Since its debut, Xbox Game Pass has evolved from a simple value proposition to a massive subscription spanning multiple tiers and containing many hundreds of games, perks, and benefits.
It can be difficult to keep up with it all, but that's where I come in. I've been managing this hub of all the latest (and upcoming) Xbox Game Pass additions and departures for years at this point, making this the only source you keep up to date with the newest Game Pass announcements. I'll also let you know if a game is a day one addition to Game Pass, is being added via the EA Play subscription included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and if it's new to specific platforms or subscription tiers with a little bit of bold text.
I'll keep it simple and let you get right to it, but we also have the complete list of every game available across every tier of Xbox Game Pass if you need something a little more thorough. Those looking for more information on Xbox Game Pass and its assorted benefits can refer to our ultimate Xbox Game Pass FAQ, which honestly contains an absurd amount of knowledge (I can't claim credit for that one, it was my colleague Jez Corden).
If you'd like to subscribe, the most affordable way is to pick up 3-months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $32.89 at CDKeys (that's a lot less than paying $20/month, and you can stack it).
Xbox Game Pass: Best new games this month
Say hi to the best recent Xbox Game Pass games. You'll rarely go wrong with the diverse selection of games on Xbox Game Pass, but there are always a handful of titles that stand above the rest — including, but not limited to, exceptional indie games, addictive multiplayer games, expansive AAA games, and Microsoft's first-party titles and projects. These are the best new games that have recently arrived on Xbox Game Pass that you shouldn't hesitate to play.
Balatro
- Available: Feb. 24 — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Standard & Ultimate)
We may not have a review of Balatro, but we know this is one of the best games of 2024 — and possibly one of the most addictive video games of all time. Balatro is an incredibly well-designed roguelike deck-building game that turns the traditional deck of cards on its head and injects countless new rules, possibilities, and surprises. Balatro is known for being extremely easy to get into, but nearly impossible to get out of.
Balatro also shadow-dropped onto Xbox Game Pass, and is apparently heading to Windows PC via the Microsoft Store soon. I hope Balatro also adds Xbox Play Anywhere support, as I'd love to be able to play the same copy on my Xbox Series X and ASUS ROG Ally X. At least we can stream Balatro through Xbox Cloud Gaming, so that's almost the same thing.
Another pleasant surprise? Balatro even dropped on Xbox Game Pass Standard, so you don't have to subscribe to the Ultimate tier in order to experience the card game that took the world by storm — enough so that it was in the running to be Game of the Year.
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
- Available: Feb. 20 — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Standard, PC, & Ultimate)
The Warhammer 40,000 franchise is vast and overwhelming to many, but one of its best games in years also serves as an excellent entry point for any curious newcomers. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is a stellar fantasy RPG with great art and narrative direction, deep gameplay systems, and an accessible layout.
In our Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader review, my colleague, Samuel Tolbert, concluded that, "Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is a fun RPG with stellar writing that truly captures the dark future of eternal war. Choices and options aplenty never detract from or feel ill-suited to the setting, and a clever layout makes this a solid entry point for any Warhammer newcomers. There are a number of bugs to be wary of, with progression issues popping up from time to time."
That recommendation came well before Rogue Trader was added to the Xbox Game Pass catalog (including the Standard tier), but we got another surprise, too. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader also added Xbox Play Anywhere support after launch, a rare sight that is nonetheless incredibly welcome. Now you can play the game across Xbox, PC, and the cloud without ever worrying about losing your progress.
Avowed
- Available: Feb. 18 — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)
The first major first-party Xbox release of 2025 is Avowed, the latest RPG from the masters at Obsidian Entertainment and a new story in the epic Pillars of Eternity universe. This fantasy RPG lets you explore The Living Lands, a vibrant and chaotic continent teeming with secrets and dangers, in either first or third-person perspective, wielding a wide array of spells and weapons as you attempt to solve the mysterious plague afflicting the island.
