Best Xbox Game Pass Games to Play Right Now

The 25 Best Xbox Game Pass Games to Play Right Now (October 2023)

Whether you are a long-time subscriber or a first-time user taking advantage of the introductory offer, navigating the Xbox Game Pass library can be overwhelming. With over 400 titles rotating in and out, the value proposition is undeniable, but choice paralysis is real. To maximize your subscription, we have curated a definitive list of the best games available right now, spanning AAA blockbusters, indie darlings, and day-one releases. This list prioritizes quality, replayability, and immediate availability.

Starfield (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Bethesda’s spacefaring epic is the platform’s largest exclusive launch in years. It combines “NASA-punk” aesthetics with a massive universe of over 1,000 planets. While the game demands a significant time investment, its modular ship building, extensive character creation, and faction quests (like the Crimson Fleet or Ryujin Industries) offer deep role-playing mechanics. Recent patches have improved stability and added performance modes, making it a polished experience on Xbox Series X|S.

Forza Motorsport (Cloud, Console, and PC)
The latest reboot of the simulation racing franchise launched directly into Game Pass. It features over 500 cars and a dynamic time-of-day system that drastically changes track conditions. The new “CarPG” progression system focuses on earning car points through practice laps and actual racing, rather than aggressive driving. The ray-tracing in real-time during races on Series X is a technical marvel.

Hi-Fi Rush (Cloud, Console, and PC)
This surprise shadow-drop from Tango Gameworks remains one of the most innovative titles on the service. It is a rhythm-based hack-and-slash where every enemy attack combo, jump, and environmental effect synchs to the soundtrack. The cel-shaded art style is a love letter to comic books, and the combat flows naturally whether you are a rhythm game expert or a novice. It is a short, 10-hour joyride with zero filler.

Dead Space (Console)
The remake of the 2008 classic is the gold standard for horror remasters. Using the Frostbite Engine, the USG Ishimura is fully explorable with no loading screens, and Isaac Clarke now speaks, adding emotional weight to the narrative. The “Intensity Director” dynamically spawns Necromorphs and changes audio cues, ensuring no two playthroughs feel the same. The plasma cutter remains the king of weapons.

Persona 5 Royal (Cloud, Console, and PC)
This is the definitive version of the critically acclaimed JRPG, clocking in at over 100 hours. It combines life simulation (managing school days, relationships, and part-time jobs) with turn-based combat against corrupted human desires. The third semester added in Royal features the new character Sumire and a final boss that recontextualizes the entire story. The soundtrack is a genre-defining blend of acid jazz and J-pop.

Hollow Knight (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Team Cherry’s metroidvania is a masterclass in world design. The kingdom of Hallownest is hand-drawn, vast, and interconnected. Combat relies on precise nail swings and soul-based spells, while the map system encourages player memorization and exploration. With its tough-as-nails boss fights (e.g., Nightmare King Grimm) and the free Godmaster DLC, it offers hundreds of hours of content for a single-player game.

Grounded (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Obsidian’s survival game is now fully released and is a unique blend of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Minecraft. You play as a shrunken teenager surviving in a suburban backyard. The endgame content is robust, including a proper boss fight against the Broodmother and a complete story involving Dr. Tully. The free base-building update added mushroom brick structures, making fortresses viable.

Sea of Thieves (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Rare’s live-service pirate sandbox has evolved into a massive MMO-lite. The recent Season Nine update amended the reputation and trading systems, making progression far less grindy. The core loop remains the best: sailing with a crew, digging up treasure, fighting the Kraken or Megalodon, and battling other players for loot. The “Safer Seas” mode now allows solo players to enjoy the world without PvP interruptions.

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC)
The definitive version of the real-time strategy classic is now fully optimized for console with controller support. It includes the Return of Rome expansion, which adds the original Age of Empires campaigns. The game boasts over 30 civilizations, each with unique tech trees, and a competitive ranked ladder that remains active. Mod support through the Microsoft Store adds infinite replayability.

Like a Dragon: Ishin! (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Sega’s historical spin-off takes the Yakuza formula to 1860s Japan. You play as Sakamoto Ryoma, and the combat features four fighting styles (Swordsman, Gunman, Brawler, Dancer). The substories are as absurd as ever (collecting tofu, managing a chicken), and the main drama is a hard-boiled samurai epic. The English dub features the returning Yakuza cast in completely different roles.

Cocoon (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Geometric Interactive’s puzzle game is a direct heir to Inside and Limbo. You control a small beetle who can jump into and out of different reality orbs, each containing its own world and physics. The puzzles rely on nested mechanics (a world inside a world inside a world) and require spatial reasoning. There is no dialogue; the visual storytelling is pure and gripping.

