Best Xbox Game Pass games to play on Xbox & PC

Max Candelarezi
Best Xbox Game Pass games feature cover

Xbox Game Pass has a ton of games that you can dive into and play, which is why choosing which one can become a difficult task. So, we picked the best games you should try on Xbox Game Pass.

Since the launch of the Xbox Game Pass service in 2017 until now, gamers have had the opportunity to try and play a huge variety of games on Xbox and PC platforms.

This service allows players via a subscription to have a wide library of games featuring different game styles available for download.

Given the massive size of the game library Xbox Game Pass has and the limited time players have, we have compiled a selection to make choosing the best games within Microsft’s service easier.

Best games in Xbox Game Pass

Luckily, Xbox Game Pass offers an extensive range of games featuring diverse modes and styles, spanning from popular FPS and thrilling racing adventures to engaging mystery-solving experiences. This ensures that there’s something for everyone to discover and enjoy.

Keep in mind that despite the following list featuring a bunch of great games, there may be still many more included in Xbox’s subscription service.

Here’s our Xbox Game Pass’ best games list.

  • Minecraft
  • Starfield
  • Grand Theft Auto V
  • Forza Horizon 5
  • The Elder Scrolls Online
  • Mortal Kombat 11
  • ARK
  • As Dusk Falls
  • DayZ
  • Gotham Knights
  • Halo Infinite
  • Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
  • No Man’s Sky

Minecraft

minecraft title screen
Minecraft was originally released in 2009.

An iconic title that should require no introduction, Minecraft is a sandbox game created by Mojang Studios. It immerses players in a three-dimensional world characterized by pixelated blocks, offering them the freedom to engage in a wide variety of activities. This includes everything from mining raw materials and crafting armor and tools to unleashing creativity in constructing any imaginable structure.

Starfield

Starfield cover art
Starfield grants players the possibility to explore the extensive galaxy.

Widely regarded as Bethesda’s most ambitious project to date, Starfield is an action role-playing game in which players become members of a team of space explorers tasked with journeying to different corners of the galaxy to obtain enigmatic artifacts.

Grand Theft Auto V

franklin, michael, and trevor in gta 5 art
GTA V provides players with a three-POV story, featuring main characters Michael, Franklin, and Trevor.

Another game that needs no introduction, Grand Theft Auto V, popularly known as GTA 5, is Rockstar Games’ seventh main entry for the GTA franchise. This action-adventure game boasts an engaging narrative and an expansive multiplayer mode, allowing players to delve into the fictional city of Los Santos, inspired by Los Angeles.

Forza Horizon 5

Mercedes-AMG ONE in Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 5 is the twelfth main installment in the Forza series. 

Forza Horizon 5, developed by Playground Games, is a racing video game set in an expansive open-world environment inspired by a fictional portrayal of Mexico. Players can navigate the most extensive map featured in the entire Forza Horizon series, engaging in races with a diverse array of cars.

The Elder Scrolls Online

The Elder Scrolls Online cover art
The Elder Scrolls Online is part of the Elder Scrolls series.

The Elder Scrolls Online, developed by ZeniMax Online Studios, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game. It unfolds in the expansive continent of Tamriel and weaves a narrative that shares subtle connections with other titles in the Elder Scrolls franchise.

Mortal Kombat 11

Moral Kombat 11 cover
Mortal Kombat 11 is the eleventh main installment in the Mortal Kombat series.

Mortal Kombat 11 is a fighting game developed by NetherRealm Studios. Building on its predecessors, the game offers a lot of combat techniques for players to employ, escorted by a sweeping lineup of iconic characters and gory finishers.

ARK

ARK Survival Evolved cover art
ARK allows players to tame a wide variety of dinosaurs and creatures.

ARK is an action-adventure survival video game crafted by Studio Wildcard. Within this game, players find themselves in the challenging spot of surviving teeming with dinosaurs, mythical creatures, and prehistoric animals with the possibility of encountering hostile human players.

The Xbox Game Pass edition, ARK: Ultimate Survivor, features the base game and the Expansion Packs: Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, and Genesis Parts 1 & 2.

As Dusk Falls

As Dusk Falls cover art
As Dusk Falls can be played solo or in multiplayer with up to 8 players.

As Dusk Falls is an interactive drama and adventure game developed by Interior Night. The game focuses on immersive storytelling and introduces innovative ways to assess players’ crucial narrative choices during cooperative play in its multiplayer modes.

DayZ

DayZ cover art
DayZ takes players on a server to survive the outbreak as long as they can.

DayZ is a “gritty, authentic, and open-world survival” multiplayer online game developed by Bohemia Interactive. The game grips players in the fictional aftermath of the Soviet Republic of Chernarus. As survivors, players will have to explore the environment to find necessary resources and face the challenge of dealing with infected individuals to survive through the outbreak.

Gotham Knights

Gotham Knights cover
Gotham Knights features Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin.

Based on DC’s Titans, Gotham Knights stands as an expansive open-world action role-playing game developed by WB Games Montréal, unfolding within the iconic city of Gotham. In this immersive experience, players embody Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin as they delve into the city, unraveling mysteries, and confronting notorious villains.

Halo Infinite

Halo's Master Chief
Halo Infinite is the sixth mainline entry in the Halo series.

Halo Infinite is a first-person shooter game developed by 343 Industries, which offers an expansive campaign and an extensive multiplayer mode. Building upon its predecessors, the game showcases the legendary Master Chief character, allowing players to step into the iconic role.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order cover featuring Cal Kestis
Jedi Fallen Order immerses players in the Star Wars universe.

Developed by Respawn Entertainment, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order takes players into the Star Wars universe with this action-adventure experience. The game contains renowned galactic franchise elements, including lightsabers, spacecrafts, and iconic enemies.

Stepping into the role of Jedi Padawan Cal Kestis, players are tasked with unraveling mysteries and navigating through the risky challenges posed by the dark forces to survive.

No Man’s Sky

No Man's Sky cover art
No Man’s Sky provides players with the chance to explore and survive within an extensive universe.

No Man’s Sky, developed by Hello Games, is an action-adventure survival game that offers players the opportunity to explore, survive, combat, trade, and build within a “procedurally generated” open-world universe.

All in all, that was our list of the best Xbox Game Pass games you should definitely give a try. Be sure to check out our guides on upcoming titles below:

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League early access | Who is Victor Chevalier in Tekken 8? | Does Skull and Bones have cross-play? | Tekken 8 PC requirements | Will Tekken 8 be on Xbox Game Pass? | Will Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League have offline mode? | Does Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League have co-op or multiplayer?

About The Author

Max is a Games Writer at CharlieIntel who specializes in Call of Duty news and guides, EA FC, Apex Legends, XDefiant, and The Finals. He has completed the International Baccalaureate in English. You can contact Max by email at [email protected].