If you’re like me, PC Game Pass has been one of the most exciting developments in gaming in a long time. I had previously been subscribed to Xbox Game Pass just to play the 10 or 15 games available on PC through Play Everywhere, so when they announced PC Game Pass and its library of over 100 games, I could not have been more excited. However, it can be overwhelming figuring out where to start. Here are more than 40 of the best PC Game Pass games to start with (both big budget and indie games), whether you prefer RPGs, shooters, adventure games, or simulation games. They are presented in alphabetical order.
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition (and soon Age of Empires: II Definitive Edition)
Age of Empires Definitive Edition is the latest and greatest edition of the first game in one of the all-time great strategy series. The second game is supposed to come out November 14th, so the long wait is almost over. Both editions update the graphics of these classic games while also including additional content. If you want to play an old school RTS, either of these is a great choice (though I’d personally go with the second game, if it’s out by the time you’re reading this).
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition on the Microsoft Store
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition on the Microsoft Store
Cities: Skylines
If you used to play Sim City all day, you might lament the lack of good city builders nowadays, especially in the Sim City series. Luckily, Cities: Skylines is a more than worthy successor. Cities: Skylines is likely the best full-featured city builder on the market right now, so go check it out if you like city builders and it has somehow escaped your attention up to this point.
Cities: Skylines on the Microsoft Store
Crackdown 3
Crackdown 3 will probably be the most controversial game on this list, due to its numerous delays and the fact that its multiplayer was dead pretty much on arrival. However, if you ignore all of that and don’t have the expectations of someone who paid $60 for it, the single player campaign is still a hell of a good time. It’s not DC or Marvel (though it’s close, considering you can play as Terry Crews), but Crackdown 3 is easily one of the best superhero simulators out there.
Crackdown 3 on the Microsoft Store
CrossCode
CrossCode is a single player MMORPG that plays like an old school 2D action RPG. It does not have any multiplayer, but the setting of the game is an MMORPG. Confused yet? Just try it for yourself.
CrossCode on the Microsoft Store
Dead Cells
Dead Cells is one of a few great metroidvanias on PC Game Pass, and its artstyle makes it one of the more unique-looking games on the service. It also has roguelike elements, if you’re into that (like most gamers seem to be nowadays). If you like metroidvanias, Dead Cells is one of four games you should download through PC Game Pass (with the other three listed further down on this list).
Dead Cells on the Microsoft Store
Football Manager 2019
Football Manager 2019 is the latest version of one of the most popular simulation games of all time (at least until the 2020 version comes out later this month on the 19th). I personally do not expect the 2020 version to make it to PC Game Pass, at least not right away, so take advantage of these few weeks where it’s the newest version. If you’ve ever wanted to manage your own (association) football team, this is the game for you.
Football Manager 2019 on the Microsoft Store
Forza Horizon 4
Forza Horizon 4 is the fourth installment of the open world spinoff of the acclaimed Forza Motorsport series. Sure, you can get a luxury car and push it to the limits in road races, but you can also spend all your time doing offroad jumps in a vintage Mini Cooper. Forza Horizon 4 looks gorgeous and controls very well, and it’s a great way to just space out and take in the sights.
Forza Horizon 4 on the Microsoft Store
Gears 5
Gears 5 is the newest installment in the Gears of War franchise, and it’s taken a few steps beyond the typical Gears formula. It has a great single player campaign with a well-written story, and it has several multiplayer modes you can play for hours and hours (and hours). If you’re looking for a new multiplayer shooter to wind down with after work, Gears 5 is the game for you.
Gears 5 on the Microsoft Store
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is probably the boldest offering on this list. Meticulously crafted by Ninja Theory to be an accurate representation of both psychosis and historical Celtic culture, this game is willing to take on topics that are usually considered to be too serious for video games. Although it’s sometimes referred to as a glorified walking simulator, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is a beautiful and haunting game (I know, I know, but it’s true) that you owe to yourself to at least try.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice on the Microsoft Store
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight is another great metroidvania available through PC Game Pass, and many consider it to be the best indie game of recent times. A lot of people complain about the map mechanism (you have to find a certain NPC before getting a map of each area), but it fits in very well with the game and is by no means a dealbreaker. If you want to see just how far a committed team of a few indie developers can get, Hollow Knight is just about the pinnacle.
Hollow Knight on the Microsoft Store
Into the Breach
If you like strategy games, you know that they can be too time-consuming for shorter gaming sessions. Into the Breach solves this problem by shrinking down enormous military conflicts into smaller, bite-sized battles. If you want a game like Advance Wars with breezy levels you can complete in a few minutes, give Into the Breach a try.
