Xbox Game Pass: 16 awesome Xbox and PC games to play right now

The Xbox Series X | S is alive, in the wild, and for some reason to be vaped in. The two consoles, the mighty X and the smallest, cheaper, launched Tuesday after months of anticipation. There will be a bunch of new games to buy, but more than 100 you can play Game Pass for $ 10.

If you’re ever a member of Game Pass, Microsoft’s attempt to make Netflix for gaming, you know how crazy it is. Along with Project xCloud, it’s a pillar of Microsoft’s next-generation gaming philosophy, and one that is likely to extend across the Xbox Series X’s cycle of life.

The service has over 100 games, with more being added every month. And it’s not just the quantity. There are dozens of great titles, both AAA and indie, that you can dive into for $ 10 a month (or $ 15 if you get Ultimate Game Pass, which also allows you to select games to play on PC).

If you’re new to the service or just about to join, here are 15 games to play right away.

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Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

As Mandalorian season 2 is in full swingand as Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offer a free month of Disney Plus, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order comes to service. It’s a rare type of game: a licensed title that doesn’t suck. This action adventure retains the feel and charm of Star Wars and is worth playing even if you aren’t obsessed with the Galaxy Far Far Away.

Eternal doom

Doom Eternal is one of the more recent games in Xbox Game Pass, which will be available in October. It’s a sequel to 2016’s Doom, a reboot of the classic shooter franchise. It involves killing a lot (and a lot) of demons. The game was well received when it released in March, scoring an 8/10 from our sister site GameSpot.

Gears 5 Ultimate

Gears 5 Ultimate is one of the crown jewels of Xbox Game Pass. The 2019 blockbuster is one of the greatest first-party games on the Xbox One, and the very fact that games of its ilk are on Game Pass shows just how seriously Microsoft is investing in the service. It’s available on Xbox One and PC.

Age of Empires II Definitive Edition

Age of Empires II is the heartwarming food of the game. The Definitive Edition of this iconic PC game launched last November on PC, upping the game to 4K and adding new campaigns, and you can play both on PC and Xbox One via Game Pass.

Rainbow Six Siege Deluxe Edition

If you are looking for a shooter this is a good place to start. Rainbow Six Siege released in 2015, but don’t let that put you off. It was designed to be an esports game and has been updated and evolved over the years. A team-based shooter, it has a vibrant online community to date.

Ori and the will of the wisps

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a beautiful game from Moon Studios that follows on from Ori and the Blind Forest from 2015. A heartfelt adventure platformer game, it’s a bit like a mix between Metroid, Castlevania and Rayman . It received high praise when it was released in 2017 by CNET’s sister site, GameSpot, calling it a “remarkable synthesis of clever design and beautiful moments.”

Forza Horizon 4

When it comes to non-first-person shooters, Forza is arguably Microsoft’s biggest and best exclusive franchise. Forza Horizon 4 is set in a Britain-based world and was hugely successful when it was released in 2018. It will soon be joined by Forza Motorsport 7, where you race on a track rather than the road. This title will be released on Game Pass on October 8.

Dead cells

If you’re tired of big budget first-person shooters, try Dead Cells. It is a beautiful and colorful Metroidvania style action platformer that was released in 2018 and received critical acclaim. It continues to be a cult favorite and is absolutely worth a download if you haven’t played it yet (and even if you did). It is playable on Xbox and PC via Game Pass Ultimate.

The outer worlds

Speaking of imaginative games, The Outer Worlds is an RPG from Obsidian, the gang behind Fallout New Vegas, and it’s a winner. It takes place in an alternate universe where Theodore Roosevelt did not regulate large American corporations at the turn of the 20th century, which led them to … colonize the galaxy, obviously. So, in essence, it’s Fallout in space. Game Pass Ultimate users can play it on PC and Xbox.

Untitled Goose Game

One of the best things about Game Pass is that once you’re a member, it allows you to try out games that intrigue you but maybe you were in too much of a rush to buy. For many people, Untitled Goose Game will be one of those games. Released in 2019, it’s a game where you play as a goose that wreaks as much havoc as possible. A strange premise, seemingly unfounded, but one that led to a game that was highly regarded – and absolutely worth trying.

Destiny 2

Destiny 2 is an extremely popular loot shooter game developed by Bungie, the gang that brought you the original Halo. That’s nothing new though, having hit the Xbox One in 2017. Now is a great time to jump in – or return to – Destiny 2, with a franchise-changing expansion (according to Bungie), Beyond Light, which launches in November.

Without beef

Oxenfree is a supernatural thriller originally released for PC, Mac, and Xbox One in 2016 and since ported to iOS and Android, among other platforms. It’ll take you less than five hours to beat, but it’s a memorable story worth living.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Master Chief Collection is a remastered package that includes Halo 1, 2 and 3, ODST, Rach and Halo 4. Yes, that’s a lot of Halo. The game was criticized upon release due to poor technical and online multiplayer issues, but fixes have since addressed those issues. It’s a great way to get ready for Halo: Infinite next year.

Wasteland 3

Wasteland 3 is an isometric RPG. This description really doesn’t do it justice in any way, as this post-apocalyptic game is filled with an admirable blend of tension, quirk, and charm. It takes place in 22nd-century Colorado and features both psycho clowns and a cult dedicated to Ronald Reagan. What else do you need?

What remains of Edith Finch

It’s the perfect game for a service like Game Pass. What Remains of Edith Finch is a two hour track that you will complete in one pass. It’s hard to describe the gameplay in a way that does it justice, so I’ll just say it’s a haunting exploration of the history of the Finch family. Play it.

Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5

It’s a good choice for people who have never owned a PlayStation 2. Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 offers almost all the games in the franchise: Kingdom Hearts, Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts 2, Birth By Sleep and versions DS 358/2 day game watchable (don’t ask) and coded mobile game. If you try out the series and get in there, Kingdom Hearts III is on Game Pass as well.