Best Game Pass Games for Mobile (Xbox Cloud Gaming)

The bar for hopping into the Xbox ecosystem is so low that, these days, all you need to join the fun is a smartphone. With its booming subscription, Game Pass Ultimate, Microsoft is now offering a streaming service that brings hundreds of top-tier titles to mobile devices. You can play these games by either connecting a controller to your phone or by using touch controls in the handheld mode.

Although still in Beta, Xbox Cloud Gaming is the evolved child of The Project xCloud, which launched in 2019 as Google Stadia’s competitor. The service lets Game Pass Ultimate subscribers stream console titles on mobile devices and smart TVs using Game Pass’s application or supported web browsers.

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You could argue that despite being one of the best video game streaming services, Xbox Cloud Gaming has been playing second fiddle to Game Pass’s console-heavy war against PlayStation. And it has remained a hidden gem with a library of over 350 hits. In this cherry-picked list, however, you get to know the best mobile-friendly games on Xbox Cloud Gaming and learn how to make the most of the Game Pass Ultimate subscription on your smartphone.

Before revealing the top picks, here are the criteria for this roster:

• Stream-friendliness. We picked games that work properly with an average internet connection.
• Touch control support. Games that require no controller rank higher on the list.
• Genre diversity. The list has games of various genres to ensure that every user finds a surprise hit.
• Gameplay simplicity. Since the point of cloud gaming is playing on the go, our top picks suit the handheld gaming lifestyle.

With that being said, here are the best Game Pass games to play on mobile devices.

Minecraft Dungeons

In Dungeons, you control a knight fighting off demonic piglins of Minecraft biomes. The game is an action RTS focusing on resource management, base-building, and unit production. But unlike other titles in the franchise, Dungeons makes crafting a two-click action because you’re an army general, not a worker. You decide who builds what and where, which is a temporary relief from all the energy-draining, time-consuming Minecraft crafting.

Minecraft Dungeons also offers a rich multiplayer experience with PvP and PvE actions. You can team up with three friends to rebel against the piglins or launch attacks on other players.

Games Like Minecraft Dungeons on Game Pass

While both Minecraft and Minecraft Legends are available on Game Pass, sandbox fans can also enjoy Terraria and Stardew Vally for free. These games keep the crafting spirit alive and let you build the base (or the ranch) of your dreams.

Gears 5 (Game of the Year Edition)

Gears 5, the timeless masterpiece, was once the hottest Xbox exclusive on the shelves. The Coalition’s groundbreaking graphics set a new bar for all Xbox Studios, and the game’s modern gameplay revived the third-person shooter genre back in 2019. But gone are the days you needed a pricy console or a supercharged PC to play this game; Gears 5 is on your smartphone now. Thanks to the new touch control support, you can play Gears 5 directly on your mobile devices and save the progress on your Xbox account.

Games Like Gears 5 on Game Pass

If you like playing Gears 5 on your phone, make sure to try Doom Eternal, Generation Zero, and MechWarriors 5 too. All these games have the same post-apocalyptic theme with shooting-heavy gameplay.

Persona 5 Royal

With enhanced graphics, longer gameplay, and a new villain, Persona 5 Royal is an unmissable Game Pass title. You may not be able to call it a remake, but Royal makes everything—even the story—look totally fresh. While many turn-based JRPGs struggle with intensifying and spicing up battles, Persona 5’s Royal edition creates a riveting action that lasts for over 100 hours.

Games Like Persona 5 Royal on Game Pass

A no-brainer option for Persona 5 fans would be to play Persona 3 and 4 on Game Pass. But for a novel—and equally memorable—gameplay, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is a much better choice.

Disney Dreamlight Valley

Imagine how fun it would be to build your own Disneyland with lovely cartoon characters from your childhood memories. Disney Dreamlight Valley is a dream come true for life simulation fans who happen to be Disney maniacs. The game lets you play as a savior who rebuilds the world by befriending Disney characters while fighting off the Forgotten, a mysterious villain.

Dreamlight Valley’s incompatibility with mobile devices has been a major drawback for the series, especially now that competitor titles like The Sims are already on iOS and Android. However, Game Pass Ultimate comes to save the day as it allows mobile users to stream Gameloft’s Disney-inspired life simulator on their smartphones.

