Microsoft’s Game Pass service is easily worth the price of admission. Many might balk at the concept of having their video game library locked behind a subscription service, but the fact is subscribers get access to an incredible selection of titles spanning from indie darlings to triple-A blockbusters for a surprisingly affordable monthly fee.
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Xbox Game Pass: How To Subscribe And What Games Are Available
Xbox Game Pass packs a lot of value into its subscription model — here are all the details you need to know, from price to recently added games.
With such a dizzying array of fantastic titles on display, it can be a daunting task deciding which ones are worth a player’s time. Given that the cost of entry is taken care of with the subscription fee, the most pressing matter is determining the best use of your hard drive space. Thankfully, the diamonds of this collection are readily apparent. Here’s a look at the greatest games that Xbox Game Pass has to offer.
The selections listed here will include games available on EA Play, which is included with a subscription to Game Pass Ultimate.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
The adventures of the Master Chief have never been as accessible as they are in the Master Chief Collection. This gathering of Halo games is the definitive collection of 343 Industries’ endeavors to immortalize the series. Not only is every mainline Halo game (not counting Halo 5: Guardians) included, but the fantastic Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach were added as well.
From beloved campaign co-op to thrilling Firefight matches to iconic multiplayer modes, the Master Chief Collection has it all. Anyone who thinks of themselves as a Halo fan should consider it a must-play from Xbox Game Pass. And for those who have never completed the Master Chief’s saga, there is no better way to finish the fight.
We didn’t think it could be done, but Bethesda has proven that when it comes to remasters, they know what they’re doing. Virtuos and Bethesda managed to achieve the impossible by improving Oblivion where they could, but preserving the DNA of what made it what it is. This includes some of the “glitches” the game is known for. NPC trajectories, certain bugs, and the campy line deliveries are all remembered fondly when fans reminisce about their time with the original Elder Scrolls IV.
It’s something we feared would be lost if the game was remastered, beloved imperfections wiped clean by the gloss of modernity. It’s with great delight that we’ve found NPCs still engage in hilarious dialogue paths, will pop in and out of existence as the game’s clock allows, levitate in the air unprovoked, and/or start a conversation while the world is erupting into chaos around them. Playing the Oblivion remaster has been an experience like no other. It’s a remaster done right, flaws and all.
Grand Theft Auto V
Brought back to Xbox Game Pass once again, Grand Theft Auto V’s vibrant open-world setting of Los Santos is a prime reason for players to stay home and immerse themselves in a digital life of crime and skullduggery. Countless hours can be spent enjoying the game’s various activities and diving into the gripping story.
Playing through GTA V is a gaming experience like no other; the freedom of exploring a living, breathing city is brought to home consoles with masterful game design. GTA V is ridiculously fun, which eases the pressure of its intense heists, chaotic car chases, and other criminal enterprises.
Blue Prince
As difficult as it is to describe how you play Blue Prince, we’ll do our best. Blue Prince is a walking simulator puzzle game that sees you exploring the estate your rich uncle left behind for you. This estate is no ordinary building, however. Every time you open a door on a given day, you have the opportunity to “draft” a different room. This means that every day you explore the estate, it will never look the same, especially depending on your drafting actions. This mechanic feels awkward to describe without some sort of visual aid, but rest assured, it’s a puzzle-game lover’s dream.
The one comparison we can think to make is to Outer Wilds. If you loved the discovery-based progression of Outer Wilds, we think the drafting problem-solving of Blue Prince will enchant you. Every day that you learn something new about a room you’ve drafted, a password for a critical safe, or a layout that’s particularly useful for reaching your end goal, Blue Prince will build the foundation for a lasting impact on your memory.
Borderlands 3
We do love ourselves a good cooperative looter shooter, so it’s a delight that the latest Borderlands title, Borderlands 3, has made its way to the Xbox Game Pass library. A lot of what you get in this third mainline installment is what you’d expect after playing the first two. You’ve got your handy squad of anti-heroes to pick from, perfectly executed lowbrow humor, and a buttload of guns to shoot. But if you’re new to the series and have no idea what Borderlands is all about, I think you’ll still find yourself having a good time.
