Game Pass has been through the wringer lately—between a major price hike and a messy tier reshuffle in late 2025, it’s never been harder to answer the simplest question: is it still worth it? Here’s the thing: whatever you think about the business side, the games are still doing a lot of heavy lifting. And March 2026 is quietly becoming a great month to be subscribed, thanks to big back-catalog muscle and a Wave 2 lineup that’s about to dump multiple all-timers onto Xbox and PC.
Below is a journalist’s pick of the 25 best Game Pass games you can play right now on Xbox and PC—plus the key late-March additions (like Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth) that are about to reshape a lot of “best of” lists the moment they land.
The 25 best Game Pass games (Xbox & PC) right now
Game Pass is at its best when it gives you range: a prestige RPG you’d normally “wait for a sale” on, a weird indie you’d never gamble money on, and a comfort-food evergreen you can sink into for months. This list leans into that philosophy—big swings, different vibes, and games that justify the subscription on their own.
1) Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Warhorse Studios’ medieval RPG is a bruising, mud-under-the-fingernails commitment to realism—social status matters, combat is unforgiving, and the immersion is the point. It’s also the kind of deep, time-consuming RPG that Game Pass is perfect for: you can try it without buyer’s remorse, then lose your life to it anyway.
Where to play: Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S (available via Game Pass Premium and Ultimate)
2) Cyberpunk 2077
A “monster back-catalog addition” that instantly changes the value proposition of the service. If you bounced off at launch years ago—or never touched it—Game Pass is now the easiest on-ramp to one of the biggest open-world RPG sandboxes around.
Where to play: Platforms and tiers vary by subscription; availability is confirmed as a major catalog addition.
3) The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Still the gold-standard comfort meal for open-world RPG fans, and another huge catalog get. If you’ve somehow never ridden with Geralt, Game Pass just removed the last excuse.
Where to play: Platforms and tiers vary by subscription; availability is confirmed as a major catalog addition.
4) Avowed
Obsidian’s RPG is a mission statement for what Game Pass should be funding: a confident, medium-scope, characterful adventure that doesn’t need to be a 200-hour lifestyle game to matter. Strong writing, striking art, and combat that shows real polish from a veteran RPG studio.
Where to play: Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S (Game Pass Premium and Ultimate)
5) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
A Belle Époque-inspired French fantasy RPG with a morbidly clever premise and combat that blends turn-based strategy with real-time action. It’s already been positioned as one of 2025’s most acclaimed games—and it’s also about to get even more accessible as it expands to additional Game Pass tiers in early April.
Where to play: Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S (Ultimate now; expands to Premium on April 2)
6) The Alters
11 Bit Studios does what it does best: high-pressure survival management with moral weight. The hook—creating alternate versions of yourself shaped by different life choices—isn’t just a gimmick; it’s the engine for the game’s stress, strategy, and story.
Where to play: Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S (Ultimate now; expands to Premium on March 18)
7) Blue Prince
One of the most original indie concepts in recent memory: an “architectural roguelike puzzle mystery” where you draft rooms in a mansion that resets daily. It’s the kind of game that makes you feel clever, then makes you feel lost, then makes you obsessed.
Where to play: Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S (Game Pass Premium and Ultimate)
8) Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (arriving March 19)
A landmark RPG—less about builds and loot, more about identity, ideology, and the messy theater of being a person. It’s finally hitting Xbox and Game Pass, and it’s absolutely the kind of “drop everything” addition that makes Wave 2 feel like a statement.
Where to play (on release): Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass)
9) Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (arriving March 31)
The modern reset button for Resident Evil: first-person horror, suffocating atmosphere, and a return to the series’ nastier, more intimate roots. If you want a single Game Pass download that can still ruin your evening in the best way, this is it.
Where to play (on release): Cloud, Console, PC (Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass)
10) Minishoot’ Adventures
A genuinely brilliant mash-up: twin-stick shooter combat with the structure and charm of a classic 2D Zelda. Tight feel, smart progression, bullet-hell bosses, and yes—dungeons. It’s “small” in scale, but it’s premium in execution.
