Amid the recent announcement of major changes coming to the Game Pass model, including a notable price hike that sparked controversy, it feels like the right moment to reflect on Microsoft's gaming legacy over the past decade — especially the quality of its games. The Xbox division isn't often associated with producing widely acclaimed hits, but there are some undeniable successes nevertheless.
All of the following titles are critically acclaimed Xbox games with at least a 90 average score on OpenCritic. The focus is on Microsoft's first-party titles developed or published by Xbox Game Studios. However, a few highly rated third-party games that launched on Game Pass from day one are also included, showing the strongest examples so far of Microsoft's gaming partnerships and exclusive deals within the broader Xbox ecosystem.
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Forza Horizon 5
OpenCritic Score: 92
Forza Horizon 5
- Released
- November 9, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone // In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
The current king of the open-world arcade genre (at least until the release of Forza Horizon 6 next year), Forza Horizon 5 is a phenomenal racing title, leagues ahead of the competition. In terms of visuals, physics, music, and the sheer scale of content, Forza Horizon 5 feels like a premium release. Plus, it's simply enjoyable to boot up and drive around for a few minutes.
Some gamers believe that Playground Games plays things too safe with the formula, making only minor changes from one entry to the next. But still, there's still nothing on the market quite like the Forza Horizon series, as proven by its many awards. Forza Horizon 5 was named Best Racing Game at both The Game Awards and the D.I.C.E. Awards, while also earning multiple accolades for its visual and audio design.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
OpenCritic Score: 92
Microsoft Flight Simulator
- Released
- August 18, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Genre(s)
- Flight Simulator
Like the Forza Horizon series, Microsoft's Flight Simulator titles occupy a niche of their own. They offer unmatched scope, quality, and accuracy in their field, in large part thanks to the company's vast resources invested and an ever-evolving nature.
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The latest Microsoft Flight Simulator represents the pinnacle of this approach: an ultimate flying sim unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon. Combining cutting-edge technologies suited for educational purposes while remaining deeply engaging as an exploration experience, the game was hailed as a true glimpse into the next-gen future, blurring the line between the real and virtual worlds like never before.
Forza Horizon 4
OpenCritic Score: 92
Forza Horizon 4
- Released
- September 28, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
The previous best (and, for many, still the best) entry in the series, Forza Horizon 4 is considered even more impressive than its predecessor. This game is the one that introduced changing seasons and achieved a level of graphical fidelity unmatched by competitors. Forza Horizon 4 is a true paradise for racing fans, combining flexibility, accessibility, and excitement. Its award-winning track record, including multiple Best Racing Game awards and the overall Xbox Game of the Year 2018 title, helped cement its cult status.
It's worth noting that Forza Horizon 4 is now considered a legacy title, having been delisted from digital storefronts and the Game Pass catalog in December 2024. The game remains fully playable for those who own it, so it still deserves a place among the best Xbox games.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
OpenCritic Score: 92
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Released
- April 24, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the first title on this list that wasn't created or funded by Microsoft's Xbox division. Instead, it represents a standard Game Pass partnership for third-party releases, and one of the most successful examples so far. As such, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 earns its place here as one of the best third-party games available to Game Pass subscribers from day one.
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The game became one of the highest-rated titles of the year and a strong Game of the Year contender, already securing several awards. Thanks to its inclusion in Xbox's subscription service, thousands of players had the chance to experience it, though it's difficult to pinpoint the exact audience distribution across platforms.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
OpenCritic Score: 91
Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Released
- September 4, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Hollow Knight: Silksong is in the same boat as Expedition 33. While this self-published indie title wasn't funded by Microsoft, it launched as a day-one Game Pass release through a standard third-party agreement, making it worth mentioning here. Like Clair Obscur, Silksong is expected to appear on several GOTY lists later this year, and has already been praised as one of the best metroidvanias ever made.
Silksong also marks another strong move by Microsoft, securing this long-awaited release for the Game Pass lineup. Still, many players who had been anticipating Hollow Knight: Silksong for years likely chose to purchase it outright rather than play it through a subscription, especially given its modest launch price.
Ori and the Blind Forest
OpenCritic Score: 90
Ori and The Blind Forest
- Released
- March 11, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Mild Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Adventure
Ori and the Blind Forest was developed by Moon Studios and published as a Microsoft first-party title, as the company acquired the game about a year after development began). It's a standout gem in Microsoft's gaming lineup and, along with its sequel, ranks among the highest-rated and most beloved Xbox titles.
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A visually stunning and emotionally charged platform-adventure metroidvania, Ori and the Blind Forest earned multiple prestigious awards in the 2015–2016 season. These included the Xbox Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards, Best Art Direction at The Game Awards, and Artistic Achievement at the British Academy Games Awards.
Minecraft
OpenCritic Score: 90
Minecraft
- Released
- November 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
It's still debatable whether Minecraft should be considered an Xbox game, given that Microsoft acquired it for $2.5 billion in 2014. However, since its 2017 re-release, the game has become a core live-service first-party title with a massive audience. It would feel wrong to exclude it, considering the scale of Microsoft's investment in the franchise over the years.
With Microsoft's support, the Minecraft brand has expanded to include several spin-offs, such as Earth, Dungeons, and Legends, along with a recent feature film that became a major box office success. Thanks to its ever-evolving nature, Minecraft remains the definitive sandbox game, continuing to attract millions of players to its worlds.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
OpenCritic Score: 90
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Released
- March 11, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Mild Fantasy, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Adventure
Staying true to the strengths of the original, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is an equally outstanding Xbox title, developed in partnership with Microsoft and released as a day-one Game Pass game. As Moon Studios grew, the sequel's visuals received a major overhaul, transitioning from 2D artwork in Ori and the Blind Forest to 3D models set against multilayered backgrounds. The result is an even more breathtaking metroidvania that justified its long development time.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps received similar average scores to the first game. Like its predecessor, it once again became a prestigious award winner for Microsoft, earning Xbox Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards and claiming several NAVGTR awards.
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