Google Play Pass is now available in select international markets, including Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, bringing hundreds of curated games and apps free of ads and in-app purchases — all for one affordable monthly payment. Play Pass, if you’re not familiar, is essentially Google’s version of Apple Arcade and Xbox Game Pass.

In the Philippines, a one-month subscription to Play Pass costs P109, or around $2 converted. You can also pay P999 ($18) and get an annual subscription, which will be cheaper in the long run. As usual, Google is willing to give a monthlong free trial for first-time subscribers, so there’s no commitment to try it out. We see little reason to be stingy with it, especially since Google Play Pass costs less than half the price of an Apple Arcade subscription (P249 or $4).

Additionally, Family managers can share access to Google Play Pass with up to five accounts, so others can play on their own devices. If you’re interested, here are five Google Play Pass games that we highly recommend to get you started.

1. Titan Quest

Love the loot-based action-RPG genre but hate Diablo Immortal’s pay-to-win monetization strategy? Why not play Titan Quest instead? It’s got a deep lore and equipment galore — not to mention tons of well-designed monsters to fight — to go along with high-quality visuals and a fairly extensive leveling system. Plus, Titan Quest won’t bleed your wallet dry with in-game purchases that give players an unfair advantage over others.

2. Dead Cells

Dead Cells for Android has been around since 2020, but it’s still getting updates and DLCs three years after its release on the mobile platform. That not only speaks volumes to how well the game has aged, but also tells you how addictively fun it is to play, especially on a mobile device that you can take with you anywhere.

3. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

KOTOR offers a rich single-player experience anchored by one of the most developed storylines ever in a video game. It also holds a soft spot in this author’s heart, as it made him want to immerse himself in Star Wars lore more than any other spin-off or Star Wars film (sorry, Luke and Han). Set 4,000 years before the young Skywalker from Tatooine meets an old Ben Kenobi, the game takes place an even longer time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

4. Final Fantasy VII

While waiting for the second installment in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, why not drop several hours into the OG game one more time? The 1997 classic’s Android port is also available on Google Play Pass as part of its excellent catalogue of roleplaying games you can play after Titan Quest and Star Wars: KOTOR (seriously, we suggest you play those games first, if you haven’t already).

5. Grimvalor

This game will normally set you back $6.99 (P397). However, it’s free if you have an active Play Pass subscription. Like Dead Cells, it combines 2D platforming with Metroidvania mechanics, but unlike Dead Cells, Grimvalor can be unflinchingly tough sometimes, always ready to punish you if you make a mistake. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a real challenge.

Honorable mentions:

• Terraria
• Stardew Valley
• Game Dev Story (and other games by Kairosoft on Google Play Pass)
• Chameleon Run
• Kingdom Rush Vengeance

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