2025 has already proven thatXbox Game Passis the best deal in gaming, especially for RPG fans, as a single subscription fee provides access to hundreds of hours of content, be it fantasy adventures with dragons or sailing the stars.
It helps thatXbox Game Studios owns Bethesda, which is the company behind some of the greatest RPG franchises of all time, includingFalloutandThe Elder Scrolls.Starfieldis also there, though it wasn’t quite impressive enough to make the list, maybe after a few more expansions.
Best Xbox Games Turning 20 In 2025
2025 is more than the 20th anniversary of the Xbox 360. The Xbox brand saw some amazing games released in 2005.
This list will only contain a single entry from each franchise, though compilations are acceptable, so long as it’s contained within one game, as are spin-offs. It wouldn’t be fair for one or two series to completely dominate when the entries tend to be so similar.
Those looking to instantly jump into some amazing RPGs can do so straight away on multiple devices, thanks to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’s streaming capabilities. These are the best choices for those who want to go on an adventure.
10Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
Only Xenos Fight In Real-Time
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
Owlcat Games has produced some excellent games based on the Pathfinder tabletop RPG, but their best title that’s on Game Pass is one based on another mainstay RPG universe:Warhammer 40,000. However, this time around, the player doesn’t have to slip on the familiar power armor of the Space Marines.
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Tradertakes on the unusual approach of setting the player as a Rogue Trader, one of the few people in the Imperium allowed to explore new galaxies.
This offers a unique glimpse at the Warhammer 40,000 universe, withturn-based battles and managing merchant ships throughout the darkness of space, while resisting the temptations of the Chaos gods at every turn.
Skyrim For The Mushroom People
Bethesda has a reputation for constantly portingSkyrimto new platforms, which means that it’s surprising that few companies ever attempt to copy its formula, considering how successful it was.
Avoweddoes an admirable job of taking The Elder Scrolls’first-person adventuring styleand transplanting it to thePillars of Eternityuniverse.
While not technically open-world,the expansive levels in Avowed have tons of content, with the player able to experiment with various magic or melee combat builds.
Hopefully, a DLC further down the line that adds in romance options will help flesh out the game a little more, as a generation twisted byBaldur’s Gate 3badly wants to get with the cast.
8Dragon Age: Inquisition
Finishing The Story (Until Veilguard)
Dragon Age: Inquisition
It’s a shame that there’s no Legendary Edition equivalent for theDragon Agegames that puts them all in one package, as that would have easily put this further up the list. As it stands,Dragon Age: Inquisitionis the best of the original trilogy and can stand on its own.
After the Darkspawn invasion of the first game and the political tensions in Kirkwall in the sequel, Dragon Age: Inquisition ups the ante even further, with portals opening in the sky, allowing monsters to invade the world.
10 Best AA Games on Xbox Game Pass, Ranked
This is your place if you are looking for titles with a big-budget appeal but an indie feeling.
It’s up to the player tolead the Inquisition into battle and use their unique power to close the portals, as the long-forgotten secrets of the gods finally come to light.
Considering how divisive Dragon Age: The Veilguard was with fans and how quickly it jumped onto PlayStation Plus, the series might go into hibernation. This means Dragon Age: The Inquisition is the best that fans of the franchise will get for a while.
7Fallout: New Vegas
Patched Up & Ready To Go
Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegaswas plagued by numerous technical issues at launch, making it nearly unplayable. Luckily, the game is fixed, and those looking to explore the Wasteland can do so in the best entry in the Fallout franchise without falling through the geometry.
It’s hard to pick Fallout: New Vegas over Fallout 3, as they’re both excellent games. Fallout 3 might be the better choice for people who want a more straightforward narrative, as the player is more of a white meat baby face in that game, whileFallout: New Vegas gives the protagonist more options for being bad.
Fallout: New Vegas gives the player unprecedented options forsiding with the different factionsvying for control of the New Vegas strip, especially as it’s impossible to please them all. The player can also choose to flip the bird and strike out on their own, and simply take in the beauty and the horrors of the Wasteland as an explorer.
