If you’re subscribing to Xbox Game Pass, you no doubt want to make sure that you’re playing the very best games that the service has to offer. From highly anticipated Xbox exclusives that release straight into the program to the ID@Xbox games that take you by surprise, there are more great titles arriving into Xbox Games Pass library every month. Choosing which Xbox Game Pass title to play next might seem like a daunting task, so we’re here to help you narrow down the choice by using a combination of site review scores, your community ratings, and our own opinions, to put together our list of the 20 best Xbox Game Pass games that you should be checking out today. Yakuza: Like a DragonWhat a game to have on Xbox Game Pass. If you ever wondered how much random ridiculousness you could fit in a game, Yakuza: Like a Dragon has the answer, and it’s fantastic. It’s all about Ichiban Kasuga, who’s just been released from an 18-year stint in prison (for a crime he didn’t commit) only to realise his clan is gone, and he’s been betrayed by his idol. He then sets out on a mission to figure out what happened. That, technically, is what the game is about, but you might forget that after you stumble onto the sheer amount of stuff there is to do in Like a Dragon. It’s nearly impossible to go from point A to point B without getting sidetracked by side missions, minigames, or random snippets of conversation. Soon you’ll be running a business (where your best employee is apparently a chicken?) or fighting to stay awake while REM rams (creepy sheep-men) attempt to lull you to sleep. Yes, really. Yakuza: Like a Dragon is just sheer fun to play — and is just one of many great RPGs on Xbox Game Pass — and it’s a safe bet that you won’t regret starting this up while it’s in the Game Pass library.Yakuza: Like a DragonBecome Ichiban Kasuga, a low-ranking yakuza grunt left on the brink of death by the man he trusted most. Take up your legendary bat and get ready to crack some underworld skulls in dynamic RPG combat set against the backdrop of modern-day Japan in Yakuza: Like a Dragon.Russian and Brazilian Portuguese subtitles available in early 2021 via patch update.Game leverages Smart Delivery allowing access to both the Xbox One title and Xbox Series X|S title when available. Spiritfarer I’ve shouted the praises of this game quite a bit, and it more than lives up to the hype. You play as Stella, the new guardian of the deceased. With your cat Daffodil, you’re in charge of ferrying these souls to the afterlife, but it’s not a quick trip. They’ll be with you for some time, with you building them a home and learning about their life, loves, dreams, and regrets. Spiritfarer gives you just enough time to bond with these wonderful spirits before punching you straight in the feelings when it’s time to drop them off. Spiritfarer is beautiful both in theme and in fact, with a gorgeous soundtrack and a beautiful world full of vibrant sunsets and isolated islands. Stella has a lot to do in her role as Spiritfarer, and must farm, mine, fish, cook, explore, and more — but Spiritfarer rarely feels rushed. You’re free to take the game at your own pace, without the usual panic of farming games where you feel you have to get as much done as possible before night falls. Spiritfarer is a real gem of a game, and one you should definitely try while it’s on Xbox Game Pass.Spiritfarer®Spiritfarer is a cozy management game about dying. As ferrymaster to the deceased, build a boat to explore the world, care for your spirit friends, and guide them across mystical seas to finally release them into the afterlife. The Outer WorldsThe Outer Worlds is just a huge amount of fun to play. It’s a sci-fi, space-western RPG mashup, which should tell you everything you need to know about the game’s tone. If ever a game were to deserve the descriptor “wacky,” it would be this one. It’s often viewed as a sort of spiritual successor to Fallout: New Vegas, but while it has a similar sense of humour, it very much stands on its own two feet. The Outer Worlds doesn’t want you to take it too seriously — it wants you to explore space, maybe blow some stuff up, and maybe help take out an all-controlling evil corporation. You know, just if you have the time. The Outer Worlds unites in-depth dialogue options and an incredibly complex and branching story with that wacky humour and some seriously gorgeous planets. It’s rated at 4.38 out of 5 on our site, while our The Outer Worlds review gave it a 4.5/5. The Outer WorldsThe Outer Worlds is a new single-player sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment and Private Division. As you explore the furthest reaches of space and encounter a host of factions all vying for power, who