Xbox's library is at its strongest in big-budget open worlds, role-playing games and racing, and Microsoft's own studios anchor it with Forza Horizon, Halo and Ori. The list also leans on multiplatform heavyweights that play superbly on the hardware, along with a deep bench of indies, co-op adventures and shooters, and several entries also appear on PlayStation and PC. Placement is a judgment call between titles that are all excellent, so the write-ups below explain what each game does better than almost anyone, and where it falls short, to help decide which one is right to play next.
1. Red Dead Redemption 2#
Rockstar Games released Red Dead Redemption 2 in October 2018 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, with a PC version following a year later, and it remains one of the most acclaimed open worlds ever built. Arthur Morgan's story of a gang unraveling at the end of the Wild West is carried by writing and performances that critics ranked among the best in the medium, while the world reacts to the player through weather, wildlife, camp life and an honor system that shapes how strangers treat him. Small details, from skinning a pelt to cleaning a revolver, build a sense of place that few games match. On Xbox it is a showcase for the Xbox One X generation and plays well through backward compatibility on Series X|S. The weakness is pacing: movement and interactions are deliberately heavy, and missions can be rigidly scripted, which tests patience for players who want a faster, looser sandbox.
2. Grand Theft Auto V#
Rockstar North released Grand Theft Auto V in September 2013 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and an enhanced version reached Xbox One in November 2014, followed by later updates for current hardware. Los Santos is a satirical, sprawling take on Southern California, and switching between three protagonists makes heists play out from several angles, a structure that has rarely been copied because it is so hard to pull off. Driving, shooting and flying all feel polished, and the world is dense with things to do even years later. The Xbox versions run smoothly and GTA Online keeps a large audience active. The weakness is age and tone: the story is thinner than its scale suggests, some of its humor has aged badly, and the online mode leans heavily on paid currency.
3. Baldur's Gate 3#
Larian Studios launched Baldur's Gate 3 on PC in August 2023, followed by PlayStation 5 and then Xbox Series X|S in December 2023, and it won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2023. Built on Dungeons & Dragons rules, it lets nearly every problem be solved through combat, stealth, persuasion or improvisation, and companions with their own agendas react to those choices in ways that keep changing the story. Turn-based fights reward creative use of terrain, elevation and spells, and the reactivity of the writing set a new bar for the genre. On Xbox, split-screen co-op was available on Series X at launch but missing on the weaker Series S, a gap Larian later closed with a patch. The main caveat is length and density: the third act is more uneven than the first two, and the sheer number of systems can overwhelm newcomers.
4. Elden Ring#
FromSoftware and Bandai Namco released Elden Ring in February 2022 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation and PC, and it won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2022. Working with author George R. R. Martin on the mythology, the studio moved its punishing combat into an open world where any distant landmark can be reached, and where a hard boss can simply be left for later. Spirit ashes, mounted travel and a huge variety of builds make the difficulty more flexible than in earlier Souls games, while legacy dungeons keep the classic FromSoftware level design. On console the frame rate is uneven in some areas, so performance mode is the safer choice on Series X. The weakness is that the game explains very little, and a few late bosses lean on relentless attack chains that feel more frustrating than fair.
5. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut#
ZA/UM released Disco Elysium on PC in October 2019, and The Final Cut, adding full voice acting and new content, reached Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S in October 2021. As an amnesiac detective in the decaying city of Revachol, the player argues with the different voices of their own skills, and every dialogue check can shift the political and personal outcome of a murder case. Writing critics repeatedly ranked among the best in games makes even a simple conversation feel dense with character. It has no combat, replacing it with thought and conversation. The Final Cut is the version to pick on Xbox, since it includes voiced dialogue. The weakness is that it is very text-heavy, so players who want action or quick pacing will find it demanding.
6. Persona 5 Royal#
Atlus released Persona 5 Royal for PlayStation 4 in Japan in October 2019 and in the West in March 2020, and it reached Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC in October 2022. As a student by day and a phantom thief by night, the player juggles a school calendar, friendships and dungeon crawls in palaces built from a target's distorted desires. The stylish menus, jazz-influenced soundtrack and social links make daily routine feel like part of the fantasy, and Royal adds a third semester, new areas and refined combat. It is one of the most acclaimed Japanese role-playing games of the decade. The weakness is length, often exceeding a hundred hours, and a rigid calendar that punishes wasted days, while a few side characters have aged poorly.
