Game Pass is an excellent service from Xbox offering subscribers access to 200+ games on various devices for $14.99 a month. It’s a terrific value for those looking to play some of Microsoft’s biggest hits like Halo, Forza, and the Gears of War series. However, Xbox Game Pass isn’t just for their first-party titles. The bulk of the catalog consists of indie games and large third-parties like Destiny 2.
The once-rival subscription, EA Play, is also coming to Game Pass on November 10th. With the recent acquisition of Bethesda, all of their games will be coming to the service as well. The future of Xbox Game Pass looks stellar, but what are some of the top-rated games players can get their hands on right now?
10 Nier: Automata BECOME AS GODS EDITION (90)
Nier: Automata is a video game about video games. It’s a study of genres and mixes loads of them, even switching between five or six within the first level. The majority of the game sends players through a third-person hack-and-slash, but there's 2D platforming, mech/spaceship shooting, bullet-hell dodging, and plenty more throughout this ambitious game.
This is a must-play for any gamer and the critics seem to agree, giving it a solid 90. For players waiting for this Nier-masterpiece of interactive entertainment, Game Pass makes it extremely easy to play. However, no one should expect that same mercy when they start playing.
9 Monster Hunter: World (90)
Like the name suggests, in Monster Hunter: World gamers will be hunting down some of the most dangerous monsters the New World has to offer. Players will stalk their prey, learn how they behave, and hunt them to craft new gear that players will need to hunt even more monsters, each deadlier than the last. This cycle of hunting and crafting makes for a gaming experience so smooth that it leaves one feeling accomplished but always itching for the next hunt. Gamers will also have the best time in a party of up to three other friends.
8 Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition (90)
In Hollow Knight, the player digs deeper down to discover a forgotten world teeming with enemies and challenges to overcome. Gamers will have to conserve and horde the energy received from every kill. Using this energy, the players can use special abilities and heal themselves to get out of tight spots. The boss fights are incredibly brutal, so it's important to save energy accordingly.
This indie game is on par with Monster Hunter: World a with a 91 rating. That’s even more impressive, seeing that Monster Hunter is one of the best games from Capcom, one of the most recognizable names in video games. This alone speaks to the game's quality.
7 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (91)
With Cyberpunk 2077 coming very soon, why not give the company’s other role-playing game a shot? In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt gamers play as Geralt The Witcher as they hunt beasts and solve the supernatural problems plaguing the land. All for a bit of coin, of course. But just because the kingdom doles out payment for The Witcher, doesn’t mean Game Pass subscribers have to pay anything extra to play this beast of a game. At a 91 score, take Game Pass up on their offer for this one.
6 Mass Effect (91)
Though the most recent entry in the franchise, Mass Effect: Andromeda, was poorly rated by the critics, the original’s ratings are quite high. In Mass Effect players will make decisions throughout the game that affect the entirety of the first three games in the series. It’s a great third-person shooter for anyone who loves a good story and one they can shape themselves. Also, with EA Play coming to Game Pass in November gamers will be able to play the rest of the series with the same character and established storyline.
5 Dead Cells (91)
Dead Cells is a rogue-lite with something very special to set it apart from others in the genre. It’s fun to play. However, even the most seasoned gamers will still spend death after death learning from their mistakes and gathering the best items to run through all the levels in this super-tight combat platformer. Fight nasty worms, a sentient hammer, giant ticks, and ever-changing enemies with each attempted run. Dead Cells is a game that doesn’t take itself too seriously but provides a constant trickle of fear and anxiety eating away at the player's thumbs.
4 Forza Horizon 4 (92)
Race, drift, crash, and cruise with some friends in the best Forza yet. Forza Horizon 4 revolutionized the series by practically making the game an MMO, allowing 72 players to drive in a shared world. The changing seasons also adds a new element that makes off-roading even more fun than in previous Forza games. Forza Horizon 4 won 10+ awards from 2018 through 2019 making it yet another reason why Game Pass should be a part of any gamer's Xbox catalog.
3 What Remains Of Edith Finch (92)
What Remains of Edith Finch is an adventure game focusing very heavily on the narrative. The game revolves around the Finch family and a curse that picks them off, one by one, via strange and mysterious deaths. The gamer plays in the first-person as Edith, the last living Finch, as she wanders around her childhood home uncovering memories and mysteries. There won’t be any battling of gigantic beasts like in other games on this list, but that doesn’t stop it from being an absolute must-play.
2 Minecraft (93)
Minecraft is a simple game made of blocks that can be as complicated as one's imagination can make it. This is one of the best-selling and most accessible games in the world. Since Minecraft is one of Microsoft’s first-party titles, players will get instant access as a Game Pass subscriber, making it even more accessible.
Gamers who haven’t already been farming, monster-slaying, or building peaceful cottages for hundreds of in-game hours at some point in their lives have been living their lives wrong.
1 Gears Of War (94)
The Gears series has been critically acclaimed with almost every installment. However, Gears of War, the one that started it all, is the best-rated Game Pass game, with a score of 94. It’s also number 84 in Metacritic’s list of the best video games ever, which sounds less impressive, but it’s still a massive feat. Play as Marcus for the very first time as gamers begin their war on the underground enemy Locusts. Every title within Game Pass has something more to offer the gaming community at large, but Gears of War should be at the top of everyone's list.