you decide to become will determine the fate of everyone in Halcyon. In the corporate equation for the colony, you are the unplanned variable. Children of MortaChildren of Morta is a real Xbox Game Pass gem. It’s a rogue-lite action RPG about the Bergsons, a family of warriors who are the last line of defence against the spreading Corruption. The family theme is fundamental to the game: you play as each member, but you also learn more about the family as a whole — their history, their relationships to each other, and the interaction between the older generation and the new as they deal with the burden of being the Bergsons. The game offers a wealth of world lore and a lovely story, coupled with a beautiful pixel art style. We included this one in our five Xbox games for when you’re short on time, as, like Bad North, the game’s successive dungeon runs make it easier to pick up when you’ve only got a few minutes. It’s true that if you’re not a huge fan of open-ended open-worlders, or aren’t in the mood to lose hours of your life to some of the chunkier titles in this list, then Children of Morta is a great one to try. Yet it would be doing the game a disservice to say that’s its only attraction — it’s a fantastic game all on its own, and even if you’re not normally a fan of rogue-lite or action RPGs, you might still find it well worth your time just to pick it up for a few minutes.Children of MortaChildren of Morta is a story-driven action RPG game about an extraordinary family of heroes. Lead the Bergons, with all their flaws and virtues, against the forthcoming Corruption. Will you be able to sacrifice everything to save the ones you care for? A Plague Tale: Innocence A Plague Tale: Innocence seemed to have flown under the radar at first, before garnering huge popularity with players and critics alike. It’s a stealth game with action-adventure elements, rated at 4.50/5 by our community. As the title suggests, it’s a grim game set in a Medieval France overrun with disease, rats, soldiers, and the Inquisition. Orphans Amicia and Hugo De Rune have to make their way through this gruelling world, with Amicia needing to protect her little brother particularly from the Inquisition, which seems to have taken an interest in the boy and his strange illness. With the news of a Plague Tale 2 on the horizon — A Plague Tale: Requiem — it’ll be more than worth getting stuck into the first one while it’s on Xbox Game Pass.A Plague Tale: InnocenceFollow the critically acclaimed tale of young Amicia and her little brother Hugo, in a heartrending journey through the darkest hours of history. Hollow Knight: Voidheart EditionHollow Knight seems to constantly crop up as one of the best recent platforming games there is, and is currently rated at 4.40/5 on the site. It’s a metroidvania which delves into underground caverns filled with insects — some friendly, some decidedly not — and gorgeous visuals. It makes you work for every scrap of story you find, and it presents a definite challenge, but if you’re a fan of platformers, Hollow Knight is definitely one to try. Hollow Knight: Voidheart EditionDescend into the world of Hollow Knight! The award winning action adventure of insects and heroes. Explore twisting caverns, ancient cities and deadly wastes. Battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs. Uncover ancient history and solve the mysteries buried at the kingdom’s heart.Forza Horizon 4By this stage, it should come as no surprise that Playground Games finds a way to raise the bar for each release in the Horizon series, and they’ve once again found another gear in Forza Horizon 4 that leaves its competitors trailing in the dust. The roster of cars is bigger than ever, the setting of Britain is stunningly recreated down to the finest detail, the shared online world is a resounding success, and the addition of seasons adds something completely new and unique to the series both in terms of the gameplay and the aesthetics of the world. I don’t know how they do it, but Playground Games has once again set the standard for other racing games to strive for.Forza Horizon 4Dynamic seasons change everything at the world’s greatest automotive festival. Go it alone or team up with others to explore beautiful and historic Britain in a shared open world. Collect, modify and drive over 450 cars. Race, stunt, create and explore – choose your own path to become a Horizon Superstar.Hellblade: Senua’s SacrificeSome games do a few memorable things in an otherwise disappointing package, and some games are greater than the sum of their parts. Then some games are like Hellblade, where everything is done so well that it stands up to nearly all criticism. The puzzling and combat are both well