Where to play: Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC (Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass)
11) 1000xResist
A sci-fi narrative experience that leans closer to visual novel simplicity, but uses that restraint to deliver a gripping, artfully composed story about clones, memory, and myth-making. If you care about games as storytelling, this is essential.
Where to play: Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S (Premium and Ultimate)
12) Citizen Sleeper
A tabletop-flavored RPG about survival on a space station under capitalism’s boot. Dice rolls, time management, and relationships become your lifeline. It’s tense, stylish, and packed with writing that sticks.
Where to play: Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S (Premium and Ultimate)
13) Cities: Skylines
A genre pillar that city planners love for a reason: it’s not just a spreadsheet with roads. It’s a living system where citizens behave like people, and your “solutions” create new problems. If you want a forever game on Game Pass, this is one of the safest bets.
Where to play: Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S (Essential, Premium, Ultimate)
14) Absolum (arriving March 25)
A retro-arcade beat ’em up fused with roguelite structure, built by Guard Crush Games and Supamonks and published by Dotemu. Deep combat, elemental powers, and co-op ambitions—plus it’s finally making its Xbox Series debut the same day it hits Game Pass.
Where to play (on release): Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass)
15) Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (arriving March 24)
Two leads—Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu—one massive RPG that spans Japan and Hawaii. This is a huge get for Game Pass: a modern, big-budget RPG with personality for days and a combat system that thrives on chaos.
Where to play (on release): Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC (Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass)
16) South of Midnight (expanding to Premium March 18)
An action-adventure from Compulsion Games that leans into Deep South mythos and modern folktale energy, with a “weaving” power used to overcome obstacles and confront what’s haunting your hometown. It’s also a notable tier expansion: Premium members get access starting March 18.
Where to play (Premium expansion): Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC
17) The Long Dark (arriving March 30)
A survival game that understands the scariest monster is the environment. No zombies—just cold, hunger, and the consequences of every decision. It’s thoughtful, slow-burn, and brutally satisfying.
Where to play (on release): Cloud, Console, PC (Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass)
18) Final Fantasy IV (Pixel Remaster) (arriving April 7)
One of the foundational JRPGs, coming in Pixel Remaster form. Game Pass continuing to roll out classic Final Fantasy entries is a big deal for preservation and accessibility—especially for players who missed the era.
Where to play (on release): Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass)
19) DreamWorks Gabby’s Dollhouse: Ready to Party
A family-friendly 3D adventure built around mini-games, collectibles, and co-op play. It’s not for everyone, but it’s a meaningful part of Game Pass’ pitch: a subscription that can serve an entire household, not just the person chasing 60-hour RPGs.
Where to play: Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass)
20) Nova Roma (Game Preview) (arriving March 26)
A city builder heading into Game Preview and launching day one into Game Pass for Ultimate and PC Game Pass. The pitch: build a new Rome, appease the gods, and grow from village to envy-of-the-world empire.
Where to play (on release): PC (Ultimate, PC Game Pass)
21) Valorant (Game Pass benefits + new Agent March 18)
Not a “Game Pass game” in the traditional sense, but the benefits matter: subscribers get access to all agents, and a new Agent (Miks) is arriving March 18. If you’re active in competitive shooters, that perk is real value.
Where to play: PC and Console (benefits via Ultimate, Premium, Essential, PC Game Pass)
22) Sea of Thieves (Season 19 begins March 19)
Still one of Xbox’s signature live-service sandboxes, and Season 19 is bringing improved Hourglass PvP battles, limited-time events, multi-ship faction clashes, and the usual pile of cosmetics and progression.
Where to play: Console and PC (Ultimate, PC Game Pass)
23) Resident Evil Village
Resident Evil 7’s louder, more action-forward sibling—and notably, it joined Game Pass in late January 2026. If you’re about to play RE7 at the end of March, Village is sitting right there as the natural follow-up.
