Jun 11, 2023 9:00 AM

The 10 Best Games on Xbox Game Pass

From Hypnospace Outlaw to Chicory: A Colorful Tale, Microsoft’s subscription service includes a bounty of fun games for console and PC.

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Featured in this article

Screenshot from the game 'Hypnospace Outlaw'

Screenshot from the game 'Chicory A Colorful Tale'

Screenshot of Valheim game featuring character walking through forest with sun shining

Screenshot from Aesthetic Alchemy game showing a potion being created

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Even when budgets are tight, Xbox Game Pass is one of the few services I keep around. For $15 a month, you get to choose from over 100 titles in a regularly refreshed library of options to play on console as well as PC. For active gamers, it’s a worthwhile subscription that costs less than the price of three AAA games.

The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription comes with Xbox Live Gold, access to EA Play, and cloud gaming. Just on console and not interested in online multiplayers games? Microsoft offers a cheaper tier that costs $10 a month. Ditched your console? There’s a PC-only plan that’s also $10. (PlayStation and Switch gamers should check out our guide to the top subscription services for those platforms.)

I sifted through the Game Pass catalog and curated a few outstanding titles to help you decide which ones to download first. (It’s a bit overwhelming!) From new indies to classic blockbusters, our genre-spanning picks for the best Game Pass games likely has something that’s perfect for your style of play.

Searching for even more great game recommendations? WIRED's lists of the best Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S titles also include fantastic picks.

Courtesy of No More Robots
Sleep Scrolling
Hypnospace Outlaw
This game is pure vibes. In Hypnospace Outlaw, you are enlisted as a content moderator for a version of the late '90s internet that people surf while sleeping. Weird, right? The game’s precise aesthetic captures the chaos of the early internet. In a moment when AI chatbots feel inescapable and may transform how we interact with the web, it's both surreal and comforting to browse through an outdated, pixelated version.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$20 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$20 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of Finji
Pigment Pilgrim
Chicory: A Colorful Tale
Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a cozy, artistic adventure where you solve puzzles by bringing the beautiful hues back to your environment with a magic paintbrush. First released for PlayStation and PC in 2021, it’s now available on Xbox as well. Will your curiosity and artistic ability be enough to save your community? The more you explore, the more you discover what’s possible with the stroke of your brush.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$20 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$20 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of Iron Gate AB
Viking Friends
Valheim
An enthralling spin on the survival genre first released in 2021, Valheim is finally available to play on console as well as on PC. As a Viking, you craft cool armor, build outposts for your friends, and battle your way through harsh environments with their help. It’s a game that’s best enjoyed with multiple browser tabs open, so don’t be afraid to search for help on how to get started or how to emerge victorious from nasty boss battles. It’s possible to survive in Valheim, but only if it’s Odin’s will.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$20 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$20 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of NicePlay Games
Aesthetic Alchemy
Potion Craft
Get your mortar and pestle ready! In Potion Craft, you collect the tastiest mushrooms and the smelliest herbs to mash, blend, and sell to the townsfolk. Be prepared to haggle with stingy customers who drive a hard bargain. Also, don’t hand out mediocre concoctions often or your alchemist’s reputation will suffer. The idyllic business management sim is a soothing way to spend an evening.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$20 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$15 at Steam Store (PC)

Courtesy of EA Games
Ship Shape
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
Although the next installment for the Mass Effect series remains in the distant future, this remastered trilogy from BioWare is an engaging set of games for science fiction aficionados. Returning players may find satisfaction in revisiting the 2007 release; new players might enjoy playing an accessible piece of history that continues to impact contemporary games. If you can look past a cumbersome user interface, the overall experience is worth it.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$60 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$60 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of The Outsiders
Beat Slayer
Metal: Hellsinger
Original music meets Doom-style gameplay in Metal: Hellsinger. Successfully slay your enemies by attacking in sync with the pounding rhythms of hell. Yes, it’s a bit gimmicky, but this short game from The Outsiders refuses to overstay its welcome. Now if we could play it backward to expose the hidden, demonic messages …
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$40 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$30 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of Obsidian Entertainment
Local Artist
Pentiment
Pentiment is the best game released in 2022 you might have missed. In this adventure game, you’re an intrepid artist living in 16th-century Bavaria who wants to uncover the truth about a murder. Visually striking and narratively complex, it’s a top-tier title that takes only a couple of weeks to finish. Check out WIRED’s interview with Pentiment’s director, Josh Sawyer, for an in-depth discussion about the game.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$20 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$20 at Steam Store (PC)

Courtesy of Two Point Studios
Dean Duties
Two Point Campus
An admirable successor to Two Point Hospital, Two Point Campus is a lighthearted business management sim where you build multiple universities and attempt to keep students happy as they study everything from robotics to wizardry. Between creating lavish dorm rooms, hiring the best faculty, and designing the outdoor shrubbery, make sure to keep an eye on the campus coffers. Budgeting while you’re attending college is a slog; budgeting while you’re playing Two Point Campus is rather rewarding.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$40 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$40 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of Playground Games
Zooming Around
Forza Horizon 5
An open-world racing game set in Mexico, Forza Horizon 5 will keep you engrossed and behind the wheel for hours on end. The smooth handling and pristine graphics make Forza Horizon 5 one of the best racing games of all time. Build a collection of iconic cars, customize the vehicles, and hear the engines purr during racing events and aimless explorations of the expansive map. An online battle royale mode, “The Eliminator,” is thrown in for good measure.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$60 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$60 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of Square Enix
Space Shooter
Outriders
Balancing elements of an RPG and third-person shooter, Outriders is another sci-fi adventure worth your time. Traverse the dystopian planet of Enoch in a customizable convoy and use your unique skill set to take on formidable foes. The co-op campaign is perfect for hours of monster-blasting fun with friends. Curious about the Outriders Worldslayer expansion? It’s not included with the subscription service, but you can play the original experience on Game Pass before deciding to buy additional content.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$60 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$60 at Steam Store (PC)

Courtesy of Bethesda
Honorable Mentions
More Game Pass Games
As Dusk Falls
Citizen Sleeper
Dead by Daylight
Doom
Exo One
Fallout 4
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Hollow Knight
Inside
Redfall
Mortal Kombat 11
Skyrim
Tunic
Weird West

Reece Rogers is WIRED's service writer, focused on explaining crucial topics and helping readers get the most out of their technology. Prior to WIRED, he covered streaming at Insider.

Service Writer