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3 Best Games of 2025 Are Xbox Game Pass Day One Games
The three best games of 2025 have all been available with Xbox Game Pass the moment they released as day one Xbox Game Pass games, highlighting the value of the popular but sometimes contentious subscription service. Of course, the majority of the Xbox Game Pass library is not day one games, but that is increasingly what defines the subscription service, and sets it apart from its biggest competitor: PlayStation Plus.
We do not know how long any of the Xbox Game Pass games below will be available via Xbox Game Pass. All have been available since their launch, but none of them are Xbox games, so they are not permanent additions. As long as each is available via the subscription service, though, subscribers can purchase each with a 20 percent discount.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
The highest-rated new release of 2025, based on Metacritic scores, is Hollow Knight: Silksong from develoepr Team Cherry, which currently boasts a 93 on Metacritic. The long-awaited metroidvania and sequel to 2017’s Hollow Knight: Silksong has already been checked out by over million subscribers on Xbox Game Pass. The ratings and reception of the metroidvania may surprise some, but those who played the first game and who have followed the feverish anticipation for the sequel will not be surprised it is the top rated game of 2025, so far at least.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
The darling of 2025 before Hollow Knight: Silksong was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which also has a 93 on Metacritic, but it is not as close to 94 which is why it ranks lower on Metacritic. The third-person turn-based RPG was a debut release from developer Sandfall Interactive, and what an impressive debut it was, as evidenced by its 93 on Metacritic.
Blue Prince
The third highest-rated game of 2025 has earned less attention than the only two games that have managed to best it. When Blue Prince was released back in April, it was a debut for develoepr Dogubomb, and it was the highest-rated game of the year with a 92 on Metacritic. The following month, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 released and overshadowed the puzzle adventure game. And in most years though, it would easily win indie game of the year, but this year it has unprecedented competition.
There are a few more releases yet to come that could disrupt this Xbox Game Pass dominancy, but not much. Many of the biggest competitors — the likes of Donkey Kong Bananza and Death Stranding 2 — have already come out and have not managed to dislodge any of these games from the top three. There is one game that could still top all three, though, based on the series’ review history, and that is Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. This isn’t out until December though, so if this happens it will be a buzzer beater for Nintendo. Beyond the end of the year, there are already some noteworthy Xbox Game Pass day one games coming in 2026 that will hope to continue this trend into the next year. All of that said, as always feel free to leave a comment letting us know what you think or join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum.
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