designed even if neither is genre-redefining, and the audiovisual experience is a consistent spectacle. The ways it never cuts to loading screens and hides its UI makes it feel unique too, like we are right there with Senua every step of the way, but it’s because of the story that Hellblade is forever cemented as something special. Senua is fierce and imperfect in a way that will have you rooting for her with an urgency that few characters ever garner. Her journey is pretty much unceasingly filthy, violent, tragic and horrific, yet it’s not a story of suffering, but rather one of perseverance. Senua is a remarkable character who instils all of her energies into the player in such a way that will never be forgotten.Hellblade: Senua’s SacrificeFrom the makers of Heavenly Sword, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, and DmC: Devil May Cry, comes a warrior’s brutal journey into myth and madness.Set in the Viking age, a broken Celtic warrior embarks on a haunting vision quest into Viking Hell to fight for the soul of her dead lover. Created in collaboration with neuroscientists and people who experience psychosis, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice will pull you deep into Senua’s mind. Desperados IIIRed Dead Redemption 2 used to be on our list of the 20 best Xbox Game Pass games before it left the service, but if you’ve been left with a hunger for more outlaw action, Desperados III is definitely one to start up. It’s a RTS and stealth game set in the Wild West and revolving around John Cooper and his gang. It’s hugely immersive from the get-go, and you’ll find yourself hooked on solving each of its challenges. Don’t just take our word for it — the TA community has rated it 4.5/5, so even if you’re not sure whether it’s for you, it’s still more than worth checking out. Desperados IIIDesperados III is a story-driven, hardcore tactical stealth game, set in a ruthless Wild West scenario. Play smart if you want to succeed. A good plan can make the difference between survival and finding yourself at the business end of a pistol.Sunset OverdriveSunset Overdrive is a blast to play; it looks great, it feels great, and it pushes the limits of both the player and the console without straining either. It may not be much more than a wacky, immature and explosive adventure that tries too hard to poke fun at itself and dazzle its players with gimmicks, but Sunset Overdrive has it where it counts. It’s plain and simple while over-the-top ridiculous, charming while offensive, exceptional while exceptionally tacky: in short, it knows what it is. Sunset Overdrive is fun.Sunset OverdriveSunset Overdrive transforms an open-world apocalypse into your tactical playground. Zip, grind and wall-run across Sunset City while using a devastating, unconventional arsenal. With hyper-agility, unique weapons, and customizable special abilities, Sunset Overdrive rewrites the rules of traditional shooters and delivers an explosive and irreverent adventure in the end times.Halo Wars: Definitive EditionTo this day Halo Wars remains the most accessible RTS game to have ever been released on a console, and while it may lack the depth of some of its PC brethren, as an introduction to the genre it is still at the top of its class. The addition of playing it on PC is a welcome inclusion and something for which many people have been asking since the game was originally released in 2009. Halo Wars: Definitive Edition doesn’t offer much more over its Xbox 360 counterpart — which is already playable on the Xbox One thanks to Backwards Compatibility — but with its inclusion in Game Pass, it’s the most cost-effective version to recommend.Halo Wars: Definitive EditionHalo Wars Definitive Edition is an enhanced version of the original Halo Wars that runs natively on Xbox One and Windows 10. Halo Wars: Definitive Edition includes improved graphics, new achievements and all the DLC from the landmark game.Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive EditionOri and the Blind Forest is utterly gorgeous, with a beautiful soundtrack to complement it. Like Celeste, the lack of load times in Blind Forest helps the flow of the game and eases the frustration of the more difficult segments, while the platforming gameplay is fluent and precise all the way through. Difficulty spikes bring a challenging edge, and the escape sections are some of the most hectic portions of any platformer game. Ultimately, we cannot recommend this game enough — it is a must play, as is its excellent sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps.Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive EditionThe forest of Nibel is dying. After a powerful storm sets a series of devastating events in motion, Ori must journey to find courage and confront a dark nemesis to save the forest of Nibel. Experience a visually stunning, hand-crafted adventure with a deeply emotional story in the Definitive Edition of Ori and the Blind Forest from Moon Studios.The Walking DeadThe first, and arguably the best, season in Telltale’s The Walking Dead series was a huge success when it originally released on the Xbox 360 back in 2012. Telling the emotional tale of Lee, Clementine and a group of survivors, The Walking Dead is a game that will stick with you long after the final credits begin to roll. By now, most people will have likely played through the game at least once but if you’ve been holding off for any reason, the inclusion of the ported Xbox One version of the game in Xbox Game Pass is too good to miss.The Walking Dead: The Complete First SeasonWinner of over 90 ‘Game of the Year’ Awards, The Walking Dead Complete First Season includes all 5 episodes of the critically acclaimed series, plus special episode ‘400 Days’.Gears of War: Ultimate EditionGears of War: Ultimate Edition stands as a shining example of how a remaster should be done. From the ground up the game has been redesigned to make it look and feel perfectly at home on the Xbox One, and The Coalition has managed to combine remaining true to the original game, whilst at the same time adding improvements. By staying true to the original Gears there are moments where the game shows its age, but they aren’t frequent enough to spoil the overall experience, and you’ll be more surprised by how well the story and gameplay mechanics stand up to today’s standards and quite often overshadow them. If you’re not a fan of third-person shooters or the previous Gears of War games, there’s nothing for you here. For everyone else the name says it all — this is the Ultimate way to experience Gears of War. Whether you’re a newcomer to the franchise, or if you’re looking for any excuse to return to Sera and chainsaw Locusts into tiny pieces, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is a must-play.Gears of War: Ultimate EditionThis version is only available in Xbox Game Pass. Purchase the Deluxe Version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition for the equivalent price. See it in the “Included in” section below.The landmark original Gears of War returns, stunningly remastered and modernized for Xbox One. Slay the Spire Slay the Spire definitely earns a spot on this list just for the sheer amount of hours you can sink into it. No matter how much you play, Slay the Spire never loses that attraction. It’s a simple premise done masterfully well, and although you die a lot, the unlocks of new items, relics, and characters keep it from feeling even a little stale, as does the fact that each time you set out to slay the Spire, you’ll follow a different path. Slay the Spire is as dangerous as Children of Morta in that you might promise yourself to play “just a few minutes,” and then look up to see you’ve somehow time-travelled and it’s hours later than you thought it wasSlay The SpireWe fused card games and roguelikes together to make the best single player deckbuilder we could. Craft a unique deck, encounter bizarre creatures, discover relics of immense power, and Slay the Spire! The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special EditionYou couldn’t really have a “best of Xbox Game Pass” list without including Skyrim, so here it is. There’s not really another game like Skyrim for all-absorbing awesomeness. You’ve already got so much with the base game, but the Special Edition also includes all the add-ons and a bunch of graphical improvements like volumetric god rays, just to make it even more impressive. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition has been rated at 4.74/5 from over 5,000 TA players, and offers you hundreds of hours of content to sink your teeth into. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special EditionWinner of more than 200 Game of the Year Awards, the Skyrim Special Edition includes the game and add-ons with all-new features like remastered art and effects, volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field, and more. Also bring the power of mods to consoles. New quests, environments, characters, dialogue, armor, weapons and more – with Mods, there are no limits to what you can experience. Halo: The Master Chief CollectionA best Xbox Game Pass games list wouldn’t be complete without Halo — one of the most iconic first-person shooters of all time. And with the Halo: The Master Chief Collection, you’re getting a whopping six games that have either been remastered or optimised for both PC and Xbox Series X|S consoles and all bundled into one neat little package. 