Favorite Games Added to PC Game Pass in 2022

I’ve been covering every new wave of titles announced for the Xbox Game Pass service since the beginning of this year. As I play their offerings through PC Game Pass, I figured I might as well compile a list of my favorite games that were added. It’s worth noting that this is a personal list and I’m well aware that there is plenty of great stuff that I missed out on. My hope is that maybe there’s something here that you haven’t had the chance to check out yet.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition – Available on cloud, console, and PC

One of the biggest benefits of PC Game Pass is that an EA Play membership is included, compared to console players who can only enjoy that benefit with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Since every subscriber that plays on PC has access to that additional library, there’s no way I couldn’t mention a standout addition from the beginning of the year, Mass Effect Legendary Edition.

Commander Shepard’s journey is a personal one for each player thanks to the numerous choices and story branches. A deep and original universe filled with memorable characters has kept the series on a pedestal. Whether you’re a fan already or someone looking to experience this sci-fi epic for the first time, this remastered compilation is the best way to enjoy the best that the series has to offer.

Hitman Trilogy – Available on cloud, console, and PC

I’ll admit that there are a lot of full series and trilogies available within the Xbox Game Pass library and to choose another one does feel a little cheap. These seem like a no-brainer if you value the time you’ll spend playing after all. However, I would argue that the Hitman Trilogy is different from the others and remains a fantastic addition from back in January.

This trilogy contains the content of the three most recent Hitman games, which are tied together by one over-arching story. An important distinction is that each iteration has brought visual and mechanical upgrades, all while updating previous missions to be playable.

Hitman Trilogy is essentially the third game packaged with everything from the first two games, allowing everything to be played in one place. Between the high replay value of each mission’s sandbox style and being able to go through it all with everything that Hitman 3 brings to the table, this might just be the most cohesive-feeling trilogy in the library.

Weird West – Available on cloud, console, and PC

Day-one releases have always been a big selling point for Xbox Game Pass, and Weird West was one I had been keenly waiting for. The Dishonored series is one of my favorites and I was very interested in seeing what the creator was going to make next after creating his own studio. The weird fiction style mixing the supernatural with an American Frontier/Wild West setting was just the icing on the cake for me.

I had an incredible time playing an early access preview of it, and then even more fun playing the full game when it was released in March. Don’t let the top-down camera fool you though, this is absolutely an immersive sim. Everything from the combat to NPC interactions provides a lot of leeway on how a player can proceed.

It’s almost easier to figure out what isn’t possible than what is. The development team has continued to fix bugs as well as update the game with new modes and content. Their most recent update last month added the long-awaited mod support that was mentioned after the game was released.

Yakuza 0 – Available on cloud, console, and PC

Although I had played Yakuza 0 when it was a part of the service back in 2020, it left the service last December along with Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2. All three of them were then added in the first half of July. That might make this seem like a bit of a technicality, but it also makes this an eligible pick in my eyes.

As a fan of the series who has played and been able to enjoy it as a subscriber, I’m a big proponent of checking out the series by starting with the prequel Yakuza 0. It’s the perfect celebration of the series’ tenth anniversary with a fun combat system and a delicate balance between serious and entertainingly wacky moments. A strong story that keeps you hooked while rounding out key characters is just another reason it’s so beloved by fans. You can read more about why I believe newcomers can get the most out of using this prequel as an entry point to the series here.

Signalis – Available on cloud, console, and PC

I have a special place in my heart for the survival horror games of the 90s and early 2000s. Nothing quite beats the long-lasting sense of dread of dangerous monsters and inventory management that’s only broken up by intricate puzzles. The early 3D visuals have remained a favorite aesthetic of mine for a long time too. That’s why Signalis, which was added at the end of October, is one of my favorite games available to play with Xbox Game Pass.

There are recognizable elements from many horror classics here. Rather than simply taking inspiration from its predecessors, many of their telltale aspects have been modernized. At the same time, plenty of strong elements feel distinct for the genre between the story, puzzles, and retro-tech aesthetic. It is a must-play for survival horror fans and I can’t imagine talking about the genre anymore without listing it as a standout. For a more in-depth read, check out my review of it here.