Best Xbox Series X Games

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With the release of the Xbox Series X, comes a plethora of games to choose from. However, many gamers haven’t had a chance to brief themselves on what games the Xbox Series X currently has available to play. Therefore, below we have curated a comprehensive list of the best Xbox Series X games you can play now. These are also the best games for the Xbox Series S, which is the cheaper version of the two consoles.

The list is meant to be a resource for those looking for the top Xbox Series X and Series S games. Therefore, it will be updated frequently as more games are released for the latest gen Xbox consoles.

Best Xbox Series X Games

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla

Release date: November 10, 2020 | Developer: Ubisoft Montreal | ESRB Age Rating: Mature 17+

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a 2020 action role-playing video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is the twelfth major installment in the Assassin’s Creed series and the successor to 2018’s Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.

The game was released on November 10, 2020, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Stadia, whilst the PlayStation 5 version was released on November 12. It received generally positive reviews, with praise for the narrative, characters, voice acting, visuals, soundtrack, world design, and the interconnectivity of activities, while being criticized for its length, technical issues.

Halo Infinite

Release date: November 15th, 2021 | Developer: 343 Industries | ESRB Age Rating: Teen

The pride and joy of Microsoft is here at last. After six years of wait, Halo Infinite serves as a spiritual reboot of the renowned 20 years old, military science fiction series that evolved into fps gaming. After Halo 5’s abysmal experience, Halo Infinite has come infused with more than just next-generation console graphics— 343 Industries has brought in appealing new aspects while keeping the fan-loved nostalgic features alive as well. 

For the first time in the Halo trilogy, players will be able to transition from a linear experience to a more open-world dynamic. The Zeta Halo ring can now be freely explored and fought in. The combat of the game brings back the versatility of iconic weapons that felt lost after Halo 3 alongside a brand new grappling feature that helps close in on targets and assists in retreating when your shields need recharging. The main storyline follows the trail of Halo 5 where Master Chief has been chosen once again as humanity’s champion to retaliate against the Banished. 

Watch Dogs: Legion

Release date: November 10, 2020 | Developer: Ubisoft Toronto | ESRB Age Rating: Mature 17+

Watch Dogs: Legion is a 2020 action-adventure game developed by Ubisoft Toronto and published by Ubisoft. It is the third installment in the Watch Dogs series and the sequel to 2016’s Watch Dogs 2. Set within a fictionalized representation of a futuristic, dystopian London, the game’s story follows the hacker syndicate DedSec as they seek to clear their names after being framed for a series of terrorist bombings.

Legion was released on 29 October 2020 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Stadia, and as a launch title in November for the Xbox Series X/S, the PlayStation 5, and Amazon Luna. Upon release, the game received mixed to positive reviews. Critics were polarized over the multiple playable characters aspect, with some appreciating its diversity and the inclusion of permadeath for allowing emotional attachment from players, while others criticized the characters’ lack of personality and the imbalance between their abilities.

Far Cry 6

Release date: October 6th, 2021 | Developer: Ubisoft Milan, Ubisoft Toronto | ESRB Age Rating: Mature 17+

Far Cry 6 rejuvenates the classic tropical feel of the series. Get ready for a chaotic and heart-pumping storyline as you step into the shoes of Dani Rojas, a freedom fighter who has banded with other guerrilla fighters to overthrow the notorious dictator, Anton Castillo: played by the famous actor, Giancarlo Esposito. Anton’s ruthless regime in the Island of Yara is driving the name of justice into the mud and it is up to the combined effort of guerrilla factions to deliver vengeance to the oppressors. 

Far cry 6 gives you the option of choosing your protagonist’s gender; therefore, Dani can be played as a man and a woman. Indeed, the latest addition to the Far Cry series doesn’t bring a lot of new stuff to the table but it does make the existing material a lot more riveting. From the combat system to the surreal open-world experience, to the ambushing of enemy territories, and upgrading of gadgets/weapons in the home bases that now also feature the third-person camera angle— Far Cry 6 comes with a great promise.

Resident Evil Village

Release date: May 7, 2021 | Developer: Capcom | ESRB Age Rating: Mature 17+

Resident Evil Village is a 2021 first-person survival horror game developed and published by Capcom. It is the sequel to Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017). Players control Ethan Winters, who is searching for his kidnapped daughter after a fateful encounter with Chris Redfield and finds himself in a village filled with mutant creatures.

