The best games on Xbox Game Pass for 2022

After sweeping award show wins for 2020, it’s no surprise that Xbox gamers have been waiting somewhat impatiently for Hades to finally arrive on consoles. However, the wait is well worth it, as this action-focused, roguelike game has come at last to both Xbox and Game Pass, so interested subscribers can try it for free.

If you haven’t played Hades before, it quickly becomes apparent why the gorgeous game has won so many accolades. The base roguelike structure — Zagreus tries to escape from his father’s domain of Hades, gets through as many rooms/bosses as he can before dying, and then tries again — has been smartly optimized by Supergiant to include plenty of fascinating and powerful character interactions, plus an RPG-like progression system for weapons and augments, ensuring that no matter how many deaths you endure, Zagreus still continues to grow in power, and no escape attempt ever feels truly wasted. Gamers who persevere will also enjoy the increasingly complex world of Greek gods, demigods, and their competing affections.

Back 4 Blood

There’s a good reason that Back 4 Blood‘s four-player zombie survival game looks familiar: It is indeed the creation of Turtle Rock Studios, which worked with Valve to create Left 4 Dead. Many elements here are the same, but there’s an interesting new progression system, along with a card system that allows you to build a unique deck of abilities and perks for every single mission. The zombies also pose a greater challenge, with more special infected to threaten your progress. It’s a game that works best with friends, and rewards players who learn what the most important cards are and build a deck that can survive the zombie hordes!

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

When it comes to gameplay, Fallen Order is like Dark Souls light. It has tight swordplay, with tuned parrying and dodging mechanics. However, it’s clear Fallen Order‘s difficulty was tuned against the mainstream video game market, not against solely Dark Souls. Because of that, Fallen Order is an enjoyable romp for Souls-like fans while being accessible to genre newcomers.

Read our Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order review

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy was a very pleasant surprise after the mixed bag of Marvel’s Avengers: The third-person adventure is all about working together as a team to take down enemies and navigate a wide variety of planets and environments. The game was smart to borrow a number of things from the Mass Effect series, including some far-reaching consequences of your decisions and which teammates you favor. That also gives this galaxy-trotting adventure some inherent replayability if you want to boot it up a second time.

Call of the Sea is an unassuming game about exploring an island, and an excellent debut for the aptly named Out of the Blue Games. Set in the 1930s, you play as Norah Everhart as she explores a mysterious island looking for her lost husband. And from the opening moments of the game, that looks like all Call of the Sea has to offer.

Outer Wilds

Outer Wilds is a game you really shouldn’t know anything about. Focused entirely on exploration and discovery, Outer Wilds provides an open-world mystery with the only solution being to continue looking. Even a short synopsis could be considered a spoiler, so stop reading this section if you want to go in fresh.

Simply put, you play as an Astronaut who’s a member of the Outer Wilds Space Program. After 22 minutes of in-game time, the sun will explode into a supernova, ending the game. You’ll restart right away — with the same, 22-minute time limit — allowing you to explore the solar system and unravel the mysteries that lurk around you.

It’s been four years since No Man’s Sky hit the PlayStation 4 and PC after arriving on Xbox in 2018, but the game continues to feel fresh thanks to continuous updates from developer Hello Games that offer compelling content that keeps players on their toes.

Perhaps more than any other game in this roundup, No Man’s Sky illustrates freedom in a video game. It allows you to explore its ever-growing environment and create your own little slice of happiness in the digital world. But like any good game, it’s the combination of combat, exploration, and interactions with fellow players that keeps you coming back. Indeed, No Man’s Sky might have one of the most compelling communities anywhere.

More importantly, the gamification leads to a sense of freedom. Nothing in Sea of Thieves is stringent, from the loose leveling system to the Tall Tales that make up the campaign. You’re free to explore and tackle objectives in any way you see fit, or simply ignore objectives altogether. Although a lonely experience on your own, Sea of Thieves is a must-play with a group of friends. The game even supports cross-platform play between the Game Pass and Steam versions, so stringing together a group of pirates is easy.

Read our Sea of Thieves review

Indie

At first, Dead Cells feels unwieldy, as your character doesn’t jump very high and is constantly getting snagged on outstretched platforms. Once you learn to control the game, though, it becomes invigorating. You can rip through levels with incredible speed, providing a sense of aggression not found in other Metroidvanias.

Read our full Dead Cells review

Slay the Spire

Slay the Spire is a deck-building game with roguelike elements. In the beginning, you’ll choose one of four characters, each of which has its own set of cards. You’re given a starter deck with basic attack and defense cards, and as you defeat enemies, you’ll be able to add new cards to your deck.

Although simple in premise, Slay the Spire’s gameplay loop becomes addicting fast. The game is balanced enough to encourage exploration with different cards, making each run unique. Maybe your character focuses on building up huge attacks, or maybe you focus on defense and inflict status effects on your enemies. No matter your path, Slay the Spire is a fantastic ride.

