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Compared to the other major gaming companies, Microsoft has taken a bit of a different approach this generation. While Sony is slowly doling some of its first-party games out onto PC, and Nintendo is sticking very rigidly to its age-old approach of keeping its games locked to its own console (mobile games aside), Xbox’s games are becoming more widely available: not only on PC, but even on PlayStation and Switch.
However, probably the most interesting and impactful change to the way Xbox has delivered games this generation is Game Pass: a subscription service that allows you to download and play an ever-changing library of games from an Xbox or PC, or stream games from the cloud on any compatible device (only for the Ultimate tier, though).
It’s kind of the centre point of the business’ whole strategy moving forward, with it’s recent ‘Everything is an Xbox’ campaign hinging on the ability for most laptops, phones, and even TVs, to stream and run Xbox games through Game Pass.
So, considering that it’s such an important part of the Xbox ecosystem, we thought we’d look through the available games catalogue and pick out some bangers for Xbox users to check out.
Without further ado, here’s 11 of the best games you can play on Xbox Game Pass.

1. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Release Date: 9 Dec, 2024
- Genre: First-Person Action Adventure
- Players: 1
- Metacritic: 86
- Cloud Compatible: Yes
It’s a rare thing to have a video game based on a film franchise actually be good, but Machine Games’ Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a rare thing indeed. Not only is the game a great game in its’ own right, it’s a great Indiana Jones story as well, bringing the pulpy fun of the films to the modern gaming landscape.
You play as Indy himself, who looks remarkably like a young Harrison Ford, and who sneaks, whips, and punches his way through three-acts of open-world area, interspersed with more linear set pieces that sell the cinematic quality Machine Games was clearly gunning for. You’ll man a gunner seat in a biplane as it soars through a burning city, for example, and have a great time doing it.
For our money, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is one of the best games to come out in 2024, and the fact that you can play it as part of Game Pass is awesome. If you love Indy, and haven’t checked this one out yet, make it the next game you play – you won’t regret it.

2. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
- Release Date: 23 Jan, 2025
- Genre: Character Action
- Players: 1
- Metacritic: 81
- Cloud Compatible: Yes
Ryu Hayabusa has been out of action for a while – there hasn’t been a new Ninja Gaiden game since 2014, when series’ stewards Team Ninja dropped Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, a spin-off title that fell short of fans’ expectations. So when Xbox announced that not only is Ninja Gaiden 4 in the works, but the beloved Ninja Gaiden 2 was getting a remaster – and it was out immediately – people flipped their shit.
Thankfully, Black largely delivered on the promise of a new, bloody, flashy Team Ninja experience with Hayabusa in the driver’s seat. It’s a bit easier than the original game, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when your series is well known for being just a bit hard to get into. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of difficulty options to jump into even diehards will find the return to Tokyo a deadly endeavour.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is one of the best action games ever made, and being able to enjoy it with all the modern amenities, at a rock solid 60fps, with incredibly responsive controls, is all you could really ask for.

3. Forza Horizon 5 Standard Edition
- Release Date: 5 Nov, 2021
- Genre: Open-World Racing
- Players: 1, 2-6 (online co-op), 2-12 (online multiplayer)
- Metacritic: 92
- Cloud Compatible: Yes
When we first heard about the idea of an open-world racing game, it’s fair to say we were confused as to how the concept would work. Well, it works surprisingly well, and the Forza Horizon series has all but perfected it. Set across the landscapes of Mexico, Forza Horizon 5 puts you behind the wheel of almost 900 vehicles, from dune buggies to super cars, and allow you total freedom in where and how you explore.
It’s a decidedly more ‘fun’ take on racing than some more serious series, including the regular Forza line, though not quite as arcady as something like Need for Speed. You also make a character to play as, which is super strange for a racing game, but think of it more like how Tony Hawk’s Underground worked, where the character is really just a way to add a little bit of context as to why you’re racing in the first place. It’s a small thing, but racing purists might not like it.
Still, racing in Horizon 5 is as good as it’s ever been, which is really all that actually matters for a game like Forza. If you’re looking for a fun break from more simulationist titles, or want a more emergent racing experience, check Horizon 5 out.

