Crazy about gaming? Then a subscription to Xbox Game Pass for PCs or consoles is a must-have. This service is like Netflix for video games. It costs as little as R79 per month, and in return, you get access to hundreds of excellent games to download and play on your Xbox console or gaming PC. Even better, the first month costs less than R16! 

But let the games do the talking. You can already download and play top titles on Game Pass, such as Forza Horizon 5, Sea of Thieves, Halo, High on Life and Minecraft. In the next few months, many more excellent titles will arrive on the service – and yes, you can play them all for one monthly fee.  

Atomic Heart 

Atomic Heart is one of the most anticipated games of the year. This madcap action shooter puts players inside a mysterious facility in an alternate universe Russia in 1955, where killer robots have gone haywire. Parallels are already being drawn with such classics as Half-Life and Bioshock, while others bring up the extreme energy of Modern Warfare and Fortnite. All these comparisons work: Atomic Heart looks like a beautiful, action-packed first-person shooter. 

Minecraft Legends 

The open-world craft, explore and survive antics of Minecraft now graduate into a role-playing action game, Minecraft Legends. Journey through a mystical realm inside the Minecraft universe, fighting the invading piglings by uniting the other creatures of the Minecraft overworld. This being Minecraft, you can also team up with friends, explore, build a base, and do much more. 

Cities: Skylines 

There are many city-building games available today. But none of them matches the scale and excellence of Cities: Skylines. Build a thriving urban landscape from scratch, laying out roads and districts, managing traffic flow, adding infrastructure, and growing your city without going bankrupt. You can try sandbox mode or attempt the game’s many challenges. Do you have what it takes to grow a small town into a massive metropolis? 

Way to the Woods 

Not every title on Game Pass is a big and bombastic experience built by huge developer teams. Way to the Woods is a charming indie game created by just one person, but looking at this understated gem, you'd never think so. Play as a magical deer and its fawn as they travel through a world abandoned by humans, solving puzzles and discovering new areas. The art style is delightful, and this game’s use of light as part of the puzzles is impressive. 

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty 

Mature gamers looking for an action-heavy, challenging sword combat game will feel right at home in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. Created by Team Ninja, a studio famous for its brutal and high-energy fighting games, in Wo Long you play as an ancient Chinese soldier fighting a scourge of demonic monsters invading the legendary Three Kingdoms. But simply bashing buttons won't get you far: time your attacks, dodge your enemies and unleash your fury when they least expect it in this amazing-looking game. 

The Last Case of Benedict Fox 

While many popular games are typically in third- or first-person 3D, the old-school side-scroller genre has never gone away and is enjoying a renaissance. You can see how far the genre has evolved in The Last Case of Benedict Fox. The game’s namesake is a paranormal investigator who visits a notorious mansion with dark secrets. Help him explore this dangerous place, using his wits and combat skills to stay alive. 

Amnesia: The Bunker 

Escape a dark, abandoned World War 1 bunker in Amnesia: The Bunker, where the darkness hides evils that are out to get you. You don't need to play the previous Amnesia games to enjoy this survival horror, though the series has a reputation for unnerving terror and edge-of-your-seat moments. Whatever you do, don’t let the lights go out, and find what you need to escape the bunker. Maybe don't play this one alone... 

Party Animals 

Fingers crossed that we’ll see the fun Party Animals launch in early 2023. The game first caught everyone's attention when a demo surfaced a while ago. Choose one of several cute animals and brawl it out in various crazy stages. Grab and throw your opponents, use random weapons, and see if you can knock everyone else off the arena’s edges. It’s a lot of fun and great with a group of friends. Bring out the Party Animals at your next get-together! 

Redfall 

Hordes of vampires have overrun an island town, and you’re stuck there with them. Or rather, they’re stuck there with you. Team up with three other players and push back the undead bloodsuckers in this first-person shooter. Use special powers and explore an open world while following the game’s story. Reminiscent of classics such as Left 4 Dead and Warhammer: Vermintide, Redfall looks set to be the co-op game of early 2023. 

Add Xbox Game Pass to your bill and get fibre 

Many great games are coming to Xbox Game Pass this year, joining hundreds of other fantastic titles. And you can play them all for one set fee per month. Whether you play on an Xbox or PC, you can add your Xbox Store to your Vodacom bill, which will also allow you to pay for Game Pass via your Vodacom bill. While you’re at it, get Vodacom Fibre so you have a secure and fast connection to download games and play online with friends.