Gears 5 (Xbox One)

Gears 5 is an absolutely essential entry in the long-running Xbox exclusive franchise that sees the Gears right back at the top of their game in an action-packed adventure that's fully playable in co-op either locally or online. There’s a strong campaign here, surprisingly character-driven stuff for a series that’s known chiefly for its brutal battles, it manages to pack an emotional punch while serving up all the carnage fans have come to expect.

With the Ultimate Edition of this sprawling adventure available on Game Pass, alongside the excellent Hivebusters expansion, there’s no excuse not to grab some friends, ready your Lancers and get blasting some Locust scum across the main campaign, Escape and Horde modes! Gears 5 is a massive package of brutal, bloody good times.

Halo Infinite (Xbox Series X|S)

Halo Infinite has been the big one that we've all been waiting impatiently for the past couple of years and 343 Industries didn't let us down, taking the series' spectacular combat and honing it to perfection then successfully fusing the narrative-driven gameplay we know and love with a brand new open world setting that gives players a great big playground in which to indulge their Halo fantasies. As we said in our review:

"Halo Infinite feels like a big step forward for the franchise, a slick shift into the open world arena that manages to strike a fine balance between the traditional narrative-driven Halo of old and all-new levels of freedom and emergent gameplay."

The multiplayer side of things too, even with its rather irksome progress system, is just sublime stuff that's reinvigorated our love for jumping into battle online, something we'd genuinely grown tired of over the past few years. Put all of this together, that great big open world campaign, and a superb multiplayer component that will only grow and improve over time, and you've got a great big meaty package here that feels worthy of one of gaming's most enduring icons. And you get it all for practically naught on Game Pass.

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Halo Infinite [Xbox Series X, Xbox One]
Halo Infinite [Xbox Series X, Xbox One]
Halo Infinite [Digital Code - UK/EU]
Halo Infinite [Digital Code - UK/EU]

Halo: The Master Chief Collection (Xbox One)

Six Halo games crammed into one great big beautiful package and every one of them fully playable in local and online co-op? Count us in! Halo: The Master Chief Collection is an absolute dreamland for FPS fans, whether you want to play through the whole epic saga solo or hook up with friends to take the fight to the Covenant.

Each and every campaign here is fully playable in solo or co-op and, alongside the series’ expansive suite of amazing multiplayer offerings - all presented in glorious 4K and running at up to 120fps on Series X – this one amounts to an essential collection that’s an absolute must-play for co-op shooter fans. If you've ever been curious about Halo, or just want to relive the whole thing all over again, the MCC has got you well and truly covered.

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice (Xbox One)

What list of great games would be complete without one of the all-time best indie adventures? Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice raised the bar on what indie games could achieve when it first launched, with jaw-droppingly impressive visuals and sound design alongside a truly compelling story. Tackling heavy subject matters such as mental health, it truly puts players in the shoes of Senua, as she uncovers the dark tale ahead of her. With the highly-anticipated sequel not far away, now feels like the perfect time to brush up on the story before Senua's adventure continues. Don't miss out on this unique and absorbing bit of drama.

Hi-Fi RUSH (Xbox Series X|S)

Hi-Fi RUSH is one of the best examples of a shadow drop in Xbox history. Microsoft just randomly decided to reveal this Tango Gameworks classic as part of the Xbox Developer Direct event in January 2023, and it ended up becoming one of the most beloved Xbox exclusives of all time. This is an absolute masterpiece from the Japanese studio.

In our review, we praised Hi-Fi Rush as a "beat-bopping banger", and that's exactly what you can expect, as everything in the game is centred around its fantastic soundtrack. The combat feels great and isn't too unforgiving, the levels pop with amazing colour and clarity, and everything about this game just feels so polished. What a fantastic addition to Xbox Game Pass this was!