Undertale is just now making its way to Xbox, over five years after the game’s release — and it’s available on Game Pass. If you’ve slept on Undertale, now is your time to jump in. It’s a quirky RPG that breaks all of the rules, then sits back and laughs at the fact that there are rules in the first place. It’s a game that can make you laugh, scare you half to death, and everything in between.

Undertale isn’t just a good game because it’s weird, though. Even as a traditional RPG, the combat system is engaging and inventive, the characters are teeming with depth, and the soundtrack is a perfect blend of SNES-era JRPG music and modern electronic production.

It was developed by a single person, too. Toby Fox is responsible for the game’s writing, art, design, and music (Fox eventually went on to arrange some music for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Pokémon Sword and Shield). Even if you’re on the fence, it’s worth downloading Undertale. It’s a game that sucks you in and refuses to let go.

Deep Rock Galactic

Deep Rock Galactic‘s success comes largely from how well-balanced it is for quick team-ups and co-op games with friends. The missions themselves make great use of the several different classes in the game, each with specific skills for both mining and fighting. Every mission allows players to explore an environment, locate and mine precious ores, then escape a horde of ravenous insect aliens. Points are earned and upgrades are bought to improve your class of choice, without anything feeling too tedious or time-intensive.

But Deep Rock Galactic is special in other ways as well: What other game has space dwarves explore intergalactic mining deposits with pickaxes and lasers (and beer)? It’s an experience all its own, and an easy choice if you’re looking for a new game to play with friends.

Vampire Survivors is a fun little game that any system can handle, with a simple premise that’s still enough to keep you going for hours. You play a timed session where you mow down as many vampire hordes as you can while meeting challenges and collecting items. Most of your weapons fire automatically, but the combination of weapons that you find can make a huge difference in how effectively you slay the vampire baddies. Even if you don’t last long, you can still use the gold you found to help equip your next character to give you a better shot at living.

Note: This game is currently available on PC Game Pass only.

It took Among Us a long time to reach Game Pass, but it’s here now, making it easier than ever to team up and find the alien betrayer in your midst — or get caught and eaten at a time, of course. Among Us splits players between space crew workers and hidden aliens: The team does assigned tasks and keeps an eye on each other, before voting on sending suspected alien pretenders out the airlock. Intermittent discussions on who suspects who allows the pretender to throw off the scent or cause chaos. It’s a game that’s as silly or serious as you want to make it, and there’s a good reason so many memes popped up in its wake.

Is 15 years too long to wait for a sequel? That depends on how good the game is — and Double Fine’s Psychonauts was certainly one of the best in its genre. Psychonauts 2 is finally here, and the familiar formula is back, sure to please fans of the old game while making an excellent introduction to the zany, heartfelt world of Psychonauts.

The story picks up soon after the first (and a VR side story that was later released), following the boy Raz, who has left his circus family to train his psychic powers with the acclaimed Psychonauts organization. Raz’s specialty is entering minds and sorting out hidden traumas so that people (heroes and villains alike) can move on in healthy ways. He uses a wide assortment of psychic powers to defeat literal doubts, fears, and panic attacks while navigating worlds chock full of collectibles and currency that allow him to upgrade or modify abilities.

Read our full Psychonauts 2 review here

Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight wears its Super Metroid and Dark Souls influences on its sleeve but manages to provide an experience all its own. You control a silent, nameless knight with a nail, who is tasked with exploring the vast, insect-ridden kingdom of Hallownest. Like any good Metroidvania, Hollow Knight has a vast, interconnected map that you’re free to explore.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

In previous versions of this list, Moonhead Studios’ excellent Ori and the Blind Forest occupied this spot. With the sequel Ori and the Will of the Wisps out, though, it’s hard even looking at the original game. Will of the Wisps is three times the size of Blind Forest, offering more exploration, mechanics, and boss encounters.

The game plays the same as the original, just with some fine-tuning of the controls. Although we still recommend playing through Blind Forest — it’s a short game at around eight hours — Will of the Wisps is the better title. Just get ready to cry, like, a lot.

Role-playing

Morrowind established the franchise on consoles. Even after nearly 20 years, Morrowind has some of the best writing and world design in the series, and the skill system still holds up. Oblivion pushed the freeform design of Morrowind further, adding more depth and things to do in the world. It also fixed Morrowind’s clunky combat system, lowering the barrier to entry for new players. Then there’s Skyrim, which made Bethesda and Elder Scrolls household names.

If you have option paralysis, we recommend starting with Oblivion. Skyrim is a close second, but Oblivion defined the systems and world design that Bethesda built upon in Skyrim. 

