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 April 10, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Game Pass is on a roll right now, with quite a few exciting titles launching on the service. Three recent additions to PC Game Pass have been added.

1

South Of Midnight

A Trip Into The Gothic Deep South

One of the more highly anticipated Day 1 Game Pass releases of 2025 so far, South of Midnight takes players on a journey through the deep south, a setting that has not been explored all that much by games. Lasting roughly between 10–15 hours, the campaign does not overstay its welcome, all the while still managing to accomplish a lot in its runtime.

Players step into the shoes of Hazel, a woman who is dragged into an alternate reality where creatures of myth are no longer part of fantasy. Along with taking out a few of these entities, Hazel also goes on a personal journey that touches upon past tragedies. While the gameplay is nothing too unique, South of Midnight plays well, looks good, and has a great setting.

2

Mullet Madjack

A Frantic First-Person Shooter About Outrunning Death

A relentless sprint, Mullet Madjack is 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 Madjack also incorporates roguelite elements as Jack gets upgrades along the way, which are naturally lost following his demise.

3

33 Immortals

A Great Co-Op PC Game Pass Game

33 Immortals

Systems

ESRB

T For Teen // Blood, Violence

Developer(s)

Thunder Lotus Games

Publisher(s)

Thunder Lotus Games

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op

Cross-Platform Play

Yes, PC (Epic Games Store) and Xbox

Early Access Release

March 18, 2025

• 
• 

Available in Game Preview, 33 Immortals is 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 Immortals is 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 like Hades, all the while incorporating more traditional roguelite elements. Any PC Game Pass users craving a multiplayer romp that takes a few risks should give this a try.

4

Balatro

Perfect For Short Sessions (Or Long Ones)

One of the most successful indie games of 2024, Balatro has a simple but addictive formula that is based on Poker. 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.

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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 and Joker cards are used to provide unique effects and score multipliers, and variety is the spice of life. While the “main” campaign can be completed relatively quickly, Balatro has an endless mode that can keep players entertained for a long time.

5

Avowed

An Enjoyable Action RPG By One Of The Genre’s Veteran Studios

Avowed

7/10

Released

February 18, 2025

Obsidian’s Avowed is 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.

Beyond the combat, Avowed looks 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.

6

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

MachineGames Gives Indy His Best Adventure In Decades

Arguably the last truly “big” release of 2024, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle had a strange road towards completion. Despite MachineGames’ resume mostly speaking for itself and an AAA-budget Indiana Jones game sounding fantastic, The Great Circle attracted a somewhat muted response at first, primarily due to it using a first-person angle rather than third-person. Honestly, after decades of Tomb Raider and Uncharted, 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 once Indiana Jones and the Great Circle landed 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, a Wolfenstein-style shooter would have been unusual. Fortunately, MachineGames minimized gunplay in favor of stealth, puzzles, exploration, and occasional platforming. The Great Circle gives the iconic protagonist a whip and a gun, but the former is his preferred weapon while the latter is for desperate situations.

7

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy

A PS1 Darling Is Now On PC Game Pass

Even after all these decades, Crash Bandicoot’s association 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 has Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and CTR 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.

Unfortunately, the kart racer never arrived on PC, a pretty strange omission since major modern multi-platform games nearly always release ports for the platform. However, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is readily available to not only computer users but also PC Game Pass subscribers. Updating three of the greatest platformers of all time, Vicarious Visions more than proved it was capable of living up to the lofty heights set by Naughty Dog, and this release has more positives than just a graphical boost. The controls are tighter than ever (for the most part), fine-tuning the gameplay to near perfection (again, for the most part). Vicarious Visions even put together an extremely difficult new stage that compares favorably with the classics.

8

StarCraft 1 & 2 Remastered

The Definitive Sci-Fi RTS Series

• 	StarCraft: Remastered	StarCraft II: Campaign Collection
  Developer(s)	Blizzard Entertainment	Blizzard Entertainment
  Genre(s)	Real-Time Strategy	Real-Time Strategy
  Platform(s)	PC	PC

StarCraft needs no introduction when it comes to the real-time strategy genre. 1998’s original is largely hailed as an all-time masterpiece that set a standard that has rarely been eclipsed. One of the few games to come close to replicating that quality was its 2012 sequel, which arguably has the best gameplay out of any RTS game, especially in the sci-fi subgenre.

PC Game Pass has StarCraft‘s 2017 remaster, which gives the classic version a significant upgrade in terms of presentation. Furthermore, players can try out StarCraft 2‘s complete collection, which comes with the base content and the Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the Void expansions.

9

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

Rough Launch, But The Core Is Strong

Considering everything GSC has been through in recent years, the fact that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 exists at all is a big deal. That said, the game did not enjoy the smoothest launch, garnering quite a bit of criticism due to bugs and performance issues. Now, to be fair, GSC released a few early patches that improved things, so it is in a mostly playable state. Still, anyone who picks this up should be prepared for what might not be a flawless experience.

Beyond that, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 evolves the franchise’s core concepts well, offering an incredibly massive open-world that is visually, thematically, and atmospherically dense. While incorporating horror elements and first-person gunplay, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is ultimately about survival, which extends beyond the player’s basic needs and into The Zone’s political and social standings. Mutants are not the only danger in this region.

For all its issues, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2‘s fundamentals are very good, and they will hopefully start to shine even more as new patches are released.

10

Spyro Reignited Trilogy

Three Classic PS1 Adventure Platformers, Now Available On An Xbox Subscription Service

With Microsoft acquiring Activision Blizzard, Spyro the Dragon is technically an Xbox mascot nowadays. Even though the franchise has not done much in the last few years, there is always a chance that a new game will be announced, one that could very well debut on Game Pass or even be an Xbox exclusive. Whether that day comes to pass remains to be seen, but in the meantime, subscribers can check out the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, which contains remakes of Insomniac’s original three PS1 games.

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While delivering a significant upgrade in visuals, Toys for Bob mostly opted to recapture the magic of the classic trilogy, delivering three campaigns that very much feel like they are ripped from the memories of people who grew up with Spyro the Dragon. All three titles are great, and they build upon each other in ways that make the trilogy feel like a cohesive progression.

11

Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6

A Well-Rounded COD Package

When Activision fell under the Microsoft umbrella, it was only a matter of time before Call of Duty would make its Game Pass arrival. Modern Warfare 3 was the first project to debut, and while a big deal in its own right, the real question was whether a new entry would launch directly on the service. Well, that moment came with Black Ops 6, Treyarch and Raven Software’s 2024 effort. Obviously, every Call of Duty game seems to be a commercial success, but the franchise’s reputation has taken a hit in recent years thanks to Modern Warfare 3 launching with quite a few issues like an underwhelming single-player story. Black Ops 6 had to be a notable step up, especially since it was going to reach lapsed or even new players due to its Game Pass availability.

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While not flawless, this sequel is a pretty great return to form, one that offers both high-quality solo and multiplayer content. If someone has no interest in PvP, they can just focus on the single-player campaign, which is a fast-paced blockbuster-style action fest that represents Call of Duty at its best. Although not extremely long, it is fun and plays great. That said, the multiplayer side of things is Black Ops 6‘s main selling point, as is always the case with modern entries in the series. Along with a diverse lineup of 6v6 modes, the game also has Zombies, which should keep co-op fans entertained for quite a while. Unlike Modern Warfare 3‘s open-zone structure, Black Ops 6 mostly utilizes Black Ops Cold War‘s formula, so it does play like a more traditional take on the mode.

12

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.

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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.

13

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.

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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.

14

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.

15

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.

16

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.

17

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.

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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.

18

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.

19

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.

20

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.

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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.