Oct 14, 2023 9:00 AM

11 Must-Play Games on Xbox Game Pass

From Lies of P to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Microsoft’s subscription service includes a bounty of fun games for both console and PC.

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED

Featured in this article

Screenshot of the game Lies of P featuring a large robot villain holding up another character.

Screenshot of the game Lonely Mountains Downhill featuring a bicyclists jumping between cliffs

Screenshot of Texas Chainsaw Massacre game featuring Leatherface character wielding a chainsaw in an open field

4 / 12

Xbox Game Pass is a solid deal for anyone who likes to try new games and bounce around between titles. A subscription to Game Pass Ultimate costs $17 a month for access to online multiplayer and a regularly refreshed library of over 100 games.

Just on console and not interested in online multiplayers games? Microsoft offers a cheaper tier that costs $11 a month. Ditched your console? There’s a PC-only plan for $10. (PlayStation and Switch gamers should check out our guide to the top subscription services for those platforms.)

The newest tier is called Game Pass Core, and it costs $10 a month. Game Pass Core is a rebranding of Xbox Live Gold that introduces a smaller version of the Game Pass Ultimate library.

I sifted through the Game Pass catalog and curated a few outstanding titles to help you decide which ones to download first. (It’s a bit overwhelming!) From odd indies to blockbuster experiences, these genre-spanning picks likely have something that’s perfect for your style of play.

Searching for even more great game recommendations? Discover worthwhile games with our picks for the best Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S titles.

Courtesy of NEOWIZ
Guard Up
Lies of P
This is a tough, fun soulslike where you play as sword-wielding Pinocchio. (Yes, I’m being serious.) While Bloodborne superfans are the core demographic for Lies of P, anyone who’s willing to practice the timing of their defensive actions while dying a bunch might enjoy it, at least for a few hours. There’s a role-playing aspect to the game, so be ready to choose whether you want to be a truth teller or a full-blown liar.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$60 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$60 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of Thunderful Publishing
Clip In
Lonely Mountains: Downhill
For anyone entrenched in bike culture (or just a little curious), Lonely Mountains: Downhill is a satisfying game that allows you to find time for small adventures, even on weekends while your real bike stays up on the rack. Sprint through sloped trails over and over to see if you can shave a few seconds off your overall time. The mountain trails range in complexity, but no matter how twisty the turns become you never end a digital ride with scraped kneecaps. For a more detailed game impression, check out Lewis Gordon’s article on Lonely Mountain: Downhill.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$20 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$20 at Steam Store (PC)

Courtesy of Gun Interactive
Fresh Slice
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
It’s a violent slasher that’s not for those who get queasy at the sight of blood, but The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a tense, enjoyable entry into the horror video game genre. In a format that will feel slightly familiar to Dead by Daylight fans, you play as one of the murderers looking to kill or victims trying to escape. Collaboration is absolutely critical for success—no matter which team you’re on—in this game inspired by the 1974 movie of the same name.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$40 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$40 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of Capcom
Raptor Blaster
Exoprimal
Exoprimal is a very WIRED game. Apocalyptic AI overlords? Check. Sleek, robotic exoskeletons? Yup. Hoards of deadly dinosaurs? Why not! In the latest from Capcom, you work with teammates to shoot scaly beasts in combat simulations, and sometimes even enemy players. The narrative is dumb fun, and the combat feels decent. “Your new assignment is the perpetual war game,” says the rogue AI. All right, maybe the simulation isn’t that far from reality.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$60 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$60 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of Do My Best
Stolen Words
The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales
In an alternate universe, the City Writers’ Police Department is punishing you for literary crimes. As you face eviction from your apartment, a mysterious phone call offers to help you evade punishment—if you can help them out. Time to venture inside books and steal stuff! The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales is a point-and-click adventure game with enjoyable puzzles. While it’s available for consoles, players are likely to prefer the experience on PC.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$15 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$15 at Steam Store (PC)

Courtesy of No More Robots
Sleep Scrolling
Hypnospace Outlaw
This game is pure vibes. In Hypnospace Outlaw, you are enlisted as a content moderator for a version of the late ’90s internet that people surf while sleeping. Weird, right? The game’s precise aesthetic captures the chaos of the early internet. In a moment when AI chatbots feel inescapable and may transform how we interact with the web, it’s both surreal and comforting to browse through an outdated, pixelated version.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$20 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$20 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of Finji
Pigment Pilgrim
Chicory: A Colorful Tale
Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a cozy, artistic adventure where you solve puzzles by bringing the beautiful hues back to your environment with a magic paintbrush. First released for PlayStation and PC in 2021, it’s now available on Xbox as well. Will your curiosity and artistic ability be enough to save your community? The more you explore, the more you discover what’s possible with the stroke of your brush.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$20 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$20 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of Iron Gate AB
Viking Friends
Valheim
An enthralling spin on the survival genre first released in 2021, Valheim is finally available to play on console as well as PC. As a Viking, you craft cool armor, build outposts for your friends, and battle your way through harsh environments with their help. It’s a game that’s best enjoyed with multiple browser tabs open, so don’t be afraid to search for help on how to get started or how to emerge victorious from nasty boss battles. It’s possible to survive in Valheim, but only if it’s Odin’s will.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$20 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$20 at Steam Store (PC)

Courtesy of NicePlay Games
Aesthetic Alchemy
Potion Craft
Get your mortar and pestle ready! In Potion Craft, you collect the tastiest mushrooms and the smelliest herbs to mash, blend, and sell to the townsfolk. Be prepared to haggle with stingy customers who drive a hard bargain. Also, don’t make a habit of handing out mediocre concoctions or your alchemist’s reputation will suffer. The idyllic business management sim is a soothing way to spend an evening.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$20 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$15 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of EA Games
Ship Shape
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
Although the next installment of the Mass Effect series remains in the distant future, this remastered trilogy from BioWare is an engaging set of games for science fiction aficionados. Returning players may find satisfaction in revisiting the 2007 release; new players might enjoy an accessible piece of history that continues to impact contemporary games. If you can look past a cumbersome user interface, the overall experience is worth it.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$60 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$60 at Steam Store (PC)
Courtesy of Obsidian Entertainment
Local Artist
Pentiment
Pentiment is the best game released in 2022 that you might have missed. In this adventure game, you’re an intrepid artist living in 16th-century Bavaria who wants to uncover the truth about a murder. Visually striking and narratively complex, it’s a top-tier title that takes only a couple of weeks to finish. Check out WIRED’s interview with Pentiment’s director, Josh Sawyer, for an in-depth discussion about the game.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
$20 at Microsoft Store (Xbox)
$20 at Steam Store (PC)

Courtesy of Bethesda
Honorable Mentions
More Game Pass Games
As Dusk Falls
Citizen Sleeper
Dead by Daylight
Doom
Fallout 4
Forza Motorsport
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Hollow Knight
Inside
Mortal Kombat 11
Skyrim
Tunic

Reece Rogers is WIRED's service writer, focused on explaining crucial topics and helping readers get the most out of their technology. Prior to WIRED, he covered streaming at Insider.

Service Writer