Xbox Game Passhas come a long way since its 2017 launch. When it debuted, Xbox Game Pass was home to just over 100 games, with some of the biggest beingHalo 5: Guardians,Payday 2,Saints Row 4, andNBA 2K16. Seven years later, Xbox Game Pass is now home to almost 500 titles, many of which can be played on consoles, PC, or on a variety of devices thanks toXbox Cloud streaming.
Xbox Game Pass gets better every year, and 2024 has been a testament to that. Long-awaited first-party sequels, huge AAA third-party releases, and countless great undie games have all arrived onXbox Game Passthis year, many on launch day.Listed in chronological order, these 12 Xbox Game Pass day-one titles are the best of the best this year.
Palworld - January 2024
Check OutPalworld on OpenCritic
Released back in January,Palworldwas the first major surprise of 2024, at least in the gaming world. An open-world game that merged the survival mechanics of games likeRustwith thecreature capture mechanics ofPokemon,Palworldgained a lot of publicity right away. One ofPalworld’s biggest highlights was its cooperative multiplayer, something that its release on Xbox Game Pass helped foster.
Palworld
WHERE TO PLAY
In this game, you can peacefully live alongside mysterious creatures known as Pals or risk your life to drive off a ruthless poaching syndicate. Pals can be used to fight and breed, or they can be made to work on farms or factories. You can even sell them or eat them.Survival: In a harsh environment where food is scarce and vicious poachers roam, danger waits around every corner. To survive, you must tread carefully and make difficult choices…even if that means eating your own Pals when the time comes.Mounts & Exploration: Pals can be mounted to traverse the land, sea and sky—allowing you to traverse all kinds of environment as you explore the world.Collect all kinds of exciting Pals to fight, farm, build, and work for you in this completely new multiplayer, open world survival and crafting game!
2016’sPersona 5gave thelong-running JRPG franchisea newfound sense of popularity in the West, and publisher Atlus has continued to capitalize on that popularity at every turn. Back in February, Atlus releasedPersona 3 Reload, a remake of the 2006 PS2 original. The remake received acclaim from many critics and fans, with its updated visuals, menu UI, and gameplay vastly improving an already-beloved game.Persona 3 Reloadwas Xbox Game Pass' first major AAA day-one hit of 2024.
Persona 3 Reload
Step into the shoes of a transfer student thrust into an unexpected fate when entering the hour “hidden” between one day and the next. Awaken an incredible power and chase the mysteries of the Dark Hour, fight for your friends, and leave a mark on their memories forever.Persona 3 Reload is a captivating reimagining of the genre-defining RPG, reborn for the modern era.Experience the pivotal game of the Persona series faithfully remade with cutting-edge graphics, modernized quality-of-life features, and signature stylish UI. Fully immerse yourself in an emotional, gripping journey with new scenes, character interactions, and additional voiceover. Choose how to meaningfully spend each day through various activities from exploring the Port Island to forging genuine bonds with beloved characters. Build and command your optimal team to take down otherworldly Shadows and climb closer to the truth.
Another Crab’s Treasure - April 2024
Check Out Game Rant’sAnother Crab’s Treasure Review
Flashing forward a few months,Another Crab’s Treasuremay not have had the same AAA luster asPersona 3 Reload, but it showed just how important indie games can be for Game Pass, filling a void in the service’s day-one line-up.Developed by Aggro Crab,Another Crab’s Treasurewas a vibrant, engaging, and genuinely funny Soulslike with a fairly strong environmentalist message. The fact that its hard bosses were absurd, its story was heartwarming, and protagonist Kril was genuinely relatable carried this game all on its own, but it definitely had a symbiotic relationship with Game Pass.
