It's finally the New Year and we're looking for another 12 months of fantastic content from Xbox and Xbox's Game Pass. It's safe to say that it remains the best service in gaming and we're not expecting that to change anytime soon - sorry PlayStation players!
Xbox Game Pass offers up a huge selection of games for you to choose from, so finding something to play is actually a lot harder than it sounds. If you're looking for the best Xbox Game Pass games going into 2022, we have a hand-picked selection for you to check out.
Be careful though, your Xbox is only going to have so much storage space! You might need to rotate a few of these out once you've given them a go.
Best Xbox Game Pass games available right now
Sports games to get competitive with...
GOLF WITH YOUR FRIENDS
If you're looking for a party game to kick back with, Golf With Your Friends is perfect! It's simple to pick up and easy to play, but that doesn't mean it isn't competitive. This crazy golf game supports up to 12 players and a total of 234 holes for you to putt on! If you're looking for a real challenge, you can also give the level editor a go and create your own courses.
WRECKFEST
Okay, so a Demolition Derby isn't exactly a traditional sporting event but Wreckfest is the ultimate, well, wreck-fest. You and your friends can race, crash, smash, and have one hell of a time with Wreckfest. Its competent driving mechanics should help you feel the weight of every crash. This is the racing game for those of you who aren't the best at racing games.
FOOTBALL MANAGER 2022
If you've played a Football Manager game before, you don't need us to tell you why you should play it. If not, Football Manager 2022 is one of the most comprehensive, complete, and detailed management sims out there right now. If you're looking for a game to get lost in and spend hours with, you can easily find that in Football Manager 2022.
Single-Player experiences to get lost in...
HADES
Supergiant Games' Hades is the first game to win a Hugo Award, so it's safe to say that it's something special. This roguelike dungeon crawler is full of fantastic narrative moments and intense action. It doesn't take long to complete, but the steep learning curve should keep you challenged for a long time.
PSYCHONAUTS 2
Double Fine's sequel to the 2005 title Psychonauts has been a long time coming and the wait was worthwhile. It was a popular nominee during the recent awards season for a good reason, Psychonauts 2 looks great and sounds great - it's a game you won't forget anytime soon.
MIDDLE EARTH: SHADOW OF WAR
Shadow of War is a fantastic exploration of Tolkien's Middle Earth that perfects everything that made Shadow of Mordor so great. WB Games' Nemesis System is unlike anything you've seen in an action-adventure game; it makes each conflict personal and you can easily lose hours exploring this small section of the Lord of the Rings universe.
Multiplayer games to play with your friends...
DEAD BY DAYLIGHT
Halloween might be over, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't check out this spooky asymmetrical survival game. Playing as a Killer is exciting and intense, but playing as a Survivor with your friends is where this game really comes to life. It's as hilarious as it is horrifying and you can easily lose hours to this one.
FALLOUT 76
Bethesda's MMO-like Fallout 76 has come a long way since its launch and you can jump into the Appalachia with your friends with Xbox Game Pass. Select your SPECIAL skills and get to work solving the mysteries of West Virginia with a Nuka Cola and your Vault Dweller buddies. It's Fallout with multiplayer, what's not to love?
WORLD WAR Z
World War Z plays a little like Back 4 Blood, but it's arguably the more refined experience of the two. It's third-person, zombie-killing chaos at its best with wonderful characters and a decent selection of weapons to keep you invested. You can survive alone, but this one is best played with friends.
HALO INFINITE (Honorable Mention)
We know Halo Infinite is technically a free-to-play Multiplayer experience, but you have to check it out if you haven't yet. It's the most refined Halo experience of recent years and we can't really fault the action-packed gameplay on offer. It's also being treated as a "live service" game, of sorts, so expect seasonal content and post-launch updates for a long time.
Hidden Gems that you should be sure to check out...
FIREWATCH
This adventure game is as mindful as it is mysterious and we can't recommend it enough. If you're looking for something to dig your teeth into on a cold winter afternoon, Firewatch is the perfect game for you.
SUPERLIMINAL
This is one of the most surreal puzzle games we've ever played and it's a fantastic exploration into optical illusions and perspective. When you're playing Superliminal, you can change the size and shape of objects by picking them up and changing your perspective of them - you have to think outside the box for this one!
WE HAPPY FEW
We Happy Few is a survival horror where happiness is holding you back - the dystopian 1960's world you're thrown into is fantastic and there's a wonderfully crafted mystery to unpick as you try to escape Wellington Wells - which is a great name for a city. This game is unusual, but that makes it interesting and the post-launch Arcade mode offers fantastic replayability.
PC Games that are best played with Keyboard and Mouse...
AGE OF EMPIRES IV
Age of Empires has been a staple of RTS players for years now and the newest entry in the series is a wonderful continuation of everything the series does well. It isn't the most exciting development, but it looks brilliant and is available on Xbox Game Pass PC alongside all the other Age of Empires titles - if you're fancying a throwback.
CRUSADER KINGS III
This is easily one of the best grand strategy games we've ever played - it's unbelievably complex and offers a fantastic level of detail that can keep you busy for hours upon end. Crusader Kings fans had to wait over eight years for a sequel and it's safe to say that the wait was worthwhile - if you want to get lost in the politics and dangers of medieval rulership, this is the game for you.
EVIL GENIUS 2 WORLD DOMINATION
Evil Genius 2 is a base-building sim game with a difference - you're not the good guys in this game and you need to do everything in your power to put together a functioning base of operations that you can use to conduct world domination. This comedic take on the villainous antics of a James Bond antagonist is a wonderful sandbox to explore if you enjoy games like Zoo Tycoon, Two Point Hospital, and Theme Park Simulator.