Into the Breach on the Microsoft Store
Metro Exodus
Metro Exodus is the long-awaited latest entry in the beloved Metro series of post-apocalyptic survival and exploration. It was one of the first casualties in the anti-competitive war between Epic Games and consumers, and a lot of people were upset when they realized they couldn’t play it on Steam. Well, it’s still not on Steam yet, but you can play it through the Microsoft Store without supporting Epic. The game itself survives the transition to a large open world very well, and it’s a gaming experience like few others.
Metro Exodus on the Microsoft Store
Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Although the Lord of the Rings books came out over 60 years ago (and even the movies are over 15 years old at this point), Middle Earth is still one of the most beloved fantasy worlds out there. Shadow of War is one of the best LOTR games out there, with it’s Nemesis system representing its biggest contribution to gaming. If you want to play through a game where a random orc can eventually become a formidable enemy, Shadow of War is the game for you.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War on the Microsoft Store
Minit
Minit had the second-smallest production team on this list, but it’s well worth playing. If you like the time cycle-based gameplay of The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask and The Outer Wilds (not to be confused with The Outer Worlds, which is lower down on this list), Minit will be right up your alley, as it is a roguelite where each life lasts just 60 seconds. If you want an antidote to enormous open world games where you don’t have any guidance, Minit is your game.
Moonlighter
Moonlighter, like CrossCode, is a 2D action RPG that will feel familiar to fans of old school games, and classic Zelda games in particular. However, instead of being an adventurer off to save the world, you play a shopkeeper who needs to venture out on their own to keep their shop stocked. If you like games that mix traditional combat and tycoon/simulation mechanics, go ahead and download Moonlighter.
Moonlighter on the Microsoft Store
My Time at Portia
If you mixed Minecraft together with Harvest Moon/Stardew Valley, you’d get My Time at Portia (as well as Dragon Quest Builders 1 and 2, but PC gamers will just have to keep sitting on our hands for those gems). In My Time at Portia, you play a “builder” who has to help a small village get back on its feet after the apocalypse. The building is not as freeform as Minecraft and there’s no farming, but My Time at Portia is a great game for fans of town simulations. Unfortunately, it’s not very well optimized for PC, so I recommend turning the graphics all the way down, even if you have a solid rig.
My Time at Portia on the Microsoft Store
Ori and the Blind Forest
Ori and the Blind Forest is the third of four great metroidvanias on this list, and it’s my personal favorite. Ori looks gorgeous and has a story that will tug at your heartstrings, but more importantly, it also controls like a dream. If you want a beautiful roguelike with challenging platforming but simplified combat (so that you can truly focus on the platforming), Ori is an absolute must-play.
Ori and the Blind Forest on the Microsoft Store
Prey
A 2017 reboot of the old series, Prey is the most underrated game ever published by Bethesda. It’s a survival horror FPS, but it has environments that look better than most survival horror games and it gives the player more freedom than most FPSes. Prey is an excellent game for anyone who likes the idea of creepy, isolated exploration in a game that respects your gameplay choices.
RiME
RiME is a gorgeous adventure puzzle game, and ever since the glory days of games like Myst, that has been a sorely under-served market. RiME gives you a beautiful, seemingly abandoned island to explore and then lets you do your thing. The game is excellent at letting you wander around on your own while giving you just enough guidance so that you don’t feel lost. If you want a game that looks something like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker but that only asks you to solve puzzles, give Prey a try.
Sea of Thieves
Sea of Thieves is like if RiME was in an ocean filled with islands instead of a single island, and if that ocean was filled with several other players who might or might not play nice. Microsoft and Rare caught a lot of flack for the barebones state of the game at release, but at this point Sea of Thieves is packed with both great emergent PVP gameplay and excellent single player narratives. Sea of Thieves does not have waypoints, so you have to rely on maps and compasses, and sailing does not involve a single button but instead requires you to control your anchor, your sail length/angle, and your steering wheel. Play Sea of Thieves If you want an amazing-looking game that trusts you in a way that few games do nowadays.
Sea of Thieves on the Microsoft Store
Shenmue I & II
The first two Shenmue games were so influential that the excitement for the upcoming Shenmue III is nearing a fever pitch despite the fact that it’s been over 15 years since the first game came out. If you need to catch up before the third release comes out, this two-in-one package is for you. Shenmue I & II laid the groundwork for a lot of mechanics that are standard in large RPGs nowadays, and they still hold up to this day.