6Octopath Traveler
Eight Characters, One Story
Octopath Traveler
It’s strange to think that there was a time when JRPGs had fallen out of favor, especially turn-based ones, but Square Enix still managed to put out some bangers that won back the audience. Case in point:Octopath Traveler, which helped create the 2D-HD aesthetic used in other excellent JRPGs.
Octopath Traveler follows the stories of eight different characters, with the player able to switch between them at different points, and form a party from the cast. From here,the different stories gradually unfold after countless turn-based battles, with them all converging at the end, as the eight must fight together against a single foe.
Octopath Traveler features a job system, giving players the chance to customize the abilities of their characters in the same way as games like Final Fantasy V. Each hero also has unique powers that work outside of battle, giving the player a good reason to switch up their compositions when exploring the world.
5Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
Baldur’s Gate Pirates
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
Those who fell in love with the world of Eora after playing Avowed should check out the series that it spun off from: Pillars of Eternity. While the first game can come off as an OG Baldur’s Gate clone, the sequel is where things get really good, as it’s set on the high seas.
When an ancient being awakens and goes on a rampage across the world, it’s up to the Watcher from the first game to set sail in pursuit. Like Mass Effect 2, this meansthe game starts with the protagonist being killed and revived during the incident, with people who skip the first game getting the chance to pick what happened and have everyone react to their decisions.
This leads to a distinct take on the isometric Baldur’s Gate-style formula, with a Pirates of the Caribbean-style world, with islands to explore and a fleet to build. Those looking for a fantasy RPG that’s a little bit different should givePillars of Eternity IIa try.
4The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
Patrick Stewart Approved
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
What they found wasa far greater experience than the leaks hinted at, one that was worth a return for those who had completed the original Oblivion.
10 Best Shooters on Xbox Game Pass
Aim down sights, and fire at will!
The Oblivion remaster is built on the same classic game, but with numerous visual improvements that make it nearly unrecognizable. Throw in a ton of gameplay adjustments and all the DLC (except for the Horse Armor, as that’slocked to the Deluxe Edition), and you have a truly modern update for the best entry in The Elder Scrolls series.
3Persona 3 Reload
Fighting School, Learning Demons
Persona 3 Reload
Persona 3 was already an amazing JRPG, where players had to live by a school schedule, balancing their academic career with dungeon exploring, as they ventured through the tower that appears in their school every night.
Reload completely revamps the visuals and introduces some quality-of-life features that make the combat a bit more forgiving, transforming it into the definitive version of the game.
2Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
The French Final Fantasy
The newest entry on the list and already a strong contender for2025’s Game of the Year,Clair Obscur: Expedition 33is a turn-based RPG set in a world where a giant clock is ticking down, killing anyone older than the number. This will eventually wipe out humanity, so an expedition is dispatched to stop “The Paintress,” the monster believed to be behind the curse.
With absolutely gorgeous visuals and a QTE-style twist on the combat system, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isan unmissable RPG experience, especially for those with a love for the PS2 era of JRPGs. This game proves that there is absolutely a place for turn-based combat in the modern era, even with Square Enix trying to force Final Fantasy into the action RPG mold.
The fact that Claie Obscur: Expedition 33 received a day-one launch on Game Pass demonstrates just how much value the service can provide, especially with it being available on so many devices.
1Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Just Ignore The Ending
Mass Effect
TheMass Effecttrilogy has produced one of the most unforgettable stories in gaming, with humanity finally reaching the stars and coming into contact with aliens, only for an ancient danger to reemerge and threaten all life across the galaxy.
Following Commander Shepard’s tale across three games, with the player able tocontinue their save across the trilogy, with decisions impacting the sequels, is one of the most epic RPG tales in gaming.
The fact that they’re bundled together with visual and quality-of-life tweaks makes this the definitive way to experience the Mass Effect trilogy, especially for those who never played them at launch and managed to avoid the drama and controversy that dogged them in the past.
10 Forgotten Xbox 360 Games That Need A Remake
The 360 library was jam-packed with great games, some of which deserve another go.