7. Metaphor: ReFantazio#
Studio Zero released Metaphor: ReFantazio in October 2024, published by Atlus in Japan and Sega elsewhere, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation and PC, and it is a fantasy role-playing game from the team behind Persona. It received six nominations at The Game Awards 2024, including Game of the Year, and won Best RPG, Best Narrative and Best Art Direction, while it holds a Metascore of 94 on PlayStation 5. The journey to choose a new king in a kingdom divided by prejudice keeps the calendar and relationship structure of Persona but sets it in a bold fantasy world, with Archetype jobs that make the turn-based combat more strategic. The presentation is unmistakable, from the stained-glass menus to the choral score. The weakness is that it demands a long time, often past a hundred hours, and its politics and structure can feel familiar to Persona players.
8. Hades#
Supergiant Games released Hades in September 2020 on PC and Nintendo Switch, with Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One versions arriving in August 2021. As Zagreus, the son of Hades, the player fights out of the Underworld in a roguelike where every death advances the story, so failing never feels like wasted time. Combat is fast and readable, weapons and boons combine into wildly different builds, and the voice acting is among the best in any indie release. It won numerous awards including a BAFTA for Best Game, and critics treated it as the roguelike that finally made the format accessible to everyone. It plays well on Xbox controllers. The caveat is that the full narrative demands many runs, and players who dislike repetition may tire during the long final stretch of unlocks.
9. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt#
CD Projekt Red released The Witcher 3 in May 2015 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, and it took Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2015. Geralt's hunt for Ciri works because side quests carry the same care as the main plot: the Bloody Baron storyline is regularly cited as a peak of video game writing, with choices that hurt in ways no dialogue prompt announces. Monster contracts turn investigation, alchemy and combat into a small detective story each time. The expansions Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine are among the best DLC ever produced. A free next-generation update in December 2022 brought a native Series X|S version with improved visuals and ray tracing options. The caveat is that Geralt's movement and the inventory menus feel clumsy, and combat is less refined than in more recent action role-playing games.
10. Forza Horizon 5#
Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios released Forza Horizon 5 in November 2021 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC, with a PlayStation 5 version following later. Set in a large, varied Mexico with deserts, jungles, volcanoes and coastal roads, it offers one of the most stunning open worlds in racing, with a driving model that stays welcoming to newcomers while rewarding tuning. The Horizon Festival structure keeps races, stunts and seasonal events flowing, and on Series X it offers modes prioritizing either resolution or a smooth frame rate. Critics rated it among the best racing games ever made. The weakness is that the progression can feel like a checklist, the story is largely absent, and microtransaction-friendly car unlocks can make the endgame grind.
11. Resident Evil 4#
Capcom released the remake of Resident Evil 4 in March 2023 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC, and it reworks the 2005 original into something tenser and more mobile. Leon can now crouch, use a knife to parry attacks and move while aiming, which lets encounters in the village, castle and island play out as tactical puzzles rather than shooting galleries. Set pieces such as the village siege and the lake fight with Del Lago survive with fresh detail, and the pacing barely drops. On Series X it runs with ray tracing and a strong frame rate mode. The weakness is that Ashley's escort sections are less annoying than before but still restrictive, and the knife durability system can feel like a needless tax.
12. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33#
Sandfall Interactive, a French studio making its debut, released Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 in April 2025 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC. It won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2025 along with eight other awards. The premise, in which a mysterious Paintress erases everyone of a certain age each year, drives a melancholic expedition through a Belle Époque-inspired world. Turn-based combat is enlivened by real-time dodging, parrying and counterattacks, which keeps every fight active. Score and art direction earned particular praise. The caveat is that timing-based defense can frustrate players who prefer classic menu-driven combat, and the world offers less freedom than its large regions suggest.
