Best Xbox Series X games to experience on Microsoft's flagship console

The thing that unites all the best Xbox Series X games is that they show off current-gen gaming at its absolute finest. Whether you're looking for awesome Xbox exclusives, the best games on Xbox Game Pass, or some fantastic offerings from third-party developers, this list is packed with great experiences no matter what you're feeling like.

The Series X is Microsoft's best console yet, and thanks to recent studio acquisitions, it's also the home to the litany of upcoming Bethesda games currently in development. It'll be a while until we see the next Fallout, but with so many brilliant games to play on your Xbox Series X in the meantime, look no further for excellent ideas to occupy your time. Maybe you're in the mood for a sprawling action-RPG with razor-sharp combat to boot, or a mysterious narrative adventure, or some of the hottest and best FPS games out there. Whatever your genre preference, we've got you sorted.

This list of the best Xbox Series X games has been formed after hours of playtesting, and is regularly updated to reflect the ever-changing library of available games. 2024 has been peppered with greats, and you'll no doubt find a fair few of them below mixed in with the tried-and-tested titans of the console over its short lifespan so far. So no matter what sort of video game you're looking to play, you can trust that our pick of the 25 best Xbox Series X titles will save the day.

The ultimate and best Xbox Series X games are...

25. No Man's Sky

No Man's Sky has successfully completed its redemption arc and now continues to reach for new heights. Which is kind of wild when you think about it, given that Hello Games first set out to procedurally-generate an entire explorable universe. Whether you are venturing out into the stars alone or working alongside your friends to establish homesteads on planets, No Man's Sky is one of the best sci-fi games out there right now – a dazzling experience that works best when you let your imagination and intuition guide you forward. Thanks to years of revisions and additions, there really is something for everybody in No Man's Sky: a compelling narrative for the story fiends, deep crafting and building systems for the enterprising player, and plenty of customisation options to keep you coming back for more. Sea of Thieves may own the oceans, but No Man's Sky owns the stars above them. 

24. Ghostwire: Tokyo

There's more to Tunic than meets the eye. On the surface, it looks like a cutesy adventure which stars an adorable fox. And while the fox is indeed adorable and the visual design is entirely cute, the underlying framework of Tunic is pretty unforgiving. It takes the style of 2D The Legend of Zelda games and mixes it with the combat fundamentals of the Dark Souls series, making for a challenging game that you'll delight in bashing your head against. With a weird world that you'll fall in love with and challenging encounters that'll test your reactions, Tunic is a must-play.

23. It Takes Two

It Takes Two is one of the most innovative puzzle games on Xbox Series X. In fact, it's also one of the best co-op games, with developer Hazelight specifically engineering this exploration of fracturing relationships to be played by two players sitting on the same couch. Whether you decide to play it online or locally, It Takes Two is a powerful adventure which takes great pleasure in bending genre expectations – constantly switching up its control schemes and gameplay mechanics to ensure that this is one experience which will always keep you guessing. 

22. Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Assassin's Creed Valhalla launched alongside the Xbox Series X on November 10, and it's a clear day one purchase for any of you that are after a sprawling open-world adventure to show off the capability of the new generation of consoles. Running at 4K and a stable 60 frames per second, Assassin's Creed Valhalla looks quite unlike any other game in the series that has come before it. Not only does it look stunning and feel incredibly smooth, but it also boasts wickedly quick load times that help to ensure that your journey across England's Dark Ages in the 9th Century is frictionless. Assassin's Creed is back and better than ever.

21. Gears 5

Available as a standalone purchase and through Xbox Game Pass, Gears 5 is the game you'll want to stick on once it's safe to have friends over to your house. Gears 5 launched in 2019 and The Coalition has spent much of the last year optimizing its action game for Xbox Series X, working to deliver stunning native 4K graphics and 60 frames per second performance for the game's campaign. If you've never played a Gears of War game, Gears 5 is a great place to start and undoubtedly one of the best entries into the series yet. Should your 4K TV support it, there are also 120hz performance modes for multiplayer for a faster, more responsive experience. Don't sleep on Gears 5. 

20. Marvel's Midnight Suns

It should come as no surprise to learn that Marvel's Midnight Suns is one of the best strategy games on Xbox Series X. It does, after all, come from developer Firaxis Games – the custodians of the XCOM and Sid Meier's Civilization. This turn-based tactics game puts you in command of The Hunter, a customizable hero who is completely new to Marvel, charged with bringing some of the Earth's mightiest (and downright coolest) heroes together to fight back a powerful supernatural threat. You'll do this through frenetic turn-based combat encounters which feel like a smart expansion of the foundations outlined in XCOM, the concept expanded through an inventive deck-building system. It's a great time, and even offers the opportunity to chill out with your favorite heroes back at a home base, with new powersets unlocking as your friendship bonds with other characters grows organically throughout the adventure. 

