2024 continues to be a great year for Xbox players. In the coming months, we'll be getting Assassin's Creed Shadows, as well as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The latter is being worked on by the studio behind Wolfenstein: The New Colossus, and has now received a release date of December 9, 2024. If you're looking to pick up some new Xbox games now that Black Friday is live, be sure to check out our Black Friday Xbox deals page.
The best Xbox Series X games combine incredibly fun content, immersive storytelling, and unforgettable gaming experiences on the strongest hardware of any current-gen gaming console, but it's not always easy to identify which games on the platform are worth sinking your time into given just how many there are to sift through. So, to make your experience a lot easier, we've pulled together what we would consider to be the best Xbox Series X games so you'll know where to look.
Whether it's their looks, performance, or the fact that some of these games are exclusive to the Microsoft console and PC, if you own an Xbox Series X or think about snapping up one of the best Xbox Series X deals, make sure you give these games a go when you find yourself at a loose end.
We've tried to include titles that span a variety of genres in our list below in an attempt to appeal to all preferences you might have, but it's worth trying something new with the Xbox Series X - especially if you're an active Xbox Game Pass subscriber and don't have to fork out for a new title.
Best Xbox Series X games 2024
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"Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is one of the most haunting and atmospheric survival games of this generation. Small bugs and AI issues here and there mean that it is a little rough around the edges but the game’s world, atmosphere, and combat are breathtaking. Stalker 2 holds nothing back and forces you to play by its rules and is all the more refreshing because of it." - Echo Aspey, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a Stalker game through and through, though thanks to its marketing having been heavily aided by Xbox, it's likely to be a great jumping on point for many players. With this comes something of a warning, these games are hard, very hard. They're survival simulators, that task you with taking on increasingly horrifying challenges, while exploring a massive open world. If that sounds like your thing, we really can't recommend Stalker 2 enough.
The Zone, the open world area available to you in Stalker 2, is the real star of the show here. It's at times beautiful, at all times dangerous, and regularly thrilling. You'll meet other Stalkers, hunker down in rundown buildings as storms rage overhead, and scavenge for resources that'll help you keep going.
"Whether you’re familiar with Atlus’s flavor of turn-based RPGs or not, Metaphor: ReFantazio is an essential play. The developer has built on its legendary ‘press turn’ combat with the innovative Archetype system, allowing for an unprecedented amount of customization and party composition when compared to its other popular series." - Rhys Wood, TechRadar Gaming Hardware Editor.
Atlus' new original series Metaphor: ReFantazio gets off to an extremely strong start. It's an instant classic, showcasing all of the best bits from the Persona and SMT series in a dark fantasy package. Combat is stylish and complex, while the story is one of the best to come from Atlus yet. Somehow, the beloved developer has done it again, adding a new cast of characters for fans to fall in love with.
If you're a fan of the Persona series, don't let the new fantasy setting deter you. Metaphor: ReFantazio is a must-play, with great performance on Xbox consoles. The game’s soundtrack is also a highlight with renowned composer Shoji Meguro returning for the score. Here, he trades in the infectious pop beats of Persona and the grimy rock sound of earlier Shin Megami Tensei games for something more orchestral and offbeat. Well worth checking out.
"Star Wars Outlaws serves up an extremely enjoyable open-world Star Wars experience that proves the wait for such a game was worth it. While there are a few frustrations, the mix of beautiful worlds, a crime-rich underworld, compelling and tense missions with multiple routes to success, and a host of scoundrelly things to do, makes it a superbly fun experience." - Rob Dwiar, TechRadar Gaming Managing Editor.
Star Wars Outlaws finally lets players explore the criminal underworld, as they make friends and enemies with syndicates like Crimson Dawn, The Hutt Cartel and The Pykes. As Kay Vess, you'll head from Canto Bight to Tatooine, pulling off heists and stringing together a crew for the ultimate contract job. The game offers up a handful of open-worlds to explore, each with their own syndicate-controlled zones and secrets to uncover. Kay is a master with a blaster, and can use her pet Nix to distract guards and trigger explosives from afar. As you progress, you'll unlock even more skills, allowing you to gain the upper hand on even the toughest of foes.