The game was announced at the PlayStation 5 reveal event in June 2020 and was released on May 7, 2021, for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Stadia. Resident Evil Village received generally favorable reviews, being praised for its gameplay, setting, and variety, although it received criticism for its puzzles, and boss fights.

Gears 5 (Exclusive)

Release date: November 10, 2020 | Developer: Xbox Game Studios | ESRB Age Rating: Mature 17+

Gears 5 is a 2019 third-person shooter video game developed by The Coalition and published by Xbox Game Studios for Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. It is the sixth installment of the Gears of War series and the sequel to Gears of War 4. The ultimate edition was released on September 6, 2019, while the standard edition of the game was released worldwide on September 10, 2019, to generally favorable reviews.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Release date: May 14th, 2021 | Developer: BioWare, BioWare Corporation | ESRB Age Rating: Mature 17+

With the legendary edition, the mass effect veterans as well as new players who are yet oblivious to the extraordinary intergalactic dynamic of the Mass Effect trilogy can now enjoy its remastered version. The Legendary Edition comes packed with all three parts and DLCs of Mass Effect. 

The Legendary Edition preserves everything we love and cherish about the Mass Effect series— Dive into the immersive storytelling as Captain Shepard and make daring choices, either paragon or renegade, that greatly impact the events of the game. BioWare has remarkably tweaked the lighting and combat system of the game alongside textures. To most players, the effort feels passive as the new lighting and models of some characters diminish the original experience and at the same time, certain nooks of this remaster in particular cutscenes seem untouched. Nevertheless, the Legendary Edition maintains the glory of Mass Effect alongside many positive enhancements. 

Hitman 3

Release date: January 20, 2021 | Developer: IO Interactive A/S | ESRB Age Rating: Mature 17+

Hitman 3 is a 2021 stealth game developed and published by IO Interactive for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Stadia (under the title Hitman: World of Assassination), and Nintendo Switch on 20 January 2021. It is the eighth main installment in the Hitman series and the final entry in the World of Assassination trilogy, following Hitman (2016) and Hitman 2 (2018). The single-player story concludes the plot arc started in Hitman and follows genetically-engineered assassin Agent 47 and his allies as they hunt down the leaders of Providence, the secretive organization controlling the world’s affairs.

The Medium

Release date: January 28th, 2021 | Developer: Blooper Team | ESRB Age Rating: Mature 17+

The Medium is a captivating psychological horror game that offers an enigmatic plot, centered around a woman called Marianne. The protagonist is in a state of grieve when she receives a mystery caller, urging her to come to the Niwa Resort because he knows what she is. Feeling compelled by the vague message, Marianne undertakes the journey to unravel personal questions and inevitably falls into deeper dilemmas.

The Medium’s enthralling visuals and attention-grabbing sound effects, combined with its unique selling point— the dual-reality gameplay where players can control the earthly and the spirit world simultaneously delivers a gameplay style seen never before. The incessant feeling of being stalked and haunted is bone-chilling due to the ever-creeping presence of Maw, a malevolent entity that serves as the antagonist of The Medium. 

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Release date: November 10, 2020 | Developer: SEGA | ESRB Age Rating: Mature 17+

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a role-playing video game developed and published by Sega. It is the eighth main release in the Yakuza series and was released in Japan and Asia for PlayStation 4 on January 16, 2020. It had a worldwide release on November 10, 2020, for Microsoft Windows (Japan, East, and Southeast Asia excluded, without an official reason given by Sega), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S; the latter being released with the game as a launch title. Like a Dragon received positive reviews from both players and critics who enjoyed the narrative, characters, and gameplay.

Doom Eternal

Release date: March 20, 2020 | Developer: Bethesda Softworks | ESRB Age Rating: Mature 17+

This is a sequel to the 2016 Doom and the fifth game in the Doom series.  The first release was for Windows, Playstation 4, and Xbox One on March 20, 2020. It was further released for other consoles in December 2020 and June 2021. The story precedes the events of the 2016 Doom. Doomguy is on a mission to stop Hell’s disruption of Earth and also foil Maykr’s plans to make humans extinct.

