Xbox Game Pass is a paid subscription service offering access to a wide range of titles for Xbox and PC. You can also use some of these services through Cloud Gaming on Android and Apple devices. There are three different subscription options available depending on the platforms you use.

In exchange for a monthly fee you can play hundreds of different games, from tiny indies to triple-A titles. These also include day one releases of certain titles. It sounds great in theory but is Xbox Game Pass Worth It?

Updated December 12, 2023 By Ben Jessey: Xbox Game Pass continually changes. Not only do games come and go from the service, but certain aspects of it change. For instance, Microsoft recently added a new plan called Game Pass Core. So, to keep this piece up-to-date, we've had to return to it and update a few things. In the process, we've added a few more thoughts from Game Pass subscribers.

Review

Since Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service, rather than a single game, we don't have an official review. However, Features Editor Eric Switzer is a long time fan of the service. Back in 2020, he praised the PC Game Pass for value for money, saying "Playing just 2 games a year pays for the whole thing, so it's hard to imagine why anyone wouldn't want to sign up." However, since then the cost of the Game Pass has risen, and now sits at $10 a month for PC or Xbox, or $15 for Ultimate which includes both Xbox, PC, cloud gaming and Xbox Live Gold. So did his opinion change?

In 2021, Eric went on to applaud the service for adding a wide range of indies, classic titles, and triple-A releases. He also did some math to see how much the service had saved him over the year, and the results speak for themselves

Game Pass saved me $382 this year, but more importantly, it helped me enjoy the games I played more. I got to try things without worrying about the investment.

Since then, Eric has also lauded the improvements on Game Pass's Cloud Streaming Beta on mobile, but says it's "a lot more polished than PC streaming today." He also has only good words to say about the day one releases on Game Pass, comparing them to the new PlayStation Plus plan.

Time Expenditure

The beauty of Game Pass is that the time it takes to play, is the time you have available. There are hundreds of titles on offer and the range of lengths is as diverse as the number of genres. This means you can choose something short and sweet just for the afternoon, or take a dive into a lengthy adventure you'll come back to over a period of time. Xbox Game Pass also warns you when games are close to leaving the service, so you can make sure you finish off that abandoned playthrough before they vanish.

Games available at the time of writing include the beautiful and thought-provoking Sea of Solitude, which can be completed in around three hours all the way to the highly-regarded Starfield, which will take many hours to 100 percent complete.

Cost

There are four plans that fall under the Game Pass umbrella. Here are the options available, what they include, and the monthly cost.

What Subscribers Are Saying

Game Of The Year, Every Year - Helen Ashcroft

I declared Game Pass my game of the year back in 2020, and have not changed my stance. It allows me to play a huge range of games I otherwise couldn't afford and also keeps my gamer kids happy. I just hope I can uphold my promise to play those day one releases while they are still hot.

Can't Imagine My Life Without Xbox Game Pass Ultimate - Amanda Hurych

Xbox Game Pass has just utterly revolutionized how I game. I used to play maybe only 2-5 games a year because I was so hesitant to spend money on something that I might not like. Now I'm playing so many games all the time. Plus, like...PowerWash Simulator is on Game Pass. 10/10.

Ultimate Is Worth It - Branden Lizardi

If you're someone that enjoys both PC and Console Gaming, Game Pass Ultimate is worth upgrading to. Some games are better on certain formats, and the cloud gaming and Gold features built-in means you're still getting a good deal.

Worth It For The Indies Alone - Issy van der Velde

Not having to pay separately for gems like Hardspace: Shipbreaker, Citizen Sleeper, or Vampire Survivors is amazing as it means I don't miss out on all the indie games my friends recommend.

Game Pass Means I Never Run Out Of Things To Play - Ben Jessey

Game Pass is such an incredible deal because full-priced games are really expensive, and I'm not made of money. So, having a full collection of games just waiting to be played is amazing.

I have literally never run out of titles since subscribing to the Ultimate version. In fact, the only issue is that I now have a permanent backlog. But that is better than having no games to play at all, so it's a thumbs up from me.

Solid Deal For The Price - Dennis Moiseyev

Xbox Game Pass is a library you could get lost in for hours just trying to look for your next game and then get lost in more hours playing that select game. With new titles coming Day One and EA Originals soon making their way over to the service, it's a pretty solid deal for the price.

If you're on a Series S, like me, Game Pass is especially worth it for getting to try out numerous games through Cloud and not having to worry about the extremely limited storage space. This is also a perfect plan to try out any new games you were on the fence about and see if they're worth it in the end.

Every Cent And More - Quinton O'Connor

It’s difficult for me to imagine Xbox without Game Pass. My brain says it’s a mandatory part of the experience. If my brain is convinced, then by proxy, so is the rest of me. The number of available games to play is outstanding, but it’s the commitment to a diverse catalog that impresses me the most.

Game Pass has a ton of RPGs, so I’m rather pleased. But I can recommend it to friends with totally separate preferences in gaming genre with relative ease. I’ve spent a few hundred bucks on the service at this point, but I’ve saved well over a thousand. Wild stuff.