Another Crab’s Treasure
As Kril the hermit crab, you’ll need to wear the trash around you as shells to withstand attacks from enemies many times your size. Embark on an epic treasure hunt to buy back your repossessed shell, and discover the dark secrets behind the polluted ocean.TRASH OR TREASURE?In this undersea society, trash is not only a way of life, but a valuable resource, used for everything from fashion to firearms. But with the presence of trash comes a mysterious infection known as the Gunk, which could spell doom for the entire ocean.LEARN FROM NATUREAs Kril explores the ocean, he’ll gain a variety of Umami Techniques—powerful attacks learned from the denizens of the seas. Punch your enemies with the overwhelming might of a Mantis Shrimp, ensnare them with the horrifying Bobbit Worm, and much more.UNEXPLORED DEPTHSThe ocean goes deeper than one can imagine. Fight your way through kelp forests, coral reefs, sand castle cities, and even the unfathomable darkness of the deep-sea trenches, all in the name of getting back your prized shell.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 - May 2024
Check Out Game Rant’sSenua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Review
The first of just a few major Xbox first-party releases this year,Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2hit Xbox Game Pass back in May. After five years of anticipation, many fans had lofty expectations forHellblade 2, and it still achieved a great deal despite them.Hellblade 2set a new bar for video game graphics, its character writing was solid, and its use of binaural audio elevated the entire experience.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
The sequel to the award winning Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Senua returns in a brutal journey of survival through the myth and torment of Viking Iceland. Intent on saving those who have fallen victim to the horrors of tyranny, Senua faces a battle of overcoming the darkness within and without.A crafted experience of cinematic immersion:Sink deep into Senua’s world and story, with beautifully realized visuals and encapsulating sound.Senua’s unique perspective:Experience the world through Senua’s eyes and ears, as a Celtic warrior who experiences psychosis.A journey into Viking Iceland:An epic journey across 10th century Iceland, recreated from real locations in stunning detail.Every fight tells a story:Brutal and visceral combat as Senua battles for survival.
Dungeons Of Hinterberg - July 2024
Check Out Game Rant’sDungeons of Hinterberg Review
July 2024 was a good month for Xbox Game Pass, andDungeons of Hinterbergwas one of the service’s best additions that month. Though it’scategorized as an action-RPG, there’s more toDungeons of Hinterbergthan meets the eye. From slaying monsters to increasing social relationships to hunting for better gear,Dungeons of Hinterberghas plenty of unique gameplay elements to keep players engaged.
Dungeons of Hinterberg
Welcome to Hinterberg, a new tourist hotspot in the idyllic Austrian Alps! You play as Luisa, a burnt-out law trainee taking a break from her fast-paced corporate life to conquer the Dungeons of Hinterberg. There are plenty of dungeons to find and adventures to be had in Hinterberg – will Luisa be sent packing on her first day, or remain to become a Master Slayer? Only one way to find out…Snowboard down a glacier, zipline through the forest, climb a mountain, or have a coffee by the lake… There’s no shortage of places to discover while you’re out looking for your next dungeon!Monsters lurk around every corner in Hinterberg, and your sword and magic skills are essential for keeping them at bay. Harness the wind, conjure a snowboard out of thin air, or freeze your enemies in a jelly block!Braving a dungeon requires more than just cutting-edge sports gear and a good sword arm: Hinterberg’s dungeons are full of puzzles that will surprise and challenge you. Use your head, your magic skills, and every trick in the book to solve them!
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess - July 2024
Check Out Game Rant’sKunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review
Capcom’s hot streak continued this year withKunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, an action-strategy game that released on Xbox Game Pass back in July. During the day, players will explore villages, rescue townsfolk, and set up traps. At night, they’ll lead their makeshift armies in an intense fight against evil spirits.Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddessearned some excellent reviews, and it became the first in a long line of excellent2024 Xbox Game Pass strategytitles.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
A new tale of the Kami awaits…Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a unique Japanese-inspired, single player Kagura Action Strategy game.The game takes place on a mountain covered by defilement.During the day, purify the villages and prepare yourself for sundown.During the night, protect the Maiden against the hordes of the Seethe.Repeat the day and night cycle until you cleanse the mountain of defilement and return peace to the land.The setting is Mt. Kafuku—a mountain covered in defilement. The game offers a taste of Japanese culture, including Kagura dance, masks, as well as the music that plays in the background.
Age of Mythology: Retold - September 2024
Check Out Game Rant’sAge of Mythology: Retold Review
2002’sAge of Mythologywas an acclaimed spin-off oftheAge of Empiresfranchise, which traded the original series' historical battles for mythical ones. This year’sAge of Mythology: Retoldremakes the beloved 2002 RTS, bringing updated visuals, control schemes, UI elements, and refined gameplay mechanics to the table. Checking it out for the first time or revisiting it via Xbox Game Pass is a novel experience.