If combat isn't your main focus, you can also just unwind in the game's many cantinas and bars, playing Sabacc against some of the best card players in the Galaxy. You can even take to the stars in your ship, exploring asteroid clusters, dangerous nebula and more.
"Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a special game with an enthralling narrative that expertly weaves its new characters and plot points with the series’ past. It’s a story that’s as thrilling and intense as it is heartwarming and - occasionally - genuinely hilarious." - Rhys Wood, TechRadar Gaming Hardware Editor.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is one of the best Xbox Series X games, and thankfully it's even on Game Pass. It shoots for the stars with a plot that expertly ties together the stories of Kiryu and Ichiban, adding in a whole lot of heart, while refining the turn-based combat of its predecessor. Being a Yakuza game, there's heaps of brilliantly written side content to enjoy, ranging from short action vignettes to oddball comedy jaunts.
While veteran fans of the series will no doubt get more out of Infinite Wealth than new players, there's plenty here for everyone to enjoy. Kiryu and Ichiban continue to be some of the best protagonists in all of gaming, and the story takes quite a few twists and turns before setting up even bigger things to come. Take a punt on this JRPG and you're in for over a hundred hours of fun, in a brand new setting for the long-running and much-adored SEGA series.
"Dragon’s Dogma 2 leverages emergent gameplay to put forward an action-adventure that’s challenging, thrilling, and constantly unpredictable. Rich in well-thought-out systems and mechanics that feed into one another seamlessly, it’s a game that sinks its claws into you and doesn’t let go." - Rhys Wood, TechRadar Gaming Hardware Editor.
Dragon's Dogma 2 is part remake, part sequel to the original game. It's a very strange game indeed, landing somewhere between Monster Hunter, Skyrim and The Witcher, with as much humor as it has action. Basically, you are the Arisen, tasked with slaying a dragon and halting the end of the world. Along the way, you'll recruit Pawns: NPCs that each has their own set of skills, personality, and fighting style. This is where the game truly shines, as you're able to recruit other players' Pawns, and vice-versa.
What follows is an epic tale that's tinged with slapstick, as the Arisen launches Pawns skyward in the hopes of landing critical blows on a wide variety of beasts. Dragon's Dogma 2 is hilariously challenging, downright unfair at times, but in the end, completely lovable. A truly unique game, one that finally shines a much-deserved spotlight on a series that's inspired so many of the modern action RPGs we play today.
"Baldur’s Gate 3 is a fine contender for one of the best video game RPGs ever made. It’s the most ambitious RPG out there, and the painstakingly accurate rendition of Dungeons & Dragons will delight fans. A must-play, even if some frustrations with D&D’s format might grate." - Jake Tucker, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
Baldur's Gate 3 won pretty much every award a game can win when it launched in 2023, cementing it as one of the best RPGs you can play on any platform. And while Xbox players had to wait a little bit longer for the game, it was well worth it.
The game has now received a slew of post-launch updates fixing up everything from performance to bug-heavy quest lines. In terms of sheer variety, Baldur's Gate 3 is unrivaled in its combat systems. That's mostly due to it being based on Dungeons and Dragons, translating the iconic pen and paper RPG to a video game format seamlessly. You can choose to approach any situation in pretty much anyway you wish, leading to some brilliant comedic moments, and plenty of replayability.
"Hellblade 2's remarkable visual and audio design, performances and acting, the intriguing narrative throughout, and a beguiling world that has one of the strongest senses of place we've experienced, which elevates the game wonderfully." - Rob Dwiar, TechRadar Gaming Managing Editor.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is a narrative-driven action game almost like no other. Developer Ninja Theory’s sequel to the 2017 game Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice delivers a harrowing, bleak, and heavy experience that will live long in the memory.
