Xbox Games Pass Games You Can't Miss Out On (January 2025)

Xbox Game Pass has exploded to over 450 console titles and 400+ PC games, making it both exciting and overwhelming to figure out what to play next. Trust me, I know - I've sunk an embarrassing number of hours into the service's sprawling library this past year.

The thing about Game Pass is how it manages to surprise you. Sure, you've got your heavy hitters like Starfield and Diablo 4 dominating the headlines, but dig a little deeper and you'll find some absolute gems that deserve just as much attention. Want a quick action fix? Got you covered. Craving a hundred-hour RPG that'll consume your life? There's plenty of those too.

Game Pass keeps getting better with each passing month. Between the day-one releases of major titles and regular library updates, 2025 feels like the perfect time to jump in. I've picked out 15 games that really showcase what makes the service special - everything from massive open-world adventures to challenging metroidvanias like Hollow Knight. Let's dive into what makes each one worth your time.

Starfield

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Holy space exploration, Batman! Bethesda's massive RPG Starfield isn't just another Game Pass title - it's the cornerstone of Microsoft's entire 2024 lineup. Picture this: it's 2330, and you've got over 1,000 planets to explore across multiple star systems. Yeah, you read that right - a thousand planets.

Starfield Gameplay Features

Remember when games just gave you a single city to explore? Starfield laughs at that idea. New Atlantis, the game's biggest handcrafted city, is just the beginning. You can bounce between first and third-person views while you're out there living your best space life, crafting everything from basic meds to entire outposts.

The real star of the show? Ship customization. Want to slap some extra guns on your ship? Go for it. Need better shields? They're yours. The game even throws in different gravity levels on various planets, which makes both fighting and exploring feel fresh on each world.

Starfield Best Builds and Strategies

Look, there's no wrong way to play Starfield, but some builds are just too fun to ignore:

• Grenadier: For when you want to rain explosives from your jetpack
• Leader: Because who doesn't want a space entourage?
• Heavy Tank: Perfect for players who prefer the "walk straight into gunfire" approach
• Silent Assassin: When you're feeling more "space ninja" than "space marine"

Starfield Game Pass Benefits

Here's where Game Pass really shines - instead of dropping $70 on the base game, you're getting it for just $10 monthly on PC or $11 on Xbox Series consoles. You get everything except the Shattered Space DLC, which yeah, you'll need to buy separately.

Game Pass Ultimate subscribers get even more goodies, like DLC discounts and exclusive content. The cherry on top? Cloud gaming support means you can play on practically anything - even your old Xbox One can join the space race.

Hi-Fi Rush

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You know what's wild? Tango Gameworks dropped this rhythm-action gem out of nowhere, and it's easily one of the coolest surprises on Game Pass. The setup is pure video game magic - you play as Chai, this wannabe rockstar who ends up with an MP3 player fused to his chest after a corporate procedure goes sideways.

Hi-Fi Rush Combat System

The combat here isn't just button mashing - it's like conducting your own personal symphony of pain. Every attack automatically vibes with the music's beat, making you feel like a natural even if you think you've got two left feet. You've got light attacks that take one beat, heavy hits that need two, and when you really get flowing, you can chain these into these absolutely sick Beat Hits and tag-team finishers with your buddies.

Hi-Fi Rush Music and Rhythm Mechanics

The whole world just... grooves. I'm not being metaphorical - everything from the environments to character animations pulses with the soundtrack. They've packed in some killer licensed tracks from Nine Inch Nails and The Black Keys, plus original stuff that absolutely slaps. And hey, streamers - they've got your back with a mode that swaps licensed tunes for custom tracks so you won't get DMCA'd into oblivion.

Hi-Fi Rush Boss Battles

Each boss fight feels like headlining your own concert, complete with unique musical themes. The final showdown with Kale? Pure rock opera in three acts, each one demanding different strategies and perfect timing. You'll need to:

• Time your parries to the beat like you're in drum practice
• Call in your companions like you're managing a band
• Roll with the changing patterns like a jazz improvisation

I was blown away by how deep the combat gets once you really dig in. Master the rhythm, and you'll be pulling off combinations that look like they belong in a music video. It's that rare sweet spot - easy to pick up but tricky to master - and that's exactly why it deserves its spot among Game Pass's finest.

