Game Pass is a game subscription for Xbox consoles and Windows computers. For $10 a month, the user gets the basic version, which includes more than 400 games from Microsoft and its partners.
The most advanced version of the Game Pass is called the Ultimate and costs $15 a month. It opens access to the Electronic Arts publisher’s games subscription and the xCloud cloud service.
Simply put, the Game Pass is a video game analog to Netflix. It offers exclusive permanent content released by Microsoft and temporarily available content from other companies. Content can be removed from the library a few months after subscription. You do not need to buy games separately inside the Game Pass.
Amid such diversity, it is easy to get lost. Therefore, we have selected 19 games that are definitely worth trying for the service’s subscribers.
Best Xbox Game Pass Games
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
- Briefly: six games from the Halo series in one re-release with improved graphics
- Year of release: 2014
- Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
- Developer: 343 Industries
- Genre: First-person shooter
- Game modes: Single-player, cooperative, multiplayer
- Approximate duration: 56 hours
- Where to play: on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: Genetically modified man John-117, better known as Master Chip, saves mankind from Covenant’s attacks. It’s an alien alliance that captures the entire galaxy. The main character’s task is to destroy the enemy forces on the ground and in space.
The Master Chief Collection contains all the games of the main series released since 2012, including Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversaries, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Haru: Reach, and Halo 4.
Special Features: Released in 2001, the first Halo is considered a revolutionary shooter. Thanks to it, health regeneration and a limited number of weapons became standard in video games.
The series is praised for its intelligent enemies, tiered levels with many approaches to the enemy, the ability to use combat vehicles, and exciting and lively multiplayer. Halo also boasts an elaborate universe, constantly fleshed out through books, comics, and TV series.
Game Pass offers not only The Master Chief Collection but also the next two installments – Halo 5: Guardians and Halo Infinite. The latter features an open world that can be explored without restrictions.
Forza Horizon 5
- Briefly: a game about racing in Mexico
- Year of release: 2021
- Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
- Developer: Playground Games
- Genre: Racing
- Game modes: single-player, multiplayer
- Approximate duration: you can play until you get bored.
- Where to play: on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: You play as a participant in the Horizon Festival races in Mexico. You win competitions, collect cars of famous brands, complete challenges, and help the organizers arrange events in different parts of the country.
Special features: Forza Horizon is not a typical racing game where you can’t drive outside the tracks. It’s a game with a large open world to explore. You can ride anything that goes: trucks, jeeps or classic cars. Everything is licensed and looks excellent.
Plus, Horizon 5 has all four seasons, and the time of day and weather change dynamically. You can’t take your eyes off Mexico’s scenery in winter or summer. Right now, it’s the best race for relaxed gaming sessions. Previously, this title belonged to the Need for Speed series.
It Takes Two
- Briefly: a cooperative game about a married couple turned into dolls
- Year of release: 2021
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Developer: Hazelight Studios
- Genres: Action, Platformer
- Game Mode: cooperative
- Approximate duration: 12 hours
- Where to play: on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: Married couple Cody and May decide to get a divorce. Their daughter Rose doesn’t want to put up with her mom and dad’s whims, so she simply wishes for her parents to stay together. The wish suddenly comes true, so Cody and May turn into dolls that have come to life. To regain their humanity, they have to do the impossible – to find a common language and solve the crisis in their relationship.
Special Features: It Takes Two is a traditional platformer with puzzles that must be solved together. However, the game changes genres on the fly and becomes a shooter, a fighting game, or a third-person action game. At such moments, the most exciting things start to happen.
Playing It Takes Two is like going to family therapy. You can play only two people, online or sitting on the same sofa. You’ll have to find common ground with your gaming partner to win. Cody and May teach you to value relationships with loved ones more: It Takes Two is fun to play with loved ones, relatives and friends.
