One of the best parts of an Xbox Game Pass subscription is access to some of the biggest blockbuster hits of not just today, but yesterday as well.
Yes, getting access to highly anticipated games day one will never get old, but for those looking to tackle a backlog, it also comes in handy. To be fair, Game Pass can also add to your backlog, but hey, at least you’re not paying full price for a bunch of games you’re ignoring.
Even still, many people have a hard time justifying the cost of a Game Pass subscription. Sure, there are a lot of games available in the Game Pass library, but how many of them are actually worth it?
It’s a question we’re here to answer today by highlighting some of the best blockbuster games that justify your Xbox Game Pass subscription.
10Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
One of 2025’s Best Games
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Fextralife Wiki
At the time of writing in August,Clair Obscur: Expedition 33is still the clubhouse leader for2025’s Game of the Year.
While you could argue that it’s not a “blockbuster” game given its AA developer size and budget, there’s no denying that it’s a blockbuster experience backed by an impressive cast and story.
Make no mistake. When it comes to size and scope, Expedition 33 is bigger than most blockbuster games from the biggest studios in the industry. There’s so much content to see and do that you’ll be kept busy for hundreds and hundreds of hours.
From its emotional story to an endless amount of side quests to complete, Expedition 33 is without a doubt the best bang for your buck, especially on Game Pass.
9Madden NFL 25
The Savior of Offseason
Madden NFL 25
Okay, hear me out. Yes, it’s jarring to go from what I still believe is the best game of 2025 to what I felt like was one of the worst inMadden NFL 26, but here’s the beauty of Xbox Game Pass: I get to play Madden without having to drop the full price on it – though Madden NFL 25 is the most recent iteration on Game Pass right this second.
One of the biggest critiques with the franchise recently, and rightfully so, is how half-baked each release is. EA Sports gives us new rosters, features that are only perfect for the back of the box, and refuses to fix the underlying issues of the game. So then, why is Madden worth having Game Pass? Because I get to scratch my football itch without having to fork over extra money.
RecentMaddengames have been at their best when I’m looking for some football action in the offseason. Yes, the current nature of the NFL means there is no offseason, but let’s be real: no amount of NFL talk after the draft but before the start of camp can get the job done.
Do you know what can? Booting up a game or two of Madden. So thank you, Xbox Game Pass, for letting me take matters into my own hands and making the New England Patriots a dynasty again.
8DOOM (2016)
The Return of the Boomer Shooter
Modern shooters are, for the most part, becoming less and less like their predecessors. That’s what makes DOOM’s 2016 reboot so refreshing.
Instead of chasing current industry trends and adapting the iconic franchise into something it’s not,id Softwareleans into what makes boomer shooters so great, backed by the budget and scope of today’s best blockbuster games.
DOOM doesn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel or pretend to be something it’s not. It knows that it’s best as a fast-paced, run-and-gun FPS where you shoot first and ask questions later. There’s no need to bog down the experience with expositional dialogue or some convoluted narrative no one cares about. Just let me spend the weekend shooting demons.
If you’re still on the fence, it’s one of thebest DOOM gamesof all time. High praise for a franchise that’s one of the most iconic in gaming history.
7Mass Effect Legendary Edition
An Epic RPG Trilogy
Mass Effect Trilogy
Why settle for one epic space RPG when you can play three? TheMass Effect Legendary Editiondoes an excellent job of giving the incredible BioWare trilogy some much-needed TLC for the modern era. Look, I will always love the first Mass Effect, but it 100% needed some help, especially with the Mako.
What impressed me the most was how well the games hold up today. The story is as incredible as ever, the dialogue ranks among the best in gaming as a whole, and the third-person shooter gameplay reminds us why every developer out there went all in on squad-based cover shooters in the 2010s.
If you’re looking for a better deal on an Xbox Game Pass game, you’re not going to find it anywhere else. Three incredible games in one fantastic package that, thanks to EA Play, appears to be a Game Pass staple.
Whether you’ve played these games dozens of times or have yet to experience them for yourself, do yourself a favor and verify this is in your Game Pass library.
6Grand Theft Auto 5
While You’re Waiting For GTA 6…
Grand Theft Auto 5
That’s right,Grand Theft Auto 5made its glorious return to Xbox Game Pass back in April. Honestly, you can flip-flop between this and Red Dead Redemption 2, just like the two games seem to flip-flop on being in Game Pass.
What better way to prepare yourself for Grand Theft Auto 6 than losing yourself inside GTA 5 once again? Rockstar Games remains in a league of its own, crafting one of the best open-world games you can play today. Yes, Vice City, and the entire state of Leonida, look incredible, but there’s something about the world of GTA 5 that feels like home.