Even more than its predecessor, Hellblade 2 really pushes the boundaries of visuals in gaming. It makes use of every single ounce of the Xbox Series X's power, and manages to tell a heart -wrenching tale that fans of the first game will absolutely love. Definitely a must play for those looking to see what Xbox's most powerful console is capable of.
"Control’s inspired narrative is framed by cinematic visuals, clever environment design and a set of standout performances, the experience complemented by a deeply satisfying combat system that makes for an electrifying, unmissable narrative juggernaut that will invade your dreams and probe your psyche." - Jordan Oloman, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
Control sees you stepping into the shoes of Jessie Faden, the newest director of the clandestine Federal Bureau of Control (FBC) – a Government agency that researches, and ultimately aims to control paranormal activity. But Jessie’s new role has a few issues not exactly laid out in the job description, including the uprising of a paranormal force known only as the Hiss.
Remedy has courted multiple difficult genres with Control, delivering a mind-bending story evocative of True Detective and Twin Peaks is absolutely remarkable. The Bureau is an eerily beautiful place, and it looks and feels best when you throw things at enemies via telekinesis or use your powers to bend rooms around you. Thankfully, this game, which was originally released for the previous generation of consoles, runs like nothing else on the Series X. Players have a choice of two modes: Performance Mode, targeting 60fps with 4K output, and Graphics Mode, targeting 30fps with ray tracing, making Control not only one of the best games of the last few years but also one of the best Xbox Series X games.
With constant updates and in-game events, there's always a reason to keep coming back to Destiny 2. You really need to devote your time to your skills, and there's a huge map to explore. It's hours of entertainment, which is surprisingly generous even for the free-to-play model.
Destiny 2 is developer Bungie's ambitious free-to-play multiplayer looter shooter. It's the continuation and in many ways reinvention of the first Destiny game, now with a free-to-play base game. Destiny casts you as a Guardian, protectors of the last city on Earth against various enemy forces, using a magic-like energy called Light.
Both its worldbuilding and its use of Light set Destiny 2 apart from other shooters. Your skills have a much more interesting, magical touch to them than shooters set in the modern world, and it's fun to explore the galaxy throughout the story, now much, much better than in the first Destiny.
With each expansion, Destiny offers fantastic new settings and clever new ideas, making it worth sticking with – the latest expansion, Lightfall, takes you to a futuristic metropolis on Neptune, and there is much to see. Destiny 2 has been around since the last generation of consoles, but it comes optimized for Xbox Series X, running in 4k at 60 FPS with an optional 120Hz Crucible mode on compatible devices, as well as a customizable field of view. It's one of the best ways to experience one of the best shooters, making it a necessity for FPS fans on our list of the best Xbox Series X games.
"Elden Ring shines as an absorbing, challenging adventure that allows FromSoftware to showcase its creativity like never before. All while telling a captivating story." - Sam Greer, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
Developer FromSoftware continues its run of notoriously difficult action RPGs – or Souls-likes, as ubiquitous as the term is now – with Elden Ring. Set in the fantasy realm of The Lands Between, players hack, slash, dodge, and perfectly time their way through the realm with the hopes of becoming the Elden Lord.
While there is always a lot to uncover in a FromSoftware game, Elden Ring is the first that lets you roam the entirety of its vast world from the beginning, and it offers a way to engage and disengage from difficult encounters as you see fit. The trademark difficulty of FromSoftware's Soulslike games is still present here, but for fans of their particular brand of grimdark fantasy, there is no better game.
"Fans of racing games will get everything they want and more from Forza Horizon 5’s stunningly realistic open world. Players are treated to unlimited gameplay opportunities thanks to the intricately detailed user customization and accessibility options." - Georgina Young, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
The fifth instalment of the Xbox-exclusive racing game, now on Xbox Series X is as groundbreaking Forza Horizon 4 was for the Xbox One. It's a game introducing fun innovations to its genre, all while raising the bar visually. Forza Horizon 5 takes you to over 100 square kilometers of road, all over the beautiful Mexican landscape. This racer comes with over 500 cars, which you can drive through an open world as you please, completing different driving challenges, or compete in races and even a Battle Royale mode.
