The best Xbox Game Pass games 2024

What are the best Xbox Game Pass games? If you’ve just picked up an Xbox Series X|S, you’re probably wondering what games to play first. While you could splash the cash on one of the latest big triple-A games, you should really think about subscribing to Xbox Game Pass – Microsoft’s Netflix-inspired games service. Even Xbox One players will get great use out of this subscription. So, here are all the best Xbox Game Pass games to play right now.

Xbox Game Pass for Console – which you can purchase from $10.99/£8.99 a month right here – offers over 400 games including some of the best Xbox games around, as well as many new Xbox games without spending anything extra. Game Pass Ultimate users also have the entire EA Play library at their fingertips. Indeed, it’s impossible to deny the value of a Game Pass sub – we even did the math and found Xbox Game Pass added 150 games worth $5,000 in 2023 alone. With so much value, it can be quite overwhelming for first-time users to figure out what’s worth playing, and what’s worth passing on – that’s where we come in.

The best Xbox Game Pass games are: 

1. Remnant 2

A surprise addition to the service, Remnant 2 is one of the best Soulslike games we’ve ever played, and for good reason. In Remnant 2, you can choose any of the Remnant 2 classes and find some amazing guns as you take on challenging threats throughout.

Don’t worry, as you don’t have to take on this difficult game alone. You can play with up to two friends throughout the story, allowing you to take on some monstrous bosses as a team. But for those who want to play solo, the Handler archetype (Remnant 2’s best class, in our opinion) can give you a friendly dog companion to battle alongside you. And don’t worry, you don’t need to play the first game to enjoy the sequel (but the first is also on Game Pass too!)

So, if you’ve been waiting for the Elden Ring DLC release date and want a game very similar, but different enough to have its own strengths, Remnant 2 is a great game to play. Make sure to read our Remnant 2 review for more on this incredible title.

2. Halo: The Master Chief Collection

If you’ve got an Xbox but you’ve not played Halo, then what are you waiting for? The Master Chief Collection includes six games, starting with Reach and ending with Halo 3: ODST, allowing you to dive into the Halo story from the very beginning.

Since some of the games are pretty old now, you’ll be happy to hear that they’ve been graphically enhanced for this collection, meaning your playthroughs should be buttery smooth – this really is the de facto way to experience Halo.

Add in Halo’s uniquely brilliant multiplayer and you’ve got everything you need to become a die-hard fan.

3. Halo Infinite

It hasn’t been smooth sailing for Halo Infinite since its release, launching to great success which quickly faded once the cracks began to show. However, the latest Halo game is finally in prime position to be one of the best FPS games on the market and it’s the Xbox exclusive we’re most excited about in 2024.

With a suite of changes, new features, and content since release, the Halo Infinite multiplayer mode has received a huge surge of players all hungry for some classic Halo action. It’s fast, it’s fun, and it’s so incredibly satisfying. Oh, and it’s free with Game Pass!

While multiplayer, Forge, and Firefight are free-to-play, the stellar campaign mode is also free with Game Pass. While it’s quite different compared to past entries in the series, set in a large open-world environment, it’s got some strong story moments spread through it. With a large sandbox of weapons and vehicles to play around with, this larger scope gives you much greater freedom in your approach that’s a blast to experiment with, though you can read our Halo Infinite review to find out more.

4. Gears 5

Recently remastered for the Xbox Series X|S, Gears 5 is a third-person shooter that directly follows on from the end of Gears of War 4. While the single-player storyline is pretty complex, the game’s tutorial is good at bringing you up to speed quickly. In the single-player, you’re tasked with helping Kait learn more about her family background while trying to hold back the horde.

If a compelling single-player isn’t enough to convince you to download, maybe Gears 5’s cracking multiplayer mode will. With several online modes and a split-screen option, Gears 5 is great to play with friends.

5. Deathloop

What would you do if you were stuck in a loop, tasked with killing eight people in different ways as the same day repeats? Deathloop is an immersive sim that pretends to be one of the best FPS games from the developer behind the hit series Dishonored, where you’ll need to figure out how to break a time loop.

It’s an unorthodox puzzle game that requires you to kill all of the Visionaries on the island of Blackreef, but as you find new weapons and earn new abilities, you keep them and your knowledge across each loop, culminating in a very satisfying ending. In fact, in our Deathloop review, we called it “Arkane at its best”.

6. Forza Horizon 5

Set in a stunning recreation of Mexico, Forza Horizon 5 stands as arguably the best open-world racing game ever. With a mind-blowing amount of vehicles on offer, a highly impressive amount of live service support with plenty of regular new content, and super smooth and fun racing, it’s an amazing experience even if you’re not a big racing games fan.

From off-roading in the sand dunes to blasting around a street circuit in a dense city, there is a place, occasion, and vehicle for any type of racing in Forza Horizon 5. Check out our Forza Horizon 5 review to learn more.

7. Forza Motorsport

If the open-world racing of Forza Horizon 5 isn’t for you, then perhaps the excellent track racing of Forza Motorsport is. Taking the best-in-class car handling that carefully balances racing sim elements with classic arcade racing, Forza Motorsport gives you access to over 500 cars and numerous beautiful tracks.

Redesigned from the ground up, Forza Motorsport is a car lover’s dream. You’ll have to learn to handle each new car you drive, upgrading it as you progress through the career mode. This carries over into multiplayer, which offers intense player-versus-player racing in a variety of different racing categories.

8. Lies of P

The story of Pinocchio is iconic, and while many of you are likely used to Disney’s interpretation of the character, Lies of P delivers a dark and twisted narrative with the beloved Soulslike gameplay.

Like many Soulslike games, Lies of P offers some difficult enemies to face and a system where death means the loss of progression, but it also offers a unique twist on the genre. Pinocchio’s ability to lie makes for some interesting decisions within the story, as your choices affect how the world reacts to you.

It’s an exciting single-player game that offers roughly 30 hours of story, with a new game plus mode that changes things up for your next playthroughs. And if you’re not convinced already, our Lies of P review says it is “an excellent Soulslike worth checking out that isn’t completely reliant on ideas from other places”.

9. Rainbow Six Siege

If you’re a lover of tactical shooters, Rainbow Six Siege is absolutely the game for you. With more than 60 operators to choose from and a constantly evolving meta, Rainbow Six Siege’s gameplay will constantly keep you on your toes.

If you’re feeling particularly competitive, Rainbow Six Siege ranked mode will provide you with the necessary challenge online. Just make sure you familiarize yourself with the excellent array of maps so that you know all the flanking routes and fortifiable positions.

10. Sea of Thieves

If you’re ready to do your best Jack Sparrow impression, the shores of Sea of Thieves are waiting for you. Rare’s impressive live-service game has changed a fair bit over the last couple of years, granting swashbuckling pirates like you the chance to prove you’ve got the sea legs to survive.

Sea of Thieves is best enjoyed with friends, but it can be played alone too. Just try and stay out of the water. With many years behind it now, there’s so much more content and variety in Sea of Thieves than at launch, so even if you gave it a go in 2018, it’s worth sailing back into one of the best Xbox Game Pass games.

11. Exoprimal

Do you like killing hordes of dinosaurs? Check. Do you like killing dinosaurs in powerful exosuits that have a range of abilities? Check. Do you like killing dinosaurs with your friends while trying to defeat hundreds of dinos against another team? Check. Then Exoprimal is definitely for you.

One of the best co-op games on Xbox right now, Exoprimal is just chaotic fun. It doesn’t have a deep story or deep gameplay, but it is a superbly fun game that our Exoprimal review praises for its chaos. Make sure to use our Exoprimal tier list to ensure you know which of the exosuits to pick, as each excels in different areas.

12. Psychonauts 2

Easily one of the best Xbox Series X games so far, and arguably one of the best games of all time, Psychonauts 2 is a must-download from the Xbox Game Pass library. In this platformer, you’ll take control of Raz, a psychic spy who can delve into the minds of others.

With colorful worlds, brilliant characters, and genuinely surprising storylines, there’s something for everyone in Double Fine’s game. Our Psychonauts 2 review praises the game for its “excellent, witty dialogue” that makes exploring the minds of others in sprawling, ingenious levels an absolute blast – something you’ll feel from the moment you start playing. If you’re ready to become a Psychonaut yourself, be sure to use our Psychonauts 2 walkthrough for guidance.

13. Rollerdrome

This unique third-person shooter doesn’t force you through levels with hordes of enemies swarming you, but instead, pops you in rollerskates and has you killing contestants in a dystopian entertainment show set in the near future.

Being on rollerskates allows you to propel yourself across the arena, as you pull off trick shots and defeat enemies in this high-octane shooter. While there’s an incredibly dark and sinister narrative behind Rollerdrome, the highlight is a killer soundtrack and a unique take on an age-old genre.

If that doesn’t sell you on Rollerdrome alone, The Loadout’s Jamie Hore said “Rollerdrome has one of the most intoxicating and satisfying gameplay loops in recent memory” in his Rollerdrome review.

14. Overcooked 2

Desperate for a new multiplayer game that you can play with friends and family? Overcooked 2 is the answer to your prayers. This cooperative cooking game puts you and your friends at the center of a busy kitchen and whacks up the heat.

You’ll need to work together to fulfill orders, otherwise, you’ll find yourself out of the frying pan and into the fire. It’s undoubtedly chaotic, but there’s nothing else like trying to make a burger with way too many (bad) cooks in the kitchen. As one of the best Xbox co-op games, we recommend trying it out with friends on Game Pass.

