May 3, 2023 12:00 PM

10 Xbox Game Pass Games Worth Playing

From Redfall to Valheim, Microsoft’s subscription service includes plenty of captivating titles.

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Screenshot of Redfall game featuring characters holding weapons to a floating monster

Screenshot of Valheim game featuring character walking through forest with sun shining

Screenshot from Aesthetic Alchemy game showing a potion being created

screenshot of Master Effects Legendary Edition with an explosion from a giant machine blasting a laser in an urban...

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Xbox Game Pass is one of the few subscriptions I’ve kept around while other services got the chop. The $15 monthly fee for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate feels worth it because I get to choose from over 100 titles and regularly download new additions. In a year, the cost breaks down to about the price of three AAA games.

An Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription comes with access to EA Play and Xbox Live Gold. If you’re not interested in online multiplayer games, Microsoft offers a more budget-friendly tier that costs $10 a month. For gamers not on Xbox, PC Game Pass ($10/month) has many of the same titles. (Got a PlayStation or Switch? Check out our guide to the most popular game subscription services.)

To help you choose which ones to download first, WIRED sifted through the Game Pass catalog and rounded up outstanding titles we think you’ll enjoy. From recent releases to excellent throwbacks, our genre-spanning picks for the best Game Pass games have a little something for all players.

On the hunt for even more recommendations? Two great resources are WIRED's roundups of the best Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S games.

Courtesy of Bethesda
High Stakes
Redfall
Oh no, the vampires, they’re taking over Massachusetts! Can your intrepid squad restore order to the blood-dripping chaos? Redfall is an open world game from Arkane, the celebrated development team behind games like Prey and Deathloop. Alone or with friends, you shoot and loot through a town ruled by vampires and their cult-ish followers. Look, it’s not a perfect game by any means. You might experience a few bugs, and the enemy AI could be more responsive. With that in mind, Redfall is a decently fun experience worth trying out for a few hours with friends who have a subscription to Game Pass and want to stake some vampires right through the heart.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox Series X|S and PC.
$70 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$70 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of Iron Gate AB
Viking Friends
Valheim
An enthralling spin on the survival genre first released in 2021, Valheim is finally available to play on console as well as on PC. As a Viking, you craft cool armor, build outposts for your friends, and battle your way through harsh environments with their help. It’s a game that’s best enjoyed with multiple browser tabs open, so don’t be afraid to search for help on how to get started or how to emerge victorious from nasty boss battles. It’s possible to survive in Valheim, but only if it’s Odin’s will.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$20 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$20 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of NicePlay Games
Aesthetic Alchemy
Potion Craft
Get your mortar and pestle ready! In Potion Craft, you collect the tastiest mushrooms and the smelliest herbs to mash, blend, and sell to the townsfolk. Be prepared to haggle with stingy customers who drive a hard bargain. Also, don’t hand out mediocre concoctions often or your alchemist’s reputation will suffer. The idyllic business management sim is a soothing way to spend an evening.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$20 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$15 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of EA Games
Ship Shape
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
Although the next installment for the Mass Effect series remains in the distant future, this remastered trilogy from BioWare is an engaging set of games for science fiction aficionados. Returning players may find satisfaction in revisiting the 2007 release; new players might enjoy playing an accessible piece of history that continues to impact contemporary games. If you can look past a cumbersome user interface, the overall experience is worth it.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$60 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$60 at Steam Store (PC)

Courtesy of The Outsiders
Beat Slayer
Metal: Hellsinger
Original music meets Doom-style gameplay in Metal: Hellsinger. Successfully slay your enemies by attacking in sync with the pounding rhythms of hell. Yes, it’s a bit gimmicky, but the short game from The Outsiders refuses to overstay its welcome. Now only if we could play the game backward to expose the hidden, demonic messages …
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$40 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$30 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of Obsidian Entertainment
Local Artist
Pentiment
Pentiment is the best game released in 2022 you might have missed. In this adventure game, you’re an intrepid artist living in 16th-century Bavaria who wants to uncover the truth about a murder. Visually striking and narratively complex, it’s a top-tier title that only takes a couple of weeks to finish. Check out WIRED’s interview with Pentiment’s director, Josh Sawyer, for an in-depth discussion about the game.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$20 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$20 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of Two Point Studios
Dean Duties
Two Point Campus
An admirable successor to Two Point Hospital, Two Point Campus is a lighthearted business management sim where you build multiple universities and attempt to keep students happy as they study everything from robotics to wizardry. Between creating lavish dorm rooms, hiring the best faculty, and designing the outdoor shrubbery, make sure to keep an eye on the campus coffers. Budgeting while you’re attending college is a slog; budgeting while you’re playing Two Point Campus is rather rewarding.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$40 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$40 at Steam Store (PC)

Courtesy of Tribute Games Inc.
Kick Shell
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
While it’s impossible to perfectly re-create the childhood feeling of sitting too close to the TV on a Saturday morning, chomping down a sugary breakfast and watching cartoons, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge comes pretty darn close. Developed by Tribute Games, the button-mashing fun of Shredder’s Revenge references a bygone era of TMNT animation and video games. Brawl through levels by yourself or with up to five other people in multiplayer mode. It’s radical.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$25 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$25 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of Playground Games
Zooming Around
Forza Horizon 5
An open-world racing game set in Mexico, Forza Horizon 5 will keep you engrossed and behind the wheel for hours on end. The smooth handling and pristine graphics make Forza Horizon 5 one of the best racing games of all time. Build a collection of iconic cars, customize the vehicles, and hear the engines purr during racing events and aimless explorations of the expansive map. An online battle royale mode, “The Eliminator,” is thrown in for good measure.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$60 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$60 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of Square Enix
Space Shooter
Outriders
Balancing elements of an RPG and third-person shooter, Outriders is another sci-fi adventure worth your time. Traverse the dystopian planet of Enoch in a customizable convoy and use your unique skill set to take on formidable foes. The co-op campaign is perfect for hours of monster-blasting fun with friends. Curious about the Outriders Worldslayer expansion? It’s not included with the subscription service, but you can play the original experience on Game Pass before deciding to buy additional content.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$60 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$60 at Steam Store (PC)

Courtesy of Bethesda
Honorable Mentions
More Game Pass Games
As Dusk Falls
Citizen Sleeper
Dead by Daylight
Doom
Exo One
Fallout 4
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Hollow Knight
Inside
Mortal Kombat 11
Skyrim
Tunic
Weird West

Reece Rogers is WIRED's service writer, focused on explaining crucial topics and helping readers get the most out of their technology. Prior to WIRED, he covered streaming at Insider.

Service Writer