Best Games On PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass is firmly established as gaming’s definitive subscription service, a reputation built upon years of goodwill. Each month, Microsoft adds a few games to the service, ensuring subscribers always have something new to check out. While slightly overshadowed by its console counterpart, PC Game Pass is a great option for people who prefer to play on a computer rather than an Xbox.

Xbox Game Pass and 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 the best PC Game Pass games?

Updated October 5, 2024 by Mark Sammut: PC Game Pass has welcomed a few games in recent weeks, including a well-regarded JRPG and a fantastic beat ’em up.

1 Frostpunk 2

An Evolution Of A Rare Formula

Frostpunk is still one of the best strategy city-builders on PC Game Pass, and it is now joined by a successor. Excitingly, Frostpunk 2 introduces so many new ideas and expands the scale so significantly that it feels notably different from its predecessor; consequently, the sequel has not rendered the first game obsolete. That said, if someone loves the original title, they are likely to adore the second entry, as long as they do not go in expecting an identical experience.

Set a few decades after the first game, Frostpunk 2 puts players in charge of New London, a city that is trying to balance progression and survival. As always, leaders will need to find a way to drive the city’s growth while meeting the basic needs of its citizens, which is no easy task when there is the ever-present threat of a shutdown due to unpredictable snowstorms. Although very much a survival game, Frostpunk 2 is first and foremost a city-builder, and players will spend a great deal of time setting up connections and tiles. Beyond that, the sequel focuses quite a lot on politics, very much emphasizing that players are (essentially) running a government that has to take into account various factions with contradictory wants.

Regardless of somebody’s familiarity with the first game, they should consider starting with Frostpunk 2‘s campaign, which should teach them the basics. After that, they can jump into Utopia Builder, which comes with seven starting locations and multiple goals.

2 Sifu

The Long Road To Revenge (Is Awesome)

Sifu has an inspired death mechanic. Players step into the shoes of a martial artist who goes on a revenge tour that involves taking on five fighters, each of whom comes with their own stage. Now, whenever the protagonist fails, they revive as an older version of themselves, allowing them to keep going with stronger attacks but less HP. Eventually, they die permanently and have to start from scratch.

This concept is brilliant, and it allows some more room for failure than the typical roguelike. However, do not mistake this mechanic as a sign that Sloclap decided to take things easy on players. No, Sifu is an extremely difficult 3D beat ’em up with complex controls and a lot of attack options. By the time they defeat all five bosses, players will be genuine masters.

3 Trials Of Mana

A Fine Modern Revamp Of A Classic JRPG

Legend of Mana and Trials of Mana are both on PC Game Pass, and they are solid action JRPGs. That said, the latter is a more ambitious remake than the former, resulting in a modern experience that is more likely to hit the mark with new players who just want a fun battle-driven adventure.

Trials of Mana features six characters, each of whom represents a different class and background; more importantly, players get to pick three fighters for a playthrough, enhancing the game’s overall replayability. While initially coming across as somewhat simple, the hack and slash combat steadily improves as players unlock more skills and upgrade their characters. The campaign also opens up about halfway through, granting a bit more freedom in how players progress.

4 Age Of Mythology: Retold

More Than Just A Fresh Coat Of Paint On An RTS Classic

While also available on the Xbox Series consoles, Age of Mythology: Retold just feels at home on PC. An updated version of the 2002 cult classic, the RTS game takes the Age of Empires formula and engulfs it in mysticism, creating an experience that sticks fairly true to the mainline entry’s loop while still very much being unique. Retold is mostly pitched as a “remaster,” but that would be underselling the changes since they extend beyond improved graphics. World’s Edge and Forgotten Empires implemented a range of quality-of-life adjustments to cater to a modern audience, all the while trying to respectfully retain the original game’s rhythm and tone. The endeavor was mostly successful, resulting in a project that should hit the mark with both young and veteran RTS fans.

As with nearly any great RTS game, AoM: Retold primarily boils down to effective planning and resource management. Each available myth has well-defined strengths and weaknesses, along with unique traits and god abilities that need to be properly analyzed and mastered. In terms of single-player content, there are campaigns containing unique missions that can keep people engaged for a while. Retold also supported co-op and PvP, with the latter likely determining the project’s longevity.

5 Doom + Doom 2

The Grandfathers Of PC Shooters

• 	Doom (1993)	Doom 2
  Released	1993-12-10	1994-10-10
  Developer(s)	id Software	id Software
  Genre(s)	First-Person Shooter	FPS

At this point, recommending the original Doom games seems pointless. If someone has not played id Software’s seminal shooters yet, they are unlikely to get to them because of the latest re-release. Still, that does not take anything away from their sheer quality, as there is a reason Doom and its sequel continue to be revisited all these years later. They are masterpieces that set the standard for an entire genre, and their influence can still be seen in the countless retro boomer shooters that are released every single year.

