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.