Xbox Game Pass Essential: Full List Of Games (July 2026 Update)

Back in 2023, Microsoft finally phased out Xbox Live Gold, replacing it with Xbox Game Pass Core as a new entry-level tier to its subscription service. Since then, it’s been renamed to Xbox Game Pass Essential as of October 2025.

Unlike Games with Gold, which was scrapped long ago, Xbox Game Pass Essential grants subscribers access to a select list of games separate to the main Game Pass library. This list started out with 36 games, but we’ve had lots of updates since then, with Microsoft adding a few titles to the service every six months or so.

We’ve gathered together the full Xbox Game Pass Essential list of titles down below, and we’ll continue to update this guide as Microsoft adds more games to the library. Microsoft says all Essential titles are “fully playable” on both console and PC (despite the Xbox website suggesting only around half are PC-enabled), and a lot of them are supported as part of Xbox Cloud Gaming too.

“Our revamped Essential plan now includes unlimited cloud gaming, online multiplayer, in-game benefits, and Rewards with Xbox, plus a curated catalog of 50+ games playable on both console and PC. The Essential library is now fully playable on PC, featuring standout titles like Hades, Cities: Skylines – Remastered, Stardew Valley, and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. You also get unlimited cloud gaming, allowing you to play games, including select games you own, on the devices you choose — giving you more freedom to play your way.”

Before we get into it, we should mention that Xbox classes various free-to-play games as part of the Xbox Game Pass Essential library (because they feature in-game benefits as part of the service), but we’re just going to focus on the paid titles that are included with the program.

Here the list of every Xbox Game Pass Essential title so far (as of July 2026):