The game has a multiplayer mode along with a single-player mode, it is titled “Battle Mode”. Players have the choice to play as the Doom Slayer or as a demon and fight until one defeats the other. In the Horde mode, players can join other players’ single-player campaigns.

Forza Horizon 5

Release date: November 9th, 2021 | Developer: Playground Games | ESRB Age Rating: Everyone

Forza Horizon series has been the epitome of what next-gen racing games should look like. The latest addition to the series, Forza Horizon 5 is here to do what its predecessor could not. Along with that, it captures all of Forza’s signature traits that are loved and admired by the fanbase: thrilling open-world experience, brand-new Forza Festival, engaging online events, and meticulous detailing of cars.

Make sure to have a new set of wheels ready because Playground Games is now taking us to Mexico! Your driving skills will be put to test on exotic landscapes: volcanoes, farmlands, sandstorms, snow-covered routes, and whatnot. Underneath photorealistic skies, you will experience engrossing online and offline races. To top it all off, Forza 5 introduces the Event Lab— become innovative and create your tracks! Forza Horizon has never been this advanced. 

Destiny 2

Release date: August 28th, 2017 | Developer: Bungie Inc | ESRB Age Rating: Teen

Bungie Incorporation brings the highly anticipated second part of Destiny packed with engrossing new content and signature features that make Destiny what it is. To start, the new campaign comes with a cohesive storyline that immediately gets you immersed— the credit goes to the lore and amazing design of the antagonist, Dominus Ghaul, who attacks the Last City and captures The Speaker. 

Destiny 2 is not just about the rich lore but the combat as well. Though similar to Destiny 1, the visual effects witnessed in an ongoing firefight feel more enticing. Moreover, the range of things to do in the game is a lot. You got public events, Player vs player modes, Vanguard missions, the Leviathan Raid, and the list goes on! Destiny 2 does everything better and more efficiently. 

Death’s Door

Release date: July 20th 2021 | Developer: Acid Nerve | ESRB Age Rating: Everyone

Death’s Door manifests every intriguing aspect of a dungeon delving game alongside its eye-catching world designs that come off as both melancholic and delightful. Death’s Door charm lies in its ability to successfully implement an equilibrium of fun combat mechanics, meticulously designed bosses with interesting attack patterns, mind-boggling puzzles, and as mentioned, creatively designed regions for you to explore freely. 

But moving on from what makes Death’s Door so welcoming (irony am I right?), one can certainly not skip the plot of the game. To complement the game’s enigmatic vibe, Acid Nerve has done a terrific job in backing it up with an immersive storyline to go with the overall isometric action-adventure gameplay. Your character is a reaper crow whose an official member of the Reaping Commission Headquarters. The main objective is to collect three giant souls to open the “Death’s Door.” As intricating it might sound, the smooth story progression makes it all easier to fathom. The developers did not exaggerate and simply kept the game innovative, aesthetic, engrossing, and thrilling. The positive ratings speak for themselves.

Elden Ring

Release date: February 25th 2022 | Developer: FromSoftware Inc. | ESRB Age Rating: Mature

“You died reading this review.” Elden Ring is the next big open challenge for all the hardcore dungeon crawler lovers out there, such as Dark Souls, Demon Souls, and Bloodborne. Your patience, skill, intellect, and intuition will be tested beyond the walls of familiarity as you, a tarnished individual, embrace the role of a chosen champion and venture into the depths of an unknown land to acquire the Elden Ring. Having taken the gaming community by a storm, FromSoftware’s latest work of genius brings attention-grabbing new features. The most prominent of which is the open-world experience. Elden Ring breaks free from the shackles of your everyday dungeon crawler and welcomes you to explore freely. Thereby, giving it a larger role-playing game exposure.

The game brings a whole new collection of intimidating bosses that would trap you in an endless loop of life and death. But they aren’t the only unmovable adversaries in your path. Elden Ring’s vast range of different enemies is no less than deadly. Each region of the map brings with it its foes that are distinct in their unique designs, choice of weapons, movement, and unpredictability. And they have their own set levels irrespective of yours. Enlightening yourself in the art of combat will be no less than the labors of Hercules as Elden Ring ruthlessly teaches you to master critical timing in order to perform guard counters, last-second evades, and so on. Heading impetuously into a boss fight will always result in death. Rated ten out of ten by IGN, Elden Ring’s effortless success is now known to all.