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

If you’re looking for the complete Mass Effect experience with all DLC, upgraded graphics for the latest consoles, and improved systems, then the Legendary Edition is perfect for you. Create your own Commander Shepard, put together teams to fight the galaxy’s most fearsome threat, and chain your key decisions across three games to affect just how it all goes down. Mass Effect remains a pinnacle of RPG storytelling, and as the Legendary version fixes some of the clunkier aspects of earlier games, there’s no better time to jump in. Just make sure you have enough storage space for all three optimized games … it’s a lot of gigs.

From the creators of Prey and Dishonored, now at their new studio, Wolfeye, Weird West is an isometric ARPG with twin-stick shooter controls. That may remind you a bit of another indie on Game Pass, The Ascent, but Weird West‘s world looks especially fascinating — an American West mixed with black magic where gunslinging and shapeshifters are just part of the day. If you’ve been looking for a new action RPG to try out, keep an eye on this title when it hits Game Pass in March.

Monster Hunter: World is the de facto way to play the long-running series. Coming off a long series of exclusivity deals with Sony and Nintendo, World is the first Monster Hunter game to make its way to both Xbox and PC. In it, you explore one of the largest open worlds gaming has to offer, discovering new territories, finding new items, and, of course, taking down huge monsters.

World is fun as a single-player experience, though, the grind can get repetitive fast. The game shines most when you tackle quests with a group of friends. As long as you have fellow hunters along for the ride, World provides an addictive loop of hunting, gathering, and upgrading, with the Iceborne DLC expanding the game even more.

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition

The version available on Game Pass is the best way to play the game, too. It’s an updated version of Dragon Quest XI with a fully orchestrated soundtrack, a 2D mode that turns that game into a retro JRPG, and a slew of quality of life improvements. The obnoxiously long title aside, this version really is the definitive way to play Dragon Quest XI. Having a fully orchestrated soundtrack — as opposed to the MIDI the original game shipped with — is enough, even. Take a look at our list of the best Dragon Quest games to see how this one stacks up in the series.

Read our Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age review

Outriders: New Horizon

Outriders is a strong iteration of the Destiny fantasy, giving a team of characters god-like powers (there are four different classes to choose from) and plopping them down in a sci-fi world to explore and survive. Outriders focuses far less on the endgame and more on a tight story experience with constant progress, thanks to a steady stream of new armor and weapons, a powerful modding system for crafting your own gear, and points to level up your class tree and choose your specialties — anything from blanketing a combat zone in ice to teleporting around the battlefield. If you like playing through campaigns with your friends and enjoy a steady challenge with addictive RPG elements, Outriders is well worth a playthrough courtesy of Game Pass.

Young Souls

Young Souls is a new game with an interesting RPG twist: It combines plentiful RPG mechanics with a 2D design reminiscent of traditional brawlers and side-scrollers. The game follows Jenn and Tristan through two worlds and a variety of threats that they can help each other with — and that brings us to the other important point: The game is designed for co-op, making it one of the few RPGs that’s a blast to sit down and play with a friend. Add in the gorgeous art style and the snappy writing, and this indie game feels like one of the best things to happen to RPGs in a long time.

Gears Tactics is way better than it has any right to be. It’s a turn-based strategy game where you command a small group of elite soldiers. Playing as Gabe Diaz, it’s your job to ensure your troops survive each combat encounter unscathed, all while training up reserves.

Read our Gears Tactics review

Total War: Warhammer III

The final game in the Total War: Warhammer trilogy is a culmination of excellent strategy and RPG gameplay going back years, and you don’t need to have played the full series to enjoy this entry (thanks in part to a very smart tutorial). The battle sets are gorgeous, the fantasy lore is deep, and the A.I. forces you face are cunning enough to offer a real challenge. Strategic management of your forces, resources, and alliances is also a lot easier this time around thanks to a streamlined interface that still provides the depth strategists love.

Just keep in mind, this title is only available on PC Game Pass, not console.

Titanfall 2 is the best shooter Respawn Entertainment has made (and yes, we claim that in full view of Apex Legends). Take Apex Legends, remove all of the restrictions imposed to make the game balanced, and you have Titanfall 2‘s single-player gameplay. The campaign is short, the story isn’t great, and it’s clear Respawn borrowed a little too much from Borderlands 2 (particularly when it comes to bosses). Despite all of that, Titanfall‘s excellent and exploitable movement mechanics make it a stellar game.

You don’t really need to look further than a Titanfall 2 speedrun to see that. It’s a shooter first and foremost, but if you can master movement in Titanfall 2, the game turns into an extremely tight and challenging platformer. That’s what makes Titanfall 2 so exciting.

It’s still a great shooter, though, developed by a studio that’s proved itself a master of the genre. Even if you aren’t interested in Titanfall 2‘s movement mechanics, you can still get a lot out of the campaign, especially out of multiplayer.

