With the large amounts of video games releasing today, both from indie developers and AAA studios, not every game is destined to be a hit. Bad timing, underbaked mechanics, or unfulfilled promises can all result in a forgotten series.

It's true that Rare largely struggled to produce compelling experiences since Microsoft's acquisition in 2002, but one exception is Viva Pinata . A bizarre take on the life-simulation genre, Viva Pinata sees players raising and breeding living pinatas while completing a variety of objectives. Noted for its eye-catching art style and quirky humor, Viva Pinata spawned sequels and even its own television series. A new Viva Pinata could fill a niche on the Xbox Series X and appeal to the more casual gamers out th

One of the big selling points for the Xbox Game Pass service is the fact that it has all of Microsoft's first-party games, and this includes the entire Gears of War franchise. Every Gears of War game offers local co-op for the campaign, and Gears of War 2 onward also features Horde Mode as well. Players can play through the entire Gears of War saga from the beginning on Xbox Game Pass, all the way up to the most recent main series game, Gears 5 . The games have all aged well for the most part, offering players intense, action-packed campaigns that are a blast to play through in local co

Moreover, it features a good balance between humor and the tone of a crime thriller, like the Yakuza series. Gameplay elements like hacking into the city's technology can create hilarious moments of slapstick comedy and destruct

In fact, it is one of the most pirated games Ubisoft has ever created. Why? Because you can't buy it legally anywhere. It's missing on Steam , GOG , and even Ubisoft's own UPlay store. It receives that attention for good reason, though . This game allowed players to control any vehicle on the road, allowing for some creative puzzles and narrative elements no other driving game has since attempted. It is also the only video game to attempt a second-person perspective for a level. This game was truly innovative and creative, which makes it even worse that you can't legally purchase it anymore.

There are actually a couple of different LEGO games available on Xbox Game Pass at the time of this writing, but LEGO Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars is arguably the best of the bunch. The LEGO games have been offering their familiar brand of local co-op action for years now, and while each game is more or less the same, they all have their own little quirks to help them stand apart from one another. Plus, fans can play through LEGO Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars on Xbox Game Pass as a refresher while they wait for the release of the upcoming LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga video g

Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass service has been a huge hit for the company so far, and it's showing no signs of slowing down. Xbox Game Pass gives subscribers over 100 games to play representing all kinds of genres, including plenty of local co-op ga

Children of Morta is a rogue-like action-RPG that has players take members of the Bergson family through dangerous dungeons, battling monsters, leveling up, and earning things for their home. The game has a great sense of progression and a lot of forward momentum, so even in failure, players always feel like they're making a difference. Playing through Children of Morta with a friend in couch co-op makes the game that much more fun, and with each Bergson family member being distinctly different from each other, the game caters to a lot of different play-styles and preferen

With no prior announcement, Microsoft surprise-launched the beat 'em up Streets of Rage 4 on Xbox Game Pass. While some may have been concerned that Streets of Rage 4 wouldn't live up to the legacy of its predecessors, the game has proven any doubters wrong. Streets of Rage 4 reviews have been mostly positive, with fans praising the game's retro-style local co-op action. Streets of Rage 4 's main story may be a little on the short side, but the game otherwise has a lot of content for fans of the genre to sink their teeth i

Meet Destroy All Humans , a game that revolves around controlling an alien and blowing everything to smithereens. Buildings, people, cows, nothing is safe from Crypto. There is a story in each game, but it takes a backseat compared to the ludicrous amounts of fun the game lets you have. You can fling humans to walls, blow up skyscrapers, and use your flying saucer to take out armies of soldiers. The game doesn't take itself too seriously, which helps with the fun factor. There is a remake for the original title that should release this year, Replayability so hopefully, that will generate enough interest to get this series back on people's radars.

Gothic is unique because it treats the world like a realistic place with magic and large threats. Most NPCs look out for themselves and the combat in this game is brutality incarnate. There is a charm to this game, however, that sets it apart from the likes of Skyrim or The Witcher . When you grow more powerful in this game, it feels earned. It encourages you to think outside of the box to exploit NPCs and finish quests. It never received a large following, however, something a reboot could help fix.