15. No Man’s Sky

If you’re looking to explore the world at your own pace, No Man’s Sky is for you. Here you can hop into a ship and explore the ever-growing world around you while battling and interacting with its many players.

You might recall No Man’s Sky received quite a lot of flak when it launched in 2016, but it’s a very different game now. Thanks to Sean Murray and Hello Games’ efforts to consistently improve the game with updates, this space exploration survival game keeps its passionate community guessing what’s coming next. With the addition of everything from mechs and vehicles, to more advanced base building, frigate, revamped combat, and so much more, you need to give NMS a go. It’s also one of the best games like Starfield if you’re looking for even more space exploration fun.

16. Deep Rock Galactic

We couldn’t have a list of the best Xbox Game Pass games without including this hidden gem. Deep Rock Galactic is a co-op FPS in which you and a team of Dwarves are sent to mine for valuable reasons on the dangerous planet of Hoxxes II.

With best-in-class procedural generation, each mission feels incredibly unique while also avoiding the common feeling of levels being ‘designed by an algorithm’. There are a variety of biomes that are as stunning as they are horrific, especially as they’re infested with hordes of gross bugs. With several unique mission types, you’ll venture down into the caves to complete objectives, all while holding off an army of gross Glyphids, with each type having unique powers and effects you’ll have to work around.

This superb core gameplay loop is upheld by an experience bursting with charm. From each of the four classes to the small details in the areas you’ll explore, it’s hard not to be smiling while playing DRG. There’s also a steady stream of new free content, from new customization items to new weapons, upgrades, mission types, biomes, events, and more.

17. Starfield

Bethesda is back with its first new IP in nearly three decades, and Starfield lives up to much of the hype. With an intriguing mystery at the heart of the narrative, you’ll travel across the galaxy in search of answers, all while being immersed in the rich world at your fingertips – complete with several great Starfield factions.

Whether you want to be an intrepid explorer, a space cowboy, or even an interstellar marauder, there are Starfield builds and fun quests in store for you, as our Starfield review explains. Before you jump into your space adventure, find out all the best Starfield weapons and the best Starfield skills so you know what to aim for. With over 1,000 planets, it’s easy to get lost and overwhelmed, but it’s no doubt one of the best RPG games to play right now.

18. Hi-Fi Rush

Tango Gamework’s Hi-Fi Rush was not just a pleasant surprise in that it was shadow-dropped right into our laps, but it’s also an exceptionally good game – it made it into The Loadout Awards 2023 as our ‘Surprise of the Year’. Masterfully blending equal parts rhythm game and action game, Hi-Fi Rush offers up incredibly satisfying, musically-charged combat in which you have to land all your combos on the beat. After a bit of practice, you’ll feel like a rockstar taking down the robotic foes in your way with the stellar Hi-Fi Rush soundtrack blaring as you do so.

Hi-Fi Rush is also oozing with charm thanks to its Sunday morning cartoon vibes that permeate the writing and art design. With great pacing, you’ll be pulled through the experience with a grin on your face from start to end.

19. Cocoon

If you’re in the mood for a mind-bending puzzle game with a mysterious yet beautiful environment, then look no further than Cocoon. Given it’s from the mind behind Limbo and Inside, it should be no surprise that Cocoon is a remarkably unique and concise experience. With each world existing within an orb your cute little beetle character carries on their back, you’ll have to wrap your head around its world-leaping puzzle mechanics to manipulate your surroundings.

20. Stardew Valley

Enjoyed either as a chilled solo experience, a cozy couch co-op game, or as a larger online collaboration with up to eight others, Stardew Valley is not only one of the best Xbox Game Pass games, but it’s also one of the most relaxing. Well, most of the time, anyway.

Taking over a farm in the town of Stardew Valley, you’re tasked with growing crops, raising livestock, fishing, and mining for a living, expanding your farm as you go. While that’s the main premise, there’s plenty more to do alongside collecting eggs and watering your pumpkins. You can talk to and befriend villagers, unlock new areas to visit and explore, and even take on a dungeon-crawling adventure down the town’s mine, which consists of over 100 levels of increasingly-difficult (and bizarre) enemies to defeat.

We really love that you can have as intense an experience as you want with Stardew Valley. If you want to grind levels in the mine for hours on end, you can. If you want to pick it up for a quick 20 minutes each day to tend to your farm, you can do that too. It’s a great game that’s not to be missed.

21. Tales of Arise

Does changing fate and carving out a new future for two opposing worlds in an action-packed RPG sound like fun? Then Tales of Arise is for you. If you’ve never played a Tales game before, then that’s alright it’s not necessary to enjoy Arise. Plus, Arise is quite different from its predecessors, with combat playing more like Devil May Cry or Bayonetta. In other words, it’s fast, frenetic, and fun as hell. In fact, it’s many long-time fans’ favorite iteration of combat and gameplay in the series to date.

