With Xbox Game Pass constantly growing, there are a few overshadowed entries that still offer an amazing experience for fans of any genre.
The Xbox Game Pass is, without a doubt, one of the best deals in gaming, offering subscribers a huge selection of games to play instantly. It has a diverse catalog sure to satisfy lovers of every genre, as it is constantly growing with titles from past and previous generations.
That being said, a few once-popular games have been overshadowed by next-gen consoles and their big releases. Xbox Game Pass has some hidden gems from older generations that offer a top-tier experience and deserve a playthrough from every fan of gaming.
Venturing through the stranded space station Nostromo as Amanda Ripley, Alien Isolation is a survival-horror game that tasks players with escaping its wreckage while evading the ever-present alien hunting them down. With only a few tools to defend from threats, it’s a matter of how long the player can run and hide until time has run out.
Alien: Isolation is still widely regarded as one of the best horror games of its generation, with an incredibly smart AI that makes for unique and unpredictable gameplay each time through. If fans want a memorable horror experience that will undoubtedly stand the test of time, this game should be an immediate addition to their collection.
When Dishonored launched, it was unlike any stealth-action game on the market, offering an intricate level design that supported player choices and creativity. As royal protector-turned-assassin Corvo Attano, players are given supernatural abilities to take down those who murdered the beloved Empress.
What made Dishonored so unique was the variety of tools and options it gave the player to take down each target and move throughout its multilayered chapters along the way. Some stealth-action titles have tried to mirror its technical success, but none come quite close to the original.
Another popular action franchise from the last generation is Dead Space, which has players step into the shoes of engineer Issac Clarke as he fights to survive the infected onslaught of monsters aboard his station. In fact, the franchise borders the lines of survival-horror as well, with plenty of scares up its sleeve.
Each of the Dead Space entries was met with critical and user acclaim, showing themselves to be creative survival-shooters with some of the best atmospheres in gaming. The gameplay mechanics and AI design were ahead of their time at release, so players hoping to jump back in will be surprised to see just how well it holds up.
Winner of the 2014 Game of the Year Award, Dragon Age: Inquisition is a fantasy RPG from Bioware and the third addition to the franchise. With memorable characters, stellar team mechanics, and a compelling narrative, there is still so much to offer from this title.
It’s a fantastic blending of RPG elements like that of Elder Scrolls Online mixed with more intimate single-player features, like dialogue choices and branching paths. If players want to scratch that fantasy world itch while waiting for the next Elder Scrolls entry, this is a solid option.
Launched back in 2014, Goat Simulator was a smash open-world sandbox that shortly made its way over to consoles, Xbox included. Since then, its unique and wacky gameplay fits perfectly as advertised: allow players to become a goat and wreak havoc however they choose.
It’s a great game for those just looking to kick back and see what kinds of wild stunts and mischief they can engage in. It was only made in a few weeks by a relatively small development team, but if anything, the bugs and glitches are a staple gameplay feature that makes it that much more entertaining.
With the launch of Mortal Kombat 11 in 2019, Netherrelam Studios took over the fighting-game community, expanding the game in the years since. Naturally, it left its previous DC hero-vs-villian fighting game on the wayside.
Injustice 2 is still a great option for players who want to break outside the Mortal Kombat selection of characters, as it offers a unique gear system and a great main campaign. Hopefully, Injustice 3 gets an announcement this year to build up the much-deserved hype for this franchise once again.
The Middle-Earth series of games created a lot of skepticism prior to their respective launches but continued to prove to players that it deserved their playtime. The sequel, which also improves on the original, has players guide a Ranger named Talion as he seeks to take down the Dark Lord once and for all.
Perhaps the best part of this game is the award-winning Nemesis system, which allows AI characters to battle, join, or hunt down Talion for revenge. Paired with an extremely fluid combat system and open-world gameplay, this title is perfect for those who want to immerse themselves in the Middle-Earth lore preceding the launch of Amazon’s Rings of Power series.
Outlast 2 dropped in 2017 from Red Barrel studios from popular demand of its predecessor, and it took the survival-horror gameplay to a new level. This time, players are dropped into a deserted Arizona town overrun by cult fanatics seeking to capture the new outsider in town.
Over the years, Outlast 2 has been overshadowed by other Indie horror entires, but its still has some of the most terrifying gameplay the genre can offer. Somehow, Red Barrel has managed to transform a beautiful desert canyon into one of the most haunting, atmospheric settings they’ve ever put forward.
The Evil Within 2 from Bethesda studios has players return as Sebastian Castellanos, this time seeking to save his daughter from a hellish dreamworld. It was met with a much lower player base than the original but arguably surpassed its quality in every way.
Rather than physical threats, the game throws a more psychological danger at the player, which creates some truly mezmorizing setpieces and action sequences. It’s highly recommended for those looking to blend the action style of Resident Evil games with a deeper horror experience.
Set on an ocean-covered alien planet known only as 4546B, Subnautica is an open-world survial game that forces the player to step out of their rescue pod, jump in, and gather resources from the deep in order to mount an escape from its surface.
The scale and detail from Subnautica is an explorer’s dream, offering secrets and twists around every corner of its diverse ocean environment. Without spoiling anything, the narrative also brings the journey to an epic conclusion that will have players wishing they had the opportunity to relive the experience again.
