Venture Beyond the Obvious Choices
Gaming's best-kept secrets live in plain sight on Xbox Game Pass. That endless scrolling through the library sometimes means missing absolute masterpieces, mainly because they didn't have massive marketing budgets or recognizable franchises. Here are 20 such titles that deserve way more attention.
Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo - Official Release Date Trailer by GameTrailers
1. Cassette Beasts
Most players after monster-catching experiences flock to Pokémon clones, completely missing this ingenious twist on the formula. Its cassette tape-based transformation system lets you record monsters and morph into them during battles. The island of New Wirral conceals hundreds of creatures waiting to be discovered.
Cassette Beasts Cosy Trailer by Raw Fury
2. Pentiment
Pentiment is set in 16th-century Bavaria, placing you in the shoes of a manuscript illustrator embroiled in a decades-spanning mystery at an abbey. The game explores historical narratives, memory, and truth, offering a deeply original feel. Obsidian Entertainment developed it.
Pentiment: The First 16 Minutes of Gameplay by IGN
3. Enter The Gungeon
Bullet hell meets roguelike dungeon crawler in this criminally overlooked game that finally returned to Game Pass. The procedurally generated chambers bring an absurdist comedy backdrop for some of the tightest twin-stick shooting mechanics in gaming. There lies an arsenal of over 300 unique weapons.
Enter The Gungeon - Gameplay Trailer by DevolverDigital
4. Afterlove EP
Following indie band frontman Rama as he tackles grief, Afterlove EP seamlessly integrates rhythm mechanics with visual novel storytelling. The 28-day narrative structure forces meaningful choices about reconnecting with bandmates or isolating yourself in sorrow.
AFTERLOVE EP Official Demo Trailer (2024) | HD by TrailerCheck
5. Slime Heroes
Imagine The Legend of Zelda, but you're playing as an adorable slime capable of consuming special gems. The whimsical world layout conceals surprisingly tough puzzle dungeons that demand creative thinking. Players joining your adventure through a drop-in co-op experience receive the same loot rewards.
Slime Heroes - Official Gameplay Trailer | Guerrilla Collective 2024 by GameTrailers
6. Children Of Morta
As you return from failed dungeon runs, you witness family relationships evolve through beautifully told interludes that make each character feel alive. Six distinct family members function as character classes, from Lucy's fiery magic to John's sturdy swordsmanship, encouraging experimentation across multiple playthroughs.
Children of Morta | Official Release Date Trailer by 11 bit studios
7. Evil West
Flying Wild Hog's paranormal western shooter arrived with little fanfare in 2022, but it still delivers some of the most satisfying third-person combat. Vampires have invaded the Wild West, and your group of steampunk gadgets and good old-fashioned revolvers makes dispatching them gloriously brutal.
Evil West - Launch Trailer by Focus Entertainment
8. Kulebra And The Souls Of Limbo
Have you experienced the delightful peculiarity of solving puzzles as a snake in the afterlife? The residents of Limbo are trapped in a time loop, and you must slither around for clues to break their curse. Using this snake form, every player is bound to access hidden pathways.
Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo - Official Release Date Trailer by GameTrailers
9. Against The Storm
All settlement attempts feature procedurally generated maps, resources, and challenges, ensuring no two playthroughs are alike. The atmospheric soundtrack perfectly complements the grim yet hopeful tone as tiny citizens battle harsh elements.
Against the Storm - Announcement Trailer I PS5 & PS4 Games by Play Station
10. Lil Gator Game
Players spend their time climbing mountains, crafting makeshift cardboard weapons, and making friends across a colorful island playground. The gameplay loop brilliantly recreates the feeling of childhood make-believe, where sticks become swords and cardboard turns into armor. Lil Gator Game delivers pure joy through exploration.
Lil Gator Game Announcement Trailer by Wholesome Games
11. Flock
Soaring through gorgeous scenarios on a magic flying carpet, you'll discover and befriend creatures like woolly Fluffamingos and bouncy Chubbishes. The lack of combat or fail states creates a refreshingly stress-free experience focused purely on exploration and discovery. You have Hollow Ponds to thank for this game.
FLOCK | Release Date Trailer by Annapurna Interactive
12. Brotato
Each run has you choose between dozens of character traits that fundamentally change your approach. You go from berserkers focused on close combat to technical wizards relying on automated turrets. The simple top-down visuals belie intense systems where careful stat management determines survival.
Brotato: Premium - iOS/Android Gameplay Walkthrough Part 1 (by Erabit Studios) by App Unwrapper
13. Go Mecha Ball
Rolling and shooting collide in this neon-drenched action play that demands split-second decisions. The developers at Whale Peak Games aimed to provide an adrenaline rush where everyone constantly changes between ball and mech forms to tackle arenas filled with enemies.
GO MECHA BALL - ANNOUNCEMENT TRAILER ☄️ by Super Rare Games
14. Dordogne
Individuals get to experience two timelines simultaneously: a 10-year-old Mimi during summer visits to her grandmother's house, and a 32-year-old Mimi returning after her grandmother's passing. Each beautifully hand-painted scene feels like stepping into an artist's sketchbook.
Dordogne - Launch Trailer by Focus Entertainment
15. Toem
Photography games rarely achieve the perfect balance between gameplay and storytelling. Players take on a journey to witness the magical phenomenon known as "Toem," solving puzzles by capturing photographs along the way. Your viewfinder becomes both tool and weapon.
Toem - Official Gameplay Trailer | Day of the Devs 2021 by GameTrailers
16. Venba
The developers at Visai Games brought us an authentic puzzle game that involved preparing traditional South Indian and Tamil dishes without written recipes. Instead, you piece together cooking steps through contextual clues and gentle experimentation. It spans years of an immigrant family's life in Canada.
17. Tinykin
Before Pikmin 4 finally arrived, Tinykin filled the minion-management void with style. Your character, Milo, arrives on Earth only to realize he's shrunk to microscopic size in a house frozen in time since 1991. Every room becomes a massive level filled with insects and environmental puzzles.
Tinykin Is Available Now! | Launch Trailer by Xbox
18. Citizen Sleeper
As a digitized human consciousness in a synthetic body, every gamer must survive on a lawless space station while their physical form slowly degrades. The station, Erlin's Eye, feels genuinely alive, populated by characters with their own motivations and storylines that grow regardless of your involvement.
Citizen Sleeper - Dystopian Space Station Survival RPG by Splattercatgaming
19. The Case Of The Golden Idol
Unlike most mystery games, there's no hand-holding here. Gamers examine crime scenes, collect evidence, and piece together exactly what happened by filling in each scenario's blanks. The strange world of 18th-century aristocracy serves as the backdrop for increasingly complex targets.
20. Genesis Noir
Here comes a blend of jazz, film noir, and cosmic creation myths. Folks are expected to play as No Man, a watch peddler caught in a cosmic love triangle, attempting to prevent the Big Bang. Those striking black-and-white visuals draw inspiration from artists like Saul Bass.
