With yourXbox Game Passsubscription, you can test a “gorgeous, spellbinding” game without any extra costs, and as a fan myself, I urge you to check it out. Whilebig day-one releases and AAA additions to the catalog tend to occupy the spotlight, there are some great indie and AA games available through the service. This is perfectly exemplified byClair Obscuron Xbox Game Pass.

It is a game with a bigger budget than most indie titles, but it is smaller than games likeDoom: The Dark Ages,Forza Horizon 5, andAssassin’s Creed Mirage. Even so,there are a lot of fantastic indie titles that you can pick from, such asone of Kojima’s favorite games,Inside, which is available in the catalog.

Screenshot of a vivid orange sunrise or sunset in Firewatch.

Firewatch Is Free On Xbox Game Pass

The Indie Title Can Be Played On Consoles & PC

Another superb indie game that you can play on Xbox Game Pass isFirewatch. The 2016 title developed by Campo Santo can be played without extra fees via the subscription service. The first-person exploration game is available for both PC and consoles on Game Pass. If you haven’t upgraded to a current-generation console yet, you’ll be pleased to know you can playFirewatchon Xbox One, too.

The title was originally added to the service in 2021, but was then removed.It then made a comeback in 2023 and has been available since then. Because of the catalog’s constant rotation, withgames leaving Xbox Game Passevery month, I recommend playingFirewatchas soon as possible.

Hands holding a turtle in a forest in firewatch

Why You Should Play Firewatch On Game Pass

The Game Has Superb & Grounded Writing

Firewatchis a superb mystery game focused on narrative development.Praised as “gorgeous” and “spellbinding”byGod Is A Geek’s review, the indie title tells the story of a new fire lookout, called Henry, in Shoshone National Forest. Within the area, Henry is alone, though he is guided by his supervisor Delilah, with whom he talks through a walkie-talkie.

Without going into too many spoilers, the story unfolds as Henry gets a grip of his job and has daily conversations with Delilah. Meanwhile, strange events unfold in the forest he is meant to protect.Firewatchis a visually stunning game, and it gets even more mesmerizing by the quality of its writing.

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The game isn’t too long, andit should take you around 4 hours to complete, according toHowLongToBeat. This makes it a perfect title to play on Xbox Game Pass, especially if you’re looking for a quick game to complete on a weekend. It’s amust-play masterpiece to beat in under 10 hours.

Based on my own experience, this is one of those games you want to replay every ten years or so. It tells a grounded story that revolves around trauma, healing, and maturing – and playing it over the course of the years as your own life develops will unlock brand-new perspectives.Firewatchis a brilliant game thatXbox Game Passmembers shouldn’t miss out on.