Microsoft’s Game Pass has a lot of games.Whether you’re using it to get your hands on some of the most exciting new releases or to revisit your favorite classics, there’s plenty to choose from. Such an embarrassment of riches also means you might overlook a few titles.
To help you out, I’ve rounded up some hidden gems on Game Pass that are well worth your time, and all are playable on PC and Xbox.
10Arcade Paradise
Nosebleed Interactive’sArcade Paradiseoffers up that age-old challenge: can you turn your dad’s struggling laundromat into a thriving arcade? There’s an underlying story, and achieving success in the arcade business is paramount to progressing that narrative, but it’s really just a coat rack to hang a collection of absolutely brilliant playable arcade games on.
Much like other titles that have games inside of games, the ones inArcade Paradisearen’t just simple minigames; there’s a lot of thought and depth put into them. Earning money in the business is just a means to unlock even more games. There are 35 arcade machines in total, and that’s not even including the ones available through DLC.
9Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
Until Konami finallyrereleased the first twoSuikodentitles earlier in 2025,Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroeswas the closest it seemed like we were going to get to playing those classic JRPGs once again. However, even with that,Hundred Heroesis still a great, classic-style RPG worth playing.
With a story written by Yoshitaka Murayama, the director of those earlySuikodengames,Hundred Heroescarries forth many of the same elements. It includes a huge roster of potential party members (hence the game’s name!), frantic turn-based combat, and a twisty and political thriller of a plot.
8Neon Abyss
There certainly doesn’t seem to be a lack of 2D roguelike shooters out in the wild. While that’s great for fans of the genre, it also means there’s plenty that slips through the cracks. If you haven’t had a chance to get your hands onNeon Abyss, it’s time to correct that.
You won’t pay the plot ofNeon Abyssmuch mind, as you’ll be too busy unlocking new weapons, allies, characters, and buffs as you shoot your way, level by level—all to an absolutely amazing soundtrack. It’s almost like a 2D loot shooter. The base game is exciting enough, but if you dig it, the DLC packs are both exciting and pretty reasonably priced.
7Jade Empire: Special Edition
Jade Empireis an RPG that even people who don’t traditionally like the genre will enjoy. Even if you are into RPGs, however, this one may have flown right under your radar. Don’t sweat it, as you wouldn’t be the only one.
Jade Empireis Bioware’s missing link between the turn-based-but-free-roaming combat ofStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republicand the frantic gun battles ofMass Effect. Rather than weapons, you upgrade your martial arts skills during a quest set in a fantasy world based on ancient China. Soon, you’ll be up to your neck in fighting pirates, warriors, ghosts, and demons.
What makesRoad 96different from many adventure games is that the emphasis isn’t on the player character. Instead, it’s more about discovering the world and the other characters who inhabit it.
Road 96is set during an election year in an authoritarian dictatorship, and you assume the role of one of many teenagers trying to cross the border into a neighboring country that is presumably less dictator-y. There’s no real right or wrong way to play, so it’s fun to experiment and see what happens when you make different choices. Its slower pace and play style kept this off the radar of most, but it’s more than worth your time.
5Super Mega Baseball 4
When you think of sports games, I bet they usually fall under two distinct categories. They’re either high-end simulations, likeMaddenorMLB The Show, or over-the-top arcade bangers, such asNBA Jam. TheSuper Mega Baseballseries has balanced living in both worlds, creating a franchise that’s perfect for hardcore fans and casual players alike. Now that Metalhead Studios is under the EA banner,Super Mega Baseball 4is bigger than ever.
While theSMBseries has had a constant roster of amazing—and amazingly named—players (hello, Hammer Longballo), this entry also adds some real-life MLB legends, like David Ortiz and Randy Johnson. It also still retains the ego difficulty system, letting you easily find your own sweet spot between challenge and accessibility.
It’s also ridiculously customizable, letting you edit just about anything, from teams and players to leagues and conferences. Plus, withwatching actual sports getting pricier by the year, maybe it’s time to make your own fun?
4Jusant
When you base your game essentially around one mechanic, you better get that one mechanic perfectly right.Jusant, from publisher and developer Don’t Nod, builds its literal platformer around mountain climbing and nails it.
The concept ofJusantis simple: you’re climbing a tower to discover its secrets. You use the trigger buttons the same way you would their own hands, squeezing them in to hold on to a ledge. Like real climbing, you’ll need to watch your stamina, and verify everything is secure before going on. Unlike real climbing, you’ll also have to deal with unreal creatures and mystical elements that can cause gravity to reverse, among other things.
Games that rely on a single mechanic as a selling point don’t always set the world on fire and, while it was critically acclaimed,Jusantwas one that, sadly, didn’t. If you’re looking for a game to settle in and zone out to, however, strap on that harness and go climb this tower.
3Sunset Overdrive
Much like Bioware withJade Empire, Insomniac had their own dry run of sorts before unleashingMarvel’s Spider-Manseries. Similarly toMass Effect’s unfairly overlooked older sibling,Sunset Overdriveis not a game you want to sleep on. In fact, it wouldn’t be fair to say thatOverdriveran so thatSpider-Mancould web-swing—as you’ll find yourself doing way more than running in the former.
Overdrivehas you jumping into the shoes of what seems to be humanity’s only hope against a spreading horde of mutants created by an energy drink. This game is brimming with imagination, and the speeds you move across the city are downright frantic. There’s plenty to explore in this game but, in one of its rare downsides, it rarely slows down enough to actually do that.
2Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Is it fair to callNi No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdoma hidden gem? After all, it’s the sequel to one of the most beloved RPGs of its generation, and it certainly got its fair share of coverage upon release. However, as the years have gone by, I feel like it’s been forgotten, which is why I’m including it on this list. Plus, I’ll take any excuse to play this game—and therefore hear its exquisite soundtrack—one more time.
Playing the first game in this series,Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, is not a prerequisite for jumping into this sequel, though that is excellent too. WhileRevenant Kingdomwasn’t produced in tandem with the legendary animation Studio Ghibli like the first, it still retains that aesthetic and the whimsical storytelling the studio is known for. The emphasis on action is a bit more pronounced in this sequel (after all, one of the characters is the President of the United States and of course he has a gun), but it’s still a whimsical good time.
1Turnip Boy Robs a Bank
Lastly, this is another sequel that stands apart on its own.Turnip Boy Robs a Bankis the overwhelmingly charming sequel toTurnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion,but despite the consistent characters and bonkers lore they share, both games are solidly different.
WhileCommits Tax Evasionis a great riff on 16-bit RPGs of the past (and there’s plenty of those),Robs a Bankturns its satirical attention to roguelikes and Metroidvanias. Here, Turnip Boy and his crew manage to rob the same bank in each run; they just have a limited amount of time to get as much cash as they can before the police arrive.
Each run gets you deeper into the bank’s vaults and beyond, while the accumulating ill-gotten gains allow you to upgrade your equipment, making the job of bank robbing that much easier.
If you feel like you’ve run out of amazing games to play on Microsoft’s subscription service, these should keep you busy. Of course, the games available on the service are subject to change, so be sure to keep your eyes out for future hidden gems.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (3 months)
Xbox Ultimate Game pass gives you access to hundreds of games for both Xbox and PC. Games are added all the time, including new releases.
