Our Picks for the Top Games on Xbox Game Pass for PC
Looking to try your hand at some new Xbox games? Don’t have the cash to purchase each game individually? Don’t have enough space on your hard drive to store every game? Well, you’re definitely not alone. Ever since Microsoft launched their video game subscription service, Xbox Game Pass, on June 1st, 2017 it’s become massively popular. Popular enough, in fact, to be able to justify an entirely new service dedicated to PC! Xbox Game Pass for PC is essentially the same service, but it offers some different games. Most games are available on both systems, however there are titles that are available exclusively on one service. With well over 100 games to choose from, it’s hard to pick the best of the best, but I did my best to do it for you. Let’s talk about our picks for the top games on Xbox Game Pass for PC!
10. No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky, the science fiction explorer survival game in a procedurally generated universe. Once the disappointment of the century in 2016, now praised for its massive comeback. No Man’s Sky developer, Hello Games, turned the game around with massive updates over the last couple of years improving the state of the game. It won the most anticipated game at The Game Awards before release and actually ended up winning Best Ongoing Game at The Game Awards in 2020! It’s free on Game Pass for PC right now!
9. Middle Earth: Shadow of War
If you’re a fan of the Lord of the Rings series, you’ll love Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, the sequel to Monolith Production’s 2014 hit, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor. The game follows a ranger of the Black Gate of Mordor known as Talion after he is entangled with the wraith of the Elf Lord Celebrimbor. It’s got great combat and a brand new “Nemesis System” that elevates the replayability tenfold. If you’re into the lore of Middle-Earth and want to dive even further into the world, definitely take Middle-Earth: Shadow of War for a spin on Game Pass for PC!
8. ScourgeBringer
A pretty severely underrated title, ScourgeBringer brings engaging and fast-paced gameplay to more of a platformer setting. Think Binding of Isaac meets Celeste. The design style of the game is truly incredible, as is the gameplay and music. There’s also an extensive skill tree that lets you unlock abilities such as “Lightning Travel” which allows you to fast travel to any visited room from the map.
7. Celeste
Celeste is a fan-favorite platformer developed by Matt Makes Games. Released in 2018, Celeste is the winner of several awards including the Audience Award at the Independent Games Festival in 2018, the Games for Impact at the Game Awards 2018, and so many more all the way through 2019. If you’re a fan of ethereal aesthetics and platformers, Celeste is definitely a must-try on Game Pass for PC.
6. Gears of War
A staple of the Xbox exclusives, Gears of War has been a classic since its conception. The third-person action shooter developed by Microsoft Studios is filled with guts, gore, and guns (some with chainsaws too!) If you’ve been thinking about getting into the Gears of War series, this is probably the best bang for your buck that you can get as the entire GoW series is a part of Game Pass for PC!
5. Doom Eternal
Coming in at #5 we’ve got Doom Eternal. The sequel to id Software’s 2016 hit remake Doom was a demon-smashing success and is widely regarded as one of the top games of 2020! It’s great for speed runners as well as casual fans who just want to mindlessly kick some demon ass after work. Definitely a great title to be included for free with Game Pass for PC.
4. Sea of Thieves
Another first party Microsoft title, Sea of Thieves was one of the first games to be included in the Xbox Game Pass before Game Pass for PC was announced. It supported cross-platform play between players on Xbox consoles as well as players on PC, so it was a no-brainer that when it came time to announce the service for PC that Sea of Thieves would be included on the list. If you like loot and traversing the sea with your scurvy-ridden friends, this one’s definitely for you.
3. Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight is a more recent addition to the game streaming service and it’s one of the most popular platformers of all time. Hollow Knight has a very unique art style that reminds me of Ori and the Blind Forest and it’s very smooth. Developed and published by Team Cherry in 2017, Hollow Knight has quickly become a classic in the world of platformers. With its sequel Hollow Knight: Silksong in development, it’s a perfect time to get your hands on Hollow Knight!
2. Halo: The Master Chief Collection
One of the most popular video game franchises of all time, the entire Halo: Master Chief Collection which includes: Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, and Halo 4 is available on Xbox Game Pass for PC! The Halo franchise is beloved by so many and the fact that Microsoft made it available for free to subscribers of Game Pass is a really solid move. Especially with Halo: Infinite set to release (hopefully) in Spring 2021 and launching on Game Pass for both PC and console, it’s a great deal!
1. Among Us
Developed by Innersloth, Among Us is by far one of the most popular games of 2020 and it’s available for free on Game Pass for PC! This is one of the most recent additions to the game streaming service and its arrival also marks the official release for the game on Xbox. Among Us supports full cross-platform play between mobile (Android or iOS), PC, Nintendo Switch, and now Xbox!
That ends our list of the top games available now on Xbox Game Pass for PC! What do you think? Do you agree with us? What other games would you have liked to see on here? Let us know in the comments and on social media!