These days there are so many ways for gamers to experience the games they love. Whether through the old-school method of going down to their local games store or buying it directly from a digital store, gamers are spoilt for choice. Apart from the usual methods of buying games, there is a somewhat new wave of experiencing games, and it is through the wonderful world of subscription services.
Subscription services aren’t a new thing in the gaming world, as gamers have dealt with subscriptions ever since the first MMO. Recently, the subscription model has taken the world by storm, especially on Xbox and with more companies following the trend (even though it started with PlayStation with PS Now). With subscription services becoming the norm for gamers and with most subscriptions offering a wide range of games for every type of gamer, I thought it was time to make a list for Turn-based games available on Xbox Game Pass, which includes games from EA play for Xbox and PC to play now.
This list will consist of all games that I found that were turn-based for both the Xbox and PC, but I could have missed some as there were a lot more than I thought originally. So, if you are a lover of turn-based games and wondering if the service is worth it, then this is the list for you.
Astria Ascending
Astria Ascending is a hand-drawn side-scrolling, turn-based RPG from some creators that made Final Fantasy games and Bravely Default. In Astria Ascending, players will pick from a cast of eight customisable characters while exploring the world Orcanon. With over 50 hours of gameplay telling a tale of fate and sacrifice, with mini-games galore in classic RPG fashion.
Astria Ascending is available for both Xbox and PC on Game Pass. Check out Astria Ascending tips & review
Battletech
Battletech is a turn-based combat game with mechs. Players control a mercenary company full of mechs and mech pilots that must complete contracts to stay afloat. Players will enter large battle maps with over 30 BattleMechs to use to their advantage.
Battletech is available for PC for Game Pass. Check out Battletech review
The Bard’s Tale Trilogy
The Bard’s Tale trilogy is as old-school as a game can get with grid-based movement included. This remastered version includes everything players loved with quality-of-life improvements.
The Bard’s Tale Trilogy is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass.
The Bard’s Tale IV
The awaited fourth game of the popular trilogy goes back to its roots after going real-time. If you enjoyed the trilogy, this is much the same, but better visuals and updated gameplay.
The Bard’s Tale IV is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass. Here is our take on Bard’s Tale IV
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling follows the adventures of three heroes as they embark on an epic adventure in a Paper Mario Inspired World. Taking clear inspiration from the popular series, Bug Fables’ battles play the same way, with every action having commands that enhance the damage when performed correctly.
Bug Fables is available on both Xbox and PC for Game Pass.
Costume Quest 2
Costume Quest 2 is a short turn-based RPG set during Halloween in a small town. The basic premise is taking what people love about Halloween (dressing up) and turning it into a superpower. Each costume gives the characters different abilities to use in turn-based battles.
Costume Quest 2 is available on Xbox for Game Pass.
Cris Tales
Cris Tales is a beautiful looking indie RPG with a unique perspective. In Cris Tales, players will be trying to change the future while acting in the present and seeing the past as it all happens on the one screen. Playing as a Time Mage, players set forth to stop the Time Empress by using the past, present, and future to their advantage.
Cris Tales is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass. Check out Cris Tales review
Crown Trick
Crown Trick is a turn-based roguelike inspired by the old Labyrinth games. Players must venture through a randomly generated maze that is never the same way. Each room the player explores is different from the last, with some having monsters and others including other surprises. Every move the player makes could be their last as enemies move with the player, making you think on your feet.
Crown Trick is available on both Xbox and PC for Game Pass. Crown Trick review
Crusader Kings 3
Crusader Kings 3 is the ultimate king simulator, giving players full control of a monarch. Choose your noble, expand your dynasty, marry, have children and die in the best way possible. It is all here in Crusader Kings 3.
Crusader Kings 3 is available on PC for Game Pass.
Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon is a challenging gothic-inspired turn-based roguelike. Players will not only face devasting enemies in this roguelike but also famine, disease and the dark to survive against unfathomable odds.
Darkest Dungeon is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass. Darkest Dungeon review
Dicey Dungeons
Dicey Dungeons is a fast-paced deckbuilding roguelike where players play as a walking die. In Dicey Dungeons, players must roll to determine their attacks and the damage it will do to enemies.
