The 25 Best Games on Xbox Game Pass

Is Xbox Game Pass still worth your investment? Following multiple tier restructurings, price adjustments, and slight fluctuations in service features, that question is more nuanced than ever. Ultimately, the value remains subjective, hinging entirely on your personal gaming habits. However, there is no denying that the service continues to host an expansive library of exceptional titles. To help you filter through the immense catalog, our team has curated a definitive list of the absolute finest PC and Xbox games currently available across all subscription tiers.

After an explosive 2025 highlighted by critical darlings like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Hollow Knight: Silksong, 2026 has introduced a slightly more measured cadence of releases. Even so, the platform has bolstered its library with massive back-catalog heavyweights—including CD Projekt’s Cyberpunk 2077 and an extensive collection of Ubisoft titles—alongside major day-one heavy hitters such as Forza Horizon 6 and Halo: Campaign Evolved.

Our September 9 update incorporates several exciting new additions: Forza Horizon 6, Luna Abyss, Denshattack!, Blood Dungeon, and Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered.

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How we curate the ultimate Game Pass lineup

Given the sheer volume of choices available, browsing Game Pass can occasionally feel overwhelming. We are here to simplify that process. Our editorial staff actively plays and tests a vast array of releases, ensuring every recommendation on this list has earned the personal endorsement of at least one team member. We evaluate titles based on uncompromising quality, breadth, and stylistic variety, ensuring you will find something compelling regardless of your preferred genre, available leisure time, or desired mood.

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1
Forza Horizon 6

Image: Playground Games/Xbox Game Studios

Where to play: Game Pass Ultimate on Windows PC and Xbox Series X

Playground Games’ industry-leading racer should theoretically be losing momentum by now. Admittedly, the open-world festival framework of Forza Horizon 6 feels deeply familiar and introduces few radical structural innovations. Yet, the formula remains masterfully executed. Set against a stunning, soul-stirring recreation of Japan—arguably the franchise’s most visually breathtaking map to date—the driving mechanics are endlessly rewarding. The pacing feels more focused and deliberate than its predecessor, trimming away unnecessary clutter. While a challenger will eventually unseat the franchise, that day has not yet arrived. —Oli Welsh

Read Oli Welsh’s full review of Forza Horizon 6.

2
Luna Abyss

Image: Kwalee Labs/Kwalee

Where to play: Game Pass Ultimate on Windows PC and Xbox Series X

Luna Abyss is an exceptional sci-fi shooter from indie studio Kwalee Labs—a hidden gem that unfortunately flew under the radar at launch. It deserves a much wider audience. The game brilliantly blends the visceral, punchy combat of Doom with the lock-on mechanics and fluid movement of Metroid Prime, while integrating the frantic, bullet-hell boss encounters seen in Returnal. Stylish, unapologetically bold, and endlessly thrilling, it represents the absolute peak of what Game Pass discoveries should be. —OW

Read Giovanni Colantonio’s impressions of Luna Abyss.

3
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered

Image: Level-5/Bandai Namco Entertainment

Where to play: Game Pass Premium and Ultimate on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X

Originally released in 2011, this enchanting turn-based RPG follows a young protagonist who acquires a magical cloak, transporting him into a vibrant fantasy realm filled with tactical battles and charming creatures. The project stands as a legendary collaboration between genre veterans Level-5 (renowned for Professor Layton and Dragon Quest VIII & IX) and the visionary animators at Studio Ghibli, who crafted the stunning animated sequences. Supplemented by a gorgeous orchestral score from longtime Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi, it provides the ultimate comfort-gaming experience. —OW

4
Denshattack!

Image: Undercodes/Fireshine Games

Where to play: Game Pass Ultimate on Windows PC and Xbox Series X

A dazzlingly original indie project, Denshattack! is an eccentric cross between a traditional train simulator and an extreme sports title, heavily inspired by the cel-shaded visual flair of Dreamcast classic Jet Set Radio. Operating as a breakneck score-attack arcade game, you pilot, drift, and flip a train car through a surreal, post-apocalyptic Japan, participating in underground stunt races hosted by rogue surface dwellers. The action is blindingly fast yet intuitively responsive, guaranteed to leave you grinning from ear to ear. Pure, unadulterated gaming joy. —OW

Read Giovanni Colantonio’s full review of Denshattack!.

5
Blood Dungeon

Image: Messhof

Where to play: Game Pass Ultimate on Windows PC and Xbox Series X

Developed by Messhof (the creative minds behind Nidhogg), this lo-fi dungeon crawler possesses a brutal, grimy simplicity. It merges the “bullet heaven” auto-shooter framework popularized by Vampire Survivors with 2D platforming and an irreverent, gleefully immature aesthetic where crude sketches transform into unstoppable engines of destruction. Operating at a noticeably faster tempo than genre peers, it incorporates engaging platforming mechanics while remaining fundamentally focused on exponential power scaling across repeated playthroughs. Undemanding yet entirely hypnotic. —OW

Read Giovanni Colantonio’s full review of Blood Dungeon.

