Across its different tiers, Xbox Game Pass has hundreds of games that members can download and play entirely for free, without any extra purchases on top of their subscription fee. The catalog is constantly undergoing changes, as new games are added while others are removed after a while. For example, Xbox Game Pass is losing 15 games on May 15, which is a normal type of behavior, considering that tons of new titles are added to the catalog.
Of course, several of the games are often incorporated into the catalogs for higher subscription tiers, like Premium, Ultimate, and PC Game Pass. Even so, the entry-level tier has tons of great games that you can check out without having to pay the higher prices demanded by the improved tiers, despite the price drop on Xbox Game Pass. It’s really a matter of choosing what fits your preferred playstyle, but there are plenty of remarkable titles to pick from.
The award-winning Celeste is one of the best options available on Xbox Game Pass. The title created by Extremely OK Games (also known as EXOK Games) won the Best Independent Game and Games for Impact awards at The Game Awards 2018, in addition to several other categories across multiple awards. The game available on Xbox Game Pass Essential is also beloved by players, boasting an 8.7 user score on Metacritic, in addition to a 92 Metascore.
Celeste is a 2D pixel art platformer in which players control Madeline, a young woman who wants to climb Celeste Mountain. During her adventure, however, Madeline will have to face another version of herself, called Badeline, who will try to impede her ascent. The indie game tackles themes of anxiety and depression in a sensible way. In terms of gameplay, the title draws inspiration from classic platformers, such as Super Mario Bros. 3 and Towerfall.
Despite the mechanical simplicity when it comes to gameplay, Celeste is considered a very challenging game, and a lot of its storytelling actually revolves around your failures as a player and as Madeline. For those who are interested in it, the game has an Assist Mode, which makes it easier. Celeste’s availability on Xbox Game Pass has been long-lasting, and there have been no signs of it being removed any time soon.
One of the biggest games on the Essential catalog for Xbox Game Pass is Control: Ultimate Edition. The definitive and final version of the third-person action-adventure shooter by Remedy Entertainment first joined the service in 2024 and has been available since. Control is one of the best games of the past decade, and its complete version on the subscription service is a great boon for members.
This is because the Ultimate Edition of Control on Xbox Game Pass contains the base game and access to the game’s two DLC packs, called Foundation and AWE. Control: Ultimate Edition has a remarkable 85 Metascore on Metacritic, and it also brings forth several enhancements for players, including updated graphics and performance that weren’t available at launch for Xbox One consoles – the Ultimate Edition is available for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
If you’re still playing on the previous generation of consoles, you won’t have access to the Ultimate Edition, but you can play the base version of Control via Xbox Game Pass Essential. For fans of narrative-heavy games filled with mysteries to be uncovered, this is an unmissable title. It’s also a great time to play it ahead of the release of Control Resonant, its sequel scheduled to arrive later in 2026.
If you’re into roguelites, there may not be a better option than Dead Cells on Xbox Game Pass. The game created by Motion Twin set ripples across the industry with its release back in 2018, pumping new blood into the genre. With an outstanding 89 Metascore on Metacritic, Dead Cells mixes rougelike gameplay with metroidvania-style maps and puts you in control of the Prisoner.
The protagonist’s goal is to escape an island on which they are being kept, but they’ll have to fight their way through enemy forces, over and over again. Though the game is, indeed, a metroidvania, it also counts on procedurally generated maps, making each run feel somewhat unique. As players progress and obtain Cells, they can unlock permanent upgrades, which they hold onto even if they die and reset progress.
This action platformer is challenging, but it comes with a great learning curve and progression pace that will keep you entertained from start to finish. As you master control over the Prisoner and their abilities, you’ll go through phases, but constantly be skill-checked with new enemies, and more. Dead Cells is also gorgeous to look at while you play, making it an unmissable title on Xbox Game Pass Essential.
Added to the subscription service back in 2020, Doom Eternal is one of the best shooters on Xbox Game Pass. Developed by id Software, the FPS is an improvement on top of Doom (2016), and brings fast-paced gunplay that pleases both fans of the classic entries in the series, as well as the newer players.
The title offers a wide range of well-designed gameplay options, remarkable enemies, and great phases to power through. For anyone looking for intense action, Doom Eternal is the way to go. The game boasts an impressive 88 Metascore on Metacritic.
The great part about it is that Doom Eternal is entirely free on Xbox Game Pass Essential. While its prequel and sequel are locked behind higher subscription tiers, you can play one of the best entries in the franchise without any extra fees.