Dicey Dungeons is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass.
Dodge Ball Academia
Dodgeball Academia is exactly what it sounds like; an academy of dodgeball enthusiasts who learn that the way of the Dodgeball master. This is basically any story about people with magic but with dodgeball and fun turn-based gameplay.
Dodgeball Academia is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age is the eleventh part of the long-running RPG series created by the masters of JRPGs Square Enix. This version of the popular game is the definitive version adding in all the extra content not seen in the original release.
Dragon Quest XI is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass.
Echo Generations
Echo Generations is a turn-based adventure game set in the 90s with a supernatural twist. The best way to describe this game is if Stranger Things was set in the 90s and was a Turn-based game about a character and their sister with mystery intertwined on their adventure.
Echo Generations is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass.
Empire of Sin
Have you ever wanted to run a criminal empire with turn-based tactical battles? Empire of Sin is a criminal empire sim that is all about building your criminal empire and taking over the city of Chicago in the 1920s.
Empire of Sin is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass. Empire of Sin review
Europa Universalis IV
It is time to take to the seas with the fourth part in the popular Europa Universalis series. Build your empire, take control of other nations, trade and rule the seas.
Europa Universalis IV is available on PC for Game Pass.
Fae Tactics
Fae Tactics is Final Fantasy Tactics in everything but name. In Fae Tactics players play as a young magic-user, Peony on her journey across a world full of mystery and danger.
Fae Tactics is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass. Fae Tactics review
Fallout Tactics
Fallout Tactics is the tactical sequel to the best-selling series. In this instalment, players play as the Brotherhood of Steel to survive against what the wasteland throws at them.
Fallout Tactics is available on PC for Game Pass.
Fallout and Fallout 2
Fallout 1 and 2 are the spiritual successors to Wasteland before it finally got a sequel. Before Fallout became a real-time RPG, it was a CRPG with turn-based combat in a post-apocalyptic world.
Fallout and Fallout 2 is available on PC for Game Pass
Final Fantasy X/X-2
Final Fantasy X/X-2 is the tenth part of the long-running series. Enhanced with HD graphics, this is the same game you remember playing on the PlayStation 2, but prettier.
Final Fantasy X/X-2 is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass.
Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy XIII is the thirteenth part of the long-running series. This one is still considered the worst of the series, but still, a great turn-based game if you are looking.
Final Fantasy XIII is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass.
Gears Tactics
Gears Tactics is basically if XCOM and Gears of War had a baby. The game plays like XCOM (new version) with the Gears of War flavour players love, basically giving the best of both worlds.
Gears Tactics is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass.
Humankind
Play as a leader of your society while creating the ultimate civilisation and changing the events of the world how you see fit. How will you develop the world?
Humankind is available on PC for Game Pass. Humankind review
Immortal Realms: Vampire Wars
An engaging strategy game set in a Vampire world, must I say more? Immortal Realms: Vampire Wars is a turn-based strategy game with card-game elements.
Immortal Realms: Vampire Wars is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass. Check out the review
Lemnis Gate
Lemnis Gate is an FPS turn-based multiplayer game. Battle people online, with each taking five turns to determine the victor. Is any FPS except with turn-based combat.
Lemnis Gate is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass.
Library of Ruina
Library of Ruina is a library battle simulator where players use cards and dice to determine attacks and if they succeed. As well as being a deep strategic game, Library of Ruina is part visual novel with an interesting plot and characters.
Library of Ruina is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass.
Monster Sanctuary
Monster Sanctuary is what players get if they took the gotta-catch-em-all appeal of Pokemon and turned it into a Metroidvania. Why have one when you can have the best of both worlds?
Monster Sanctuary is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass. Check out Monster Sanctuary Review.
Monster Train
Monster Train is a roguelike deck-building game in a similar vein to Slay the Spire. When you are on the train to hell, no one can stop you, not even angels.
Monster Train is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass. Monster Train
Neoverse
Neoverse is a time-warping multiverse deck-building strategy game. Play as one of three different characters on your journey to save the Neoverse.