Age of Mythology: Retold
From the creators of the award-winning Age of Empires franchise, Age of Mythology: Retold goes beyond history to a mythical age where gods, monsters, and humans collide. Combining the best elements of the beloved Age of Mythology with modern real-time strategy design and visuals, Retold is an epic and innovative experience for old and new players alike. Secure your domain, command legendary monsters, and call upon the power of the gods to crush your enemies.Will you become Mythic?Call Upon the GodsChoose your gods from the Greek, Norse, Egyptian, and Atlantean pantheons. Devastate your enemies by summoning powerful lightning storms, earth-shattering quakes, and even the famed Nidhogg dragon. Or call upon nourishing rains and protective Dryads to help your people grow & prosper.Unleash the MonstersUnleash Centaurs, Trolls, Mummies, and more. From bejeweled crocodiles who harness the power of the sun to the mighty one-eyed Cyclops, you will command diverse units inspired by the world’s great mythologies.An Epic Mythological UniverseEmbark on multiple campaigns spanning 50-missions that take you across a vast, mythical world: besiege the mighty walls of Troy, battle Giants in the frozen wastes of Midgard, and discover the mysteries of Osiris in the shifting sands of Egypt. Become a hero of myth—or even a god.Better with FriendsPlay with your friends, either head-to-head or against the advanced AI on dozens of randomly generated maps and scenarios for limitless re-playability.
Frostpunk 2 - September 2024
Check Out Game Rant’sFrostpunk 2 Review
Frostpunk 2
The game takes place 30 years after the apocalyptic blizzard that has taken place in Frostpunk. Earth is still overwhelmed by the neverending frost and harsh, icy climate. You play as the leader of a resource-hungry metropolis where expansion and internal conflicts are an unavoidable reality. It’s up to you to make decisions about your City’s future and face their consequences.In Frostpunk 2 you’re able to build your City on a new scale by creating entire districts with different purposes. verify that all parts of the City work well together as well as research technologies that will set the direction for your citizens’ progress.THE CITY MUST NOT FALL “Frostpunk 2 is still a game about the City and its society,” states Jakub Stokalski, game Co-Director and Design Director at 11 bit studios. “But inner turmoils, sparked by rising social differences, mean that players will be facing new kinds of threats. We use a post-apocalyptic setup to tell a meaningful story about human ambition. Because ultimately, what can end us is not nature itself – it’s human nature.”NAVIGATE BETWEEN FACTIONS AS A STEWARD As the City grows, creating and passing new laws becomes a more complex matter. The people slowly divide into factions with different, often contradictory visions of the future. The Council is a place where these ideas clash, sometimes violently. It’s your role as a Steward to ensure that the city will not fall because of those conflicts. Manage emerging crises while at the same time steering humanity towards a new destiny.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 - October 2024
Check Out Game Rant’sCall of Duty: Black Ops 6 Review
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Forced to go rogue. Hunted from within. This is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops.The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl - November 2024
Check Out Game Rant’sSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl Review
In spite of an ongoing invasion in their home country,STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl’s developersmanaged to finally release the long-awaited sequel last month. Though its launch was plagued by technical issues,STALKER 2’s hand-crafted world design, colorful cast of characters, engaging survival mechanics, and terrifying creatures all came together to makeSTALKER 2a worthwhile experience that lives up to expectations.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Chornobyl Exclusion Zone has changed dramatically after the second massive explosion in year 2006. Violent mutants, deadly anomalies, warring factions have made the Zone a very tough place to survive. Nevertheless, artifacts of unbelievable value attracted many people called S.T.A.L.K.E.R.s, who entered the Zone for their own risk striving to make a fortune out of it or even to find the Truth concealed in the Heart of Chornobyl.EPIC NONLINEAR STORY IN SEAMLESS OPEN WORLDTake over a role of the lone stalker and explore photorealistic seamless open world in a 64-km² radioactive zone with a variety of environments that reveal post-apocalyptic atmosphere from different angles. Make your way through the Zone to define your destiny as you choose your paths within highly branching epic story.VARIETY OF ENEMIES AND HUNDREDS OF WEAPON COMBINATIONSMeet members of different factions deciding who of them worth your friendship and who deserve a bullet. Engage intense gunfights with a variety of enemies that follow different tactics trying to outsmart you. Choose your preferable firearms from 30+ types of weapons with numerous modifications that allow creating hundreds of distinctive lethal combinations.
