Xbox Game Pass' library is bursting with a bunch of recognizable games that are obvious draws for anyone considering subscribing to the service. However, in addition to these popular titles, diamonds in the rough lurk, just waiting to be chanced upon.
From indie titles that are rarely spoken of to triple-A giants that did not garner nearly as much love as they deserved, hidden gems are just waiting to be discovered on Xbox Game Pass. Anyone who has access to this amazing collection of diverse titles should be sure to check out these games that they might never have played otherwise.
Deep Rock Galactic
- Approximate Game Length: N/A
- Genre: Co-Op First-Person Shooter
- Developer: Ghost Ship Games
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 2 GB
Deep Rock Galactic might be unassuming at first, but it packs a densely layered cooperative experience into a tidy package. Players select one of four bearded comrades before departing for a variety of intergalactic locales to mine precious resources while holding out against an onslaught of alien arachnids bent on eating them alive. The procedurally generated caves are quite stunning, and the hub area between missions features all sorts of humorous shenanigans for your daring dwarves to pass their idle time with.
Slime Rancher
- Approximate Game Length: 16 Hours
- Genre: First-Person Simulation Adventure
- Developer: Monomi Park
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 1 GB
Casual farming simulations are by no means a fresh genre. From Stardew Valley to Harvest Moon, games that allow players to lead a simple life of growing crops and tending to animals have long been considered enjoyable. While Slime Rancher does not offer much new in terms of farming sim mechanics, it is such a polished experience that any fan of the genre will immediately fall in love with it. Its rewarding gameplay loop is an utter joy, and caring for adorable slimes is one of the most relaxing tasks ever presented to a gamer.
Human Fall Flat
- Approximate Game Length: 8 Hours
- Genre: Puzzle Platformer
- Developer: No Breaks Games, Codeglue
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 2 GB
Human Fall Flat balances platforming and puzzles in a delightful fashion, tasking players with solving a variety of physics-based brain teasers in order to progress through the imaginatively designed stages. Though it’s a perfectly enjoyable solo venture, it truly shines when played cooperatively with friends — collectively brainstorming the solutions to its various challenges is earnestly the heart of the fun on offer here.
Grounded
- Approximate Game Length: N/A
- Genre: Survival Adventure
- Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
- X|S Enhanced: Yes
- File Size: 3 GB
Though currently only available as a Game Preview, Grounded is one title that should be noticed. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, this game places a Honey-I-Shrunk-the-Kids lens onto its core survival experience. This unique spin on a familiar genre makes Grounded a standout offering on Xbox Game Pass.
Instead of contending against yet another horde of zombies, players have to deal with the insects and spiders that inhabit an average backyard. Even as a work in progress, Grounded is a game to keep an eye on.
Celeste
- Approximate Game Length: 11 Hours
- Genre: 2D Platform Adventure
- Developer: Matt Makes Games
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 1 GB
Celeste made a name for itself as a top-notch indie platformer with relevant and heartfelt themes in its straightforward yet meaningful story. However, even with the attention it has garnered so far, Celeste has still not reached nearly as many people as it deserves to. The recognition and acclaim this indie darling needs is undeniable. Its excellent controls make its tough-as-nails levels manageable while still maintaining their challenge.
What Remains Of Edith Finch
- Approximate Game Length: 2 Hours
- Genre: First-Person Exploration
- Developer: Giant Sparrow
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 3 GB
It’s not often that a video game presents such an engrossing story to players, one that touches upon subjects like loss, grief, and ennui, but What Remains of Edith Finch does so in style. Unforgettable narrative sequences are joined together by the exploration of the creaking Finch house. Spoiling what these narratives entail would be doing a disservice to the game. Suffice it to say that there is no other hidden indie title quite like What Remains of Edith Finch when it comes to telling a moving story in a way that only a video game could accomplish.
Prey
- Approximate Game Length: 25 Hours
- Genre: First-Person Shooter Adventure
- Developer: Arkane Studios
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 37 GB
Though Prey was developed by the wildly talented Arkane Studios, it did not receive a big enough share of the spotlight considering its sterling showing as a paragon of the immersive sim genre.
This creative sci-fi title marries the world-building of BioShock with the player choice of Dishonored, making it one eerily satisfying narrative to experience. Prey was offered on the Xbox Game Pass library alongside a healthy handful of other games from Bethesda, but it would be a downright shame if this phenomenal title got missed in the shuffle.
Outer Wilds
- Approximate Game Length: 16 Hours
- Genre: Sci-Fi Adventure
- Developer: Mobius Digital
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 4 GB
Those looking for a relaxing yet engaging game would do well to try out Outer Wilds. Outer Wilds ties game progression with discovery, with every piece of information the player learns pushing them closer to the game’s ending. Though the narrative is restricted by a time-loop mechanic that sets players on the same day over and over again, every journey undertaken reveals something new. Outer Wilds is a unique title that any fan of first-person exploration and puzzle games should give a try.
Totally Accurate Battle Simulator
- Approximate Game Length: 13 Hours
- Genre: Simulation/Strategy
- Developer: Landfall Games
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 3 GB
TABS’ absolutely zany strategy simulation isn’t something to be taken seriously. However, the prospect of watching Zeus alongside an army of archers (utilizing snakes as ammunition) take on a horde of unarmed bards supported by vampires is a prospect most will find difficult to resist. The base gameplay loop is quite simple — players are allotted a number of points to expend on units ranging from enraged barbarians to literal minotaurs. After setting the armies up, a totally accurate simulation of the staged battle ensues, complete with ridiculously implemented physics mechanics. The game’s preview version even features a campaign of sorts, facing players with increasingly insane scenarios that they must design an army to tackle.
Frostpunk
- Approximate Game Length: 20 Hours
- Genre: City-Building, Survival
- Developer: 11 Bit Studios
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 3 GB
Frostpunk’s distinct brand of survival-strategy pits players against a frigid apocalypse as they struggle to guide a band of survivors through the onset of a volcanic winter. While the elements themselves essentially serve as the primary antagonistic force, even more dire threats may emerge from within — as their burgeoning settlement faces sub-zero temperatures amid resource and energy shortages, harrowing decisions and harsh policies will need to be confronted in order to ensure survival.