Game Pass was first launched in 2017, and over the past 8 years, it’s only gotten bigger and better. Now toting hundreds of games at one low cost, Game Pass has grown into one of the best deals in the gaming world, providing access to everything from the latest AAA titles to exciting indie hits. Once confined to Xbox systems, Game Pass has been available on PC since 2019, outgrowing the home console market and opening up the service to more players than ever before. While many have adopted PC Game Pass and appreciate its benefits, there are still some players who see it as another needless monthly subscription. However, as 2025 gets into full swing, one thing has become clear, PC Game Pass is essential for players who want to save some cash while still experiencing the latest and greatest games.
Game Pass is PC’s Best Deal
It’s a point of pride for most PC gamers that we get stuff for cheap. Compared to Xbox and PlayStation players, PC gamers are showered with constant sales on Steam, granting us access to countless titles for just a few bucks. That said, regardless of how plentiful and frequent these sales are, we often have to wait several months for big-budget games to reach a reasonable price point. Thankfully, Game Pass keeps up the trend of keeping things cheaper for PC players. While Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is upwards of $20 per month, PC Game Pass is just $12 a month, and we get all the same goodies.
For $12, PC Game Pass offers a huge selection of games, but a handful of bonus benefits are included as well. One of which is EA Play, which grants access to games like Madden, Battlefield, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. While that’s nice enough, the real boon of PC Game Pass comes from a partnership with Riot Games, which any PC player worth their weight should recognize. If you subscribe to PC Game Pass, you get instant access to every character in both League of Legends and Valorant, two of the most popular online multiplayer games of all time. With over 170 champions in League of Legends alone, all of which normally cost money to unlock, having PC Game Pass is a must if you’re a Riot fan.
Another great benefit of PC Game Pass is day-one access to brand new games, something that console players have to pay extra for. Microsoft’s latest push seems to be on adding as many big-budget games to Game Pass and making them available on launch, and many recent additions have been exceptionally good. The first-person RPG Avowed, the big new Indiana Jones and the Great Circle game, and even blockbuster titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 have popped up on PC Game Pass, at no additional charge. With other epic titles like DOOM: The Dark Ages, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, and Ninja Gaiden 4 slated for release on PC Game Pass, there’s no better time to hop on.
The Best Games on PC Game Pass
With over 400 games readily available, there’s no shortage of fun titles to play on PC Game Pass. Especially if you haven’t dabbled in modern games over the last few years, this library is bursting with top-tier games for you to try. If you’re looking for AAA titles, check out Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, StarCraft 1 & 2 Remastered, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, or South Park: The Fractured But Whole. For something a bit more family-friendly, PC Game Pass also includes platforming adventures like Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy or Spyro Reignited Trilogy.
You can also find a plethora of great indie games on PC Game Pass, ranging from highly underrated gems to critically acclaimed darlings. For starters, look no further than the platforming action game, Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition, widely considered to be one of the best in the genre. For more Metroidvania goodness, Ori and the Blind Forest and its sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps are two absolute masterpieces. Some RPG fun can be found with titles like Sea of Stars, or you can get lost in the 2025 Game of the Year winner, Balatro. It seems like every week or so, new indie games are added to PC Game Pass, so there’s always something new to try.
Between the excessive selection of high-quality mainstream titles and indie hits, PC Game Pass has an existing library that will take you thousands of hours to experience, with enough variety to satisfy any type of player. New games are added consistently and frequently, and looking forward, most of the highly anticipated 2025 releases will be available on day one through PC Game Pass. If you’re considering spending full price on any new game this year, we recommend you consider checking out PC Game Pass first, as there’s a good chance the game you want is available and will only cost you a fraction of the price to play. If there’s one thing we love as PC gamers, it’s getting to experience everything that the gaming world has to offer without breaking the bank, and PC Game Pass is arguably essential to that end in 2025.
Short author bio:
Matt Owen
As a lifelong gamer and overall media fiend, Matt gets his hands on every new game and watches an unhealthy amount of movies and TV: action, horror, mystery, and sci-fi in particular. When not bingeing on entertainment, he enjoys reading and writing short stories, cooking, and producing video and podcast content.