What are the best games available in Xbox Game Pass? If Xbox Game Pass offers a regularly expanded and updated catalog of games, with nearly 500 titles of all genres and for all audiences, it is sometimes difficult to navigate, which is why we wanted to offer you a selection of the best independent and AA games on the service, so you don't miss anything.
The best games on Xbox Game Pass
The 10 best indie and single-player AA games on Xbox Game Pass
At a time when video games are chasing the best possible image definition, we sometimes forget the simple pleasure of playing and discovering captivating stories imagined by brilliant artists. We are seeing more and more industry veterans leaving their big studios to create or join a smaller team, freed from marketing decisions and with the desire to create new things.
This article is dedicated to them, those who are sometimes forgotten and cannot be found on the shelves of department stores, but very present in our hearts as players. As with the other selections, it has just been updated taking into account the games present in the service in December 2024.
Wildfrost
Face the fury of the elements in Wildfrost, a tactical rogue-like deckbuilding game! Collect companions and upgrade them to defeat dangerous opponents and formidable bosses. Complete daily challenges and expand the town of Snowlong to unlock new maps to fight against the everlasting frost.
The sun eventually froze, succumbing to the relentless cold. The town of Snowlong and the survivors who live there are the last bastion fighting against eternal winter. Build a deck of cards made up of companions and elemental items, and fight to reach the Temple of the Sun and banish the frost once and for all!
Hi-Fi RUSH
Vibrate to the rhythm of the music in the shoes of Chai, a budding rockstar accompanied by motley sidekicks who want to rebel against an evil cybernetic megacorporation, in a journey punctuated by frenzied fights!
Latest baby from Tango Gameworks, the studio behind The Evil Within® and Ghostwire®: Tokyo (yes, yes, really), here is Hi-Fi RUSH, a brand new action game in which the characters, the world and the combat evolve and move to the rhythm of the music!
Labeled an “anomaly” following a bizarre experience in which his heart was fused with an MP3 player, Chai must now fight to regain his freedom in a slickly animated world where everything from jumping platforms to enemy attacks ) is synchronized to the rhythm of the music.
Tunic
Explore a land full of lost legends, ancient powers and ferocious monsters in TUNIC, an isometric action game about a little fox on a grand adventure. Stranded in a world in chaos, and armed only with your curiosity, you will face colossal creatures, collect objects as strange as they are powerful, and uncover secrets that have been forgotten since the dawn of time.
It is said that a great treasure is hidden somewhere in this world. Perhaps it lies beyond the golden gate? Or in the bowels of the earth? Some tales speak of a palace above the clouds and of ancient entities endowed with incredible power. What will you discover?
During your journeys, you will piece together the game's instruction manual. Page after page, you will reveal cards, tips, special techniques and the deepest secrets. If you find every last one of them, perhaps something happy will happen…
Inside
Now you can experience Inside, Playdead's award-winning adventure game. It's a dark narrative platformer, which combines thrilling action with puzzles that will challenge you. It received critical acclaim for its mournful aesthetic, ambient soundtrack, and chilling atmosphere.
Dungeons of Hinterberg
Explore the Alps!
Slide down a glacier on a snowboard, cross the forest on a zip line, climb a mountain or have a coffee by a lake… While looking for your next dungeon, discover many picturesque places!
Hunting rhymes with class!
In Hinterberg, monsters lurk around every corner. Your mastery of swordsmanship and magic will be essential to keep them at bay. Command the wind, make a snowboard appear out of nowhere, or trap your enemies in a block of jelly!
Find the exit!
Vampire Survivors
Vampire Survivors is a timed survival game with minimalist gameplay and rogue-lite elements. There is nowhere to hide. All you can do is try to survive this cursed night by collecting as much gold as possible for the next survivor, before death puts an end to your suffering.
Stardew Valley
You have inherited your grandfather's old farm in Stardew Valley. Armed with old tools and a few parts, you are ready to start a new life. Will you manage to transform this abandoned piece of land into prosperous land?
Since the arrival of Joja Corporation, everything has changed and your task will not be easy. The community center, previously the liveliest place in the village, is now in ruins. But the valley is full of opportunities. With a little persistence, you could well be the one who returns Stardew Valley to its former greatness!
Nine Sols
Nine Sols is a story-rich, hand-drawn 2D action-platformer with a Sekiro-inspired combat system based on deflecting attacks. Embark on a journey through an Asian fantasy, explore a land once ruled by an ancient alien race, and follow a vengeful hero on his quest to defeat the 9 Sols—the powerful rulers of this abandoned kingdom.
Jusant
Jusant offers you a unique gaming experience, combining climbing, action and puzzle. Embark on a meditative adventure to the top of a dizzying tower. Take on challenges at your own pace, explore different paths and reveal the secrets of a forgotten civilization.
Learn to master your climbing equipment while carefully monitoring your stamina gauge in order to climb this mysterious and changing tower. As you hone your skills and rise to the top, you'll need to understand how to best use the tools at your disposal to achieve your goals.
Explore alternate paths to find clues to the tower's history.
Cocoon
Created by Jeppe Carlsen, the lead gameplay designer of LIMBO and INSIDE — COCOON takes you on an adventure through worlds within worlds. Master world-hopping mechanics to unravel a cosmic mystery.
Worlds within worlds COCOON is a unique take on the puzzle adventure genre, where each world exists in an orb that you can carry on your back. Wrap yourself in the core mechanics of jumping between worlds and combine, manipulate and rearrange them to solve complex puzzles.
Honorable mentions
Choosing only 10 games in this category is not easy, as Xbox Game Pass is the target of quality independent and AA games. For example, we could have cited titles like Firewatch, Hollow Knight, GRIS or even Citizen Sleeper among those which deserve their place in the selection.
We can also only advise you to take a look at As Dusk Falls, Brotato or Beware of the shady bastards of the web, to vary the pleasures.
Let us remember once again that this is only a selection of excellent titles that we invite you to discover. Of course, don't hesitate to suggest your games to us in the comments.
