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Sleep Scrolling
Hypnospace Outlaw
Pigment Pilgrim
Chicory: A Colorful Tale
Viking Friends
Valheim
Aesthetic Alchemy
Potion Craft
Even when budgets are tight, Xbox Game Pass is one of the few services I keep around. For $15 a month, you get to choose from over 100 titles in a regularly refreshed library of options to play on console as well as PC. For active gamers, it’s a worthwhile subscription that costs less than the price of three AAA games.
The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription comes with Xbox Live Gold, access to EA Play, and cloud gaming. Just on console and not interested in online multiplayers games? Microsoft offers a cheaper tier that costs $10 a month. Ditched your console? There’s a PC-only plan that’s also $10. (PlayStation and Switch gamers should check out our guide to the top subscription services for those platforms.)
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 new indies to classic blockbusters, our genre-spanning picks for the best Game Pass games likely has something that’s perfect for your style of play.
Searching for even more great game recommendations? WIRED’s lists of the best Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S titles also include fantastic picks.
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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feel inescapable and may transform how we interact with the web, it’s both surreal and comforting to browse through an outdated, pixelated version.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.
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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.
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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 on 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.
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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 hand out mediocre concoctions often 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.