You’re a Vault Hunter, a half-bounty-hunter half-treasure-seeker, looking to stop the Calypso Twins from taking over the galaxy. Along the way, you shoot up a lot of culty gang members, take down chaingun smashing minibosses, and have a rip-roaring good time. Borderlands 3, as with most Borderlands games, is best enjoyed with friends. So before diving into the mayhem, make sure you have a squad ready to take on this solid first-person looter-shooter game!
Enter the Gungeon
One of the greatest losses to Xbox Game Pass subscribers occurred the day Enter the Gungeon left their libraries. Now, after months and months of waiting and praying, it’s back! This means it’s the perfect time to play it if you didn’t get the chance to when it was first on Game Pass. Enter the Gungeon is a cooperative dungeon crawler mixed with roguelike elements. Your runs are randomized. Your guns, your items, the rooms, and even the very bosses you face are not guaranteed.
However, as you get used to the trials before you, figuring out the solutions to various bullet hellscapes, you start to catch your stride. There’s a fantastic sense of mastery as you progress through areas. However, in addition to all this (in our personal opinion) the best thing about Enter the Gungeon is its local co-op. If playing alone is buckets of fun, playing with a friend at your side is an ocean of fun.
Atomfall
Many may go into Atomfall expecting “British Fallout,” as people have postulated the game would be since before it came out. If you expect this, you’ll probably come out disappointed. Its RPG elements are not what you are looking for and it’s got a larger emphasis on stealth than combat. That said, if you go into Atomfall without pinning your Fallout hopes to it, we think you’ll find yourself delighted. In fact, if you liked Stalker 2, Atomfall might be right up your alley.
Set in a fictionalized version of events after the Windscale nuclear disaster, you need to traverse the English countryside to uncover answers as to what happened. Managing your ammo, energy, and heart rate can get frustratingly difficult, but being able to explore the beautifully rendered world makes it worth it. You’ll have to avoid cultists and other dangers to see the narrative through to its conclusion, and it’s a harrowing journey. But isn’t that what a nuclear apocalypse is all about?
33 Immortals
At the time of this writing, 33 Immortals is still in early access. Many gameplay elements will be tweaked as the developers get feedback from players, and certain areas/bosses are still works in progress. So it’s mighty impressive that even with the bare structure of the game before us instead of the finished product, 33 Immortals is still one of the best new games we’ve played on Xbox Game Pass. You and up to 32 other players (hence, 33 Immortals) are trying to make your way out of purgatory. To do this, you have to battle your way through the gates of hell.
The art style is reminiscent of Hades, but we can’t help feeling like we’re in a Diablo 4 world event when we see our little character clustered together with such a huge host of other players, all working toward a common goal. It’s cute and awe-inspiring to see dozens of stick-like figures clustered against a boss, all trying to deal damage before its next attack. And then to see that same cluster dodge out of the way when that attack comes. It’s a feeling like no other, and there are fewer bars to entry than you’d find with most of your typical triple-A MMOs.
Balatro
How could a list of the best games ever, let alone a list of the best games included on Xbox Game Pass, be truly complete without a mention of Balatro. In case you haven’t heard, Balatro is the indie roguelike gaming sensation that’s swept the nation. It is a remarkably simple yet incredibly engrossing title; once you start playing it, you’ll find yourself hard-pressed to put it back down. You’ll keep wanting to play one more run, build one more hand, and beat one more boss blind.
Though its naming conventions and terms are based off of poker, it is in no way a game played like poker. It is a roguelike through and through. Normally, for a small game like this, I’d recommend it by saying it’s a great game and should take you no time at all to complete. That’s not the case with Balatro. While it’s not a vast RPG like Avowed, with character building, side quests, and an explorable world, it’s still a timesink because of how often you will return to it. It’s glorious as heck.
Monster Train
Like Slay the Spire, Monster Train is a run-based deck-builder where players pick a starting character/clan and do their best to assemble the ultimate deck before a climactic showdown.
Monster Train’s claim to fame is a unique three-tiered floor system where players can set up their defenses and monsters to protect their core HP sitting at the top of the train. The system combines the best deck-builders with this unique mechanic, and an enormous number of different characters and abilities to give players a near-infinite number of strategies and combinations. Anyone riding the Monster Train will quickly find their route to an OP deck — and that’s half the fun.