Doom Eternal

In 2016, it seemed impossible to top id Software’s Doom reboot. The most series fans could have hoped for from a sequel was more of the same. But Doom Eternal pushed further, not conforming to the exact same structure that was so successful for 2016’s Doom (both critically and commercially).

The gunplay is familiar, but Doom Eternal is bigger and more ambitious. The scale of levels is massive, and id honed in on the resource management mechanics in Doom. Instead of going from fight to fight until the end of the level, Doom Eternal makes battles interesting by forcing you to use glory kills and your chainsaw to pick up ammo and health. That forces you into the, as described by id Software, “fun zone.” It turns out that’s a great place to be.

Gears 5

After more than a decade of huge biceps and chunky guns, Gears 5 breathes new life into a series that has gone stale. With some of the best storytelling the series has seen and the implementation of RPG elements, Gears 5 builds upon the third-person shooter genre in just about every way.

Story aside, the bones of any good Gears game are present. The fifth entry has excellent co-op and multiplayer support, including Escape, Versus, and Horde game modes. For a series as prolific as Gears of War, The Coalition could’ve easily phoned it in for the fifth entry. Thankfully, it didn’t.

Halo Infinite

It took some time, but Halo Infinite has finally hit Game Pass in its completed state, including both multiplayer and the campaign. This Halo story has Master Chief saving a youngling AI, fighting new (and old) kinds of enemies, journeying across a large, open world (that allows for much more flexible missions, albeit requiring a little more focus to complete), and using new tools like a grappling/grab hook for all-new combat possibilities. The gameplay is great, and multiplayer is as competitive as ever, though it’s still improving consistently thanks to the updates 343 continues to make. If you like Halo, you’ll find a whole lot to love here.

We should note that Infinite is almost completed: The campaign still lacks a co-op mode, although it’s supposed to be added sometime in the future. If you want to play with friends, you’ll have to stick to multiplayer for now.

Dishonored 2

If Dishonored 2 were simply an action game, it’d still be a great game, but it’s more than that. Arkane really outdid themselves with this all-encompassing sim genre, giving players so many different avenues for play they feel like a kid in a candy store.

You’ll be able to experience new gameplay activities, including tool manufacture and even having vermin at your disposal. Consequently, you’ll have numerous new ways to defeat your enemies. 

There are lots of ways to handle encounters, which means you can replay the game multiple times. This allows you to practice and perfect your gameplay, so you’ll always end up on top.

Apex Legends

Apex Legends quickly rose to fame as a hero shooter that does just about everything right. From interesting and adaptable heroes with more continuing to be added as seasons go on to innovative and vast battle royale maps, the game is a perfect fit for those who take their hero shooters seriously. If it’s your first time jumping in, you’ll find plenty to enjoy, including the excellent pinging and communication options for your team, tight shooting controls, and powerful weapons to experiment with.

This excellent FPS entry is perfect for gamers looking for a bit of challenge while enjoying top-notch team dynamics. There’s also a fair bit of hero shooter in this title, with multiple Operator options depending on the sort of role you want when playing, from sniping and distraction to breaching and trickery. There are several PvP options, along with PvE modes that pit teams against A.I. baddies — and even solo options to brush up on your skills. If you really like working with a team when playing FPS, Siege makes it a delight when you find other dedicated players.

The latest Sniper Elite is packed full of more ways to hit those long-distance shots than ever before. It’s a game made for those who like exploring large maps and patiently finding ways to silently take down enemies, reposition, and slowly accomplish a variety of challenging goals. It’s also an amazing co-op experience if you have a friend that loves sniping right along with you.

Read our Horizon Forza 5 review

Microsoft Flight Simulator: Game of the Year Edition

Theme park simulators have never been so fun! Several different game modes allow you to pick your challenge or conquer the campaign by working to control and conserve dinosaur species … and clean up the mess when they get loose and start overrunning the world (Jurassic World voice actors help liven up the story, too). But the most fun lies in building your own dinosaur theme, choosing which structures to include, which scientists to hire, and generally helping your guests have the best time possible without getting mauled to death.

Mortal Kombat 11 was a major advancement of the series and an entertaining combination of storyline (time shenanigans and multiverses), challenge tours, a huge Krypt of secrets and treasure to explore, and good, old-fashioned competitive gameplay. Movements are tighter than ever before and less focused on annoying juggling, while the ability to customize move lists with certain kinds of favorite moves means you can play exactly how you want to. The roster is also excellent, featuring some great cameos and many player favorites.

Editors’ Recommendations

As the Xbox Game Pass program has grown, so has our list of the best games on Xbox Game Pass. With the launch of the Xbox Series X, Microsoft has doubled down on Game Pass, now offering well over 350 games on the console alone. To help you through option paralysis, we rounded up the top games on Microsoft’s subscription platform.