Forza Horizon 5

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Forza Horizon 5 turns Mexico into your personal playground, and trust me, it's something else. From pristine beaches to snow-capped volcanoes, every inch of terrain feels crafted for a different kind of racing thrill.

Forza Horizon 5 Car Collection

Want cars? How about 892 of them? That's the current count as of January 2025. The collection system works like this massive digital sticker book where you're constantly hunting down new rides, from classic muscle to modern hypercars. The best part? You're not just stuck buying them - you can snag new wheels through Wheelspins, Festival Playlist rewards, or try your luck at the Auction House.

Forza Horizon 5 Racing Modes

The game splits its racing action into five distinct flavors:

• Road Racing: Where your fancy supercars get to stretch their legs
• Street Racing: Think tight corners and city lights
• Dirt Racing: For when you want to get your all-wheel-drive monsters muddy
• Cross Country: Because sometimes you need to break your suspension
• Drag Racing: Pure acceleration warfare

Each type comes in two flavors - Horizon Rally for the time trial enthusiasts, and Horizon Race when you want to show the AI who's boss.

Forza Horizon 5 Online Features

The multiplayer magic happens with up to 12 players racing together. Got friends? Form a Convoy and tear across Mexico as a squad, doesn't matter if they're on Xbox or PC. The Horizon Arcade keeps the action flowing with zero loading screens. And if you're feeling creative, EventLab lets you build your own automotive playground. Plus, there's fresh stuff to do every week with seasonal updates dropping new challenges and goodies.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

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MachineGames is bringing Indy to Game Pass, and this isn't just another movie tie-in game. Set in 1937, The Great Circle looks like the Indiana Jones adventure I've been dreaming about since I first watched Raiders as a kid.

Great Circle Story Overview

The story slots perfectly between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, kicking off when Indy starts poking around a stolen artifact case. You'll be jetting from Vatican City to Thailand, Egypt, and Shanghai. The whole thing revolves around this wild concept of the Great Circle - these mysterious sites that, when mapped together, form a perfect circle. Of course, there are some nasty folks who want to use its power for themselves.

Great Circle Combat System

Remember those old Indy games where you just shot everything? Yeah, this isn't that. The combat here is all about getting creative:

• Sneaking around in disguises and hiding bodies like a proper spy
• Trading punches with timing-based blocks that would make Henry Jones Sr. proud
• Using that iconic whip to disarm goons and create openings
• Grabbing whatever's handy - from shovels to guitars - and making it hurt

Don't expect to go in guns blazing though - ammo's about as rare as a honest artifact dealer. Plus, there's this neat stamina system that makes every fight feel like a desperate scramble for survival.

Great Circle Puzzle Mechanics

It wouldn't be Indy without some head-scratching puzzles, and The Great Circle delivers everything from ancient tomb mechanisms to modern ciphers. The coolest part? When you're stuck, you can snap a photo of the puzzle with Indy's camera for hints that don't feel like cheap handouts. You'll face massive tomb challenges and smaller brain-teasers that keep the adventure fresh. And if puzzles aren't your strong suit, you can tweak their difficulty without making the combat any easier.

Persona 3 Reload

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Persona 3 Reload isn't just another JRPG remake - it's the game that started the whole modern Persona formula, now rebuilt from the ground up for a new generation. And yeah, it's absolutely worth your time on Game Pass.

Persona 3 Reload Social Links

The social link system is pure Persona magic - you build relationships with different characters tied to various arcanas, ranking them up from 1 to 10. The remake goes all out with fully voiced social links, and they've even added new evening activities like gardening with your teammates. The best part? When you fuse Personas matching your social links' arcanas, you get bonus experience points. It's like your friendships literally make you stronger.