13. Celeste#
Maddy Makes Games released Celeste in January 2018 for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and it won Best Independent Game and Games for Impact at The Game Awards 2018. Madeline's climb up a mountain doubles as a story about anxiety and self-acceptance, and the precision platforming is built around a tiny toolkit of jump, dash and climb that the game keeps recombining. Screens are short, checkpoints are frequent and retries are instant, so even brutal sections feel fair. Assist Mode lets players adjust speed, stamina and invincibility without judgment, a model for accessibility. It runs perfectly on Xbox One and Series X|S through backward compatibility. The weakness is that the optional B-Sides and the late chapters are brutally demanding, so a few players will stall even with assists.
14. Divinity: Original Sin II - Definitive Edition#
Larian Studios released the Definitive Edition of Divinity: Original Sin II in August 2018 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, and it is the game that set the stage for Baldur's Gate 3. The turn-based combat rewards experimentation with the elements, so an oil slick, a spark and a teleportation spell can decide a fight, and the role-playing lets any of its origin characters shape the story. Critics scored it in the 90s across platforms, and it won many role-playing game of the year awards. The Definitive Edition is the version that launched on consoles. Cooperative play supports up to four players. The weakness is that the opening area is slow, the third act still lags behind the rest, and its dense magic and skill systems can be daunting.
15. Forza Horizon 4#
Playground Games released Forza Horizon 4 in October 2018 for Xbox One and PC, and it is playable on Series X|S through backward compatibility. Its move to a shifting British countryside, with seasons that change every week, transformed how the festival structure felt, because the same road can be a dry summer route one week and a snowy winter test the next. A large car list, rewarding handling and the Horizon Life housing system gave it a huge fan following, and critics gave it very high scores. It is a great pick for those who want a smaller open world than Forza Horizon 5. The caveat is that it was removed from digital stores in late 2024, so it is only available to those who already own it or buy a physical copy.
16. Split Fiction#
Hazelight Studios released Split Fiction in March 2025 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC, and it holds a Metacritic score of 91 on PlayStation 5, above the 88 of It Takes Two. Two writers, one of science fiction and one of fantasy, are trapped inside their own stories, and the co-op design flips between genres from level to level, from cyberpunk chases to dragon flights and mechanical set pieces. It is an evolution of the formula of It Takes Two, with even more imaginative levels and tighter co-op puzzles. Like its predecessor it requires two players, and a free Friend's Pass lets one person invite another. There is no Xbox One version. The weakness is that the storytelling is broad and the mood shifts abruptly, and both players must be committed to finishing it together.
17. Hollow Knight: Silksong#
Team Cherry released Hollow Knight: Silksong on 4 September 2025 for Xbox and other platforms. Playing as Hornet, a swift needle-wielding hunter, the player climbs through the kingdom of Pharloom, a vast, vertical metroidvania with new movement tools, crest builds and a far more aggressive style of combat than the original. Critics praised the atmosphere, the precise platforming and the boss fights, and OpenCritic reported an average of 91, making it one of the highest-rated releases of 2025. The hand-drawn art and the music keep the melancholy of the first game. The weakness is difficulty: some bosses and long run-backs to reach them are punishing, and the pacing tests players who want a gentler adventure.
18. Resident Evil 2#
Capcom released the remake of Resident Evil 2 in January 2019 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, and it rebuilt the 1998 classic with an over-the-shoulder camera and a level of detail that made it a modern horror benchmark. Playing as Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield, the player explores the Raccoon City Police Department, an intricate puzzle box of locked doors, resource tension and the relentless Mr. X, whose footsteps announce that he is coming. The two campaigns and the alternate scenarios encourage a second visit, and the sound design is superb. It runs well on Xbox One and Series X|S. The weakness is that the second run repeats large parts of the first, and the short length compared with modern open-world games may feel modest.
19. Inside#
Playdead released Inside in June 2016, first as a timed exclusive on Xbox One, and it won both Best Independent Game and Best Art Direction at The Game Awards 2016. The follow-up to Limbo is a wordless side-scrolling puzzle-platformer in which a small boy is hunted through a bleak, mechanized world, and it tells its story entirely through animation, sound and environment, with an ending that has been debated for years. The puzzles are elegant and the pacing is tight, so it rarely outstays its welcome. It plays well on Series X|S through backward compatibility. The weakness is that it is short and its silence and ambiguity mean that the story leaves readers to draw their own conclusions.
20. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice#
FromSoftware and Activision released Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice in March 2019 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, and it took Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2019. Trading the stamina and build system of Souls games for a posture-based sword duel, it makes every fight a rhythm of deflecting attacks until the enemy breaks, and the wolf's prosthetic tools add stealth and verticality that earlier FromSoftware games lacked. Bosses like Genichiro and Isshin are cited among the studio's best, and Sengoku-era Japan gives the world a distinctive look. It plays fine on Xbox One and Series X|S through backward compatibility. The weakness is that it has no character builds, so failure has to be solved with skill alone, which is a steep wall for anyone who prefers to level their way around a problem.
21. Ori and the Will of the Wisps#
Moon Studios and Xbox Game Studios released Ori and the Will of the Wisps in March 2020 for Xbox One and PC, and it runs smoothly on Series X|S. The sequel to Ori and the Blind Forest keeps the hand-painted world and swelling score, but adds a flexible set of abilities, equippable Shards and far more varied combat, which gives the metroidvania structure more depth. Its escape sequences and boss encounters are set pieces of movement, and the emotional story of Ori and the owlet Ku lands without much dialogue. The weakness is that the plot is simple and familiar, and launch-era frame rate issues on Xbox One needed a day-one patch.
22. Mass Effect 2 (Legendary Edition)#
BioWare's Mass Effect trilogy was rebuilt as the Mass Effect Legendary Edition in May 2021 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, and it holds a Metacritic score around 90 on Xbox. Mass Effect 2, originally released in 2010, is the centerpiece, in which Commander Shepard assembles a crew for a suicide mission, and the loyalty missions make each companion feel like a full story. The remastering improved the textures, lighting and shooting, and brought all three games together with all their DLC, including the Citadel expansion. It is a benchmark for character-driven space opera. The weakness is that the first game still shows its age despite the updates, the loyalty-driven structure of the second game is more episodic than the trilogy's overall arc, and the third game's ending remains controversial.
23. Monster Hunter: World#
Capcom released Monster Hunter: World in January 2018 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, with a PC version following in August, and it holds a Metacritic score of 90 on Xbox One. It took the cooperative hunting series from niche to mainstream by connecting its seamless ecosystems to a smoother interface and by making it easier to play with friends. Each hunt is a study of a monster's behavior, and the payoff is the craft of weapons and armor from its parts, a loop that gives the game its long-term hook. The Iceborne expansion followed in 2019. It is playable on Series X|S and is well suited for four-player co-op. The weakness is that the menus and systems are opaque, the story is thin, and fighting the same monsters repeatedly for a specific drop can grind.
24. Street Fighter 6#
Capcom released Street Fighter 6 in June 2023 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation and PC, and it is a modern high point for the fighting game genre. Its Drive system, which allows parries, rushes and overdrive moves, opens a wide range of tactical choices while modern controls let beginners play with simple inputs. Metacritic reported 92 on PlayStation 5, 92 on PC and 90 on Xbox Series X|S, and the game was widely counted among the best-reviewed releases of 2023. World Tour mode turns the fighting game into a role-playing adventure, and the Battle Hub gives online play a social setting. The weakness is that World Tour is uneven and clumsy compared with the fighting itself, and the growing cost of characters and cosmetics adds up over time.
25. NieR: Automata#
Platinum Games and Square Enix released NieR: Automata in February 2017 for PlayStation 4 and PC, and it reached Xbox One in June 2018 as the Become as Gods Edition, which holds a Metacritic score of 90. Androids 2B, 9S and A2 fight machine lifeforms in a ruined Earth, and the game blends Platinum's fluid action combat with bullet hell, side-scrolling and hacking segments. Director Yoko Taro's story requires multiple playthroughs, and the layers of meaning it reveals, along with Keiichi Okabe's music, are why many call it a modern classic. It plays well through backward compatibility on Series X|S. The weakness is that the open world is sparse, many side quests are fetch tasks, and the first playthrough is deliberately incomplete, which requires a commitment.