Games Like Disney Dreamlight Valley on Game Pass

The Sims 4 and Cities: Skylines are the best games to try on Game Pass Ultimate if you like Dreamlight Valley. But for more Disney-flavored titles, you should stream Disneyland Adventures or Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure.

Tunic

Coming from an independent developer, Tunic is an action-adventure that combines Souls-like gameplay with mysterious puzzles in a delightful setting. What make Tunic an ideal game for streaming are its manageable file size and isometric viewpoint. The game already looks like a high-end mobile title with an addictive gameplay and acclaimed story. But instead of waiting for its actual Android or iOS ports, you can now play it on Game Pass’s iOS or Android application.

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Games Like Tunic on Game Pass

Players who enjoy Tunic’s challenging gameplay would be drawn to Disc Room and This War of Mine. However, those who like Tunic for its sweet creatures and lovable graphics should give Tinykin a shot. It’s a lovely 2D platformer with an entertaining plot (way brighter than Tunic’s).

TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge

Who would say no to a nostalgia-driven side-scrolling action brawler with a pixelated art style? TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge is a time machine that takes you back to when games were simply fun. What makes this game unique, however, is its co-op features. Shredder’s Revenge lets you team up with up to five other players to fight against the underground criminals and villains as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—and their cool allies.

Games Like TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge on Game Pass

Two good options for TMNT fans are Monster Sanctuary and Hi-Fi Rush. But Battletoads is the best game on Cloud Gaming for those looking for the same “beat ‘em up” energy as the mutant ninja turtles.

The Walking Dead: Michonne

Inspired by The Walking Dead comic book and TV show, TWD: Michonne is a spin-off of Telltale Games’ adventure titles. It follows the story of Michonne, a prominent member of Rick Grimes’s gang, who’s struggling with PTSD after losing her entire family in the zombie apocalypse.

Telltale Games uses its tried-and-true formula for Michonne’s stand-alone game: An episodic adventure game with an emphasis on decision-making and point-and-click action in comic book art style. But there are two reasons why TWD: Michonne is a tad better than other installments on Game Pass. 1) This is the only Telltale Games title that comes in complete episodes for free. And 2) it’s one of the few options with touch control support.

Games Like The Walking Dead: Michonne on Game Pass

Two narrative-driven games like TWD: Michonne are Tell Me Why and As Dusk Falls. And the good news is that both of them are available for Cloud Gaming on mobile.

Back 4 Blood

Taking the Left 4 Dead legacy to a whole new level, Back 4 Blood is the best co-op survival game on Game Pass. The action-packed gameplay puts you in the shoes of a team of hunters who’re roaming through a city of mutated creatures and zombies. (It’s basically Call of Duty Zombies on steroids.)

The game plan is simple: Go from point A to B while clearing the town from monsters. But the twist is that you can gain somewhat supernatural abilities along the way. Back 4 Blood’s cards and skills systems let you create a specialized soldier who fits the team’s strategy.

The fun gameplay and unique skill trees aside, the best thing about Back 4 Blood on Game Pass Cloud Gaming is its cross-play feature. Thanks to this option, you can join the squad on mobile devices while your friends are on a console or PC.

Games Like Back 4 Blood on Game Pass

Among all Cloud Gaming multiplayer titles, those that take after Back 4 Blood are Zombie Army 4, State of Decay 2, and 7 Days to Die. You can count on these games for a breathtaking, adrenaline-driven zombie adventure.

Grand Theft Auto 5

Can you imagine playing Grand Theft Auto 5—with the same astonishing graphics—on your phone? Rockstar’s highly praised open-world TPS is now accessible via Microsoft Cloud Gaming, which feels like a page out of the future.

In GTA 5, you get to play as three different characters looking to do the biggest heist in US history. But you’re pretty much free to progress the story however you want. Los Santos, the fictional location of the game, is a city with wonders lurking around every corner. And you can explore every bit of it for the sake of fun and adventure.

Games Like GTA 5 on Game Pass

The best GTA-esque Game Pass titles to play on mobile are Just Cause 4: Reloaded, Crackdown 3, and Yakuza 0.