Xbox Game Pass subscribers can play the highest-rated game of 2026 released so far without having to pay anything beyond what they already do for their Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’s biggest selling point is access to brand-new, day one releases. This includes almost every game under the Xbox Game Studios umbrella, minus new Call of Duty games (they come a year later).
With 2026 marking the 25th anniversary of Xbox, Microsoft is going all out when it comes to its Xbox Game Pass 2026 games. Four of Xbox’s biggest franchises are being represented this year, with Halo: Campaign Evolved, the Fable reboot, Gears of War: E-Day, and Forza Horizon 6 standing as the four pillars of Game Pass’ 2026 first-party games.
Xbox Game Pass Already Has 9 Games Confirmed for June 2026
Xbox Game Pass subscribers already have nine games to look forward to in June 2026, with more yet to be revealed.
Forza Horizon 6 is the Highest-Rated Game of 2026
Only one of those games has been released so far, with Forza Horizon 6 reviews earning it an incredible 91 overall rating (according to review aggregate site Metacritic). This not only makes Forza Horizon 6 one of the highest-rated games published by Xbox Game Studios, but it also makes the open world racing game the highest-rated game of 2026 to date. There are plenty of other big games on the horizon, including Forza Horizon 6 developer Playground Games’ own Fable, but it will still take a lot to knock FH6 off its throne.
Scratch & Peek
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
possible.
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as possible.
EasyMediumHardPermadeath
Forza Horizon 6‘s 91 overall rating puts it ahead of first-party games released by Xbox’s chief competitors, Nintendo and PlayStation. Pokemon Pokopia is second place with an 89 rating, while PlayStation’s Saros is in fifth place with an 87 rating. The top 10 highest-rated games of 2026 so far largely consist of third-party games and indie titles, but it will be interesting to see how it evolves as the months go on. Regardless, the takeaway is that if you want to play the highest-rated game of 2026, you can do it without even paying full price. All you need is an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, and with Game Pass’ recent price drop, that means you only have to pay $22.99.
Top 10 Highest-Rated Games of 2026 So Far
- Forza Horizon 6 – 91 (available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate/PC Game Pass)
- Pokemon Pokopia – 89
- Resident Evil Requiem – 89
- Mewgenics – 88
- Saros – 87
- Hermit and Pig – 87
- Titanium Court – 87
- Perfect Tides: Station to Station – 86
- Nioh 3 – 86
- Mixtape – 86 (available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate/PC Game Pass)
Forza Horizon 6 isn’t the only Game Pass game in the top 10 highest-rated games of 2026 list. Mixtape is also on the list, just barely making the cut by landing in the number 10 spot. Mixtape is a pretty polarizing game — people seem to either love it or hate it. But regardless, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can play it for themselves and form their own conclusions.
Drag weapons to fill the grid
Drag weapons to fill the grid
EasyMediumHard
There are plenty of other big Xbox Game Pass games on the horizon for subscribers to look forward to, and many stand a chance of getting in the top 10. Besides the big Xbox first-party games that were previously mentioned, titles like Beast of Reincarnation from Game Freak stand out, and the big Xbox Showcase on June 7 will almost certainly reveal even more.
Source: Metacritic
