Best Games on Xbox Game Pass Right Now (August 2026)

• Forza Horizon 6, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Hades II are among the very best games on the service right now.
• Hollow Knight: Silksong launched day one on Game Pass in 2026 and earned near-perfect critical scores.
• The library has over 800 titles — this guide cuts through the noise with the top picks by genre.
• New games arrive twice a month. Beast of Reincarnation, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, and Sandustry are among the August 2026 additions.
• Some picks are Ultimate-only — tier availability is noted for each game.
• All games in this list are currently available. For the full library and new additions, see our Xbox Game Pass games list.

The best games on Xbox Game Pass in 2026 span everything from day-one blockbusters to quiet indie masterpieces that would cost you full price anywhere else. With over 800 titles in the library, the challenge is not finding something to play — it is knowing where to start. This guide picks the best games on Game Pass right now, organised by genre, so you can find something worth your time in under two minutes. We update this list regularly as new games are added each month.

The Best Games on Xbox Game Pass: Quick Picks

Short on time? Here are the absolute must-plays across every category right now.

Best RPGs on Xbox Game Pass

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has become a darling star of the Xbox Game Pass library. It tells a phenomenal story about a collection of desperate adventurers trying to prevent a god-like Paintress from erasing their age group. To further describe the plot would be a disservice — the narrative is the jewel of this crown. Alongside the harrowing journey are mechanics that combine turn-based gameplay with real-time elements, creating a unique system that stands out from the RPG crowd.

It has exquisite writing, wonderfully stylish and multifaceted combat, and is a blisteringly beautiful assault on the senses, with top-notch voice acting and some of the most gorgeous environments in years. It has the scope of a game built by hundreds of developers — not the small independent studio behind it. The 2025 Game of the Year winner. Do not skip it.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Premium

Avowed

Avowed is an excellent first-person fantasy RPG from Obsidian Entertainment featuring slick combat and moreish exploration. Its setting, the Living Lands, is rich in atmosphere and has an ethereal quality that rewards uncovering every corner. Obsidian’s writing is as sharp as ever, and the cast of companions is both charming and highly memorable.

If you loved The Outer Worlds or want a first-person RPG in the tradition of The Elder Scrolls but with sharper writing, Avowed is the best game on Game Pass for you right now.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Premium

Persona 5 Royal

One of the most acclaimed JRPGs ever made, Persona 5 Royal returned to Game Pass in June 2026 after leaving the service in 2023. It blends high school life simulation with a deep turn-based dungeon crawler, wrapped in one of the most distinctive visual styles in gaming. RPG enthusiasts will undoubtedly be pleased to see it back on the service. Plan for 100+ hours.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Premium

Starfield

Bethesda’s space exploration RPG launched day one on Game Pass and remains one of the most expansive games in the library. You can spend hundreds of hours exploring over 1,000 planets, building ships, and crafting your own character build. It is the definition of a Game Pass game — the kind of title you would never buy outright but will sink weeks into through a subscription.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Premium

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Still one of the most played games in the Game Pass library. Hundreds of hours of exploration, questing, and world-building in a fantasy open world that has defined a generation of RPGs. If you have never played it, Game Pass is the perfect place to start. If you have, it still holds up.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Premium

Best Action and Adventure Games on Xbox Game Pass

Hi-Fi Rush

One of the most inventive and joyful games Microsoft has released in years. Hi-Fi Rush is a rhythm-action game where every punch, dodge, and combo syncs to the beat of its excellent soundtrack. It arrived day one on Game Pass and caught the whole gaming world off guard. It is a must-play for anyone who enjoys strong storytelling, creative design, and pure fun. Bright, brilliantly designed, and unlike anything else in the library.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Premium

A Plague Tale: Requiem

A Plague Tale: Requiem is cinematic and gripping — a must-play for anyone chasing strong storytelling on Xbox. The sequel to A Plague Tale: Innocence, it follows Amicia and Hugo across a stunning and brutal medieval world overrun by rats. The narrative is devastating, the visuals are extraordinary, and the gameplay balances stealth, action, and puzzle-solving with real craft. One of the best story experiences in the entire library.