Shenmue I & II on the Microsoft Store
Slay the Spire
Slay the Spire is a roguelike deck-building game. That combination should be enough to tell you whether it’s worth playing, especially since PC Game Pass subscribers can essentially play it for free. On top of the inherent replayability of roguelike games like this, you can also get even more bang for your buck with mods once you start getting too familiar with the base game.
Slay the Spire on the Microsoft Store
Snake Pass
Snake Pass is an extremely modern-looking game that takes you back to the good old days of gaming as a kid, when just watching a cartoonish character move in response to your inputs seemed like magic. Snake Pass is a 3D platformer where you cannot jump, sprint, or do other things typical of 3D platformers. Instead, because you are a snake, you slither. You can climb up small slopes, but the real fun is when you start anchoring yourself by wrapping around a post and then throwing yourself toward your intended destination. Snake Pass is a great game for anyone who wants a 3D platformer where every objective is a puzzle.
Snake Pass on the Microsoft Store
State of Decay 2
State of Decay 2 is one of the games on this list that I’ve played the most. In it, you control a small group of survivors (three to begin, with the ability to recruit more almost immediately) trying to thrive during a zombie apocalypse. Sure, there’s Left 4 Dead-like combat pitting you against normal zombies and a number of tougher zombies, but there’s also an entire management and survival aspect. One day, you might go out to clear out a zombie infestation, while another you might try to find a portable generator so that you can set up a video game tournament. State of Decay 2 is an extremely underrated RPG, and I would love for more people to give it a shot.
State of Decay 2 on the Microsoft Store
Sunset Overdrive
Sunset Overdrive was Insomniac’s gift to the Xbox One, and people who can’t play the newest Spider-Man game because they don’t have a PS4 can get the next best thing in Sunset Overdrive. Featuring an extremely colorful world filled with extremely colorful characters (with a wide variety of personalities and backgrounds), Sunset Overdrive also plays similarly to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Jet Set Radio because of its grinding and movement mechanics. If you want an action-adventure that plays something like a sports game or a superhero simulator, check out Sunset Overdrive.
Sunset Overdrive on the Microsoft Store
Super Lucky’s Tale
People used to make fun of Xbox One owners for having Super Lucky’s Tale among a limited number of exclusives, but it’s a fun game for anyone looking for a modern 3D mascot platformer. Along with the 3D overworld and levels, there are also a number of 2D sidescrolling areas to switch it up. If you’ve already played through the Crash and Spyro remakes, Super Lucky’s Tale is probably the next-best thing.
Super Lucky’s Tale on the Microsoft Store
SUPERHOT
SUPERHOT is an FPS for people who get stressed out by non-turn-based combat. In SUPERHOT, time only moves when you do (well, it moves almost imperceptibly slow when you stand still, but you get the idea), so you can fulfill your Matrix-inspired dreams of dodging bullets with ease while also landing perfect headshots. I remember being enamored by the original tech demo of this game, and the developers have done a good job of building it out to a full release with an interesting plot.
SUPERHOT on the Microsoft Store
The Bard’s Tale Trilogy/The Bard’s Tale IV
The Bard’s Tale Trilogy is a remaster of the three original The Bard’s Tale RPGs from the 1980s. If you want to go back to the days of extremely old school RPGs, The Bard’s Tale Trilogy retains all the original charm in an updated package. Meanwhile, The Bard’s Tale IV originally came out just last year, and inXile took the original game mechanics and transplanted them into a game that takes full advantage of modern graphical capabilities. The Bard’s Tale Trilogy and The Bard’s Tale IV are a great way for any RPG fan to lose hours and hours of their lives.
The Bard’s Tale Trilogy on the Microsoft Store
The Bard’s Tale IV on the Microsoft Store
The Outer Worlds
Speaking of RPGs that will take over your life, The Outer Worlds is the newest game on this list, and it might just be Obsidian’s finest release yet. I’ve previously written about The Outer Worlds’ excellent writing and representation, but it also has fun combat that gives you a lot of freedom. If you want to spend all your time talking to people, you can. If you want to grenade launcher everyone to smithereens, you can. The Outer Worlds is not as big as games like Skyrim, but nearly every square foot of the world feels like it is truly alive.
The Outer Worlds on the Microsoft Store
Torment: Tides of Numenera
If you’d rather play an isometric RPG than something like The Bard’s Tale, inXile has you covered on that end too with Torment: Tides of Numenera. A spiritual successor to Planescape: Torment, which is considered by many to be one of the greatest CRPGs of all time, Torment: Tides of Numenera will be right up any CRPG fan’s alley. Like any game like this, be prepared to get lost in all sorts of text.