Forza Horizon 5 might just be the current gold standard for what games can look like on the Xbox Series X. It's such a beautiful mixture of high-octane racing and just unabashed celebration of a beautiful place on earth that it's an attractive game even if you have never touched a racer before. On a gameplay level, it's the sheer amount of options it gives you that makes it such a worthwhile game.
Gears Tactics offers a slightly different experience for fans of the Gears of War series, which makes it worth picking up. The Xbox Series X also helps to make the most of the game for what its worth.
Gears Tactics, as the name suggests, is a tactical turn-based shooter set in the Gears of War universe. Instead of running in guns blazing, players need to be more strategic about how they approach combat. Tactics is a great spin-off for those who love the Gears of War franchise, but want to try something a bit different, making it one of the best Xbox Series X games around.
While it's previously been released on Xbox One and PC, it also served as a launch title for the Xbox Series X, thanks to some excellent next-gen enhancements. Those playing on Xbox Series X will benefit from gameplay in 4K Ultra HD and 60fps, with enhanced textures, increased world detail, and a choice of 60 or 30 frames per second for cinematics.
Hi-Fi Rush's charming landscape and entertaining gameplay make this title a must-play for any Xbox players. The soundtrack keeps you on your toes, and makes combat feel more intense than ever as you try and land hits on beat, so much so you will want to play through this title time and time again.
With Hi-Fi Rush, Tango Gameworks released the ultimate dream game for fans of early Oughts platforming and rhythm gaming. The story is quickly told: protagonist Chai agrees to replace his broken arm with a shiny new mechanical one, but in the process, his mp3 player accidentally gets implanted in his chest. Now everything in the world moves to the rhythm of Chai's music. Everyone is also immediately out to get him, seeing as he has a malfunction that needs to be "corrected".
Chai jumps and fights his way through an incredibly vibrant world set to really good music. The combat sees him using a guitar to attack enemies, and getting the rhythm right unleashed satisfying combos accompanied by cheering and stunning visual effects. If you love 2D animation, then you'll love Hi-Fi Rush – its animation is some of the best around, and it's tonally very much like a silly cartoon, too. This Xbox exclusive is simply one of the best rhythm games you can play, and its vibrant presentation is hard to resist.
"Halo Infinite is a triumph. From its captivating story to its liberating gameplay, developer 343 Industries has created a campaign that will resonate with veteran Halo fans and inspire a new generation of players." - Adam Vjestica, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
Halo is Xbox's flagship series of futuristic first-person shooters, and Halo Infinite is no exception. As Master Chief, you make your way through the ringworld Zeta Halo, where forces of the Banished have stranded you. As you're trying to find a way off-planet, you quickly learn there's a lot more to Zeta Halo than you can see at first glance.
Since taking over the Halo franchise from its original developer Bungie, 343 Industries hasn't strayed from the formula much, but putting the game into an open world serves to refresh the formula, even though many of the tasks you get, such as freeing outposts, will be familiar if you've played any open-world game before. Master Chief's versatile new grappling hook does a lot to make combat more snappy, and the story offers some satisfying twists and turns. Halo Infinite is a great blend of old and new, keeping the spirit of the series intact while including fun new elements.
If you're played previous Hitman titles, then you'll understand why the final title is worth playing. Offering stealth like never before, the tension this game creates through its content is unmatched for other games of the same genre.
Hitman 3 is the dramatic conclusion to the acclaimed stealth series that sees Agent 47 take out targets all across the globe. The gameplay is easy to explain – you get a target, infiltrate their space, and try to off them unseen. However, in this seemingly simple concept lies an unprecedented amount of depth. While you're lying in wait, targets, as well as the people around them, continue to live their lives, often forcing you to think on the fly and make clever use of the environment to get to your goal.