26. Balatro#
LocalThunk released Balatro in February 2024, and it reached Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC as a game for people who might not usually play card games. Built on poker hands, it lets the player combine jokers that change the scoring rules, and the joy comes from constructing absurd, ever-escalating combinations that push a small score into the millions. It won Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie Game and Best Mobile Game at The Game Awards 2024, and was nominated for Game of the Year. It is a short-session, one-more-run game that fits a controller well and is easy to pick up. The weakness is that the runs can become repetitive once the strongest strategies are discovered, and the gambling-like imagery, though it involves no real money, is not for everyone.
27. Forza Horizon 6#
Playground Games launched Forza Horizon 6 on 19 May 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and PC. It moves the series to Japan, with a map spanning Tokyo, mountain roads and countryside, and a garage of roughly 550 cars. Metacritic scores of around 90 placed it among the year's highest-rated releases at launch, and critics praised the scenery, the variety and the refinement of the driving. It is the obvious first-party showcase for anyone with a Series X. It sits just below Forza Horizon 5 only because it is far newer and has not yet faced the long-term critical reassessment that older favorites have. There is no Xbox One version. The weakness is that it refines a familiar festival, collectible and upgrade loop rather than reinventing it.
28. Alan Wake II#
Remedy Entertainment released Alan Wake II in October 2023 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC, and it earned the Best Game Direction award at The Game Awards 2023. Alternating between FBI agent Saga Anderson and the trapped writer Alan Wake, it turns survival horror into a layered mystery where the two stories change each other, including a memorable musical sequence. Sound design and lighting create dread that outperforms most jump scares, and case-board deduction gives investigation a physical form. It is a current-generation-only release, so there is no Xbox One version. The weakness is that it moves slowly and cryptically, ammunition and inventory management can feel restrictive, and the puzzle logic sometimes asks the player to make leaps the game hasn't explained.
29. Dark Souls III#
FromSoftware and Bandai Namco released Dark Souls III in 2016 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, and it closed the trilogy with the most polished and fast-paced combat the series had offered to that point. Its ruined kingdom of Lothric mixes the intricate interconnected level design of the original with the faster combat of Bloodborne, and the bosses, from the Nameless King to the Soul of Cinder, are among the best in the series. Two expansions, Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City, are widely regarded as strong additions. It plays fine on Xbox One and Series X|S through backward compatibility. The weakness is that the level design is more linear than earlier entries, and the game leans heavily on callbacks to the first game, which some players found derivative.
30. Stardew Valley#
ConcernedApe, the solo developer Eric Barone, released Stardew Valley in February 2016 on PC, and it reached Xbox One later that year. Inheriting a run-down farm from a grandfather, the player plants crops, raises animals, mines, fishes and builds relationships with the townspeople over seasons, so that a relaxing day turns into a long-term project. Critics praised the depth and charm of what began as one person's tribute to Harvest Moon, and it has been supported with free updates for years, including cooperative multiplayer. It is one of the most comforting games available on Xbox and pairs well with a controller. The weakness is that the early game is slow and the systems can feel like a to-do list, and the story is gentle rather than dramatic.
31. It Takes Two#
Hazelight Studios and EA released It Takes Two in March 2021 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation and PC, and it won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2021. It is a co-op-only adventure in which two bickering parents, shrunk into dolls, must work together to repair their marriage, and every level reinvents the controls with a new mechanic, from time manipulation to a giant snow globe. The invention rarely repeats itself, and the online Friend's Pass lets a second player join for free. It holds a Metacritic score of 88 on PlayStation 5. The weakness is the story, which is sentimental and predictable, and the humor, which some players will find grating, while the game cannot be played alone at all.
32. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II#
Warhorse Studios released Kingdom Come: Deliverance II in February 2025 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC, and it earned a Metacritic score of 88 on Xbox Series X|S. Set in 15th-century Bohemia, it is a role-playing game about being a real person in a real place, with no magic, a sword combat system built on directional attacks and a huge reactive countryside. Critics praised the writing, the quests and the sense of a living world, and Warhorse improved on the first game's polish. Henry can be a fighter, a thief or a talker, and every choice has social consequences. It is a natural pick for those who like Skyrim but want realism. The weakness is that it starts slowly and asks the player to learn a demanding set of systems.