If anything, it has to be the cast, headlined by the game’s three playable characters. As much as I love Michael and Franklin, let’s not beat around the bush: Trevor is the star of the show here, stealing every scene he’s in. It’s almost as much fun watching his cutscenes as it is playing the game itself.
Best of all, you’ll also get access to both the Enhanced Edition of the game, as well as the seemingly infinite amount of content featured inGTA Online.
5Star Wars Battlefront 2
Join In On The Fun
Star Wars Battlefront 2
One of my favorite parts of Xbox Game Pass is how it lets me jump in and play games without having to make a financial investment. There’s no need to spend money on online shooters that may just be a flash in the pan; they’re already in my library thanks to Game Pass.
2017’sStar Wars Battlefront 2is one of those games. Like many, I was excited to see DICE give the game another go and try to right the wrongs from the 2015 Battlefront. Like many, I was also disappointed with the game at launch. Now, nearly ten years later, here we are, and I’m playing Battlefront on a regular basis.
It actually all started following the release of theBattlefront Classic Collection, a game that I’m embarrassed to say I spent money on. After hours of frustration, I remembered that Battlefront 2 was on Game Pass, and I wanted to see if that could scratch the Star Wars shooter itch I was looking for. Next thing I knew, I was playing all night long.
Battlefront 2 is still one of the best-looking and sounding shooters on the market. Its resurgence in popularity has helped matches feel lively and entertaining, ensuring that no matter when I boot the game up, I find myself in a full lobby.
4Cities: Skylines
The Premiere City Builder
Cities: Skylines
To call 2013’s Sim City reboot disappointing is putting it lightly. Instead of building on the brilliance of Sim City, the game swung hard by forcing online communities rather than a sprawling city, and it bombed in embarrassing fashion.
Thankfully,Cities: Skylineswas there for us, building on the success ofSim City 4and delivering one of the deepest, most robust city builders you can play.
There’s not much here in terms of fancy bells and whistles, just a well-rounded, simulation experience that wants to be the best at what it does. Guess what: it succeeds there. The number of hours I have lost planning my city’s layout, fine-tuning things, and responding to the needs of my citizens is embarrassing.
Fun fact: I spent more time playing Cities: Skylines during a week-long beach vacation than at the actual beach. If that’s not a successful endorsement of the game, I don’t know what is.
3Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Still A Blast
What’s there to say aboutHalo’s golden age that hasn’t already been said?
Call me a boomer, I don’t care; these are the best online shooters you’re able to play. Miss me with yourBattle Royalesor Extraction Shooters. Meet me on Halo 2’s Lockout, and we can talk.
There’s just something from the first three Halo games that feels better than nearly every other shooter on the market. The most obvious thing that comes to mind is the brilliance in level design.
Every multiplayer map, no matter how big or small, is perfectly crafted. There’s no wasted space, plenty of room to explore, and several points of interest that naturally result in intense firefights.
Oh, I haven’t even started to talk about the campaigns yet, which are still as much fun today as they were twenty years ago, especially if you’re playing with a friend.
2Forza Horizon 5
Premiere Open World Racing
Forza Horizon 5
Since its debut in 2012, the Forza Horizon franchise has steadily climbed to the top of the racing genre. Its peak is also the most recent entry, 2021’sForza Horizon 5.
The Horizon franchise has always done an excellent job of offering a balance between the impressive roster of cars from the Forza Motorsport series in a more arcade-style setting compared to a simulation racer. Horizon has always upped the ante by throwing you into an open-world environment taking place during a music festival.
Forza Horizon 5 ups the ante further by taking full advantage of the (then) next-generation hardware. Yes, the gameplay feels familiar, but the world of Forza Horizon 5 is a visual treat, inviting you to explore every road and discover all of its secrets.
Games like these sometimes tend to overload the player with too many tasks, but Horizon 5 balances things out by letting you take in the sights, organically directing you to points of interest. It makes for a great Game Pass experience, whether you want a quick joy ride or want to complete everything the game has to offer.
1Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
The Best Indiana Jones Movie Since Last Crusade
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Following three perfect (yes, I said three) Indiana Jones films in the 1980s, the two modern releases (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Dial of Destiny) have been, in a word, disappointing.
Leave it toMachine Games, best known for their revival of the Wolfenstein franchise, to deliver an Indiana Jones story worthy of the original trilogy.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circleis a perfect homage to the film franchise, capturing the pure essence of what makes these adventures so beloved. The transition of Indiana Jones from film to video game is seamless, but in all honesty, that shouldn’t come as a surprise. It turns out that being an adventurer searching across the world for treasure and punching Nazis makes for a great video game!
The best part of Great Circle is Troy Baker’s performance. Emulating Harrison Ford is impossible, but Baker finds a way to make it his own, not only impressing us,but Ford as well.
