Zombie Army 4: Dead War (Xbox One)

From the outside, it might look like Zombie Army 4: Dead War is just another carbon-copy entry in the genre of zombie shoot 'em ups, but what it does, it does extremely well. With punchy combat, an addictive levelling up system and Easter Eggs bursting out of every frame, it's the Left 4 Dead content we never knew existed.

  • Xbox Game Pass? No

CrossCode (Xbox One)

We'd never even heard about CrossCode until it hit Xbox Game Pass earlier this year, and now we absolutely love it. Another game which embraces the Zelda formula, CrossCode is filled to the brim with surprises and a nostalgic 16-bit art style that beams off the page. It's also been optimised for the Xbox Series X|S, giving another reason to dive in, solve some puzzles and slash through its exhilarating combat.

  • Xbox Game Pass? Yes

The Messenger (Xbox One)

The Messenger released on other systems before this year, but finally made the jump to Xbox consoles in 2020, and it's still one of the best indie games out there. Without ruining the main surprise, the game takes players on a nostalgic trip through numerous years of retro gaming, gradually getting more challenging and taking some impressive twists and turns. It's also surprisingly funny with witty back-and-forth between the characters in the game. The less known about The Messenger the better, as its many joys hide within its surprises.

  • Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Pumpkin Jack (Xbox One)

Pumpkin Jack shares a lot in common with the classic PlayStation game MediEvil, taking that core experience and updating it for a modern audience. Developed by an immensely small team, it's insane the level of detail and polish within Pumpkin Jack that manages to shine throughout its many stages. It's simple, fun platforming fun that feels reminiscent of platformers from the original Xbox era.

  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory (Xbox One)

The Kingdom Hearts series has always had off-beat side titles. Whether that be card-building games or Nintendo DS exclusives that proved integral to the overall narrative, it's a web that becomes more tangled as it moves on. Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is so simple in its execution, and that is to deliver engaging, rhythm-based gameplay through the series' long history of beautiful orchestral music. It's both relaxing and addictive in equal measure, providing a soothing love letter to the series, instead of focusing on pushing its convoluted story.

  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Hotshot Racing (Xbox One)

We'd been keeping an eye on old-school style arcade racer Hotshot Racing all year before it eventually landed on Xbox with Game Pass this past August, and it didn't disappoint. The blisteringly fast racer features satisfying drift handling, loads of great courses, a plethora of game modes and even online multiplayer support, and recently added even more content with a free Big Boss Bundle expansion, so we definitely recommend checking this one out with Xbox Game Pass over the holidays.

  • Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Moving Out (Xbox One)

Team17's Overcooked games have enjoyed massive success on the Xbox One over the past few years, and if you enjoyed those titles, we think you're going to love Moving Out. It's basically the same premise and style of gameplay, but this time, instead of cooking food, your goal is to move objects from houses into a moving van, with various obstacles introduced along the way. You might find yourself screaming at your friends in the process of playing this one though!

  • Xbox Game Pass? Yes

What games would you add to this list? Let us know down in the comments below.