Xbox Games Pass: the best games from 2024

Although it wasn’t the strongest year for Xbox exclusive games (and some of those exclusives had their problems), Game Pass was always an extremely good deal for console owners. Most of all, it is the variety; the subscription service continues to offer a great mix of blockbuster new releases, along with smaller indie games and older titles to round out the package. This year he had everything from Call of dutyThe big Game Pass release party to a stop-motion adventure game to an expansion to one of the biggest RPGs of the past year.

Here are nine great games to check out if you’re a new subscriber or just looking for something new to play.

Now that Activision Blizzard is under the Microsoft umbrella, the publisher’s biggest franchise is part of Game Pass. And Black Ops 6 is the first new version to debut on the subscription service. That includes all the different modes of the game: the cinematic campaign for one player, and the multiplayer outings like Zombies.

Amazon’s live action Fall out shows had apparently everyone thinking about a return to the desert, and Game Pass is a great way to jump in, since it has every game in the series from Fallout 3 on There is a lot to choose from – but I advise you New Vegas. Not only does Sin City offer a great place for a Fall out game, but will also be a big part of the show’s upcoming second season.

If you’re looking for something a little more relaxed, Harold Halibut it might just be the thing. A fairly traditional adventure game, Harold Halibut stands out with a slow and steady pace, a fascinating world of sci-fi, a dry but charming sense of humor, and stunning visuals with real stop-motion animation. It’s the kind of game where you really want to slow down anyway, to soak in all the little details.

One of the best puzzle games of recent years is now on Game Pass. Humanity It seems a little strange at first, as you control an ethereal Shiba Inu to lead packs of mindless humans through increasingly complex mazes. But once you get used to the way things work, Humanity offers some of the most satisfying brain teasers you can find. Plus, the ghost dog sure is cute.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Reception has been mixed on this one, but it’s worth checking out. The Great Circle combines elements of adventure games and immersive sims, with the cool style of Indiana Jones. That makes something of an acquired taste, but if it’s just like that yours taste, well, the taste is delicious.

In a big year for roguelike action games, Nine Suns it still manages to stand out thanks to such beautiful combat that it completely makes up for a disappointing story. It’s the kind of action that really rewards patience and learning to parry, which makes it all the more satisfying when you win an encounter. As wait for it Silksong keep dragging, Nine Suns It could be just the thing to fill the gap.

If you end up somehow the sprawling fantasy RPG Metaphor: ReFantasiaLuckily, there are plenty of excellent older titles from developer Atlus to check out. And this year, Person 3 – which was originally launched on the PS2 and helped usher the series into a new era of popularity – has had an excellent remake that helps bring it in line with its more modern successors.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II

The original Hellblade it was as terrifying as it was uncomfortable – and that hasn’t changed with the sequel. Instead, the developers at Ninja Theory expanded the scale, improved the action, and somehow made the horror elements even scarier. It’s also a rare short blockbuster game, something you can complete in around 10 hours.

Starfield: Broken Space

The first major expansion for Starfield it’s a good excuse to jump back into this sci-fi universe. While I want Destroyed space it was a little weirder and leaned more into the cosmic horror side of things, it’s still unlike anything else in the main story. The expansion is also largely self-contained, so you can spend your time exploring a large planet instead of constantly jumping around the galaxy.