Xbox Game Pass is one of the best bang-for-your-buck subscription services in gaming, giving Xbox players access to hundreds of quality games for an attractive price. However, with so many options to choose from, it could be intimidating. But worry not: here are the 20 best games on Xbox Game Pass as of November 2023.
The Best Games on Game Pass for November 2023
Football Manager 24 Console
Unlike other series such as EA FC or eFootball, Football Manager doesn’t let you control the actual football action on the pitch. Instead, the series puts you in the shoes of a manager whose job is to construct tactics, manage squad dynamics, and develop players. On paper, it doesn’t sound nearly as engaging as controlling the actual players. But in execution, it’s one of the most in-depth and immersive experiences in sports gaming/simulation.
The console version of Football Manager 24 is available on Xbox Game Pass, and even though it doesn’t offer as much complete control as its PC counterpart, the game is still loaded with content and mechanics that soccer fans will enjoy.
High On Life
High on Life from Squanch Games is a bizarre take on the first-person shooter, following a silent protagonist who fights against a malevolent alien faction known as the G3 Cartel. Instead of using traditional guns seen in most FPS titles, you’re given access to Gatlians, which are sentient and living guns with personalities.
Conceptualized and created by Rick & Morty co-founder Justin Roiland, the game has an added layer of controversy attached to it not only for it including the signature love-it-or-hate-it humor from the aforementioned show but also due to Roiland’s alleged misdeeds in real-life. However, if you’re willing to look past all of the baggage that comes with it and already enjoy the Rick & Morty schtick, High on Life could be worth a shot.
Batman: Arkham Knight
The Batman: Arkham series is one of the best examples of superhero video games done right. However, the latest game in the series — Batman: Arkham Knight — was a bit of a mixed bag. Unlike past titles, where you mostly ziplined around the dilapidated Gotham City and fought thugs with nothing but their bare hands, Arkham Knight polarized fans due to many missions taking place in the tank-like Batmobile.
But even if this kind of change doesn’t appeal to you, Arkham Knight still boasts a strong story and excellent voice acting that will hook any fan of the comic book hero. And for no additional cost on Game Pass, it’s definitely worth a play.
The Outer Worlds
Developed by Obsidian Entertainment — the same team behind classics such as Fallout: New Vegas and Star Wars: KOTOR II — The Outer Worlds is an action RPG focused on an alternative timeline where life on Earth has become dominated by corporations, forcing intergalactic pilgrims to flee the planet in search of something new.
Living up to Obsidian’s reputation for crafting action RPGs with engaging stories, The Outer Worlds is a strong narrative-focused title that gives players multiple choices during their playthroughs. It might not be Obsidian’s magnum opus, but Outer Worlds is a strong first entry into what promises to be a successful new IP.
Fallout: New Vegas
Speaking of Obsidian Entertainment, Fallout: New Vegas is also available on Game Pass. Though it had a rough launch back in 2010, plagued by technical issues and bugs, Fallout: New Vegas has been considered by modern gaming media and gamers alike to be one of, if not the, best games in the Fallout series.
Containing the series’ traditional retrofuturistic panache, New Vegas takes place on a post-apocalyptic West Coast, where you must survive the fallout of a nuclear war between the United States and China. If you have Game Pass and are one of the few who have yet to play Fallout: New Vegas, then there’s no time like the present to give this gem a shot.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Developed by a small team of 20 people, Ninja Theory’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is an achievement in independent game development. The title follows the titular Senua, a woman afflicted with an unnamed mental illness that causes her to hear voices.
These voices replace the traditional HUD feature and guide Senua as she embarks on a journey to Helheim — the underworld in Norse Mythology — to save the soul of her friend and lover Dillion. Equal parts terrifying, anxiety-inducing, beautiful, and haunting, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice wreaks havoc upon the senses and tells a story that is as well fleshed out as it is efficient.
Minecraft
Since its initial release in 2011, Minecraft has become not only one of the most popular sandbox games in history but one of the most popular games in any genre. In Minecraft, the only limit to what you can do is your own imagination as it drops you into a blocky procedurally generated world where you can build, destroy, or do battle with NPCs, be it alone or with a friend. If you haven’t already experienced this charming title, then installing Minecraft from Game Pass is a must.
Psychonauts 2
A sequel to the 2005 cult classic, Psychonauts 2 puts you in the shoes of Raz, a trainee of a task force known as the Psychonauts who employ psychics to stop villainous plots. Formatted as a modern platformer and equipped with some rather profound commentary on mental health, the game sees Raz explore various minds in a quest to uncover a mole within the Psychonauts organization and to foil a plot involving the resurrection of a previously defeated foe.
Psychonauts 2 is quirky, smart, and about as fun a narrative-focused platformer as you can find. And if you haven’t tried it yet, you’re doing yourself a disservice.
As Dusk Falls
Let’s say that you’re in the mood for a purely narrative experience as opposed to one seen in more traditional video games. In that case, Interior Night’s As Dusk Falls might be exactly what you’re looking for.
An interactive movie-type game (one that also was showcased at the Tribeca Film Festival), As Dusk Falls focuses on two families in Arizona over the course of three decades following a robbery gone wrong. Like many of its point-and-click contemporaries, As Dusk Falls offers multiple outcomes based on the choices you make.
As pointed out in our review of the title, the game’s story is nothing short of gripping and is anchored by brilliant writing and strong acting. If you’re a fan of Telltale games or titles such as Life is Strange, As Dusk Falls is essential viewing (or playing?).