The series continues to be a Game Pass staple: Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, a prequel focusing on Sophia set 15 years before the original, arrives day one on Ultimate and PC Game Pass on August 27, 2026. If you have not played the earlier games, now is the perfect time to catch up.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Premium

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

MachineGames’ Indiana Jones game arrived day one on Game Pass and delivered exactly what the franchise deserved — a first-person adventure with real exploration, clever puzzles, and an authentic Jones feel. It is a modern hit that sits comfortably among the best first-party Game Pass releases. A great pick if you want a cinematic action adventure with a shorter runtime than a typical RPG.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Premium

Alan Wake 2

Remedy Entertainment’s sequel is one of the most visually stunning games on the service. A psychological horror-thriller that blurs the line between game and live-action cinema. It is weird, ambitious, and unlike anything else on Game Pass. If you want something genuinely original, this is it.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Sea of Thieves

The best co-op adventure game in the Game Pass library. Sea of Thieves is a shared-world pirate game with years of free content updates behind it. Sail, plunder, fish, engage in naval combat, and discover secrets with friends. It gets significantly better in a group of two to four players and has one of the most active live-service communities on Xbox.

Available on: All tiers

Best Racing Games on Xbox Game Pass

Forza Horizon 6

Forza Horizon 6 takes the festival to Japan and raises the bar once again. From neon-lit Tokyo streets to winding mountain roads, the world is bigger, denser, and more varied than ever. With over 500 cars, deep customisation, and a campaign built around discovery, there is always something pulling you forward. Multiplayer and creative tools return bigger and better, making this not just a racing game but a full sandbox for car culture.

It launched day one on Game Pass in May 2026 and is already one of the most-played games on the service. If you have any interest in racing games at all, this is the first thing you should download.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Forza Horizon 5

Set in a stunning recreation of Mexico, Forza Horizon 5 remains one of the best open-world racing games ever made. Its open world is stunning, gameplay is flawless for those who enjoy arcade racing, and the selection of cars is overwhelming. Still worth playing alongside its sequel, especially for the Mexico environment and the sheer scale of its car roster.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Premium

Forza Motorsport

The simulation counterpart to Horizon. Forza Motorsport focuses on real circuits, deep car tuning, and a career mode built around genuine motorsport progression. If Horizon is the road trip, Motorsport is the race track. Both are excellent in their own lane.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Best FPS and Shooter Games on Xbox Game Pass

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Halo: The Master Chief Collection is a trip through FPS gaming history and one of the best games on Xbox Game Pass. It bundles Halo 1 through 4 in one package, with remastered visuals for the first two entries. The campaigns alone offer dozens of hours, and the multiplayer remains remarkably active. An essential part of any Xbox Game Pass subscription.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Essential

Halo: Campaign Evolved

A full remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s campaign, built from the ground up for Xbox Series X|S and PC. Halo: Campaign Evolved arrived day one on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on July 28, 2026, giving subscribers access to one of the biggest Halo releases in years at no extra cost. If you want to experience where it all started — with modern visuals and reworked audio — this is where to begin.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Halo Infinite

The most recent mainline Halo, with an excellent open-world campaign and free-to-play multiplayer that benefits from a Game Pass subscription with monthly in-game perks. If you want to understand the Halo franchise in 2026, start with the Master Chief Collection, play Campaign Evolved for the full origin story, and work your way to Infinite.

Available on: All tiers

DOOM: The Dark Ages

The latest entry in id Software’s legendary DOOM franchise. DOOM: The Dark Ages is now available to Premium subscribers as a delayed first-party title, having launched day one on Ultimate and PC Game Pass. A brutal, fast, and visually spectacular shooter that is the best entry point for new fans and a satisfying evolution for veterans.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Premium

Gears 5

One of the best third-person shooters in the Game Pass library. Gears 5 has a genuinely impressive campaign — the best in the franchise — alongside strong co-op and competitive versus multiplayer. A great pick for cover-shooter fans who want a polished, high-production experience.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Essential

Best Indie Games on Xbox Game Pass

Hades II

Supergiant’s roguelike sequel took everything brilliant about the original and somehow made it deeper, faster, and more narratively ambitious, with Melinoe carving her way through the underworld in a campaign that rewards failure just as generously as success. The combat is razor-sharp, the voice acting is phenomenal, and the relationship system gives genuine reasons to keep dying and trying again long after you have technically finished the game. If you only play one indie on Game Pass this year, make it this one.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Hollow Knight: Silksong

The wait was long enough that it became a meme, but Team Cherry delivered something extraordinary — a Metroidvania that feels faster and more fluid than its predecessor without sacrificing any of the atmospheric world-building that made Hallownest so special.

