Fans enjoyed plenty of games on Xbox Game Pass in 2021. Of all of them, fans have looked to MetaCritic to see how their favorites rank.
Xbox Game Pass is a great way for Xbox gamers to discover new and exciting titles to play without having to pay full price. Like in years past, 2021 had plenty of exciting and underrated titles released on the Microsoft service.
From big-name titles to indie hits, there are more than a few games that stood out above the rest. According to popular review site Metacritic, some games ranked higher than others, giving players a good idea as to which games were best. These are how the games ranked at the time of writing.
Swedish Indie game studio Neon Giant debuted in a big way with The Ascent. The game is an RPG set in a cyberpunk world and can be played solo or co-op. The Ascent follows the player as they survive in a chaotic world without order. The Ascent Group is a mega-corporation that rules all, and it has fallen.
The player tries to survive against gangs and other enemies as they discover the truth behind the corporation. Some reviews state the game has simple and familiar controls, but the story is enough to give the game a shot. The game is free to play for members and is one of several Game Pass games that can be streamed with Cloud Gaming.
Thunderful, the dev team behind the well-regarded SteamWorld franchise, returned to bring a new and inventive game to the Xbox series of consoles. The Gunk sees players take control of Rani, a space hauler who, along with her partner, finds herself on a bizarre planet that has been taken over by strange gunk that seems to be sucking the planet dry.
Much to the dismay of her second in command, Rani takes it upon herself to destroy the gunk and save the planet. Many agree the brilliance of the game comes from its simple and fun controls and its stylish graphics. There were plenty of underrated indie video game hits in 2021, and luckily this is one that is getting much-deserved attention.
Outriders is an online-only game developed by Square Enix. The game is a simple looter-shooter that many agree isn’t anything new or groundbreaking but still offers a fun and entertaining time. The story is basic in terms of sci-fi action but is still enough to grab the player’s attention and keep it.
The game’s purpose is the gameplay, and reviewers on MetaCritic claim this is where the game shines. It could easily fit alongside some of the best Xbox action games to try on Game Pass.
In a similar vein to Silent Hill, The Medium is an atmospheric horror game that switches between the living world and the spirit. The player takes control of the titular medium as they investigate the haunting visions of a child who was murdered.
The game is filled with atmosphere and begs to be played with the lights off. Gameplay is slow, but that is what fans love about it. The Medium is a terrifying experience and Game Pass users should definitely give it a try.
As the title suggests, Back 4 Blood is a spiritual successor to the popular Left 4 Dead series. Made by the same dev team, Turtle Rock, the game is a multiplayer shooter that takes place during a zombie apocalypse. Fans praise the game for being similar gameplay-wise to the former series, but different enough to bring a fresh take to it.
Players fight against The Ridden, once humans who have been taken over by a parasite believed to be extraterrestrial in origin. Fans agree the game is fun and a worthy Game Pass addition.
On its surface, Lemnis Gate seems to be a basic FPS, but it is so much more. The game uses time-warping mechanics to make a unique gaming experience that relies more on the player’s cunning than their skill with a weapon.
The combat is turn-based and requires the player to fight on a four-dimensional battlefield and use the game’s time system to their advantage. Each turn lasts only 25 seconds, so players must master the art of quick thinking to come out on top. The game remains one of the more unique titles listed here and should absolutely be played.
Real-Time Strategy games may not be as popular as they once were, but Age of Empires IV is looking to change that. The fourth entry in the classic RTS series is familiar, yet different enough to be the fresh revival fans have been clamoring for.
The game features real-life historical battles and figures that players can control to change history the way they see fit. The name of the game is a skill, and the game allows players to build their skills and shape them to be able to take on any battle. While Age of Empires IV is great, there are plenty of other similar strategy games out there for fans of the genre.
The Halo series has been a staple of the Xbox for 20 years and it is no surprise why. The latest entry in the series is no exception, and many believe it is one of the best. Players once again take control of Master Chief, as he takes on one of the deadliest enemies he has ever faced.
The gameplay is what fans have come to expect from the series, but taken to the next level. Like other entries in the series, Infinite truly shines in its story, and fans have been praising it since it launched. The game is perfect for fans of the series, and they should check it out just to see some of the most powerful and difficult Halo bosses in the game.
Psychonauts 2 shows that the platforming genre is not only still alive, but it is also stronger than ever. The game follows a young psychic named Razputin Aquato who wants to join the famed group of psychic spies, The Psychonauts. Razputin learns that the Psychonauts are in danger, and it is up to him to save them.
The player has a wide variety of psychic abilities at their disposal, and they must learn to perfect them to traverse each level. The graphics and design of the game are highly praised and are true to the 2005 original. Even when the main game is over, there are other things Psychonauts 2 players can do in-game after beating it, adding to the already high replay value.
The Forza series has taken what makes a racing game great and perfected it in every sense. Forza Horizon 5 takes this concept and perfects it yet again with a racing game that is drawing in even those who aren’t fans of the genre. The game features hundreds of real-life cars and graphics that are beyond stunning.
The gameplay is fun and responsive, proving why the Forza series remains one of the gold standards in racing games. Regardless of whether one is a fan of racing games or not, this is one that gamers should check out.
Donnie has been writing for as long as he could hold a pencil and has studied film for even longer. He loves films of all sorts, and has a more than decent knowledge of them, although horror is where his expertise lies. While able to critique with the best of them, he prefers to look at things in a more positive light.
