rhythm-action game follows a young man named Chai who fights with an electric guitar. Everything moves to the game’s beat, including enemy attacks, cutscenes, and dungeon traps. It also has a combat-grading system like in the Devil May Cry franchise. Chai isn’t alone in his fights; he also has comrades such as his cat, 808.
Control
83%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter, Adventure
Developer
Remedy Entertainment
Publisher
505 Games
Release
August 27, 2019
With Alan Wake 2 out, even more people have been exposed to the connected universe of Remedy games. If you happened to miss the studio’s last game, Control, now is the perfect time to go back. Set in a shifting and mysterious building known as The Oldest House, you will use supernatural powers to fight and explore the creepy halls filled with notes about strange objects with obscure powers. The included DLC also features a certain writer that adds a bit of context to that game as well.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
82%
4/5
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Adventure
Developer
Respawn Entertainment
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Release
April 28, 2023
Cal’s story was far from over at the end of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. This sequel picks up five years after the first game’s conclusion, and things have only gotten worse for our lonely Jedi. However, hope emerges when Cal discovers a potential safe haven from the Empire where he and his friends can finally live free of fear. Nothing is that easy, of course, and Cal will go on a sprawling adventure through the galaxy to explore new planets, earn new Jedi powers, and face even more deadly foes. This is one of the best Star Wars stories we’ve had in years, games or otherwise, plus a satisfying and challenging action-adventure game in its own right.
Octopath Traveler II
87%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Developer
ACQUIRE Corp., Square Enix Creative Business Unit II, Team Asano
Publisher
Square Enix
Release
February 24, 2023
The first Octopath Traveller came to Xbox on day one, but for whatever reason, we didn’t get the sequel until now. Better late than never, because Octopath Traveller 2 is easily the better game of the two. It takes the same premise as the first. with a group of eight characters whose stories you can follow in whatever order you choose, but does a far better job of weaving them together than the first. The 2D-HD visuals have never looked better, and the combat is a classic turn-based RPG fan’s dream. This is a meaty game, so you might need to extend your subscription to see it all, but it is more than worth it to see the conclusion.
Psychonauts 2
89%
4/5
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Double Fine Productions
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios
Release
August 24, 2021
Is 15 years too long to wait for a sequel? That depends on how good the original game is — and Double Fine’s Psychonauts was certainly one of the best in its genre. Psychonauts 2 is finally here, and the familiar formula is back, sure to please fans of the old game while making an excellent introduction to the zany, heartfelt world of Psychonauts. The story picks up soon after the first (and a VR side story that was later released), following a boy named Raz, who has left his circus family to train his psychic powers with the acclaimed Psychonauts organization. Raz’s specialty is entering minds and sorting out hidden traumas so that people (heroes and villains alike) can move on in healthy ways. He uses various psychic powers to defeat literal doubts, fears, and panic attacks while navigating worlds chock-full of collectibles and currency that allow him to upgrade or modify abilities. The platforming in Psychonauts 2 is not only excellent but insanely inventive, incorporating every kind of movement you can imagine in ways that make the cartoony world both fascinating and emotionally moving (but not too challenging). Combat sometimes seems like an afterthought as a result, but there’s plenty to do for all kinds of gamers. Take a look at our Psychonauts 2 beginner’s guide to get started.
Hollow Knight
92%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Team Cherry
Publisher
Team Cherry
Release
February 24, 2017
Hollow Knight wears its Super Metroid and Dark Souls influences on its sleeve, but manages to provide an experience all its own. You control a silent, nameless knight, who is tasked with exploring the vast, insect-ridden kingdom of Hallownest. Like any good Metroidvania, Hollow Knight has a vast, interconnected map that you’re free to explore. Although certain areas are locked off in the early game, you’ll quickly begin running from one corner of the map to the other. The title’s open design teaches you by showing. Rather than holding your hand, Hollow Knight asks you to explore and find answers for yourself, resulting in one of the most satisfying experiences of this genre. With Hollow Knight: Silksong on the horizon, now is a great time to play the first game.
