However, if doubts regarding the quality of these titles persist, here is a look at the best EA Play games. The variety is astounding, and the library of good times waiting for players there makes EA’s subscription a welcome addition to the Xbox Game Pass collection.
Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2
The Plants vs. Zombies series has been immensely popular over the years, so much so that it has inspired a variety of unique spinoffs that transcend the “tower defense” genre that it started in. Nowadays, Plants vs. Zombies fans can hop into a card game, or even a first-person shooter inspired by the franchise. The latter has developed a cult following thanks to its unique characters and fun PvP gameplay elements.
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Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare amped up the action for fans of the series by giving them a battleground to duke it out with an array of projectiles. It was a well-received release but Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 perfected the formula. With tons of characters to unlock, abilities to find, and even a small story mode to conquer, this is one of the better multiplayer shooters available on Game Pass.
SSX (2012)
There are a lot of unique sports releases out there that let players hop into the shoes of athletes both fictional and non-fictional. Titles like Tony Hawk Pro Skater, Rocket League, and Knockout City let players hone their skills across sports that are outside the norm of Football, Baseball, and Basketball. These titles are imaginative and action-packed, focusing on high-octane arcade-like action for skating, “car soccer,” and dodgeball.
Another great (and over-the-top) addition to this type of sub-genre is SSX. This snowboarding release sees players racing down mountainsides against A.I. opponents or other players while simultaneously pulling off a myriad of mind-bending tricks.
Burnout Paradise Remastered
There are a handful of great racing game franchises, but Burnout is sometimes overlooked in favor of series like Need for Speed, Gran Turismo, and Forza Motorsport. This is because Burnout drops the “racing simulator” moniker in favor of intense action and crashes. Players that are looking to bully the competition by ramming them into oncoming obstacles will love Burnout Paradise Remastered’s gameplay, which sees the series take more of an open-world approach.
This is a great game for racing fans and one that rewards aggressive racing and recovery skills.
It Takes Two
In November 2021, It Takes Two was added to EA Play and, by extension, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. One of the best co-op experiences of recent years, It Takes Two cannot be played solo as its multiplayer component is directly tied to the narrative. A married couple on the brink of divorce are shrunk and wind up on a wild and perilous adventure as they try to make their way back home.
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Split into levels, It Takes Two constantly shakes up its gameplay and setting to ensure that the journey never grows stale. Along with just being a lot of fun to play, Hazelight’s title tells an emotionally moving story about partnership and family.
FIFA 22
EA Sports’ yearly releases tend to be very polarizing. For some, these titles are the only games they play throughout the year, while others see them as representing EA at its worse. With FIFA 22’s cycle of relevance coming to a close, anyone genuinely interested in jumping into this game has likely already invested hundreds of hours into Ultimate Team.
That said, there might a select few people who were tempted to pick up the soccer game but held off. The online modes are still active and will likely continue to be so well into FIFA 23’s lifespan, and Career mode is naturally a viable option. Although the franchise’s single-player content has been stagnant for a while, playing a season or two as Real Madrid or Liverpool in FIFA 22 can be fun.
Skate 3
Although players recently saw the “revival” on Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater with the remakes of the first two titles, there are still those out there that prefer a more “grounded” skating sim. Skate 3 offers up some of the best physics in the genre, underlined by addictive gameplay that takes practice and dedication to master.
A vibrant world to skate through, customization options, and some downright hilarious ragdoll effects combine to create one of the best skating simulators on the market. Many players have been calling for a continuation of the series and are hopeful a new entry is poised to release in the near future. For now, players can jump into Skate 3.
Grid Legends
With Dirt and F1 under its belt, Codemasters has crafted a few of the best racing games on Xbox Game Pass. As a franchise, Grid has not proven to be as consistently successful as the developer’s other brands, despite the series debuting with one of the genre’s standout releases of the 2000s.
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Xbox Game Pass has 2019’s Grid and 2022’s Grid Legends, two solid racers that deliver ridiculous levels of speed. The sequel expands on the 2019 release by introducing more tracks, vehicles, and a story-driven Career mode, giving Grid Legends the edge over its predecessor. The game controls well and gives players quite a bit of freedom in terms of customization and rules, allowing them to tailor races to match their preferences.
