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

September 2025 is shaping up to be an absolutely massive month for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, thanks to a wave of highly-anticipated, day-one releases. While the service always offers incredible value, this month is particularly noteworthy, headlined by 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.