6
Hades 2

Image: Supergiant Games

Where to play: Game Pass Premium and Ultimate on Windows PC and Xbox Series X

Supergiant’s universally acclaimed sequel to its masterclass roguelike has finally made its way to Xbox and Game Pass. Crowned by many as the premier new release of 2025, Hades 2 offers another stunningly designed, meticulously plotted descent through the labyrinthine corridors of Greek mythology. Stepping into the role of Melinoë, princess of the Underworld and sister to original protagonist Zagreus, your primary objective is the elimination of Chronos, the Titan of Time.

The core addictive loop remains entirely intact: you will die, restart, and repeat. Progression prioritizes expanding tactical flexibility over raw power accumulation, seamlessly advancing an engrossing overarching narrative and web of relationships. While the sequel occasionally leans toward ambitious feature bloat given how near-perfection the original was, it stands as an exceptional, visually arresting, and deeply rewarding action game. —OW

Read Ari Notis’ full review of Hades 2.

7
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Image: Warhorse Studios/Deep Silver

Where to play: Game Pass Premium and Ultimate on Windows PC and Xbox Series X

While hardly overlooked—having enjoyed major commercial success and critical acclaim upon its 2025 debut—Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 still deserves an even wider audience, which its arrival on Game Pass should thankfully secure. Warhorse Studios’ sprawling RPG is a masterclass in medieval realism. It places you squarely in the mud-caked boots of Henry of Skalitz, a humble blacksmith’s apprentice starting at the absolute bottom of the social ladder.

From complex narrative branching and meticulous attention to social strata to its brutally demanding, unromanticized combat mechanics, Deliverance 2 delivers an unmatched level of immersion far removed from standard power-fantasy RPGs. Enriched by vibrant characters, witty dialogue, and captivating side quests, the initial steep learning curve yields profound dividends for committed players. —OW

Read Marloes Valentina Stella’s full review of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, “the best RPG I’ve ever played.”

8
Minishoot’ Adventures

Image: SoulGame Studio/IndieArk

Where to play: Game Pass Premium and Ultimate on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X

Occasionally, game design brilliance comes down to merging two beloved yet entirely distinct concepts. Minishoot’ Adventures poses a simple question: What if a twin-stick shooter in the vein of Geometry Wars was structured like a classic 2D Zelda exploration game? The result is an absolute indie triumph.

Developer SoulGame Studio executes this concept with absolute precision, nailing the sensory feedback of combat and collectible pickups, finely tuned light-RPG progression paths, and demanding bullet-hell boss encounters—complete with fully realized dungeons. A phenomenal premise brought to life with near-flawless execution. —OW

Read Giovanni Colantonio’s full recommendation for Minishoot’ Adventures, “one of 2024’s best indies.”

9
1000xResist

Image: sunset visitor

Where to play: Game Pass Premium and Ultimate on Windows PC and Xbox Series X

As a purely narrative-driven journey, Sunset Visitor’s 2024 release 1000xResist stands as one of the most compelling, artfully composed interactive stories available on the platform. It weaves a deeply atmospheric sci-fi narrative centered on Watcher, one of numerous clones of Iris—a survivor of an alien pathogen that nearly eradicated humanity. While Iris’ immunity elevates her to near-divine status, Watcher and her sister clones begin to uncover unsettling truths as they delve into Iris’ memories.

Mechanically straightforward and leaning closer to a visual novel, 1000xResist elevates video game storytelling through brilliant dialogue scripting, exceptional character depth, and mature thematic exploration. A truly one-of-a-kind artistic achievement. —OW

Read Yussef Cole’s full review of 1000xResist.

10
The Alters

Image: 11 Bit Studios via Polygon

Where to play: Game Pass Premium and Ultimate on Windows PC and Xbox Series X

One of the greatest advantages of Game Pass is its ability to surface ambitious mid-tier gems that might have escaped your radar otherwise, quickly transforming into obsessions. 11 Bit Studios’ The Alters exemplifies this perfectly. It is a thought-provoking, deeply gripping sci-fi survival adventure tasking you with cloning yourself to endure a hostile alien planet—while juggling the emotional needs of every alternate version of you.

Reflecting the desolate city-management DNA of the studio’s previous work on Frostpunk, The Alters presents intense resource and time management challenges, heavy moral dilemmas, and wonderfully stressful scenarios. Although the momentum dips slightly in the later acts, the narrative hooks remain strong enough to drive you toward a deeply rewarding conclusion. —OW

Read Austin Manchester’s full review of The Alters.

 

Source: Polygon