Many titles are available across Xbox and PC, and some of them even support cross-save. Most of the games are available for streaming on mobile, too, as long as you have Game Pass Ultimate.

See more

At a glance:

Action

After sweeping award show wins for 2020, it’s no surprise that Xbox gamers have been waiting somewhat impatiently for Hades to finally arrive on consoles. However, the wait is well worth it, as this action-focused, roguelike game has come at last to both Xbox and Game Pass, so interested subscribers can try it for free.

If you haven’t played Hades before, it quickly becomes apparent why the gorgeous game has won so many accolades. The base roguelike structure — Zagreus tries to escape from his father’s domain of Hades, gets through as many rooms/bosses as he can before dying, and then tries again — has been smartly optimized by Supergiant to include plenty of fascinating and powerful character interactions, plus an RPG-like progression system for weapons and augments, ensuring that no matter how many deaths you endure, Zagreus still continues to grow in power, and no escape attempt ever feels truly wasted. Gamers who persevere will also enjoy the increasingly complex world of Greek gods, demigods, and their competing affections.

Back 4 Blood

There’s a good reason that Back 4 Blood‘s four-player zombie survival game looks familiar: It is indeed the creation of Turtle Rock Studios, which worked with Valve to create Left 4 Dead. Many elements here are the same, but there’s an interesting new progression system, along with a card system that allows you to build a unique deck of abilities and perks for every single mission. The zombies also pose a greater challenge, with more special infected to threaten your progress. It’s a game that works best with friends, and rewards players who learn what the most important cards are and build a deck that can survive the zombie hordes!

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

When it comes to gameplay, Fallen Order is like Dark Souls light. It has tight swordplay, with tuned parrying and dodging mechanics. However, it’s clear Fallen Order‘s difficulty was tuned against the mainstream video game market, not against solely Dark Souls. Because of that, Fallen Order is an enjoyable romp for Souls-like fans while being accessible to genre newcomers.

Read our Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order review

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy was a very pleasant surprise after the mixed bag of Marvel’s Avengers: The third-person adventure is all about working together as a team to take down enemies and navigate a wide variety of planets and environments. The game was smart to borrow a number of things from the Mass Effect series, including some far-reaching consequences of your decisions and which teammates you favor. That also gives this galaxy-trotting adventure some inherent replayability if you want to boot it up a second time.

Call of the Sea is an unassuming game about exploring an island, and an excellent debut for the aptly named Out of the Blue Games. Set in the 1930s, you play as Norah Everhart as she explores a mysterious island looking for her lost husband. And from the opening moments of the game, that looks like all Call of the Sea has to offer.

Outer Wilds

Outer Wilds is a game you really shouldn’t know anything about. Focused entirely on exploration and discovery, Outer Wilds provides an open-world mystery with the only solution being to continue looking. Even a short synopsis could be considered a spoiler, so stop reading this section if you want to go in fresh.

Simply put, you play as an Astronaut who’s a member of the Outer Wilds Space Program. After 22 minutes of in-game time, the sun will explode into a supernova, ending the game. You’ll restart right away — with the same, 22-minute time limit — allowing you to explore the solar system and unravel the mysteries that lurk around you.

It’s been four years since No Man’s Sky hit the PlayStation 4 and PC after arriving on Xbox in 2018, but the game continues to feel fresh thanks to continuous updates from developer Hello Games that offer compelling content that keeps players on their toes.

Perhaps more than any other game in this roundup, No Man’s Sky illustrates freedom in a video game. It allows you to explore its ever-growing environment and create your own little slice of happiness in the digital world. But like any good game, it’s the combination of combat, exploration, and interactions with fellow players that keeps you coming back. Indeed, No Man’s Sky might have one of the most compelling communities anywhere.

More importantly, the gamification leads to a sense of freedom. Nothing in Sea of Thieves is stringent, from the loose leveling system to the Tall Tales that make up the campaign. You’re free to explore and tackle objectives in any way you see fit, or simply ignore objectives altogether. Although a lonely experience on your own, Sea of Thieves is a must-play with a group of friends. The game even supports cross-platform play between the Game Pass and Steam versions, so stringing together a group of pirates is easy.

Read our Sea of Thieves review

Indie

At first, Dead Cells feels unwieldy, as your character doesn’t jump very high and is constantly getting snagged on outstretched platforms. Once you learn to control the game, though, it becomes invigorating. You can rip through levels with incredible speed, providing a sense of aggression not found in other Metroidvanias.

Read our full Dead Cells review

Slay the Spire

Slay the Spire is a deck-building game with roguelike elements. In the beginning, you’ll choose one of four characters, each of which has its own set of cards. You’re given a starter deck with basic attack and defense cards, and as you defeat enemies, you’ll be able to add new cards to your deck.

