Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Xbox Game Pass: What is it, and what games are included?

By

xbox game pass compatible games halo 5 thumb
Microsoft Studios
On June 1, Microsoft launched the Xbox Game Pass program, which provides gamers with access to a catalog of Xbox 360 games for a flat monthly fee, as well as discounts on a number of Xbox One games. Fans have long been clamoring for such a program, especially given the existence of Sony’s PlayStation Now, which offers a similar service to PlayStation 4 devotees. Microsoft has promised to add new games to the catalog every month, and subscribers won’t need Xbox Live Gold to take advantage of the program (except to play online).

A subscription to Game Pass will run you $10/month, and you’ll need to download games to your hard drive. Before you commit, you probably want to know which games are included. We’ve got a handy, dandy list of free and discounted games available through the program. Happy gaming.

Recommended Videos

Xbox One games

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Title

Price
#IDARB $12
Blood Bowl 2 $32
The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 $16
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons $16
Defense Grid 2 $12
D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die $12
DmC Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition $24
Electronic Super Joy $8
Farming Simulator 15 $13
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition Not priced
Halo 5: Guardians $32
Halo: Spartan Assault $4
JumpJet Rex $8
Knight Squad $12
KYUB $8
Layers of Fear $16
Lumo $16
Mad Max $16
Massive Chalice $16
Max: The Curse of Brotherhood $12
Mega Coin Squad $12
Mega Man Legacy Collection $12
NBA 2K16 $32
OlliOlli $8
Payday 2: Crimewave Edition $16
Pumped BMX+ $8
Resident Evil 0 $16
Roundabout $8
Saints Row IV: Re-Elected $16
ScreamRide  $24
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse $16
Steredenn $10
Strider  $12
Sunset Overdrive $24
Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings $16
Super Time Force $12
Terraria $16
The Golf Club $24
The Swapper $12
WWE 2K16 $32
Related

Xbox 360 games

Borderlands 2
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Title
 A Kingdom for Keflings
A World of Keflings
 Age of Booty
Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts
Banjo-Tooie
Bionic Commando Rearmed 2
BioShock
BioShock 2
BioShock Infinite
Borderlands
Bound by Flame
Braid
Capcom Arcade Cabinet
CastleStorm
Comic Jumper
Comix Zone
Dark Void
de Blob 2
Defense Grid
Dig Dug
 Double Dragon Neon
 Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mysteria
Fable III
Final Fight: Double Impact
Flock!
Galaga Legions DX
Gears of War
Gears of War 2
Gears of War 3
Gears of War: Judgment
GRID 2
Hexic 2
Iron Brigade
Jetpac Refuelled
Joe Danger Special Edition
Joe Danger 2: The Movie
Joy Ride Turbo
Kameo
LEGO Batman
Metal Slug 3
Monday Night Combat
 Ms. Splosion Man
MX vs. ATV Reflex
N+
NeoGeo Battle Coliseum
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX+
Pac-Man Museum
Perfect Dark Zero
Sacred 3
Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space
Sam & Max Save the World
Samurai Shodown II
Sega Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd & Co.
 Sega Vintage Collection: Golden Axe
Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World
Sega Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage
Soul Calibur
Soul Calibur II HD
Spelunky
Splosion Man
Stacking
Tekken Tag Tournament 2
King of Fighters 98: Ultimate Match
The Maw
Toy Soldiers
Toy Soldiers: Cold War
Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown
Viva Piñata
Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise
XCOM: Enemy Within

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Nick Hastings
Nick Hastings
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick is a Portland native and a graduate of Saint Mary's College of California with a Bachelor's of Communication. Nick's…
Is Stardew Valley cross-platform?
Stardew Valley Multiplayer Fishing

Stardew Valley is a game made by just one person, but it has seen more success than most games made by dozens, or even hundreds, of people. It's even one of Digital Trends' top 50 video games of all time. Since its release in 2016, the game has been updated regularly with new features and content to keep its avid fans coming back. This includes an online multiplayer component that allows you and up to three friends to hang out on each other's farms. And with the recent trend of games allowing players on different platforms to join together, you may wonder if Stardew Valley offers cross-platform functionality. Here's everything we know about cross-platform support in Stardew Valley.
Is Stardew Valley cross-platform?
Stardew Valley does not offer cross-platform support, meaning you can't play online multiplayer between any of the systems the game is on. So if you want to team up with some friends, make sure you all are playing on the same platform, such as the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, or PC. Also be aware that whoever starts a multiplayer game is saving that shared world locally, meaning no one else can reenter that world without the host present.

The sad fact of the matter is there doesn't seem to be any indication that crossplay will come to Stardew Valley. The game's official Reddit still lists it as not being supported, and there was only one mention of it by the developer on Twitter back in 2018, when he responded to a question asking if crossplay would come to the game. He replied, "Unfortunately, there will not be crossplay. Apparently, the technical barriers are very high. It's still something I really want to add and I promise to look into it more closely, but first priority is getting the update out there." This was many years ago, and there has been no further information about cross-platform play since, so it seems very unlikely that we will see support for this functionality come to Stardew Valley.

Read more
Is Minecraft cross-platform?
The cover art for Minecraft.

Minecraft has long reigned as one of the most popular games available thanks to its nearly endless possibilities, regular updates, and charming vibes. If you're one of the millions of players who has invested thousands of hours into the game, you've almost certainly been rewarded with limitless excitement, laughter, and fun, But what about co-op? Playing with friends is one of the greatest ways to experience Minecraft after all. But in today's gaming landscape, there is a wide variety of platforms on which people play the game, which may lead you to wonder if you can join in on the fun with pals on other hardware. Below, we'll tell you what you need to know about cross-platform play in Minecraft.
Is Minecraft cross-platform?
The short answer is yes, Minecraft is cross-platform across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS, and Android. However, there are a few limitations we'll get into below.

Firstly, only Minecraft: Bedrock Edition supports cross-platform play. If you're using Minecraft: Java Edition on PC, you won't be able to play with friends on other platforms.

Read more
Best gaming headset deals: PS5, Xbox and PC
The Razer Nari Ultimate gaming headset with a gaming PC.

If you want to go online and do a serious bit of gaming, especially in a multiplayer game, then grabbing yourself one of the best gaming headsets out there is probably the way to go. Of course, going for a high-end gaming headset can be expensive, but there are some great options in the mid and budget-range that you could grab instead. That will help you save a little extra while still getting a relatively good experience, which is why we've gone out and found our favorite gaming headset deals to save you a bit of trouble. Also, while you're here, you may want to check out these great video game deals to stock up on some games.
Turtle Beach Ear Force Recon 50 wired gaming headset — $25, was $36

The Turtle Beach Ear Force Recon 50 wired gaming headset is one of the most affordable options in the market right now, but it has most of what you would need from a gaming headset. It’s equipped with high-quality 40mm speakers and an adjustable high-sensitivity microphone that will make your voice loud and clear when you talk. You can also remove the microphone when you’re not using it, and there are in-line controls in the Turtle Beach Ear Force Recon 50’s cable for volume and muting the microphone.

Read more