33. Cuphead#
Studio MDHR released Cuphead in September 2017 for Xbox One and PC, and it won Best Independent Game and Best Art Direction at The Game Awards 2017. Hand-drawn in the style of 1930s cartoons, every frame looks like a lost animation, and the jazz soundtrack matches it note for note. It is mostly a boss-rush run-and-gun in which each fight has several phases and demands memorization, and critics praised its precision and fairness even as they warned about the difficulty. A local co-op mode is available, and the Delicious Last Course expansion added a new island. It runs well on Series X|S. The weakness is that the challenge is unforgiving, the shop and overworld are minimal, and the run-and-gun levels are a smaller part of the game than the bosses.
34. Ori and the Blind Forest#
Moon Studios and Microsoft Studios released Ori and the Blind Forest in March 2015 for Xbox One and PC, and a Definitive Edition followed in 2016 with new areas and abilities. The story of a small spirit trying to restore a dying forest is told with hand-painted art, a beautiful orchestral score and an emotional prologue. The platforming is tight, with an escape sequence that has become famous, and the abilities Ori gains open the world in a way that feels earned. It plays perfectly on Series X|S through backward compatibility. It is shorter and simpler than its sequel and a good starting point. The weakness is that the original save system, Soul Link, could be frustrating, and the combat is less varied than in Will of the Wisps.
35. Doom Eternal#
id Software and Bethesda released Doom Eternal in March 2020 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, with versions for current consoles following, and it now sits under Microsoft through its Bethesda acquisition. The Doom Slayer becomes an acrobatic resource manager here: chainsaws provide ammo, glory kills provide health and flamethrowers provide armor, which pushes the player to keep moving and switch weapons constantly. Arena design and the Marauder encounter elevate the fights, and Mick Gordon's heavy metal score suits the pace. It plays superbly with a controller on Xbox and offers high frame rates on Series X. The weakness is that the platforming and the resource juggling can interrupt the flow, and the lore-heavy plot is easy to ignore.
36. Halo Infinite#
343 Industries released Halo Infinite in December 2021 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC, with free-to-play multiplayer available at launch. The campaign brings the Master Chief to the ring of Zeta Halo, where the grappleshot opens up vertical traversal and a semi-open world of bases, outposts and sandbox encounters, echoing the series' best combat. Multiplayer returns to classic arena shooting, with balanced weapons and vehicles, which many fans consider the most authentic Halo feel in years. It runs at high frame rates on Series X. The weakness is repetition in the open-world outposts, a campaign with less variety than earlier games, and a cosmetic monetization model that drew criticism.
37. Hollow Knight#
Team Cherry released Hollow Knight in February 2017 on PC, with an Xbox One version following later, and it is one of the most beloved and widely praised indie metroidvanias ever made. The player guides a small silent knight through the ruined insect kingdom of Hallownest, with a huge, interconnected map, precise nail combat and a large cast of memorable bosses and characters. The hand-drawn art and Christopher Larkin's score create a mood of quiet melancholy, and the game hides much of its story in the environment, which makes exploration feel like archaeology. Its price and the sheer amount of content made it one of the great bargains in gaming. The weakness is that the map is confusing without purchased aids, some late bosses and the Path of Pain are punishing, and getting lost is part of the design.
38. Titanfall 2#
Respawn Entertainment released Titanfall 2 in October 2016 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, and it holds a Metacritic score in the high 80s. It paired a superb first-person campaign, built on a bond between the pilot Jack Cooper and his Titan BT-7274, with fast, acrobatic multiplayer that combines wall-running, grappling and giant mechs. The campaign's inventive levels, including the time-shifting Effect and Cause, are among the most creative in any shooter and it is often called a classic that was overlooked at launch. It plays smoothly on Xbox One and Series X|S. The weakness is that the campaign is short, at around five or six hours, the multiplayer is less active than it once was, and a third game never appeared.