Star Wars Squadrons
Squadrons packs in a trifecta of appeals to prospective players — it’s an in-depth space flight sim, it’s a highly competitive multiplayer title with a high skill ceiling, and, of course, it’s a Star Wars game. Needless to say, there’s a lot to love here.
The single-player campaign unfolds a narrative largely set after the Rebel victory at Endor and the destruction of the second Death Star.
It shifts the player between two polar perspectives throughout the missions: that of Vanguard Squadron, a cadre of veteran Rebel starfighters, and Titan Squadron, a feared and elite cohort of Imperial pilots.
Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers have access to five Need for Speed games: Hot Pursuit Remastered, Rivals, Need for Speed, Payback, and Heat. The last four were all developed by Ghost Games (EA Gothenburg) and have their positives, but Criterion’s Hot Pursuit is arguably the best of the bunch. The Burnout developer hit the ground running with the EA franchise, crafting an experience that more than delivers on the license’s promise of speed.
Hot Pursuit Remastered spruces up the visuals and adds a few details to the tracks, but the core gameplay remains unchanged from the 2010 release since there is very little that could have been done to make the game more enjoyable to play. People yearning for an arcade racer need look no further than Hot Pursuit Remastered.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Continuing the Star Wars takeover is Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. This one was released to critical acclaim, with many comparing it to other difficult third-person releases like Dark Souls and Nioh. It’s definitely one of the best story-driven Star Wars games to release in recent years, challenging players to unlock its lore by navigating its difficult levels.
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Those that love the feeling of third-person action games will definitely want to put this one at the top of their list. Even players who aren’t well-versed in Star Wars lore or that “into the universe” should still find a lot to love about the release.
DiRT Rally 2.0
The standard Xbox Game Pass subscription provides access to some fantastic racing games such as Forza Horizon 5, but fans of the genre should really consider subscribing to the Ultimate version as EA Play is absolutely stacked with racers. Along with Need for Speed entries, the subscription provides access to a plethora of Codemasters’ projects, ranging from arcade racers such as DiRT 5 to sims like F1 2020 and DiRT Rally 2.0.
All of these games are great in their own right, but DiRT Rally 2.0 just about edges out the competition since it is arguably the definitive rally racer. Newcomers to racing sims will likely feel overwhelmed during their first few hours with Codemasters’ game, as DiRT Rally 2.0 comes with a steep learning curve. The effort is worth it, though.
The Sims 4
The Sims franchise is one of the most wildly popular life simulation games around, if not the most popular. The Sims 4 is available on EA Play and contributes to the diversity of titles in this collection. Customization is the name of the game, and The Sims 4 lets you meticulously craft a home life and a career with a great degree of personalization.
While fans of the franchise might be eagerly anticipating an announcement for the release of The Sims 5, a host of updates has kept The Sims 4 a fresh experience over the years since its initial release.
Titanfall 2
Titanfall 2 has big robots, cool guns, and wall-running parkour maneuvers. That should probably be enough to appeal to any FPS/mecha enthusiast, but even that relatively short-yet-sweetly bombastic description sells it a bit short. Respawn knows what it’s doing when it comes to designing a tight FPS title, as all of Titanfall 2’s mechanics just feel polished in a way that seems rare in today’s gaming industry.
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The campaign’s also incredibly well-written and engaging, following pilot-in-training Jack Cooper as he’s prematurely thrust into the pilot’s seat of a Titan named BT-7274, which features a show-stealing personality and wit all its own. Titanfall 2 is often referred to as a criminally underrated gem in the FPS genre, and it definitely deserves a playthrough.
Jade Empire Special Edition (Only On PC)
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers also have access to PC Game Pass, which contains quite a few titles that are not available on the console iteration. This extends to EA Play’s library, as there are a couple of stone-cold classics that require a computer to access. Jade Empire: Special Edition came out in 2007, roughly two years following the Xbox version. For all intents and purposes, this port is the definitive version of BioWare’s classic as it includes some key improvements over its console predecessor.
