The best Xbox Game Pass games to play in February 2025

Looking for your next Game Pass favorite? We're here to help with our list of the best Xbox Game Pass games across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.

The best Xbox Game Pass games to play in February 2025
Tom West

Tom West

Published

If you're looking for the best Xbox Game Pass games, you've come to the right place. We've ranked the brilliant titles you can dive into right now with an Xbox Game Pass Standard, Ultimate, or PC Game Pass subscription. Whether it's AAA or indie, shooter or adventure genre, open-world or linear — the TrueAchievements team has picked out an Xbox game for you!

We've updated this list to include Toys for Bob's fantastic platformer Spyro Reignited Trilogy and quirky roguelike deck-builder, Inscryption
Tom
Tom —

Best Game Pass games to experience on your Xbox console or PC

There are so many Xbox Game Pass games to choose from it can be difficult to pick which game to sink your time into next! To help you uncover a new gem, our team of News Editor Sean, Features Editor Heidi, and Staff Writer Tom have curated a list of the best Xbox Game Pass games using their experience, community ratings, and TrueAchievements' site review scores!

All of the games mentioned here can be played with an Xbox Game Pass subscription on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, or via Xbox Cloud Gaming, although some games are only available for Ultimate members. Take a look at our "What is Xbox Game Pass" article for a full breakdown of each tier and the benefits included.

This list features a mix of games from developers large and small, so whether you fancy checking out a AAA behemoth or an indie sweetheart, there should be something in here for you. Of course, this list isn't exhaustive. If you think we've missed a hidden treat then let us know by leaving a comment below.

So, dive into all 33 of the best Xbox Game Pass games at every tier!

33. Deep Rock Galactic

  • Here are the Deep Rock Galactic achievements
  • Release date: February 28, 2018
  • Developer: Ghost Ship Games
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Game Pass Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
We’ve got a co-op shooter here, and it’s a nice one! Deep Rock Galactic is a weird-sounding game on paper — a mashup of Left 4 Dead and Minecraft — but trust us, it works.

Deep Rock Galactic is a co-op first-person shooter about space dwarves fighting off hordes of alien bugs as they try to mine enough precious resources to hit their daily quotas. You and up to three other players choose your class, grab your gear and descend into the hellish planet of Hoxxes.

You have to balance completing various missions with battling endless hordes of horrible bugs. Worse yet, when you complete your mission, you still need to make it back to the drop pod before it leaves without you. Corporate life is brutal. Still, at least they give you nice hats to wear. Rock and stone!


32. PowerWash Simulator

  • Here are the Powerwash Simulator achievements
  • Release date: July 14, 2021
  • Developer: FuturLab
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Playable with: Game Pass Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
Sometimes you’re not in the mood to save the world, shoot bad guys, drive fast cars, or explore the galaxy. Sometimes, you just need to chill out and achieve something mundane but satisfying. Enter PowerWash Simulator!

It does exactly what it says on the tin. You clean things with a power washer, and it’s somehow one of the most satisfying experiences you’ll find in gaming. There’s something primal about cleaning a dirty driveway or shed. Plus you can draw rude shapes in the dirt before you clean them properly. Don’t lie, you’ve all done it.

The game has done incredibly well, to the point where it now has crossover DLC with Tomb Raider and SpongeBob. So you can clean Lara’s mansion, or Bikini Bottom, if you need a bit of surreality in your gaming.


31. Age of Empires 4

After what seemed like an eternity (or an age maybe?), the Age of Empires series returned to us in 2021 with Age of Empires 4.

Age of Empires 4 is a real-time strategy game that lets you take control of an ancient empire and build it up all the way from the Dark Ages through to the Renaissance. You gather resources, build cities, and train up an army to defeat all those who would oppose you.

Well, you’re supposed to anyway. We just build rows of city walls so thick that nothing can ever get through and then slowly turtle our way to victory. It’s a valid strategy; don’t judge us. AoE 4 brings the classic RTS formula of the series into the modern era, with some great quality-of-life upgrades and beautiful modern graphics.

We could have just as easily filled this slot with the exceptional Age of Empire II: Definitive Edition too — both are excellent RTS games, but we’re giving the edge to the new kid because it’s the same formula, but with a stunning visual upgrade.


