Highlights

• Xbox Series X|S boasts a growing library of games, including indies and triple-A titles available on Xbox Game Pass.
• Gears 5, Tales of Arise, and Resident Evil Village are some of the exceptional games available on the console.
• The Xbox Series X|S offers a diverse range of gaming experiences from action-RPGs to survival horror titles.

The Xbox Series X|S launched in November of 2020, and since then has seen a growing library of games available on the console - both from indies and triple-A studios, many of which are available on Xbox Game Pass.

If you're looking for the next great game to delve into, or if you've just grabbed an Xbox Series console and want some good picks to get started with, these are the best games you can play on the Xbox Series X|S.

Updated April 27, 2024, by Ben Jessey: The Xbox Series X|S has many brilliant games. We included most of the best ones on this list. Now, we've returned to it to add a few more deserving titles.

The Quarry

Supermassive Games' Until Dawn never made it onto Xbox consoles, but its spiritual successor, The Quarry, has. In her review of the game, Jade King calls it "an excellent survival horror experience with a strong cast of characters and a startling horror narrative." It revolves around a group of camp counselors whose departure from said camp is put on hold for an extra day due to car issues. So, they stay for one last night, but while doing so, they realize there is something horrific happening at the camp.

Like Until Dawn, it's a narrative adventure-style title where gameplay involves interacting with things, passing quick-time events, and making decisions. Those decisions impact who lives and dies, so make your choices carefully.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition

The Witcher 3 was initially released long before the Xbox Series X|S was revealed to the world. Yet, CD Projekt RED was nice enough to release a complete edition for the new generation of consoles. This version comes with updated visuals and two amazing expansions: Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine.

They're great, but the main selling point is the outstanding base game adventure that sees the famous Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, go on a mission to find his adoptive daughter, Ciri. It's an epic tale that's complemented well by a bunch of excellent side quests featuring their own exciting stories. Throughout it all, you use a mix of Witcher spells and sword-fighting techniques to battle the many guards and monsters you encounter in this fantasy RPG world.

Gears 5

All of the main Gears games are great in their own right. So, it's no surprise that Gears 5 happens to be an excellent title, too. It doesn't completely change the series, as it includes the familiar third-person shooting mechanics. Yet, as always, the cover system and gunplay feel very responsive and satisfying.

Also, the story is compelling in this one. For once, it isn't about a member of the Fenix clan. It's more about Kait Diaz and her family, which is a nice change of pace, especially as it turns into a pretty fascinating tale.

Tales Of Arise

Tales of Arise is an action-packed JRPG that tells a captivating story about two worlds, Dahna and Rena. Before the game, Rena took over Dahna and forced the people of the planet to be their slaves. You follow the adventures of a runaway slave and a young woman from Rena who has a vendetta against her own world. Together, they attempt to stop the oppression of the people of Dahna.

The two leads and many of the other characters are really interesting. The combat and exploration are equally impressive. Battles are wild, exciting, and, most of all, fun. And despite not being an open-world game, there are a lot of fascinating and beautiful places to see.

Resident Evil Village

In their review of Resident Evil Village, Jade King says the game "craft[s] an experience that feels both refreshing and nostalgic in equal measure." This is because Village attempts to blend the old, scary Resident Evil titles with the more action-packed later instalments. The result is both unnerving and exciting.

The horror game puts you in the shoes of Ethan Winters, who also served as the protagonist in the previous game. In this title, he attempts to retrieve his kidnapped daughter, which means facing off against all sorts of weird and dangerous creatures. Thankfully, in most sequences, you have an array of weapons to help you out.

Tunic

Tunic is one of the most adorable Xbox Series X|S games. The title's sweet art style makes both the protagonist and the environment look lovely. Yet, this can also trick you into thinking you're heading into a casual, laid-back experience. In reality, this is a very challenging action-adventure game, primarily because you aren't guided in any way.

There are no tutorials or objective markers. You have to figure it out on your own. The only help you get is from the manual pages you can find in the game. This helps make Tunic a unique experience and brings back memories of when games didn't hold your hand as much. Plus, it feels all the more rewarding when you solve a puzzle or defeat a dangerous enemy with your sword and items. In their review, Khee Hoon Chan says, "there's no denying the irresistible charm of Tunic."

