The 20 Best Games on Xbox Game Pass—Both New and Old

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Xbox Game Pass is, at this point, widely accepted to be the best deal in gaming. For $16.99 a month (for Game Pass Ultimate), you get access to a back catalog of hundreds of games. That catalog includes some of the best games of all time, including titles featured in Esquire's 2023 Game Awards. We're talking Halo, Cocoon, Yakuza, Mortal Kombat, Minecraft, and the EA Play sports catalog. Game Pass also includes day-one releases for some of Microsoft's biggest titles. When Starfield debuted last September, I was playing along with everyone else for the same monthly subscription price. It's hard to beat that.

After leaving much to be desired in terms of backward compatibility during the Xbox One's reign, Microsoft swung in the opposite direction for their Xbox Series X/S consoles. Now, just under 500 titles are available for Game Pass subscribers. Gamers rejoice—it doesn't get better than this. If you're not on Xbox... maybe read through this list and find out just what you're missing out on.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

If you're still playing video games on Xbox, chances are it's because of a Halo title. It's what built the console. Even though we haven't seen a great Halo title in a long time, it's as fun as ever to get with friends for some Red v. Blue and relive the glorious Halo 2 days.

Starfield

Blast into space and discover thousands of procedurally generated planets in Starfield, the newest galactic adventure from the makers of Skyrim and Fallout. “We couldn’t have conceived or made a game like Starfield before," Bethesda's Todd Howard told Esquire this past September. "We needed to grow. Even then, it took far longer than we thought it would. The longer the journey you go on, the harder it is to maintain.”

Cocoon

A quick indie puzzle title—and one of Esquire's Best Games of 2023—Cocoon challenges your brain in simple but, rewarding ways as a little cicada traverses through worlds within worlds.

Psychonauts

Psychonauts developed a cult following for its weird character designs and psychedelic plot, which finds the player entering other characters' minds to fight their fears head-on. But don't think that Psychonauts is too scary. The game plays as a classic platformer, not unlike Sly Cooper or Ratchet and Clank.

Forza Motorsport

Forza Motorsport raced onto the Xbox as a direct competitor to Sony's Gran Turismo 7, with Microsoft proving that their console had what it took to get to the finish line with the best of them.

Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight is one of the best Metroid-vaniagames released in the past decade. The indie title perfectly balances exploration and challenging gameplay, along with an amazing art style.

Yakuza 0

One of the major beauties of Xbox Game Pass is that all twelve Yakuza titles are available to play under just one subscription. For those looking to dive into the dramatic yet wacky tale, I'd suggest starting with the prequel, Yakuza 0. It's not the first entry in the series, but it's arguably the best place to start for new audiences looking for a modern-day jumping-on point.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Take to the skies and just relax with Microsoft Flight Simulator. It's easily one of the best vehicle simulators of all time. Trust me, nothing feels better than being up in the clouds—even virtually.

Madden NFL 24

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate comes with the full EA Play catalog, meaning that titles such as Madden NFL 24, FIFA 23, and NHL 23 are all available for sports gamers on day one.

Mortal Kombat 11

Mortal Kombat has always been a top-tier fighting game. 11 is the latest entry on Game Pass, until the revamped Mortal Kombat 1 joins it on the service. The eleventh entry serves up just enough violence and intricate button controls as any well-made modern brawler.

Resident Evil 2

Itching for a good horror title after Alan Wake II? Check out the Resident Evil series, which now has the terrifying sequel available for Game Pass subscribers.

GoldenEye 007

As iconic as a video game gets. The game that puts the first-person shooter on consoles, and subsequently primed the genre for the stratosphere. Now, courtesy of a little Nintendo-Microsoft agreement, it's available on Game Pass.

Stardew Valley

You inherit a farm from your recently deceased grandfather, and save a small town from corporate greed. Sounds intense, but there's no game as peacefully enjoyable as Stardew Valley.

Kentucky Route Zero

If you're into visual novels, or just enjoy a point-and-click that centers storytelling, Kentucky Route Zero is one of the best in years. The game came out in five acts, and this version contains all five. The story is a bit Flannery O'Connor in locale and character building, then a bit David Lynch in... everything else. We don't want to give anything away, but the way character decisions work and the way the story goes is just a triumph.

Overcooked! 2

The most frantic game on this list. Overcooked is simple: You and your colleagues (your friends) are in a short order kitchen, and you gotta crank out orders. Sounds easy? It's not. Oui Chef!

Hi-Fi Rush

If you're into rhythm games, Bethesda's Hi-Fi Rush is a great, wonderfully colorful play. Play as Chai, a goofy, "future rockstar," with a music player embedded in his chest. Feel the rhythm and fight against the corporation that's trying to take it away.

Fallout: New Vegas

What can we really say about this? One of the best RPGs of all time. New Vegas plus Skyrim (also on Game Pass) was one of the greatest one-two's in video game history. This is Bethesda at the peak of its output, and a game that's always a welcome revisit.

Citizen Sleeper

Gather intel to survive in this wonderfully designed cyberpunk role-player. Multiple endings make multiple play throughs endlessly entertaining.

Townscaper

This one... what a surprise. You essentially just build a town. Sounds boring? Try playing for five minutes. Every placement has the potential of showing you a new combination that creates a unique architectural feature.

Once you're hooked, you'll spend hours trying to get the perfect portico on your central building. All just to save a screenshot and start all over. It's really addicting!

Minecraft

Favored by five-year-olds around the world. Minecraft is a classic, and playing it on console—being able to see your creations on the living room screen—brings a special charm to the game.

Start a survival server with friends, or kill a weekend building a tower in creative.

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