30. Inscryption

  • Here are the Inscryption achievements
  • Release date: April 10, 2023
  • Developer: Daniel Mullins Games
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass Tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
With a sprinkling of rogulike gameplay, a dash of psychological horror, a chunk of deckbuilding, and a smothering of quirky addictive fun, Inscryption is a blend of oddities that creates a remarkably moreish experience you won't soon forget. It's developed by Daniel Mullins Games, so if you've played Pony Island or The Hex before, you should be well acquainted with the bizarreness Inscryption offers.

It's a roguelike deck-building game that tasks you with building a deck of cards based on woodland critters, which you obtain via "draft, surgery, and self mutilation." You'll need to win card battles and uncover the many secrets hidden within the cabin you're playing in if you hope to survive. It's dark, mysterious, and just pure fun. Go check it out!


29. Tunic

  • Here are the Tunic achievements
  • Release date: March 16, 2022
  • Developer: TUNIC Team
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
Action-adventure game Tunic was a breath of fresh air when it launched into Xbox Game Pass. We play as a small fox in a big land full of secrets and mystery. Tunic doesn’t bother with a more traditional type of tutorial, but simply unleashes you into that world that leaves you to figure out and discover its gameplay systems.

Tunic is absolutely packed with hidden pathways, mysterious items, and secret shortcuts — as well as more than its own fair share of challenging bosses. We love the gorgeous visuals, and the use of a mysterious language, coupled with the fact that you unlock Tunic’s mysteries by finding scattered pages of the game’s instruction manual within the game world.

Tunic creator Andrew Shouldice told us how important that mystery is to the game, likening it to sneaking into an older sibling’s room and loading into somebody else’s saved game. Tunic brings back all that sense of a childhood adventure, while also pelting you with challenges that’ll test you whatever your age. It’s a real Xbox Game Pass gem, and more than deserves its spot on this list.


28. Celeste

  • Here are the Celeste achievements
  • Release date: January 1, 2018
  • Developer: Maddy Makes Games
  • Game Pass tier: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Playable with: Game Pass Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
From the creators of Towerfall, Celeste is a narrative-driven platformer that sees us helping a young girl called Madeline make her way to the top of a mountain as she battles with her inner demons.

It's a platforming game at heart, with well over 700 levels to navigate, all played out to a soundtrack of chilled piano pieces and synth beats — plus B-slide chapters for even more challenging puzzles. And make no mistake, you’re in for some big challenges as Celeste is infamously difficult, both in terms of platforming and puzzling.

As you help Madaline on her adventure, you'll meet a host of charming characters, offering you brief respites from the simple, yet rigorous platforming gameplay found when going for the Celeste achievements. It’s one of those rare games that nails both a beautiful narrative and encapsulating gameplay.


27. Assassin's Creed Odyssey

  • Here are the Assassin's Creed Odyssey achievements
  • Release date: October 5, 2018
  • Developer: Ubisoft Quebec
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
  • Game Pass tier: Game Pass Standard and Game Pass Ultimate
After Ancient Egypt with Bayek in Origins, we headed to Ancient Greece with Kassandra and Alexios for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, which came out the next year. Origins was a great game, but Odyssey dove further with the freedoms and RPG elements Origins introduced.

It boasts an epic story where you can actually help decide the landscape of the war around you by taking part in its endless battles, as well as taking to the seas to defeat enemies in your own ship. That was in addition to fighting mythological foes, meeting legendary historical figures, and generally causing chaos across Ancient Greece with the outcomes of the many, many choices that it offers. Odyssey’s beautiful world and irresistible backdrop of Greek mythology kept us coming back time and again.


26. Core Keeper

  • Here are the Core Keeper achievements
  • Release date: August 27, 2024
  • Developer: Pugstorm
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
Core Keeper is a colorful sandbox adventure game for up to eight players and gives you the tools to build your own underground base. Like Minecraft, Core Keeper sees you gather resources to craft myriad items as you explore a forgotten cavern filled with secrets... and monsters!

When not gathering materials to further customize your character and base or battling it out with Titans to find the titular Core, there are plenty of relaxing activities to spend your time with. Grow mysterious plants in your garden, learn a new recipe, tend to your farm of animals, or kick back with a rod in a serene pool of water, the choice is yours!


