10 great Game Pass games for your Xbox

25.12.2023 - 14:55 / theverge.com / Tom Warren

By Tom Warren, a senior editor covering Microsoft, PC gaming, console, and tech. He founded WinRumors, a site dedicated to Microsoft news, before joining The Verge in 2012.

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Xbox Game Pass might have had a rather slow 2022, but its value has really paid off in 2023. There are more than 400 games to choose from, and I’ve honestly struggled to pick just 10 to recommend this year. For a monthly subscription fee of between $10.99 and $16.99, you get to play a wide range of games like Starfield, Sea of Stars, Tunic, and Inside.

If you’ve just got an Xbox, here’s a list of 10 great Xbox Game Pass games that are well worth your time over the holidays.

This cloud-based service lets you play many Game Pass games through Wi-Fi or LTE / 5G. Get the first month for $1 and then $16.99 per month thereafter.

Pentiment is a manuscript murder mystery set in the 16th century. In Pentiment, you play as Andreas Maler, a painter working on illustrated manuscripts in an abbey in Bavaria. The game plays out like a visual novel, where you’ll make decisions throughout that have a big impact on everyone around you. Once you’ve made those decisions, you’ll have to live with the consequences.

I love to slouch into my sofa and pressure wash away my day by stripping dirt from vehicles and pavements. There’s something very satisfying about blasting away grime without having to physically leave your living room and do the hard work of cleaning. If you’re a clean freak, then you’ll love this one even more than I do.

Tunic is a Zelda-style adventure that looks like it might be an easy ride thanks to the cute little fox, but the enemies are as challenging as anything you’d find in a Dark Souls game. The level design is gorgeous and there are beautiful animations throughout. As you’re drooling over how pretty Tunic is, the combat and mechanics will keep your interest for hours. Just make sure you consult the in-game manual to help you get around and understand how to get the most out of Tunic.

Starfield, the new space RPG from Skyrim maker Bethesda Game Studios, finally arrived this year and the best part is that it’s on Xbox Game Pass. Starfield is reminiscent of games like Fallout and Skyrim, as it’s huge and full of adventure and discovery. Be warned, though, you’ll need to put a good 10 hours into Starfield before it really gets going, and Bethesda is still working on improving Starfield’s systems — including city maps, official mod support, and new ways to travel around.

Inside is a platform game that starts in a grim and gray forest, which sets the stage for an unsettling and constantly changing landscape. You control a boy trying to