Persona 3 Reload Combat System

The combat's gotten some serious upgrades that make the original look like ancient history. Finally, you can fully control all your party members instead of watching the AI make questionable life choices. They've added this sweet Shift system where landing a critical hit lets you pass your turn and chain some nasty combos. But the real game-changer? Theurgy attacks - these special moves build up over time and when they hit, they hit hard. Nothing can dodge them, and they ignore resistances, making boss fights feel completely different.

Persona 3 Reload Game Pass Features

Game Pass subscribers are getting hooked up with some sweet perks. The Expansion Pass is free for Game Pass Ultimate members until January 2025, dropping in three waves:

• Wave 1 (March): Bringing those bangers from Persona 4 Golden and 5 Royal
• Wave 2 (May): Velvet Room drip and more music
• Wave 3 (September): Episode Aigis - The Answer, which is basically a whole new chapter

Speaking of Episode Aigis, it's wild - the SEES team gets caught in this time loop on March 31st. It's the perfect way to cap off the Persona 3 experience, especially with all the modernized features and fancy new graphics.

Sea of Thieves

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Rare's pirate sandbox keeps getting bigger and better on Game Pass. Season 14 just dropped with some sneaky new tools and gameplay tweaks that make sailing the seas even more interesting.

Sea of Thieves Multiplayer Features

Here's the thing about Sea of Thieves - it's all about how you want to play. Want to command a massive ship with three buddies? Done. Rather sail solo on a nimble sloop? You can do that too. The communication options are brilliant - you've got your standard voice chat, sure, but the non-verbal system is a lifesaver when you're not feeling chatty. Everyone shares in the quest rewards (no stingy pirates here), and I love how crews vote on what to do next. It's like a floating democracy, just with more cannons.

Sea of Thieves Progression System

The progression here is pretty clever. You'll rack up Renown by knocking out Trials, and they come in three flavors:

• Green Trials for the small but steady gains
• Blue Trials when you're ready to step it up
• Purple Trials for those big juicy rewards

Oh, and if you're feeling fancy, there's the Plunder Pass for 999 Ancient Coins. It's packed with extra goodies and early-access stuff.

Sea of Thieves Seasonal Content

Season 13 is wild - they've hidden Ancient Temples under Skeleton Camps and let crews take over Flameheart's flagship, the Burning Blade. Season 14's about to make things even better for Safer Seas players, bumping up gold and rep gains at 100% value up to rank 25. The monthly updates keep the seas fresh with new toys and fixes, and don't get me started on the Pirate Emporium - they keep dropping these irresistible ship styles, outfits, weapons, and pets. My crew's wallet is not happy with how many pets we've adopted.

Lies of P

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Remember when someone said "hey, let's make Pinocchio into a Soulslike"? Sounds crazy, right? But Neowiz Games actually pulled it off. They've turned the classic puppet tale into this gorgeous Belle Époque nightmare that's equal parts brutal combat and weapon-crafting madness.

Lies of P Combat System

The heart of the game is this brilliant Perfect Guard mechanic that'll make Souls veterans feel right at home - time your blocks just right, and you'll stagger enemies for some sweet payback. Your weapons wear down with each hit though, so you can't just go swinging wildly. What I love is how the game rewards aggression - land a block, strike back quick, and you'll recover some health. It's like a deadly dance where sitting back gets you killed.

Lies of P Story and Characters

The story's wild - you're in Krat, this once-fancy city that's gone completely off the rails thanks to some puppet-related chaos. You play as P, and get this - you're actually an advanced puppet who can lie. Like, that's literally your superpower. The whole game follows your search for Geppetto while trying to figure out what turned this city into puppet hell. The coolest part? The Lie System tracks your choices and lies, affecting your humanity score and pushing you toward different endings.

Lies of P Weapon Customization

If you're a tinkerer at heart, you're going to lose hours at Eugenie's workstation in Hotel Krat. The weapon crafting here isn't just some basic upgrade system - you're literally building murder tools from scratch:

• Blades that determine how much hurt you're putting down
• Handles that change how you swing and what stats you're scaling
• Fable Arts that add special moves to both parts

Not every weird combination works (trust me, I've tried some real disasters), but you can test everything on training dummies before committing. And if you're really into min-maxing, you can tweak handle stats with special cranks to match your playstyle perfectly.