Hitman Trilogy (Xbox Series X|S)

When IO Interactive decided to reboot the Hitman franchise back in 2016 they really weren't messing about, kicking off the "World of Assassination" trilogy with a phenomenal first effort that introduced us to a stealth sandbox the likes of which we'd never experienced before. This was classic Hitman, forget all the narrative-focused, action heavy mistakes of the past, this was Agent 47 back at his best.

And then they made another one, and another one, each improving upon the last, jam-packed full of style, class, clever level design and, most importantly, a wonderful line in slapstick comedy violence that make these games endlessly enjoyable toyboxes to mess around in. This trilogy collection brings all three together, the first two games remastered and refined in order to fit in perfectly with 2021's entry, in a compilation that you could genuinely probably play for the next couple of years without getting anywhere near bored. Hitman Trilogy is one of the absolute stand-out experiences currently available on Game Pass.

Hollow Knight (Xbox One)

What is there left to say about the superlative Hollow Knight? A game that many consider to be one of the quintessential Metroidvania experiences, it absolutely oozes charm, matching stunningly evocative visuals with tight combat controls and slick platforming action.

As you explore more and more of the world here, inching slowly forward through some surprisingly tough encounters whilst slowly piecing together its wonderful little mysteries, your appreciation for what Team Cherry have achieved only grows. It's devilishly difficult stuff at times, but oh-so rewarding in all the best ways once you overcome a challenge, best a boss or pass a brutal platforming sequence. We really can't recommend this one enough.

Hot Wheels Unleashed (Xbox Series X|S)

Although you can't play Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels as part of Xbox Game Pass, you've got the next best thing in the form of Hot Wheels Unleashed, which is a surprisingly fantastic arcade racer! Developed by the team behind the MotoGP games, the game allows you to build spectacular tracks, race through an engaging campaign and take on your friends in local or online multiplayer.

Better yet, the Xbox Game Pass version of Hot Wheels Unleashed is the GOTY Edition, which includes no less than 50+ pieces of DLC! This includes various expansions for the likes of Looney Tunes, Batman and more. Get stuck in!

Immortals Fenyx Rising (Xbox Series X|S)

In a month when we gave the coveted 10/10 score to Immortality, you told us in a poll that your favourite Xbox Game Pass addition was still Ubisoft's Immortals Fenyx Rising, so it's undoubtedly a Game Pass hit! This Breath of the Wild-style adventure also takes a lot of inspiration from Assassin's Creed, delivering a really fun and visually spectacular experience on Xbox Series X specifically, and it's great to see it on Game Pass.

Here's what we had to say in our review of the game back in 2020:

"What Ubisoft Quebec has come up with here also adds enough of its own spin on proceedings, with a strong personality and sense of humour sat alongside some brilliantly designed puzzles, flashy, satisfying combat and a huge world full of secrets, treasures and Ancient Greek mythology to discover."

Inside (Xbox One)

Following on from 2010's exquisite Limbo, Playdead returned in 2016 with Inside, a puzzle-platformer in much the same vein as its predecessor that delivered up yet more of the studio's signature environmental puzzles and brutal, bloody death.

Yes, this time around you play as a frightened child, clawing and stumbling your way through terrifying darkness, only ever just evading the clutches of your enemies, but here the art direction, the puzzles, the platforming, the stealth...it all surpasses what came before, making for a short, sharp shock of a game that is, quite simply, an essential experience.

Insurgency: Sandstorm (Xbox One)

Insurgency: Sandstorm successfully introduces a very different console FPS experience for Xbox Game Pass players. New World Interactive's authentic take on modern military warfare is a fine addition to the library, providing plenty of co-op and PvP thrills for fans of the genre.

On the surface, Sandstorm may look like any other military shooter out there but trust us, this is a mechanically deep affair that gets its hooks into you once you overcome the game's initial learning curve. Insurgency's console debut is bursting with weapons, modes, maps, and everything else you'd expect from a modern FPS, but this game doesn't do any hand-holding. Grant it the attention it deserves, and Sandstorm may well work its way into your regular FPS rotation on Xbox Game Pass.