The new locations, such as Dubai, China, and Argentina, are some of the most memorable of the series. Add to that more experimental objectives and a gripping story (plus native 4K at 60fps on the Xbox Series X) and Hitman 3 rightly deserves its place on our best Xbox Series X games list.
"Microsoft Flight Simulator is clearly a labor of love, with a realism and attention to detail that will make this an essential purchase for flight sim fans. Using cutting edge technology and graphics for the ultimate immersive experience, this isn’t a game that’s going to be for everyone, but if you’re its core demographic, you’re going to love it." - Matt Hanson, TechRadar reviewer.
Want to fly over Machu Picchu? Maybe take in the breathtaking view of the Northern Lights in Norway? Maybe you just want to see how your neighborhood looks from a plane? Then Microsoft Flight Simulator is probably for you as it allows you to soar the skies of the entire world - complete with real-time weather and traffic. This is a realistic flight simulator in many more aspects than the weather – you'll need to understand the different controls on a plane, displays, and behavior, which is part of the fun.
Once you're soaring above the clouds, even the most fiddly plane will the worth it, as Microsoft Flight Simulator is really a great reminder of how beautiful our planet is. Players who love deep flight simulation get with Microsoft Flight Simulator the best game of its kind, which becomes even more enjoyable with the right peripherals. Using cutting-edge technology and graphics for the ultimate immersive experience, this is one of the best Xbox Series X games.
Sea of Thieves is one of the best co-op games available, simply put. It's incredibly easy to jump into and play with friends, and there are hours of fun embedded in its high-seas exploration. With constant collaborations and events, there's an incredible amount of content at your fingertips.
Sea of Thieves is Rare's multiplayer pirating sandbox and incredible game that makes your dreams of becoming a mighty pirate come true. Whether you hunt treasure, attack other ships, or deck out your own, there is always something to do. Additionally, Sea of Thieves doesn't use an expansion pass model, meaning that after your initial purchase of the game, you get to enjoy a world that's constantly being added to and refined. We even went so far as to say Sea of Thieves is putting other live service games to shame.
On Xbox Series X, Sea of Thieves benefits from a sizable boost to its frame rate. the game now runs at silky-smooth 4K/60fps, and the improvement is tangible. Whether you’re sailing across rough waters as a storm begins to break, or battling skeletons on the shoreline in the hunt for treasure, the game feels far more responsive and enjoyable as a result. The game also now loads incredibly fast thanks to the Xbox Series X’s SSD. It’s a fantastic upgrade over the Xbox One version and one that deserves to be called one of the best Xbox Series X Games out there.
Best Xbox Series X games: FAQs
Which games are better on the Xbox Series X?
It's undeniable that some games look better on the Xbox Series X thanks to Xbox Series X optimization. If you're looking for games that run in 4K at a consistent 60fps or simply look better on Xbox than on PS5, try games like Control: Ultimate Edition, Forza Horizon 5 or Hitman 3.
Is Black Friday 2024 a good time to pick up the best Xbox games?
Now that Black Friday is running, you'll want to keep an eye out for the best Xbox games to play on Microsoft's flagship console. Many of the games on this list are available with Game Pass, so it's also worth checking for sales on the subscription service moving forward, especially after recent price hikes. Keep yourself in the loop by heading over to our Black Friday Xbox deals hub, which is updated live.
How we made our best Xbox Series X games list
The TechRadar Gaming team is gaming and tech experts. We've played hundreds and hundreds of hours across loads of Xbox Series X games, and so are fully qualified to give you some key recommendations for the console.
As a team made up of different folks with different areas of interest, expertise, and experience, we have the balance to present to you a solid best list, but one that we constantly scrutinise with each new release - but also more generally, arguing over titles that might make it into our best Xbox Series X game list, or those that are in danger of being replaced. As a result of this experience, you can trust us and our picks.
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