Winner of the Best Indie and Best Action awards at The Game Awards 2020, Hades is on Xbox Game Pass via the Essential tier. Indeed, Hades is one of the many 10/10 games on Xbox Game Pass that you shouldn’t miss out on.
An action-based roguelike RPG, Hades puts you in control of Zagreus, the son of Hades, as he tries to escape the Underworld. However, with each failed attempt, Zagreus has the chance to grow stronger and learn more about the other inhabitants of the Underworld.
Hades mixes fine, challenging combat with a gorgeous art style, procedurally generated maps, and a well-written script that makes it not only replayable but also enticing to replay. The title created by Supergiant Games is one of the best available on the Essential tier.
Released in 2017, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is an unforgettable experience, and it’s free on Xbox Game Pass Essential. The game created by Ninja Theory puts you in control of Senua, a Celtic warrior fighting off a Viking invasion, as she tries to bring her dead husband back to life.
Senua is tormented by voices inside her head, which both help and disturb her adventure. With an 81 Metascore on Metacritic, Senua’s Sacrifice is one of those games that you’ll keep thinking about long after you finish, and one of the best action titles on Xbox Game Pass.
Because of the remarkable 3D audio design, it’s recommended that you play Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice on Xbox Game Pass with a headset. This will allow you to experience the voices inside Senua’s head from a unique yet eerie standpoint.
One of Hideo Kojima’s favorite games, Inside, is also available for free on Xbox Game Pass Essential. The 2016 puzzle platformer is a horror game that will haunt you through its ingenious level design.
Developed by Playdead (the creators of Limbo), Inside first arrived on Microsoft’s subscription service in 2022 and has been available since. The indie game has an outstanding 93 Metascore on Metacritic and is beloved by both critics and players alike.
If you’re looking for a unique gameplay experience that will challenge your reasoning while also making you overcome your fears, Inside is a masterpiece. If you’ll play it, I’m sure you’ll understand why it’s one of Kojima’s favorite games.
Arguably one of the absolute best metroidvanias of the past decade, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a work of art you’ll feel compelled to play. The second entry of Ori is available on Xbox Game Pass Essential.
With an impeccable art design and animation style, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is something to behold, but it doesn’t stop there. The game, with a 90 Metascore on Metacritic, also feels fantastic to play, with several gameplay options to choose from as you build Ori into the warrior you prefer.
The game is beautiful, challenging, and feels great to play, and is certainly one of my favorites from among the Essential freebies you can pick up. If you want to have a calmer experience, you can even play it in an easier mode.
If your preference is for something calmer, yet deeply emotional, there’s no better option than Spiritfarer on Xbox Game Pass. With the Farewell Edition, you’ll gain access to the base game and all of its enhancements and post-launch DLC content.
The indie game developed by Thunder Lotus Games follows Stella, a spiritfarer who will guide the spirits that board her ship into the afterlife. As you play, you’ll manage and upgrade your ship, being able to accommodate more spirits. The big thing about Spiritfarer is how you learn more about the stories and past lives of these spirits, and help them reach acceptance.
It’s considered a cozy game, even though the game is extremely emotional to the point you’ll likely need a box of tissues by your side. If you’re a fan of well-written games with human themes about death, loss, and grief, there may not be a better game on Xbox Game Pass than Spiritfarer.
There are tons of fantastic roguelike games on Xbox Game Pass Essential, like the aforementioned Dead Cells and Hades, but one that truly stands out is Vampire Survivors. With a fairly easy gameplay loop, this low-effort game will have you hooked from the very first playthrough.
Created by Poncle, this indie game became an instant hit across multiple platforms. In Vampire Survivors, you control a warrior of your choice, each of whom uses a different type of weapon to slay the undead. As you defeat more enemies, you unlock more upgrades.
Vampire Survivors is so good that it got a card-based spin-off called Vampire Crawlers, which was released on Xbox Game Pass on April 21. The game is so simple it’s somewhat hard to describe, but it’s a masterpiece in what it sets out to do. If you’re looking for a remarkable free experience on Xbox Game Pass Essential, this is the best game to choose.
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Number of Devices Concurrently
Standard subscription plan allows two accounts playing at once, with four accounts playing at once on Friends & Family plan
Highest Resolution
1440p streaming
Number of Accounts
~35 million subscribers
Compatibility
Xbox Series X|S, PC, ROG Xbox Ally, Android, iOS, Samsung & LG TVs, Meta Quest, Web Browser
Price Per Month
Essential $9.99 | Premium $14.99 | Ultimate $29.99
Price per year
12-month membership codes only available at certain retailers