Jade Empire is antiquated in quite a few ways, beyond just the visuals. Although the combat incorporates plenty of interesting ideas and mechanics, the overall package does not come together in a particularly satisfying way. While the gameplay can be frustrating at times, Jade Empire’s storytelling holds up beautifully, as does the game’s world-building.
A Way Out
Definitely one of the best EA Play games, A Way Out is a must-play for a couple of friends looking to experience a narrative game together. A Way Out follows two convicts as they break out of prison and make their escape from the authorities. Gameplay mainly consists of walking around and interacting with objects in the world. However, many moments in the game introduce new elements that keep playing through the story fresh.
From quick-time event button-mashing to FPS-inspired shoot-outs to action-packed brawler segments, A Way Out borrows from multiple genres, making it an unforgettable and hilarious game from start to finish. Though certain story beats feel forced and dialogue can sound awkward, this endears the game to players instead of alienating them.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
The Bad Company games are fantastic first-person shooters, ranking among the strongest entries in a franchise that is hardly lacking in quality. Both games feature single-player campaigns revolving around Preston Marlowe and the titular company, along with multiplayer options that are (naturally) not that active nowadays.
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Bad Company 2 marks a small but notable improvement over its predecessor, fine-tuning the gunplay and controls to make for a more streamlined experience. In 2010, this game had one of the best online scenes in the FPS genre, and while the world has moved on, there is still a lot to appreciate about this package. The single-player campaign is also great and justifies a download on its own.
Dragon Age: Origins
The entire Dragon Age series is available on EA Play, and each entry has value. As good as the sequels are, Dragon Age: Origins is still the place to start for anyone looking to dive into BioWare’s fantasy RPG franchise. An ambitious, sprawling adventure with multiple starting points and companions to unlock, Origins drops players into a world rich with detail, history, and intrigue.
Although the battle system is superior on PC, the more streamlined version found on consoles is perfectly fine and provides a strategic element to combat scenarios. Origins delivers the goods in the gameplay department, but the game’s crowning achievements are undoubtedly its story and characters.
Dungeon Keeper 2 (Only On PC)
It is a travesty that the last two decades have produced only a single Dungeon Keeper game, and the less said about 2014’s mobile title, the better. Bullfrog’s classic PC franchise has a brilliant premise: what if the player is the boss that controls a dungeon? In order to stop the heroes from destroying a dungeon’s heart, players must fill a stage’s rooms with traps and disposable minions. In the meantime, players will also be trying to kill the level’s guardian to acquire their Portal Gem.
Dungeon Keeper 2 is a real-time strategy classic with a wicked sense of humor, grizzly but charming visuals, and addictive gameplay. Compared to some other old-school entries in the genre, this release is reasonably accessible. EA Play also has the original Dungeon Keeper, but the sequel improves upon its predecessor in nearly every way.
SimCity 2000 Special Edition (Only On PC)
Simulation fans with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and a PC can jump into one of the genre’s defining franchises. EA Play has SimCity 2000 Special Edition, SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition, and SimCity: Complete Edition; while the latter is by far the most recent entry, the former two are superior in most ways except for visuals (and even that is debatable). Out of those two, SimCity 2000 just about gets the nod, although SimCity 4 is very good in its own right.
Originally released in 1993, SimCity 2000 offered groundbreaking graphics and gameplay for its era. Someone’s appreciation for this classic might be influenced by nostalgia since the game was massive during the mid-’90s. That said, SimCity 2000 is still fun to jump into all these years later.
Populous Games (Only On PC)
The original god simulator, Populous and its sequel casts players as all-mighty deities lording over an army of followers. In each stage, players lend their people a guiding hand as they seek to defeat the non-believers, a process that could require the occasional divine intervention.
Both Populous games on EA Play are excellent, although the sequel expands significantly on its predecessor’s ideas. Consequently, if someone wants to only try one of these titles, Trials of the Olympian Gods is the way to go.
Dead Space
In space, no one can hear you scream. But they can sure as heck hear you scream aboard the USG Ishimura. Cast as Isaac Clarke, players are dispatched as part of a repair team tasked with fixing the aforementioned mining vessel after its communications go mysteriously silent — only to discover that horrible, mutated flesh monsters known as Necromorphs have overtaken the ship and murdered the greater majority of the crew.
