The Best Games on Xbox Game Pass for September 2025: A Must-Play List

September 2025 has delivered an immense wave of highly anticipated titles to Xbox Game Pass subscribers, solidifying its position as the premier gaming subscription service. This month is particularly noteworthy for its day-one releases, which include a game that has been on every indie fan’s wish list for years. From a long-awaited sequel to an intense action-platformer and new additions to the genre, here are the best games on Xbox Game Pass you need to be playing right now.

Headlining the Month: Hollow Knight: Silksong

After years of being the subject of relentless speculation, jokes, and fervent hope, Hollow Knight: Silksong has finally launched and is available day-one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. This sequel to the critically acclaimed action-adventure game, Hollow Knight, places players in the role of Hornet, a new protagonist with a completely different set of abilities and a new kingdom to explore. Early reviews praise the game’s intricate level design, fluid combat, and stunning art direction, calling it a worthy successor to one of the greatest indie games of all time.

New Day-One Additions: Fresh and Exciting Experiences

Beyond the main event, September has brought a host of other exciting titles to the Game Pass library.

• Nine Sols: A visually stunning, hand-drawn 2D action-platformer that takes heavy inspiration from Sekiro’s deflection-based combat system. Players step into an Asia-inspired fantasy world, following a vengeful hero on a quest to defeat nine powerful rulers. Its unique art style and challenging combat make it a standout title for fans of the genre.
• I Am Your Beast: This is a short, but intense, first-person shooter with a focus on stealth and survival. Players find themselves hunted across the North American wilderness and must use cunning and the environment to turn the tables on their pursuers.
• Cataclismo: A unique real-time strategy game where you must design and build fortresses brick-by-brick to defend against endless hordes of enemies. This game blends resource management, siege defense, and exploration, offering a fresh take on the RTS genre.
• RoadCraft: This game calls on players to rebuild what has been broken after a natural disaster. As a construction simulation game, you’ll operate a fleet of authentic construction vehicles to clear debris, repair roads and bridges, and restore essential infrastructure.

The Enduring Classics: What to Play in the Backlog

While the new releases are a major draw, Xbox Game Pass’s strength lies in its deep and varied library. If you’ve already finished the new additions or are looking for something different, here are a few titles from the existing catalog that are essential plays.

• Forza Horizon 5: Widely considered one of the best racing games of all time, Forza Horizon 5 continues to impress with its amazing visuals, open world, and myriad of gameplay options. It’s a must-play for both racing enthusiasts and casual players.
• Psychonauts 2: A critically acclaimed platformer that’s a pure joy to play from start to finish. Psychonauts 2 is praised for its creative level design, emotional story, and a cast of eccentric characters.
• A Plague Tale: Requiem: This emotionally charged narrative adventure takes players on a journey with Amicia and her brother Hugo as they navigate a brutal, plague-ridden world. The game combines stealth, puzzle-solving, and combat in a beautiful yet harrowing setting.
• Gears 5: A quintessential Xbox exclusive, Gears 5 offers a high-octane campaign, a fantastic multiplayer suite, and stunning graphics. The series’ iconic cover-based shooting gameplay is at its peak here, making it a must-play for any action game fan.

September 2025 marks a major milestone for Xbox Game Pass. The addition of Hollow Knight: Silksong alone makes the subscription worthwhile, but the combination of other high-quality new releases and an already stacked library makes this month one of the best in the service’s history. Whether you’re in the mood for an indie classic or a big-budget blockbuster, there’s something on Game Pass for everyone to enjoy.