Here are the absolute best games in the massive Xbox Game Pass library.
Xbox Game Passis the lifeblood of the Xbox console family, and its not hard to see why.
For a monthly fee, gain access to an ever-changing library of titles.
Xbox Game Pass sheer variety of offerings is its main selling point.
The subscription offers over 500 games from every Xbox console generation, even the OG Xbox.
Plus, many titles are released on Game Pass alongside their physical launches.
Quite frankly, they all have something to offer.
Some of those games would be worth downloading if they were standalone releases.
Its Egypt setting is also one of the series best thematic accomplishments.
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Banjo-Kazooie
In 2002, Microsoft purchased the game studio Rare.
This move let Microsoft gain ownership of Rares entire catalog, includingBanjo-Kazooie.
Banjo-Kazooieis widely regarded as one of thebest platformersever created, especially in the collectathon sub-genre.
Moreover,Banjo-Kazooiesports some of the wittiest dialogue and colorful characters to ever grace game consoles.
The satisfaction you feel for completing another devious challenge often echoes their triumphs.
Usually, the meat of the experience lies in, well, the platforming.
Celesteis a trek up a mountain.
In video game fashion, this involves pixel-perfect maneuvering, double jumps, and collectible strawberries.
The result is a fair experience that tests the upper limits of player reflexes without feeling unfair.
If thats still too difficult,Celesteprovides several assistive options to make the game even easier.
The higher she climbs, the more introspective her journey becomes.
Learn to loveSkylines, and youll find that there is little it wont let you do.
Its one of gamings greatest rabbit holes for those who are obsessed with logistics.
Its truly one of the great sci-fi games of the last several years.
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Dead Cells
Normally, Metroidvanias and roguelikes couldnt be more different.
One encourages players to explore hand-crafted worlds and revisit previous areas to reveal new locations and rewards.
The other forces players to improve by increments while funneling them through procedurally generated lands.
Yet, developer Motion Twin found a way to combine the two.
InDead Cells, players control a blob of…something…that can puppet corpses.
Players can make subsequent runs easier by unlocking new weapons and new traversal abilities that open up new routes.
The result is an addictive loop that creates and scratches the one more try itch.
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Diablo 4
Truth be told,Diablo 4is far from a perfect game.
Yet, despite all of its problems,Diablo 4is a ton of fun.
Others will simply start playing this game and never find a reason to put it down.
Every entry in the series is available through Xbox Game Pass (evenDoom 64).
2016sDOOMis a soft reboot of the franchise.
In terms of gunplay,DOOMis the complete package.
It offers more options to roleplay than any other entry in the series.
If someone can think of a solution to a quest, they can probably do it.
Well, if its been a while since youve fallen for a racing title, giveForza Horizon 5a spin.
Yet, it features a wonderfully accessible style of gameplay that just makes it an absolute joy to experience.
Its also stunningly beautiful.
For those who grew up withHalo, there is magic in this collection.
Even those just coming to these games for the first time may just discover what makes them so special.
Like Ninja Theorys other prominent titles,Hellblade: Senuas Sacrificeis a hack-and-slash game.
Instead of focusing on fast action, though,Senuas Sacrificetakes it slow.
WhileHellblade: Senuas Sacrificeis fun to play, its even better to experience thanks to its presentation and story.
Hi-Fi Rushis the glamorous lovechild ofDevil May CryandGuitar Hero.
Combat combines the button-mashing combo of the former with the rhythm-based challenge of the latter.
But to excel inHi-Fi Rush, players should time their attacks to the games different tunes.
Every animation and piece of dialogue exudes charm.
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Hollow Knight
Team Cherry hit the ground running with its indie Metroidvania titleHollow Knight.
That promise evolved intoHollow Knight Silksong, which is still in development.
At least you might still playHollow Knightwhile you wait.
Hollow Knightis an atmospheric dive into a world populated by anthropomorphic bugs.
Every character, enemy, and level is rendered in a hand-drawn style that exudes personality and even sympathy.
Both games are available through Xbox Game Pass, but if you only have time for one, playInside.
Insideis a game that thrives on simplicity.
Throughout the experience, players control a boy and have to guide him to safety.
Where did he come from?
Why do the people chasing him create an army of mindless homunculi?
The game expertly provides environmental storytelling clues that provide hints.
The game doesnt spell out the answer, but the narrative is compelling nonetheless.
Gameplaywise,Insideis just as simple as its plot.
And even thoughInsideis a 2.5D game, its setpiece moments surpass most other titles.
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Mass Effect Legendary Edition
BioWare is not the company it used to be.
The studios two latest games,Mass Effect: AndromedaandAnthem, were financial and critical failures.
Many players would rather revisit the games that made BioWare a household name.
Whats better than a remaster of one of these titles?
How about a compilation that bundles remakes of a whole franchise?
Every asset has been improved with new models, shaders, and lighting to pop like never before.
Even the audio received some remaster love.
Graphics aside, every game inMass Effect Legendary Editionis more or less unchanged.
But thats not all.
The only exception to this rule is the originalMass Effect, which isnt quite as polished as its sequels.
To make the experience more cohesive throughout, the developers balanced weapons and improved ally behavior.
Even the contentious Mako segments received a spit and polish.
The creativity ofPentiments medieval art style is bested only by its imaginative premise.
Perhaps its shorter runtime and initial Xbox exclusivity kept it from finding that wider audience it deserved.
Regardless,Psychonauts 2is pretty much the perfect Xbox Game Pass game.
Its a modern masterpiece.
Remnant 2wraps its almost Soulsborne-like action mechanics around genuinely deep RPG concepts.
Even better,Remnant 2is a top-tier multilayer Game Pass title.
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Resident Evil 2Remake
Resident Evil 7revitalized Capcoms signature survival horror franchise after the underwhelmingResident Evil 6.
WhileRE7isnt available through Xbox Game Pass, the first modern remake of retroREgames,Resident Evil 2, is.
Graphics and audio are, understandably, leagues beyond what the original was capable of on the PlayStation One.
WhileResident Evil 2improves significantly on the survival horror formula, no aspect is upgraded quite like the scare factor.
This addition increases the games tension well beyond the originalResident Evil 2, if not most other horror games.
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Stardew Valley
There wasnt much hype surroundingStardew Valleywhen it officially launched in 2016.
Best of all,Stardew Valleyhas been updated since its release and continues to receive love to this day.
And yet the game manages to balance the abilities of Pilots and Titans and make neither feel too overpowered.
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Tunic
Most games include tutorials.
Tuniccombines elements of classicLegend of Zeldagames withDark Soulsmechanics.
Tunics claim to fame is its in-game manual.
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The Quarry
The Quarryis essentially the spiritual sequel to Supermassive Games brilliant Until Dawn.
The Quarryis also one of those games that just feels perfect for Game Pass.
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Vampire Survivors
If complicated modern games have you feeling down,considerVampire Survivors.
You must do better and press further.
This game would mark theYakuzafranchises second glorious revitalization;Yakuza 0was the first.
Gameplay-wise,Yakuza 0lets players explore a small.