After a massive six-year wait, the game delivered — earning a 98 OpenCritic average and a 100% recommendation rate. Hornet’s fast, acrobatic movement set through the beautifully menacing labyrinth of Pharloom makes every moment feel earned. It launched day one on Game Pass and is a landmark in Metroidvania design.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Balatro

Balatro is one of the best indie games on Game Pass and one of the most addictive games on the service full stop. This poker-inspired card game offers an in-depth roguelike campaign with eight difficulty levels, keeping you hooked for hours as you experiment with different synergies involving Jokers, Tarot cards, and Vouchers.

It is tough to explain in words how engaging Balatro can be, especially if you have never played a deckbuilder before. Fair warning: prepare yourself for losing practically all your time as you go on run after run after run.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Vampire Survivors

Vampire Survivors takes you back to the days when gameplay was the most important thing. It throws so many enemies at you that you begin to feel like you are in reverse bullet hell. A near-perfect pick-up-and-play game for short sessions or long binges. It costs almost nothing to buy outright, but playing it through Game Pass makes it one of the best value picks in the entire library.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Premium

Stardew Valley

Built by a single developer over four years, Stardew Valley is one of the best games ever made at any price. A farming and life simulation game with deep social mechanics, dungeon exploration, and an endlessly cosy atmosphere. One of the most relaxing games in the Game Pass library and an outstanding choice for non-traditional gamers.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Premium

Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight sucks you into Hallownest immediately. Platforming, combat, and exploration feel precise. Every hidden path or secret is a reward, and the challenge ramps up naturally — each death teaches you something. If you want to work up to Silksong, start here. It is one of the greatest Metroidvania games ever made and a permanent fixture in the Game Pass library.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Best Multiplayer Games on Xbox Game Pass

Minecraft

The world’s best-selling game. Minecraft on Game Pass includes Survival, Creative, and Adventure modes with full multiplayer support. An enduring classic with unlimited replayability, a massive modding community, and appeal across all ages. The single best game on Game Pass for playing with younger family members or friends who are new to gaming.

Available on: All tiers

It Takes Two

The co-op game of the decade. It Takes Two was designed from the ground up for exactly two players, and it is a masterclass in co-operative design — constantly surprising you with new mechanics, environments, and genre pivots. Winner of Game of the Year 2021, it holds up brilliantly in 2026 and is the best choice on Game Pass if you want to play something with a partner or friend.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Premium

Diablo IV

Diablo IV is one of the best games on Xbox Game Pass for dark fantasy fans, dropping you into a world dripping with gothic atmosphere. Combat is brutal and satisfying, loot drops feel amazing, and the open world has enough secrets to keep you hunting for hours. Playing with friends in online multiplayer makes every dungeon crawl feel alive. The seasonal updates keep it fresh year-round.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Gears 5

A strong co-op and competitive multiplayer experience alongside its excellent campaign. Gears 5 supports four-player co-op in its Horde mode, two-player campaign co-op, and competitive versus multiplayer. A natural pick if you have friends on Xbox looking for something to play together.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Essential

Best Horror Games on Xbox Game Pass

Dead Space (2023 Remake)

The definitive version of one of the greatest survival horror games ever made. The 2023 remake by Motive Studio rebuilt the original from scratch with modern visuals, reworked audio, and expanded storytelling. It is genuinely terrifying and one of the best-looking games in the library. If you want to be scared, this is your first stop.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass (via EA Play)

Alan Wake 2

A psychological horror experience unlike anything else on the service. Remedy Entertainment blends third-person action with live-action sequences and metafictional storytelling in a game that constantly surprises you. Some of the most inventive level design in recent memory. Best played in a dark room with headphones.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Prey (2017)

