Microsoft’s Game Pass service is easily worth the price of admission. Many might balk at the concept of having their video game library locked behind a subscription service, but the fact is subscribers get access to an incredible selection of titles spanning from indie darlings to triple-A blockbusters for a surprisingly affordable monthly fee.
Xbox Game Pass: How To Subscribe And What Games Are Available
Xbox Game Pass packs a lot of value into its subscription model — here are all the details you need to know, from price to recently added games.
With such a dizzying array of fantastic titles on display, it can be a daunting task deciding which ones are worth a player’s time. Given that the cost of entry is taken care of with the subscription fee, the most pressing matter is determining the best use of your hard drive space. Thankfully, the diamonds of this collection are readily apparent. Here’s a look at the greatest games that Xbox Game Pass has to offer.
The selections listed here will include games available on EA Play, which is included with a subscription to Game Pass Ultimate.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
The adventures of the Master Chief have never been as accessible as they are in the Master Chief Collection. This gathering of Halo games is the definitive collection of 343 Industries’ endeavors to immortalize the series. Not only is every mainline Halo game (not counting Halo 5: Guardians) included, but the fantastic Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach were added as well.
From beloved campaign co-op to thrilling Firefight matches to iconic multiplayer modes, the Master Chief Collection has it all. Anyone who thinks of themselves as a Halo fan should consider it a must-play from Xbox Game Pass. And for those who have never completed the Master Chief’s saga, there is no better way to finish the fight.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
As a big fan of the Life Is Strange series and Telltale-style games in general, I was excited to play Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. Made by the fantabulous Don’t Nod, Bloom & Rage is about a group of four girls who decide to form a “riot Grrls” band in the 90s. However, as they hang out together during one fateful summer, they discover a secret in the woods that will change them forever. That’s oversimplifying the plot a lot, but you can’t expect me to divulge key narrative points for a game that is all about its narrative.
The special gameplay conceit of Bloom & Rage is twofold. Main character Swann is an aspiring filmmaker, so she films everything, including collectibles you need to find. And, in addition to that, the story is gradually unfolded from both Swann’s perspective in the past and in the present. It all contributes to a retro 90s-aesthetic mystery that is sure to keep you playing through all its twists and turns.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Banishers is exactly the kind of game you might not have heard of or you may have knowingly skipped playing in favor of an eye-grabbing, triple-A title that released around the same time. However, it should definitely be on your “to-play” list. Its story features a couple who roams the land of New Eden and spends their time giving spirits the boot from the physical world.
But things take a turn for the tragic when one of them gets killed and becomes a spirit themselves. The remaining, living partner still needs to get spirit-banishing jobs done while grappling with the moral dilemma of their own loved one being stuck as a spirit until they too get “banished.” Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden doesn’t break any new ground when it comes to its gameplay mechanics or narrative, but both are so solidly well-done, it’s a fantastic game to seek your teeth into.
Rocket League
Rocket League is a polarizing game when you play it. You either find yourself loving it immensely or loathing it entirely. The description of an “arcade-style soccer” game can mislead you into thinking this is just casual good fun. Wrong. Your first time playing Rocket League, you’ll be blown away by how terribly the cars control. Your perspective as you rocket-jump your little vehicle to try and “kick” a ball into a goal will feel unhelpful. All the other players will feel like soccer gods.
But once you get the hang of it, Rocket League provides a hilarious and surprisingly skill-based degree of fun. With practice, you too can become a soccer god. And once you reach that level of play, sure, the game can still infuriate you. But you’ll still love it when it does.