State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC)
This zombie survival simulation has been updated consistently for years. The new “Lethal Zone” difficulty is brutal, and the “Forever Communities” update allows you to keep playing after completing the leader’s legacy. The permadeath mechanic means every character’s life matters, forcing resource management and tactical stealth over guns-blazing combat.

Chivalry 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Torn Banner’s medieval violence simulator is a perfect game to jump into for 15 minutes or 4 hours. The 64-player team objective modes (like defending a castle or burning a village) are chaotic and hilarious. The combat system is skill-based but accessible, with overheads, stabs, and slashes directionally mapped to the right stick. The voice actor work is absurdly brilliant.

Planet of Lana (Cloud, Console, and PC)
A cinematic puzzle-platformer reminiscent of Another World and The Last Guardian. You guide a girl named Lana and her companion, a small cat-like creature named Mui, through a gorgeous watercolor world. The puzzles involve commanding Mui to trigger switches or distract robotic enemies. It is a short, emotional experience (5-6 hours) with a beautiful orchestral score.

Yakuza 0 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
The prequel to the Yakuza series is widely considered the best entry point. Set in the 1980s bubble economy of Japan, you play as both Kiryu and Majima. The main story is a crime drama about the Empty Lot, but the substories are the highlight: managing a real estate company, running a cabaret club, and fighting a chicken named Nugget. The “Disco” and “OutRun” minigames are genuinely addictive.

Slay the Spire (Cloud, Console, and PC)
The deck-building roguelike remains the gold standard of the genre. You choose between four characters (The Ironclad, The Silent, The Defect, The Watcher) and build a deck through procedurally generated encounters. The synergy between relics and cards creates near-infinite replayability. It is perfect for short commutes or long sessions, and you will inevitably say “just one more run.”

Pentiment (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Obsidian’s historical narrative RPG is set in the 16th-century Bavarian town of Tassing. You play as Andreas Maler, an artist investigating a series of murders across 25 years. The game is entirely hand-illustrated in the style of illuminated manuscripts. The choices are deep and impactful, altering the lives of entire families and the fate of the town. It is a slow burn, but one of the best-written games on the platform.

Deep Rock Galactic (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Dubbed “dwarf dwarves with guns,” this co-op first-person shooter casts you as a dwarf mining on hostile alien planets. The procedurally generated caves require teamwork (the Scout lights the way, the Engineer places platforms, the Driller digs, the Gunner shields). The community is famously friendly, and the “Rock and Stone” emote is an instant bonding mechanism.

Doom Eternal (Cloud, Console, and PC)
The sequel to the 2016 reboot intensifies the “push-forward” combat loop. You must manage health, armor, and ammo through glory kills and flame belches. The new “Marauder” enemy demands precise switching between offensive and defensive play. The Ancient Gods DLC (included) ramps up the difficulty to masochistic levels, offering a genuine challenge for FPS veterans.

Firewatch (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Campo Santo’s walking simulator is a perfect palette cleanser between heavy games. Set in a Wyoming national park during the summer of 1988, you play as Henry, a fire lookout. The entire story is driven by dialogue between Henry and his supervisor, Delilah. The voice acting is top-tier, and the art style (burnished oranges and deep greens) is unforgettable. It takes about 4 hours to complete.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC)
The complete remaster of the original trilogy includes all 40+ DLC packs. This is the ultimate sci-fi RPG saga, offering a continuous save file that imports your decisions across three games. The gameplay updates (improved Mako handling, weapon balance) make the first game far more playable. The Citadel DLC in ME3 is the best fan-service content ever created.

Stardew Valley (Cloud, Console, and PC)
ConcernedApe’s farming sim continues to receive massive updates (1.5, 1.6). It offers the most deep simulation of farming, mining, fishing, and socializing in the genre. The game is endlessly relaxing but offers plenty of depth, including a challenging skull cavern and a mysterious “Qi” questline. The couch co-op mode is a must-try for couples.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Ninja Theory’s psychological horror title is best played with headphones. It uses binaural audio to simulate voices in the protagonist’s head, creating a visceral depiction of psychosis. The combat is weighty and deliberate, but the true challenge is the puzzle design, which involves environmental pattern recognition. The story is a brutal, moving journey through Norse myth.

Cities: Skylines (Cloud, Console, and PC)
The traffic simulation game is a loop that players get lost in for hours. You build a city from scratch, managing everything from sewage to education to public transit. The base game is robust, and the included DLC (like Mass Transit and Green Cities) adds depth. The “Remastered” version on Series X offers higher frame rates and larger buildable areas.

Tunic (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Andrew Shouldice’s isometric action-adventure is a homage to The Legend of Zelda series. The unique selling point is the manual: you find pages of an instruction booklet in the world, written in a fictional language. The gameplay starts simple but evolves into a complex, soul-crushing puzzle box. The final path requires piecing together hints from the manual to unlock a secret ending.