19. Hi-Fi Rush

Hi-Fi Rush launched as a complete surprise at an Xbox live-stream event, and has immediately leapt into the list of best Xbox Series X games. It was a surprise in so many ways, particularly as this colorful, cel-shaded, rhythm action title is coming from the same game studio that brought us The Evil Within and Ghostwire: Toyko. Horror this is not. Instead, it's a toe-tapping action game where you let loose attacks and build up combos by moving to the beat. It's mad fun, with an epic soundtrack, creative boss fights, and amusing music-inspired finishing moves. It's a genuine triumph from Tango Softworks. 

18. Cocoon

From part of the team that brought you Inside and Limbo comes Cocoon. It's a puzzle game from new developer Geometric Interactive that gives us a magic blend of gorgeous landscapes and brain-melding puzzles. It's a beautifully strange game that consistently has the power to surprise you. Definitely not one to be missed.

17. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is the Star Wars game you've always dreamed of playing. Part of the reason this sprawling sequel to Jedi: Fallen Order works as well as it does is because developer Respawn Entertainment doesn't fall into the trap of trying to reign the player in. The action picks up five years after Fallen Order, with Cal Kestis established as a powerful and capable Jedi Knight on the run from the Empire. To support this, Jedi: Survivor amps up every element of the adventure – exploration unfurls over wider planets, set-pieces are wild in scope, the combat is more challenging, and puzzles more deeply involved. What's stunning is that Respawn didn't lose sight of the story it is trying to tell, delivering a heartfelt and human adventure that feels like a meaningful addition to the wider canon. Jedi: Survivor is the best Star Wars game you can play right now. 

16. Grounded

Grounded has really established itself as one of the best Xbox Series X games over the course of its couple of years in Early Access. In September 2022, the title launched in full, rounding out its story and adding even more content. This isn't the end for the Obsidian title though, with more content planned to continue the game's success in the future. It's a brilliant survival game, where you play as kids trying to exist in the wilderness that is the back garden, Honey I Shrunk The Kids-style. So think blades of grass as huge forests, sandpits for deserts, and really, really big bugs.

15. Immortality

You've probably never played anything quite like Immortality. Directed by Sam Barlow, the creator behind subversive interactive film games like Her Story and Telling Lies, Immortality is an experimental narrative adventure where you pick through three decades of archive film footage to try and uncover what happened to actor Marissa Marcel. It's a heady mystery, with some legendary twists which are impossible to anticipate. Immortality makes smart use of the form, has a thought-provoking narrative throughline, and features some truly stunning set and costume design. Do yourself a favor and give Immortality a try – just try and resist the urge to go to Google if you get stuck to avoid ruining the surprises. 

14. Resident Evil 4 Remake

Capcom had success with its remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 3, but how could the publisher possibly reimagine the fourth installment of the mainline series – one of the best Resident Evil games, if not the most influential action game of the last 20 years. With apparent ease, is the answer. Resident Evil 4 Remake takes everything that made the original so special – its imaginative design, claustrophobic combat, and absurd characters – before infusing it all with modern production values. Resident Evil 4 Remake is one of the best looking games on Xbox Series X, it plays wonderfully, and is just a thrilling adventure from start-to-finish. 

13. Pentiment

Pentiment is unlike any of the other games on our best Xbox Series X games list and all the better for it. It's essentially a triple murder investigation, but one that takes place over the course of 25 years in the 16th Century. You'll immerse yourself in town, which looks like an ancient comic book, and learn all about its inhabitants as you try to solve the mystery of what's happened. It's all about the dialogue, both in what they say and how it's presented, with different fonts used amazingly well to demarcate dialect, education, and other elements. There's a lot to dive into, and love the course of its three acts you'll discover Pentiment is one of the best mystery games around right now. Whodunnit? Well, that's all down to you to find out.

12. Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite is the best shape the series has been in for quite some time, with a confident campaign that celebrates the series' legacy. In it you'll be exploring a new ringed world, accompanied by a new AI with a familiar face and voice, with Master Chief trying to save the world again. Of course, the campaign is just one part of it though, with the multiplayer launching as a free-to-play entity. There's a Battle Pass to purchase, as you'd expect from a FTP game, but it's got plenty to enjoy in one great package.

11. Cyberpunk 2077

CD Projekt Red's neon-soaked RPG has come on quite the journey in the last three years, and now it's at a place where it thoroughly deserves a spot in the top 10 best Xbox Series X games. Through multiple patches and then the major Update 2.0 overhaul along with the Phantom Liberty DLC, the game is an absolute stunner that runs just as beautifully. There's never been a better time to head down to Night City.

10. Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2

You won't find a better looking video game on Xbox Series X than Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2. Developer Ninja Theory has delivered a system showcase unlike any other, a powerhouse Unreal Engine 5 adventure that delivers best-in-class visual and auditory design. But impressive fidelity isn't the only reason Hellblade 2 is worth your time; tracking Senua on a journey into the wilds of Iceland, she's forced to confront marauding slavers through slick, dynamic combat encounters, and grapple with her inner demons every step of the way – her psychosis has a very physical presence in the world, and the result is an astounding, intimate exploration of mental wellbeing. Hellblade 2 is a heavy experience that won't be for everybody, but those who are willing to take the dive will find something quite singular and special waiting for them. 

9. Alan Wake 2

Alan Wake 2 is a spiraling descent into darkness. An ambitious, overwhelming mystery that slowly unfurls across two interweaving realities. Saga Anderson is our guide through the light, a gifted FBI profiler who is sent into Bright Falls to investigate a slew of ritualistic murders. And in the dark we find Alan Wake, the troubled author attempting to write his way out of a nightmare of his own design. I guarantee that you haven't played anything quite like Alan Wake 2, a daring mixture of survival horror ethos, inventive implementation of filmed footage, and stunning visual fidelity. In many ways, Alan Wake 2 is the perfect distillation of a Remedy Games experience – it's weird, singular, cinematic, and frequently awe inspiring. This sequel is undoubtedly one of the best Xbox Series X games so far, and one of the best horror games of the generation.

8. Diablo 4

Blizzard's definitely still got it, because Diablo 4 is a triumph that will absorb all your free time if you let it. It's open world is huge and diverse, its soundtrack excellent, and UX hyper-refined. It's also got slick 60fps performance and improvements to combat that make everything just feel so much more satisfying. 

7. Starfield

Bethesda Game Studios has dropped its first new IP in 15 years and it's a triumph. Starfield is a vast space RPG that really is more than just a cosmic Skyrim. Join Constellation and discover the mysteries hidden across the galaxy, make your very own spaceship, find friends and foes, and maybe even take up pirating. There's plenty to do in Starfield and it's only getting bigger.

6. Deathloop

Deathloop may have started life as a timed PS5 exclusive, but Arkane Studios' time-loop shooter is undoubtedly one of the best Xbox Series X games available today. Steered through development by the team behind the critically acclaimed Dishonored and Dishonored 2, Deathloop sees you gearing up to assassinate eight Visionaries in a single day – complete this tricky task and you'll break the loop; fail and the entire cycle resets. Deathloop is a slick shooter with a distinct style and personality, making it one of the most unique games available on the platform. Better still, you can also find it in the Xbox Game Pass library.  

5. Sea of Thieves

Sea of Thieves has quietly become one of the leading console exclusives for Xbox. Rare's pirate simulator is the ultimate expression of Xbox Live, letting you and your buddies (or randoms, should you have the patience for all manner of shenanigans) explore some truly gorgeous oceans and locales in search of fame and fortune. Sea of Thieves has been optimized for Xbox Series X, now running at 4K and 60 frames per second, and it remains a real delight. Despite releasing in 2017, the game continues to be updated and iterated upon, making it a flagship title of sorts for Xbox Series X – available, of course, as both a standalone purchase or through Xbox Game Pass. 

4. Psychonauts 2

Psychonauts 2 is the long-awaited sequel to the 2005 cult-hit, and it is easily one of the best Xbox Series X games to date. Available on Game Pass, and also on PC, this Double Fine original is an absolute delight of a platformer, full of inventive ideas and wonderfully weird ideas. Don't worry if you've not played the original either, as it offers up a handy recap before the game begins that'll get you up to speed. Trust me, if you love quirky stories and platforming games with inventive worlds, you're going to love this one.

3. Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 is a true showcase of the power of the Xbox Series X, and an absolute must for console owners. Playground Games delivers stunning graphics that show off the diverse landscapes of Mexico and the vast library of cars in impressively realistic detail. With biggest open-world yet, the latest entry in the Forza series gives you so many reasons to get behind the driver's seat time and again, with a wealth of different races, challenges, new social features, and updated modes. With impeccable audio design, smooth, responsive controls, and a beautiful world to speed your way through, Forza Horizon 5 sets a new benchmark for racing games of this generation.

2. Elden Ring

FromSoftware has done it again. The studio responsible for titans like Dark Souls and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has delivered perhaps its finest game to date in Elden Ring, the open world fantasy adventure which challenges players to conquer The Lands Between. One of the reasons Elden Ring works as well as it does is because it offers you choice – if you get stuck on a boss battle, there's a whole world out there for you to explore, and plenty of customization options for your character to help refine your build. With its beautiful visual design and seemingly-endless replayability, there's no question that Elden Ring is one of the best Xbox Series X games that you can play right now. 

1. Baldur's Gate 3

Finally, finally Baldur's Gate 3 is out on Xbox Series X and soars straight into our top 5 best Xbox Series X games of all time. Larian's RPG is a masterpiece of storytelling, worldbuilding, and game design, delivering the closest thing to an IRL D&D session than I think we'll ever get. It's a triumph from start to finish.