Minecraft

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Minecraft isn't just another Game Pass title - it's the digital LEGO set that ate the world. After all these years, this blocky phenomenon keeps finding new ways to spark creativity and adventure across its infinite worlds.

Minecraft Building Features

The scale of building here is nuts - worlds range from classic (864x864) to absolutely massive (5120x5120) spaces. The biome system is like nature's greatest hits album, and now you can tweak everything from how villages spawn to where resources pop up. They've even added these sweet little details like falling leaves in forests. My favorite addition? The Find Balanced Seed option that makes sure your world isn't just desert for days.

Minecraft Multiplayer Options

Want to build with friends? Minecraft's got you covered whether they're on PC, mobile, or console. You've got options:

• Good old split-screen for when friends are actually in your house
• Massive community servers packed with millions of builders
• Private Realms Plus servers for you and 9 buddies

The best part about Realms Plus? Your friends can keep playing even when you're not around - no more "sorry, server's down" messages.

Minecraft Game Pass Perks

Game Pass isn't just giving you the base game - they're throwing in some serious extras. The big one? Three months of free Realms Plus subscription right out the gate. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers get even more goodies through regular updates and special features. And thanks to cloud gaming support, you can build your masterpiece on pretty much anything that can connect to Xbox Cloud Gaming - no installation required.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

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343 Industries packed six legendary Halo games into one massive bundle on Game Pass, and it's exactly as awesome as it sounds. You're getting the whole saga - Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo 4, and Halo: Reach. That's a lot of Chief for your buck.

MCC Campaign Features

Want to know how much Halo you're getting? Try 67 campaign missions worth. The couch co-op dream lives on with split-screen support for two players on Xbox. The online co-op gets even better - while Combat Evolved and Halo 2 keep it cozy with two players, Halo 3, ODST, Reach, and Halo 4 let you squad up with three buddies for maximum Covenant-crushing action.

MCC Multiplayer Modes

Remember staying up all night playing Halo multiplayer? Now you've got over 120 maps to lose sleep over. The playlist selection is pure Halo heaven:

• Team Slayer: Classic shooting from Combat Evolved through Halo 2: Anniversary
• Big Team Battle: 16 players, vehicles everywhere, pure chaos
• Team Hardcore: The sweaty playlist with tournament rules from Halo 2 and 3
• SWAT: No shields, headshots only, hope you've got good aim

MCC Cross-Platform Features

The collection breaks down platform barriers with PC and Xbox cross-play. That February 2024 update finally fixed those annoying hit registration issues and tweaked projectile speeds in multiplayer. PC players can jump into Xbox matches no problem, though split-screen remains a console exclusive treat. The dev team keeps the updates rolling, with the latest patch making multiplayer more stable and smoothing out various gameplay quirks.

Diablo 4

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Blizzard's bringing their demon-slaying masterpiece to Game Pass, and it's exactly what you'd expect - dark, brutal, and absolutely packed with ways to send evil back to hell. Sanctuary's never looked better, or more dangerous.

Diablo 4 Character Classes

The roster's grown to six character classes now, and each one's a totally different flavor of mayhem:

• Barbarian: Because sometimes you just want to hit things with bigger things
• Rogue: For when you can't decide between stabbing or shooting
• Sorcerer: Turn demons into ice cubes, or barbecue them - your choice
• Necromancer: Why fight alone when you can raise an undead army?
• Druid: Shape-shifting nature lover with anger management issues
• Spiritborn: The new kid on the block from the Vessel of Hatred expansion

Diablo 4 Endgame Content

The real fun kicks in with World Tiers 3 and 4, but you'll need to prove yourself in those nasty Capstone dungeons first. Then there's the Helltide events - imagine demon-slaying happy hour where you collect Cinders to unlock some seriously sweet loot caches. And don't get me started on the Nightmare Dungeons - grab a Nightmare Sigil and test your build against some truly twisted challenges.