Sea of Thieves

Release date: November 10, 2020 | Developer: Rare | ESRB Age Rating: Teen 13+

Sea of Thieves is an action-adventure game created by Rare and released by Microsoft Studios. Players explore an open world from a pirate ship. A group of players will have encounters with each other, either to form alliances or battle. The player stands as a pirate who undergoes voyages to become the ultimate pirate legend.

Microsoft Studios released the game in March 2018 for Windows and Xbox One; it was also one of the earliest first-party games released for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. The game received generally mixed reviews upon release, with critics praising the game’s ship combat, multiplayer gameplay, visuals, and game physics. Criticisms were directed at the game’s lack of content, progression, and shallow gameplay.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Release date: November 10, 2020 | Developer: Moon Studios | ESRB Age Rating: Everyone 6+

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is an adventure video game developed by Moon Studios and published by Xbox Game Studios for Microsoft Windows and Xbox One. It was announced during E3 2017, the title is a direct sequel to 2015’s Ori and the Blind Forest, and was released on March 11, 2020, for Xbox One and Microsoft Windows. A Nintendo Switch version was released on September 17, 2020. The game received an optimized version for the Xbox Series X/S on November 10, 2020.

Upon release, the game received critical acclaim, with players and critics praising the game’s visuals, combat, elements of exploration, environments, chase sequences, and soundtrack. However, criticism was aimed at technical issues such as frame rate issues and visual bugs, which were largely resolved with a day-one patch.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Release date: August 18, 2020 | Developer: Sublogic, Bruce Artwick Organization, Aces Game Studio, Dovetail Games, Asobo Studio | ESRB Age Rating: Everyone 6+

Microsoft Flight Simulator is an amateur flight simulator developed by Asobo Studio and published by Xbox Game Studios. It is an entry in the Microsoft Flight Simulator series which began in 1982 and was preceded by Microsoft Flight Simulator X in 2006. The game is a return to the series after a 14-year absence, with development beginning six years before its release. It was released on August 18, 2020, for Microsoft Windows, with a virtual reality (VR) version released in December of the same year—the first in the series to see a VR release.

The game was released to critical acclaim, with praise for its graphical fidelity, and cited by critics as the “safest way to travel” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several reviewers also placed it on their favorites’ lists and called it the most aesthetically pleasing game of 2020, though there was criticism of its loading times and inaccuracies in the rendering of some buildings. It won Best Sim/Strategy Game at The Game Awards 2020.

Psychonauts 2    

Release date: August 25, 2021 | Developer: Double Fine | ESRB Age Rating: Teens 13+

Psychonauts 2 is a platform game developed by Double Fine and published by Xbox Game Studios. The game was announced at The Game Awards 2015 ceremony and released on August 25, 2021, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

The original Psychonauts, released in 2005, was met with critical praise, but failed to sell well and was considered a commercial failure for several years after its first release. Double Fine and game director Tim Schafer had expressed the desire to create a sequel to Psychonauts, but the financial demand for developing the game stalled any serious attempt for several years.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Release date: November 17, 2020 | Developer: 343 Industries | ESRB Age Rating: Mature 17+

Halo: The Master Chief Collection is a compilation of first-person shooter video games in the Halo series, originally released in November 2014 for the Xbox One, and later on Microsoft Windows through 2019 and 2020. An enhanced version was released for the Xbox Series X|S in November 2020.

Critics generally praised The Master Chief Collection for its updated audio and visuals, as well as its quantity of content, but criticized its multiplayer aspects due to a significant number of bugs and poor matchmaking experiences.

Final Thoughts

There you have it, these are the best Xbox Series X games. Kudos to Microsoft for arguably one-upping Sony at every turn so far. Their showcases have not failed to meet expectations so far. Not to mention, the release of the Xbox Series S came completely out of left field, surprising many gamers with a relatively affordable next-gen offering, albeit coming at the expense of less powerful hardware.

Will this be the generation when Microsoft finally outpaced Sony? Only time will tell. But, as you can see from the list above, the Xbox Series X and Series S have numerous gaming titles that many are looking forward to playing.

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