25. Slay the Spire

  • Here are the Slay the Spire achievements
  • Release date: August 14, 2019
  • Developer: MegaCrit
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
  • Game Pass tier: Standard and Game Pass Ultimate
On paper, Slay the Spire looks like someone tried to jam every indie trend from the past decade into one game, but we’ll be damned if it didn’t work out for them. It’s a deckbuilding, roguelike dungeon crawler where you battle your way through the titular spire, discovering new cards to add to your deck that will help you defeat your foes and ascend even higher.

You’ll end up dying and restarting a lot, but the roguelike nature of the game means that each run will be different, with new challenges for you to face, a new layout for the spire, and a new deck for you to assemble. It’s an enthralling game and one that you can easily find yourself accidentally playing into the early hours of the morning.


24. Yakuza: Like a Dragon

  • Here are the Yakuza: Like a Dragon achievements
  • Release date: November 10, 2020
  • Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
It’s amazing how quickly we went from no Yakuza on Xbox, to all the Yakuza on Xbox. Yakuza Like A Dragon was the first new game in the series to launch on Xbox though, and it’s got a special place in our hearts for that, and many other reasons.

Like A Dragon switches out the beat-em-up combat from the Yakuza games for a turn-based JRPG style, but instead of fighting dragons and monsters, you’re beating up Japanese dudes in suits. It takes all the usual JRPG trappings and gives them a bizarre, modern-day makeover.

The result is an engrossing and deeply weird experience that we simply couldn’t put down. It helps a lot that the cast of characters are so loveable, especially our protagonist Ichiban, who is just a good dude trying to get by in a rough world.


23. Sea of Stars

  • Here are the Sea of Stars achievements
  • Release date: August 29, 2023
  • Developer: Sabotage Studio
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
Looking for something a little more nostalgic and retro in your RPGs? Then Sea of Stars is definitely the game for you.

Sea of Stars is a retro-styled pixel art RPG that aims to “modernize the classic RPG in terms of turn-based combat, storytelling, exploration, and interactions with the environment," and it absolutely nails that goal.

Chronicling the adventure of two Children of Solstice, Sea of Stars sees you wielding the power of the sun and moon to take down an evil alchemist, The Fleshmancer. You explore beautiful landscapes, battle fearsome beasts and assemble a roster of unique and endearing heroes.


22. Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition

  • Here are the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition achievements
  • Release date: January 31, 2014
  • Developer: Crystal Dynamics
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
Crystal Dynamics knocked it out of the park when it rebooted the Tomb Raider franchise in 2013, and then doubled down on the success in 2014 with the Definitive Edition, packing in all of the game's DLC into one action-packed bundle.

Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition acts as Lara Croft's origin story as she attempts to continue her late father's work. It's a fantastic third-person action-adventure game and successfully demonstrates Lara's transformation from an innocent archaeology graduate to a hardened survivor.

In this reboot, Lara becomes shipwrecked on the lost island of Yamatai when attempting to find the lost kingdom during an expedition. Separated from her friends, Lara must traverse the island and uncover the mysteries hidden within all while attempting to survive the violent islanders living there. It's a great game, and blends exploration with survival elements as Lara is forced to adapt her thinking to the new situation she finds herself in.


21. Rainbow Six: Siege

It’s been eight years since Rainbow Six Siege launched back on the Xbox One, and it’s still going strong — in fact, it’s arguably doing better than ever with a permanent seat reserved in our most played Xbox games chart. It’s easy to see why too — Siege is the ultimate tactical multiplayer shooter, where your ability to shoot someone quickly is secondary to your ability to be in the right place at the right time.

Quick headshot skills will still serve you well, but Siege excels because it rewards teamwork and planning. There are over 60 operators to choose from, all with unique loadouts and special abilities that change how a round will play out, and choosing the right team of operators is just as vital to your success as how you play them. I’ll give you a freebie, lay Frost traps half way up winding staircases, no one ever looks down. Damn, Siege is good.


20. Mafia: Definitive Edition

  • Here are the Mafia: Definitive Edition achievements
  • Release Date: September 24, 2020
  • Developer: Hangar 13
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
Mafia: Definitive Edition takes the 2002 classic Mafia game and rebuilds it with 4K and HDR graphics, offering a modern experience that's a joy to play.

