10 Best Adventure Games on Xbox Game Pass (April 2024)

Whether fictional fantasy worlds or real-life locations, adventure games have one goal: to put you in the shoes of a protagonist and gradually unravel a riveting story, often propelled by exploration. At times, adventure games will unravel in text, allowing you to make tough choices that influence the story's outcome. Other times, you may point and click interactive elements in the game to propel the story forward. Check out the best adventure games on Xbox Game Pass below. 

10. DOOM Eternal

Highly rated DOOM Eternal is perfect for gamers looking for a heavy dose of brutal FPS. It's a first-person shooter that covers all the bases in just the perfect amount of intensity and aggression it deserves. Its story is compelling, taking you on an exhilarating campaign across 15 hours or so. Meanwhile, enemy encounters push you to the brink yet provide a variety of tools to switch up. With stellar scenery evoking the sense of dread slaying demons require, DOOM Eternal doesn't just ask but demands your attention. 

9. Return to Monkey Island

As a point-and-click adventure, it's easy to bat off Return to Monkey Island in favor of more fleshed-out open-worlds. However, the developing team's efforts to beautifully design a charming and well-paced tale don't go unnoticed. It's among the few games still holding the genre high up in the list of best adventure games. Mainly for its ability to challenge you with its numerous puzzles but also for the way it easily steals laughs from even the most hardcore adventurers.

8. Paradise Killer

You've heard this story before. A group of wildly different characters get trapped on a faraway island. They're then forced to investigate and solve a murder, with possibly no way out of the island other than catching the culprit. Paradise Killer is perfect for fans of detective games, especially gamers looking for more free-roaming challenges. The mystery here doesn't disappoint, with several knots to unravel. It's also great that it goes away from the traditional spooky detective games to a more stylish adventure.

7. Quake

Back to first-person shooters. Consider checking out Quake, which has been around since the '90s. Its lengthy run only speaks to the effective gunplay and fast-paced combat gamers have enjoyed over the years. Now re-crafted for a contemporary audience, Quake II Remastered offers a brand new campaign packed to the brim with content. The core brutality and speedy combat remain intact, with enough original content for veterans and newcomers alike.

6. Bramble: The Mountain King

Bramble: The Mountain King tells a charming sibling story: a young brother, Olle, goes up against mythological creatures to rescue his kidnapped sister, Lillemor. Right off the bat, Bramble: The Mountain King immerses you in a stunning world, relaying its eerie Nordic lore perfectly. You're constantly curious to find out what the next piece of the story is, thanks to a profoundly intriguing atmospheric vibe and moody soundtrack. Creatures, too, look stunning, with a few genuinely terrifying.

5. A Short Hike

If you have a few hours on your hands, you can check out A Short Hike, which follows a charming little bird’s adventure to the top of a mountain to get cell reception. While the premise is simple, A Short Hike quickly branches out into intriguing mini-side quests that open up its world beyond hiking. You meet with lots of quirky characters on your way to the top, needing help with a thing or two. Best of all, you can take as much time as you need to explore, choosing to veer off the beaten path as you please.

4. Celeste

Few platform games curate adventures as intense as Celeste. While its primary concept is climbing to the top of Celeste mountain, a more profound conundrum lies at its core. The protagonist, Madeline, suffers from anxiety and depression. And so, even as she climbs up to the top, she constantly faces challenges that push both her physical and mental capacity to the brink. You also run into exciting personalities on the way while unraveling a powerful story best experienced for oneself.

3. Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto remains the exhilarating open-world adventure it’s always been. However, Grand Theft Auto V scales up every gameplay element, presenting a world full of limitless things to do. You can take on the story campaign, following four crooks on their journey to rule the underworld. Alternatively, you can branch out into GTA V’s many side quests and mini-games. From practicing your shots at the shooting range to gambling and playing casual golf, almost anything goes in Los Santos.

2. Immortals Fenyx Rising

On the other hand, you could venture out into Immortals Fenyx Rising’s Greek mythological world. To fans’ relief, the creatures and environments depicted here mimic the myths as closely as possible. Furthermore, the characters you run into are actually pretty hilarious; you're guaranteed to enjoy your time here. I mean, the gods Zeus and Prometheus bicker at one another; it's far-fetched yet powerfully written. With its open-world adventure setting, colored vibrantly as if plucked out of a painting, you’ll be free to explore its fascinating scenic themes at your own pace.

1. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

The LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is perfect for a free weekend, packing all nine Skywalker Saga films into one. Sounds like too much? Well, the game does an excellent job compacting all nine movies, so you never feel drowned in the lore. It's incredibly packed, to the point of featuring over 100 automobiles, over 300 playable characters, and 23 planets to gallivant to. What’s more? The galaxy is excellently detailed, portraying a stunning open world you can’t stop combing through. Along with plenty of missions, side missions, and puzzles to solve, you’ll unravel a lighthearted story, complete with LEGO banter and mindless carnage.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our best adventure games on Xbox Game Pass? Are there more adventure games we should know about? Let us know over on our socials here.