The 10 best games on Google Stadia

The Google Stadia library continues to grow beyond its meager initial state, now offering a much wider selection of games to suit different tastes. While the Stadia service itself might not work as expected for everyone, there’s no denying that it now has an impressive collection of games to choose from. Stadia players have lots of choices, from the top AAA releases to niche indie games, with even more arriving all the time. To help sort out which games are most worth a look, here are our favorite games available on Google Stadia right now.

Doom Eternal

The 2016 reboot of Doom showed that there was still an appetite among players for the kind of fast-paced, trigger-happy gameplay that the original Doom perfected decades ago, and Doom Eternal takes it even further. Doom Eternal builds on the previous game by adding new mechanics and weapons, like a shoulder-mounted flamethrower that makes enemies spit armor, and a wide range of upgrade systems. Be warned that Doom Eternal doesn’t run at true 4K like Google promised it would, but if you’re looking for frantic, satisfying, intricate gunplay more than a way to put Stadia through its paces, there’s no better place to look than Doom Eternal.

Red Dead Redemption 2

There’s not much to say about Red Dead Redemption 2 that wasn’t already said when it was first released. This sprawling epic chronicles the end of the Wild West and the fate of a group of fascinating characters who made their lives there. Red Dead Redemption 2 features plenty of exciting action sequences but manages to make simply riding through the hills and plains of the American frontier just as exciting. On top of that, Red Dead Redemption 2 includes a full-fledged online mode so you can live out your cow boy adventure once you’ve finished with Arthur Morgan’s.

Borderlands 3

If you’ve played any Borderlands game, you know what to expect from Borderlands 3, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The most recent entry in the series amps up the action with even more guns, more abilities, and four entirely new character classes. For players who want to loot to their hearts’ content and discover a huge variety of different weapons, it’s hard to beat Borderlands 3. It’s also a great choice to play with friends, thanks to its four-player online co-op.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

The Assassin’s Creed series has had its share of both hits and misses, and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey took a major risk by switching up some core elements of the franchise. It ventures further than the series has gone before into action RPG territory, featuring branching storylines, dialogue trees, and plenty of skills and weapons to collect along the way. It also injects mythology into its Ancient Greek setting, especially when it comes to the DLC. On top of its excellent gameplay, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s beautifully rendered version of Greece is well worth exploring on its own.

Destiny 2

Destiny 2 has had its ups and downs through its various updates, but there’s a good reason why it has a fanbase dedicated enough to stick with the game through it all. From its space opera storyline to the heart-pounding PvP of the Trials of Osiris, there’s a lot to love about Destiny 2. It’s a great game if you’re looking to invest a lot of time, with achievements and loot drops that it will take you weeks or even months of playing to reach if you’re starting from the beginning, and there’s always new content around the corner. As a bonus, it also features cross-platform saves, so you can jump in on your existing character if you already have one somewhere else.

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Darksiders Genesis

While it bears the Darksiders name, Darksiders Genesis is a much different game from the rest of the series. While the first three Darksiders titles were third-person action game, Darksiders Genesis is a top-down action RPG in the style of Diablo. You can choose to play as either Strife or War, two of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in the series’ canon, and they both play entirely differently, majorly changing the experience depending on which you choose. If you’re in the mood for multiplayer, you can also team up with a partner to bring both Horsemen into the fight at the same time.

Gylt

Gylt is a Google Stadia exclusive, and it’s much different from most of the other offerings currently on the platform. In Gylt, you play as a young girl searching for her lost friend, using your wits to solve puzzles and sneak past the dangers waiting in your way. Gylt won’t keep you occupied as long as most of the other games on this list, but it’s a good pick if you’re looking for something with a slower pace and a more cerebral vibe.

Final Fantasy XV

A road trip might not seem like the most natural premise to start a Final Fantasy game, but Final Fantasy XV manages to turn it into a story just as epic as any quest in the series. Final Fantasy XV follows the adventures of Prince Noctis as he tries to protect his kingdom from invaders and still has a good time with his friends in the process. It has one of the best battle systems of any JRPG and takes place in a beautiful world that blends traditional fantasy and modern elements in a way that works way better than it seems like it should.

Metro Exodus

There are quite a few shooters on Google Stadia, but Metro Exodus still stands apart from the rest. Rather than blasting their way through swarms of enemies, players will need to be a lot more careful in Metro Exodus, choosing when to engage enemies and conserving their precious ammo. The game takes place after a nuclear war has forced humanity underground and stars Artyom, a citizen of the underground Metro, who sets off on a desperate search for hope outside the tunnels. Metro Exodus is the third game in a series, but even players who haven’t experienced the first two can enjoy the tense action and grim post-apocalyptic story in Exodus.

Kine

Google Stadia’s early lineup focuses mainly on big games from major publishers, and Kine is about as far from that as possible. Made by a solo developer, Kine may not be a well-known game, but it’s worth a look. Kine is a simple puzzle game at its core; players move a collection of odd machines and musical instruments through a blocky environment, finding the right way to rotate and slide around obstacles to find the exit. Kine’s great-looking art and excellent music help turn it into more than the sum of its parts, though, making it a short but satisfying experience.