When it comes to the best Xbox Game Pass games to play in 2024, you're in for a world of discovery. Microsoft Gaming has worked to ensure that there is something for everybody on the service these days, its revolving door policy granting subscribers access to hundreds of video games now available to download and play at the touch of a button. With the biggest video game releases of the past year vying for your attention alongside time-honored titans, it can be difficult to find the most worthwhile entries to add to your ever-growing backlog.
That's why I'm here to help. Below, you'll find 25 top-tier Game Pass games to make the most of the subscription service. This covers not only first party gems, as seen among the best Xbox Series X games in recent, but some hidden indie gems you might have otherwise missed. It doesn't matter whether you're a shooter fan looking to let off some steam or if you're a role-playing enthusiast looking to lose yourself in another world in the best RPGs. There's a broad range of experiences here to suit all tastes and genres, so if you've got an active Game Pass subscription for console or PC, here are the 25 best Game Pass games to download and play right now.
Recent updates
This list of the best games to play on Xbox Game Pass was updated on October 3, swapping out any games that have since left the service and replacing them with fresh new ones, such as Lies of P, Hellblade 2, and Evil West to name a handful.
The best Xbox Game Pass games to play now are...
25. Quantum Break
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Game Pass: Xbox
Quantum Break is one of the best Xbox One games, if you're willing to get on its level. Unlike other Xbox exclusives that released around 2016, this Remedy adventure tried to be as out there as possible. It's one part action game, where you must circumvent the collapse of time with an arsenal of supernatural powers; and one part experimental narrative experience, where decisions made during Junction points not only dictate the direction of the story but the episode of an accompanying television series too. Great performances, across both game and show, pull Quantum Break into a cohesive whole, although it's the fantastic combat and visual spectacle that'll keep you coming back for more.
RELATED: Quantum Break review: "Capable of delivering a great time"
24. Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Developer: Ubisoft Quebec
Game Pass: Xbox + PC
If you want to lose a few hundred hours in one of the best open world games within the Xbox ecosystem, look no further than Assassin's Creed Odyssey. This sprawling action-adventure game, set across a beautifully rendered Ancient Greece, will let you progress from outcast to living legend. You'll fight to define your odyssey and uncover secrets from your past, get caught in the middle of epic battles between Athens and Sparta, and take to the Aegean Sea to demonstrate your ability to lead. Between its fantastic story, challenging combat, and immersive world, there's no doubt that Odyssey is one of the best Assassin's Creed games out there.
RELATED: Assassin's Creed Odyssey review: "No-one's made an open-world RPG with this much depth since The Witcher 3"
23. Microsoft Flight Simulator
Developer: Asobo Studio
Game Pass: Xbox + PC
Travel the world from the comfort of your own home. It's actually a little absurd, just how utterly wonderful Microsoft Flight Simulator can be. Whether you're a wannabe pilot, world travel enthusiast, or are just looking for some truly stunning fluid screensavers to stick on in the background while you complete other activities, Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of the most unintentionally zen experiences available through Game Pass – you know, aside from the horror of taking off and landing. Available for both Xbox and PC, and surprisingly comfortable to play on both gamepad and keyboard, Microsoft Flight Simulator is an illuminating experience that'll help give you a new perspective on the world we inhabit.
22. Mafia: Definitive Edition
Developer: Hangar 13
Game Pass: Xbox, PC, Cloud
Mafia lets you step into the shoes of Tommy Angelo, a taxi driver-turned-unwilling gangster in 1930s Chicago. Crime certainly pays in this gritty action adventure, spearheaded by a compelling narrative that easily puts it up there as one of the best games to play on Xbox Game Pass if you're a sucker for a little historical fiction. Expect high-speed car chases, plenty of gunslinging, and a stylish cityscape to explore that simply oozes period-specific charm. With Mafia: The Old Country on the way, there's no time like the present to get familiar with the game that kicked off Hangar 13's Mafia franchise.
21. Evil West
Developer: Flying Wild Hog
Game Pass: Xbox, PC, Cloud
Evil West's Jesse is who Red Dead Redemption 2's Arthur Morgan might have been if he'd beamed down in an alternate reality where vampires lurked on the road to Valentine instead of O'Driscolls. The wild West has never been wilder as players take control of a wisecracking cowboy-slash-vampire hunter in Evil West, delivering swift and painful justice to bloodsuckers by way of fists and fury. With ludicrously fun melee combat that taps the God of War vein (note: finishers aplenty) on top of Jesse's requisite firearms and lasso, Evil West is a rootin' tootin' good time worthy of any Game Pass subscriber's attention. There is a slight RPG overlap here with a skill tree to invest in, but if you don't mind a light-touch narrative baked into a linear, action-packed adventure, look no further.
