Microsoft’s Game Pass servicehas quickly become one of the best deals in gaming. The subscription service currently boasts over 200 games, including iconic franchises likeHalo,Gears of War,andForza.Moreover,Game Passrecently had two huge influxes of content added to the service, thanks to the implementation of EA Play for no extra cost to the consumer, and Microsoft’s purchase of Bethesda, which saw some of their best games likeDOOM Eternal,Dishonored,andFallout 4come to the service.
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Microsoft hasn’t only treated Game Pass to their Xbox player base, as it’s also available for PC. The Xbox and PC iterations of Game Pass share a very similar catalogue of games, though there are a handful on each system that are exclusive, including some fantastic titles that are only playable on PC.
8Spore
It’s easy to forget now, but in the build-up toSpore’s release, it was one of themost highly anticipated arrivalsof the 2000s. Electronic Arts and Maxis did a fantastic job of marketing the game, and initial trailers made it look like a once in a generation experience. WhenSporewasreleased, it was initially seen as a disappointment, as it didn’t reach the ludicrously high expectations placed on its shoulders.
However, once the dust had settled and the initial hype subsided,Sporefinally started to get the respect that it deserved. The gameplay may be simplistic, but it’s easy to sink multiple hours into creating a new species and watching it grow, socialise, and ultimately attempt to survive.
7Humankind
Humankindis the most recent game on this list to come to Game Pass, as it hit the service on June 22, 2025, the same day that the game itself was released. Amplitude Studios' game doesn’t try to hide its influences, as the game is unapologetic in how closely it resembles theCivilizationseries. The game does have some differences to its counterpart, such as its single victory condition revolving around Fame, but generally speaking, those who enjoyCivilizationwill be lovingHumankind’s inclusion into Game Pass.
6Hearts of Iron IV
Hearts of Iron 4is a grand strategy wargame that was released by Paradox Interactive in mid-2016. The series' fourth instalment continues the franchise’s tradition of focusing on World War 2, with its campaign specifically beginning in either 1936 or 1939.
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Hearts of Iron 4can be a tough ride in the opening hours, as itsimpressive level of depth and complexitycan make the game overbearing to begin with. It’s certainly worth persisting, though, as once the player understands the many mechanics, it becomes one of the most engaging and engrossing strategy games on the market today.
5Europa Universalis 4
Like the aforementionedHearts of Iron 4,Europa Universalis 4is a historical grand strategy game released by Paradox Interactive and developed by the aptly named Paradox Development Studio. The game differentiates itself fromHearts of Iron 4with its setting, as the game takes place between the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period.
The game received an excellent87 critic score on Metacritic, which is four points higher thanthe score earned byHearts of Iron 4.
4SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition
SimCity 4 Deluxe Editionis one of threeSimCitygames that is available on Game Pass, withSimCity: Complete EditionandSimCity 2000: Special Editionbeing the others. Truth be told, any of the three games could have made this list, as they all offer a similar level of quality.
SimCity 4was initially released in January 2003, while the deluxe edition hit stores in September of the same year and included theSimCity 4: Rush Hourexpansion pack. The game was developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts, the same duo that worked on the aforementioned Spore.
3Command & Conquer: Remastered Collection
Command & Conquer Remastered Collectionwas released in June 2020 and features remastered iterations of the first two entries in the franchise,Command & Conquerand Command & Conquer: Red Alert.
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The remaster gives the classic real-time strategy games a fresh coat of paint and includes the three expansions packsCounterstrike, The Covert Operations, and The Aftermath. The pair of games, which were originally released in the mid-90s, hold up surprisingly well, and it’s still just as easy to become engrossed in the battles as it was when the games first hit shelves.
2Crusader Kings 3
Crusader Kings 3is yet another game on this list that was published by Paradox Interactive and developed by Paradox Development Studio. The grand strategy game has a lot of similarities toHearts of Iron 4andEuropa Universalis 4,though it differentiates itself with its emphasis on role-playing.
Unlike most strategy games that essentially make the players a faceless god who rules over the kingdom for centuries,Crusader Kings 3puts players in control of a 3D-rendered character whose behaviour, characteristics, and stress levels are directly affected by the player’s choices.
1Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition
Believe it or not, it’s now been over twenty years sinceAge of Empires 2was originally released. Ensemble Studios' game revolutionized the real-time strategy genre, and its gameplay mechanics have been copied, reworked and reimagined by numerous different studios over the years. Despite the many games that have tried to recapture the magic ofAge of Empires II, there are numerous people who still consider it to be one of thebest strategy gamesof all time.
Age of Empires 2: Definitive Editionwas first released in November 2019 and remastered the game with beautiful modern visuals.