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Dead Space leans into an action-heavy end of the horror spectrum, as Isaac has access to a wide variety of interesting weapon options when it comes to dealing with the Necromorph threat. But the visceral combat and omnipresent tension are nothing short of masterfully executed and really work to its benefit.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
In January 2022, Mass Effect Legendary Edition was added to EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, making it the definitive way to experience this genre-defining sci-fi trilogy. The Legendary Edition fine-tunes the games to create a more consistent experience, with 2007’s Mass Effect receiving the most significant updates. Although the sequels’ original versions hold up well, the franchise’s first entry has aged quite a bit, so the Legendary Edition’s quality of life improvements make a significant difference.
Compared to most other remasters, Mass Effect Legendary Edition goes the extra mile in its attempt to modernize the projects. Newcomers to the series should start with this package; conversely, long-time fans who prefer the originals can still play those via EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Black
Due to there being so many modern FPS games on the service, Black can only be described as one of the best games on EA Play when someone takes into consideration that it was released in 2006. The genre has come far since then, and while this game is dated in quite a few ways, Criterion’s shooter still holds up well enough to recommend.
Black is also perfect for a subscription platform like Xbox Game Pass since it is a single-player title that can be completed within a few brief hours. Along with rock-solid gunplay, this FPS delivers blockbuster-style action, great sound design, and gorgeous visuals that rank among the best on the original Xbox.
Sea Of Solitude
Sea of Solitude tells a personal story about loneliness. This theme is presented through the eyes of Kay, a woman who finds herself floating on a sea above a drowned city. Throughout her voyage to discover her memories, she meets monsters that echo people from her real life.
Sea of Solitude is not the sort of game typically associated with EA, but the company has published its share of indie projects over the last decade. Although heavy-handed in execution, this title’s ambition is admirable, and Kay’s journey might strike a resounding chord with players who have gone through similar experiences. Sea of Solitude is perhaps not one of the greatest games on EA Play and Xbox Game Pass, but it is perfect for this type of platform.
Super Mega Baseball 3
Sports games and EA go hand-in-hand, and EA Play has something for just about everyone. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes Madden NFL 22, NHL 21, NBA Live 19, and Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR, just to name a few, but these franchises are big enough that anyone interested in them has likely already played a few matches. However, Super Mega Baseball 3 is a bit more of an unknown property and might be ignored by everyone besides the most ardent of baseball fans.
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Do not be fooled by its title and exaggerated character designs, Super Mega Baseball 3 offers quite a comprehensive and realistic interpretation of its titular sport, coming packed with all sorts of features and customization options. At the same time, the game prioritizes accessibility, particularly in its control scheme and difficulty settings.
Peggle
Peggle’s name should be whispered in the halls of best/underrated puzzle games of all time. This delightful title from PopCap Games is as masterful as it is unobtrusive. Players simply shoot balls at pegs and make specific-colored pegs disappear using only a set number of balls. However, the iterations of this gameplay loop are what makes Peggle so fantastic.
Different “characters” possess different abilities which makes eliminating the pegs in the most optimal way possible an engaging challenge. Some shoot off multiple balls at once instead of just one. Others turn your ball into a fiery inferno that eliminates large swaths of pegs in a single pass. Though Peggle can be a short experience, it is a fun one. EA Play’s library is made all the sweeter by its inclusion.
Dante’s Inferno
It will be a cold day in hell when God of War appears on Xbox Game Pass, but Dante’s Inferno is a decent replacement. Kratos’ 2005 adventure inspired a few developers to follow suit, and Visercal Games’ gory poetic romp was perhaps the most obvious copycat to rise up from this movement. While it does not reach the lofty heights of the PlayStation franchise, Dante’s Inferno is a competent and entertaining action game that delivers satisfying kills and decent platforming.
The scythe is an enjoyable weapon, and Dante also has access to a number of magic attacks and projectiles that add some variety to encounters. The game even has an interesting mechanic that gives players the opportunity to either punish or absolve enemies, granting unholy or holy experience points respectively. These determine which abilities can be unlocked.