The DOOM + DOOM 2 compilation includes the core games along with a plethora of upgrades and updates that have accumulated over the decades, including a weapon carousel, improved visuals, an incredible range of maps, local split-screen, and so on. Players who know these games inside and out might not find too much to get excited about from this package, but it is always great to have them available at the click of a button.

6 Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Technical Showcase With Strong & Challenging Writing

2024 has not been stacked with Xbox console exclusives so far, but Ninja Theory’s Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 stands as a proud and powerful exception. Similar to its predecessor, the fantastic Senua’s Sacrifice, the sequel is very much a unique beast that focuses on telling a character-driven story, with combat and puzzles taking a backseat throughout most of the campaign. That’s not to say players will be just watching a glorified movie play out, as they will find themselves engaging in some fairly intense battles throughout Senua’s journey. However, the combat exists entirely in service of the narrative and is only marginally better than the first game.

Hellblade 2 should be entered as blindly as possible, especially since most people will probably only stick around for a single playthrough (that will be relatively short). While avoiding specific spoilers, it can be revealed that the sequel focuses more on Senua’s connections with the living rather than the dead. Also, the game is genuinely gorgeous, perhaps to the point of being the best-looking title on the Xbox Series X.

7 Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Issues Aside, This Is Still A Great Compilation Containing Some Of The Best FPS Games Ever

The entirety of the Halo franchise took a lengthy hiatus from PC after its initial outing with Combat Evolved, but all of that finally changed in 2019 — when the Master Chief Collection finally migrated to PC. Now mouse-and-keyboard warriors can follow the whole of Spartan-117’s saga and indulge in the full suite of multiplayer offerings alongside their Xbox brethren.

The MCC is virtually a crown jewel on the Xbox side of Game Pass, and it loses very little of that status in its transition to PC.20greatest achievements of the 2010s. So, does this make it a must-play for anyone with a PC Game Pass subscription? Well, yes and no. If someone loves 2D platformers, they owe it to themselves to try Extremely OK Games’ title. However, Celeste is a hard-as-nails precision platformer that can be exhausting for anyone who is not really looking for an especially difficult challenge. It is not particularly accessible.

Unlike quite a few entries in the genre, Celeste has a pretty in-depth story. Players control Madeline, a woman who goes on a soul-searching journey to climb Celeste Mountain. Touching upon mature themes like depression, the platformer is surprisingly character-driven, and its punishing gameplay reflects Madeline’s journey.

8 Neon White

Stellar Gameplay That Mixes Deck Management With Platforming & Speedrunning

Angel Matrix’s Neon White took the world by storm in 2022, and the innovative platformer is a fantastic addition to PC Game Pass. Now, this is one of those projects that generally must be played to be properly understood, and it is entirely made by its controls, gameplay feel, and seamless blend of mechanics. Still, the core concept revolves around managing multipurpose cards to pick the best action in a given situation, all in the hopes of clearing out stages and reaching their endpoints.

While the story is kind of weird, Neon White nails pretty much everything else. The visual style is slick and eye-catching, while the gameplay is fast-paced, satisfying, and strategic. The level design is consistently strong and caters to repeat attempts, particularly for players interested in speedrunning.

9 Grounded

Survival Game With Awesome Co-Op

Players who enjoy games like Minecraft and Terraria should consider hopping into Grounded. This microscopic adventure sees players entering a backyard landscape after being shrunk down to a fraction of their former size. Players will have to battle against hordes of vicious bugs to collect various materials to strengthen their armaments and increase their survivability.

Along the way, they will uncover an underlying storyline that will have them traveling all over the backyard to collect a variety of specialized computer chips. Players can embark on this journey by themselves or join in with up to three other friends, both of which should result in mostly enjoyable survival sandbox experiences. That said, Grounded really comes alive in co-op, especially since players take on four different characters who can pursue unique and complementary builds.

10 A Plague Tale: Requiem

Life-Like Visuals & Story That Builds Momentum Nicely

Asobo Studio’s highly anticipated sequel to 2019’s A Plague Tale: Innocence is finally out, and Requiem is just as brilliant as its predecessor. Once again cast as Amicia, players find themselves heading out on a harrowing journey to find a cure for Hugo, the protagonist’s younger brother, during the French Inquisition and black plague.

A Plague Tale: Requiem sticks close to the blueprint established by the first game, all the while improving upon a few elements. The sequel has a far superior combat system that presents Amicia with a wider variety of options. The story is also fantastic and builds up nicely.

