10 Best Games on PC Game Pass (October 2026)

The best game to download from PC Game Pass depends on what you want from your next session. A campaign you can follow alone, an evening of co-op, and a long-running racing game ask for very different commitments. This list brings together ten options across those needs, with newer releases alongside games that offer a distinct reason to keep coming back.

These picks cover the Windows PC catalog included with PC Game Pass. A subscription gives access to the included game while it remains in the library; it does not automatically include every expansion, premium edition, or cosmetic pack. Catalogs can also differ by region. The ordering balances variety, clear gameplay appeal, and relevance to the current lineup rather than treating every genre as directly comparable.

10. Forever Ago

Best for: A reflective single-player road trip

Forever Ago follows Alfred on a journey north after a tragedy, using travel and photography to build a story around the people and places he encounters. Its appeal lies in paying attention: landscapes, conversations, and small discoveries take the place of a combat loop. That makes it a useful choice when another enormous open-world checklist is the last thing you want.

The single-player structure also removes the need to coordinate a group or keep up with an online season. Choose it for a narrative adventure centered on observation and personal relationships. It joins PC Game Pass on October 8, giving this month’s lineup a quieter alternative to its action-heavy releases.

Official Forever Ago listing

Watch the official Forever Ago trailer on YouTube · XBOX

9. Planet of Lana II

Best for: Cinematic puzzles and a companion adventure

Planet of Lana II pairs Lana with her companion Mui in a science-fiction puzzle adventure. Moving through its environments involves reading the scene and finding ways for the two characters to overcome obstacles together. The illustrated setting and companion-led structure give it a different rhythm from games that measure progress through equipment upgrades or competitive rankings.

This is a single-player recommendation: two central characters do not make it a two-player co-op game. It suits players looking for a focused adventure with environmental puzzles and a continuing story. If you enjoyed the first Planet of Lana, the sequel offers another reason to spend time in that world.

Official Planet of Lana II listing

For more on this game, see games like the original Planet of Lana.

Watch the official Planet of Lana II trailer on YouTube · XBOX

8. PowerWash Simulator 2

Best for: Methodical cleanup alone or with friends

PowerWash Simulator 2 turns neglected locations into a succession of cleaning jobs. You work through grime, change equipment to suit awkward surfaces, and watch each space become usable again. The tasks have clear endpoints, making it easier to pick a job and settle into a session without learning a large combat system.

Solo play is the straightforward starting point, while co-op lets friends divide the work across a larger site. The satisfaction comes from gradual, visible progress rather than a high score or a race against another player. It is a practical pick for anyone who wants a game to unwind with between more demanding campaigns.

Official PowerWash Simulator 2 listing

For more on this game, see cleaning games like PowerWash Simulator 2.

Watch the official PowerWash Simulator 2 trailer on YouTube · FuturLab

7. Minecraft Dungeons II

Best for: Loot-driven action and cooperative exploration

Minecraft Dungeons II returns to dungeon-crawling action and introduces the Sift, a new dimension to explore. The recognizable Minecraft setting provides the backdrop, but the focus is on fighting enemies, finding gear, and adjusting a build for the next encounter. It belongs here as an action adventure rather than as a replacement for Minecraft’s free-form building.

The loop gives a group something concrete to work toward: push farther into a dungeon, compare equipment, and prepare for tougher threats. Solo players can also follow the adventure. It entered PC Game Pass on September 29, so this is the sequel to look for when choosing a current dungeon-crawling download.

Official Minecraft Dungeons II listing

Watch the official Minecraft Dungeons II trailer on YouTube · Minecraft

6. RuneScape: Dragonwilds

Best for: Survival crafting with cooperative goals

RuneScape: Dragonwilds uses the continent of Ashenfall as the setting for a survival adventure built around gathering, crafting, and exploration. You begin with immediate needs and develop the tools and shelter needed to tackle more dangerous territory. The familiar RuneScape name does not mean this is the same game as the long-running MMO.

It is better approached as a survival project that can grow over several sessions. Friends can help turn a basic camp into a more capable base and share the work of collecting supplies. Choose it when you want practical progression and a reason to explore together, rather than a short campaign you can finish in one sitting.