Diablo 4 Seasonal Features

Every three months, Blizzard shakes things up with new seasonal mechanics. The latest season cranked Paragon levels up to 300, which is just bonkers. There's a Battle Pass too, loaded with cosmetics and goodies if you're into that sort of thing. The cherry on top? Full cross-play and cross-progression between Xbox and PC. Your demon-slaying career can follow you anywhere.

Forza Motorsport

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Turn 10 Studios isn't just making another racing game - they're redefining what a racing sim can be. The physics are mind-blowing, and these visuals? I've had to remind myself I'm not watching actual race footage.

Forza Motorsport Car List

Want to know what's in the garage? Try 515 vehicles of pure automotive excellence. We're talking a century of car history here, from the 1926 Bugatti Type 35 all the way to the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray. The best part? You can test drive any car in Free Play without spending a single credit. It's like having an unlimited VIP pass to the world's most exclusive car collection.

Forza Motorsport Track Selection

Twenty tracks might not sound like much until you realize each one's a living, breathing racing ecosystem. You're getting:

• The legends like Nürburgring and Laguna Seca (that corkscrew still terrifies me)
• Multiple layouts that'll make you question everything you knew about a track
• Surface temperatures that actually affect your grip - yeah, it's that detailed
• Crowds that react to the race and weather that'll make you reach for a virtual umbrella

Forza Motorsport Online Features

Ever wanted to race against 23 other gear heads? Now you can. The new Qualifier Series is brilliant - it looks at both your skill and how clean you race, so you're not stuck with the crash-happy crowd. They've even got these Featured Multiplayer events that make you feel like you're in a proper race weekend. The AI-powered race regulations keep things fair, and you've got to manage your tires and fuel like a real pro. Not feeling competitive? Jump into private matches or cook up your own racing rules in Free Play.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

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Asobo Studio's rat-packed sequel hits Game Pass like a gut punch, mixing stealth, puzzles, and the kind of storytelling that'll keep you up at night wondering if you made the right choices.

Requiem Story Overview

The story picks up six months after the first game, with Amicia and Hugo searching for safety with these alchemist folks called the Order. Things get dark real quick though - Hugo's condition starts spiraling, and that nasty Prima Macula inside him wakes up again. The whole thing builds to this brutal climax in Marseille where Amicia has to make one of those choices that'll haunt your dreams.

Requiem Stealth Mechanics

Remember how fragile Amicia was in the first game? Well, she's toughened up now with some enhanced survival capabilities - no more one-hit deaths to ruin your day. The stealth's got layers to it:

• Chuck rocks to mess with guard patrols
• Get creative with tar and Ignifer for some nasty fire traps
• Let Hugo do his thing with the rat swarms

The best part? Getting spotted isn't game over anymore - you can actually slip back into the shadows if you're clever. And if things get messy, Amicia's learned how to handle herself in a scrap, even pulling off some close-quarters counters.

Requiem Puzzle Elements

The puzzles here aren't just random brain-teasers - they're woven right into the story. You'll scratch your head over this bell symbol puzzle that's all about timing, then tackle this wild planet symbols thing that'll test both your astronomy knowledge and pattern-spotting skills. The variety's impressive - one minute you're solving ancient mechanisms, the next you're cracking modern ciphers. And hey, if puzzles aren't your strong suit, you can tweak their difficulty without making the combat any easier. It's like having your cake and eating it too.

Monster Hunter Rise

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Monster Hunter Rise lands on Game Pass like a perfectly timed Greatsword slam, and it's everything a hunter could want. Capcom's packed this one with deep combat systems and multiplayer features that'll keep you hooked for hundreds of hours.