It follows the story of Tommy Angelo, a cab driver turned criminal who seeks his fortune working for the Italian Mafia in the fictional city of Lost Heaven. It's a cinematic treat for anyone wanting to live out their own mob movie experience.

Plus, with Mafia: The Old Country, the fourth installment and potential prequel, due out in 2025, now is the perfect time to give this awesome series a go.


19. Spyro Reignited Trilogy

  • Here are the Spyro Reignited Trilogy achievements
  • Release date: November 13, 2018
  • Developer: Toys for Bob, Insomniac Games
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass Tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
Spyro has long been a poster child of gaming, with the wonderful dragon's adventures still considered some of the best platforming experiences you'll find. We were so happy to see Microsoft add the Spyro Reignited Trilogy to Game Pass in November 2024, where it should stay now that Microsoft owns Activision.

The Reignited Trilogy packs in fantastic remasters of the first three Spyro games: Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!, and Spyro: Year of the Dragon, chronicling the fire-breathing quadruped's realm-saving adventures. Filled with brilliant platforming segments, tons of collectibles to find throughout vibrant levels, and plenty of enemies to cook to a crisp, the Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a ton of fun for adults and children.

Now we need Microsoft to greenlight a new Spyro game to back up this beauty!


18. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

  • Here are The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim achievements
  • Release date: October 28, 2016
  • Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
Skyrim has been ported to just about every games console ever released at this point, and thankfully that includes the Xbox Series X|S, because it’s bloody brilliant.

It might be over a decade old at this point, but The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is still one of the best RPGs ever made. You take on the role of the Dragonborn, a mythical hero of legend who can absorb the power from dragons and wield it as powerful shouts.

You can quest out and save the world, or just steal wheels of cheese from all the stores, whatever you fancy. It’s the quintessential Bethesda RPG with hundreds of hours of adventuring on offer, and the Special Edition also comes with the DLC too.


17. Cocoon

  • Here are the Cocoon achievements
  • Release date: September 29, 2023
  • Developer: Geometric Interactive
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
The best puzzle games make you feel like a genius when you solve their trials, and Cocoon has mastered that “yes, I got it” feeling like few others. That makes sense when you consider that it was brought to us by Jeppe Carlsen, lead gameplay designer on Limbo and Inside.

Cocoon is an isometric puzzle adventure game where you travel between different worlds. The twist is that each of these worlds is contained within an orb that you can carry around with you, or even take into another world. Each orb also has a unique effect when you’re carrying it that you’ll need to solve puzzles and progress through each world. What results is an Inception-esque adventure as you need to leap between worlds to find new orbs, unlock new abilities, and access new areas.

Along the way, there are also some epic boss battles with giant guardians, each filled with its own unique mechanics and hazards to overcome. Don’t sleep on this; it’s one of the best Xbox games of 2023.


16. Vampire Survivors

  • Here are the Vampire Survivors achievements
  • Release date: October 20, 2022
  • Developer: Poncle
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
The ultimate proof that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Vampire Survivors might look like a 2-bit relic from the 80s, but oh boy, does it have it where it counts.

Vampire Survivors is a minimalistic rogue-lite where you have one goal — to survive a horde of monsters until the timer runs out. The twist is that you don’t control your character's attacks. All you do is move around, the attacks happen on their own.

Your job is to keep moving, avoiding damage and picking up gems so you can level up, gain more weapons and upgrade your skills. Things start out simple, but as you progress in a run it transforms into a reverse bullet hell shooter, as your character unleashes an onslaught and the enemy numbers get frankly absurd.

There are tons of unlockable characters and items, along with nearly 200 Vampire Survivors achievements to earn. You'll probably be playing through this one for a while, but you’ll love every minute of it.


15. Stardew Valley

  • Here are the Stardew Valley achievements
  • Release date: December 14, 2016
  • Developer: ConcernedApe
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
If you’re a fan of chill life simulators, then Stardew Valley will be right up your alley. It’s heavily inspired by the Harvest Moon series — Nintendo abandoned it for years, and so a solo indie developer decided, “Well, if they won’t make another one, I will”. And what an excellent decision that was, because Stardew Valley has now long since surpassed its inspiration.

It’s a beautiful game, in which you take over a rundown farm and build it up from nothing, getting to know the valley and its people as you do. The day is yours in Stardew Valley — you can farm, fish, mine, explore, build relationships, decorate your house, and generally do whatever takes your fancy. It’s also got multiplayer so up to three of your buddies can join you in your rustic adventures.


