15.Halo: Spartan Assault
A twin-stick shooter based on Xbox’s most famous franchise,Halo: Spartan Assaultisn’t going to blow your mind, but it’s definitely a solid way to wind down.
While the gameplay doesn’t have as much to offer compared to the best examples of the twin-stick shooter genre, the art style and recognizable enemies and visuals do a lot to enrich the experience.
14.Pac-Man Museum+
Pac-Manruled the video game world at one time. While the titular yellow ball character probably isn’t due for a comeback,Pac-Man Museum+is a great way to experience the series. From the original game to clunky platformers, you get 14 differentPac-Mantitles in this package.
Related:The Best Local Multiplayer (Couch) Games on Xbox Game Pass
13.Feeding Frenzy
Some of the best arcade-style games are built on incredibly simple concepts, andFeeding Frenzyis a solid example of this.
InFeeding Frenzy, you play as a fish. Your job? Eat anything smaller than you, and run away from anything bigger than you. You’ve probably played games like this before, but if you want to chill on your Xbox with this kind of gameplay,Feeding Frenzyis a great game to try.
Related:The Best Action Games on Xbox Game Pass, Ranked
12.Zuma’s Revenge!
Zuma’s Revenge!is a color-matching arcade puzzle game. You shoot colored balls at a chain, and when three or more match up, they disappear and you earn points.
Combo as many ball removals as you can to rack up points and eliminate the chain as quickly as you can. Once you get a few chain reactions going, you’ll find yourself inexplicably hooked.
Related:Non-Fighting Game Genres That Are Better With an Arcade Stick
11.Battletoads
Battletoadsfirst came to life on the NES in 1991 as a brutally challenging beat-em-up game starring Rash, Zitz, and Pimple.
Well, these questionably named characters have returned inBattletoadson Xbox Game Pass. The game plays similarly to the original, except it has a vastly upgraded presentation.
10.Joy Ride Turbo
Based on a racing game for Xbox Kinect (which was aptly namedKinect Joy Ride), the follow-upJoy Ride Turbodrops the gimmicky peripheral for a standard gaming controller experience.
What you end up with is an arcade-style kart racer, which isn’t something you see a whole lot on Xbox Game Pass. But don’t overlook it! It’s one of the better arcade-style racing games, if you’re into that genre.
Related:The Best Racing Games on Xbox Game Pass, Ranked
9.Heavy Weapon
Like many of the arcade games that came to the Xbox 360,Heavy Weapondraws on classic titles for inspiration while adding its own visual flair and gameplay touches.
InHeavy Weapon, you control a tank that moves horizontally while shooting into the sky to defend your land. While it’s a basic shooter, it’s addictive enough to keep you busy for a few hours.
8.Katamari Damacy REROLL
Like a few other games on this list,Katamari Damacy REROLLisn’t exactly a brand-new experience. This is an updated take on the originalKatamari Damacy, which debuted on the PlayStation 2 in 2004.
Controlling the Prince as you roll up bigger and bigger balls of, well, almost anything, just doesn’t get old. It’s lightweight, stress-free, and fun and funny in equal measure.
Related:Hilarious Video Games That’ll Lift Your Mood and Make You Laugh
7.Taiko no Tatsujin: The Drum Master!
This one is somewhat of an odd entry, only because you’ll probably want a taiko drum-style controller to play this game. The problem is, there aren’t any taiko drum-style controllers that actually work with the Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S consoles.
That said,Taiko no Tatsujin: The Drum Master!is still fun enough to play with a standard controller, making it worth checking out.
6.Mighty Goose
While the name might have you thinking thatMighty Gooseis a follow-up toUntitled Goose Game, that’s far from the case.
Actually,Mighty Gooseis a run-and-gun arcade shooter that takes heavy inspiration from retro series likeContraandMetal Slug. It’s relatively easy to pick up and hard to put down.
Related:The Best Shooter Games on Xbox Game Pass, Ranked
5.Peggle 2
Peggle 2is quite the relaxing experience. There are no enemies and no timers counting down, so take all the time you need to line up your shots and watch as your ball makes its way through the pegs, pachinko-style.
4.Double Dragon Neon
Double Dragon Neonoriginally came to the Xbox 360 back in 2012. It was developed by WayForward, a developer who knows their way around arcade-style games.
The gameplay ofDouble Dragon Neonremains similar to the classic beat-em-up games in theDouble Dragonseries, but the tone of the game takes itself far less seriously than those earlier titles.
3.Rare Replay
IncludingRare Replayon this list almost feels like cheating because there are a ton of great arcade-style games to enjoy here.
Of the 30 games in the collection, some aren’t arcade-style (likeKameoandPerfect Dark), but many of them are (includingKiller Instinct,Battletoads Arcade,Jetpac Refuelled), and that makes this a must-play title if you’re craving retro arcade-style gameplay.
Related:The Best Platformer Games on Xbox Game Pass, Ranked
2.Lethal League Blaze
The 1-on-1 gameplay ofLethal League Blazeis hard to describe, but the easiest way to think of it is to imagine that someone mashedPongwith a fighting game and took it from there.
When you come out on top after an increasingly hectic back and forth volley with your opponent, it’s a great feeling. Play through singleplayer, with friends in a local match, or against others online.
1.Windjammers 2
A follow-up to the classic Neo-Geo gameWindjammers, this sequel mostly takes a “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach. While the visuals are updated compared to the original, they still look like they’d be more at home in an arcade cabinet than on a modern Xbox console.
The gameplay is easy to learn, but if you watch high-levelWindjammersplay, you’ll quickly see how much there is to master.
Related:The Best Free Xbox Series X|S Games Actually Worth Playing
