Even the most cost-effective subscription services have areas that need improvement, and Xbox Game Pass is not exempt from this reality.
Despite featuring some of the gaming industry’s top titles, such as the highly anticipated release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, there are still a few beloved games missing from Microsoft’s Essential, Premium, or Ultimate tiers, or games that have been removed, much to the disappointment of players.
Mirror Gaming has selected a few essential games that Microsoft should add to Xbox Game Pass to kick off 2026 in a spectacular way for its subscribers.
One of these games is Vampyr, set in a plague-infested London in 1918, where players embody a doctor turned vampire facing moral dilemmas of healing citizens or feeding on them for strength.
Another recommended addition is a fast-paced sci-fi roguelike shooter that involves battling rogue machines on a space station gone awry due to an EMP attack.
Ninja Theory’s reimagining of a classic Chinese tale, blending platforming, combat, and storytelling, also deserves a spot on Xbox Game Pass for players to enjoy in the upcoming year.
Alan Wake 2, a venture into survival horror with a gripping psychological narrative, is another title that received critical acclaim for its storytelling and combat mechanics, making it a worthy addition to the gaming library.
Lastly, Stray offers a unique experience where players navigate a cyberpunk city as a cat surrounded by robots, praised for its storytelling and atmosphere.
These games have garnered positive reviews and are highly anticipated by the gaming community, making their addition to Xbox Game Pass a move that would be widely appreciated by subscribers.