The Fastest Game Completions in Xbox Game Pass

By Mark Delaney,
The big story this week for Xbox gamers was the announcement of future Microsoft published games launching on Xbox Game Pass the same day that they hit stores. Games like Sea of Thieves, Crackdown 3: Campaign, the forthcoming new games in Halo and Forza, will all be made available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers simultaneously with those buying the games at retail. It's a huge boon to the program as Microsoft looks to diversify its options and keep players invested in its ecosystem.

While we wait for the first of these major new exclusives to launch on Xbox Game Pass, we thought now would be a great time to look at which other games currently in the service's library provide the quickest game completion. Here's a complete list of all the games that can each be completed in just a few hours.

1-2 Hour Game Completions

The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match

king fighters

Several games on this list come from the XBLA days, so you won't get the hefty 1,000 Gamerscore of all modern titles, but a quick and easy 200 Gamerscore from this retro fighting game is a good first play when maximizing your Gamerscore. If you're a fan of fighters, you'll be happy to know this isn't the only one on the list either.

KOF 98 UM Full Achievement Walkthrough

Pac-Man Championship Edition DX+

Mountain

You can't go wrong with Pac-Man, right? This award-winning contemporary take on the revered series brightens the color palette but keeps intact the core gameplay that won over so many in arcade cabinets 30 years ago. You'll net another 200 Gamerscore for polishing this one off.

Pac Man Championship Edition DX Full Achievement Walkthrough

Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown

VF5:FS 5

Hey, look, another fighting game! This one is much newer than the last, so if you find it hard to get into old school stuff, Virtua Fighter 5 may be closer to your liking. It also released later in the XBLA days so it comes with the boost of 400 Gamerscore instead of the formerly customary 200.

Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown Full Achievement Walkthrough

#IDARB

C-Image

This one may not be much help to many of you. Although it's the easiest 1,000 Gamerscore to earn on this list, it's also a former Games with Gold title, so it's likely many people have already scrubbed off all achievements to be earned. If you did miss it for free and have yet to play it, #IDARB is a quick and easy indie sports title that isn't all bad either.

#IDARB Full Achievement Walkthrough



2-3 Hour Game Completions

Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons

Brothers

Critically lauded for its story and unique take on "single player co-op", Brothers was re-released for Xbox One, and fortunately for Gamerscore chasers, it's that 1,000 Gamerscore version that comes with Xbox Game Pass. Many may likely consider this the best game on this list, so when you're chasing the easy but easily missed achievements, be sure to soak in the story too.

Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons Full Achievement Walkthrough

Knight Squad

Carousel Image

Knight Squad was another Games with Gold title, so like a few others on here, it won't do you much good if you've already played it. For those that missed it, the path to another easy 1,000 Gamerscore is lined with the game's eight-player multiplayer modes, of which there are several — even a knightly soccer game. If you're only in it for the full 1,000 Gamerscore, Knight Squad is a must-play as it's one of the easiest to offer that.

Knight Squad Full Achievement Walkthrough

SEGA Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage

SoR

Another throwback for the aged or retro-inspired gamer, Streets of Rage came to XBLA, and backwards compatible Xbox One later, and brought with it one of gaming's most cherished beat 'em ups. You'll net the game's 400 Gamerscore even quicker if you're one of those who can recall the game from yesteryear. Is beating up pixelated baddies at all like riding a bike?

Streets of Rage Full Achievement Walkthrough

Comix Zone

comix

It's apparent those that are looking for quick Gamerscore from Game Pass may also be best served if they are or were SEGA fans growing up. Comix Zone is another such old-school game from the Genesis days, so it'll either be a nostalgic adventure or a tough 200 Gamerscore grind on the enjoyment scale. Still, it's easy and maybe you'll even end up liking it.

Comix Zone Full Achievement Walkthrough

Garou: Mark of the Wolves

garou

Well, what do you know? It's another SEGA game and another fighter. The contents of this list are sure to please 35-year-old lifelong gamers who excel at fighting games. Garou is another that can be done very quickly, although it always helps to be good at these sorts of games.

Garou: Mark of the Wolves Achievement Guides

SoulCalibur

SC

Surprise! It's another fighting game. We'll have to do a study on why these ported retro fighters offer such easy lists. Someone is designing these to be achievement-friendly, apparently. With a new game in the SoulCalibur series on its way, now could be a great time to revisit or experience for the first time the game that kicked off the beloved series.

SoulCalibur Full Achievement Walkthrough

Dig Dug

Dig DugDig Dug

Well, it's not a fighter, but it's definitely a classic. This Atari arcade cabinet staple has you digging holes around various creatures, almost like a Pac-Man choose your own adventure game. If you haven't tried it by now, you've got a blind spot in the industry's history, so in addition to an easy 200 Gamerscore, this could be a fun history lesson.

Dig Dug Full Achievement Walkthrough



3-4 Hour Game Completions

SEGA Vintage Collection: Golden Axe

golden axe

SEGA fans have one more title to chase with Game Pass. Golden Axe's achievements may take just a bit longer than some of the other games in this list, but it's still quite simple. Like always, it's made much easier if you grew up on the game as so many did. You'll get 400 Gamerscore from this one too, which doesn't come with many XBLA games.

Golden Axe Full Achievement Walkthrough

The Swapper

The Swapper Screens 4

Tired of the nineties SEGA stuff and XBLA-sized achievement lists? How about a full 1,000 ID@Xbox award-winning puzzle-platformer to close it out? The Swapper tells a great sci-fi tale and does so using an interesting cloning mechanic that helps you navigate your way through the atmospheric stages as you search for answers in this smart debut from Facepalm Games.

The Swapper Full Achievement Walkthrough



More Quick and Easy 1,000 Gamerscore Titles

Later on, we'll look at the most revered games in the Xbox Game Pass library, for those that want to use their subscription to play the best-reviewed games rather than to chase achievements. In the meantime, if you're looking for more games offering quick and easy Gamerscore, check out our previous feature in which we detail how to unlock 5,000 Gamerscore in just four hours on Xbox One.

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Mark Delaney
Written by Mark Delaney
Mark is a Boston native now living in Portland, Oregon. He has written for GameSkinny, Gamesradar and the Official Xbox Magazine. He runs the family-oriented gaming site Game Together.
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