2023 was an incredible year for the Xbox Game Pass subscription service, especially when it comes to its day one games.
Xbox Game Pass strives to be the best deal in gaming, and in 2023, the argument can definitely be made that it achieved that goal. High-quality new games were added to Xbox Game Pass throughout 2023, ranging from big budget AAA releases to innovative indies.
2023 was arguably the best year Xbox Game Pass has seen so far, with the constant addition of new releases supported by the debuts of older, but still beloved games. Microsoft ensured that there were constantly new games being added to Xbox Game Pass throughout the year, including some of the biggest games that the service has seen to date.
Related Posts:
These are the best day one Xbox Game Pass games added in 2023.
This list is unranked and presented in alphabetical order.
Cassette Beasts
There are many Pokemon clones on the market, but most of them can’t hold a candle to Nintendo’s monster-catching franchise. One game that does give Pokemon a run for its money is Cassette Beasts, an Xbox Game Pass game that features Pokemon-style monster-catching and an ambitious fusion mechanic that lets players combine nearly every monster in the game. Cassette Beasts is notable for being one of the highest-rated Xbox Game Pass games of 2023, making it a safe bet for both Pokemon fans and those looking for a quality RPG.
Cocoon
One of the great things about Xbox Game Pass is that it gives smaller-scale, riskier, creative games the chance to shine, like Geometric Interactive’s Cocoon. Cocoon is a bizarre sci-fi puzzle game that almost defies explanation, and it likely reached a much larger audience thanks to its status as a day one Game Pass game. In it, players carry orbs around strange alien worlds, with the twist being that players can actually travel inside these orbs to reach different worlds within them. This lends itself well to mind-bending puzzles and creative boss fights, resulting in an experience that players won’t forget anytime soon.
Forza Motorsport
While the open world Forza Horizon games have been keeping Xbox racing fans busy, many have been wanting to see the simulation-based Forza Motorsport games make a comeback. Sim racing game fans had to wait a whopping six years between Forza Motorsport 7 and the new game, but many would agree that it was worth the wait. The new Forza Motorsport boasts cutting-edge graphics, expanded online options, and enough content to keep racing game fans busy for the long haul. Forza Motorsport picked up multiple wins at The Game Awards 2023, which is just further evidence that it is one of the best new Xbox Game Pass games of the year.
Hi-Fi Rush
The vast majority of day one Xbox Game Pass games are revealed months, if not years, in advance. Hi-Fi Rush is the big exception to the rule, with the innovative music/rhythm hack-and-slash game shadow dropped for Xbox Game Pass as a day one game at the beginning of 2023. Hi-Fi Rush was praised for its cel-shaded art style and creative combat system, standing out as one of the most unique games added to Xbox Game Pass all year.
Jusant
Don’t Nod has to be one of the most unpredictable developers in the industry. Its debut game, Remember Me, is a sci-fi action adventure with a focus on combat; Life is Strange is an episodic narrative-driven game; Vampyr is an action-RPG; and the day one Xbox Game Pass game Jusant is a puzzle platformer. Jusant challenges players to climb a giant tower, all the while taking in some rather impressive views brought to life thanks to the game’s vibrant art style. Jusant is not only one of the highest-rated day one Xbox Game Pass games of 2023, it’s one of the highest-rated new games of 2023 period, so subscribers should definitely be sure to check it out as soon as possible.
Lies of P
Many have tried to emulate FromSoftware’s Soulslike formula, but few have managed to do so quite as well as Lies of P developer Neowiz. Lies of P is a brutal Soulslike that has players exploring the dangerous streets of Krat as Pinocchio. Armed with an expansive arsenal of weapons, Pinocchio has to fight his way through a variety of mechanical and organic monsters, including tough-as-nails bosses that often have two whole phases to conquer. Praised as one of the best non-FromSoftware Soulslike games of all time, Lies of P was one of Xbox Game Pass’s surprise hits in 2023, and it will be exciting to see how the DLC turns out.
Ravenlok
One of 2023’s most underrated Xbox Game Pass games has to be Ravenlok from Cococumber. Ravenlok is an action-RPG with a voxel art style that completes the developer’s Voxel Trilogy, preceded by Riverbond and Echo Generation. Based on the Alice in Wonderland fairytale, Ravenlok is a short but sweet adventure that does a great job of keeping players hooked from the start of the game to its end credits.
Sea of Stars
Sea of Stars from Sabotage Studio is unique in that it not only released as a day one Xbox Game Pass game, but it also released day-and-date on PS Plus Extra as well. Many would agree that it’s a great thing Sea of Stars is readily available on both Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus Extra, as it’s a remarkable RPG that pays homage to 16-bit era JRPGs while making big enhancements to meet modern standards. Sea of Stars has a memorable cast of characters and an engrossing story that solidify it as one of the must-play Xbox Game Pass games of 2023.
Starfield
The flagship game for Xbox Game Pass in 2023 was without question Bethesda’s Starfield. A massive open world sci-fi RPG and the studio’s first single-player game since 2015’s Fallout 4, hype was incredibly high for Starfield in the years leading up to its release. While there are those who are tired of the Bethesda formula and have soured on the game, many others have found Starfield to be an ambitious adventure on a jaw-dropping scale. Starfield features classic Bethesda RPG gameplay, over 1,000 planets, and hundreds of galaxies to explore, ensuring a dizzying amount of content that can keep players busy for hours on end. Bethesda is dedicated to improving Starfield with future updates, and with the Shattered Space expansion also on the way, there’s plenty for fans to look forward to in 2024 and beyond.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
There are many asymmetrical multiplayer horror games to choose from, but few are as high quality as The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Taking most of its inspiration from the original 1974 horror movie classic, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre game puts four players in the roles of survivors while three others play as Leatherface and his twisted family members. Fans of the movie will get a kick out of exploring the game’s maps, while those looking for a scary and entertaining game to play with their friends will find The Texas Chain Saw Massacre meets those needs and then some.
Buy All These Games At The Official Xbox Store (opens in a new tab)