Alice: Madness Returns
The follow-up to 2000’s American McGee’s Alice, Alice: Madness Returns finds the eponymous girl returning to a Wonderland that is very different from the one most people are familiar with. This Wonderland is twisted, sadistic, and nightmarish; naturally, such an aggressive setting requires a fitting protagonist, and this version of Alice can hold her own in battle with the strongest of them (think Devil May Cry’s Dante and Bayonetta’s Umbra Witch).
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Besides fun gameplay and a wicked story, Alice: Madness Returns features some of the most mesmerizing visuals and environments in gaming, ones that manage to be simultaneously breathtaking and haunting.
UFC 4
Xbox Game Pass has its share of fighting games, but UFC 4 is a different beast entirely. For one thing, the title is firmly grounded in reality due to its origins in a legitimate sport. Consequently, the game is a fighting sim rather than an arcade brawler, albeit one that takes measures to ease newcomers into its world.
While online is the project’s main selling point, UFC 4 also has a robust single-player campaign. Beginners should start here since this mode goes through the game’s mechanics really well. Once the introductory section is out of the way, players can enjoy crafting their fighter’s skills through training and matches.
Battlefield 1 Revolution
Though it may have made for an awkward naming convention, Battlefield 1 is likely the franchise’s most unique outing in terms of aesthetic and setting. Where most contemporary MilSims and tactical shooters cover the well-trodden ground between World War 2 and the modern era, Battlefield 1 went back a few pages further and into a setting that the genre (and video games as a whole) rarely visit — the harrowing trenches of World War 1.
Of course, the core Battlefield formula is still well afoot with beautiful (and destructible) sandbox environments, in-depth vehicular gameplay, and huge multiplayer battles on a scale and scope rarely rivaled outside of MMO titles. But it’s the distinct World War 1 aesthetic that ties this one together — the design of the historical tanks, for instance, really drives home the point that this was a turning point in world history on a myriad of levels.
Lost In Random
From the same developer responsible for Fe, which is also on EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Lost in Random oozes creativity out of every fiber of its being. Set in a kingdom where a roll of the dice determines someone’s destiny, Even, a young girl, heads out on an adventure to rescue her sister from the Queen. Along the way, she befriends Dicey, a strange living die that proves to be instrumental to the game’s battle system.
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Lost in Random has a mesmerizing art style that allows each of its six realms to spring to life with an excess of personality and flavor. Each environment is enchanting. The game also takes quite a few risks with its combat, crafting a peculiar system that takes ideas from the deck-building genre.
Army Of Two
Army of Two is in a weird place since, on its own, the 2008 game really is not all that great. That’s not to say it is devoid of positives; in fact, its cover system was a step above most other third-person shooters released during this era. However, even the game’s best features were not particularly impressive in 2008, let alone in 2022.
So, why did this game make the cut? Well, Army of Two has a ridiculously fun couch co-op. Unfortunately, the online mode is no longer active, and couch co-op can take some work to get it going, so Army of Two’s best days are behind it. That said, in the right setting, this game hits the spot like nothing else.
Spore (Only On PC)
Spore has a strange legacy. On the one hand, the god-like life sim somewhat struggled to live up to its potential; on the other hand, the game is ambitious and pretty great when viewed in a vacuum. Spore enables players to follow a species throughout its existence, which involves five stages. This process starts with simple celled organisms and ends with space travel. It is quite a journey.
Now, Spore does somewhat rush through its first four phases, which primarily serve to set up the final stage that unlocks all the mechanics. As such, repeat playthroughs can be frustrating since they are bogged down by a shallow start. However, once the sandbox becomes available, Spore is a fun time. If nothing else, this EA Play game merits one playthrough.
Crysis Remastered Trilogy
Yes, the Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One can run Crysis. Crytek’s remastered trilogy compiles all three games, and EA Play subscribers have access to the full set at the click of a button. Crysis’ legacy is dominated by its graphics, which turned the first game into something of a meme, and the entire trilogy has aged pretty well in this area. Visually, they were and still are impressive.
The Crysis games are not just pretty, though. While not particularly groundbreaking, all three titles are above-average first-person shooters set within large open areas that give players some wiggle room in how they approach encounters. In this regard, the sequels are a cut above the first game, although even the original is still fun.
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