Best Games on Xbox Game Pass

To be honest, I don't have the most original of ideas, someone will talk about their favourite RPG's which will get me thinking what are my favourites and I'll go write a blog post or do a video on them.

This past week, a friend on twitter brought up that she was looking at getting an Xbox One S which led to replies from a few people, including myself, bringing up the great value you can get from an Xbox One S due to its price and the services on offer such as Backwards Compatibility and Game Pass.

I've done a few videos on Backwards Compatibility which you can find on the blog but never on Game Pass.

Game Pass has some great games on it but as I know my friend has never owned an Xbox console, which got me thinking what are the best games on the service and is this good for someone new to the ecosystem.

With rumours of a fourth entry, using Game Pass you can go back to Albion to play the three main games including the Xbox 360 HD Anniversary version of the first which might still be the best Fable out of the three.

FH4 shows the incredible value of Game Pass, it's one of the best games of the year and is available just to play with a sub to the service. I'm not even the biggest racing fan but FH4 gameplay just rewards you for playing, that you can come 6th in a race and still feel you've progressed.

Much like Fable, with a fifth mainline game upcoming Game Pass allows someone to go back and experience this great series, also both the 360 and Remaster of the first are playable through Game Pass.

With the recent addition of Halo Master Chief Collection to Game Pass, and Halo 5 on it as well this brings all five mainline games to the service and not only that but the excellent Halo Wars and its sequel are also playable.

I only played this one recently due to it being on Game Pass, I don't know if I ever would have if it wasn't on service. And it's decent 3rd person action game with a neat idea due to the blend of gameplay and live action. 

Yep I mean the studio Rare as if you're new to Xbox you might want to check out some familiar faces with Banjo-Kazooie and what Rare has been up to after becoming an Xbox First Party Studio, not everything has been good or on Game Pass but with likes of the three Banjo-Kazooie games, Perfect Dark Zero, Kameo, Sea of Thieves and Viva Pinata there's bound to be something for someone.

All the games on here are Xbox games and shows what Xbox is all about but like I said at the start, Game Pass does have some big third party games on service and Rise of the Tomb Raider is one of the best plus if you've got an Xbox One X then you're in for a real treat.

RotTR also showed me some great things about Xbox One as I played RotTR on release and since sold it. One day I decide to download it via Game Pass and my game save from my old Xbox One S was right there on my One X due to the automatic cloud saves and being in Game Pass I get a discount on DLC, that I decided to continue Lara's adventure.

This is the most criminally overlooked game on Xbox One, it's just a fantastic action platformer, which you should be playing.

A great 3D platformer which would have felt right at home during the late 90s / early 2000's, that is well worth a look.

Game Pass might allow us to play Xbox One first party games on the day of release, go back to some classic games and big 3rd party games but it also allows us to checkout some great indies which we may have never played if it wasn't for the service.

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Xbox Game Pass for November

Four games have been annouced to launch on November 1st

Sniper Elite 4 
Combining complex ballistics, stealth gameplay, and third-person action, Sniper Elite 4 is the latest entry of this World War 2 combat series. This time featuring some of the largest and most diverse environments to navigate than ever before as you’re tasked to liberate wartime Italy from the iron grip of fascism.

Olli Olli 2 XL Edition
Achieve new levels of control and expression as you skate, trick, and grind through 100 different levels with a new expanded combo system including Manuals, Reverts, Revert-Manuals, and Grind-Switching. Take on friends in Combo-Rush, a local-multiplayer mode for 2-4 players or when it’s time to chill, Free-Skate mode offers extended levels to learn the ropes, nail those tricks, or simply cruise and flow..

Sheltered 
Times are hard after an apocalypse, and your family will need all the comfort they can get to help them survive what’s to come. Sheltered is a post-apocalyptic bunker simulator where you need to keep your family of four alive for as long as possible. You’ll face many obstacles, meet crazy individuals, fight off intruders, scavenge for materials, and explore a randomly generated map on every playthrough.

Rise and Shine
Play as the young child Rise as he embarks on an epic action-packed shooting adventure with his sacred gun Shine by his side. Together they’ll fight to take down an invading army of aliens known as Space Grunts in the hopes of saving a world where classic video game characters live. Featuring massive explosions, awesome hand drawn set pieces, and gigantic bosses to do battle with, Rise and Shine has all the ingredients of the next great shooter for you to tackle.

A few days after this Grip: Combat Racing will launch on November 6th in Game Pass

The return of hardcore combat racing is here and the stakes are higher than ever before. Grip: Combat Racing is packed with content. On top of the single-player campaign and Carkour stunt mode, there’s 22 breathtaking tracks spanning four planets, 15 armored combat vehicles, multiple race formats, and PVP battle arenas all with split-screen for up to four players.

