Let’s face it; Xbox and the land of the samurai go hand in hand like pineapple on pizza. It’s a bold and divisive taste, but surprisingly beloved by a small and passionate crowd. Still, Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass subscription has quietly cultivated a dedicated following in Japan, helped by the growing PC gaming market in 2024. Together with the Windows OS creator, two gaming media giants, Famitsu and Dengeki, asked Japanese gamers to vote for their favorite Game Pass titles.
The results are in, and Japanese players have officially crowned Starfield the ultimate Xbox Game Pass game. Bethesda’s space RPG’s number one spot shows that the hunger for intergalactic adventures transcends all borders.
“[…] There’s so much content that you can’t get enough of playing for 1,000 hours,” wrote Shaoran Shaoran, one of the voters.
“It’s an Xbox exclusive that’s not available on [PlayStation],” admitted Tank.
“Mods have also been introduced, so the game will grow into long-lasting content just like Fallout,” wrote USP.
Close behind at second place is Forza Horizon 5, the perfect choice for anyone who’s ever dreamed of racing and ricing overpowered cars.
“This is one of the games that pushed the limits of [Xbox’s] performance,” explained AOIST☆.
“You can drive your favorite car while experiencing Mexican culture,” wrote Hinata.
Meanwhile, Persona 3 Reload, a game made in Japan must be satisfied with claiming third place in the 2024 Xbox Game Pass popularity poll.
“Some people who mainly use Xbox or Game Pass are probably not going to play Japanese games, but I hope you’ll give it a try,” commented Mizuki.
“One of the most perfect JRPGs. I hope Game Pass will have more titles from domestic developers!” wrote TESAKI.
The rest of the list is a blend of crowd-pleasers and cult hits– from Japanese and overseas developers. Below are the complete Top 10 list of the most recommended Xbox Game Pass games by the Japanese players:
- Starfield (Bethesda Softworks).
- Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games/Xbox).
- Persona 3 Reload (Atlus/SEGA).
- Hi-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks).
- Palworld (Pocketpair).
- Like a Dragon 7 Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (SEGA).
- Diablo IV (Activision Blizzard).
- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (Capcom).
- Lies of P (Round 8 Studio/NEOWIZ).
- Fallout 76 (Bethesda Softworks) and Sunset Overdrive (Insomniac Games/Xbox) tied for 10th place.
Microsoft and the Xbox brand will still face an uphill battle in the Pacific theater of the console war. But the growing enthusiasm for Xbox Game Pass in Japan proves that even in the land of PlayStations and Switches, its library isn’t going unnoticed.
