It’s no secret that the currentXboxstrategy is shifting away from exclusive games, which is becoming a pretty hot topic among longtime fans of the company.
8 Best JRPGS on Xbox Game Pass
JRPGs aren’t the most represented genre on Game Pass, but there’s still a few gems to find.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circlewas just released on PlayStation 5.Forza Horizon 5has done the same as well. The upcoming DOOM: The Dark Ages, the latest entry in the fabledDOOMfranchise, is available on all platforms on May 15th.
It feels like it’s only a matter of time before other exclusives, including the best ones you can find on Xbox Game Pass, will also jump to PS5 or evenNintendo Switch 2. For now though, you can only find these fantastic games on Xbox.
If you’re looking for a reason to jump in, whether on PC or Xbox Series X|S, these eight titles may be what you’re looking for.
More Than Just Obsidian’s Elder Scrolls
Fextralife Wiki
While it didn’t exactly light the world on fire as the next big thing in the RPG space,Avowedis still an incredibly solid adventure that’s a worthy addition to the Xbox Game Pass library.
In ourreview, I said, “Avowed proves that bigger isn’t always better. Instead of making a game that tries to outsize everything on the market, Obsidian stayed true to its vision and delivered a polished experience that I fell in love with.”
Its combat is a breath of fresh air, enticing me to explore the world around me as I delve further into each dungeon and engage the enemies that await me.
Although I wish there had been more depth to its main story, the wonderful cast of characters made up for it, especially when they joined me in combat.
8 Best Games Like Avowed
Beat Avowed and looking for something similar? Try these games!
7Rare Replay
An Incredible Collection of Games
Rare Replay
Technically,Rare Replaycomprises an impressive collection of games available elsewhere. But as a package, Rare Replay is an Xbox exclusive, so it makes our list.
There is no better way to take a trip down memory lane and experience thebest Rare games. While it’s missing some iconic classics due to licensing rights, you’d be surprised how quickly you don’t miss these games next to the other inclusions.
From Banjo-Kazooie to Blast Corps and everything in between, Rare Replay is the gold standard for compilation games. It’s the perfect chance to revisit the glory days of Rare’s past, reliving memories from the games you remember from your youth while discovering some hidden gems you may have missed along the way.
Rare may not be the marquee developer it once was, but Rare Replay is here to remind us why it used to be one of the best in the business.
Hero Or Villain?
While we wait for the return of the Fable franchise, I often find myself looking back to its past and diving into the world of Albion as it once was.
Fable Anniversary is the simplest and easiest way to relive the franchise’s past, but as much as I love that game, it doesn’t offer anywhere near as much depth or content asFable 2.
When it comes to theAction RPGgenre, it doesn’t get much better than this. Peter Monyleux and company still failed to come anywhere close to their original goal, but the vision is far clearer here.
Fable II expands upon the original in every way, adding both quality of life updates, a more robust world to explore, and a wonderful take on the fantasy genre with a compelling narrative to boot. This game knows what it wants to be and does its best to try, even if it doesn’t always succeed.
If next year’s Fable reboot can capture the magic of Fable 2 and remind itself not to take things too seriously, then we’re in for a treat.
5Halo: Reach
The Best Halo Game
Halo: Reach
I will die on the hill thatHalo: Reachis the best game in the franchise. Yes, Combat Evolved is the most innovative and revolutionary. And yes, Halo 2 and 3 are the ones we spent the most time playing.
Halo: Reach has something going for it that the others don’t, however—a masterful story accompanied by the feeling of dread and despair that lingers throughout the entire game.
Since Reach is a prequel, we already know how this story ends. Much was made about the tragedy and fall of Reach before development even began on the game. Yet that doesn’t stop us from rooting for Noble Team’s success, even as the odds continue to stack against them.
From the core Halo gameplay to an incredible soundtrack led by Martin O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori, Halo: Reach is a fitting swan song for Bungie as they moved on from the franchise.
Every Halo Game Ever Released, Ranked
Every Halo game ranked from worst to best, from the glory days of Combat Evolved to modern blockbusters like Halo: Infinite.
4Sunset Overdrive
A Video Game Amusement Park
Sunset Overdrive
The fact thatSunset Overdriveremains an Xbox exclusive feels like a fever dream. Developer Insomniac Games is best known for its work on several iconic PlayStation franchises, most notably Spyro the Dragon, Ratchet & Clank, and Resistance.
Sony acquired them in 2019 following the release of the highly acclaimed Marvel’s Spider-Man a year prior, and yet, here they are, with this 2014 Xbox exclusive.
As impressive asInsomniac’s portfolio is, Sunset Overdrive deserves to be discussed as one of their best works. Its biggest flaw is that the writing and humor sometimes fall flat, but if we’re judging this solely based on gameplay, it’s a massive success.
Imagine, if you will, an Insomniac developed game that incorporates the best elements from their prior releases and pays homage to iconic games such as Jet Set Radio and Prince of Persia. The game has rightfully become a cult classic and is well worth your time.
3STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl
A Wonderful Eurojank Experience
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl
The biggest flaw withSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobylis the game’s countless bugs and technical issues upon release.
Ourreviewsaid, “STALKER 2 is fun and has a lot of potential, but it would be unfair to call it good. you’re able to easily sink 100 hours into it without noticing, especially if you have a deep love for previous iterations. However, the performance issues, overall inconsistency in many areas, and clumsy presentation will hold this game back until a major overhaul comes.”
Good news, sports fans: the overhauls have indeed come, with more planned in the future.
At its core, STALKER 2 is an incredible experience that developer GSC Game World continues to work on. It’s a janky experience, but I’d argue that makes your adventure all the more memorable.
Don’t be surprised when we look back on this game in the future and wonder why we didn’t appreciate it as much as we should have, especially as updates continue to release.
2Forza Horizon 4
Racing Through the British Countryside
Forza Horizon 4
With Forza Horizon 5 coming to the PlayStation 5, we can’t add that to our list of best Xbox exclusives on Game Pass anymore. So why not talk about the next best thing in the Horizon series?
Besides, before the release of Horizon 5,Forza Horizon 4was the gold standard ofopen-world racing games. The utilization of seasons helps keep things fresh, even if you’re experiencing the same races and locales on a regular basis.
Of course, none of that would mean anything without an incredibly sound foundation under the hood, and Playground has mastered that. Forza Horizon has been the pinnacle of the racing genre for years, and this is where the gameplay truly became unparalleled.
Topped off by its impressive collection of cars and gorgeous graphics that make you forget that this was released on Xbox One, not Xbox Series X|S, you have yourself a recipe for high-octane success.
10 Best Racing Games on Xbox Game Pass
Drivers, start your engines!
A Worthy Entry In The Iconic Xbox Franchise
A wonderful return to form after the missteps of Gears of War 4,Gears 5does an excellent job of moving the franchise forward while staying true to its roots.
It’s always hard to develop sequels of beloved games, especially when looming in the shadow of an industry giant like Epic Games. While The Coalition stumbled out of the gate, Gears 5 proves they’re more than capable of handling the franchise.
There was the controversial decision to focus the story on Kait Diaz as the main protagonist, but J.D. Martinez wasn’t an intriguing protagonist. Kait does a better job in the leading role, helping those emotional moments hit harder.
Of course, what would Gears of War be without some of the best third-person cover shooting available on the market? Gears 5 has that in spades, whether you want to play solo, cooperatively, or competitively. As excited as I am to experience E-Day, I’m hoping it won’t be long until we get a proper sequel to Gears 5.
10 Best Shooters on Xbox Game Pass
Aim down sights, and fire at will!