Game Pass also includes A Way Out, a previous game from the same studio about two prisoners escaping jail. It’s not as diverse as It Takes Two, but it’s also a two-player game. It has less therapy and more crime drama.
Crusader Kings 3
- Briefly: a global strategy game about the difficulties of ruling in the Medieval era
- Year of release: 2020s
- Publisher: Paradox Interactives
- Developer: Paradox Interactives
- Genre: strategy
- Game modes: single-player, multiplayerѕ
- Approximate duration: you can play until you get boredѕ
- Where to play: on PC and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: The third part of the famous series by Paradox Interactive, known for Hearts of Iron, Victoria and Europa Universalis.
At the beginning of the game you need to choose a starting date and one of the many states – for example, the Kingdom of Norway. The player will have to lead the dynasty through the centuries to make the country truly great.
Special Features: Crusader Kings 3 is much more complex and elaborate than other strategies like Civilisation and Total War. The ruler needs to keep an eye on the state of his territories and his subordinates: their attitude towards him, conspiracies, and so on. Not only military and diplomatic victories influence the outcome of the game, but also relations with advisors, heirs, and even healers. The latter can cure you of deadly diseases or, on the contrary, collude and poison you.
Crusader Kings 3 constantly generates funny stories, so the role-playing possibilities here are almost limitless. For example, someone managed to eat the Pope himself.
Gears 5
- Briefly: an action film about the confrontation between humanity and the hostile inhabitants of the planet Sera
- Year of Release: 2019
- Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
- Developer: The Coalition
- Genre: third-person action
- Game modes: single-player, cooperative, multiplayer
- Approximate duration: 11 hours
- Where to play: on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: Delta Force fighter Kate Diaz must discover the origins of the Locusts, an alien race at war with humanity on the planet Sera. She is helped by the heroes of the previous parts of Gears of War – soldier Marcus Phoenix and his son JD.
Special Features: By the fifth part, the series shortened the name to the laconic Gears and changed the developer. The original trilogy was handled by the authors of Fortnite – Epic Games studio. After that, the series fell into the hands of the Canadian company The Coalition. As a result, the fourth Gears of War turned out to be more like a run-of-the-mill technology with a story on the verge of a remake. And only in Gears 5 the studio finally showed what it could do.
The Coalition created a perfect positional action game with no competitors, although three years have passed since the game’s release. The authors managed to improve and refresh the original Gears of War concept. For example, in Gears 5, there is a semblance of an open world, although earlier, the heroes were running on corridor levels- labyrinths.
In addition, the studio has added interactivity to the environment: sometimes, it’s easier to shoot at the brittle ice under the feet of piling monsters than to kill them one by one. Weather effects, which appeared in the fourth edition, affect gameplay even more in the fifth part.
Most importantly, it was in Gears 5 that the story once again acquired the scope inherent in the series. Still, it’s not for nothing that in the finale, the players are put in front of the most important story choice – for the first time in the franchise’s history.
Mortal Kombat 11
- Briefly: an old-school fighting game with bloody brawls
- Year of release: 2019
- Publisher: Warner Bros. Games
- Developer: NetherRealm Studios
- Genre: fighting game
- Game modes: single-player, cooperative, multiplayer
- Approximate duration: 6 hours per story campaign
- Where to play: on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: Thunder God Raiden and his battle comrades must stop Kronika, a mysterious Keeper of Time who wants to eliminate the forces of good and restore order to the universe.
Special Features: This is a good old Mortal Kombat – nothing more and nothing less. Starting from the ninth part the gameplay formula hasn’t changed much: it’s still a spectacular fighting game, perfect for parties. In addition, in the eleventh part there is a three-person online mode.
The paid add-ons added Joker, Terminator, and John Rambo to the fighters’ catalog. For their sake, you can buy the full edition of the game with the subtitle Ultimate.