4. Halo: The Master Chief Collection
- Release Date: 22 September, 2020
- Genre: First-Person Shooter
- Players: 1-2, 2-16 online
- Metacritic: 91
- Cloud Compatible: Yes
A collection of six of the greatest first-person shooters ever made, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is one of, if not the, best deal in gaming. You’re going to get access to Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, and Halo 4, which is going to equal hundreds of hours of amazing gunplay and a sweeping military space story.
Each game has had the presentation touched up, but the moment-to-moment gameplay is still the pitch-perfect shooting developer Bungie delivered all those years ago. If you’ve ever wanted to go back to Master Chief’s roots, this is the best way to do it.
Plus, each game’s multiplayer modes have been made available (though Halo 3 seems to be the most active), and there’s cross-play between Xbox and Windows to keep queue times short.

5. Another Crab’s Treasure
- Release Date: 25 April, 2024
- Genre: Action Adventure
- Players: 1
- Metacritic: 78
- Cloud Compatible: Yes
A souls-like with a difference. While most games that seek to crib the style and success of the Dark Souls series tend to end up also taking its dark fantasy aesthetic, Another Crab’s Treasure goes in a wholly different direction and combines souls combat with the style and presentation 3D platformers of yore.
You play as ‘Kril’ the hermit crab, who gets kicked out of his shell and tide pool by a loan shark after falling behind on his taxes. From there, you’ll go on a deep and dangerous adventure into the ocean in order to gain back his former, quiet life.
It sounds silly, and it is, but it’s also a lot of fun to play, delivering the thrilling boss fights we’re all used to from the Souls series with the platforming of something like Super Mario 64. It’s a combination that works surprisingly well, and makes it one of the best games available on Game Pass.

6. Monster Hunter Rise
- Release Date: 26 March, 2021
- Genre: Third-Person Action
- Players: 1, 1-4 online
- Metacritic: 88
- Cloud Compatible: Yes
Capcom’s monster murder simulator can be a flashy game when it wants to be, but Rise takes it to a completely different level. You’re still playing with the same 14 weapons fans of the series will be accustomed to, but each of them has a slew of fun new abilities that dramatically speed up combat, and you’ll be facing down a bunch of new and old threats.
Probably the biggest addition to the game, though, is the ability to ride each monster into battle temporarily: turning each dangerous foe on the battlefield into a potential ally, for a time. It’s truly a special moment when you’re able to knock a Rathalos out of the sky, jump on its back, and use it to breath fire onto your target, for example.
In saying that, the game’s presentation has received a bit of criticism. Rise was originally made for the Nintendo Switch, which means it isn’t the graphical powerhouse of World before it or Wilds after, but the visuals are stylised enough that they look fantastic when in motion.

7. Celeste
- Release Date: 25 January, 2018
- Genre: 2D Platformer
- Players: 1
- Metacritic: 92
- Cloud Compatible: Yes
On the face of it, Celeste is a deceptively simple game. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find one of the finest platformers of the modern generation. You play as Madeline, who has to run, jump and dash her way to the top of the mountain – an adventure that’ll see her meet a colourful cast of characters, as well as face down her own self doubt.
The story is great, but the gameplay is perfection. You only have a few verbs, but you’ll need to combine them in new ways every screen to help keep Maddie moving forward. Of particular note is just how quickly you revive after death: this isn’t an easy game, and you’ll probably dash or jump into spikes or lava many, many times, but within a second of death Maddie will reappear at the start of the screen, ready for you to try again. Without any real punishment for death, beyond needing to try again, Celeste makes it easy for you to experiment and try new things with the limited movement options to figure out how you’ll crack the platforming code.
And, if you decide it’s all too easy, there are hard stages called ‘B-sides’ that’ll put even the most ardent platforming stars to work.