Although simple in premise, Slay the Spire’s gameplay loop becomes addicting fast. The game is balanced enough to encourage exploration with different cards, making each run unique. Maybe your character focuses on building up huge attacks, or maybe you focus on defense and inflict status effects on your enemies. No matter your path, Slay the Spire is a fantastic ride.

Undertale is just now making its way to Xbox, over five years after the game’s release — and it’s available on Game Pass. If you’ve slept on Undertale, now is your time to jump in. It’s a quirky RPG that breaks all of the rules, then sits back and laughs at the fact that there are rules in the first place. It’s a game that can make you laugh, scare you half to death, and everything in between.

Undertale isn’t just a good game because it’s weird, though. Even as a traditional RPG, the combat system is engaging and inventive, the characters are teeming with depth, and the soundtrack is a perfect blend of SNES-era JRPG music and modern electronic production.

It was developed by a single person, too. Toby Fox is responsible for the game’s writing, art, design, and music (Fox eventually went on to arrange some music for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Pokémon Sword and Shield). Even if you’re on the fence, it’s worth downloading Undertale. It’s a game that sucks you in and refuses to let go.

Deep Rock Galactic

Deep Rock Galactic‘s success comes largely from how well-balanced it is for quick team-ups and co-op games with friends. The missions themselves make great use of the several different classes in the game, each with specific skills for both mining and fighting. Every mission allows players to explore an environment, locate and mine precious ores, then escape a horde of ravenous insect aliens. Points are earned and upgrades are bought to improve your class of choice, without anything feeling too tedious or time-intensive.

But Deep Rock Galactic is special in other ways as well: What other game has space dwarves explore intergalactic mining deposits with pickaxes and lasers (and beer)? It’s an experience all its own, and an easy choice if you’re looking for a new game to play with friends.

Vampire Survivors is a fun little game that any system can handle, with a simple premise that’s still enough to keep you going for hours. You play a timed session where you mow down as many vampire hordes as you can while meeting challenges and collecting items. Most of your weapons fire automatically, but the combination of weapons that you find can make a huge difference in how effectively you slay the vampire baddies. Even if you don’t last long, you can still use the gold you found to help equip your next character to give you a better shot at living.

Note: This game is currently available on PC Game Pass only.

It took Among Us a long time to reach Game Pass, but it’s here now, making it easier than ever to team up and find the alien betrayer in your midst — or get caught and eaten at a time, of course. Among Us splits players between space crew workers and hidden aliens: The team does assigned tasks and keeps an eye on each other, before voting on sending suspected alien pretenders out the airlock. Intermittent discussions on who suspects who allows the pretender to throw off the scent or cause chaos. It’s a game that’s as silly or serious as you want to make it, and there’s a good reason so many memes popped up in its wake.

Is 15 years too long to wait for a sequel? That depends on how good the game is — and Double Fine’s Psychonauts was certainly one of the best in its genre. Psychonauts 2 is finally here, and the familiar formula is back, sure to please fans of the old game while making an excellent introduction to the zany, heartfelt world of Psychonauts.

The story picks up soon after the first (and a VR side story that was later released), following the boy Raz, who has left his circus family to train his psychic powers with the acclaimed Psychonauts organization. Raz’s specialty is entering minds and sorting out hidden traumas so that people (heroes and villains alike) can move on in healthy ways. He uses a wide assortment of psychic powers to defeat literal doubts, fears, and panic attacks while navigating worlds chock full of collectibles and currency that allow him to upgrade or modify abilities.

Read our full Psychonauts 2 review here

Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight wears its Super Metroid and Dark Souls influences on its sleeve but manages to provide an experience all its own. You control a silent, nameless knight with a nail, who is tasked with exploring the vast, insect-ridden kingdom of Hallownest. Like any good Metroidvania, Hollow Knight has a vast, interconnected map that you’re free to explore.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

In previous versions of this list, Moonhead Studios’ excellent Ori and the Blind Forest occupied this spot. With the sequel Ori and the Will of the Wisps out, though, it’s hard even looking at the original game. Will of the Wisps is three times the size of Blind Forest, offering more exploration, mechanics, and boss encounters.

The game plays the same as the original, just with some fine-tuning of the controls. Although we still recommend playing through Blind Forest — it’s a short game at around eight hours — Will of the Wisps is the better title. Just get ready to cry, like, a lot.

Role-playing

Morrowind established the franchise on consoles. Even after nearly 20 years, Morrowind has some of the best writing and world design in the series, and the skill system still holds up. Oblivion pushed the freeform design of Morrowind further, adding more depth and things to do in the world. It also fixed Morrowind’s clunky combat system, lowering the barrier to entry for new players. Then there’s Skyrim, which made Bethesda and Elder Scrolls household names.

