Xbox Game Pass: 10 Must-Play Titles Included in Your Subscription

With approximately 25 million subscribers around the world, Xbox Game Pass has established itself as one of the most popular services in the gaming world today.

With a total of 522 games on the service, however, it can be overwhelming to pick out games that you want to play and that's where we come in.

Below we have listed 10 games found via your Xbox Game Pass subscription that you should try if you haven't already. We have strived to avoid first-party titles in this list, wanting to shine a light on titles that aren't directly from Xbox themselves.

#10 - Subnautica / Below Zero (Console & PC)

Starting us off we have a pair of games that have gained worldwide renown but might have slipped under the radar when it came to actually playing it and that's Subnautica and its sequel Below Zero.

One of the greatest survival games of all time, Subnautica lets you explore an alien water world with a variety of tools as you try to stay alive while fighting the horrors of the deep.

#9 - Marvel's Guardians of The Galaxy (Console & PC)

Marvel's foray into video games has been a mixed-but-successful venture for the comic book goliath, with the Spider-Man and Avengers games both being pretty successful even if the latter had its controversies at launch.

It was precisely that Avengers launch which led to another major game, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, slipping under the radar for many which is a shame.

A story-driven AAA action/adventure title that sees you play as Star Lord dishing out commands to the other members of the team, Guardians of the Galaxy goes above and beyond its silver screen counterpart to produce an entertaining, funny and heartwarming story that any Marvel fan would be a fool to miss.

#8 - Dragon Quest XI (Console & PC)

Considered to be one of the greatest JRPGs of all time, Dragon Quest XI has gained worldwide fame for being a fantastic introduction to both the franchise and the genre as a whole for gamers who have yet to try one out for themselves.

The franchise was a huge get for Xbox Game Pass, bringing some much-needed Eastern gaming representation to the platform, something which Microsoft hadn't been known for in the past.

With many hours of content to explore, it's the perfect game for someone looking for a game to really dive into and lose themselves.

#7 - Death Stranding (PC)

Hideo Kojima's 2019 title Death Stranding is one of the more controversial AAA titles to be released in recent years, with many gamers writing it off as nothing more than a "Walking Simulator".

This is honestly a disservice to what is one of the more interesting and unique AAA titles in over a decade, one that truly shakes up the formula we've become so familiar with while interweaving the classic brand of Mysterious and insane storytelling we expect from Kojima.

The only downsides to its inclusion are that it's PC only and the base version of the game instead of the Director's Cut.

#6 - Mass Effect: Legendary Edition (Console PC)

Listen. While there aren't many people left on the planet who haven't experienced the storytelling masterclass that is the Mass Effect Trilogy, getting access to the games with quality of life improvements and a new modern coat of paint is certainly a thumbs up in our books.

With three games worth of content included under one price as a part of your subscription thanks to EA Play, now is the perfect time to either return or make your first visit to The Citadel.

#5 - Disney Dreamlight Valley (Console & PC)

We've now entered the part of the list where we discuss newer releases that we recommend to you and what better game to start off with than Disney Dreamlight Valley?

Part life-sim and part adventure, Disney Dreamlight Valley is perfect for the Xbox Game Pass Subscriber who is a fan of Disney or has kids/family members who love it instead.

An ideal game for families.

#4 - Slime Rancher 2 (Console & PC)

On a similar note to our last game, the newly released Slime Rancher 2 is the perfect game for an Xbox Game Pass Subscriber looking for something chill, colourful and fun to play to kill some time.

As the name suggests, the game has you creating a ranch consisting of a variety of colourful and cute slime creatures, combining them to make even more combos and cross-breeds.

One of the most wholesome games on the service today, we can't recommend it enough.

#3 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (Console & PC)

If you want an experience for you and your friends to play and kill some time with, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is the game for you, letting four players take control of the turtles in this retro-esc beat 'em up that you can fly through in no time.

#2 - Metal: Hellsinger (Console & PC)

Do you like heavy metal? Do you like Doom? If your answer to those was yes, we have the game for you.

Metal: Hellsinger is a new indie title that took the gaming scene by storm, letting you shoot your way through hordes of demons to the beat of a killer line-up of metal songs made by some of the largest names in the genre.

#1 - Yakuza 0 (Console & PC)

Finally, we have what is an undisputed must-play for Xbox Game Pass subscribers in Yakuza 0.

The prequel game to the popular Yakuza series of games, all of which are on Game Pass and highly recommended along with this game, Yakuza 0 is the perfect game to start with, giving us an introduction to series protagonist Kiryu in a masterfully crafted story about crime, betrayal and action.

Add to that a massive amount of hilarious side-quests and activities, and Yakuza 0 has about everything any gamer could want. A masterpiece.