But for many others, the Xbox Gamerscore number is always at the back of your mind. If you’re the kind of gamer who’s constantly comparing your Xbox achievements with friends and family, then you’re probably on the lookout for ways to pump up those numbers. One way is to grab a cost-effective Xbox Game Pass subscription and churn through the games that have plenty of achievements to unlock. Here are the best Xbox Game Pass games for achievements!
10. Rage 2
If you’re like most, Rage 2 just sort of… came and went. There’s nothing wrong with the game, but nothing particularly special either. It’s a standard open-world shooter that released alongside a bunch of other open-world games that overshadowed it. If you’re looking for solid shooting, a wide-open world to explore, and the standard Assassin’s Creed-style open-world checklists, Rage 2 offers all of that plus a ton of achievements to unlock.
9. Need for Speed Heat
Ever since Burnout: Paradise, racing game developers have been chasing that perfect blend of racing mechanics with open-world activities. Need for Speed Heat doesn’t quite achieve that balance, but it’s a game that is similar in feel and scope. There are the occasional frustrating achievements, but there are also a bunch of achievements that come by exploring the world and gathering collectibles. Need for Speed Heat offers a nice balance of those challenge-based and exploration-based achievements.
8. Middle-Earth: Shadow of War
It may not be as focused as the first game in the series, but Middle-Earth: Shadow of War arguably has better combat mechanics. That’s a good thing, because you’re going to be combating a whole lot as you make your way through the achievements in this game. If you’re looking for a smoother time, dial down the difficulty. It doesn’t affect of the achievements in the game.
7. Maneater
There aren’t many games that let you play a shark on a rampage, but that’s exactly what Maneater has to offer. This game seems at times like a long-lost Dreamcast game that got a major graphics upgrade, and it’s the perfect sort of game for Xbox Game Pass. It also offers up some relatively easy achievements! Those that are on the more challenging side are still plenty of fun to go after as well.
6. Killer Instinct
Achievements in fighting games aren’t always the easiest to get, and a lot of Killer Instinct’s achievements are anything but easy. On the upside, there are so many of them—even in the Xbox Game Pass version of the game—that you’re bound to get several just by playing. For fighting game veterans who have burned out on other fighting game franchises, this can even be a refreshing change of pace.
5. Halo Wars
The first real-time strategy entry in the Halo canon seemed like an odd choice at first, but it turned out to be a great game. Halo Wars: Definitive Edition is a fantastic repackaging of that game, and it’s worth playing for anyone who has ever enjoyed any Halo game. The achievements here shouldn’t prove too much trouble, though you can always skip the trickier ones and move on to your next game.
4. Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Even if you’ve never been the greatest Halo player, all the games included in Halo: The Master Chief Collection will provide you a treasure trove of achievements waiting to be unloced. Play everything on the easiest difficulty and you can still pop off a fair number of achievements. If you’re a hardcore Halo fan, there are even more achievements to be mined here.
3. Doom
iD Software may have already delivered an over-the-top sequel in Doom Eternal, but 2016’s Doom is still tough to match in terms of pacing and action. If you’ve never played this take on Doom, or you’re looking to go back, picking up all the achievements is a great excuse. If you’re looking for the same fun as playing the original Doom with cheat codes, set the difficulty lower and breeze through the game. You’ll still have plenty of challenge trying to make it through a single level (choose the first one for an easier time) on max difficulty.
2. Donut County
Yes, there are some easy achievements to be had in Donut County. As a matter of fact, you can probably complete the entire game and nab every achievement in a single long afternoon, if you’re so inclined. But who cares?! This is a gem of a game that’s worth playing, even without the achievements. And if you’ve already played Donut County, you might as well run through it again for the achievements!
1. Day of the Tentacle Remastered
Have you finished Psychonauts 2 and now you’re looking for another weird game with weird humor? Day of the Tentacle is a point-and-click adventure game that might be right up your alley. It’ll probably feel a bit dated at first, but you’ll get used to it in no time—and it’s worth running through in order to experience the story and humor. Psychonauts developer Tim Schaffer even worked on the game. As a bonus, once you’ve made your way through the story, you’ll probably have most or all of the achievements.
Have You Upgraded Your Xbox Yet?
Every game in this article is playable on the Xbox One, but they’re all guaranteed to look better (and even play better) on the Xbox Series X|S. Some games—like Maneater—even offer ray tracing and other visual effects upgrades on the newer console. If you love Xbox games and haven’t upgraded yet, you should really look into Microsoft’s Xbox All Access program. It’s a great way for fans to secure a lot of value while scoring the new console. Read next: What is Xbox All Access? Explained