Where to play: Platforms/tiers not fully detailed here, but its Game Pass arrival in January 2026 is confirmed.
24) Planet of Lana 2
Mentioned as one of the notable early-March additions. If you’re looking for something that contrasts the month’s horror and RPG heavies, this is the kind of pick that typically rounds out a “best of Game Pass” list with a different pace and tone.
Where to play: Details not confirmed here beyond its arrival timing.
25) Hollow Knight: Silksong
Yes, it’s referenced as part of the huge 2025 year for Game Pass. If it’s still in the catalog for you, it remains one of the most important modern metroidvania experiences—an anchor title that helps explain why people keep coming back to the service even when the pricing conversation gets ugly.
Where to play: Availability is referenced as a 2025 addition; current tier/platform specifics aren’t confirmed here.
What’s new on Game Pass in late March (Wave 2), and why it matters
Microsoft’s March 2026 Wave 2 lineup isn’t just filler—it’s the kind of drop that changes what you recommend to friends who are “thinking about subbing for a month.”
Here are the key dates and platforms that matter most for Xbox and PC players:
- March 18: South of Midnight expands to Game Pass Premium (Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC)
- March 18: The Alters expands to Game Pass Premium (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC)
- March 19: Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC)
- March 24: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC)
- March 25: Absolum (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC) — also its Xbox Series release date
- March 26: Nova Roma (Game Preview) (PC) — day one on Game Pass
- March 30: The Long Dark (Cloud, Console, PC)
- March 31: Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (Cloud, Console, PC)
- April 2: Barbie Horse Trails (Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC)
- April 2: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 expands to Game Pass Premium
- April 7: Final Fantasy IV (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC)
The headline here is variety with teeth. You’ve got prestige RPGs (Disco Elysium, Infinite Wealth), modern horror royalty (RE7), a critical-darling survival experience (The Long Dark), and a combat-forward indie with real arcade DNA (Absolum). That’s not “one more month for backlog”—that’s a curated argument for why the library still matters.
The quiet MVPs: back-catalog power is carrying early 2026
Early 2026 has been described as “a bit quieter” compared to a huge 2025 full of major day-one drops. But the counterpunch has been brutal: Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are the kind of catalog additions that instantly elevate the service for both Xbox and PC players.
This is the part of the Game Pass strategy that doesn’t get enough credit: not every month needs a brand-new tentpole if the library keeps absorbing games that are already proven time-sinks. A lot of players don’t need “new”—they need “great, finally included.”
And when you combine that with March Wave 2 adding games like Disco Elysium and Resident Evil 7, you get a month that feels less like a lull and more like a recalibration: fewer flashy day-one headlines, more undeniable classics.
What Remains Unknown
Even with a clear Wave 2 roadmap, there are still a few practical questions that matter to anyone trying to plan their playtime (or their subscription month):
- How long major additions will stay in the catalog. No official end dates have been announced for the Wave 2 arrivals beyond the usual “leaving soon” list.
- Tier specifics for some catalog highlights. Some major games are confirmed as additions (like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3), but full tier-by-tier availability isn’t fully detailed here.
- Whether more “day-one” drops are coming soon. Beyond Nova Roma (day one in Game Preview), additional near-term surprises haven’t been officially announced in this batch.
Quick note: games leaving Game Pass on March 31
Only two titles are confirmed to be exiting at the end of the month:
- Peppa Pig World Adventures (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Mad Streets (Cloud, Console, PC)
If you’ve been waiting for a reason to re-up—or you’ve been subscribed but coasting—late March is your cue. Disco Elysium, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and Resident Evil 7 alone are enough to justify a serious Game Pass binge on Xbox Series X|S and PC. And that’s before you even factor in the back-catalog heavy hitters that are already sitting there, daring you to “just try it for an hour.”
