Catch Up On Award Contenders With Xbox Game Pass
Game awards season is here, and that usually means two things for PC and console gamers. First, arguments about which title deserves Game of the Year. Second, a mad rush to catch up on everything we missed. If you have Xbox Game Pass, you are in a great spot. Several of the biggest nominees and critical darlings are already included, ready to install and play over the holidays.
Whether you love hardcore action, thoughtful role playing, precise platforming or slow burn strategy, there is something here to keep your rig busy and your backlog a little less intimidating. Let us walk through some standout titles connected to The Game Awards conversation that you can jump into right now.
Ninja Gaiden 4 and Hollow Knight Silksong: For Combat Addicts
If you enjoy games that demand sharp reflexes and real mechanical skill, two huge names stand out on Game Pass.
Ninja Gaiden 4 continues the legacy of the classic series that began back in the late eighties. The new entry is built around fast, technical combat that expects you to learn enemy patterns and time your dodges perfectly. You play as Yakumo, a new protagonist, and the gameplay is all about mastering brutal encounters rather than relying on heavy role playing systems or stamina bars.
The game leans into spectacular, over the top action. One minute you are slicing through demons from the shadows like a traditional ninja. The next you are grinding rails, soaring through the air in a wingsuit, or surfing straight into a neon drenched Tokyo nightclub. It was nominated for Best Action Game, and reviewers describe it as a rare kind of pure action experience that rewards practice and precision.
On the 2D side, Hollow Knight Silksong is the long awaited sequel to the beloved 2017 action platformer. This time you play as Hornet, exploring a new insect kingdom filled with secrets, vertical areas and deadly traps. Silksong racked up multiple nominations including Game of the Year, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Independent Game, and Best Action or Adventure.
Silksong is tough by design. Expect more than forty bosses, spike filled passages and traps disguised as safe resting spots. You cannot play it on autopilot. The tension comes from that constant risk and reward feeling as you push deeper into its intricate, hand crafted map. If you love the rush of finally clearing a brutal boss or discovering a hidden route after many failures, this is one of the standout platformers to install.
The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed: Deep Role Playing Worlds
For players who prefer story, choices and character builds over pure reaction speed, Game Pass also delivers two strong role playing experiences from Obsidian Entertainment.
The Outer Worlds 2 takes everything fans liked about the first game and pushes it further. The world design has a slick art deco and retro futurist style, and the detailed skill tree lets you shape your character to match your approach. You can tackle quests with stealth, diplomacy, or heavy firepower, often with several different outcomes depending on your choices.
As with Obsidian’s other classics, branching dialogue is a big deal here. You will travel with a team of up to six companions, each with their own personalities and strengths. Deciding who to bring on a mission can change how a scenario plays out. Sometimes you can talk your way through a situation, charm your way into a shortcut, or simply pull out the raygun and go all in on combat. Fans of Fallout New Vegas will feel right at home with the tone and flexibility.
Avowed is another Obsidian title, set in the world of Pillars of Eternity. This one is a first person open world adventure with a strong narrative focus. The Living Lands are dealing with a mysterious plague, and your character is sent to figure out how to respond. Even though the stakes are high, the game gives you room to wander and explore at your own pace.
What helps Avowed stand out is that the open world feels manageable. Instead of huge empty stretches, there is something interesting around most corners, whether that is a new character, a side quest or a location with detailed lore. Companions play a big role, with memorable personalities and banter that will appeal to anyone who enjoyed party based RPGs. Underneath the fantasy adventure, the story weaves in themes like colonialism, authoritarian politics and environmental issues, without being too heavy to enjoy.
The Alters and Hades: Strategy and Roguelike Greatness
If you want something a little different from the usual action or RPG formula, two more titles are worth your time.
The Alters is a strategy and survival game set on a hostile planet. You play as a lone human trying to stay alive, but there is a twist. You can create clones of yourself called Alters. Each Alter is another version of you with different traits and specialties, and you need them to help run your base, gather resources and research new technology.
Time is limited, so every decision matters. When do you leave the safety of the base to explore? Which technology should you prioritize to keep everyone alive a little longer? On top of the management layer, you also have to deal with the social side of commanding multiple versions of yourself. The game was nominated for Best Sim or Strategy, and it sticks in your head long after you finish because of its clever concept and tense atmosphere.
Finally there is Hades, a modern classic and one of the defining roguelike action games of the last decade. Even though it originally released a few years ago, it is a perfect Game Pass pick if you never got around to it. Hades was nominated for Game of the Year back in 2020 and walked away with awards for Best Indie and Best Action.
You play as Zagreus, the son of Hades, trying to escape the underworld. Every run is a fast paced attempt to fight your way to the surface while collecting boons from the Olympian gods. Expect to die often and be sent back to the House of Hades, where you will upgrade your build, chat with a stacked cast of characters, and try again with a slightly stronger setup.
The beauty of Hades is how it makes repeated failure entertaining. Combat feels incredibly responsive, each weapon has several viable styles, and your build changes drastically based on which gods favor you during a run. The writing and voice acting give real personality to everyone from Zeus to minor underworld staff. With Hades 2 now picking up its own award nominations, this is the perfect time to experience the original.
If you are looking to put your gaming PC or Xbox to work this holiday, these Game Pass titles cover almost every taste. Intense action, deep storytelling, strategic survival and endlessly replayable roguelike runs are all just a download away.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/catch-up-on-the-goty-conversation-with-these-xbox-game-awards-nominees-on-game-pass/
