Xbox Retro Classics on Game Pass: Full List, Top Picks & What’s Next

What if you could go back in time and play your favorite childhood games, but on your modern Xbox or PC? With Xbox Retro Classics, you can do exactly that. As part of the May 2025 update, Xbox launched this feature-packed collection for all Game Pass subscribers. It brings back over 50 classic games from the ’80s and ’90s, with modern features like achievements and save states. Plus, you can play on your console, PC, or stream to other devices. Here, we’ll explore what Retro Classics on Xbox Game Pass actually is, what games are available, the top 10 must-try titles, and what’s coming next.

What is Retro Classics?

Game selection screen showing classic retro titles like Atlantis, Boxing, and Pitfall on Xbox Retro Classics

Xbox Retro Classics is a collection of old-school games from the 1980s and 1990s, now available for modern Xbox consoles and PCs. It’s included in Xbox Game Pass and was launched in May 2025 as part of a collaboration between Xbox and Antstream Arcade. You get more than 50 classic Activision games, playable with new features like achievements, cloud saves, and online leaderboards.

You don’t need to buy each game individually. Just download the Retro Classics app from your console or PC, and you’re set. You can even play them through cloud streaming on supported devices. These games include platformers, shooters, racing games, adventure titles, and more. Retro Classics is perfect for nostalgic gamers and also great for new players curious about gaming history.

The best part is that these games now support saving progress at any time. That means you can pause and return later, even in games that never had a save option before. Xbox also added community challenges and competitive events to keep things fun and fresh.

List of All Retro Classics on Xbox Game Pass

Tournament screen for Xbox Game Pass Retro Classics showing Rescue Run and community challenge tiles

Here’s the full list of Xbox Retro Classics games available as of May 2025:

1. Activision Prototype #1
2. Adventures of Willy Beamish
3. Atlantis
4. Atlantis II
5. Barnstorming
6. Baseball
7. Beamrider
8. Bloody Human Freeway
9. Boxing
10. Bridge
11. Caesar II
12. Checkers
13. Chopper Command
14. Commando
15. Conquests of the Longbow
16. Cosmic Ark
17. Crackpots
18. Dagger of Amon Ra
19. Decathlon
20. Demon Attack
21. Dolphin
22. Dragster
23. Enduro
24. Fathom
25. Fire Fighter
26. Fishing Derby
27. Freddy Pharkas: Frontier Pharmacist
28. Freeway
29. Frostbite
30. Grand Prix
31. H.E.R.O.
32. Kaboom!
33. Laser Blast
34. MechWarrior
35. MechWarrior 2
36. Megamania
37. Pitfall!
38. Pitfall II: Lost Caverns
39. Police Quest I
40. Pressure Cooker
41. Quest for Glory I
42. Riddle of the Sphinx
43. River Raid
44. River Raid II
45. Robot Tank
46. Sky Jinks
47. Space Quest II
48. Space Quest 6
49. Space Treat Deluxe
50. Spider Fighter
51. Star Voyager
52. Tennis
53. Thwocker
54. Title Match Pro Wrestling
55. Torin’s Passage
56. Trick Shot
57. Vault Assault
58. Venetian Blinds
59. Zork I
60. Zork Zero

10 Must Try Games on Retro Classics

First-person cockpit view from a retro mech game with radar and targeting HUD

10. Zork I

This is a pure text adventure. You type commands to explore a fantasy world. There are no graphics, just descriptive writing. If you like reading and solving puzzles, this is a must-try.

9. Quest for Glory I

This game mixes role-playing and adventure. You create a hero and solve quests in different ways. You can be a thief, fighter, or wizard. It’s funny, smart, and very replayable.

8. Grand Prix

This is an old racing game where you dodge cars and oil slicks. It’s basic, but the driving feels fast and fun. Compete for high scores and best times.

7. Kaboom!

You catch falling bombs with a bucket. Sounds simple, but it gets fast and crazy! It’s great for short, intense gameplay sessions.

6. Commando

Run and gun through enemy lines. It’s a top-down shooter with grenades and bullets flying everywhere. It still feels exciting even today.

5. H.E.R.O.

You fly into mines to save trapped workers. It mixes puzzles with action. It’s clever and very satisfying when you finish a tricky level.

4. River Raid

Fly a jet up a river and blow up enemy stuff. Manage your fuel and try not to crash. The scrolling is smooth, and it’s still addictive.

3. Megamania

Like Space Invaders, but with weird enemies like hamburgers. It’s colorful, funny, and gets harder over time. A great pick-up-and-play game.

2. MechWarrior 2

Pilot a giant mech in tactical battles. This PS1 game still looks cool and feels intense. You manage weapons, heat, and radar. It’s one of the more complex games in the collection.

1. Pitfall!

This is the original jungle adventure that started it all. David Crane’s Pitfall! for the Atari 2600 was a global phenomenon, defining the platforming genre for a generation. Swinging on vines, leaping over crocodiles, and collecting treasures provided endless hours of entertainment. It inspired many modern games. Now with save points, it’s easier to enjoy than ever.

What’s Next for Classics?

Tournament banner with racing cars and community challenge highlights

Xbox has confirmed more games will be added to Retro Classics. The current 50+ titles are just the beginning. They plan to expand the library to over 100 games in the future.

There’s also a possibility of seeing old Blizzard games added, thanks to Xbox’s partnership with Activision Blizzard. We can hope for the titles like The Lost Vikings or early Warcraft games.

Microsoft is committed to keeping Retro Classics alive. With regular updates, new challenges, and more games on the way, it’s clear this is a long-term plan. If you love retro games or want to discover gaming history, Retro Classics is one of the best parts of Xbox Game Pass right now.