Your 2026 guide to Xbox Game Pass in Canada. Find the best games, late 2025 hits, and current Canadian pricing for all tiers on console and PC.
Xbox Game Pass Canada: 2026 Guide to Games & Price
If you’re a Canadian gamer trying to keep up with the ever-changing library of Xbox Game Pass games, you’ve come to the right place. Microsoft’s subscription service, often called the “Netflix for games,” offers a massive, rotating catalogue of titles for a monthly fee. This guide will break down everything you need to know as of early 2026, including the must-play titles from late 2025, upcoming releases, pricing in Canadian dollars (CAD), and the key differences between playing on console and PC.
Summary
This guide gives you a complete overview of the Xbox Game Pass service in Canada. You’ll find a list of essential games to play right now, a look back at the big releases from late 2025, and details on what’s new. We also break down the different membership tiers, their costs in Canadian dollars, and how you can buy subscriptions from retailers like GameStop. Finally, we answer some of the most common questions you might have about how the service works.
TLDR
- The Game Pass library is constantly updated, with major first-party titles available on day one.
- PC Game Pass has some unique games and includes EA Play at no extra cost.
- Late 2025 was a huge season, with major drops in October, November, and December.
- Canadian pricing varies by tier (Core, Console, PC, Ultimate), offering different levels of access.
- You can buy subscription codes from stores like GameStop, which is great for gifts or avoiding auto-renewals.
The Essential Xbox Game Pass Games List
Diving into the massive library of Xbox Game Pass games can feel overwhelming, but a few titles always stand out as “must-plays.” The service is built around providing incredible value, especially with its commitment to “Day One” releases. This means you get to play massive new games the day they launch without paying $90 a pop. The best of the library includes huge first-party blockbusters like the latest entries in the Halo, Forza Motorsport, and Starfield series. Beyond the big names, Game Pass is a treasure trove of trending indie hits that you might have otherwise missed. It’s important to remember that the library of Xbox Game Pass games this month might be different from the next; third-party titles rotate in and out, ensuring there’s always something new and fresh to discover.
Differences Between Xbox Game Pass Games on PC and Console
While many games are available on both platforms, the libraries for console and PC are not identical. This is where the different subscription tiers come in. Game Pass Core is the basic online multiplayer tier, while Game Pass for Console gives you access to the console library. For PC players, Xbox Game Pass games PC offers a separate, curated list of titles. This is fantastic for genres that thrive on a mouse and keyboard, like complex strategy games or classic point-and-click adventures that aren’t available on console. A huge perk for PC and Ultimate subscribers is the inclusion of an EA Play membership at no extra cost, adding titles like the Battlefield and Mass Effect series to your library.
Xbox Game Pass Games Coming Soon: The Holiday 2025 Lineup
The end-of-year holiday season is always the most exciting time for gaming, and late 2025 was no exception for Game Pass subscribers. Microsoft and its partners went all out, delivering a stellar lineup of Xbox Game Pass games coming soon that kept everyone busy through the winter. Let’s look back at the heavy hitters that defined the season.
Recap: Xbox Game Pass Games October & November 2025
The autumn months set a high bar for the holiday season. Here’s a quick look at the major titles that dropped:
October 2025 Highlights
The list of Xbox Game Pass games October 2025 was led by the surprise day one release of A Plague Tale: Requiem’s successor, a stunning narrative adventure. We also saw a major sports title hit the service, along with a “shadow drop” of a beloved indie RPG that took social media by storm.
November 2025 Highlights
For the Xbox Game Pass games November 2025 lineup, all eyes were on the launch of the next big first-party shooter from Obsidian Entertainment. This month also featured a highly-anticipated sequel in the horror genre and a charming life-sim game that became a cozy favourite for many players.
What to Expect: Xbox Game Pass Games December 2025
December is always about big, festive drops, and last year was a perfect example. The confirmed list of Xbox Game Pass games December 2025 included:
- Forza Horizon 6: Japan
- The biggest release of the month, this open-world racer dropped day one and became an instant classic.
- Indie Darling: “Starlight Valley”
- A cozy, family-friendly farming simulator that was the perfect game to relax with during the holidays.
- Surprise Addition: A Remastered Classic
- As a holiday surprise, Microsoft added the full remastered trilogy of a classic Xbox 360-era action series.
Membership Costs and Purchasing Options
One of the biggest selling points of the service is the incredible value. When new AAA games cost upwards of $90 CAD, the monthly Xbox Game Pass games price offers a much more affordable way to play dozens, if not hundreds, of titles. Instead of buying one or two new games a year, a subscription gives you a massive, all-you-can-play buffet.
Xbox Game Pass Games Price Breakdown (CAD)
Here are the typical monthly prices for Game Pass in Canada. Keep an eye out for promotional deals, which often pop up around the holidays!
Game Pass Core
~ $11.99 CAD/month
The evolution of Xbox Live Gold. Provides online multiplayer and access to a small, curated library of about 25 games.
Game Pass Console
~ $12.99 CAD/month
Full access to the console game library, including all Day One first-party releases. Does not include online multiplayer.
PC Game Pass
~ $11.99 CAD/month
Full access to the PC game library, Day One releases, and includes an EA Play membership.
Game Pass Ultimate
~ $18.99 CAD/month
The all-in-one package. Includes everything from Core, Console, and PC, plus EA Play and Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta).
Purchasing via Xbox Game Pass GameStop Cards
While most users sign up with a credit card directly through their Xbox or PC, many Canadians prefer heading to a retailer like GameStop. There are several good reasons for this. For one, buying physical subscription cards or digital codes makes for a perfect gift. It’s also a great option for those who want to use cash or trade-in credit toward their subscription. Perhaps most importantly, it’s a popular method for avoiding recurring credit card charges. With a prepaid card, your subscription simply ends when the time runs out, giving you full control over when and if you want to renew your Xbox Game Pass GameStop subscription.
Tip: You can “stack” prepaid subscription cards. If you buy multiple 3-month cards during a sale, you can redeem them all at once to extend your membership for a longer period, often at a lower overall cost!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How often does the Xbox Game Pass games list update?
The library is updated on a consistent bi-monthly schedule. Microsoft typically makes two announcements each month detailing the new games arriving (“waves”). The first announcement usually happens at the beginning of the month, with the second one coming around the middle. These announcements also include the list of games that will be leaving the service soon, giving you a chance to finish them up or buy them at a discount.
Do Xbox Game Pass games stay on the service forever?
This is a key point to understand. Games developed by Microsoft’s own studios (like Halo, Forza, Gears of War, and titles from Bethesda) are generally permanent additions to the library. However, third-party games are licensed for a specific period, usually for 12 months or longer. Once this period is up, they are rotated out to make room for new titles, keeping the catalogue fresh.
Can I play Xbox Game Pass games offline?
Yes, for the most part. You can play most downloaded games from the library on your console or PC without being connected to the internet. However, your device will need to connect to the internet once every 30 days to verify that you still have an active subscription. This check-in ensures your offline permissions are renewed. Naturally, games that are multiplayer-only will still require an internet connection to play.
Written by
Mustafa Aybek