Highlights
- The Odyssey earned $264.1 million in Christopher Nolan's biggest opening weekend.
- Ryse: Son of Rome is available on Xbox Game Pass with Series X|S support.
- The game now holds a "Very Positive" Steam rating from over 13.7K reviews.
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is dominating the box office. The film earned $264.1 million USD worldwide in its opening weekend, making it the biggest global debut of Nolan's career. It also surpassed The Dark Knight Rises, which opened with $249M globally. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 94% critics score and a 97% audience score.
For Odyssey fans searching for Xbox Game Pass recommendations, the answer may already be in the subscription library. Ryse: Son of Rome is available through Xbox Game Pass at no extra cost. Originally released in 2013, the Crytek title is also playable on Xbox Series X|S through backward compatibility, making it an easy Xbox Game Pass free game to revisit.
Why This Xbox Game Pass Action Game Still Holds Up
The game follows Marius Titus, a Roman soldier whose family is killed by barbarian raiders. According to the official synopsis, he joins the Roman army in Britannia to seek revenge. As he rises through the ranks, he discovers his destiny "can only be fulfilled much closer to home."
The story is different from The Odyssey. However, both focus on warriors facing long, dangerous journeys. Both also lean heavily on cinematic storytelling and large-scale battles. That makes Ryse: Son of Rome an excellent Xbox Game Pass action game and one of the stronger Xbox Game Pass games for fans of historical adventures.
The Game has Aged Better Than its Launch Reviews
Ryse: Son of Rome received mixed reviews at launch. Critics praised its visuals and presentation. However, many criticized its heavy use of quick time events and its short campaign. The game currently has a 60 Metascore.
Player opinion has improved over time. On Steam, the game now holds a "Very Positive" rating from more than 13.7K user reviews. One recent review called it a game with "beautiful visuals that still hold up today," satisfying combat, and "a cinematic story that never overstays its welcome," while noting that the gameplay can become repetitive.
As story-driven action games have become more popular, Ryse: Son of Rome has found a new audience. It remains an Xbox Game Pass must-play action game and one of the service's best free action-adventure experiences.
For players looking to continue the ancient world journey after watching The Odyssey, it stands as one of the strongest Xbox Game Pass recommendations.