Torment: Tides of Numenera on the Microsoft Store
Tyranny
I admit it, inXile and Obsidian are taking over this list, but that’s only because they’re masters of the RPG craft. Tyranny is an isometric RPG from Obsidian, but unlike in most of its peers, you’ll be playing as a trusted member of the ranks of an evil overlord who has just taken over the world. If you’re bummed about Pillars of Eternity 1 and 2 not being on this list, download Tyranny, since it’s as close as you can get (considering it’s made by Obsidian as well).
Tyranny on the Microsoft Store
Undertale
Undertale is undoubtedly one of the biggest indie hits ever. Made entirely by one man driven by his love of Earthbound and similar games, it endures as a cultural phenomenon to this day. If you want to play a charming game that appears old school at first brush but that has a unique combat system and offers a lot of player choice, give Undertale a try if you haven’t checked it out yet.
Undertale on the Microsoft Store
Void Bastards
Void Bastards is what you’d get if you mixed BioShock/System Shock 2 with a space simulation game. It is a roguelite (as opposed to a roguelike, since you carry some things over from run to run) that has you boarding procedurely-generated ships throughout its 12-15 hours campaign, Void Bastards sets itself apart by letting you pick your own strategy in how you approach each ship. On top of all that, it has a great comic book style that evokes nostalgia for the glory days of early FPSes.
Void Bastards on the Microsoft Store
Wargroove
If you want a true return to the days of Advance Wars (as opposed to the streamlined version in Into the Breach), Wargroove is a home run. I bought it on Steam right when it came out, and I am glad that PC Game Pass subscribers can give it a try now without having to pay anything extra. It might even be too similar to the original Advance Wars games, but long-suffering fans waiting for a return of the series probably do not mind.
Wargroove on the Microsoft Store
Wasteland 2
Okay, okay, I promise this is the last inXile game and isometric RPG on this list. 2014’s Wasteland 2 is the late but triumphant successor to 1988’s Wasteland, the game that inspired the original Fallout series. Tactical, turn-based isometric RPGs aren’t as popular as they once were, but with this game and it’s sequel (Wasteland 3, slotted for release next year), inXile is keeping the genre alive with style.
Wasteland 2 on the Microsoft Store
We Happy Few
We Happy Few is a stylized take on an alternate-timeline, dystopic version of 1960s England that takes clear inspiration from stories like 1984 and Brave New World. Like The Outer Worlds, it involves a game world that is made up of “safe”, “civilized” areas and more wild areas that have been abandoned, making for an excellent environmental adventure. The gameplay could be better or more original, but it’s worth a play considering subscribers can play it without paying anything extra.
We Happy Few on the Microsoft Store
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Like DOOM (2016), the modern Wolfenstein games are refreshingly simple FPSes that do not attempt to be anything more. The continued relevance of the Wolfenstein series is especially welcome in our current world, where people seem to believe it is okay to publicly express Nazi views. Anyways, this game was a slight disappointment compared to the first entry in the reboot series, but it’s still a great game for PC Game Pass subscribers looking for the feel of the classic FPSes of old.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus on the Microsoft Store
Worms W.M.D.
Worms W.M.D. is a mostly successful attempt to spruce up Worms Armageddon, which is an absolute gaming classic. It has its own artstyle, but it is not an attempt to completely shake up the series in the way the 3D games did. If you have enjoyed any Worms game in the past, take advantage of this opportunity to play the latest release without having to pay extra.
Worms W.M.D. on the Microsoft Store
Yoku’s Island Express
The fourth metroidvania on this list is Yoku’s Island Express, and it might be the most unique. While it mostly follows the metroidvania formula of non-linear, ability-restricted exploration, it keeps things fresh with pinball mechanics. This change alone makes Yoku’s Island Express a game worth playing for metroidvania fans, especially if you are starting to get burned out on the conventional metroidvania gameplay mechanics.
Yoku’s Island Express on the Microsoft Store
Zoo Tycoon
Finally, Zoo Tycoon is an extremely modern re-imagining of the classic tycoon game from 2001 that does not mess up the formula while adding a number of new features. The biggest difference from the original games is that, on top of the top-down view, you can also “zoom in” to a third-person view to get a closer look at your zoo. You can also drive around in a little car, it’s great. Anyways, Zoo Tycoon is a rock solid tycoon game with a variety of gameplay styles as well as freeform building that does not snap to a grid.
Zoo Tycoon on the Microsoft Store
That’s it! I hope one or a dozen of these nearly 50 PC Game Pass games looks good to you. When you lay it out like this, it’s clear how great of a deal PC Game Pass is no matter what types of games you like the most. Happy playing!