The Elder Scrolls
88%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release
November 10, 2011
There isn’t a reason to split these three Bethesda games apart because they’re all excellent Elder Scrolls titles. Everyone has their reasons for liking one Elder Scrolls game over another, but you really can’t go wrong with any of Bethesda’s open-world epics. Morrowind established the franchise on consoles. Even after nearly 20 years, Morrowind has some of the best writing and world design in the series, and the skill system still holds up. Oblivion pushed the freeform design of Morrowind further, adding more depth and things to do in the world. It also fixed Morrowind’s clunky combat system, lowering the barrier to entry for new players. Then there’s Skyrim, which made Bethesda and Elder Scrolls household names. If you have option paralysis, we recommend starting with Oblivion. Skyrim is a close second, but Oblivion defined the systems and world design that Bethesda built upon in Skyrim.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
92%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Adventure
Developer
BioWare
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Release
May 14, 2021
If you’re looking for the complete Mass Effect experience with all DLC, upgraded graphics for the latest consoles, and improved systems, then the Legendary Edition is perfect for you. Create your own Commander Shepard, put together teams to fight the galaxy’s most fearsome threat, and chain your key decisions across three games to affect just how it all goes down. Mass Effect remains a pinnacle of RPG storytelling, and as the Legendary version fixes some of the clunkier aspects of earlier games, there’s no better time to jump in. Just make sure you have enough storage space for all three optimized games … it’s a lot of gigs.
Doom Eternal
85%
4.5/5
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter
Developer
id Software
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release
March 19, 2020
In 2016, it seemed impossible to top Id Software’s Doom reboot. The most series fans could have hoped for from a sequel was more of the same. But Doom Eternal pushed further, refusing to conform to the exact same structure that was so successful for 2016’s Doom (both critically and commercially). The gunplay is familiar, but Doom Eternal is bigger and more ambitious. The scale of levels is massive, and Id homed in on the resource management mechanics in Doom. Instead of going from fight to fight until the end of the level, Doom Eternal makes battles interesting by forcing you to use glory kills and your chainsaw to pick up ammo and health. That pushed you into the, as described by id Software, “fun zone.” It turns out that’s a great place to be.
Halo Infinite
85%
4/5
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Adventure
Developer
343 Industries
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios
Release
November 15, 2021
It took some time, but Halo Infinite has finally hit Game Pass in its completed state, including both multiplayer and the campaign. This Halo story has Master Chief saving a youngling AI, fighting new (and old) kinds of enemies, journeying across a large open world (that allows for much more flexible missions that require a little more focus to complete), and using new tools like a grappling/grab hook for all-new combat possibilities. The gameplay is great, and multiplayer is as competitive as ever, though it’s still improving consistently thanks to the updates 343 Industries continues to make. If you like Halo, you’ll find a whole lot to love here.
Forza Horizon 5
85%
4/5
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Racing
Developer
Playground Games
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios
Release
November 09, 2021
Forza is back with its best racing game yet, a beautiful romp primarily focused on the Mexican landscape, with tight controls and tons of stuff to do. There are many, many gaming modes to explore, tours to try out, and options to gather with teammates — or you can face your rivals in all kinds of races. The superb detailing and customization options for your cars, character, and properties are still here, allowing you to spend hours tinkering before hitting the road. Crossplay is also supported with PC, including Steam players, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to earn community currency and spend it on your best look.
Journey to the Savage Planet
74%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Adventure
Developer
Typhoon Studios
Publisher
505 Games
Release
January 28, 2020
A surprise repeat, but a welcome one, Journey to the Savage Planet is back on the service. If you missed out on this hilarious FPS adventure the first time around, it’s time to correct that mistake. You play as an employee of the fourth-best interstellar exploration company sent to a deadly planet to see if it is fit for human colonization. If you liked High on Life, this game has a similar ironic and dark-humor tone, only not quite as overbearing as the former game. It’s a quick game, too, so set aside a weekend to have a laugh in this colorful title.
