It’s one of the best value services out there for avid gamers or those who simply want to experiment with various genres. With so many titles to choose from, we played a huge number of games on the service to find the best titles for those who want to get straight into playing. Through GamePass, there are explosive first person shooters such as Gears 5 that are ideal for adult gamers keen to let off steam and explore new worlds, alongside the creative journey of Minecraft for the whole family to learn from. Others, such as Forza Horizon 4, offer open-world racing experiences like no other, and sporting titles like MLB The Show 21 help you live out your dreams. The best part is that all these games are available as part of your monthly subscription rather than needing to pay anything extra. We’ve focused on providing the widest variety of choices here, encompassing many of the most popular genres so there’s something for every taste, age group, and ability level. Read on as we walk you through the best games on GamePass. Alongside the extensive single player mode are co-operative multiplayer modes as well as competitive multiplayer races. There’s even a take on a Battle Royale mode here with the last car standing winning. The introduction of Lego Speed Champions DLC has made the experience even more entertaining for kids with the chance to race with Lego constructions of famous supercars. It’s all gloriously good-natured and the kind of game that even non-racing fans will love because it feels so freeing. ESRB: E (Everyone) | Install Size: 62.92GB It’s a tremendous package that means you can spend dozens of hours taking in the complex story of Master Chief’s fight against the evil Covenant. While its controls may feel a little dated at times and its visuals lack a little sheen, it’s an epic journey that’s sure to beguile. You don’t have to go it alone, either. It’s possible to play in split-screen mode or online with friends, before joining in on one of the many multiplayer modes out there. The latter has a slightly smaller community than before, but an extensive array of customizations keep it busy enough. It’s a gripping taste of gaming history. ESRB: M (Mature, Ages 17+) | Install Size: 62.74GB It’s best when played with others as teamwork can make a huge difference to your chances of success. Playing solo can get quite tricky if you come across more aggressive players intent on causing you trouble but you can still have some fun simply sailing around to see what’s out there. Team up with friends, however, and it feels like a brand new game. You’ll create some fantastic gaming memories together with the world offering what feels like a personalized experience at every turn. You’ll truly feel part of something huge and with that comes a surprising amount of responsibility. It looks gorgeous, too, with some quirky jokes thrown in for good measure. ESRB: T (Teen) | Install Size: 10GB Extensive co-operative modes, as well as competitive multiplayer, give you a fair amount of variety and there are generally online events each week, even if the community isn’t as active as it once was. Ultimately, the single-player campaign makes it gripping enough that Gears 5 will stick in your memory for a while to come. Just be ready for a lot of gore and violence. ESRB: M (Mature, 17+) | Install Size: 42GB Thanks to its focus on co-operative play and the logical controls, it’s perfect for the whole family as well as couples, with cartoony graphics keeping things light. It’s a great party game too thanks to it being so easy to learn but tricky to master. For those times when you’re going solo, it’s still almost just as satisfying with a series of different levels to negotiate. ESRB: E (Everyone) | Install Size: 8.04GB The game comes with added multiplayer features and four new modes so there’s a lot to do here, but the magic really comes from simply creating those lines and watching them vanish. Being able to fight against AI bosses is a neat touch so you’re not confined to playing against real people, and it’s all simple yet wonderfully addictive. ESRB: E (Everyone) | Install Size: Unknown You don’t have to stick to the storyline either. It’s possible to explore the sandbox-esque city and choose to partake in small-time crimes, steal cars, or simply buy out some buildings for profit. There’s always the option of GTA Online if you want to complete some multiplayer heists, too. Grand Theft Auto V is a distinctly adult game and sometimes quite nasty, but for living out The Godfather, you’ll be delighted. ESRB: M (Mature, 17+) | Install Size: 54.85GB There’s a certain amount of monetization here through some of the game modes which feels a little unnecessary, but you can dodge that and focus on the satisfying action at hand. If you want to get creative, you can also dive into the ballpark creator feature which lets you design your own ballpark then share it with other players online. A small but neat perk. ESRB: E (Everyone) | Install Size: 72.42GB Pick out a class and pursue a certain path in your abilities and you’ll soon find your strengths and weaknesses. Players can earn experience points to rank up with rewards steadily coming in and encouraging you to play for a bit longer each time. Where Destiny 2 stands out most is when you team up with others, raiding against environmental threats or choosing to fight against other players. Despite seeming solely focused on player interaction, there’s a deep storyline in there too, as you’d expect from any game that has continued to feel fresh for years. ESRB: T (Teen) | Install Size: 50GB Impressive draw distances on the Xbox means it feels endless in the best way, and players can opt to play in local split-screen or online multiplayer to do more together. Besides the creative side of things, there’s also a Survival Mode where you can explore the map, harvest resources, and build structures all in a bid to survive the monsters that lurk at night. Traditionally seen as best for children, it’s still an experience that can grip any adult who loves using Lego or other crafting tools. ESRB: E 10+ (Everyone, 10+) | Install Size: 1.12GB Andrew Hayward is a Chicago-based writer who’s been covering video games and tech since 2006. He’s previously been published by TechRadar, Stuff, Polygon, and Macworld. Anton Galang has been working as a writer and editor in technology since 2007. He has reviewed several Xbox One kids’ games for Lifewire, and has spent countless hours on many other games just for fun.
What to Look For in a Game on GamePass
Genre
If you’ve been playing games for awhile, you probably know what genres you most enjoy. Even a free game isn’t fun if you don’t enjoy the genre. Pick out titles that have descriptions that sound appealing to you and try them out.
Xbox Exclusives
The Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S have a lot of great exclusive games including first-person shooters, driving games, and platformers. It makes sense to try out these games first given you can play them only on the Xbox platform.
Xbox Series X/S enhanced
If you have an Xbox Series X or S, look out for games that have the Xbox Series X/S enhanced logo. That means the game has been upgraded to take advantage of the newest console’s graphics and power so it’ll look far better than anything else.
