It’s Official: Xbox Game Pass Has the Highest-Rated Game of the Year

If you have Xbox Game Pass, you can play the top-rated game of 2026 at no extra cost – as long as you have an Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription. One of the best things about Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is getting access to new games the moment they’re released. This includes most games made by Xbox Game Studios, though new Call of Duty titles become available after a one-year delay.

In 2026, Xbox will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a strong lineup of games for Xbox Game Pass. Four major franchises – Halo: Campaign Evolved, the new Fable game, Gears of War: E-Day, and Forza Horizon 6 – will be the main focus of Microsoft’s first-party games for the service that year.

Forza Horizon 6 is the Highest-Rated Game of 2026

So far, only one of these games is out: Forza Horizon 6. Critics love it, giving it an impressive 91 rating on Metacritic. This makes it one of the best games Xbox Game Studios has published, and the highest-rated game of 2026 so far. While there are many other anticipated releases – including Fable from the same developers as Forza Horizon 6 – it’s going to be tough for anything to surpass FH6.

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With a score of 91, Forza Horizon 6 is currently the highest-rated game of 2026, even surpassing top titles from Nintendo and PlayStation. Pokemon Pokopia comes in second with 89, and PlayStation’s Saros is fifth at 87. So far, the top 10 games of the year are mostly from third-party developers and independent studios. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues throughout the year. The good news is that you can play the best game of 2026 without buying it outright. An Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription—now available for $22.99 after a recent price reduction—gives you access to Forza Horizon 6 and many other top games.

Top 10 Highest-Rated Games of 2026 So Far

  1. Forza Horizon 6 – 91 (available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate/PC Game Pass)
  2. Pokemon Pokopia – 89
  3. Resident Evil Requiem – 89
  4. Mewgenics – 88
  5. Saros – 87
  6. Hermit and Pig – 87
  7. Titanium Court – 87
  8. Perfect Tides: Station to Station – 86
  9. Nioh 3 – 86
  10. Mixtape – 86 (available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate/PC Game Pass)

While Forza Horizon 6 is a top-rated game of 2026, it’s not the only Game Pass title on the list. Mixtape also made the top 10, securing the tenth spot. It’s a game that divides players – some love it, others don’t – but Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can try it and decide for themselves.

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Xbox Game Pass subscribers have a lot more great games to anticipate, with several likely contenders for the top 10. Beyond the previously announced first-party titles, Beast of Reincarnation from Game Freak looks promising, and the Xbox Showcase on June 7th is expected to reveal even more exciting additions.

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2026-05-23 23:04