Sea of Thieves
- Briefly: the best pirate simulator
- Year of release: 2018
- Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
- Developer: Rare Studios
- Genre: online action
- Game mode: Multiplayer
- Approximate duration: can be played until you get bored of it
- Where to play: on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: A multiplayer game where you as a pirate explore the seas and islands and discover their many secrets. You need to follow the course on the map and compass, set sails, search for ammunition and provisions, and also in time to patch up the holes received after meeting with the enemy or a rock that came from nowhere.
Special Feature: At the time of release, many people criticised Sea of Thieves for its lack of content. Things have improved a lot since then: in 2024, Rare Studios’ game is one of the best ways to spend time with friends.
Sea of Thieves has both cool story quests and daily activities: a fort with skeletons guarding treasure will appear on the map, a ghostly fleet will appear, or a terrible boss will appear, throwing meteors from the sky.
The game generates memorable stories on the fly. Your friends can lock you in the hold and get into a needless skirmish with other pirates. Or your saviors, who have come to your rescue after a shipwreck, will trick you into revealing valuable information and send you to the sharks.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
- Briefly: a re-release of the Mass Effect trilogy for modern platforms
- Year of release: 2021
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Developer: BioWare
- Genre: third-person action RPG
- Game Mode: Single-player
- Approximate duration: 106 hours to complete the entire trilogy
- Where to play: on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: An epic space opera about humanity and alien races fighting together against the Reapers, biosynthetic creatures that destroy all organic life in the universe every 50,000 years.
The protagonist, Commander Shepard, must unite the galaxy and save its inhabitants from genocide. He must carry out dangerous missions on different planets, unravel political intrigues, and gain the support of their inhabitants in the fight against the Reapers.
Special Features: The Mass Effect series is rightly called “Star Wars” in the world of games. It is a large-scale developed universe with many books and comics.
The adventures of Commander Shepard and his team are remembered by interesting conflicts. The protagonist is opposed by not only aliens but also shadow organisations, corrupt politicians, and collaborators disappointed in the system. The fate of individuals and entire species depends on the player’s actions.
Hi-Fi Rush
- Briefly: a comic book-style rhythm game
- Year of release: 2023
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Developer: Tango Gameworks
- Genre: action-platformer
- Game Mode: Single-player
- Approximate duration: 12 hours to complete the main story.
- Where to play: on PC and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: A guy named Chai has dreams of becoming a rock star. One day he participates in an experiment by Vandelay Technologies Corporation, which makes robots and cyber-implants for humans. Chai is accidentally fitted with a robotic arm and a player in the center of his rib cage. Now the young man can feel the musical rhythm of the world.
It turns out that Vandelay actually wants to enslave the minds of all humanity. Chai uses his new abilities to upset the corporation’s bosses’ plans. At the same time, he gathers a team of loyal friends.
Special Features: In Hi-Fi Rush, all elements of the environment, enemies, and Tea himself move to the beat of the music. The combat system is also based on this: the more accurately you hit the rhythm, the more damage your attacks do. The soundtrack features famous bands, including The Black Keys, Nine Inch Nails, The Prodigy, Fiona Apple, and others.
Hi-Fi Rush looks like a comic book come to life, with “bubbles” even flying out in the cutscenes with text to indicate the sounds. The action reminds of the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. The plot is uncomplicated, but thanks to the endearing characters, it’s fun to follow.
Atomic Heart
- Briefly: a game about robots in the USSR
- Year of release: 2023
- Publisher: Focus Entertainment
- Developer: Mundfish
- Genre: First-person shooter
- Game Mode: Single-player
- Approximate duration: 16 hours to complete the main story.
- Where to play: on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: In 1955, the Soviet Union became the world’s leading scientific power. With everyday care help, robots and people have fun and gain new knowledge through computer modules.
Citizens want to connect to a unified network, “Collective,” but everything does not go according to plan. The machines at the research “Facility 3826” get out of control and start attacking everyone.