Neoverse is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass. Neoverse review
Nowhere Prophet
Nowhere Prophet is a single-player card game, with similar concepts to roguelikes but a higher focus on the story. Inspired by Indian culture, players will lead a convoy of outcasts to a better future.
Nowhere Prophet is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass.
Octopath Traveler
Octopath Traveller puts players in the shoes of eight adventures, each on their own journey across a vast world. Experience an old-school RPG from the masters of RPGs, Square Enix.
Octopath Traveller is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass.
Pandemic: The Board Game
Pandemic: the board game is a recreation of the popular board game but as a video game. Do all the things you would in the game, with the added benefit of playing alone and without all the mess.
Pandemic: The Board Game is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass.
Phoenix Point
Phoenix Point is, in a nutshell, XCOM, even story-wise, as humanity tries to take back earth. What makes it even better is it is made by the original creator of the old XCOM games.
Phoenix Point is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass. Phoenix Point Year One Review
Pathway
Pathway is from the folks at Chucklefish with similar graphics to Wargroove, which was also from them. Taking place in 1936, players control a bold group of adventures as they find mysterious artefacts, secret excavations and occult rituals, all while battling the Nazis.
Pathway is available on PC for Game Pass.
Ring of Pain
Ring of Pain is a Roguelike card crawler. The concept is that the cards come to the player, and they then choose where to go from there, depending on the two cards available.
Ring of Pain is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass.
Slay the Spire
Slay the Spire is like the OG of the deck-building roguelikes. It is the best in the genre, and it is the one most copied and tried to better. I wouldn’t say it was the first, but I would say it gave new life to the genre.
Slay the Spire is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass. Slay The Spire review
Solasta: Crown of the Magister
Solasta: Crown of the Magister is an authentic Pen, and Paper RPG with dice rolls and turn-based combat included. Create four heroes, and decide everything from Race, class, personality and even rolling stats.
Solasta: Crown of the Magister is available on PC for Game Pass. Check out Solasta review
Tainted Grail
Tainted Grail is a story-driven deck-builder roguelike. Explore ever-changing maps as you battle foes in classic turn-based battles.
Tainted Grail is available on PC for Game Pass.
Undertale
Undertale is a classic old-school looking turn-based RPG where players choose whether they kill or not. Every decision the player makes determines the story of Undertale.
Undertale is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass.
Wasteland Remastered
Originally released in 1988, Wasteland is the game that inspired the original Fallout games and started the post-apocalypse craze. If you wanted to know where the series started, then this is where it began.
Wasteland Remastered is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass. Check out Wasteland Remastered review
Wasteland 2
The long-awaited sequel to Wasteland is finally here, and it is the game fans had been waiting for, especially after the Fallout series changed direction. Wasteland 2 is a back-to-roots sort of game bringing back the classic style for a new generation.
Wasteland 2 is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass.
Wasteland 3
After fans had to wait almost 30 years for a sequel to Wasteland, the wait for a third part was short, with fans being blessed within five years. Wasteland 3 improved on most of what the second did well and made it better, finally giving fans the game they wanted.
Wasteland 3 is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass. Check out Wasteland 3 Review
Worms W.M.D
The original turn-based multiplayer game is back again for another round. Worms W.M.D brings back the classic 2D gameplay that fans love from the series with its signature turn-based gameplay that we all love and know.
Worms W.M.D is available on Xbox and PC for Game Pass.
Yakuza Like a Dragon
The popular Yakuza series swaps out real-time brawler combat for turn-based combat. It has everything fans love about the series with the addition of turn-based combat.
Yakuza Like a Dragon is available for Xbox and PC for Game Pass. Check out Yakuza: Like a Dragon review
YIIK: A Postmodern RPG
YIIK is a turn-based RPG-inspired Mother/Earthbound and the 90s in a surreal adventure. Players who enjoyed the Mother series and/or other comedic RPGs will be right at home with YIIK.
YIIK: A Postmodern RPG is available on PC for Game Pass.
That is currently all the turn-based games available to Game Pass subscribers. As usual new ones will be added here and there, and others may be removed in the future, so this list will always be changing. It does seem whether you game on an Xbox or a PC (especially PC players) and love turn-based games, then there is something for you on Game Pass to try.