If you have option paralysis, we recommend starting with Oblivion. Skyrim is a close second, but Oblivion defined the systems and world design that Bethesda built upon in Skyrim. 

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

If you’re looking for the complete Mass Effect experience with all DLC, upgraded graphics for the latest consoles, and improved systems, then the Legendary Edition is perfect for you. Create your own Commander Shepard, put together teams to fight the galaxy’s most fearsome threat, and chain your key decisions across three games to affect just how it all goes down. Mass Effect remains a pinnacle of RPG storytelling, and as the Legendary version fixes some of the clunkier aspects of earlier games, there’s no better time to jump in. Just make sure you have enough storage space for all three optimized games … it’s a lot of gigs.

From the creators of Prey and Dishonored, now at their new studio, Wolfeye, Weird West is an isometric ARPG with twin-stick shooter controls. That may remind you a bit of another indie on Game Pass, The Ascent, but Weird West‘s world looks especially fascinating — an American West mixed with black magic where gunslinging and shapeshifters are just part of the day. If you’ve been looking for a new action RPG to try out, keep an eye on this title when it hits Game Pass in March.

Monster Hunter: World is the de facto way to play the long-running series. Coming off a long series of exclusivity deals with Sony and Nintendo, World is the first Monster Hunter game to make its way to both Xbox and PC. In it, you explore one of the largest open worlds gaming has to offer, discovering new territories, finding new items, and, of course, taking down huge monsters.

World is fun as a single-player experience, though, the grind can get repetitive fast. The game shines most when you tackle quests with a group of friends. As long as you have fellow hunters along for the ride, World provides an addictive loop of hunting, gathering, and upgrading, with the Iceborne DLC expanding the game even more.

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition

The version available on Game Pass is the best way to play the game, too. It’s an updated version of Dragon Quest XI with a fully orchestrated soundtrack, a 2D mode that turns that game into a retro JRPG, and a slew of quality of life improvements. The obnoxiously long title aside, this version really is the definitive way to play Dragon Quest XI. Having a fully orchestrated soundtrack — as opposed to the MIDI the original game shipped with — is enough, even. Take a look at our list of the best Dragon Quest games to see how this one stacks up in the series.

Read our Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age review

Outriders: New Horizon

Outriders is a strong iteration of the Destiny fantasy, giving a team of characters god-like powers (there are four different classes to choose from) and plopping them down in a sci-fi world to explore and survive. Outriders focuses far less on the endgame and more on a tight story experience with constant progress, thanks to a steady stream of new armor and weapons, a powerful modding system for crafting your own gear, and points to level up your class tree and choose your specialties — anything from blanketing a combat zone in ice to teleporting around the battlefield. If you like playing through campaigns with your friends and enjoy a steady challenge with addictive RPG elements, Outriders is well worth a playthrough courtesy of Game Pass.

Young Souls

Young Souls is a new game with an interesting RPG twist: It combines plentiful RPG mechanics with a 2D design reminiscent of traditional brawlers and side-scrollers. The game follows Jenn and Tristan through two worlds and a variety of threats that they can help each other with — and that brings us to the other important point: The game is designed for co-op, making it one of the few RPGs that’s a blast to sit down and play with a friend. Add in the gorgeous art style and the snappy writing, and this indie game feels like one of the best things to happen to RPGs in a long time.

Gears Tactics is way better than it has any right to be. It’s a turn-based strategy game where you command a small group of elite soldiers. Playing as Gabe Diaz, it’s your job to ensure your troops survive each combat encounter unscathed, all while training up reserves.

Read our Gears Tactics review

Total War: Warhammer III

The final game in the Total War: Warhammer trilogy is a culmination of excellent strategy and RPG gameplay going back years, and you don’t need to have played the full series to enjoy this entry (thanks in part to a very smart tutorial). The battle sets are gorgeous, the fantasy lore is deep, and the A.I. forces you face are cunning enough to offer a real challenge. Strategic management of your forces, resources, and alliances is also a lot easier this time around thanks to a streamlined interface that still provides the depth strategists love.

Just keep in mind, this title is only available on PC Game Pass, not console.

Titanfall 2 is the best shooter Respawn Entertainment has made (and yes, we claim that in full view of Apex Legends). Take Apex Legends, remove all of the restrictions imposed to make the game balanced, and you have Titanfall 2‘s single-player gameplay. The campaign is short, the story isn’t great, and it’s clear Respawn borrowed a little too much from Borderlands 2 (particularly when it comes to bosses). Despite all of that, Titanfall‘s excellent and exploitable movement mechanics make it a stellar game.

You don’t really need to look further than a Titanfall 2 speedrun to see that. It’s a shooter first and foremost, but if you can master movement in Titanfall 2, the game turns into an extremely tight and challenging platformer. That’s what makes Titanfall 2 so exciting.

