The Forgotten City
The Forgotten City is set in an ancient Roman city where the populace will instantly turn to gold the moment anyone commits a sin. The problem is, what counts as a sin isn't clear. Fortunately, as an outsider to the city, you won't suffer that same fate and can hop through a portal to start the whole time loop again.
You will need to gather information through each attempt to try and discover who commits the crime that turns everyone into a golden statue. There are multiple endings to uncover and numerous interactions to enjoy with The Forgotten City's residents. You can use charm, bribery, intimidation, and violence to get the information you need or a mixture of these approaches. If you enjoy solving mysteries and a spot of time travel, this is the game for you.
You can delve into the mysteries of the Forgotten City through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Among Us
You've probably already heard of Among Us if you're an avid gamer. The social deduction game enjoyed a surge in popularity over the last few years, with people tuning in to watch their favourite streamers argue with one another over who is the Imposter.
If you're unfamiliar, Among Us sees a group of players running about a spaceship completing important tasks. While that might sound quite pleasant, some of those players are Imposters and will attempt to kill their crewmates one by one. Each round, the crew will need to try and work out who the Imposter is and kick them off the ship. Meanwhile, the Imposters will try and use deception to convince everyone they're innocent. Expect those post-round discussions to get a little heated.
Put your social deduction skills to the test by downloading Among Us from the App Store or Google Play for free.
It Takes Two
If you enjoy co-op and platformers, then Hazelight Studios has created the perfect game for you. It Takes Two sees married couple Cody and May trying to escape from the dolls their daughter has trapped them in after learning her parents plan on getting a divorce. It sounds depressing, but the story is incredibly touching, and the gameplay is thoroughly enjoyable.
Each level has a different theme and mechanics to match, meaning you don't have to worry about them becoming overly familiar and repetitive. Sometimes you might be able to rewind time, while others, you will gain the ability to make copies of your character. One constant, however, is that you will always need to work with your co-op partner to overcome each challenge. So, maybe play it with someone you get along with.
It Takes Two is available through an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
Overboard
Overboard is a murder mystery with a twist. You are the killer, and your job is to get away with the crime. It's set in 1935 aboard the SS Hook, which is making its way to New York. Based on the time and place of the crime, that gives you about eight hours to successfully frame somebody else for the murder of your husband.
On the ship, you will find many interesting people to chat with. Some will be friendly. Others, not so much. Either way, you aim to find out who you can trust and who can be sent to jail in your place. Each playthrough lasts around half an hour, but there are multiple endings to discover, so you might want to jump back on board immediately to learn the different ways to get away with murder.
Overboard is available on the App Store and Google Play for £4.99.
Unpacking
Moving house is usually a stressful time with a tonne of organising and unwanted manual labour, which makes it far from appealing. However, Witch Beam's Unpacking successfully manages to flip a frustrating activity into an infinitely more satisfying and Zen experience, not least because there's less danger of a bad back. It follows a character's life across eight house moves, and each time you will need to find a home for all of their items.
So, in gameplay terms, Unpacking is a mixture of a block-fitting puzzler and a home decoration sim. On top of that, you will uncover the character's personal journey with each house move. Over time, you will learn about their interests through the items they keep and those that get left behind.
You can start Unpacking now with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
Psychonauts 2
Following the release of the original back in 2005, Psychonauts is finally here, and thankfully for those who’ve been waiting, it's excellent. Like its predecessor, it takes place in an alternative world where psychic powers exist. The titular Psychonauts look to develop these abilities while researching the human mind and trying to keep the peace. It's certainly not an easy job.
Players take on the role of Raz, a young acrobat who sneaked his way into the Psychonaut academy in the original. Now graduated, he will use his psychic abilities, which include telekinesis, pyrokinesis, and levitation, to explore the minds of others. This psyche exploration plays out in quirky platforming segments.
Delve into the minds of others by playing Psychonauts 2 on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate today.
The Artful Escape
The Artful Escape is a musical action platformer that sees players taking on the role of Francis Vendetti. Francis' father, John, was a revered folk musician and our hero, though a virtuoso guitarist in his own right, worries about living in the shadow of that legacy. Particularly since his father’s music isn’t his jam. Folk is brilliant, sure, but John would prefer to play rock music.
To find his own way, Francis sets off on a journey to create a new stage persona for himself, which plays out like a psychedelic fever dream. You will control Francis as he runs and jumps through these colourful landscapes, wielding his guitar to interact with the environment and defeat bosses. A must-play for any fan of rock music.