Avowed has been enjoying positive reception from critics and players alike, and indeed I labeled it as one of my favorite games I've played in the last year (including 2024) in my in-depth Avowed review. Obsidian was quick to caution players that Avowed isn't meant to be the studio's take on the legendary Skyrim, but Avowed nonetheless captures the same elusive magic that makes Skyrim so timeless — truly addictive and enriching exploration that effortlessly immerses you into the world.
In my Avowed review, I concluded, "Avowed takes us back to the world of Eora from Pillars of Eternity, and The Living Lands is the most eccentric, colorful, and wild adventure yet. Obsidian Entertainment has done a wonderful job capturing the "magic" of RPGs like Skyrim that makes exploring every crevice fun, and immersing yourself in this world is stupendously easy. You can still find the limits of this more focused RPG, though, and performance isn't flawless, even on Xbox Series X."
If you're looking for a new RPG adventure to occupy your time, Avowed is now available to all Xbox Game Pass subscribers.
Xbox Game Pass: Full list of new games
It can be easy to lose track of all the new games coming to Xbox Game Pass, so we've compiled the full list for your convenience. In this section of our Xbox Game Pass guide, learn what games have been released on Xbox Game Pass recently, when they became available, and what platforms on which they're available.
Feb. 25
- Watch Dogs: Legion —Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Standard, PC, & Ultimate)
Feb. 24
- Balatro — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Standard & Ultimate)
Feb. 20
- EA Sports F1 24 — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate via EA Play)
- Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Standard, PC, & Ultimate)
Feb. 18
- Avowed — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)
Feb. 13
- Kingdom Two Crowns — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Standard & Ultimate)
Xbox Game Pass: Full schedule of games coming soon
Microsoft loves to give Xbox Game Pass subscribers plenty of time to prepare for upcoming additions by announcing them early. This section of our Xbox Game Pass will help you keep track of all the games coming to Xbox Game Pass shortly, so you can decide what you want to play and whether you need to free up some space.
Mar. 18
- 33 Immortals — Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC (on day one in Xbox Game Preview)
Mar. 27
- Atomfall — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC (on day one)
Xbox Game Pass: List of games leaving soon
For the most part, more games join Xbox Game Pass than leave. However, most games do leave the service eventually, so Microsoft likes to give players a heads up if they haven't gotten around to playing that game yet. Keep an eye on this section of our Xbox Game Pass guide for games you still want to play. If you see a game you've played and loved, be sure to purchase it with your Xbox Game Pass discount so you can keep it forever.
Feb. 28
- F1 22 — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & Windows PC (via EA Play)
- GRIS — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming
- Maneater — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming
- PAW Patrol World — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming
- Space Engineers — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming
- Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming
- Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming
- Yakuza 3 Remastered — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming
- Yakuza 4 Remastered — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming
Xbox Game Pass: All known upcoming launch games
Microsoft gives us updates on games heading to Xbox Game Pass a few weeks before those games become available, usually twice a month. However, Xbox and ID@Xbox events toss aside this expectation to announce a flurry of games that are hitting Xbox Game Pass day and date, meaning they're launching into the service when they land on Xbox platforms. That means day one access to all of these games for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, including some of the best upcoming Xbox games.
Many of these games are far enough out that they don't even have a release date, and we're not certain exactly which platforms they'll come to through Xbox Game Pass. Still, this list in our Xbox Game Pass guide will give you an idea of what to look out for in the future of Xbox Game Pass. We'll constantly update this list as we get new information about release dates, when games become available, and what platforms are getting them.
