Since its debut, Xbox has put a heavy emphasis on Game Pass. The subscription has grown a lot since then, with first-party Xbox games being added on day one and a strong lineup of third-party games helping to bolster the offerings. Plus, new games are added to the service frequently, rotating games in and out regularly. It means there's almost always something new on offer.
While October was a particularly solid month for the service, Xbox Game Pass' November additions are looking like they will be even better, both on PC and consoles. While the offerings are a bit different for each platform, there's a lot of crossover between the two, so subscribers should have most of the options presented below available to them. While there will pretty much always be something worth playing, these are the best new games on Xbox Game Pass currently, as well as a few that are coming later this month.
Best New and Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Games
Age of Empires 4 - Available Now
While it's exclusive to PC, there's plenty of reasons to be excited about Age of Empires 4, the most recent entry in the long-running RTS franchise. It scratches an itch that few other titles do right now in one of the most modern formats available. Age of Empires 4 is already a hit on Steam, though it's also available to download on Xbox Game Pass for PC right now. Reviews have been solid thus far, so there's plenty of reason to check it out. Even those that are familiar with the genre may want to give it a try, as Age of Empires 4 features a pretty intuitive tutorial system to get players up to speed.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Anniversary Edition - November 11
Microsoft's Bethesda acquisition was bountiful for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, as it added a robust library of RPGs, shooters, and more. Skyrim was included in the offering, though the pot is about to get a lot sweeter for fans of Bethesda's seminal fantasy RPG. Skyrim: Anniversary Edition is releasing on November 11, and will bring with it a ton of new content for fans thanks to the Creation Club. While not all of the content is huge, there are a few key things in there that will make Skyrim worth revisiting, like fishing and new questlines.
Plus, Skyrim: Anniversary Edition will feature a next-gen update, so it should be an all-around smoother experience. That next-gen update will be included with the Xbox Game Pass version, as well as all of the other Anniversary Edition content. Of course, the sheer number of Skyrim ports out in the wild has become something of a joke, though this does seem like a strong candidate for the last version of Skyrim to release, at least until The Elder Scrolls 6 makes its debut at some point in the future.
Back 4 Blood - Available Now
While the Halloween season is now over, fall is still a good time to play horror games or action-horror-FPS games like Back 4 Blood. Coming from the developers behind the original Left 4 Dead, Back 4 Blood feels like a modernization of the co-op shooter formula that helped define the early Xbox 360 era of video games. While it certainly has its share of flaws, Back 4 Blood is an exceptional way to reconnect with family and friends during the holiday season.
There's not much else like Back 4 Blood on Xbox Game Pass right now, and many of the other recent attempts to refine the co-op shooter formula have floundered. However, it's certainly worth checking out assuming that players have a good group of friends to play through it with. At the very least, it's a game worth checking out thanks to being included with the Game Pass subscription.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Definitive Edition - November 11
The wait for Grand Theft Auto 6 has been brutal, and there's most likely still a few years to go. For those that are craving more Grand Theft Auto content but are feeling sick of Grand Theft Auto 5, November will see the somewhat surprising of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - Definite Edition on November 11, the same day as Skyrim Anniversary Edition is set to land. It'll be a pretty massive day for nostalgia, but that makes it especially sweet in a way.
With updated graphics and Grand Theft Auto 5-style controls, San Andreas will likely feel a fair bit different from the original experience. Fans won't really know if that's a good thing or a bad thing until the new version launches, though it being added to Xbox Game Pass takes away pretty much all of the risks. However, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - Definitive Edition is only coming to the console lineup of Xbox Game Pass.
It Takes Two - November 4
One of the hidden gem games of 2021, It Takes Two builds on the co-op groundwork Hazelight Studios established with A Way Out. However, It Takes Two doesn't just stop there, instead improving on the story structure, gameplay mechanics, and competitive elements that were featured in A Way Out. It forces players to work together, pushing along a heartwarming, and at times quite sad, narrative with a gorgeous art style.
Forza Horizon 5 - November 9
Last but not least, one of Xbox's biggest exclusives of the year will debut in just a few days, launching day one on Xbox Game Pass. Forza Horizon 5 is the franchise's first full-blown foray onto the Xbox Series X, and it's shaping up to be a worthy entry judging by early gameplay footage.
Fans of the franchise, or even just the genre, will likely find dozens, if not hundreds, of hours worth of content to explore when Forza Horizon 5 launches later this month, giving them the opportunity to explore a fully-realized region of Mexico. Developer Playground Games is promising a game that will highlight Mexican culture while providing the high-octane gameplay the franchise is known for, so it's worth keeping on the radar.
There are plenty of other games on the Xbox Game Pass roster outside of these, so fans of any genre should find something worth trying. It just so happens that November is a bigger month for the service than usual, though that's ultimately a great thing for subscribers.