Special Features: Atomic Heart has a unique setting. The alternative USSR’s aesthetics are both strange and charming. You will fight robots and communicate with an automaton that flirts with the main character.
The plot is not outstanding, but the battles are memorable. You are confronted by various machines and creatures: some attack in a crowd and prefer close combat, while others shoot acid clots. To survive, you’ll have to use firearms and a cyber glove. With it, you can freeze your enemies, stun them with electric current, and throw them upwards with the help of telekinesis.
Deathloop
- Briefly: an action film about a mercenary stuck in a time loop
- Year of release: 2021
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Developer: Arkane Studios
- Genre: First-person shooter
- Game modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
- Approximate duration: 16 hours to complete the main story.
- Where to play: on PC and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: Mercenary Colt wakes up on the island of Blackreef. He doesn’t remember what this place is or how he got here. It is impossible to escape, and the mercenary Juliana is hunting Colt. With each main character’s death, the day on Blackreef begins anew.
Colt will have to die more than once to make the perfect escape plan. In order to do this, he must manage to kill not only Juliana but also all the Visionaries – the cruel leaders of the Blackreef – in one day.
Special Features: Deathloop is an unusual mixture of first-person shooter and Groundhog Day. To understand what’s going on, you’ll have to start again time after time. At the same time, Deathloop encourages experimentation.
After a failed attempt you can try out new weapons or abilities that will suit your style of play. Sooner or later you’ll form a plan of action and break the time loop.
INSIDE
- Briefly: a minimalist story about a dystopian future
- Year of release: 2016
- Publisher: Playdead
- Developer: Playdead
- Genre: platformer
- Game mode: single-player
- Approximate duration: 3 hours
- Where to play: on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: The world of the dystopian future. A nameless boy hides from his pursuers on a farm, a cornfield, a factory, and other locations.
Special Features: INSIDE characters don’t utter a single word, but the plot is still interesting to follow. The protagonist constantly faces the inexplicable: in the flooded laboratory there are predatory mermaids, and in some parts of the world there are devices that allow you to control other people.
The final deserves special attention. It completely changes the perception of INSIDE, and that’s why fans, even after eight years, argue about interpretations of the plot.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
- Briefly: nine episodes of Star Wars in LEGO format
- Year of release: 2022
- Publisher: Warner Bros. Games
- Developer: Traveller’s Tales
- Genre: action-platformer
- Game modes: Single-player, cooperative
- Approximate duration: 18 hours to complete the main story.
- Where to play: on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: The Skywalker Saga collects all nine episodes of Star Wars. You play as different characters from the saga, such as Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Special features: It’s a perfect LEGO game: the camera is now behind the shoulders of the heroes, you can use combos in fights, the locations are huge. Additional heroes and cheat codes are opened for coins. They allow you, for example, to switch on the voice acting in the style of the original LEGO games – then the characters will not talk but mumble something inaudible.
Psychonauts 2
- Briefly: a game where you can travel through other people’s thoughts
- Year of release: 2021
- Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
- Developer: Double Fine Productions
- Genre: action-platformer
- Game Mode: Single-player
- Approximate duration: 15 hours to complete the main story.
- Where to play: on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: Psychonauts 2 is a sequel to the action-platformer released in 2006. The player controls an agent named Razputin with psychic abilities. He can infiltrate the inner worlds of other characters and travel through them. The plot starts after the head of the psychic division is kidnapped. The main character goes in search of him.
Special Features: Each level of Psychonauts 2 shows the experiences and fears of one of the characters. For example, the consciousness of the hero with gambling addiction puts Raz in a casino. And the location in the mind of the hero with alcoholism is cluttered with empty bottles.
Raz can use pyrokinesis and telekinesis, levitate, and slow down time. Each ability is useful during fights or when passing levels.