More games will be annouced for November during Inside Xbox at XO18.

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Out this Week: Scary Games

 

30th Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game

Xbox One X Enhanced - Enter the shoes of Private Investigator Pierce who is sent to investigate the tragic death of the Hawkins family as you’re plunged into a world of creeping madness and cosmic horror. Cryptic clues, shadowy figures, and pure terror block your way as you fight to retain your sanity and solve an otherworldly mystery.

 

30th Mutant Football League: Dynasty Edition

Mutants and monsters unleash maniacal carnage on the gridiron in a fully-3D, arcade-style football game. This hilarious (and brutal) parody of professional American football delivers intense online multiplayer action, deep strategy, and deadly humor. Mutant Football League: Dynasty Edition includes Dynasty Mode, two new teams, and new playable races.

 

30th LEGO Harry Potter Collection

Xbox One X Enhanced - The LEGO Harry Potter Collection brings LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 and LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 remastered together in one exciting, magic-filled package. This compilation combines the creative influence of LEGO and the expansive world of “Harry Potter,” with an exciting journey full of spellcasting, potion-making, puzzle-solving, lessons, dueling and much more for players of all ages to enjoy.

 

30th Infinite Adventures

You are the Traveler, a hero with a forgotten memory. Your only hope is to assemble your party and explore the Infinite Labyrinth to discover the truth of your past. Infinite Adventures is a dungeon crawling RPG inspired by other classic dungeon RPGs with fresh new mechanics for exploration, combat, and progression.

 

 

30th Gnomes Garden 2

Gnomes Garden 2 is the sequel to an exciting fantasy strategy game. Once again, it’s up to you to restore the magical gardens and defeat the troll queen in this fantasy strategy game. Construct buildings, manage resources, use powerful magic, and restore ancient machines. Over 40 beautiful levels await you along with a multitude of varied quests and exciting gameplay for all ages.

 

31st The One We Found

The One We Found a first-person survival horror shooter in an immersive, terrifying experience. You are James Ledgewick, a psychotherapist in Whisperwood mental institution, where a recently unearthed cave network has not only revealed dark secrets but a terrible evil with it.

 

31st Super Volley Blast

Super Volley Blast is an over the top beach volley game that provides plenty of fun for you and your friends. Featuring story mode where 1 or 2 players will face 7 teams composed of unique personalities or utilize the in-depth avatar editor to create yourself, family, and friends to the court.

image: https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/superpixelracers-large.jpg

 

1st Super Pixel Racers

Super Pixel Racers is a fast-paced arcade racer with top-down 2D pixel graphics and a nostalgic 16-bit soundtrack. Race your way up the ranks in an expansive career mode with more than 200 races, go head-to-head with racers from across the globe in online play with up to eight players, or challenge your friends in four-player split-screen multiplayer.

1st The First Tree

A beautiful, 3rd-person exploration game about two parallel stories: a fox trying to find her missing cubs, and a son reconnecting with his father in Alaska. Uncover artifacts from the son's life as he becomes intertwined in the fox’s journey towards The First Tree.

 

2nd Gem Smashers

Help three heroic creatures who escaped capture during the invasion of Earth rescue their friends. Save the planet from the evil Imbu and put your skills to the test with Gem Smashers, a unique puzzle game with eight worlds and over 100 levels. 

 

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Games of November - Battlefield V - Darksiders III - Fallout 76 and more

Out this Week: Red Dead Redemption 2 and more

 

23rd: Paw Patrol: On a Roll

Join Ryder and all eight Paw Patrol Pups for an awesome adventure. Help them use their unique abilities to rescue friends, complete 16 exciting missions, and save the day. Venture to eight awesome Adventure Bay locations including Farmer Yumi’s Farm, Jake’s Mountain, and more. Get ready for fun puzzle-platforming action that is pawfect for kids of all ages.

 

23rd: Project Highrise: Architect’s Edition

Your job as the architect and developer is to build world-famous skyscrapers that will be the envy of the entire city. In Project Highrise: Architect’s Edition, you’ll create gleaming office high-rises to attract business leaders from around the world, construct urban apartments with penthouses for the rich and famous, and keep travellers and tourists happy in soaring hotel towers. Your steady hand is needed to keep it all running smoothly and efficiently.