The following events, as well as upcoming Xbox Game Studios games, have been added to this section:
- ID@Xbox Showcase — Feb. 2025
- Xbox Developer_Direct — Jan. 2025
- Xbox Partner Preview — Oct. 2024
- Xbox Games Showcase — June 2024
- Xbox Partner Preview — Mar. 2024
- Annapurna Interactive Showcase — June 2023
- Xbox Games Showcase — June 2023
- Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase — June 2022
- Summer Game Fest — June 2022
- Xbox @ Gamescom — Aug. 2021
- Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase — E3 2021
- ID@Xbox Games Showcase — Mar. 2021
ID@Xbox Showcase — Feb. 2025
- 33 Immortals — Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC on Mar. 18, 2025 (on day one in Xbox Game Preview)
- Descenders Next — Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC on Apr. 9, 2025 (on day one)
- Blue Prince — Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC on Apr. 10, 2025 (on day one)
- Tempopo — Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One on Apr. 17, 2025 (on day one)
- Revenge of the Savage Planet — Xbox Series X|S on May 8, 2025 (on day one)
- Tanuki Pon's Summer — Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC in Late 2025 (on day one)
- Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault — Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC in 2025 (on day one)
- Ultimate Sheep Raccoon — Xbox Series X|S in 2025 (on day one)
- Buckshot Roulette — Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC
- Echo Weaver — Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One (on day one)
Xbox Developer_Direct — Jan. 2025
- South of Midnight — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC on Apr. 8, 2025
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC on Apr. 24, 2025
- DOOM: The Dark Ages — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC on May 15, 2025
- Ninja Gaiden 4 — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC in Fall 2025
Xbox Partner Preview — Oct. 2024
- Wheel World — Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC in Summer 2025
- FBC: Firebreak — Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC in 2025
- Subnautica 2 — Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC in 2025
- Wuchang: Fallen Feathers — Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC in 2025
Xbox Games Showcase — June 2024
- Atomfall — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC on Mar. 27, 2025
- South of Midnight — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC on Apr. 8, 2025
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC on Apr. 24, 2025
- DOOM: The Dark Ages — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC on May 15, 2025
- REPLACED — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & Windows PC in 2025
- Fable — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC in 2025
- Mixtape — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC in 2025
- Winter Burrow — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC in 2025
- Wuchang: Fallen Feathers — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC in 2025
- Gears of War: E-Day — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC
- Perfect Dark — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC
- State of Decay 3 — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC
Xbox Partner Preview — Mar. 2024
- The Alters — Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC in early 2025
- Sleight of Hand — Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC in 2025
Annapurna Interactive Showcase — June 2023
- to a T — Xbox Series X|S on May 28, 2025 on day one
- Wheel World — Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC in Summer 2025
- Bounty Star — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC in 2025
Xbox Games Showcase — June 2023
- 33 Immortals — Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC on Mar. 18, 2025 (on day one in Xbox Game Preview)
- South of Midnight — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC on Apr. 8, 2025
- Towerborne — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC in 2025
- Fable — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC in 2025
- Cities: Skylines 2 — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC
- Clockwork Revolution — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC
Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase — June 2022
- Ark 2 — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming
- Hollow Knight: Silksong — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming
Summer Game Fest — June 2022
- Routine — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming
Xbox @ Gamescom — Aug. 2021
- Bushiden — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Windows PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming
Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase — June 2021
- REPLACED — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & Windows PC in 2025
- Contraband — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC
- The Outer Worlds 2 — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC
ID@Xbox Games Showcase — Mar. 2021
- Dead Static Drive — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC
- She Dreams Elsewhere — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC
- Way to the Woods — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming
Xbox Game Studios & Bethesda Softworks upcoming games
- South of Midnight — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC on Apr. 8, 2025
- DOOM: The Dark Ages — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC on May 15, 2025
- Towerborne — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC in 2024
- Fable — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC in 2025
- Clockwork Revolution — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC
- Contraband — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC
- Everwild — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC
- Gears of War: E-Day — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC
- Perfect Dark — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC
- State of Decay 3 — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC
- The Outer Worlds 2 — Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Windows PC
Xbox Game Pass FAQ
Xbox Game Pass is wildly considered to be one of the best values in the video games industry, as it's an all-in-one subscription that includes unlimited access to hundreds of video games across Xbox, PC, and the cloud. Day one released, modern titles, and even beloved classics are all available, and there are a ton of other perks for being subscribed, too.