The Outer Worlds
- Briefly: a space western from the creators of Fallout: New Vegas
- Year of release: 2019
- Publisher: Private Division
- Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
- Genre: first-person action RPG
- Game Mode: Single-player
- Approximate duration: 13 hours to complete the main storyline
- Where to play: on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: The story is set in Halcyon’s solar system. The protagonist awakens from cryosleep and immediately becomes involved in a conflict between robbers and corporations seeking to gain control of the system.
Special Features: The Outer Worlds will appeal to fans of story-driven RPGs. The game has a great non-linear story and a wide variation of passing. You can play as a foolish one with a unit of intelligence and an evil villain who solves all problems with the help of deceit, threats, or bribery.
Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition
- Briefly: a re-release of the iconic RTS about the Middle Ages
- Year of Release: 2019
- Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
- Developer: Forgotten Empires, World’s Edge, Tantalus Media, Wicked Witch
- Genre: real-time strategy
- Game modes: single-player, multiplayer
- Approximate duration: 40 hours to complete the main story.
- Where to play: PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: You develop your civilization from the early Middle Ages to the Age of Empires. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition includes the stories of Joan of Arc, Genghis Khan, Tamerlane, and Trajan.
Special Features: Age of Empires II is still one of the best real-time strategy games out there. It has a lot of content and great gameplay: there are as many as 42 nations, computer opponents give a decent fight back, and thanks to the adjusted balance of units the game always feels fair.
Definitive Edition has updated graphics and slightly updated gameplay. The game supports gamepad control and cross-play – PC and Xbox users can play cooperative missions and online matches together.
Pentiment
- Briefly: Medieval Detective
- Year of release: 2022
- Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
- Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
- Genre: Adventure
- Game Mode: Single-player
- Approximate duration: 15 hours to complete the main story.
- Where to play: on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: It is 16th-century Bavaria. Andreas Maler, a young illustrator, works at the abbey in the town of Tassing. One day, his former teacher is accused of murder. The protagonist has a few days to save his mentor’s life and find the real culprit.
Special Features: Pentiment’s plot spans 20 years. During this time, Andreas returns to Tassing several times to see how the city has changed.
A murder investigation can go differently depending on the decisions made. Pentiment is worth going through at least twice to see the details you missed the first time.
The game’s world is small, but it’s fun to explore. Prepare to read a lot: you will often talk to the locals. Each has its own story, and Andreas can influence their lives.
Diablo 4
- Briefly: demon slaying game
- Year of release: 2023
- Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
- Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
- Genre: Action-RPG
- Game modes: Single-player, cooperative, multiplayer
- Approximate duration: 26 hours to complete the main story.
- Where to play: PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: The demon lord Lilith wants to take over Sanctuary, the human world. Only the protagonist can prevent her.
Special features: The Diablo series games are exemplary action RPGs. You will spend dozens of hours pumping up your character, fulfilling all quests, and collecting the best equipment. It’s easy to lose track of time – you won’t notice how you spent a whole night exploring just one location.
In the fourth installment, Blizzard has perfected the Diablo formula. The game has an intriguing story with spectacular cutscenes, a large open world with many secrets, and a great visual style. Unlike the third one, the fourth part turned out to be really dark – in the spirit of fan-favourite Diablo 2.
The Quarry
- Briefly: a teen horror set at a summer camp
- Year of release: 2022
- Publisher: 2K Games
- Developer: Supermassive Games
- Genre: interactive film
- Game modes: Single-player, cooperative
- Approximate duration: 9 hours to complete the main story.
- Where to play: on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series
- More info: on the game’s website
The Plot: Due to a car breakdown, the Hackett’s Quarry summer camp counselors stay another night after the shift closes. No sooner do the teens start a campfire than they are attacked by monsters.
Special Feature: In The Quarry, you determine the course of the story. The chosen lines and actions determine the ending. Characters can discover the truth or die unexpectedly right before the finale, making it almost impossible to predict what will happen next.
The Quarry is perfect for playing in a large group: while someone presses buttons, the others choose the event options.
