10.Asphalt 9: Legends
If your first thought was “Hey, I thoughtAsphalt 9: Legendswas a mobile game,” you’re not wrong. WhileAsphalt 9: Legendsoriginated on mobile, it works surprisingly well on the Xbox Series X|S.
Sure, it’s not up to snuff with theForza Horizonseries, but it’s one of the few options for racing games that don’t cost you anything up front. Just be aware that in-game purchases can get out of control pretty quickly.
Related:The Best Racing Games on Xbox Game Pass, Ranked
9.Fall Guys
WhileFall Guysmay technically be a battle royale game—a genre that seemingly still hasn’t worn out its welcome—it feels remarkably different from any of the others of its kind.
That’s all thanks to its fun, colorful aesthetic and its focus on platforming (whereas most battle royale games are shooter-heavy).
Instead of gathering resources and fighting your way to the end of the match, you’re just trying to follow a whimsical series of platforms to the end—and it’s surprisingly fun!
8.Call of Duty: Warzone
If you want to play aCall of Dutygame without outright buying one,Call of Duty: Warzoneis as close as you’re going to get, at least for now.
While this is a take on thePUBG-style battle royale shooter, it still has the feel of a standardCall of Dutygame—and depending on who you ask, that’s basically the best of both worlds.
As with most games bearing theCall of Dutymoniker, it’s one of the most popular shooters out there, so you’ll always find people playing.
7.Gundam Evolution
Have you ever wondered, “What if there was a game likeOverwatch, except it featured giant robots instead of superpeople?” If so, thenGundam Evolutionis the answer!
And if you really love anime and/or mecha, this may just end up being your favorite multiplayer shooter game of all time.
Aside from some differences in the controls,Gundam Evolutionis very similar toOverwatch. There are a ton of iconicGundamrobots here, and if you’re a fan of that franchise, that’s probably all you need.
6.Apex Legends
While some of us are still patiently waiting for a properTitanfall 3, many others are happily playingApex Legends.
Yes, this is yet another battle royale shooter, but developer Respawn knows how to make a multiplayer shooter feel great to play, and that’s certainly the case here.
Apex Legendshasn’t seen a flood of new content recently, but at the time of this writing, Respawn has successfully overhauled the matchmaking system, so hopefully new content will soon follow.
Related:The Best Shooter Games on Xbox Game Pass, Ranked
5.Overwatch 2
Overwatch 2may not be enjoying quite the same success as its predecessor, but the hero shooter has come a long way.
While some fans haven’t adjusted to the update, the fact thatOverwatch 2is now free-to-play means there’s no risk in giving this sequel a try.
When the game launched, players seemed somewhat underwhelmed. Now, it seems like the more people play the game, the more other people are playing, so the multiplayer population is quite plentiful.
Related:The Best Online Multiplayer Games on Xbox Game Pass, Ranked
4.Destiny 2
Overwatchisn’t the only shooter franchise to have massive success selling a game with a price tag before taking it free-to-play.
Case in point:Destiny 2, which launched as a standard $60 game, only for the base game to turn free-to-play after a few expansions.
So much content has been added toDestiny 2over the years that, even without the content that developer Bungie “vaulted,” there’s still a ton to do in the free version.
Related:The Best Xbox Game Pass Games for Achievement Hunters
3.Fortnite
After its weak launch in 2017,Fortnitedeveloper Epic Games took a few months to introduce a new game mode: Battle Royale. It was an instant hit, and soonFortnitebecame the biggest game in the world.
Epic Games hasn’t slowed down since, adding tons of characters from movies, games, and the real world to keep players forking over their hard-earned cash, as well new game modes to play.
The Zero Build mode introduced in 2022 brought new players to the game by the thousands, so whether you’ve never playedFortniteor you stopped playing it a long time ago, now’s a great time to try the game.
2.Rocket League
Rocket Leaguelaunched in 2015 to immediate success with both critics and the gaming public. It sold so well that the developers decided they had enough money, so they made the game free-to-play.
Well, technically, Epic Games bought developer Psyonix in 2019, and the free-to-play model didn’t come out until 2020.
Either way,Rocket Leaguehas been free-to-play ever since, and the good news is you can play the game all you want without spending a cent.
1.Halo Infinite
Halo Infinitehas had its issues, but after a few updates, the game’s multiplayer feels better than it has in years.
No, you don’t get campaign mode—you have to buy the game or spring for Xbox Game Pass to get that—but there’s plenty to do in the game’s multiplayer, even if you stick with the free Battle Pass only.
Developer 343 Industries is still updating the game regularly, so don’t worry about whether you’re too late. Hop on and give it a shot.
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