You can shred through The Artful Escape as part of your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite is the sixth main entry in the popular shooter series, and fans have viewed the latest instalment as a return to form for 343 Industries. Everything from the chunky gunplay to the fantastic soundtrack has seen Halo Infinite receive praise from the gaming world. And that's just the single player.
Once you're done gallivanting around space with John-117, there are a bunch of multiplayer modes to dive into. Whether you're a fan of Slayer, Capture the Flag, or you prefer a smörgåsbord of game variants in one playlist, Halo Infinite's multiplayer has plenty to offer competitive players.
Help Master Chief battle against Atriox on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
The MCU has provided us with an enjoyable interpretation of the Marvel comic books over the last while, but sometimes, it's fun to see a different take, and that's what Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy provides. It tells a story about the titular group battling against a host of recognisable foes from the comics as they try to save the day.
Specifically, you will play as Star-Lord, armed with his signature Element Guns. But even though you control Quill, the rest of the squad is still there to help. In battle, you can call upon your squad to batter enemies with a tag-team beatdown.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Forza Horizon 5
The Forza Horizon series has become known for its unique sense of fun that sees players speeding across various locales, and Forza Horizon 5 is no different. Set in a fictional Mexico, players will race through deserts, jungles, hidden ruins, canyons and even atop a volcano as part of the country's festival.
There's no shortage of events to participate in, with hundreds of challenges available to complete. It boasts a large open world, so you're free to tackle the races in whatever order you desire. Forza Horizon 5's Mexico is forever changing, with extra challenges, events, and collectibles added frequently.
Take Forza Horizon 5 for a test drive with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is the latest effort from ustwo games, the team behind the excellent Monument Valley and Assemble with Care. It sees the titular Alba travel to a Mediterranean Island to visit her grandparents. She anticipates a laid back summer until she sees an animal in danger and has to help.
What starts as one animal rescue quickly turns into a bid to save the entire island. Though a paradise from afar, up close, the island is covered in litter, and there are several other issues affecting the local wildlife. With the help of a few friendly locals, Alba can start to turn the island's fortunes around and see beautiful animals return to their former homes.
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is available with an Apple Arcade subscription.
Sable
Sable is an open-world game with a focus on exploration. It follows a young girl as she adventures out into the wilderness as part of a rite-of-passage known as The Gliding. She is tasked with retrieving a mask before being able to return to her clan.
Sable sports an interesting minimalist art style that makes its world feel appropriately alien. You will traverse the desert landscapes by hopping on the back of a hoverbike or scaling the giant ruins dotted across the region. There are numerous puzzles to solve and NPCs to chat with as you dash across the dunes.
You can explore Sable's beautiful world today with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
No Man's Sky
From a desert planet to an entire galaxy, No Man's Sky allows players to venture across the universe in their spaceship and land on any planet they choose. Each is home to different lifeforms, some friendly, others not so much. So, you might want to invest some time in upgrading your ship's weapons for any hostile aliens you encounter.
The ultimate aim is to reach the centre of the galaxy, but how, when or even if you get there is entirely up to you. No Man's Sky's universe is so vast and diverse that you might be content visiting its numerous planets without any desire to journey to the galaxy's centre.
Since the game first released in 2016, it has received 17 major updates, which are all available through the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate version of No Man's Sky.
Back 4 Blood
As you could potentially guess from the title, Back 4 Blood is a spiritual successor to the FPS co-op shooter Left 4 Dead. It comes from the same team and, once again, pits four players against the zombie hordes in a desperate bid for survival in fast-paced levels with roguelike elements that keep each attempt interesting.
Outside of the four-player co-op campaign, players can also engage in a spot of PvP where they can either play as humans or the Ridden. The mode is called Swarm and sees two teams of four trying to eliminate one another.
If you want to kill thousands of zombies, you can play Back 4 Blood on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate today.
Death's Door
Finally, we have Death's Door from developer Acid Nerve and prolific indie publisher Devolver Digital. If you enjoy tricky action RPGs, then this one is worth checking out. You play as a small crow tasked with gathering souls for the Reaping Commission Headquarters. However, after completing your first mission, a fellow crow warns you that your employer might not be what they seem.
Throughout your adventure, you will be able to collect an array of weapons, projectiles and magical spells to help defeat the powerful bosses that lie in wait. Aside from combat, there are also puzzles to solve along the way with new abilities to discover that will grant access to previously blocked areas.
Death's Door is available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
