Xbox Games Pass might be the best deal in gaming. Especially if you’ve never used it before since new members get three months of access for just $1 a month. You can’t say no to that. And with these 10 must-play titles, Xbox Game Pass is unbeatable.
Xbox Game Pass has 400+ games in its library that are constantly coming and going. It is usually $10 a month. Subscribers can get Xbox Ultimate for $15 a month, which pairs Games Pass and Gold, Xbox’s online subscription, together. Whichever way you slice it, Xbox Game Pass has an incredible selection for a fairly low monthly rate. Here, in no particular order, are 10 must-play games on Xbox Game Pass.
Back 4 Blood
Back 4 Blood is a great example of what Xbox Game Pass is all about. Available on day one, Back 4 Blood offers players a chance to freely, with their subscription, try out a game that they can either sink a lot of time into or play once a week with some friends.
Back 4 Blood is an online four-player zombie-slaying action game. If you’re familiar with the Left 4 Dead series, this is another one of those, but with a few tweaks. For one, there are eight playable characters all with differing playstyles and there is a card system that shapes how you play. It is loads of fun to go chapter after chapter taking down zombies in objective-based missions with your friends.
The Forgotten City
Another great reason to get Xbox Game Pass is that you don’t have to pay $40-$70 dollars for new games that you want to try out, are a little too short, or don’t have much replayability. Those types of games are still great and some of my personal favorites. I’ve been waiting for The Forgotten City for a while now and it is now available on Game Pass.
There are many reasons why The Forgotten City is a must-play. First, it started out as a Skyrim mod. Second, it features a time loop (we all love time loop video games, right?). The appeal of this game can accurately be expressed through its summary: “The Forgotten City is a mystery adventure game of exploration and deduction. Travel 2,000 years into the past and relive the final days of a cursed Roman city, where if one person sins, everyone dies.” Especially with Game Pass, The Forgotten City is a must-play.
Sable
This coming-of-age story is a beautiful one. Sable is an open-world exploration game with a refreshing art style and story. There is a lot of soft world-building elements to this game that make it feel real and unique. Players play as Sable, who belongs to a nomadic clan. She is finally old enough to leave her home and acquires her sand glider. If any of this sounds interesting to you, play Sable. You won’t regret it.
Psychonauts 2
Psychonauts has had a wild ride, but the return of Psychonauts 2 isn’t one to miss. Buzzing with zany enemies and mind-centric level design, Psychonauts 2 is the sequel to Psychonauts, which is also available on Game Pass. The game is an action-adventure platformer with an open hub world. It is also a return to form as collectibles are front and center, but they are fun to collect. Psychonauts 2 is simply a must-play.
Monster Train
Monster Train is one of my favorite games and is definitely a must-play on Game Pass. Fairly simple in concept but unquestionably challenging to conquer, Monster Train is a deck-building game similar to Slay the Spire and Dicey Dungeons.
With Hell freezing over with the invasion of angels, the objective of the game is to ride a train filled with monsters to the center of Hell to reignite the flames and banish the angels. Players will unlock five different monster species and will need to pick two, one primary and one secondary, to have as their hero and build their decks around. Monster Train is an addicting roguelike that is a great Game Pass game.
Subnautica: Below Zero
Subnautica is a beautiful single-player survival adventure game that thrusts players into an oceanic planet. Here, players will learn the true meaning of terror in the depths, but find color and craftiness in the shallows. While both Subnautica games are on Game Pass, Subnautica: Below Zero is a must-play.
As the newest standalone entry in the series, Subnautica: Below Zero adds a stronger narrative and an icy environment. What makes Subnautica such an excellent game is the element of discovery. Plopped into a massive world, players will slowly find creatures, collect resources, build bases, and encounter death. It is a wonderful masterpiece that deserves to be played.
Sea of Thieves
The world is in constant need of more pirate games. Sea of Thieves, despite its rocky release in 2018, has come into its own as a great pirate MMO. Though overwhelming at first, and ruthless as any pirate game should be, much of what makes Sea of Thieves great is the role-playing. There are quests to follow, but sailing the seas doing pirate-y things with your mates makes this a must-play.
There are few games that let the player explore wherever they like and do what they wish. Be warned, Sea of Thieves is extremely fun with friends but can be lonely playing solo. With all that in mind, Sea of Thieves is a gem.
Dishonored 2
Dishonored 2 is a masterclass in many categories. With the first, second, and Death of the Outsider DLC available on Game Pass, the must-play game is Dishonored 2. Set in the lush coastal city of Karnaca, players will pick up where the first Dishonored left off. There is a new threat to the throne and the ability to play as Corvo or Emily.
What makes Dishonored 2 an Xbox Game Pass must-play is that it takes everything great from the first game and elevates it. The level design in this game is beyond incredible. There are levels, like The Clockwork Mansion or A Crack in the Slab, that will make you forget that you’re playing a video game and make you feel like you’re the main character in an elaborate movie set piece. For that reason and so many more, Dishonored 2 is a masterpiece.
Gang Beasts
Gang Beasts is a fighting game, but players are jello creatures. With both local and online multiplayer, Gang Beasts is a hilarious game perfect for any party. The stages are three-dimensional and usually have some sort of physics-based mechanic that make them interesting, like moving cars or bouncing buoys. It’s simple, it’s funny, and it’s definitely worth playing on Game Pass.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Last but not least, the Halo: Master Chief Collection. There is no higher Xbox must-play game than Halo. Especially for gamers new to Xbox, this is the quintessential Xbox series to play. This collection contains six games: Halo: Reach, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo 4.
Each contains a story mode, multiplayer, and various other modes like Forge and Firefight. Halo is a big part of gaming history, and with this collection, you and your friends can relive, or experience for the first time, the glorious Halo chronicles. For what it’s worth, and with Game Pass it’s not worth much, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is truly a must-play experience.
Thus concludes this list of 10 must-play Xbox Game Pass games. All of them are available right now with the Xbox Game Pass or Ultimate Subscription. If any of these games caught your eye, check it out risk-free on Game Pass.
Xbox Game Pass is available on Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, and PC.