14. Starfield

  • Here are the Starfield achievements
  • Release date: September 6, 2023
  • Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
Bethesda’s first new universe in over 25 years, and thankfully it was worth the wait. Starfield is a stunning sci-fi RPG that lets you explore a vast section of our galaxy, to seek out new life and answer the mysteries of the cosmos.

Much like Bethesda’s other famous games like Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Starfield offers you a sandbox to practically become anything you want.

Fancy terrorizing other space travelers? Become a space pirate. Want to see each one of the more than 1,000 explorable planets? Dedicate your time to exploration. It's up to you, and with the option of NG+, even finishing the main story isn't the end of your adventure. It's fantastic in almost every way and should definitely be played by anyone and everyone!


13. Inside

  • Here are the Inside achievements
  • Release date: June 29, 2016
  • Developer: Playdead
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
From the developers of Xbox 360 indie-hit Limbo, Inside instantly cemented itself as a classic when it dropped back in 2016.

Much like Limbo, Inside is a dark puzzle platformer filled with hauntingly beautiful visuals, challenging puzzles, and heart-pounding tension. It received near universal acclaim when it launched, with a Metacritic score of 93 on Xbox, and for good reason.

You play as a small boy on the run from a seemingly totalitarian regime who finds himself inexorably drawn toward the center of a dark project. It’s enthralling to play, with eerie visuals and puzzles that test your brainpower, without ever ruining the excellent pacing.

At around four hours long, it never outstays its welcome. Also, that final sequence is just something else. No spoilers, but damn.


12. Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2

  • Here are the Senua's Saga: Hellblade II achievements
  • Release date: May 21, 2024
  • Developer: Ninja Theory
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
While Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a fantastic game diving into the start of Senua's troubling story (we highly recommend you check it out), Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 just pips it to the punch on this list, rocking a TA user rating of 4.2/5. We also loved it in our Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 review thanks to its dark story, cinematic combat, and phenomenal graphics.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 sees the titular warrior leave hell behind to travel to Iceland in search of the Viking slavers plaguing her home. From the get-go, we're thrown into a dark world of mythology as we aid those we seek to destroy, earn the favor of powerful entities, and overcome dangers of gigantic proportions.

Ninja Theory's sequel may have a short runtime, but it's an immersive adventure that will have you engrossed in its brutal world.


11. Doom

  • Here are the Doom (2016} achievements
  • Release date: May 13, 2016
  • Developer: id Software
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
We had a tough time deciding between Doom and its sequel, Doom Eternal. The slightly more methodical gameplay loop of sequel Doom Eternal might be more to some people’s tastes, but the purity and chaos of 2016’s Doom reboot still takes some beating in our minds.

The breakneck pace of the game, the heavyweight punch of the varied arsenal, the visceral close-quarters finishers that allow you to replenish on the fly… everything about Doom just feels right. It may have come a long way from its humble sprite-based beginnings, but this reboot perfectly captures and expands on the tone and feel of the 1993 original.

Mick Gordon’s metal soundtrack is brilliantly brutal, and for anyone familiar with the older games, grabbing the shotgun as the familiar chugging of At Doom’s Gate kicks in will have you punching the air in delight. Doom can be extremely challenging — especially if you’re brave/stupid enough to crank up the difficulty — but it’s oh-so-rewarding when you manage to carve a path through a horde of Hell’s finest to unlock the Doom achievements while barely taking a scratch. How much more metal could it be? None. None more metal.


10. Persona 3 Reload

  • Here are the Persona 3 achievements
  • Release date: February 2, 2024
  • Developer: Atlus
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
The Persona games are usually a popular choice amongst Xbox Game Pass subscribers when they launch into the service, and Persona 3 Reload was no different — it almost beat the reigning champion, Persona 5 Royal as the most-played Persona launch on Xbox!

If you're yet to play this fantastic remake, Persona 3 Reload is a turn-based RPG which puts you in the shoes of a transfer student who uncovers a hidden hour between one day and the next. This mysterious portion of time is home to powerful creatures, which will test you and your friends' resolve.

It's a fantastic game with a great cast of characters to meet and interact with, teammates to mix and match for your ultimate team of badasses, and a story that'll keep you immersed for hours.