 

23rd: Just Dance 2019

The ultimate party game returns with Just Dance 2019 with over 40 hot tracks from chart-topping artists like “Bruno Mars,” “Cardi B,” and “Daddy Yankee.” Use your smartphone to track your moves and jump into a personalized experience as the game learns your dancing moves and makes suggestions.

 

23rd: Nickelodeon Kart Racers

Race across 24 different slime-filled tracks including Bikini Bottom, NYC sewers, Tommy Pickle's house, Arnold's school and more! Select a racer from one of your favourite Nickelodeon series, including SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy from “SpongeBob SquarePants,” Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello from “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” Arnold and Helga from “Hey Arnold!,” and more. Race your friends in up to 4-player local multiplayer or check out the Battle Arena for a variety of challenges.

 

23rd: Spintires: MudRunner – American Wilds

Xbox One X Enhanced - Drive a wide selection of more than 30 powerful all-terrain vehicles, including iconic U.S. brands like Western Star, Hummer, and Chevrolet. Take charge of incredible all-terrain vehicles, venturing across realistic, physics-simulated landscapes with only a map and compass as guides. Overcome muddy terrain, raging rivers, and other obstacles that all realistically react to the weight and movement of your vehicle powered by the game's advanced physics engine.  

 

24th: Skyhill

World War III is over, the world's infested with mutants, and your supplies are running out. Fight your way down this damned hotel, from your penthouse on top to the first floor. Craft weapons, search for food and reach the exit. Otherwise, you'll be torn apart, starve to death or maybe both...

 

24th: Midnight Deluxe

The world of Midnight is a dangerous one thanks to the likes of spikes, circular saws, and plenty of other dangerous objects. Even if you do manage to get Midnight into the safe zone to advance to the next level, there’s the added challenge of trying to complete each level in the least amount of shots as possible to get all three stars in this unique golf-like game with a perpetual darkness setting.

 

26th: Red Dead Redemption 2

Xbox One X Enhanced - From the creators of Grand Theft Auto comes an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age in the year 1899. After a robbery goes wrong in the town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and bounty hunters massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal, and fight their way across America to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must choose between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him.

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Backwards Compatibility Update: All about Nanomachines

Major Nelson like always, has been keeping us updated about new games coming to Backwards Compatibility on Xbox One.

This month so far we've got 4 (maybe 5 depending on your view) new games, unfortunately, none are One X enhanced.

From EA we've got the Crysis Trilogy with the first being a downloadable title with the two follow-ups being available on disc.

Konami continues with the inclusion of its HD remasters as joining Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker from the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection finally is Sons of Liberty and Snake Eater.  

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Top 10 Original Xbox games I want to see come to Xbox One Backwards Compatibly

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Out this Week: LEGO DC and SoulCalibur lead the way

 

16th: Crayola Scoot

Xbox One X Enhanced - In Crayola Scoot, more tricks mean more colour. Make your mark in this colour-powered trick scooter championship where the crazier your combos, the more colour you’ll splash on the scootpark. Take on Scoot Legends in a rainbow of thrilling events or grab three friends for a split-screen colour clash. Featuring character creation, insane tricks, and a slew of scooter and rider upgrades.

 

16th: Home Sweet Home

Inspired by real-world Thai mythology and beliefs, Home Sweet Home is the first in a series of terrifying narrative-driven first-person horror games that puts players in a dark and twisted labyrinth, where a fog of fear fills the air, dread bleeds through cracks in the ceiling, and anxiety grows stronger with every step.

 

16th: LEGO DC Super-Villains

Xbox One X Enhanced - It's good to be bad… Embark on an all-new DC/LEGO adventure by becoming the best villain the universe has seen. Players will create and play as an all-new super-villain throughout the game, unleashing mischievous antics and wreaking havoc in an action-packed story where you will have to take down the evil Crime Syndicate.

16th: NBA 2K Playgrounds 2

The sequel to the original smash hit takes street balling to the next level with a massive roster of current and retired NBA players, improved online matchmaking with dedicated servers, four-player online matches, three-point contests, new playgrounds, custom matches, and more. Pick your team and get ready to jam.

 

16th: Starlink: Battle for Atlas

Xbox One X Enhanced - Lead a group of interstellar pilots as you build your own starship, explore the Atlas star system, and battle the vile Grax and his Forgotten Legion. Mix and match pilots, starships, and weapons to create the ship of your dreams, customize it, and enjoy a unique gameplay experience.

 

16th: Warriors Orochi 4

Xbox One X Enhanced - The latest title in the tactical action series Warriors Orochi is finally here! Featuring a dream collaboration starring heroes from Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors. With 170 playable characters, the most ever for the Warriors series, and introducing a Magic component to the series, you can now experience even more thrilling and intense Musou action.