Monster Hunter Rise Weapons

The game throws 14 different weapon types at you, and each one feels like learning a whole new game. You've got your beginner-friendly stuff like Sword and Shield, but then there's the Charge Blade that practically needs a PhD to master. Here's how the arsenal breaks down:

• Light Weapons: Grab Dual Blades to feel like a ninja, or Long Sword for those sweet counter moves
• Heavy Weapons: Greatsword for when you want to hit things REALLY hard, Hammer for bonking monster heads
• Ranged Options: Light Bowgun lets you dance around monsters, Heavy Bowgun turns you into a walking tank
• Technical Choices: Insect Glaive for your inner acrobat, Switch Axe for weapon-transforming mayhem

Monster Hunter Rise Multiplayer

The multiplayer's where this game really sings - up to four hunters can team up for quests, and the difficulty scales perfectly whether you're solo or with a full squad. They've finally added cross-play between PC and Xbox, so your platform choice won't limit your hunting party. The Quest Board's your typical meeting spot, but I love the "Join Request" system for quick monster-bashing sessions. The Hunter Connect feature's brilliant too - it's like a friends list specifically for people you hunt with regularly.

Monster Hunter Rise Expansion Content

Sunbreak isn't just another expansion - it's practically Monster Hunter Rise 2.0 with its Master Rank quests. The new Citadel map is gorgeous, mixing crumbling castle ruins with frozen landscapes. The dev team keeps dropping new monsters too - the latest update added 17 new beasties to hunt. Just remember, while Game Pass gets you the base game, you'll need to shell out extra for Sunbreak. Trust me though, if you get hooked (and you will), it's worth every penny.

Hollow Knight

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Team Cherry's bug-filled masterpiece hits Game Pass like a dream nail to the soul. Look, I've played a lot of metroidvanias, but there's something special about this one - it's got this haunting vibe that sticks with you long after you've put the controller down.

Hollow Knight Combat System

The whole game revolves around your trusty Nail, and this isn't your average sword - you can smack things in four directions like some kind of armed windmill. Here's the cool part: every hit builds up this thing called SOUL energy, which you can use to either patch yourself up or blast enemies with spells. And if you're feeling fancy, there's this parry system that gives you a quarter-second of invincibility when you nail it (pun absolutely intended).

Hollow Knight World Exploration

Hallownest is this massive underground kingdom that puts other game worlds to shame. We're talking ancient cities, deadly wastes, and caverns that'll make your head spin. You'll run into over 150 different types of bugs trying to end your adventure, plus 40 bosses that'll test everything you've learned. At least they give you some solid mapping tools - trust me, you'll need them to keep track of all the twisted paths and shortcuts.

Hollow Knight Boss Battles

The bosses here? Pure poetry in motion. Each one's got their own dance moves, and you better learn the steps or you're toast. Hit them enough times and you can stagger them - it's like a tiny victory celebration before they try to squash you again. But wait, there's more! Some bosses have these Dream versions you can unlock by poking their corpses with the Dream Nail, because apparently regular boss fights weren't hard enough. And if you're a glutton for punishment like me, there's the Hall of Gods where you can practice these fights until your thumbs fall off.

Conclusion

Look, I could throw numbers and buzzwords at you about Game Pass's value, but here's the real deal - where else can you jump from exploring a thousand planets in Starfield to burning rubber in Forza Motorsport in the span of a single evening?

The lineup this year is absolutely wild. Hi-Fi Rush came out of nowhere and stole my heart with its rhythm-action madness. Lies of P turned Pinocchio into a Soulslike (still can't believe that worked), and Hollow Knight? That game's still living rent-free in my head years later. Microsoft's not messing around with day-one releases either - getting stuff like Indiana Jones and Persona 3 Reload right at launch is the kind of thing that makes my wallet very happy.

What really gets me excited is how Game Pass mixes the big names with indie darlings. Minecraft's still evolving after all these years (those falling leaves are oddly mesmerizing), and Sea of Thieves keeps dropping reasons to return to the seas. Then you've got Monster Hunter Rise and Diablo 4 bringing their addictive gameplay loops to the service - my sleep schedule's still recovering from those two.

These 15 games? They're just the tip of the iceberg. Game Pass keeps growing, changing, and surprising me with each update. Sure, some games come and go, but that's what keeps it exciting - you never know what gaming treasure you'll discover next. If you're still on the fence about Game Pass, trust me - there's never been a better time to dive in.