Tekken 8

At the end of their review of Tekken 8, George Foster says, "Tekken is back, and it's just as strong as it's ever been." That's a bold claim, considering how critically acclaimed the series has been throughout its entire history. Yet, there is a lot to love about this Tekken game.

The developers have made a few changes to the fighting mechanics to make it as fast-paced and fluid as ever. Plus, the story mode tells a truly compelling tale. And the cherry on top is that the game contains several features that make it easier for newcomers to get acclimatized to the series.

Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition

The base Devil May Cry 5 pre-dates the Xbox Series X|S, but it was later released on newer systems as a special edition. This version doesn't present a huge change from the original, except you get an additional playable character in Vergil and upgraded visuals. Thankfully, though, it's just as exciting and fun to play as it was in 2019.

The game is incredibly action-packed as you fight all sorts of creatures in fast-paced battles, where you're encouraged to kill your opponents in ruthless and flashy ways. It's all very satisfying, and the combat has plenty of variety as you play as different characters, who each feel distant to control. The story is equally wild and entertaining, making this one of the best action games in recent memory.

Dead Space

Sometimes, you may hear about a game getting a remake and think that it doesn't need one, as the original holds up very well. For some people, that was the case for the original Dead Space until this exceptional remake came out.

At its core, it's still Dead Space, but it looks, sounds, and plays much better. Plus, the story of Issac Clarke exploring a spooky abandoned ship filled with monsters is all the more engaging now that the character actually speaks. As a result, Jade King, in her review, calls it the "definitive version of Isaac Clarke's first chapter."

Street Fighter 6

Street Fighter has been one of the most famous fighting game series since the arcade days. Street Fighter 6 is among the best in the said series. It offers smooth and satisfying fighting mechanics and is a treat for the eyes with its beautiful visuals. The game also provides plenty of content, including a deep RPG-like mode set in the Street Fighter world.

That may sound like an odd inclusion in a fighting game, but it works quite well. And it's optional, as you can ignore it entirely and still experience a full-fledged fighting game. In fact, in their review, George Foster says, "As a fighting game, Street Fighter 6 is pretty much flawless."

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a sequel to 2019's Fallen Order, and like its predecessor, it's a classic Soulslike game. This means you use dodges and parries to protect yourself from being quickly wiped out by your adversaries.

The game isn't as punishing as a Dark Souls title, however, due in part to all the fancy Force powers you have at your disposal. Whether you are using the force or your lightsaber skills, the combat is engaging. The reason why you have both those options is because you're playing as a Jedi. He is named Cal Kestis, and alongside his allies, he is searching for a place safe from the Galactic Empire. In their review, Stacey Henley calls it "an intimate, well-crafted story."

A Plague Tale: Requiem

A Plague Tale: Requiem is set in 14th century France, during the 100 Years War and the time of the Black Plague. So, throughout the game, you must deal with Inquisition soldiers and infected rats. While the rats go after anyone, the soldiers target you because your little brother is a unique individual with unusual blood.

You control his older sister, who usually can't contend with these soldiers in regular fights. Therefore, you must use stealth and strategy to get by for much of the game. As for circumventing the rats, you usually have to complete clever puzzles to forge a path through them. This makes for a unique action-adventure experience that boasts brilliant visuals and a captivating story, making it a worthy follow-up to its predecessor, A Plague Tale: Innocence. In their review, Issy van der Velde says the game "weaves narrative drama and exploration with tense combat sections."

Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Assassin's Creed Valhalla is set during the Viking age, and you play as a Viking named Eivor. Early in the game, they decide to set off on a new adventure in England. So, they travel across the ocean and set up a settlement. Your job is to build it up and make alliances with nearby regions. The story is a strong one, even if it is a bit long.

What's better, though, is the combat and climbing mechanics. They're both smooth and satisfying. The environment is excellent, too, as it's vast, detailed, and filled with things to do. As a result, it's a great exploration game.

Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy

After the questionable Marvel's Avengers game, it was hard to get excited for the next Square Enix-published Marvel game. Yet, Guardians of the Galaxy happens to be a wonderful action-adventure title. Much of this is down to the brilliant story and characters. The narrative revolves around a threat called 'The Promise,' which is a danger to the galaxy. So, to live up to their name, the titular characters must be on hand to guard it.

In classic Guardians fashion, though, they don't let impending doom stop them from making plenty of great jokes, as the game is filled with humor. Yet, the protagonists aren't just silly all the time, as some of the game's best quotes are deeply powerful ones. So, the title boasts some really good writing in both the comical and serious moments. The unique combat where you fight and instruct your team at the same time is good, too.

Lost Judgment

The Judgment spin-off series has managed to step out of the main Yakuza series’ large shadow and become its own thing. Lost Judgment is great proof of that since it doesn’t focus too much on Yakuza clans. Instead, it’s a lot more about high school students and faculty. This may sound a bit tame for the Yakuza series, but that’s not the case, as the compelling main story touches on plenty of serious topics, from bullying to suicide. Plus, the whole narrative revolves around a murder investigation.

Meg Pelliccio, in her review, calls it an "intricately woven plot" with an "interesting cast of characters." One of those characters is Takayuki Yagami who is an easy-to-like protagonist that is tasked with solving the murder case. Equally easy to like is the abundance of exciting side content in the game and the fast-paced beat 'em-up combat.

Life Is Strange: True Colors

Like the previous Life Is Strange games, True Colors is a narrative adventure title. This time, you play as a young woman named Alex Chen who reunites with her brother after years away. They meet up in the small town of Haven. As this is Life is Strange, what starts as a wholesome premise quickly goes downhill. Without going into spoilers, some messed up stuff starts happening.

Thankfully, Alex has a unique power where she can see and manipulate people's emotions. So, perhaps she can use this ability to get to the bottom of what’s going on. It’s an emotional and gripping game all the way through. Reviewer Jade King says the title "truly is something special."

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

There has been a surprising amount of Star Wars Lego games. So, you’d be forgiven for not being interested in the Skywalker Saga. But if you’re a Star Wars and Lego fan, then you should be interested.

After all, this is easily the most complete Lego Star Wars game ever. It covers all the main nine Star Wars movies and contains an unbelievable amount of characters. As reviewer James Troughton puts it, the "Skywalker Saga goes above and beyond to bring Star Wars’ galaxy to life." Plus, it's also better as a game since combat is much improved. It boasts satisfying cover shooting and decent lightsaber combat.

Marvel's Midnight Suns

Marvel's Midnight Suns is a unique game, in general, never mind a unique superhero game. After all, it's an action RPG with turn-based combat and deck-building mechanics, with a few social simulation elements thrown in. In their review, Eric Switzer says it "pursues a vision - one made of seemingly disparate parts and strange ideas - and succeeds at practically every turn."

The missions and turn-based combat are very enjoyable, as is hanging around with the likes of Spider-Man. The Web-Slinger is just one of many heroes on the roster, as you get a full team of Marvel characters led by your customizable protagonist, The Hunter. You come together to stop your character's evil mother, who is a danger to the world.

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 had one of the worst launches in recent memory, as it came out with a litany of bugs and barely functioned. Pretty much all of that has been fixed, though. The Xbox Series X|S version is now an incredible action RPG with smooth combat and a beautiful open world.

The story is compelling, too. It revolves around a customizable merc called V, who is attempting to make their name in the futuristic Night City. In an effort to acquire money and notoriety, they participate in a heist that changes their life forever. It's a fascinating main tale, but you shouldn't overlook the slew of excellent side quests, too, as they're equally interesting.

Elden Ring

FromSoftware made some of the best games of the previous console generation. So, of course, the company also put its stamp on the Xbox Series X|S era with Elden Ring. In her review, Jade King claims it "combines Dark Souls’ natural sense of discovery with the foreboding atmosphere of Bloodborne..."

This is seen in its intriguing open world that's called The Lands Between. The place is filled with different places to go and things to see. And while exploring, you're likely to run into a whole host of enemies, from standard foes to serious bosses. As this is a FromSoftware game, these battles are very difficult. Much of the fun comes from overcoming these adversaries using strategy and perseverance.