Every year Microsoft seems to be investing more in theirs Xbox Game Pass Subscription service in an attempt to keep current subscribers signed in and persuade potential new members to take a look. Of all the years that Xbox Game Pass has been available so far, 2022 may be the best yet as Microsoft goes all out to ensure Xbox Game Pass subscribers always have something new to play.
Microsoft added new games to Xbox Game Pass multiple times each month throughout 2022. The new offerings ranged from brand new day-one releases to older but still incredible games. Xbox Game Pass subscribers have been treated to near-endless new games to try through their subscription service this year, though some might want to prioritize playing the best of the best.
With that in mind, here are the 10 best Xbox Game Pass games for 2022. The games listed here are not ranked by quality, rather by the month they were added to the service. Since many Xbox Game Pass games stay in service for about a year, this should help subscribers figure out which games to play first.
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Death Door (January)
The concept of mixture Dark Souls-style boss fights with The Legend of Zelda-Inspired exploration is nothing new, but few games do it quite as well The Door of Death. The Door of Death‘s received high marks for its challenging combat, immersive atmosphere, and unique boss fights when it first launched in 2021, but didn’t come to the Xbox Game Pass service until January 2022. Xbox Game Pass subscribers had to wait about six months after the The Door of Death first released to play the game via the subscription service, but many would agree that it was worth the wait and remains one of the strongest games on the platform to date.
Tunic (March)
Everyone who enjoyed it The Door of Death would probably get a kick tunic also since the games have a similar concept of shuffling together Dark Souls and The Legend of Zelda. Whereas The Door of Death has a dark and somber aesthetic, tunic has more upbeat graphics in which players take on the role of a sword-wielding fox embarking on a grand adventure. tunic Reviews were mostly positive when the game was released as a day one Xbox Game Pass game last March, and it was even nominated for multiple awards at The Game Awards.
Norco (March/November)
One of the biggest benefits of putting a game on Xbox Game Pass is that it immediately gets an audience of gamers who might never have tried it otherwise. This has allowed more obscure games to reach new heights, such as B. Point-and-click adventure games Norco. Norco was recognized as one of the best new game releases of the year, and with good reason. It has a sharp sense of humor, dark themes, and utilizes traditional point-and-click adventure game mechanics. Norco Bleeds style from its art style to its musical score, and it’s readily available for both PC and console Game Pass subscribers.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge (June)
That Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Franchise has a long history of providing quality beat ’em up games Shredder’s revenge perhaps one of the best the series has offered to date. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is a modern version of the classic TMNT Arcade beat ’em up gameplay with quality of life features to better appeal to modern audiences. TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge also supports up to six players in local and online co-op, and it’s an experience even better with friends. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge Widely considered one of the better action games released all year, and Xbox Game Pass subscribers were able to play it on day one.
Death Loop (September)
After Microsoft acquired Bethesda, it still had to fulfill certain contractual agreements made between Bethesda and Sony prior to the acquisition. This meant releasing some Bethesda-published games as timed PS5 console exclusives, like the critically acclaimed first-person shooter death loop. death loop spent a year as a PlayStation 5 game exclusive, but once the exclusivity window expired, it joined Xbox Game Pass as a day one game. death loop is one of the few games exclusive to Xbox Series X in Game Pass, and it’s also one of the better FPS experiences you can have with your subscription.
A Plague Tale: Requiem (October)
A Plague Tale: Requiem is one of the top rated new game releases of 2022, and as such its status as an Xbox Game Pass game on day one for the service was tremendous. The sequel to the cult hit A Plague Story: Innocence, A Plague Tale: Requiem continues the story of Amicia and Hugo fighting for survival against supernatural forces and human enemies alike. A Plague Tale: Requiem Makes good use of next-gen hardware and features over 300,000 rats on screen at once, all swarming together and chasing players like literal rat tsunamis. requiem offers impressive graphics, various improvements over its predecessor and an emotional story that turns out to be one of the best of the year.
Persona 5 Royal (October)
The most important for decades persona Franchise was console exclusive to the PlayStation brand, but now that has changed. Persona 5 Royalone of the highest rated video games of all time has finally made the leap to other platforms and made its Xbox debut as a Day One Game Pass game. Persona 5 Royal is the final version of individual 5, which gives fans even more content to try than the original release and offers a more immersive experience. Even more persona Games are making their way to Xbox Game Pass in the new year Persona 3 wearable and Persona 4 Gold Both are slated to join the Xbox Game Pass lineup in January 2023.
Repentance (November)
Obsidian Entertainment is one of Xbox’s most enduring first-party studios. It started a survival game Grounded Out of early access earlier this year and it also released the well-reviewed one Buses as an Xbox Game Pass game on day one. Described as a narrative RPG, Buses uses a unique art style inspired by medieval paintings to tell a compelling detective story. Obsidian has long been praised for its stories, and Buses proves that the studio still has a lot to offer in this area.
Chained Echoes (December)
Chained Echoes was overlooked this awards season for releasing so late in the year, but make no mistake, it’s easily one of the best games of 2022. Chained Echoes plays like a classic SNES-era JRPG, but with a lot more quality of life features that remove things from the genre that haven’t aged well. It features a lovable cast of multi-layered characters and tells a mature fantasy story while offering satisfying exploration and consistently challenging turn-based combat. Xbox Game Pass subscribers who have yet to play Chained Echoes should definitely give it a try, especially if you consider yourself a fan of classic 16-bit RPGs.
High on Life (December)
Justin Roiland’s Squanch Games hits the park with a comedic first-person shooter high in life. While professional high in life With admittedly mixed reviews, the game was embraced by the Xbox Game Pass community and catapulted to the top of the subscription service’s most played charts. high in life may not be for everyone, but it’s one of the most successful new Xbox Game Pass additions of the year and Rick and Morty Fans will likely find it to be one of the funniest titles they’ve played in years.