39. Hi-Fi Rush#
Tango Gameworks released Hi-Fi Rush in January 2023 as a surprise launch for Xbox Series X|S and PC, and it reached PlayStation 5 in 2024. Everything moves to the beat, from attacks and dodges to environmental hazards, so combat becomes a form of rhythm game where timing produces a satisfying flow. Its cel-shaded look, licensed music and the charming rock-star protagonist Chai earned it strong reviews and a devoted following, and the surprise launch made it one of the year's happiest debuts. The studio's closure by Microsoft in 2024 and its later acquisition by Krafton became part of its story. The weakness is that the humor is polarizing, levels are fairly linear, and enemy variety runs thin in later chapters.
40. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle#
MachineGames and Bethesda released Indiana Jones and the Great Circle in December 2024 for Xbox Series X|S and PC, with a PlayStation 5 version following in 2025, and it holds a Metacritic score of 86. Set between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, it gives the player first-person exploration, stealth, puzzle-solving and brawling in an adventure that looks and sounds like a lost film, with Troy Baker voicing and performing Indy. The globe-trotting locations are rich in secrets and traps. It runs with ray tracing on Series X. There is no Xbox One version. The weakness is that the stealth can feel stiff, combat is basic and the hub levels stretch the pacing.
41. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor#
Respawn Entertainment released Star Wars Jedi: Survivor in April 2023 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC, and it earned a Metacritic score of 86 on Xbox Series X|S. Continuing Cal Kestis's story after Fallen Order, it offers a broader action-adventure, with five lightsaber stances that change how each fight plays and a set of open hubs full of secrets on Coruscant and Koboh. The combat is fast and satisfying, and the cinematic tone is true to Star Wars. It launched on current-generation consoles only, with last-generation versions following in September 2024. The weakness is technical: the launch version had performance issues, particularly on PC, and while it has been improved through patches, the game can still feel bloated with collectibles and backtracking.
42. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus#
MachineGames and Bethesda released Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus in October 2017 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, and it is a bold, darkly funny alternate history in which the Nazis have won World War II and B.J. Blazkowicz fights back in an America under their control. Critics praised the campaign for its mix of visceral gunplay, well-acted cutscenes and a willingness to be absurd, a tone that few shooters attempt. The dual-wielding weapons and the exaggerated set pieces give it a distinctive edge. It runs well on Xbox One X and Series X|S through backward compatibility. The weakness is that the difficulty spikes in places, the stealth sections are optional but rough, and the political and satirical tone will not appeal to everyone.
43. Cyberpunk 2077#
CD Projekt Red released Cyberpunk 2077 in December 2020 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, and its launch on the base Xbox One was so troubled that Microsoft added a warning on its store page and CD Projekt apologized. The story of the game has since been one of recovery: the 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty expansion in 2023 overhauled the systems, and Phantom Liberty scored 89 on Metacritic on Xbox Series X|S, while the game won Best Ongoing Game at The Game Awards 2023. Night City is a dense, vertical and believable city, the writing and performances, above all Keanu Reeves and Idris Elba, are strong, and there are many ways to build a character. Play it on Series X|S. The weakness is that the base Xbox One version remains rough, and the open world is less reactive than its looks suggest.
44. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition#
Bethesda released Skyrim Special Edition in October 2016 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, and it remains one of the great sandbox role-playing games, having first launched in 2011. Its snowy province is a place where it is easy to lose a whole evening, from dragon shouts to guild questlines, and the Special Edition brought improved visuals plus something new for consoles: support for mods on consoles. It has been re-released repeatedly since, including as an Anniversary Edition, and it plays well on Series X|S. It is a fine pick for those who like exploring on their own terms. The weakness is age: combat is simple, the dialogue is stiff and bugs, long a hallmark of the game, still show up, though mods can patch many of them.
45. Doom#
id Software released Doom in May 2016 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, and it revived the series with a fast, aggressive style that critics greeted as a return to the shooters of the 1990s. Rather than hiding behind cover, the Doom Slayer rips and tears through demons using glory kills that restore health, and Mick Gordon's industrial metal score makes every arena feel like a heavy metal concert. The campaign's levels are packed with secrets and upgrades that reward exploration. It is a great choice for anyone who wants a straightforward, pure shooter. The weakness is that some boss fights are simple, the multiplayer never found much traction, and Doom Eternal builds on it with a richer combat system.