RELATED: Evil West review: "a vehicle for pure beat-em-up pleasure"
20. Sea of Stars
Developer: Sabotage Studio
Game Pass: Xbox + PC
Sea of Stars is a love letter to classic RPGs. It's the sort of game which rekindles fond memories of the 16-bit greats: from Shining Force to Secret of Mana, Chrono Trigger to Phantasy Star, and plenty others. But developer Sabotage Studio hasn't just crafted a beautiful nostalgia play here, with Sea of Stars pushing for greater exploration and world building than some of its contemporaries. An utterly delightful JRPG that you won't regret spending 40 or so hours with.
RELATED: Sea of Stars review: "A delicious, Michelin-starred tasting menu of an RPG"
19. PowerWash Simulator
Developer: FuturLab
Game Pass: Xbox + PC
What's the appeal of simulator games? Typically, they let you experience a side to life that you're unable (or otherwise unwilling) to do IRL. Now, I never really considered myself a power washing enthusiast – but all that changed once I sunk more hours than I'm comfortable admitting into what is undoubtedly one of the best sim games out there right now. PowerWash Simulator is ostensibly about making dirty objects clean again, but it's also an effective mindfulness retreat – hosing down vehicles and houses is surprisingly relaxing, and the endorphin hit you receive for a job well done is almost enough to make you want to get up off the couch and tackle the mess in your own home.
RELATED: How PowerWash Simulator is helping me unwind, one clean surface at a time
18. Still Wakes the Deep
Developer: The Chinese Room
Game Pass: Xbox Series X, PC
Imagine if 80s monster movie The Thing had been set on an oil rig. That's what fans of the best horror games can look forward to in first-person terror Still Wakes the Deep. Set in 1975, Scottish oil worker Caz McCleary has just been fired, but no sooner has he left his boss's office, his day gets even worse. With a creeping, malevolent entity moving about the gigantic floating vessel, and no way to contact the mainland some thousands of miles away, Caz has no way to fight back – but he has plenty of places to hide. Still Wake the Deep's haunting audio design, heart-pounding hide-and-seek mechanics, and utterly terrifying monsters will appeal to any Amnesia: The Dark Descent or Outlast superfans. What's more, you can download and play it on Xbox Game Pass right now.
RELATED: Still Wakes the Deep review: "a moody, ambient piece of short-form horror fiction"
17. Hi-Fi Rush
Developer: Tango Gameworks
Game Pass: Xbox Series X, PC
If we're talking unexpected greats among the best Game Pass games, Hi-Fi Rush is a clear frontrunner. Tango Gameworks' vibrant world of rhythmic hack n' slack was an instant hot topic when it launched in early 2023, and ever since then, it's been cemented as a certified banger. Playing as Chai, a kid who just happens to have his MP3 player soldered to his skeleton after a little accident, Hi-Fi Rush players will be using the power of music to defeat enemies to the tune of some sweet, sweet tunes. With its splashy visual language straight out of a comic book paired with a distinctly 90s anime aesthetic, Hi-Fi Rush is the definition of charming. And yes, you'll want to download the whole soundtrack.
RELATED: Hi-Fi Rush review: "an undeniably wild ride that shouldn't be ignored"
16. Vampire Survivors
Developer: Poncle
Game Pass: Xbox + PC
The worst thing that you can do is write-off Vampire Survivors without trying it for yourself. And listen, I get it: a quick glance at a screenshot or slice of gameplay and Vampire Survivors looks like it's little more than a hastily-assembled retro throwback. Get your hands on the damn thing though, and prepare to have time just sink right out from underneath you. Your mission is to survive until dawn, and the only way you can accomplish that is by marauding against thousands of enemies. Easy controls and light roguelike elements combine to create an experience that is just absurdly replayable – willing you into just one more round to add a few seconds to your survivability.
RELATED: Have you tried… killing thousands of ghouls with the power of WASD in Vampire Survivors?
15. Age of Empires 4
Developer: Relic Entertainment
Game Pass: PC, Xbox series X
I don't know about you, but when I think of the best RTS games my mind automatically clicks into games like Age of Empires – consider that a result of my wasted youth advocating for The Rise of Rome. Age of Empires 4 is a fantastic installment to the series, expanding upon the core foundations with more depth and detail without losing sight of the approachability that helped define the earlier adventures. Age of Empires 4 is currently available on Game Pass for PC, although a release on Xbox Game Pass is expected for later this year – allowing a generation of console players to finally understand why Age of Empires reigns supreme.
