Bus Simulator 21 Xbox Game Pass
Melva Simons
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The walking simulator genre is perhaps the most divisive in gaming. Detractors take issue with the sometimes limited interactivity you get in these sorts of titles. However, fans of the genre appreciate how the best walking simulators are able to keep their attention without the inclusion of an abundance of gameplay mechanics.
They don't generally provide combat sections, skill trees, or loot. Instead, they give you compelling narratives to experience or exciting worlds to explore. At least, the best ones do, as like every other genre, there are good and bad walking simulators. Thankfully, Xbox Game Pass provides some of the best.
Updated April 25, 2024 By Ben Jessey: Recently, a few walking simulators have been added to Xbox Game Pass. On top of that, a few more have left the service. Therefore, now is a good time to update our collection of the best ones, and that is exactly what we've done.
Harold Halibut is one of the many interesting and creative indie titles that are available through Game Pass. It immediately catches the eye because of its visual style. The developers scanned their handmade clay dolls and sets to put them into the game. It's a unique technique that helps Harold Halibut be one of the most visually charming games in recent memory.
The story is captivating, too, as it revolves around the titular character and his life aboard a city-sized spaceship. Despite living on a ship in space, his life has been quite ordinary up until one significant encounter changes his life forever. Much of the adventure is about going around and talking to people, but there are also a few mini-games.
Open Roads is set in the early 2000s and revolves around a teenage girl, Tess, and her mother, Opal. Opal's own mother just recently passed, and the two are attempting to deal with it. So, it's a deep tale about family and grief, plus there's a coming-of-age element to the story, too.
It's an engaging adventure throughout, mainly due to the gorgeous and unique art style. The gameplay revolves around talking to others and exploring areas. In fact, you spend plenty of time walking around homes and interacting with things. It's laid-back and interesting.
In Close To The Sun, you play as one of gaming's many fictional journalists. Her name is Rose Archer, and she explores the sea cruiser called Helios. Her goal is to find her sister. However, that is easier said than done because the cruiser isn't exactly teeming with life.
Walking around the place is fairly unsettling, as you experience a fair amount of scary and gruesome moments. So, it isn't the most relaxing of walking simulators. From a gameplay perspective, you complete the odd puzzle and participate in some chase scenes. But mostly, you're walking around and reading things. It's very atmospheric.
Those Who Remain isn't an outright walking sim, but it certainly contains aspects of the genre. After all, much of the title sees you walking around and interacting with things. But there are also plenty of puzzles, a bit of stealth, and some decisions you have to make.
It's also a horror game, so you experience a lot of creepiness and scares as you make your way through the title. Much of this comes from the shadowy figures that lurk in the darkness and are usually watching you. So, don't expect a calm and tranquil experience with this game.
The term 'walking simulator' is perhaps not a perfect way to describe Gris. After all, this is a game with a fair amount of platforming and puzzle-solving. Neither of these things is particularly taxing, though. The game isn't meant to be a challenge.
You're meant to play through it at your own pace while being wowed by the visuals and world. The said world is a place that has manifested from the protagonist's painful experiences. The game is all about getting over her sorrow. So, it's an emotional one.
In Firewatch, you control a fire lookout who works in a National Forest. That sounds like the premise of a management simulator, but it isn't. This is a first-person walking sim that largely consists of you exploring the area while talking to your supervisor, Delilah.
The relationship between her and your character is the main selling point of the title. Their interactions with one another are sweet, funny, and compelling. In fact, this is one of the best-written walking simulators ever.
Instead of a walking simulator, A Short Hike is perhaps better described as a hiking simulator. This is because you play as a little bird who needs to hike up to the top of a mountain to get cell reception.
It sounds simple enough, but there are plenty of distractions and obstacles as you ascend. So, it takes several hours to reach the end. In that time, you will meet plenty of other characters and do some short activities.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a walking simulator as visually appealing as Dordogne. The colorful watercolor art style looks really beautiful. And there is plenty of substance to go with that style.
The substance is a narrative about a woman who travels to Dordogne following her grandmother's passing. While there, she remembers the time she spent with her grandmother and thinks back to some of her most important memories of her. You get to play these flashbacks.
TellTale's The Walking Dead blends the line between an adventure game and a walking simulator. It shares enough of the conventions of the latter to be considered one. After all, this is a game where gameplay consists of walking around, making dialog choices, and hitting the occasional button prompt.
The most interesting thing about the title is the story. It all begins when protagonist Lee finds himself caught amid a zombie outbreak. He quickly finds a little girl called Clementine and becomes responsible for protecting her. The duo then embarks on an adventure where their only goal is to survive as long as they can. All the seasons of The Walking Dead are on Game Pass, but this first one is the best.
Walking simulators have a reputation for providing peaceful gaming experiences. That is not quite the case in Sea Of Solitude. This title is an emotional and sometimes scary entry in the genre. But it is also thought-provoking, as you control a young woman who's suffering from loneliness.
Along with multiple main seasons, Telltale's The Walking Dead also has a couple of short mini-series, including one revolving around Michonne. It gives you an insight into what the character was doing between issues 126 and 139 of the comic book series.
Yet, even if you haven't read a single issue, this narrative-focused game still tells a tale that can keep you engaged. It is all about the titular character trying to overcome the loss of her kids. So, it's an emotional ride.
As you'd expect by its name, TheHunter: Call Of The Wild is a hunting game and a great one at that. Yet, it also works very well as a walking sim. This is because the game allows you to roam around the game's large and incredibly detailed maps. There's nothing forcing you to track and hunt.
You can just walk around and enjoy the beautiful visuals and amazing sound design. Both of those things make you feel like you're actually in the wild. It's an incredibly peaceful experience for you and the animals, as it means nobody is shooting them.
Once upon a time, Disneyland Adventures was a Kinect game, but that is no longer the case. Now you can simply use a controller to walk around the open world. This isn't just any open world, though. This is a virtual re-creation of Disneyland.
Thus, it's filled with classic Disney characters to interact with, like Goofy and Donald Duck. You can even go on rides, which are represented through mini-games. So, you essentially get to experience a trip to Disneyland from the comfort of your own home. It's certainly a lot cheaper than a real-life trip.
'Unsettling' is the best word to describe Scorn, as both the environment and the protagonist are visually disturbing. This is kind of the point of the game, as it's a horror title that replaces jump scares with general creepiness.
Plus, if you're scared of the unknown, this game will be terrifying, as it pretty much tells you nothing about who you are, where you are, or what you're doing. You have to figure things out for yourself by freely exploring the weird world. There is a bit of combat in the game, but you spend most of your time walking around and completing puzzles.
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