9. Ori and the Will of the Wisps

  • Here are the Ori and the Will of the Wisps achievements
  • Release date: March 11, 2020
  • Developer: Moon Studios
  • Platforms:Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
The sequel to Moon Studios' fantastic Ori and the Blind Forest, Will of the Wisps takes on another colorful platforming adventure with the little spirit.

Offering up another spectacular orchestral soundtrack and a vibrant hand-painted world, Ori and the Will of the Wisps sees you help Ori uncover their destiny and heal the broken world around them.

If you're looking for a gorgeous platformer with exciting boss fights, we can't recommend this game enough — or its predecessor!


8. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Following Modern Warfare 3's controversial launch and the first Call of Duty title to drop as a first-party Xbox game, all eyes were fixed on Black Ops 6 as we approached its release. Any concerns were quickly washed away as Microsoft announced that the first-person shooter had set new Game Pass records and Activision revealed that Black Ops 6 had smashed multiple franchise records too.

Set in the early 90s, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's campaign focuses on a cloak-and-dagger-style narrative as you undertake daring heists as a rogue operative. While the campaign has gone down well with players, its multiplayer and Zombies continue to be its crowning game modes. Zombies brings back round-based chaotic action as up to four players attempt to survive increasingly bigger waves of undead corpses and monstrous creatures.

As for multiplayer, a constant stream of new maps and modes, season content, and the addictive grind for weapon camos sees players climbing the Prestige ranks for hours on end. For Black Ops 6, Treyarch introduced a new omni-movement system, which gives you the freedom to run, jump, and crawl in any direction, giving its gameplay a more dynamic feel. Black Ops 6 is a fantastic entry into the hugely successful franchise.


7. Sea of Thieves

  • Here are the Sea of Thieves achievements
  • Release date: March 20, 2018
  • Developer: Rare
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
Avast me hearties! Batten down the hatches and all that pirate stuff. Rare’s multiplayer plunder-em-up may have launched in barebone state, but these days it’s one of the finest treasures in Xbox’s first-party lineup.

Sea of Thieves offers the ultimate pirate experience. You can sail the high seas and find buried treasure, either alone or with up to three other mateys in the game’s online open-world. Beware though, because there are rival players out there with their eyes on your booty, as it were. There are also story-driven missions called Tale Tales for you to follow, including some funky crossover events with other pirate franchises, including Pirates of the Caribbean and The Legend of Monkey Island.

It’s amazing how quickly a session of Sea of Thieves can ramp up from wandering around a desert island or doing a spot of fishing, to full-scale panic as you spot another pirate galleon sailing straight towards you. And if you’re too lily-livered for competitive multiplayer, Rare recently added PvE-only servers too.


6. Psychonauts 2

  • Here are the Psychonauts 2 achievements
  • Release date: August 25, 2021
  • Developer: Double Fine Productions
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
After a nearly 16-year hiatus, we finally got to jump back into the acrobatic shoes of Razputin Aquato with Double Fine’s outstanding follow-up, Psychonauts 2.

It was worth the wait though, because Psychonauts 2 is an absolute delight. At its core, Psychonauts 2 is a platform-adventure game, but it comes wrapped up in such a wonderfully trippy and psychedelic package. There’s an excellent story, larger-than-life characters and some mind-melting levels to navigate. There are also a load of collectibles, puzzles to solve and mysteries to unlock.

Don’t worry if you haven’t played the first one either - Psychonauts 2 stands up perfectly fine as its own adventure, and there is a story recap that will get you up to speed on the events of the first one too.


5. Forza Horizon 5

  • Here are the Forza Horizon 5 achievements
  • Release date: November 1, 2021
  • Developer: Playground Games
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
If you’re looking for the ultimate arcade racing experience on Xbox, then you really need to check out the Forza Horizon series. They’re all amazing, but we’ve chosen the latest one, Forza Horizon 5, as our favorite.

This time around, the Horizon Festival takes us to the diverse land of Mexico, where we have deserts, canyons, swamps, farmlands, towns, jungles, and a volcano to thrash some of the world’s most expensive cars around.

Visually, you can’t fault Forza Horizon 5 — it truly is a stunning game, and Playground Games has really put a lot of love and effort into putting together a game world as detailed and varied as Forza Horizon 5’s Mexico. How Playground managed to get the game to look this good without tanking performance, we’ll never know.