As for the story, with its heroes coming from two very different environments, there’s an intriguing story to dig into. You’ll get to learn more about its lovable characters Alphen and Shionne as it unfolds, with surprisingly great dubbed English voice acting – or subtitles if you’re rather.

22. Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order

Respawn Entertainment’s Star Wars Jedi series are some of the best Star Wars games ever made, and the first game, Fallen Order, is well worth any Game Pass subscriber’s time. Focusing on third-person combat that’s inspired heavily by Soulslike games, protagonist Cal Kestis wields lightsabers and the Force to take down the Empire in a bid to rebuild the Jedi Order.

This single-player adventure will see you planet-hopping around the galaxy to gorgeous, semi-open levels. Puzzles, the local wildlife, and Stromtroopers will stand in your way, as will several amazing boss battles.

We won’t spoil who, but there is a huge Star Wars universe cameo at the end of the story that is absolutely worth playing through the rest of the game for – and with how good Fallen Order is, that’s hardly a chore. Expect to sink around 20 hours into Fallen Order to complete its main story, and upwards of 30 hours for a full completion.

23. Star Wars Jedi Survivor

Picking up five years after where Jedi Fallen Order left off, Star Wars Jedi Survivor reintroduces Cal as its driving protagonist. However, the once-plucky Jedi now paints a more seasoned, stoic figure. One thing hasn’t changed, however, and that’s Cal’s desire to see the Empire fall.

A triumphant successor to Fallen Order, Star Wars Jedi Survivor iterates on everything that made the original so great, fixing multiple pain points in the process. After finally being added to Game Pass in April 2024, service subs can enjoy Respawn’s dramatic duo at no extra cost at last.

In our 9/10 Star Wars Jedi Survivor review, Sam says it “cements itself as an essential action-adventure game. Full of heart, humor, and blisteringly great combat, Respawn’s latest Star Wars game is a treat for newcomers and long-time franchise fans alike thanks to its blockbuster-level story.”

24. Palworld

Following its breakout success, there’s a high chance you’ve heard of Palworld before. If not, it’s very much we’ve-got-Pokémon-at-home for Xbox players. Combining the innate fun of collecting cute creatures in Pokémon with resource gathering, crafting, and guns (yes, guns), Palworld has quickly established itself as one of the best survival games.

Its sprawling open world is as varied as the roster of Pals you can catch, and it always entices you to explore. Base building also lets you not only create a cozy home out in the wilderness, but also a place to put your Pals to work. Depending on their skills, your creatures can be assigned to various tasks, such as crafting things on an assembly line, harvesting resources, or stoking the fires of a furnace.

Be warned – the game is still in early access and does suffer from bugs and performance issues. However, it’s very easy to see past the issues and enjoy it.

25. Fallout 4

Driven by the success of the Fallout TV series, Bethesda’s iconic franchise has been rightfully put back on the map this year. 2015’s Fallout 4 is having a bit of a renaissance as a result, and it’d be rude of us to not pay our respects to one of the greatest games of all time.

Set 10 years after the events of Fallout 3, Fallout 4 lets you experience the, well, fallout of your actions at the end of its predecessor. The open-world game is set in a glorious reimagining of Boston and, more broadly, Massachusetts, bringing with it a huge amount of depth and freedom when it comes to exploration.

Sporting a ‘generally favorable’ Metacritic score of 87, Fallout 4 isn’t a perfect game by any means – Bethesda’s bugs prevail. However, it’s a brilliant way to spend 30+ hours, and an experience you won’t soon forget.

26. Diablo 4

Xbox is finally making good on the ActiBlizz acquisition, bringing some of the biggest games the gaming supergiant has published over the years to Game Pass. Leading the charge is Diablo 4 – one of the best games to release in recent years.

If dungeon crawling’s your forte, then few do it as well as Blizzard’s iconic series. Path of Exile may be the more expansive way to play within the genre, but if you’re after an approachable entry point with engaging gameplay and some of the prettiest cutscenes around then get involved.

In its 10/10 Diablo 4 review, our friends over at PCGamesN say “Diablo 4 embodies the essence of what makes Diablo so great, taking the best elements of its predecessors and sewing them together to create an ever-changing, ever-evolving chimera that we can’t wait to play for years to come.” Banger.

So there you have it, the best Xbox Game Pass games right now. Obviously, new Xbox Game Pass games come and go each month, so keep an eye on our full Xbox Game Pass games list for a full rundown of everything currently on the service. You can also read our Xbox Game Pass Ultimate review for a more detailed analysis of why its deserving of your dollars.