One of the main benefits of Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass service is that it sometimes allows subscribers to play brand new games on day one without having to pay full price for them. This is true for all Microsoft-developed games, which means that Xbox Game Pass subscribers will even get to play things like the upcoming Halo Infinite without spending anymore than what their Game Pass subscription costs.
However, there are many older games available to play on Xbox Game Pass as well, including some of the industry's most-beloved titles. Xbox Game Pass has a dedicated category to classic games on the service, giving subscribers quite a few to choose from when they're looking for something nostalgic to play.
There are many great classic games available on Xbox Game Pass, though maybe subscribers should start out with these five.
Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Kazooie is playable through the Rare Replay collection, which itself is a treasure trove of classic gaming experiences spanning decades. However, anyone looking for a specific classic gaming experience should look no further than Banjo-Kazooie, the enhanced port of the classic Nintendo 64 3D platformer that includes some touched-up graphics and generally performs better than the original game.
Banjo-Kazooie is one of the best platformers available through Xbox Game Pass, and is sure to be a nostalgia trip for gamers that grew up with the Nintendo 64. It's more or less exactly the same as fans remember from the Nintendo 64 days, and the adventure still holds up. Those who can't get enough of Banjo-Kazooie can then move right on to Banjo-Tooie, also available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers, and even the somewhat divisive Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts if the mood strikes.
Fable
When it comes to upcoming Xbox console exclusive games, one of the most exciting on the horizon is the new Fable from Playground Games. Playground Games has done some exceptional work on the Forza Horizon games, delivering some of the best-looking and most consistently-entertaining open world racing games currently available. An action-RPG like Fable is definitely outside of Playground Games' usual wheelhouse, but the developer has proven time and time again that it is more than capable of delivering exceptional gaming experiences.
While Xbox fans wait for more information on the new Fable game, they can use Xbox Game Pass to revisit the previous games in the series. All three previous main series Fable games are available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers, including the remaster of the original game, Fable Anniversary. Fable Anniversary collects the original adventure with the Lost Chapters expansion and greatly improves the graphics, definitely making it something fans of the franchise should look into.
Final Fantasy 7
Xbox Game Pass supports a wide variety of genres and games, including JRPGs. In fact, Xbox Game Pass lets players have access to three of the most critically-acclaimed JRPGs ever made with Final Fantasy 7, Final Fantasy 8, and Final Fantasy 9. Better yet, these are the enhanced versions of the games, allowing players to utilize cheats and tweak the settings so that they can tailor the experience to their liking.
Out of all the Final Fantasy games available through Xbox Game Pass, arguably the most notable is Final Fantasy 7. Final Fantasy 7 is often hailed as one of the best video games ever made, and for good reason. Its graphics may be dated, but Final Fantasy 7's story and characters are timeless, plus its soundtrack is still one of the best gaming has to offer. While fans wait to see if the rumors of a Final Fantasy 7 Remake Xbox port are true, they can revisit the original game.
Grim Fandango Remastered
Microsoft's acquisition of Double Fine means that the company now has control over all of that studio's games, and this includes Grim Fandango Remastered. Developed and released by Double Fine after it acquired the license from Disney, Grim Fandango Remastered is a spruced-up version of the classic point-and-click adventure game, with some changes made to make it more accommodating to modern audiences and new control schemes.
Grim Fandango Remastered is one of the newer classic games on Xbox Game Pass, having just received its Xbox One port back in October of last year. However, it's just as good as the 1998 original, if not better, and still definitely worth playing for fans of the adventure game genre.
Perfect Dark
Like Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark is part of the Rare Replay collection, so those looking to play classic games should really add that to the top of their list. But regardless, the Xbox 360 port of the classic Nintendo 64 first-person shooter game is just as good as the original. It's more or less an exact copy, but like many of the other classic games available on Xbox Game Pass, it has gotten some upgrades so it performs a little bit better than what people may remember from the Nintendo 64 days.
The Perfect Dark remaster even has online multiplayer support. And while it may be difficult for fans to find games through online matchmaking, they can still make custom matches with friends. It definitely may be worth revisiting since a new Perfect Dark game has finally been announced and is in development at Microsoft's mega studio, The Initiative.