11 Vampire Survivors

Endlessly Replayable

After spending almost a year in early access on Steam, Vampire Survivors made its full debut on October 20, 2022. The top-down roguelike has been nothing short of a colossal hit, and it has received plenty of updates over the last year. After selecting one of Vampire Survivors‘ available characters, players drop into a stage where they are bombarded by waves of enemies. The goal is to simply survive until the time limit while upgrading weapons, unlocking power-ups, and gaining gold coins.

Although initially seeming very simple, this indie darling has surprising depth thanks to its wide variety of characters and weapons, all of which require a lot of effort to fully master. Even unlocking everything is hard work. Vampire Survivors is a great PC Game Pass game with a gameplay loop perfect for a subscription service that encourages playing multiple titles simultaneously.

12 SteamWorld Dig 2

An Impressive Evolution Of The 2013 Original

SteamWorld is an odd duck that refuses to stick to a single genre, with most games seemingly exploring new avenues that are only loosely connected to their predecessors and successors. Despite this suggesting inconsistency, to its credit, the franchise has rarely set a foot wrong, with basically every game having something to offer and being worthwhile additions to their genre. SteamWorld Dig 2 was something of an exception as it was the IP’s first sequel, and it specifically sought to fine-tune the 2013 project to craft an experience that is strictly an evolution rather than a complete renovation.

SteamWorld Dig 2 is fantastic and close to the franchise’s pinnacle, although opinions will depend on the player’s preferred style of game. The sequel is an explorative Metroidvania that casts players as a digger who must traverse a labyrinth under a Western town in search of resources they can then sell off. Naturally, they will have to fight a lot of enemies along the way, all the while unlocking an ever-expanding arsenal of gadgets and abilities.

SteamWorld can seem a bit unapproachable due to its scattershot approach to game design, but Dig 2 is a very solid entry point into the series. There is also no need to play the original, even though it is still a decent game.

13 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Technical Issues Aside, Survivor Is An Impressive Soulslike Take On Star Wars

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order took the most popular sci-fi franchise of all time and gave it a Soulslike makeover. While not perfect (a tolerance for backtracking is required), the marriage was generally fruitful, and the game balanced story progression, combat, and puzzles fairly well. Unsurprisingly, in 2023, a sequel found its way to current-gen systems and PC, and it was arguably an improvement over its predecessor in nearly every area. However, Jedi: Survivor‘s launch was muddied by performance issues, specifically on PC. Although not usually unplayable (although a person’s mileage may vary), Survivor suffered from framerate drops and stuttering, even on high-end systems. Post-game patches improved a few things but hardly everything; consequently, even now, players should be prepared for the occasional glitch.

Now that Jedi: Survivor is on PC Game Pass, people who were put off by the negative press can finally give it a try without worrying too much about wasting their money. Bugs and glitches aside, this title has a lot of things going for it. The story builds very nicely on Cal Kestis’ journey in Fallen Order, expanding not only his moveset but also his character in the process. The campaign features an impressive array of worlds, including returning favorites and new planets, and they are brought to life beautifully. Fine-tuned and improved with a few new options, the combat and traversal mechanics are slightly improved as well, although they are still quite similar to the first game.

14 Manor Lords

Early Access Medieval City-Builder With Endless Potential

Mostly developed by one creator and currently in Game Preview, Manor Lords is a medieval sim that blends a few genres: survival, city-builder, and tactics. While the latter appears in the form of occasional battles with neighboring towns or bandits, the former elements take center stage during most playthroughs, and they are handled with care and creativity. As suggested by the title, Manor Lords is all about setting up a settlement during the Middle Ages, a journey that starts small but ambitious and gradually snowballs into expansive and ambitious.

City-builders tend to cast players as deities towering over their creations, setting them apart from the worlds they rule. Manor Lords shakes this formula up by placing players in the dirt alongside their citizens, all of whom are treated as people with personalities rather than just numbers. Surviving is a group effort that requires everyone to pitch in, and Manor Lords allows players to make the necessary choices to facilitate this mentality and then witness the fruit of their labor. While still a work in progress, this title is already among the most exciting PC Game Pass games.

15 Persona 3 Reload

Impeccable Remake Of A JRPG Masterpiece

Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei and Persona games are firmly established as cornerstones of the turn-based JRPG world. While the selection is not quite as robust as it used to be, PC Game Pass players still have a couple of Atlus options at their fingertips, including 2024’s Persona 3 Reload. A full-blown remake of the 2006 PS2 classic, this edition retains most of the original’s story beats and mechanics, all the while providing a few quality-of-life adjustments along with far improved visuals akin to Persona 5.