Official RuneScape: Dragonwilds listing

Watch the official RuneScape: Dragonwilds trailer on YouTube · RuneScape: Dragonwilds

5. Keeper

Best for: A surreal adventure told without words

Keeper gives its central role to an awakened lighthouse traveling with a seabird. Double Fine’s adventure uses movement, puzzles, and an unusual landscape to tell its story without dialogue. The premise alone sets it apart from the soldiers, drivers, and adventurers elsewhere on this list, and its focus is on discovering what the journey reveals.

The wordless presentation is a reason to give the visuals and environmental details your attention. This is a single-player choice for players drawn to atmospheric exploration and a self-contained creative world. It offers a useful change of pace when you want an adventure whose identity comes from its setting and characters rather than from a complicated loadout.

Official Keeper listing

Watch the official Keeper trailer on YouTube · XBOX

4. Ninja Gaiden 4

Best for: Demanding action and combat mastery

Ninja Gaiden 4 is the pick for players who want a combat system to learn rather than a game to leave running in the background. Its action centers on aggressive encounters, weapon use, and the timing needed to keep control when enemies press forward. New protagonist Yakumo joins a series known for giving players room to improve through repeated attempts.

Treat the first sessions as time spent learning how movement and attacks work together. The attraction is building confidence with those tools, not simply moving from one cutscene to the next. If precision action is the reason you subscribe, this offers a focused counterpoint to the crafting, driving, and puzzle-solving options in the catalog.

Official Ninja Gaiden 4 listing

Watch the official Ninja Gaiden 4 trailer on YouTube · XBOX · YouTube may require age verification to view this trailer.

3. Forza Horizon 6

Best for: Open-world driving and a long-term car collection

Forza Horizon 6 takes the Horizon festival to Japan, combining an open-world driving setting with a broad selection of cars and events. Its structure lets you choose between working through races, developing a collection, and simply exploring the roads. That flexibility makes it a useful recurring game rather than a campaign with only one route forward.

It also provides a different kind of multiplayer option from a shooter or dungeon crawler: friends can spend time driving together without every session becoming a ranked contest. Start with the included game and the vehicles it provides. Premium upgrades and expansion content are separate purchases unless a particular offer explicitly includes them.

Official Forza Horizon 6 listing

For more on this game, see the best cars in Forza Horizon 6.

Watch the official Forza Horizon 6 trailer on YouTube · Forza

2. DOOM: The Dark Ages

Best for: A substantial single-player shooter campaign

DOOM: The Dark Ages builds its combat around a heavier, grounded Slayer and a shield that is part of the fighting system. The medieval science-fiction setting changes the look of the series, while its encounters still revolve around reading threats and using the right tools to break through them. It is a clear choice for players who want a shooter campaign rather than a multiplayer commitment.

The shield gives defense an active role, so approaching every encounter exactly like DOOM Eternal is not the only option. Choose this for concentrated action, distinctive weapons, and a campaign with a defined direction. Its place near the top reflects how directly it serves players looking for a full solo action game in the subscription.

Official DOOM: The Dark Ages listing

For more on this game, see our DOOM: The Dark Ages beginner tips.

Watch the official DOOM: The Dark Ages trailer on YouTube · Bethesda Softworks

1. Gears of War: E-Day

Best for: A new campaign and squad-based action

Gears of War: E-Day goes back to the beginning of the Locust invasion, following younger versions of Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago. The campaign keeps cover-based combat at its center and places it within the first hours of a disaster that changes Sera. Its October 6 launch makes it one of the most timely reasons to open the PC Game Pass library.

The campaign supports solo play and online co-op, while Horde Siege and Versus give groups further ways to play. PC players should distinguish online co-op from console split-screen when arranging a session. It leads this selection because it combines a substantial new campaign with multiplayer options, serving both a solo download and a game to return to with friends.

Official Gears of War: E-Day listing

For more on this game, see our ranked Gears of War games.

Watch the official Gears of War: E-Day trailer on YouTube · Gears of War

Which Game Should You Start With?

For a quieter evening, start with Forever Ago, Keeper, or PowerWash Simulator 2. For cooperative progression, look at Minecraft Dungeons II or RuneScape: Dragonwilds. For action, DOOM: The Dark Ages and Gears of War: E-Day provide two different campaign styles.

Before downloading, confirm that the game appears in your region’s Xbox app and that your PC meets its requirements. If you prefer a permanent Steam purchase to subscription access, our Steam FPS guide and Steam racing guide provide related options.