It’s still a great shooter, though, developed by a studio that’s proved itself a master of the genre. Even if you aren’t interested in Titanfall 2‘s movement mechanics, you can still get a lot out of the campaign, especially out of multiplayer.

Doom Eternal

In 2016, it seemed impossible to top id Software’s Doom reboot. The most series fans could have hoped for from a sequel was more of the same. But Doom Eternal pushed further, not conforming to the exact same structure that was so successful for 2016’s Doom (both critically and commercially).

The gunplay is familiar, but Doom Eternal is bigger and more ambitious. The scale of levels is massive, and id honed in on the resource management mechanics in Doom. Instead of going from fight to fight until the end of the level, Doom Eternal makes battles interesting by forcing you to use glory kills and your chainsaw to pick up ammo and health. That forces you into the, as described by id Software, “fun zone.” It turns out that’s a great place to be.

Gears 5

After more than a decade of huge biceps and chunky guns, Gears 5 breathes new life into a series that has gone stale. With some of the best storytelling the series has seen and the implementation of RPG elements, Gears 5 builds upon the third-person shooter genre in just about every way.

Story aside, the bones of any good Gears game are present. The fifth entry has excellent co-op and multiplayer support, including Escape, Versus, and Horde game modes. For a series as prolific as Gears of War, The Coalition could’ve easily phoned it in for the fifth entry. Thankfully, it didn’t.

Halo Infinite

It took some time, but Halo Infinite has finally hit Game Pass in its completed state, including both multiplayer and the campaign. This Halo story has Master Chief saving a youngling AI, fighting new (and old) kinds of enemies, journeying across a large, open world (that allows for much more flexible missions, albeit requiring a little more focus to complete), and using new tools like a grappling/grab hook for all-new combat possibilities. The gameplay is great, and multiplayer is as competitive as ever, though it’s still improving consistently thanks to the updates 343 continues to make. If you like Halo, you’ll find a whole lot to love here.

We should note that Infinite is almost completed: The campaign still lacks a co-op mode, although it’s supposed to be added sometime in the future. If you want to play with friends, you’ll have to stick to multiplayer for now.

Dishonored 2

If Dishonored 2 were simply an action game, it’d still be a great game, but it’s more than that. Arkane really outdid themselves with this all-encompassing sim genre, giving players so many different avenues for play they feel like a kid in a candy store.

You’ll be able to experience new gameplay activities, including tool manufacture and even having vermin at your disposal. Consequently, you’ll have numerous new ways to defeat your enemies. 

There are lots of ways to handle encounters, which means you can replay the game multiple times. This allows you to practice and perfect your gameplay, so you’ll always end up on top.

Apex Legends

Apex Legends quickly rose to fame as a hero shooter that does just about everything right. From interesting and adaptable heroes with more continuing to be added as seasons go on to innovative and vast battle royale maps, the game is a perfect fit for those who take their hero shooters seriously. If it’s your first time jumping in, you’ll find plenty to enjoy, including the excellent pinging and communication options for your team, tight shooting controls, and powerful weapons to experiment with.

This excellent FPS entry is perfect for gamers looking for a bit of challenge while enjoying top-notch team dynamics. There’s also a fair bit of hero shooter in this title, with multiple Operator options depending on the sort of role you want when playing, from sniping and distraction to breaching and trickery. There are several PvP options, along with PvE modes that pit teams against A.I. baddies — and even solo options to brush up on your skills. If you really like working with a team when playing FPS, Siege makes it a delight when you find other dedicated players.

The latest Sniper Elite is packed full of more ways to hit those long-distance shots than ever before. It’s a game made for those who like exploring large maps and patiently finding ways to silently take down enemies, reposition, and slowly accomplish a variety of challenging goals. It’s also an amazing co-op experience if you have a friend that loves sniping right along with you.

Read our Horizon Forza 5 review

Microsoft Flight Simulator: Game of the Year Edition

Theme park simulators have never been so fun! Several different game modes allow you to pick your challenge or conquer the campaign by working to control and conserve dinosaur species … and clean up the mess when they get loose and start overrunning the world (Jurassic World voice actors help liven up the story, too). But the most fun lies in building your own dinosaur theme, choosing which structures to include, which scientists to hire, and generally helping your guests have the best time possible without getting mauled to death.

Mortal Kombat 11 was a major advancement of the series and an entertaining combination of storyline (time shenanigans and multiverses), challenge tours, a huge Krypt of secrets and treasure to explore, and good, old-fashioned competitive gameplay. Movements are tighter than ever before and less focused on annoying juggling, while the ability to customize move lists with certain kinds of favorite moves means you can play exactly how you want to. The roster is also excellent, featuring some great cameos and many player favorites.

Editors’ Recommendations