I do recommend checking out our in-depth guide and FAQ to everything you need to know about Xbox Game Pass for a complete run down, but I'll answer some of the more common questions here.
What is Xbox Game Pass?
Put simply, Xbox Game Pass is an optional subscription service tied to the Xbox gaming ecosystem. It's available across Xbox consoles, Windows PCs, and the cloud on many other devices (including smartphones, tablets, and TVs).
Nowadays, Xbox Game Pass has expanded to be the ultimate subscription for gaming, and includes (but isn't limited to) unlimited access to hundreds of Xbox and PC games, premium online multiplayer access on Xbox consoles, subscription-wide discounts on games and DLCs, exclusive offers and perks, cloud gaming on mobile devices (including for some owned games), and more.
What are the different Xbox Game Pass tiers?
There are four Xbox Game Pass tiers, which may seem confusing at first, but there is a method to the madness.
First is Xbox Game Pass Core, which costs $10/month and strictly includes premium online multiplayer on Xbox consoles, access to a small, curated collection of Xbox games, and discounts on included games and DLC.
Next is Xbox Game Pass Standard, which costs $15/month and includes premium online multiplayer on Xbox consoles, access to a huge collection of Xbox games, and discounts on included games and DLC.
Then there's PC Game Pass, which costs $12/month and includes access to a huge collection of Windows PC games, and discounts on included games and DLC.
Finally, we have Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. At $20/month, this is the flagship Xbox Game Pass tier and includes absolutely everything in all previous tiers. On top of that, you also get an expanded library of Xbox and PC games via Electronic Arts' EA Play subscription, the ability to stream supported Xbox games to almost any internet-connected mobile device via Xbox Cloud Gaming (now including a "Bring Your Own Games" feature), exclusive discounts and offers on included games and DLC, and unique monthly perks for in-game bonus content, DLC, free movies, and more.
Where is Xbox Game Pass available?
Despite having "Xbox" in the name, Xbox Game Pass isn't just limited to consoles. In fact, Microsoft wants you to believe that most anything can be an Xbox, and it's thanks to Xbox Game Pass.
Depending on the tier you're subscribed to, Xbox Game Pass is available across Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One consoles, Windows PCs, and literally millions of other devices via Xbox Cloud Gaming. That last point is important — Xbox Game Pass lets you stream Xbox games to your mobile smartphone, tablet, smart TV, and almost any other modern device that has an internet browser. You don't even need to connect a controller all the time, as many of these streamable games support touch controls on mobile devices.
How many games are available on Xbox Game Pass?
This depends on the tier. If you're talking about Xbox Game Pass Core, that's a few dozen. Standard or PC? A few hundred. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes all of the above, though, and on my Xbox Series X that's over 400 unique games (and that doesn't include PC-specific games). Many of those games are available via PC Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming, too, with cross-progression so you can move between devices.
You can refer to our complete list of every game on Xbox Game Pass for more information.
Which tier of Xbox Game Pass should I subscribe to?
With four tiers to choose from, it may seem confusing which subscription is the best for you. I'll quickly break it down with my final recommendation to make that decision easier.
Xbox Game Pass Core is mostly for those that strictly play premium online multiplayer games like Call of Duty on Xbox consoles (free-to-play multiplayer games like Fortnite and Apex Legends do not require a Game Pass Core subscription). As a bonus, you get a taste test of the full Xbox Game Pass experience with a few dozen carefully selected games.
Xbox Game Pass Standard is for those who do play more than premium online multiplayer games, and like the idea of having access to a wide variety of games they might otherwise not play.
PC Game Pass is for those same people, but the ones who exclusively play on Windows PC and don't use or own an Xbox console.
Finally, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is for those who want it all. If you want unfettered access to all the games (including permanent access to all first-party Xbox exclusives from day one), want to stream games on the go, play across Xbox and PC, want the best discounts and exclusive perks, or any combination of the above — this is the subscription. It's the most expensive, of course, but you can stack 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate cards with huge discounts at CDKeys, which is my personal recommendation.