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. The collection offers a staggering amount of content that will have you hooked for a long time (even more so if you’re an achievement hunter). With Halo Infinite on the horizon, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is the perfect starting point for beginners new to the franchise who maybe want to see what all the fuss is about before the next entry into the series launches this holiday. Halo: The Master Chief CollectionSix games, one epic saga. The Master Chief’s entire story is brought together and optimized for Xbox Series X|S. : Featuring Halo: Reach, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST Campaign, and Halo 4, this is the definitive Halo experience. Nier Automata Some people apparently aren’t aware that Nier: Automata was one of the best games of last generation, let alone that it’s easily one of the finest picks from the current Game Pass catalogue. This cannot continue. With the original Nier on Xbox 360 offering incredible ingenuity and world-building but falling flat in terms of visuals and combat, drafting in PlatinumGames to fix those shortcomings for the sequel was a masterstroke. Combat in Automata flows beautifully, and the whole thing is slick, stylish, and somehow every bit as creative as its predecessor, with the game bounding between narrative beats and gameplay styles with a wonderful sense of unpredictability. Oh, and there’s the soundtrack too, an original score for the ages and legitimately another reason to play the game — simply to drink in Okabe and Hoashi’s gorgeous soundscape. It’s on Spotify as well, should you need it once you’re done with the game. Spoiler: you absolutely will. Automata requires several playthroughs for a full completion, but changes things up considerably on each run to help keep things fresh. Seriously, this thing is incredible, so have at it already.NieR:Automata™ BECOME AS GODS EditionInvaders from another world attack without warning – unleashing the machine lifeforms. To break the deadlock, a new breed of android infantry is sent into the fray: the YoRHa squad. Highly-acclaimed and award winning NieR:Automata™ is a fresh take on the action role-playing game (RPG) genre that gracefully blends mesmerizing action with a captivating story. Doom The slightly more methodical gameplay loop of sequel Doom Eternal might be more to some people’s tastes, but for us, the purity and chaos of 2016’s Doom reboot still takes some beating. 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 perfect 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 while barely taking a scratch. How much more metal could it be? None. None more metal.DOOMNow includes all three premium DLC packs (Unto the Evil, Hell Followed, and Bloodfall), maps, modes, and weapons, as well as all feature updates including Arcade Mode, Photo Mode, and the latest Update 6.66, which brings further multiplayer improvements as well as revamps multiplayer progression. Developed by id Software, the studio that pioneered the first-person shooter genre and created multiplayer Deathmatch, DOOM returns as a brutally fun and challenging modern-day shooter experience. Tetris Effect: Connected There are two types of people in this world: those who would tell you that Tetris is a perfect video game, and those who are wrong. While Connected might be the puzzle classic in its fanciest form to date, the fundamentals are as simple and as satisfying as ever — sort blocks neatly to make them all go away when you manage to make a full line, and repeat until the end of time itself. The hook here is that the presentation is tied to the tetromino-arranging action, with visuals pulsing and music evolving as you progress through a stage, not unlike Lumines or Rez. There’s even a great new twist on multiplayer, where several players team up to defeat a powerful AI opponent, and performing decently here allows you to combine all players’ wells into one single play field where you can all go nuts and create huge lines to bring down the bot. A stylish take on a true gaming classic, although you’ll need some serious Tetris skills if you’re planning to go for the completion.Tetris® Effect: ConnectedTetris® Effect: Connected is the original Tetris Effect with all-new co-op and competitive online and local multiplayer modes. This is Tetris® like you’ve never seen it, or heard it, or felt it before—an incredibly addictive, unique, and breathtakingly gorgeous reinvention of one of the most popular puzzle games of all time. Game leverages Smart Delivery allowing access to both the Xbox One title and the Xbox Series X|S title.
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