It doesn’t just look great though — it plays great. The huge roster of cars feel great to drive as you thrash them around the massive open-world, completing races, time trials, stunt jumps, and more.


4. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Despite being a fantastic entry in the Indiana Jones franchise, the Great Circle's greatest strength is its ability to be a phenomenal action-adventure game for players who might have zero clue about the archeologist's exploits.

Taking you to gorgeous places from the Vatican to Sukothai, your adventure is filled with intricate puzzles to solve, dangerous environments to traverse, and numerous collectibles to find. It's filled with activities, but Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is also a relaxing experience, giving you the freedom to just casually mooch around like a virtual tourist as you uncover the world's mysteries.

For those who fancy a bit of violence with their video games, there are plenty of faschists to beat the hell out of as well, and thanks to a punchy combat system, it's extremely satisfying. Throw in the use of Indy's whip, tons of environmental weapons, and firearms, and you're free to create carnage when not nosing through ruins.

Whether you're a fan of the franchise or just enjoy action-adventure games, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a delight, and everyone should check it out.


3. Resident Evil 2

  • Here are the Resident Evil 2 achievements
  • Release date: January 25, 2019
  • Developer: Capcom Entertainment
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
When a developer announces it's remaking one of its most iconic games, there is always a cause for concern. What will they strip out? Can they do the original justice? How can you improve on perfection? With the Resident Evil 2 remake, it turns out our concerns were unfounded as Capcom created yet another masterpiece.

Playing as rookie police officer Leon Kennedy and college student Claire Redfield, you will need to fight your way through Raccoon City after a disastrous outbreak turns its citizens into zombies. While the remake is based on the 1998 release, it has been rebuilt from the ground up with a new over-the-shoulder camera view, new controls, modern visuals, new gameplay elements, and new enemies.

Resident Evil 2 is a true love letter to the original 1998 game, and it's a must-play for anyone with a Game Pass subscription.


2. Minecraft

  • Here are the Minecraft achievements
  • Release date: November 18, 2011
  • Developer: Mojang Studios
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
  • Game Pass tier: Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
Next up is Minecraft, a cute little indie game that you’ve probably not heard of. Only about 238 million copies of the game have been sold since it launched way back in November 2011 (and it was in beta for two years before that).

Terrible jokes aside, Minecraft is one of the most popular games of all time, and with good reason. It’s equal parts block-based creative sandbox and enthralling adventure game, letting players decide how to make their own fun. You could build up resources to conquer the Nether or battle the Ender Dragon, or you could just spend three weeks building a Skull Fortress with a lava moat. You can play solo or join a server with friends and work together to build truly epic projects.

Over the years it has received a ton of content updates, adding new enemies, block types, resources, and mechanics to help keep the experience fresh too.


1. Halo: The Master Chief Collection

There is no other game series more synonymous with Xbox than Halo, and Halo: The Master Chief Collection is the ultimate celebration of the series. You can play through Halo, Halo 2, Halo 3, and Halo 4 all in one complete package (and ODST and Reach available as DLC too). Halo 1 & 2 are also the anniversary editions, so you can play them with beautifully updated graphics (or switch back to classic at the touch of a button).

Aside from the collection’s six stellar campaigns that will keep you busy for hours, Halo really comes into its own when playing with others — whether that’s taking the fight to the Flood and the Covenant in a co-op campaign or battling it out in one of the many different PvP modes in multiplayer. Now you can relive the memories of getting splattered by your own teammates’ careening Warthog on Valhalla. Good times.

Just be prepared for an ungodly challenge if you want to 100% this bad boy, it has a staggering 7000G on offer, and some very tough achievements in there (looking at you Monopolised).


There are always new games coming to Game Pass, so we'll be regularly updating this list as games join and leave the service. As for this list, do you agree with our choices, or are there any other Game Pass games you think should be included? Drop a comment below and let us know!
Written by Tom West
Tom has been playing video games since he was old enough to hold a controller, experimenting with a number of systems until he eventually fell in love with Xbox. With a passion for the platform, he decided to make a career out of it, and now happily spends his days writing about that which he loves. If he’s not hunting for Xbox achievements, you’ll likely find him somewhere in The Elder Scrolls Online or fighting for survival in Battlefield.
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