Persona 3 Reload showcases not only Atlus’ license at its best but also serves as a prime example of the JRPG genre’s potential to craft dense narratives with lovable characters, strategic combat, and stellar world-building. Be it the addictive Persona-collecting system, the main story, or the fun social sim side content, P3R is the full package, and it can keep someone on the hook for potentially months.

16 Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition

It’s Minecraft

At this point, Minecraft has become so ubiquitous that it feels like one of those games that has always been around in some form. With the license now falling under Microsoft’s umbrella, the game is obviously available to PC Game Pass subscribers, and the version contains both the original Java Edition and the more modern Bedrock. While they share plenty of similarities, these two versions have more than their fair share of differences, so new players should try them both out to see which one they prefer.

A seemingly endless sandbox designed to inspire imaginative creations, Minecraft can be a liberating experience that just lets players run wild. There is also a survival mode for anyone craving a slightly more intense experience.

17 EA Sports FC 24

Not For Everyone, But The Career Mode Can Be Fun

When it comes to sports games, there seems to be no middle ground. Either they hog all of somebody’s time and energy or they are the worst thing to happen to gaming. If nothing else, these annual releases attract passionate responses, be it positive or negative. Out of all these franchises, EA’s soccer games are arguably the most divisive, something that survived a change in branding (from FIFA to EA Sports FC).

As with most of these yearly releases, EA Sports FC 24 was added to Game Pass as the standard club season ended and the project’s relevancy started to draw to a close, with a sequel likely debuting around September 2024. That said, the EURO 2024 tournament extended soccer/football fever for an extra month, causing the game to receive noteworthy updates for a while longer than usual. Nevertheless, EA Sports FC 24‘s peak has passed.

These Game Pass sports additions are strange since they are targeting people who are, at best, mildly interested in jumping into career mode for a season or two. At this point, players who might genuinely enjoy EA Sports FC 24 have long since decked out their Ultimate Teams; consequently, the game can only really be recommended to lapsed players or newcomers who might be tempted to purchase the next edition. Before investing cash in FC 25, give its predecessor a try to see if it manages to keep your interest beyond a few matches.

18 Palworld

Jack Of All Trades & Master Of Some

Starting 2024 on an exciting note, Palworld launched directly on Game Pass, although it is still in Game Preview (basically, early access). An open-world survival game where players catch monsters and engage in third-person shooter action, Pocket Pair’s title sounds like a fever dream that haphazardly blends inspirations, genres, and selling points to create a malformed mess weighed down by ambition; except, it is pretty great.

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Although still an in-development project, Palworld is already an easy recommendation thanks to its addictive gameplay loop, immersive world, a robust selection of Pals, and accessible but engaging survival mechanics. The latter arrives in the form of base building and meter management, both of which are enhanced through Pals that can fulfill roles within their master’s home. Battles are chaotic and fun, especially when played in co-op. While still too early to say, Palworld should go down as one of the best PC Game Pass games of 2024.

19 Dead Space (2023)

Reimagining Of An All-Time Great Sci-Fi Horror Game

Available through EA Play (and Game Pass Ultimate), the Dead Space remake revamps the 2008 sci-fi horror classic, delivering a package that honors its predecessor while still taking enough risks to present a fresh experience. While the story hits most of the same beats, the journey itself can feel wildly different due to the implementation of a more open-ended map and the distribution of items like weapons and suits.

Newcomers who have never played a Dead Space project can jump directly into the remake without feeling lost. Meanwhile, long-time fans who adore the 2008 masterpiece should give the remake a try since it is not simply the same experience with a fresh coat of paint.

20 Diablo 4

Polarizing Action RPG That Has Improved With Updates

Except for perhaps Starfield, no other recent game has had its reputation decline as quickly as Diablo 4. Blizzard’s action RPG had a fairly positive launch, garnering praise for its map, combat, and general aesthetic, the latter of which marked a return to the grimdark style of Diablo 2 rather than its sequel’s vibrant palette. However, a weak endgame and a few poorly received updates chipped away at Diablo 4‘s goodwill, resulting in a polarizing project that is regarded by many to be a disappointment in this day and age.

Despite all of that, the 2023 release is nevertheless a huge get for Game Pass, and it has enough positives to justify a recommendation to people who have been hesitant to take the plunge. Diablo 4 comes with quite a lengthy campaign that balances solid combat with addictive loot and some decent exploration. Even though the story takes a backseat and largely serves as a precursor to the endgame, it is a fun time in general, especially since the gameplay is extremely polished and allows for a fair amount of customization.