Xbox Game Pass may have had a pretty slow 2022, but its value really paid off in 2023. There are over 400 games to choose from, and honestly, I've had a hard time choosing just 10 to recommend this year. For a monthly subscription fee of between $10.99 and $16.99, you can play a wide range of games such as star field, sea of stars, Sayoand Inside.
If you just got an Xbox, here's a list of 10 great Xbox Game Pass games that are well worth your time over the holidays.
$17
This cloud-based service lets you play many Game Pass games over Wi-Fi or LTE/5G. Get the first month for $1 and then $16.99 per month thereafter.
Repentance is a handwritten murder mystery set in the 16th century. In repentance, You play as Andreas Maler, a painter working on illustrated manuscripts in a Bavarian abbey. The game plays out like a visual novel, in which you will make decisions that will have a huge impact on everyone around you. Once you've made those decisions, you'll have to live with the consequences.
I love lying on my couch and power washing my day removing dirt from vehicles and sidewalks. There is something very satisfying about removing dirt without having to physically leave the living room and do the hard work of cleaning. If you're a clean freak, you'll love this one even more than I did.
Sayo it's a Zelda-Adventure style that seems easy thanks to the friendly little fox, but the enemies are as challenging as anything you can find in a Dark souls game. The level design is gorgeous and there are beautiful animations throughout. While you're drooling over how pretty Sayo That is to say, the combat and mechanics will keep your interest for hours. Just be sure to check out the game manual to help you get around and understand how to get the most out of Sayo.
star fieldthe new space role-playing game Skyrim Manufacturer Bethesda Game Studios finally arrived this year and the best part is that it's on Xbox Game Pass. star field reminds of games like Fall and Skyrim, since it is huge and full of adventures and discoveries. However, keep in mind that you will need to dedicate a good 10 hours star field before it actually starts, and Bethesda is still working to improve star field's, including city maps, support for official mods, and new ways to travel.
Inside is a platformer that begins in a gloomy, gray forest, setting the stage for a haunting and ever-changing landscape. You control a boy trying to escape a violent world that is full of shocking plot twists. Inside It's only a few hours long, but if you're a fan of 2D puzzle games, you should play it.
Cocoon is a minimalist puzzle game where you transport orbs to various devices. These orbs grant special abilities and include entire worlds, presenting simple yet complex gameplay. You have to play it to understand it and it's well worth five or six hours of your time.
Juan is a climbing game from the developers behind the Life is strange series. You start at the base of a huge tower, climb up and maneuver through obstacles. It's full of incredible views as you climb, but I wish the game wasn't told through large amounts of text that really make you hit the jump button. Still, it's worth moving forward with all that dialogue for this solid addition to the Xbox Game Pass library.
In Lies of P You play as Pinocchio, a silent protagonist who takes you through a Soulslike world where you have to adapt your weapons to face the many enemies of Krat City. There is a weapon creation system that allows you to mix and match weapons to create your ideal build. Lies of P It also features a lie system, meaning that the decisions you make throughout the game can lead you to three different endings. If you are a fan of combat in transmitted by blood so Lies of P It will feel familiar and does a good job of standing out in the Soulslike genre.
Hifi fever released as a shadow earlier this year, directly on Xbox Game Pass. Tango Gameworks, the developers behind The evil within series and Ghostwire: Tokyo, they have created a stylish and elegant rhythm fighting game. You're rewarded for scoring hits to the in-game music, which really makes you feel like you're playing live music. The game is also full of pop culture references, all in a colorful visual style with 2D animated scenes.
I grew up playing SNES RPGs, so sea of stars I wanted to go back to the 90s and enjoy 16-bit video games. The beautiful pixel art really shines in the game's dungeons and I often find myself just admiring this retro RPG. The story takes a while to get going, but there's a great soundtrack and an excellent battle system that makes up for the rather generic narrative.
