In Citizen Sleeper, you are a human consciousness inhabiting a robot form and on the lam from the company that owns you. Humanoid capital, you better watch your back! A must-play for anyone who enjoyed Disco Elysium, Citizen Sleeper pulls from tabletop dice games and relies heavily on deft writing. Published by Fellow Traveller, the game’s tagline is, “Roleplaying in the ruins of interplanetary capitalism.” Easily consumed in a single weekend, Citizen Sleeper is about discovering solidarity within the dystopia.

Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Relive the campaigns that started it all. Halo: The Master Chief Edition is a collection of six games reaching all the way back to the original Xbox launch title, Halo: Combat Evolved. Forget about Space Force, the United Nations Space Command patrols the skies and fights off interstellar attacks in Halo. The game was a cultural phenomenon in the early 2000s and remains a prime example of a single-player campaign at its finest.

Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Take a journey back to 2007 and soak up the pachinko-inspired magic of Peggle. You shoot a bouncing ball in an effort to hit every peg and clear the board. The colorful puzzles combine with over-the-top celebrations at the end of successful levels to create a surprisingly satisfying experience. Puzzle lovers may enjoy playing other throwback games such as Zuma and Bejeweled 3.

Available as part of EA Play for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

Get your pistol holstered and ready, this dark adventure may get a little rowdy. Another role-playing game with a peculiar twist, Weird West is a recent release from Devolver Digital, the Texas-based publisher known for critical hits like Loop Hero and Inscryption. You start the immersive sim as an out-of-duty bounty hunter searching for her missing husband. Western tropes are imbued with fantastical elements as you control five core characters on your journey, some more monstrous than others.

Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

An open-world racing game set in Mexico, Forza Horizon 5 will keep you engrossed and behind the wheel for hours on end. The smooth handling and pristine graphics make Forza Horizon 5 one of the best racing games of all time. Build a collection of iconic cars, customize the vehicles to your heart’s desire, and hear the engines purr during racing events and aimless explorations of the expansive map. An online battle royale mode, “The Eliminator,” is thrown in for good measure.

Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Last year’s installment, MLB The Show 21, was a departure for the series when the once PlayStation exclusive dropped directly onto Microsoft’s subscription service. It's no longer on Game Pass, but the game for this year, MLB The Show 22, is available. You can gradually perfect your pitching and hitting with Road to the Show mode. Control your favorite franchises with March to October. (Let’s go Royals!) Experience those stadium thrills at home with this striking game for baseball fans.

Available on Game Pass for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

Whether Michael Myers makes your skin crawl or you are creeped out by The Ring, Dead by Daylight is a quality choice for horror enthusiasts. I often play as one of the four trapped survivors who are trying to fix generators and open the gate to escape from a murderer who stalks their every step. You are eliminated from the game if the killer can hunt you down and hang you on an oversized hook three times. The game is loud, bloody, and for mature audiences.

Dead by Daylight is not perfect. For example, you may encounter longer than desired queue times depending on when you try to join a game. In spite of any flaws, I play the game at least once a week. If you’re willing to spend a little extra money, I recommend Mikaela Reid as a great survivor to choose. Even though she’s not one of the included options, her special abilities are useful for navigating the map and retaining health. Although I don’t play as the killer very often, The Huntress is my main. When controlled by someone skilled, her hatchet-throwing can quickly end games.

Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

If you’ve ever fantasized about piloting a plane and soaring high above the clouds, Microsoft Flight Simulator was made for you. Players can choose from a bevy of aircraft and fly to real locations like the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York or the Sirena Aerodrone in Costa Rica. Specialized controllers are available for those who want to be further immersed in the simulation.

Available on Game Pass for Xbox Series X|S and PC.

The bloody, one-on-one battles in Mortal Kombat 11 are enjoyable whether you fight as classic characters (like Scorpion and Sub-Zero) or newer additions (like Geras and Kollector). Defeating your opponents with gruesome fatalities is definitely part of the appeal, but you don’t need to memorize finishing moves to have a great time with Mortal Kombat 11—button mashing is OK! Challenge friends to intense face-offs, and be prepared to test the limits of your relationships.

Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Winning Game of the Year at the 2021 Game Awards, It Takes Two earned the accolade with dynamic co-op gameplay and an appealing narrative. A couple on the brink of divorce is magically shrunk into dolls by their daughter and forced to overcome various challenges together. Whether you play locally with a loved one or online with a friend, this worthwhile game requires two people.

Available as part of EA Play for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

“I set out to create the scariest game of all time,” Dead Space creator and director Glen Schofield said in an interview with Ars Technica. Following a distressing message from your girlfriend, you arrive at a space mining operation, brawl with undead mutants who have overrun the vessel, and attempt to uncover the dark secrets hidden nearby. Although more than a decade has passed since the game’s initial release, Dead Space’s eerie soundtrack and claustrophobic setting still send a shiver down my spine. It’s worth trying out the original version on Game Pass before the upcoming remake from Electronic Arts drops next year.

Available as part of EA Play for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

Battle through the caverns of Hades in this critically acclaimed roguelike from Supergiant Games. Emerging from a river of blood, you play as Zagreus, the bisexual son of Hades who’s determined to escape from the underworld. Encounter new enemies, unlock new weapons, and gain new skills as you repeatedly attempt to fight your way out.

Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Balancing elements of an RPG and third-person shooter, Outriders is another sci-fi adventure worth your time. Traverse the dystopian planet of Enoch in a customizable convoy, and use your unique skill set to take on formidable foes. The co-op campaign is perfect for hours of monster-blasting fun with friends, and the absence of microtransactions is refreshing.

Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Every few years, an adorable indie game comes along that isn't afraid to knock you on your ass. Blending elements of Nintendo’s Zelda and FromSoftware’s Soulsborne series, Tunic is an isometric video game from Andrew Shouldice. The publisher, Finji, has released multiple indie darlings in the past, such as Night in the Woods and Chicory: A Colorful Tale. Control your fluffy fox as they explore the mysterious world, fight various aggressors, and gradually collect pages from an indecipherable guidebook. Tunic is fantastic and my current game of the year, but you may need to set your controller down a few times and walk around the block to calm down.

Available on Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.