46. Outer Wilds#
Mobius Digital and publisher Annapurna Interactive released Outer Wilds in May 2019 for Xbox One and PC, and it won Best Game at the 2020 BAFTA Games Awards, along with awards for game design and original property. The player is an astronaut trapped in a 22-minute time loop in a tiny, hand-built solar system, and the only progression is knowledge: what the player learns is what unlocks the next mystery. Exploration, physics and storytelling are woven so tightly that the discovery moments are among the most memorable in the medium, and the Echoes of the Eye expansion adds a chilling extra chapter. It works well on Xbox controllers. The weakness is that its freedom can be disorienting, the ship controls are fiddly, and the reliance on a clock and repeated travel will not suit everyone.
47. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice#
Ninja Theory released Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice in August 2017 for PC and PlayStation 4, with an Xbox One version following in April 2018 and later Xbox Series X|S support, and Microsoft owns its developer Ninja Theory. The game follows a Pict warrior through Norse-influenced hell as she lives with psychosis, and its binaural audio, in which voices whisper from all sides, makes headphone play an essential part of the experience. Puzzles built on perception and a lean combat system serve the story rather than compete with it. Developed with input from mental health professionals and people with lived experience, it was praised for a serious, empathetic portrayal. The weakness is that it is short, and the combat becomes repetitive before the ending arrives.
48. Gears 5#
The Coalition released Gears 5 in September 2019 for Xbox One and PC, with an optimized version for Series X|S. The campaign follows Kait Diaz as she uncovers her family's connection to the Locust and the Swarm, and it introduces semi-open hub areas that give the series more breathing room than its earlier linear corridors. The cover-based combat is meaty, with the Jack robot companion and improved chainsaw finishers, and the Escape mode and versus multiplayer add depth. Critics received it warmly as a confident evolution of the series. The weakness is that the story runs through familiar sci-fi territory, the hubs can feel empty compared with the main missions, and the character arcs land unevenly.
49. Control#
Remedy Entertainment released Control in August 2019 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, and it won Best Art Direction at The Game Awards 2019. As Jesse Faden, the player enters the shifting brutalist headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Control and fights with the Service Weapon and telekinetic powers, so that throwing concrete and objects at enemies feels satisfyingly physical. The environments, which reshape themselves around the player, and the weird, Twin Peaks-influenced story stand out, and the game also has a native Xbox Series X|S version. It is set in the same universe as Alan Wake, and its lore rewards attention. The weakness is that the side missions repeat, the map is hard to read, and the difficulty can spike in boss encounters.
50. Sea of Thieves#
Rare released Sea of Thieves in March 2018 for Xbox One and PC, and it reached PlayStation 5 in April 2024. It is a shared-world pirate adventure in which a crew sails a ship, hunts treasure, fights skeletons and other players, and runs into the unexpected, from kraken attacks to storms. The launch reviews were mixed because content was thin, but years of free updates have added quests, story campaigns and events that changed critical opinion, and it has become a showcase of the modern live-service Xbox game. The sea and weather, and the way shipmates share a boat, are the game's great strengths. It plays best with friends on Series X|S. The weakness is that it is at its best only with a crew, the progression can be grindy, and the moment-to-moment loop is repetitive when played alone.
The games above span more than a decade of Xbox history, from the Xbox One era to the current Series X|S generation, and they show how much of the platform's strength comes from breadth: Microsoft's own racing and adventure series alongside role-playing games, shooters and indie standouts from every corner of the industry. What unites them is that critics kept placing them near the top of their year, rather than any one type of game.
If a single title is needed to start, Baldur's Gate 3 and Elden Ring are the safest picks for role-playing fans, Forza Horizon 5 or Forza Horizon 6 for anyone who wants to show off what a Series X can do, and Hades, Celeste or Outer Wilds for a shorter, more focused experience. Two players looking for something to share should start with It Takes Two or Split Fiction.