Microsoft has been focusing its gaming efforts for a long while on the Xbox One, neglecting the potential that Windows offers for presenting and selling PC games. In Windows 10, Microsoft has finally managed to bring all their distribution platforms together in one place, in the Microsoft Store, making it a centralized distribution point for both PC and console games. This means that you can purchase some games once, on either Xbox One or your Windows 10 PC, and you can play them on both platforms. The bonus of getting games from the Microsoft Store is the enhanced security that Microsoft offers. If you are ready for your Windows 10 gaming adventure, let’s find out how to get games from Microsoft Store:
Step 1: Make sure that you have a Microsoft account
To access and download games from the Microsoft Store, you need to authenticate in Windows 10 with a Microsoft account. If you are using services such as Xbox Live, OneDrive, Outlook.com or Office 365, you already have one. If you do not have a Microsoft account, you can create one by accessing the sign-up page.
For the full details on the account creation process, read How to create a Microsoft account with or without a Microsoft e-mail address. Once you have created your Microsoft account, we encourage you to add it to Windows 10 and use it as your user account.
Step 2: Start the Microsoft Store
Once you have a Microsoft account and have signed into Windows 10 with that account, get inside the Microsoft Store. By default, the Microsoft Store has shortcuts available in the Start Menu and on the taskbar. We have highlighted below the three shortcuts that you should see in Windows 10.
Besides games, the Microsoft Store can be used to access a lot more content. Read this tutorial to learn 10 things you can do in the Microsoft Store for Windows 10.
Step 3: Browse the games available in the Microsoft Store
When you open the Microsoft Store app, the first screen shown is the Home one. Since you are interested in games, click or tap Games in the menu on the top. Here you see lists with Top paid games, New PC games, Best selling games, Top free games, and so on. To see all the games available. choose “Browse all games.”
The Microsoft Store library of games is quite extensive, so you might want to narrow down the games displayed by the app. Click or tap More filters to see all the available options.
The Microsoft Store has seven filters available as drop-down menus. As long as you continue looking for games on your Windows 10 device, you need to leave The Departments one set on Games and the Available on set on PC. The other five filters are Charts (like best free or paid games), Category, Number of players, PEGI (for ratings) and Capabilities (like Cross-platform multiplayer or 4k Ultra HD).
If you have an idea about a game you want to install, you can search for it in Microsoft Store.
Open the search box by clicking on the magnifying glass in the top-right corner, and type your keywords. Microsoft Store offers you immediately a list of suggestions. Select one of them or, if you want more search results, click or tap the magnifying glass.
To see the full list of games that match your search keywords, click or tap Show all, next to the Games section header.
If you are looking for suggestions of games that you can find in Microsoft Store, read Best 20 free games to download for Windows 10, from the Microsoft Store.
Step 4: Download and install games from the Microsoft Store
Once you have found the game that you want to install, click or tap on its title to display its page. The Windows 10 games from the Microsoft Store are either free or paid. If you want to download a free game, click or tap the Get button.
If you are interested in a game that you have to purchase, Microsoft Store lists the price and a Buy button. Click or tap on it and follow the purchasing process. You have to provide payment details like your credit card or PayPal account so that the purchase can be made.
Once you have completed the purchase, the download and then the installation is performed. Microsoft Store keeps you updated on the status using a progress bar.
Step 5: Run the game(s) that you downloaded from the Microsoft Store
When the installation is finished, the Microsoft Store offers you the option to open the game right away with a Play button.
In the future, you do not need to come back to Microsoft Store to open your game. You can find it in your Start Menu. A shortcut is added automatically in the list of apps.
Do you find the games that you like in Microsoft Store?
Microsoft Store has an extensive library of games that can be played on Windows 10 systems. They range from multiplayer games to shared/split screen ones and from action games to adventure or sports. Do you find the games that you like in Microsoft Store? Leave us a comment with your preferences and let’s discuss.
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