Xbox Game Passand PC Game Pass offer many of the same games, which reflects Microsoft’s desire to cater to its whole customer base rather than just those who own consoles. That said, there are differences between the two, including some great titles that are only on the PC iteration. What are thebest PC Game Pass games?
Updated June 27, 2025 by Mark Sammut:Thebest games on PC Game Passreceived a few new contenders over the last month.
Doomis nothing if not reliable, despite the franchise’s most recent releases taking quite a few risks.Doom,Doom Eternal, andThe Dark Agesare all fairly different games in their own right, prioritizing unique mechanics that change the flow of combat. The latest project undertook arguably the franchise’s biggest shift sinceDoom 3, withThe Dark Agesprioritizing color-coded shield-blocking and crowd-control more than ever before. Also, the campaign involves mechs, which are always welcome.
Depending on what somebody is craving fromDoom,The Dark Ages' more open level design and reaction-based action could be steps too far, even if the gunplay is just as smooth as ever and theguns as satisfying as ever. However, when taken in a vacuum, this FPS is comfortably one of thebest games on PC Game Pass. Just give it a try, regardless of how you feel about the series.
Atlus and its subsidiaries, like Studio Zero, need no introduction when it comes to JRPGs, and the developer’s games have surprisingly become staples of Game Pass.Metaphor: ReFantaziomight not have the same name recognition as established IPs likePersona, but the 2024 release sits comfortably among the company’s greatest and most ambitious efforts.
While incorporating some real-time elements, the game’s combat is primarily turn-based, with the system seemingly combining the best elements from Atlus' long and storied history. Lengthy and meaningful, the campaign tells a war-focused story with socially relevant themes, all the while developing a strong cast of core characters.
Garnering almost universal praise,Clair Obscur: Expedition 33is a fantastic throwback to classic JRPGs, albeit with modern touches that craft a unique package rather than a nostalgic one. Blending turn-based combat with reflex-based inputs for parrying, dodging, and attacks,Clair Obscur’s battle system is intense, addictive, and well-tuned. Yes, some things could be balanced better, and it can take quite a while to master the timing for a few enemies, but the fundamentals are incredibly solid for the first attempt by a new studio.
Beyond gameplay,Clair Obscurtells a brilliant dark fantasy story that almost feels FromSoftware-esque, albeit one that follows a way more linear and conventional structure. Honestly, players should try to jump in blind, as this journey should be experienced first-hand. While not lacking in content, the campaign also isn’t that long by RPG standards, with the main quest lasting roughly 25–30 hours.
Announced and released at the same time,Oblivion Remasteredis probably Bethesda’s biggest success story of the last decade, which shouldn’t come as a surprise since the original RPG is an all-time great. The remaster provides an obvious boost in visual quality, bringing the graphics up to modern standards. While not devoid of technical or performance issues, the game looks fantastic while still retaining the charm of its forefather.
Gameplay-wise, this is still ultimatelyOblivion, albeit with a couple of tweaks and quality of life adjustments. Bethesda, wisely, opted against full-scale changes to avoid undermining the game’s classic charm, butmost of the alterations were for the better.
A relentless sprint,Mullet Madjackis an absolute blast that can be extremely difficult to put down once it grabs hold of players. Putting aside the glorious cyberpunk aesthetic and relatively in-depth plot, the game lives and dies on a great hook: Death is always 10 seconds away. As Jack, players have to sprint through short floors filled with enemies, with each kill adding a few seconds to their lifeline. Slowing down means death. Hesitation means death. Mistakes, more often than not, mean death.
This concept is backed with extremely tight and satisfying controls that lean into boomer shooter territory, albeit with a heavier focus on speed and mobility.Mullet Madjackalso incorporates roguelite elements as Jack gets upgrades along the way, which are naturally lost following his demise.
Available in Game Preview,33 Immortalsis an isometric hack-and-slash title that revolves around co-op. As suggested by its name, 33 players are dropped onto a hellish map where they must collect resources, defeat fodder enemies, take on small dungeons, and eventually eliminate a few bosses. Cooperation is, naturally, the main focus, although players will generally find themselves fighting as part of small groups.
33 Immortalsis still a work in progress, but the current content is quite impressive and already satisfying to play. The combat system takes a few pages from games likeHades, all the while incorporating more traditional roguelite elements. AnyPC Game Passusers craving a multiplayer romp that takes a few risks should give this a try.
One of the most successful indie games of 2024,Balatrohas a simple but addictive formula that is based onPoker. The roguelite challenges players to build a deck that can deliver hands that reach the required points total to defeat an ante’s three blinds, with each one demanding higher scores. The quicker players manage to reach the total, the more cash they get to buy cards and booster packs, allowing them to fine-tune their deck for future antes.
Balatro’s core gameplay loop is pretty easy to understand, and depth arrives from the many variables and avenues that players can explore while building their decks. Tarot andJoker cardsare used to provide unique effects and score multipliers, and variety is the spice of life. While the “main” campaign can be completed relatively quickly,Balatrohas an endless mode that can keep players entertained for a long time.
Obsidian’sAvowedis a solid action RPG, albeit one that goes against the developer’s track-record and emphasizes the “action” part over the “RPG” elements. Whether played in first or third-person, the 2025 game delivers satisfying combat, particularly when it comes to magic builds. The gameplay is not necessarily the most complex of all time, but it is explosive, accessible, and has just enough depth to remain interesting during the main campaign’s relatively short length.
People new toPillars of Eternitymight be hesitant to jump into the third game set in this universe, butAvowedis fairly welcoming to newcomers. Yes, the dialogue contains plenty of indecipherable terms, but they usually come with an expandable explanation.
Beyond the combat,Avowedlooks fantastic and tells a decent story, even if it might not reach the high standards set by most of Obsidian’s previous efforts. Perhaps wisely, the game opted against an open-world setting, instead preferring smaller areas that are relatively self-contained. This decision streamlines the action while still allowing for some exploration.
Arguably the last truly “big” release of 2024,Indiana Jones and the Great Circlehad a strange road towards completion. Despite MachineGames' resume mostly speaking for itself and an AAA-budgetIndiana Jonesgame sounding fantastic,The Great Circleattracted a somewhat muted response at first, primarily due to it using a first-person angle rather than third-person. Honestly, after decades ofTomb RaiderandUncharted, the desire for a third-person Indy made sense; conversely, MachineGames specializes in FPS projects, so the developer’s decision to stick to first-person was also understandable.
Ultimately, that discussion was rendered moot onceIndiana Jones and the Great Circlelanded on Game Pass and put any doubts to rest. Comfortably the best video game representation of Dr. Jones, the 2024 release is a visual tour de force that also delivers franchise-suitable story and gameplay. The latter is especially important, as Indy is not known for gunning down hundreds of enemies during his adventure; consequently, aWolfenstein-style shooter would have been unusual. Fortunately, MachineGames minimized gunplay in favor of stealth, puzzles, exploration, and occasional platforming.The Great Circlegives the iconic protagonista whip and a gun, but the former is his preferred weapon while the latter is for desperate situations.
Even after all these decades,CrashBandicoot’sassociation with an Xbox brand still feels weird. Yet, nowadays, an Xbox is arguably the best way to experience the franchise, at least the more recent entries. Xbox Game Pass hasCrash Bandicoot N. Sane TrilogyandCTR Nitro-Fueled, both of which modernize Naughty Dog’s classic PS1 games. While the originals are still great in their own right, these versions are fantastic and, arguably, definitive.
