Xbox Game Pass Now Includes One of the Best Games from Last Year

Last year witnessed the release of an array of exceptional games, and among our favorites was Arcade Paradise—a captivating fusion of a business simulator and an immersive arcade experience. If you’ve been patiently waiting to give it a try but haven’t found the time, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s now available on Xbox Game Pass. Unlike the arcade’s front area washing machines, this game requires no quarters.

Now free to play on both the Xbox and PC versions of Game Pass, Arcade Paradise unfolds as a remarkably peculiar game, given its straightforward premise. You take on the role of Ashley, a college dropout who returns to her hometown to manage her father’s laundromat during his absence. After stumbling upon an arcade machine in the back room of the business, Ashley decides to gradually transform the premises into a full-fledged arcade, discreetly diminishing the number of washing machines to prevent her father from discovering her secret endeavor.

Undoubtedly, playing the arcade games (and acquiring even more machines) forms a significant part of the enjoyable experience in Arcade Paradise. However, there is also immense satisfaction in witnessing Ashley’s business flourish, with unexpected plot twists and turns that ultimately make Arcade Paradise stand out as one of this year’s finest narratives in gaming.

Furthermore, practically every action you take in the game becomes its own mini-game, such as engaging in an intense “fight” to remove gum from a toilet. As I successfully transformed the business into a thriving arcade, I found myself yearning for it to be a reality, envisioning weekends spent socializing and surpassing other regulars’ high scores.

For more information on Xbox Game Pass this month, be sure to explore the roster of games joining and departing the service. In addition to Xbox and PC, Arcade Paradise can also be experienced on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation.