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Raptor Blaster
Exoprimal
Stolen Words
The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales
Sleep Scrolling
Hypnospace Outlaw
Pigment Pilgrim
Chicory: A Colorful Tale
Xbox Game Pass is one of the few subscription services I hold on to, even when I’m cutting back. For active gamers, the $17-a-month service from Microsoft is worth it, since you can download over 100 games in a regularly refreshed library.
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 $11 a month. Ditched your console? There’s a PC-only plan for $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 have 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 Capcom
Raptor Blaster
Exoprimal
Exoprimal is a very WIRED game. Apocalyptic AI overlords? Check. Sleek, robotic exoskeletons? Yup. Hoards of deadly dinosaurs? Why not! In the latest from Capcom, you work with teammates to shoot scaly beasts in combat simulations, and sometimes even enemy players. The narrative is dumb fun, and the combat feels decent. “Your new assignment is the perpetual wargame,” says the rogue AI. All right, maybe the simulation isn’t that far from reality.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
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Courtesy of Do My Best
Stolen Words
The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales
In an alternate universe, the City Writers’ Police Department is punishing you for literary crimes. Facing eviction from your apartment, a mysterious phone call offers to help you evade punishment—if you can help them out. Time to venture inside books and steal stuff! The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales is a point-and-click adventure game with enjoyable puzzles. While it’s available for consoles, players are likely to prefer the experience on PC.
Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
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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.
