Game Pass has been around for a long time now, giving subscribers a wide variety of games to play. The collection of titles on the service is always in a state of flux, with games being added and removed regularly.
As a result, it can be difficult to keep up with what games are actually there. That said, it's easier to remember the biggest titles, like Minecraft and Call of Duty Black Ops 7. Yet there are also a bunch of hidden gems in there that many forget about. Here is a collection of the lesser known titles.
Banishers: Ghosts Of New Eden
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is an action adventure game where you take control of a pair of Ghost Banishers. As the name suggests, their job is to go to haunted places and get rid of the ghosts there. However, it is more complicated than it sounds. One must investigate what led to the person's death and the reasons why they are still here. Then you have to decide what punishment they deserve, if any. This leads to some interesting moral dilemmas and plenty of compelling side stories. Without going into spoilers, the main story is equally compelling as it touches on subjects like love and loss.
I never would have played these games without Game Pass, and now I love them
Many great games can be discovered through Game Pass.
Outside of the investigations, you occasionally engage in battle against various spirit enemies. The combat isn't as engaging as the explorations, but it still provides a unique experience where you get to use both traditional and ghostly powers.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion
You don't get many 2D side-scrolling beat 'em ups these days. Still, Marvel Cosmic Invasion shows that these types of games still have plenty of charm. Not only does it offer the classic beat 'em up gameplay, but it even has old fashioned pixel graphics.
As you'd expect for a 2D beat 'em up, the story isn't very deep. It's a simple story of good versus evil as you try to stop an invasion. Those who fight on the side of good are a collection of heroes from Marvel comics. It features most of the characters you would expect, such as Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, Storm, She-Hulk, Wolverine and many more. Each hero plays differently and has their own powers, adding great variety to the already engaging combat system.
Planet of Lana 2
Planet of Lana 2 is best described as a puzzle adventure game. In it, you play as a person named Lana and her mysterious creature friend, Mui. You use the abilities of both to solve a variety of platforming puzzles. There aren't many mechanics or controls to be aware of, but the puzzles still manage to be varied, well-designed, and challenging.
Another good thing about the title is the storytelling. The characters don't speak, but you can still figure out what's going on based on what they're doing and their body language. It provides a unique way to tell a story.
Ball X Pit
Ball X Pit is a roguelite game that lets you go and shoot balls at enemies in front of you while the screen is scrolling. The moving screen keeps you getting closer to the enemy, who will deal damage if they hit or touch you. They're not just close range enemies either. Some of them fire projectiles themselves. So you have to dodge while shooting, which makes for a pretty frenetic and fast-paced experience.
While you start a run with a single ball, you unlock different ball types and upgrades as you play. This means that you become more deadly as time goes on. Also, things generally get more exciting. Deep into a run, the screen is filled with projectiles and mayhem, which is a big part of what makes this game fun. Outside of the runs, there's also a sweet city-building mechanic that you can team up with to prepare for your next run.
Lost Records: Bloom And Rage
Lost Records: Bloom and Rage is developed by Don't Nod, who also made the original Life is Strange. This is quite clear when you play the game, as there are certainly some similarities. This too is a narrative adventure game where you control teenage friends.
But in this title, you don't just control the teenage versions; there are two stories happening at the same time. A story takes place in 2022, where the group of friends meet for the first time in a while. The second story takes place in 1995 when they were teenagers. The whole story revolves around a secret they created already in their teens. The story isn't all linear though, as you make various choices that affect how it all plays out.
Lost In Random
The story of Lost in Random revolves around a pair of sisters. One is called Odd, and the other is Even. When they turn 12, they are both forced to roll a die. Whichever number it lands on dictates the world they will live in. Because of this, the two sisters are split up, but Even does not accept this and sets out on an adventure to reunite with Odd.
There's a distinct Tim Burton feel to both the art style and tone. Characters in particular have very unusual and distinctive designs. Meeting and interacting with these crops is part of the game's charm. The combat system is equally unusual, as it combines real-time combat with dice rolls and cards. Fighting in this game isn't as much fun as exploring the strange world, but both make this a fun and unique action-adventure title.
Small bookstore
In Tiny Bookshop, you run a small, mobile bookstore in a beautiful coastal town. The advantage of a mobile bookstore is that you don't have to stick to one place in that city. You can travel to different areas throughout the game to set up your shop, giving you different backgrounds and landscapes to admire as you run your business.
It's a fairly stress-free management simulator that gives you a nice, cozy feeling while playing. That said, there is still work you need to do. Every day you have to choose how many books of which genre you want to put on your shelves. To help you with this decision, the game lets you know which genres are most popular at the time. If someone comes in looking for a book you don't have, you've missed a sale. Therefore, there is little strategy in the game. Overall, though, this is a title that lets you relax.
Replaced
Replaced is a 2.5D action platformer that puts you in control of an AI that has accidentally taken over a human's body. However, you don't have too much time to think about the situation as you try to escape from the Phoenix Corporation you once worked for. In the process, you meet ordinary people whose lives have been ruined by the same company. Yes, this is a classic cyberpunk tale.
The visual style of the game immediately stands out, with a retro 16-bit art style and plenty of personality. The characters also have personality due to the game's strong writing. As for the gameplay, there is plenty of platforming and puzzle solving. But there are times when you can't get out of situations using your brain or jumping ability. So you have to face groups of enemies in close combat. It's pretty fast paced, but there's also strategy involved. This is because each enemy type must be taken down in a specific way, adding a nice challenge to the game.
For the King 2
The story of For The King 2 is quite simple. There is a queen who used to be loved but has now become a tyrant, so you must stop her and free the people. To accomplish that, you must embark on an adventure that involves turn-based tactical combat and some roguelite elements.
During large parts of the game, you travel around the world, completing missions and getting into small-scale battles with opposition groups. The battles are tactical in nature, meaning player position and using the right abilities are important. Still, no matter how much of a tactician you are, you're not likely to win every game. This is a roguelite after all, which means you're expected to die and restart the run better prepared. Overall, the combat has nice depth without being overwhelming. It is especially fun to play with friends.
Ultimate Chicken Horse
The title sounds absurd, but Ultimate Chicken House is an excellent competitive party game. The basic premise is that each player controls a colorful animal of their choice and must reach the specified end goal. But if you all reach the finish line, no one gets any points. So the real goal is to reach the end goal and make sure the others don't.
To help with this, each player gets to place either an obstacle or a platform at the end of each round. Therefore, you must try to make it feasible for yourself but difficult for your opponents. It's strategic and entertaining.
8 Best Action-Adventure Games on Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass includes some excellent action-adventure games.
