Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass is the most successful attempt at a “Netflix for games” subscription model, offering over 100 games to download and play for the PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. For a small monthly fee, Game Pass can provide a ridiculous amount of value, variety, and entertainment. However, much like Netflix itself, the contracts for the games Microsoft does not own are subject to expiration.
For every couple games added to Xbox Game Pass, another is removed. As of February 2021, there are almost as many removed games as there are present games — which reflects quite well on the breadth of the service, as it has been cycling through games for almost four years. Still, some all-time classics have dipped from the roster, and it’s not a bad idea to see what isn’t there anymore before signing up.
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One of the defining games of the last decade of gaming, Grand Theft Auto 5 was added to Game Pass in January 2020, and removed May 2020. This 2013 game marked Rockstar Games' first numbered entry in the Grand Theft Auto series since Grand Theft Auto 4 in 2008. The genre-defining open-world title set players loose in the fictional state of San Andreas, able to play as three different characters who represented different types of GTA players. The game only came out on PS3 and Xbox 360 at first, but quickly spread to PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and is due to release on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S this year.
Similar to GTA 5, Red Dead 2 had a short stint on the service. While exact details are unknown, the massive popularity of these games was likely a factor for their short-lived appearances, but given the state of the world in 2020, it was a good move by Rockstar and Microsoft.
Joining Game Pass in June 2017 and departing during May 2018, 2K Games’ Bioshock was considered a storytelling masterpiece that defined a generation of narrative-based first-person shooters. Set in the fallen dystopian city of Rapture, players took protagonist Jack through a wild adventure fraught with horror and philosophical musings. Bioshock’s biggest claim to fame was being the spiritual successor to the System Shock series. Having released on PC, Xbox One, and later PS3 in 2007 with few other narrative-focused sci-fi shooters in sight, it wasn’t hard for the ex-System Shock developers working on Bioshock to reclaim their old throne.
Of course, that wasn’t all Bioshock was known for. It also possessed a concept and narrative developed by creative lead Ken Levine, incorporating ideas by 20th century dystopian and utopian thinkers such as Ayn Rand, George Orwell, and Aldous Huxley. Video games are not well-known for their plots in the wider context of entertainment, but this one turned heads by aiming for a particularly high-brow plot. With the rise of discussions on ludonarrative dissonance attributed to it, Bioshock did not quite meet its mark, but a game that can spark arguments on philosophy and game design principles still raging years after its console generation deserves recognition. It would be great news for fans if the new Bioshock from Cloud Chamber can recapture some of the original's appeal.
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The current final canon entry to the Metal Gear franchise and Hideo Kojima’s final project with Konami, Metal Gear Solid 5 is an upsetting send-off for the franchise, but no one can argue that its gameplay is second to none. From July 2019 to July 2020, fans were able to soak in its stunning open world stealth experience on Game Pass, and participate in online activities to build up bases and invade other players.
The game was best known for integrating a massive number of options into a stealth-oriented open world, and making it all work. Players could go for non-lethal, perfectly stealth runs, using camouflage and the day/night cycle to conceal their presence in one of the greatest stealth experiences ever. Alternatively, Snake could bring a truly massive amount of ordinance to bear on his enemies, ranging from regular guns to a helicopter support gunner to a small roster of buddies who have different specialties on the field. And when the chips were down, Big Boss’s signature cardboard box, Fulton balloons, and bionic arm could still save the day.
While MGS5 suffered in the story department but excelled in gameplay, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic performed the opposite with aplomb. Considered by some to be one of the best works to come out of Star Wars, this subversive masterpiece changed the way players thought about story in licensed video games. Released on Xbox and Microsoft Windows in 2003, and staying on Xbox Game Pass from June 2018 to May 2019, this planet-hopping game gave fans the authentic Star Wars experience.
Players take the role of an up-and-coming Jedi navigating the Galactic Republic, trying to prepare for a Sith invasion led by Darth Malak. They get the choice of aligning with the Light or Dark side of the Force, enabling a wide variance in dialogue options and story outcomes. The player’s growing party was also applauded by many, featuring a dynamic cast of likeable characters who continued to grow and respond to the player’s choices throughout the game. Bioware may not what it used to be, but fans still hold out hope that it can reclaim some of the magic the Knights of the Old Republic games had once more.
The Ninja Gaiden series has always been known as a test of one’s patience, dexterity, and mental strength, and nowhere was this more apparent than in 2005’s Ninja Gaiden Black. An updated rerelease of the 3D 2004 Ninja Gaiden, Black implements a mixture of the base game, the two downloadable Hurricane Packs (minus a particularly strong defensive mechanic), and a couple brand new modes. Considered the best 3D Ninja Gaiden with the most intense boss fights, Black upheld an unwavering difficulty, demanding nothing short of mastery from players hoping to move forward. Those who beat this game typically reported a feeling of triumph, like they overcame their limitations and achieved something momentous.
Ninja Gaiden Black is also somewhat synonymous with the Xbox brand. While its third version, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, also released on PS3, Black was famous for its use of the Xbox’s hardware capabilities. Common opinion was that it continued to look impressive throughout the Xbox 360 generation, and the Xbox One X’s resolution enhancements let modern audiences understand why. Sadly, its stay on Xbox Game Pass only lasted from November 2017 to September 2019, but this action game classic is well worth tracking down by anyone looking for a grueling-yet-satisfying experience. With any luck, the rumored Ninja Gaiden HD trilogy will spark a Ninja Gaiden revival, and the world can experience the blisteringly tough series once more.