8. Control: Ultimate Edition
- Release Date: 2 February, 2021
- Genre: Third-Person Shooter
- Players: 1
- Metacritic: 85
- Cloud Compatible: Yes
Remedy Entertainment have always been masters of delivering a perfectly balanced mixture of gameplay and story, and in Control they seem to have taken it to another level. Firmly pulling together each of the developer’s prior games into a single, unified universe, Control puts you in the shoes of Jesse Faden as she explores the Federal Bureau of Control for her missing brother, and finds much more.
While Faden is a decent shot, her real power comes from the fact she can control the world around her, throwing parts of the FBC at her enemies, or gliding out of harms way when the firefight gets a bit too hot. It all feels fantastic to play, and with the weird House-of-Leaves-meets-SCP shit going on in this game, you’re going to be hooked.
Plus, you’ll probably want to play Alan Wake II after finishing Control and that’s just a damn good game.

9. Astroneer
- Release Date: 6 February, 2019
- Genre: Crafting, Exploration
- Players: 1, 2-4 online
- Metacritic: 71
- Cloud Compatible: Yes
There are a lot of survival crafting games out there these days, but Astroneer does something a bit different. There’s no hunger meter, no constantly degrading stamina, and no combat. Instead, you play as a cute little astronaut seeking to explore a few planets, learn more and make more scientific process in order to explore even more planets.
It’s a decidedly low-stress version of a crafting game, and probably has more in common with Animal Crossing than The Long Dark. Plus, incase the image above didn’t give it away, the art style of the game is great. It’s like if No Man’s Sky was a kids cartoon, which I absolutely love.
Best of all is that the game is multiplayer, and can support up to 4 players at once, allowing you to tap your buddies in to come explore the world(s) with you. Crafting is better with friends, after all.

10. Cocoon
- Release Date: 30 September, 2023
- Genre: Puzzle
- Players: 1
- Metacritic: 88
- Cloud Compatible: Yes
The less said about Cocoon, the better. It’s a puzzle game made by some of the fine minds that brought us Limbo and Inside, and has some of the finest and most mind-bending puzzle design we’ve come across.
You play as a bug that can move in and out of different tiny dimensions, and uses that power to solve puzzles and explore a strange overarching world. The game isn’t incredibly long (it’ll probably take you 5 or so hours to finish up), but the ideas on display here are fantastic.
It’s the perfect weekend game: boot it up on a lazy weekend and give your brain a workout.

11. Tunic
- Release Date: 17 March, 2022
- Genre: Action Adventure
- Players: 1
- Metacritic: 85
- Cloud Compatible: Yes
One of the best indie games of the past few years, Tunic takes heavy inspiration from the classic Legend of Zelda games, but brings them up to date with modern minimal gaming sensibilities. In Tunic, you play as a little fox with a sword and shield exploring a dangerous world, seeking to release some kind of fox goddess from her prison.
You’ll explore the world, gaining new abilities, items and spells as you do so, which will allow you to explore more of the world, which will grant you new items, which will… well, you get the picture. While modern Zelda games have gotten very good at telling you where to go and when, Tunic instead just kind of leaves you to your own devices: you’ll always have some new places you can check out, but you can do it at your own leisure.
There’s no ticking time clock, or fairy sidekick reminding you to get back to the mission at hand – instead, it’s just you, a sword, and a whole world full of potential.
What Are the Different Game Pass Tiers?
Just like every subscription service on the market, Xbox’s Game Pass now has multiple subscription tiers. However, it also has subscription tiers that are exclusive to consoles, one that is exclusive to PC users, and then one ‘ultimate’ tier that works everywhere. Don’t worry, it sounds more confusing than it is.
For more details on the various tiers, check out the chart below.
Tier | Core (Xbox) | Standard (Xbox) | PC Game Pass (Windows) | Ultimate (Windows and Xbox) |
Price | AU$10.95 per month | AU$15.95 per month | AU$13.95 per month | AU$22.95 per month |
Benefits | – Curated catalogue of over 25 games on console – Online multiplayer access – Member deals and discounts on the Xbox Store | – Full access to the Xbox Game Pass library – Online multiplayer access – Member deals and discounts on the Xbox Store | – Access to new release games on day one – EA Play Membership – Full access to the Xbox Game Pass library – Member deals and discounts on the Xbox Store | – Access to new release games on day one – EA Play Membership – Full access to the Xbox Game Pass library – Online multiplayer access – Member deals and discounts on the Xbox Store |