 

17th: The Jackbox Party Pack 5

It’s the biggest party pack yet to this storied party game franchise. Featuring Full Stream, Split the Room, Mad Verse City, Patently Stupid, and Zeeple Dome. Use your phones or tablets as controllers and play with up to 8 players.

 

17th: Transport Giant GOTY Edition

Witness the birth of mass production and mass transport. With a little capital and an innovative idea, you can build an empire, for factories are springing up everywhere you turn and the world hungers for every commodity conceivable. The world is yours for the taking in this strategic simulation game.

 

18th: Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption

Xbox Game Pass - Face eight terrifying bosses in this boss battler ARPG, the first seven of which are based on one of the deadly sins that can be fought in any order. You must choose aspects of your character to weaken (stats, equipment, abilities) before facing each boss, where each one will be tougher than the last as you wage war against sin itself in this thrilling and challenging experience.

 

 

19th: SoulCalibur VI

Xbox One X Enhanced - SoulCalibur VI is the latest entry in the premier weapons-based, head-to-head fighting series and continues the epic struggle of warriors searching for the legendary Soul Swords. With heroic battles transpiring against the backdrop of a beautiful and fluid world and eye-popping graphics, SoulCalibur VI marks a new era of the historic franchise and its legendary struggle between the mighty Soul Swords.

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Out this Week: Call of Duty and a new game from SWERY

 

9th: Mark of the Ninja Remastered

You must be silent, agile and clever to outwit your opponents in a world of gorgeous scenery and flowing animation in Mark of the Ninja. Marked with cursed tattoos giving you heightened senses, every situation presents you with options. Will you be an unknown, invisible ghost, or a brutal, silent assassin? Upgrade new tools and techniques that suit your playstyle and complete optional objectives to unlock entirely new ways to approach the game.

 

9th: Space Hulk: Tactics

Xbox One X Enhanced - Space Hulk: Tactics is a faithful adaptation of the board game Space Hulk, set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, bringing a unique twist to the cult-classic formula. Engage in bloody battles through an immense Space Hulk - a twisted mass of asteroids, wrecked starships, and debris – as either a squad of Terminator Space Marines or the deadly alien Genestealers.

 

 

10th: Chronus Arc

With quests to uncover, dungeons to conquer, and puzzles to solve, Chronus Arc also features unique characters who can be developed as the story progresses with the class change system. Venture through puzzle-filled dungeons to bring the past back to the present in this retro-inspired RPG.  

 

10th: Deployment

Infosoldiers, made of pure information, fight in an endless war between governments and megacorporations to rule over the digital systems that control the world. Deploy your troops and get ready for epic battles in this new competitive top-down shooter from the creators of We Are The Dwarves.

 

10th: Devious Dungeon

Set in the Dark Ages, Devious Dungeon is a medieval focused action platformer title. Under orders by the King, you will assume the control of a Knight instructed to head into the catacombs beneath the Kingdom, to slay the fowl beasts and monstrosities that have invaded the murky depths. Slay monsters, collect loot, level up and upgrade your gear.  

 

10th: My Memory of Us

October 10, 2018

My Memory of Us is a reminiscence of a friendship between a boy and a girl. A friendship made during tough times. Times of terror, pain, and exclusion in a world where people were forced to live in two artificially detached worlds.

 

11th: Spencer

A classic jump ‘n’ run platformer with challenging levels and enemies. Play as Spencer, an intergalactic traveler who crashed his spaceship on Earth. Help Spencer get the missing items for his ship while destroying enemies, collecting coins and diamonds along the way.

 

11th: The Missing: JJ Macfield and the Island of Memories

The sudden disappearance of a dear friend spurs J.J. to go look for her on the curious Island of Memories. You can’t die on this nightmare island, even if you’re seriously injured. No matter how many times J.J.’s brought back from the grips of death, she drags her mangled body deeper into the woods to find her friend.

 

12th: Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Xbox One X Enhanced - Featuring gritty, grounded, fluid Multiplayer combat, the biggest Zombies mode ever with three full undead adventures at launch, and Blackout, where the universe of Black Ops comes to life in one massive battle royale experience delivering the most thrilling grounded combat experience yet with a focus on tactical gameplay and player choice.  

 

12th: Guns, Gore and Cannoli 2

Guns, Gore & Cannoli 2 revives the good, old, action platform run & gun genre, but this time with a bunch of humor and buckets of blown off body parts. In this sequel to Guns, Gore & Cannoli, Vinnie Cannoli’s story continues and this time it’s personal.

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