With the holidays fast approaching, there's never been a better time to sit down with some of the very best releases of the year. Whether you're looking for great shooters, big RPGs to dive into, excellent strategy games, or something else entirely, there's plenty of options available if you've got yourself a PC Game Pass subscription. Although with hundreds of games to choose from at any one time, I know that it can be tough to know where to invest your time and attention.
With the 12DOVE pick of the best games of 2024 now live, I can help you narrow down your options though! Below I'm going to highlight five games that featured in our official GOTY list which are also available to play through the PC Game Pass library. And should none of those grab you, there's a list of some other recommendations for you to try.
It's worth noting that our Game of the Year list had a cutoff date for consideration of November 30, which meant that MachineGames' latest was ineligible for inclusion – but if you've read our Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review, you'll know by now that this excellent PC Game Pass title is well worth your time.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 placed 18th in our ranking of the 25 best games of 2024. It earned its place through an awesome, high-octane campaign from developer Raven Software and an excellent multiplayer showing from Treyarch. The single-player portion of the package is a spy-thriller inspired by the Mission: Impossible franchise, where you're whipped between a massive variety of well-produced, explosive missions around the globe. As for the multiplayer, it's Call of Duty back at its best – a fast, frantic shooter that'll keep your friends playing together over the holidays. Black Ops 6 is one of the best shooters of the year, and a fantastic title to play through PC Game Pass.
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Developer: GSC Game World
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl featured in the 22nd slot of our ranking of the best games of the year. Truth be told, it may have crawled higher up the list were it not for a litany of bugs which are present all throughout this expansive open-world adventure. Still, the team here at GR+ were able to overlook a few anomalies in its design due to the strength of its creative vision. Developer GSC Game World delivered a captivating and engrossing hardcore shooter experience which isn't for the faint of heart; this is why it's perfect for PC Game Pass, as you'll be able to dive in for a few hours, see if it's the sort of thing you vibe with, and can easily walk away if it isn't. Still, I'm convinced many of you will fall in love with its gorgeous visuals, weighty gunplay, and desperately atmospheric world.
Frostpunk 2
Developer: 11 Bit Studios
Frostpunk 2 is undoubtedly one of the best strategy games of 2024, coming in at rank 16 on our overall list. We were exceptionally impressed by this city-building game from 11 Bit Studios, which measures the survival of a human population in harsh environmental conditions. It's up to you to manage relationships between different factions, and ensure that the colony is able to grow as dwindling food, heat, and medicine supplies threaten everything. Frostpunk 2 is a little depressing at times, but its bleak atmosphere is a feature rather than a bug. Frostpunk 2 is one of the greatest pickups on PC Game Pass right now, so jump right in and see if this calamity simulator is something you can get behind.
Persona 3 Reload
Developer: Atlus
Persona 3 is considered to be one of the best RPGs of all time, so perhaps it should come as no surprise that this excellent remake helps the experience retain its legacy. Persona 3 Reload featured at number 15 in our overall GOTY list for good reason, with developer Atlus infusing the spine of the original with some of the most beloved features and visual flourishes from Persona 5. Whether you have been looking for an excuse to replay this classic or wondering whether this sprawling RPG is something you should try, PC Game Pass gives you the perfect excuse to dive right in and lose hours of time as you attempt to balance social commitments and school schedules with all-encompassing turn-based battles.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2
Developer: Ninja Theory
Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is one of the best games to come out of Xbox Game Studios in years. The action-adventure placed 11th in our GOTY list, with developer Ninja Theory stunning with its immersive world design, atmospheric approach to narrative, and stark visual fidelity. What you get in Hellblade 2 through PC Game Pass is one of the best looking and sounding games of the year, and an important journey into the depths of psychosis. It's a really interesting experience, the sort of adventure that sticks with you long after the credits roll. It's not going to be for everyone, but then that's why you've got your Game Pass subscription, isn't it? Take a chance, you never know, you might just find a new favorite game series.
Other great options
- Dungeons of Hinterberg
- Flock
- Harold Halibut
- Hauntii
- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Nine Sols
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Metal Slug Tactics