Forza Motorsport
While the racing genre is chock full of arcade titles, such as Need for Speed, sim racers provide us fans with a more realistic and in-depth experience. Among the more popular games is Forza Motorsport, a meaty yet accessible racing title that provides you with a ton of car options and circuits to speed through at your leisure. The latest entry into the series is available on Game Pass, and if you’re in the market for a no-frills sim racer, Forza Motorsport is a must-play.
Doom Eternal
A sequel to the well-received 2016 Doom reboot, Doom Eternal is one of the most visceral experiences in gaming. Armed with stunning visuals, responsive gunplay, and Mick Gordon’s crushing down-tuned soundtrack, Doom Eternal doubles down on the franchise’s notoriety for gratuitous violence and demon-slaying in a satisfying and no-nonsense way.
Yes, the game has a bit more of a focus on narrative than previous series offerings. But despite the unneeded added nuance, Doom Eternal still hits like a brick to the teeth and is essential to anyone who considers themselves a fan of shoot-em-ups.
Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite is a bit of a curious case when it comes to the franchise. Ditching the traditional linear experience offered by the series, Halo Infinite puts Master Chief in a quasi-open world where you have the opportunity to take down Banished strongholds. This change in direction — as well as a bare-bones multiplayer component — divided fans of the series. However, at its core, Halo Infinite is a very good game and is worth a play, even if it might not be for you at the end of the day.
Hitman 3
IO Interactive’s Hitman 3 is nothing short of a triumph when it comes to stealth gameplay. Divided into six levels, you again assume control of the precise and enigmatic Agent 47 as he travels the globe from Berlin to Dubai in search of high-ranking officials within a nefarious organization known as Providence.
Hitman 3 serves as the final installment in the World of Assassination trilogy, and boy, does it stick the landing. If you’re a fan of stealth games and a well-crafted story, Hitman 3 is a great shout and will challenge even the most ardent of stealth fans.
No Man’s Sky
While No Man’s Sky is certainly known for its notoriously botched launch back in 2016, the game has since become one of gaming’s biggest comeback stories. Set in a close-to-infinite universe of procedurally generated planets made for players to explore, discover, and build upon, No Man’s Sky is an endless sandbox where the possibilities are innumerable.
Now featuring multiplayer, more planetary diversity, PvE combat, and much more, No Man’s Sky isn’t the game that was universally panned over seven years ago. Instead, it’s now arguably one of the most expansive and impressive video games ever made. And it’s available on Game Pass, which really gives you no excuse to skip out on it.
Like a Dragon: Ishin!
Though the mainline Yakuza games remain the centerpiece of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s iconic beat-em-up/action-adventure mashup, its spinoffs have mostly been on par in terms of quality. Like a Dragon: Ishin! being set in Edo period Japan is in stark contrast to the franchise’s mostly modern settings, but it still packs a good, hefty punch.
The game’s plot focuses on the main character Sakamoto Ryoma, a ronin samurai who struggles to settle into regular society. Featuring a fresh take on the real-time Yakuza combat that everyone’s come to love over the years, Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a ton of fun and could hold over the series’ fans until they finally bring themselves to get the latest entry, Like a Dragon Gaiden.
Inside
Anyone familiar with Limbo — the previous offering from Playedead — will surely be familiar with 2016’s Inside. Upon its release, the puzzle platformer that follows a boy traveling through a malevolent and monochromatic world generated tons of hype — and it was well deserved.
Inside‘s dark and brooding visuals and atmosphere build upon the amazing groundwork developer Playdead set with Limbo in 2010. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind title, and once you finish it, it will stick with you for days, weeks, months, years, or possibly the rest of your life. It must be experienced to be believed.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
While Halo Infinite might be a point of contention amongst the series’ fanbase, one thing is for certain — the Halo series as a whole is awesome. And if you’re in the mood to play the best games in the series, then Halo: The Master Chief Collection is a must-play.
A compilation of games including Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo Reach, and Halo 4, the Master Chief Collection lets you relive the greatest moments of the franchise, be it in the campaign modes or multiplayer. Without a doubt, the Halo series is among the most influential first-person video game IPs out there, and a one-stop shop for its most revered titles is certainly a tempting download.
Grand Theft Auto 5
Undeniably the most popular video game ever created, Grand Theft Auto 5 is just as much now as it was when it launched in 2013. The game’s campaign — which follows a ragtag three protagonists — is still packed to the brim with fun, and its highly profitable GTA Online is as popular as it’s ever been. Yes, most GTA fans are very much over Grand Theft Auto 5 and are eagerly awaiting the next installment of the series. But for now, you could do a lot worse than GTA 5 and its massive online community.
Starfield
A passion project of sorts from legendary developer Bethesda, Starfield builds upon the company’s signature formula and is arguably the greatest game it has ever produced. A combination of space travel and everything great about Bethesda games such as Fallout and Skyrim, Starfield is an RPG with tons of depth and is sure to hook players for hours on end. Is it the generation-defining title it was cracked up to be prior to its release this past September? Well, no. But Starfield is still an excellent title and will reward those who choose to invest in its rich world.
A Plague Tale: Requiem
There’s no other way to put it — A Plague Tale: Requiem is an absolute triumph. Developed by Asobo Studio and a sequel to the well-received A Plague Tale: Innocence, Requiem continues Amicia’s story as she attempts to look for a cure for her brother Hugo’s blood disease while navigating the fallout from the French Inquisition, as well as avoiding Bubonic plague-infested rats like… well, the plague.
It’s a powerful tale of perseverance that builds upon its predecessor in almost every conceivable way and is arguably one of the best single-player games in recent years.
These are the best games on Xbox Game Pass as of November 2023. Be sure to continually check GameSkinny for more on the best games available on Game Pass month to month.