RELATED: Age of Empires 4 review: "History, carnage, and teeny weeny elephants - it has it all"
14. It Takes Two
Developer: Hazelight Studios
Game Pass: Xbox + PC
It Takes Two took the world by storm in 2021. This innovative experience blurs the line between action-adventure and puzzle game, and can only be experienced in either online or local split-screen configurations with one other player. It Takes Two has you attempting to repair a fractured relationship, with each level introducing a new way to play and suite of controls to learn – while that may sound intimidating, the result is an experience that constantly keeps you guessing. It's considered to be one of the best co-op games for good reason, and is a must-play via Game Pass for PC or through EA Play on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
RELATED: It Takes Two review: "A co-op experience unlike any other"
13. Inside
Developer: Playdead
Game Pass: Xbox + PC
Some video games stick with you forever. Inside is one of those experiences, a haunting platformer that uses a stark visual design and all-encompassing atmosphere to tell a strange little story. With simple environmental puzzles to solve and best-in-class controls to help guide you through the world, Inside is considered by many to be one of the best games of all time. It must be played to be properly appreciated though, so I'd recommend that you avoid reading up on it too much and just take the dive. Developer Playdead has established itself as a master of economic narrative design, and Inside will keep you guessing, breathlessly, right up until its final moments.
RELATED: Inside review: "A nightmarish journey which is fascinating and frightening in equal measure"
12. Lies of P
Developer: Neowiz Games
Game Pass: Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC
Steampunk action-RPG Lies of P is a dark retelling of Pinocchio, only this time, he's no ordinary real boy. Trading in the wooden legs for an arm of steel, Lies of P sees its protagonist reimagined as a mechanical robot rather than a puppet. His journey through the perilous city of Krat is the stuff of Bloodborne fantasy, featuring all manner of grotesque boss battles to master, uncanny puppet enemies to battle with an array of customizable melee weapons, and a twisted gothic fairy tale to unravel at the heart of it all. Lies of P is not only a great pick for fans of the best FromSoftware games, it thoughtfully reforms some of the most punishing aspects of the Soulslike genre to put a greater focus on the narrative and make combat more beginner-friendly. That doesn't make it easy by any measure, but if you're looking for a challenging entrant among the best games on Xbox Game Pass that provides both style and substance, you've found a winner.
RELATED: Lies of P review: ""a powerful contender on the Soulslike scene"
11. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Game Pass: Xbox + PC
Let's not pretend that you don't know what The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is. It's one of the best-selling games of-all time, and has been released on just about every platform you can imagine. So consider this more of a PSA: If you want to sink a few more hundred hours into one of the best RPGs then you can do so thanks to Game Pass. With The Elder Scrolls 6 still years away, there's no harm in diving back into a world of dragon slaying and boundless exploration. What's incredible is that Skyrim still holds up today, over a decade on from its original release on Xbox 360.
RELATED: Skyrim survived the decade and Bethesda believes "people will still be playing it" in the next one
10. Deathloop
Developer: Arkane Studios
Game Pass: Xbox + PC
Deathloop was crowned the GamesRadar+ Game of the Year in 2021 for good reason. Arkane Studios built its reputation off the back of immersive sims like Dishonored and Prey, and leveraged its talent for world building and imaginative action to create one of the best shooters of the modern era. This smart action game strands you in a time loop, and the only way to break the cycle is to assassinate eight targets in a single day. The island of Blackreef is a vast, intuitively designed space which contains a multitude of mysteries – each day an opportunity to explore new paths, gather more intel, upgrade your abilities, and fight for your freedom.
RELATED: Deathloop review: "You won't play anything else quite like it for a very long time"
9. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
Developer: BioWare
Game Pass: Xbox + PC
The toughest part of creating a list like the best Game Pass games is one of curation. With hundreds of viable video games available, whittling it down can be a frustrating exercise. That's why I appreciate something like Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, which collects three of the best RPGs into one brilliantly remastered package. Developer BioWare built one hell of a trilogy here; a science-fiction epic that tasks you with navigating intergalactic politics, building a crew of reliable heroes, and fighting to save the galaxy from extinction. The Legendary Edition also smooths out some of the series' rougher Xbox 360-era edges, making this a collection of truly essential role-playing games.
RELATED: Mass Effect Legendary Edition review: "The only way to play an unmissable series"
8. Hollow Knight
Developer: Team Cherry
Game Pass: Xbox + PC
With Hollow Knight Silksong on the near horizon, time is running out to get acquainted with one of the best metroidvania games of the modern era. The Voidheart Edition of the original Hollow Knight is available on Game Pass, which takes the fantastic foundations of the original experience – a challenging action-adventure set in a visually awe-inspiring hand-drawn 2D world – and improves upon them with key balance fixes for some of the boss battles and quality-of-life improvements to core movement and combat systems. Hollow Knight isn't the easiest game in the world, but it is one that'll delight you from start to finish – don't let this one pass you by.
7. Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2
Developer: Ninja Theory
Game Pass: Xbox Series X, PC
Bridging the gap between film and video game, Sena's Saga: Hellblade 2 is a cinematic adventure with just as much of an internal journey as an outward one. Blending Iceland's unforgiving real-world terrain with Nordic mysticism and folklore, Ninja Theory doubles down on the graphical fidelity in this gruelling sequel to make it one of the best-looking Xbox Series X games ever. Hacking through draugr, parsing environmental puzzles, and delving into the secrets of these harsh lands is a journey you'll not soon forget, making it without a doubt one of the best games to play on Xbox Game Pass right now.
RELATED: Hellblade 2 review: "nothing short of video game sorcery"
6. Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus
Developer: MachineGames
Game Pass: Xbox + PC
Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus is one of the most entertaining first-person shooters of the last generation. Set in an alternative history timeline, one where Nazi Germany emerges victorious from World War 2, you join a ragtag crew to stand as the last line of defense. And it is utterly, truly absurd in all the right ways. MachineGames delivers where it matters: weighty weapons, challenging enemies, and a healthy smattering of gore. But the studio also does an excellent job of creating characters that you'll care about, full of life and laughter, and of weaving together a narrative that'll always keep you guessing – it's impossible to anticipate where this adventure will take you, so just strap in and enjoy the ride.
RELATED: Wolfenstein 2: New Colossus review: "Be bold, in this boldest of games, and you'll have a blast"
5. Stardew Valley
Developer: ConcernedApe
Game Pass: Xbox + PC
Stardew Valley is among the best farming games released in the modern era. You arrive in a small town to inherit an old plot of land from your late-grandfather, pick up a selection of hand-me-down tools, and set out to make a few coins from whatever life you can dig up out of the ground. Stardew Valley starts slow but quickly becomes all-consuming, as you're enveloped in the daily rituals and routines required to keep your burgeoning business expanding. Stardew Valley may have started life as a love letter to games like Harvest Moon, but after years of free expansions and quality-of-life improvements it now stands as the best example of the genre.
RELATED: Rediscovering the joys of Stardew Valley: After so many updates, returning feels like a breath of fresh air
4. Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Developer: 343 Industries / Bungie
Game Pass: Xbox + PC
Halo: The Master Chief Collection features six games and one epic saga, making this one of the best FPS games packages available in the ecosystem. Join Spartan-117 and Cortana on their original adventure in Halo: Combat Evolved through to their final Xbox 360 outing in Halo 4. And when you're done with each of these fantastic campaigns, there's a streamlined multiplayer offering to jump into too – which has cross-platform support between Xbox and Windows 10 to keep those classic servers populated. If you're looking for more Halo, the adventure continues in Halo 5: Guardians on Xbox Game Pass and then into Halo Infinite on Game Pass for Xbox and PC.
RELATED: Halo: The Master Chief Collection review: "A product of memory, nostalgia, and long-term perceptions"
3. Forza Horizon 5
Developer: Playground Games
Game Pass: Xbox + PC
Forza Horizon 5 has sat atop our best racing games list since its release in 2021, and there's no sign of its dominance waning. Playground Games delivered an ambitiously-scoped, visually awe-inspiring, and bewilderingly smooth road-tripping experience in Forza Motorsport 5. It gives you the freedom to explore vibrant open world landscapes of Mexico, all from the driver's seat of some of the world's most awesome vehicles – each recreated with pixel perfect precision. Whether you're looking to race planes, trains, and other automobiles, journey cross-country with friends online, or create custom cars for your community, there's activities for everybody to enjoy in Forza Horizon 5.
RELATED: Forza Horizon 5 review: "Playground Games' most exciting and beautifully crafted entry yet"
2. Minecraft
Developer: Mojang
Game Pass: Xbox + PC
One of the most popular and enduring video games of all-time, Minecraft is an easy Game Pass recommendation. Mojang Studios has encouraged countless generations of players to leverage their imaginations in service of redefining its blocky sandbox. Minecraft works as well as it does because it lives by a simple mantra: if you can dream it, you can build it; and if you can build it, you can share it with others. While there is a compelling adventure at the heart of Minecraft, it has become so much more than a video game. It's a social spot for friends new and old, a foundation for global collaboration, and a blank slate for you to express your creativity.
1. Starfield
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Game Pass: Xbox + PC
Starfield is the perfect Game Pass game. It's an open-world RPG where you aren't just free to explore a sprawling continent but an entire universe, piloting a ship of your own design between planets to define your place in the stars. If you're a fan of games like Skyrim and Fallout you're going to love this one, owing to its open-ended design and free-form approach to character building. Starfield is the sort of game that eats time though, so prepare to be playing this one for years into the future.
RELATED: Starfield review: "The best thing Bethesda's done since Oblivion"
Looking for something new to play? Be sure to check out all the upcoming Xbox Series X games coming in 2025 and beyond
