Middle-earth: Shadow of War (Xbox One)

The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit based Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor was one of the highlights of the Xbox One's early days back in 2014, and it was followed up by the even more ambitious Middle-earth: Shadow of War in 2017. Both are fantastic, but the latter is the only one currently available on Xbox Game Pass.

We recommend giving it a try, even if you're not a big Lord of the Rings fan, as the combat is highly satisfying (it's somewhat similar to the likes of Ryse: Son of Rome), it features a jam-packed open world, and it'll keep you busy for the long run, with an estimated time to beat of around 50 to 100 hours.

  • Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Monster Hunter: World (Xbox One)

Monster Hunter struggled to captivate a mainstream audience in the West. That was until Monster Hunter: World, which managed to make its complex systems accessible for newcomers to the series, inviting many more players to see what all the fuss is about.

Tackling towering beasts either solo or cooperatively always feels like a daunting feat, and whether you're five hours in or ten, it never gets old. The process of tracking it down, luring it out and exploiting its weakness is a constant learning process that is captivating. Its RPG systems and levelling up gear encourage going out to tackle more and more, creating an engaging loop that never ceases to thrill. A must play.

If you like Monster Hunter: World, don't forget to check out Monster Hunter Rise as well!

  • Xbox Game Pass? No (but Monster Hunter Rise is!)

NieR:Automata (Xbox One)

NieR:Automata is a game that continuously gains momentum. As each scenario plays out, the story dramatically unfolds, its fast paced combat becomes more demanding, and its plot beats become even stranger. It's a game that's hard to describe, but one that's an absolute rollercoaster of a ride.

It also encourages repeat playthroughs, each delivering different paths, plot points and further exploration of its world to create one of the most unique RPGs out there. With the remake of NieR Replicant also available for Xbox, now is the perfect time to dive in and experience this absolute treat.

  • Xbox Game Pass? No

NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... (Xbox One)

This updated version of Yoko Taro's 2010 masterpiece introduces a host of modern gameplay tweaks, a well-judged graphical overhaul, refined combat controls and more, resulting in the ultimate version of a one-of-kind gaming experience.

Fans of the original will revel in this chance to return to Nier's uniquely strange world, whilst newcomers are given the benefit of gameplay enhancements that smooth over some the craggier elements of a cult classic that you really should make an effort to try at least once. Nier Replicant is absolute magic.

  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch Remastered (Xbox Series X|S)

Until 2022, Ni No Kuni had never graced the Xbox platform, and that was a huge shame! Fortunately, we were treated to a shadow drop of Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered on Xbox Game Pass, and suddenly we all started to understand what the hype was about. It might be an old game now (the first version of it released back in 2011), but this is a game that's still a blast to play, particularly in its Remastered form.

The new version still features that classic Studio Ghibli animation combined with an excellent story and enjoyable turn-based mechanics, but it also adds improved graphics and performance to bring it up to date for a modern audience.

Also, if you like this one, the sequel is available on Xbox Game Pass as well!

  • Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Nobody Saves The World (Xbox Series X|S)

Canadian developer Drinkbox Studios never lets us down with the sterling quality of their indie releases, with the likes of the superb Guacamelee series, Severed and Mutant Blobs Attack rounding out an impressive back catalogue.

And so it is we've all been waiting with baited breath for their latest game, Nobody Saves The World, to finally arrive, with the studio once again absolutely nailing it. This is a colourful and clever dungeon-crawling romp with a bevvy of smart mechanics up its sleeve, including the ability to transform into everything from a robot, to a ghost, dinosaur, rat and warrior knight as you blaze a trail through its wonderfully well-designed dungeons and boss battles. As we said in our review, "this is one of the slickest indie RPGs we've played in quite some time."

  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Octopath Traveler (Xbox One)

Square Enix's superlative Octopath Traveler is one of the finest JRPGs of the past decade. At first blush it may seem like just another throwback to the halcyon days of SNES-style action, but give this one a chance and you'll find a deep and rewarding experience that marries old-school charm with modern gameplay systems and conveniences, resulting in a truly stellar package.

With eight story paths to follow, an excellent combat system, wonderful "tilt-shift" art style and top-notch writing, acting and soundtrack to boot, this is a sumptuous and memorable JRPG experience that you'll find yourself entirely lost in once you give in to its charms.

The best bit is that you can play the equally fantastic Octopath Traveler 2 on Xbox Game Pass as well!

  • Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Omori (Xbox Series X|S)

OMOCAT's 2020 RPG sees players take control of a young boy named Sunny and his dream world alter-ego, Omori, in a rewarding and cathartic game that delves deep into some serious themes and issues.

Depression, anxiety and suicide are all touched upon here, and as such it may not be a game suited to every audience, but those who do decide to jump in are treated to a wacky, quirky and heartfelt experience that's packed full of humour, warmth, secrets and surprises. Omori is a truly special game and one you should dive into knowing as little as possible.

  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Outriders (Xbox Series X|S)

People Can Fly's 2021 action RPG may not get off to the best of starts, with a story that's a little clunky in its opening hour, but give it a chance and Outriders will reward you in the form of some wonderfully addictive combo-centric combat that we've had an absolute blast with.

It's all about the looter shooter action here, with an endless array of ridiculous guns to collect that, alongside your protagonist's array of crazy superpowers, are a joy to mix and mess with. Outriders is explosive, flashy and addictive stuff that hinges on pulling off big combos by getting clever with your skills and weapons against excellent enemy AI, leading to constantly engaging shootouts.

There's a refreshing simplicity to the loadouts, modding and upgrading systems too, a decision that keeps menu time to a minimum and lets you get on with the non-stop slaughter of your enemies in the most spectacular manner possible.

  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous (Xbox One)

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous founds its way onto Xbox a couple of years ago, and it's since wracked up a pretty impressive Metacritic score along with great reviews on Steam in particular where it holds a "Very Positive" rating.

If you're a big fan of the likes of Baldur's Gate 3 and Pillars of Eternity, this might be right up your alley. Our sister site Push Square ended up giving the Enhanced Edition an "Excellent" 9/10 a few years ago, stating that it's a "glorious game to get lost in for whole weeks at a time". Definitely worth looking out for!

  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Persona 5 Royal (Xbox Series X|S)

It took a very long time to reach us, but Persona 5 Royal is finally now on Xbox! We probably don't need to tell you much about this one - it's one of the most beloved JRPGs of all time, and even though it can take 100 hours to complete it all, we think you'll have an absolute blast throughout the duration of that time. Seriously this game is amazing.

Naturally, we reviewed Persona 5 Royal when it arrived on Xbox Game Pass in late 2022, and ended up awarding it a very rare "Outstanding" 10/10 score. This version of the game plays even better on Xbox Series X and Series S, serving as "the ultimate version of a true all-timer".

"This next-gen version runs at a velvety smooth 4K/60FPS too, making for a truly unmissable experience that we highly recommend you dive right into. Games don't get much better than this."

And by the way, even though they're not included separately on this list, we highly recommend checking out Persona 3 Portable, Persona 4 Golden and Persona 5 Tactica on Xbox, as they're all fantastic titles as well.

  • Xbox Game Pass? No