10 great Game Pass games for your Xbox

theverge.com:

By Tom Warren, a senior editor covering Microsoft, PC gaming, console, and tech. He founded WinRumors, a site dedicated to Microsoft news, before joining The Verge in 2012.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Xbox Game Pass might have had a rather slow 2022, but its value has really paid off in 2023. There are more than 400 games to choose from, and I’ve honestly struggled to pick just 10 to recommend this year. For a monthly subscription fee of between $10.99 and $16.99, you get to play a wide range of games like Starfield, Sea of Stars, Tunic, and Inside.

If you’ve just got an Xbox, here’s a list of 10 great Xbox Game Pass games that are well worth your time over the holidays.

This cloud-based service lets you play many Game Pass games through Wi-Fi or LTE / 5G. Get the first month for $1 and then $16.99 per month thereafter.

Pentiment is a manuscript murder mystery set in the 16th century. In Pentiment, you play as Andreas Maler, a painter working on illustrated manuscripts in an abbey in Bavaria. The game plays out like a visual novel, where you’ll make decisions throughout that have a big impact on everyone around you. Once you’ve made those decisions, you’ll have to live with the consequences.

I love to slouch into my sofa and pressure wash away my day by stripping dirt from vehicles and pavements. There’s something very satisfying about blasting away grime without having to physically leave your living room and do the hard work of cleaning. If you’re a clean freak, then you’ll love this one even more than I do.

Tunic is a Zelda-style adventure that looks like it might be an easy ride thanks to the cute little fox, but the enemies are as challenging as