One of the most underrated games in the Game Pass library. Prey is an immersive sim set aboard a space station overrun by alien shapeshifters. It rewards exploration, experimentation, and creative problem-solving in a way very few games do. If you want something with substance that does not rely on pure jump scares, Prey is the answer.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Premium

Best Open-World Games on Xbox Game Pass

Forza Horizon 6

Already covered in the racing section, but worth a second mention here. Forza Horizon 6 is the best open-world game to hit Game Pass in May 2026. The world is stunning, gameplay is flawless for arcade racing fans, and the selection of cars is overwhelming. An open world in the truest sense — there is no wrong direction to drive.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II made its Game Pass debut in 2026 and is arguably the best reason to activate a subscription right now. Set in the Kingdom of Bohemia, this open-world masterpiece continues Henry’s story from the first game with an even bigger map and far more refined mechanics. It is among the most realistic and grounded open-world titles of all time.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Subnautica 2

Subnautica 2 has quickly become one of the most-played games on Game Pass since its Early Access arrival in May 2026. The underwater open world combines exploration, survival crafting, and a deeply atmospheric setting that stands out from the crowd. A strong choice if you want a survival game with genuine wonder baked in.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass (Early Access)

No Man’s Sky

One of gaming’s great comeback stories. No Man’s Sky launched in 2016 to harsh criticism but has been transformed by years of free updates into one of the best space exploration games available. Procedurally generated galaxies, base building, multiplayer co-op, and a proper story mode. A game you can pour hundreds of hours into at no extra cost.

Available on: Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Premium

Best Games for Beginners and Casual Players

Not every Game Pass subscriber is a veteran gamer. Here are the best picks for players who want something accessible, relaxing, or easy to pick up and put down.

• Minecraft — The ultimate beginner game. Sandbox creativity with no pressure.
• Stardew Valley — Gentle farming and exploration. No game overs, no time limits.
• Vampire Survivors — Simple controls, deeply satisfying loop. Great for short sessions.
• Herdling — A peaceful atmospheric adventure where you guide a herd of creatures up a mountain. Ideal for low-pressure play.
• Ori and the Blind Forest — A beautiful, accessible platformer with a moving story. One of the easiest Game Pass recommendations for all ages.
• Jurassic World Evolution 3 — A park management simulator with broad appeal for fans of the film franchise and management games alike.

Best Day-One Games Ever Added to Xbox Game Pass

One of the biggest selling points of Game Pass is getting major releases on launch day. Here are the best day-one launches the service has ever delivered.

• Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy (August 27, 2026) — Asobo Studio’s day-one prequel continues the franchise’s Game Pass partnership. Available on Ultimate and PC Game Pass at launch.
• Beast of Reincarnation (August 4, 2026) — Game Freak’s post-apocalyptic action RPG, included on Ultimate and PC Game Pass from day one.
• Halo: Campaign Evolved (July 28, 2026) — A full remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s campaign, day one on Game Pass.
• Forza Horizon 6 (May 2026) — The best racing game in years, free on launch day.
• Hollow Knight: Silksong (2026) — A 98 OpenCritic average. One of the highest-rated games ever to hit Game Pass on day one.
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (2025) — 2025 Game of the Year on day one.
• Hi-Fi Rush (2023) — A complete surprise launch that delighted the entire gaming community.
• Starfield (2023) — Bethesda’s massive space RPG, day one on Game Pass.
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (2025) — One of the best licensed games ever made, included at no extra cost.

How to Find More Games on Xbox Game Pass

This list covers the highlights, but the full library has over 800 titles. Here is how to explore what is available on your tier.

• Xbox app or console: Open the Game Pass tab and use genre filters to browse by category.
• Browser: Visit xbox.com/game-pass/games to filter by tier, platform, genre, and what is leaving soon.
• Our games list: See the full breakdown of new additions and departures in our Xbox Game Pass games list.

For pricing, tier comparison, and how to get started, see our complete Xbox Game Pass guide and our Xbox Game Pass price guide. For in-depth feature details on the Ultimate tier, visit our Xbox Game Pass Ultimate guide.

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