Best Xbox games: The top games for Xbox Series X|S

From Elden Ring to Street Fighter 6, here's our list of the best Xbox games everyone should play on their Xbox Series X|S.

Tom West

Published 09 Dec 2023

Whether you're a seasoned Xbox veteran or have just purchased your first console, here's a selection of titles that we believe are the best Xbox games all players should check out. Unlike our list of the best Xbox exclusives, this list contains some of the fantastic games offered by third-party developers — with a few exclusives mixed in, of course! So, let's take a look at some of the best games you can find on Xbox and the Xbox Game Pass libraries.

10. It Takes Two

Release date: March 26 2021
Developer: Hazelight Studios
On Game Pass? Xbox Game Pass Ultimate via EA Play

Kicking off the list is It Takes Two, a co-op-only puzzle platformer that is sure to test the even the most solid of relationships. You play as Cody and May, two humans who are turned into dolls via a magic spell and must fix their broken relationship if they're to escape the world of fantasy they're trapped in.

Filled with light-hearted humor, a beautifully detailed world, and intricate puzzles, It Takes Two is definitely a game worthy of your attention. You only need to purchase the game once to invite a friend to play with you via the Friend Pass too, which is a great idea for a game that requires a second player.

9. Street Fighter 6

Release date: June 2 2023
Developer: Capcom Entertainment
On Game Pass? No

Capcom's latest entry into the famed Street Fighter series was a critical hit when it launched, with many players loving its new World Tour game mode, which sees you exploring Metro City to complete quests and fight enemies — it's like Yakuza meets Street Fighter. It's a fresh experience for the franchise and gives Street Fighter 6 the extra content its predecessor sorely lacked at launch. Of course, the intense arcade fighting returns in this installment as well, packed with 18 fan-favorite characters. If you're looking to add a fighting game to your library, you can't go wrong here.

8. Hades

Release date: August 13 2021
Developer: Supergiant Games
On Game Pass? No

Hades is a rogue-lite hack 'n slash game that puts you in the shoes of Zagreus, the immortal Prince of the Underworld, who wields mythical weapons of Olympus. Your mission? To break free from your father's grip by defeating the denizens of the underworld using boons from the Olympians, smashing your way through procedurally-generated levels, and powering up each time you die... only to return a little stronger than before. Hades is a fantastic example of the addicting gameplay loops offered by the genre, and with a sequel in development, now is a great time to jump in and try your hand at outwitting the god of the dead!

7. Cocoon

Release date: September 29 2023
Developer: Geometric Interactive
On Game Pass? Yes

Developed by Jeppe Carlsen, the lead gameplay designer of the fantastic Limbo and Inside games, Cocoon is yet another brilliant puzzler that everyone should try at some point. You need to uncover a cosmic mystery by traveling through orb worlds filled with puzzle adventure mechanics, leaping between worlds to manipulate reality and combine them into the solutions required to progress. Cocoon is filled with beautiful environments featuring alien megastructures and massive caverns, offering an exceptional sci-fi adventure. Don't sleep on this awesome game.

6. Forza Horizon 5

Release date: November 9 2021
Developer: Playground Games
On Game Pass? Yes

Our first Xbox exclusive game on this list, Playground Games' Forza Horizon 5 is a masterclass in open-world arcade racing. With hundreds of vehicles to add to your virtual garage, you can take to the road, sand, and mud of the beautiful Mexican landscape to explore, race, or socialize with other players — or soak it all up on your own. With the addition of awesome expansions like Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure, the world of Forza Horizon 5 is chock-full of content to enjoy, making this one of the best racing games you can play. Whether clearing the map, racing in a variety of events, or joining some of the manic multiplayer mini-games, there should be something for everyone in this superb racer.

5. Resident Evil 4

resident evil 4 mercenaries release date

Release date: March 24 2023
Developer: Capcom Entertainment
On Game Pass? No

Capcom returns to this list with the phenomenal Resident Evil 4, which is the latest in a line of incredible remakes for its older Resident Evil games. While this is a remake that is sure to hit fans with nostalgia, it also reimagines the story and gameplay enough to stand as its own game — once again proving just how good Capcom has become at injecting new life into older titles. Playing as Leon Kennedy six years after the outbreak in Racoon City, you're sent to rescue the president's kidnapped daughter from a secluded village in Europe. As is customary with the franchise, something is wrong with the locals, and you're thrust into a battle for survival as you scramble through the horrors waiting for you. If your library is light on horror games, Resident Evil 4 is a solid game for veterans and newcomers alike.

4. Starfield

starfield player surveys every possible planet

Release date: September 6 2023
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
On Game Pass? Yes

Bethesda Game Studios' first new IP in 25 years, Starfield is an interstellar adventure that should be experienced by everyone with an Xbox Series X|S or PC. It's an RPG featuring over 1,000 planets to explore as you attempt to uncover the mystery behind alien artifacts with a group of explorers called Constellation. Starfield is very much a Bethesda game to its core, so expect a massive open environment to explore, a myriad of ways to customize your character, secrets to uncover, and more — plus, you can design every aspect of your spaceship! This isn't going to be a game for everyone, and it does have its slower moments, but it's a must-try.

3. Alan Wake 2

Release date: October 27 2023
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
On Game Pass? No

After the town of Bright Falls succumbs to a host of ritualistic murders, FBI agent Saga Anderson is sent to investigate, but she soon finds herself whipped into a nightmarish story connected to the lost writer Alan Wake. In this incredible horror game, you play as both characters, who, although linked, are trapped in two separate realities as they attempt to uncover the mystery in Bright Falls. While the first Alan Wake didn't quite get the worldwide recognition Remedy would have liked on Xbox 360, Alan Wake 2 not only proves that the series belongs in the horror genre but sets itself as a game that should be played by anyone and everyone.

2. Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 stability and performance

Release date: December 10 2020
Developer: CD Projekt Red
On Game Pass? No

Bricked Xboxes, bugs, reports of extreme crunch — Cyberpunk 2077 is the definition of the phrase 'zero to hero.' After metaphorically crashing and burning when it was released in 2020, CD Projekt has worked tirelessly to earn the trust of players with Cyberpunk 2077... and it's succeeded in almost every way. After waves of huge updates and the launch of the fantastic Phantom Liberty DLC, Cyberpunk 2077 is now one of the best RPGs on Xbox. Its huge open world, immersive storytelling, snappy gunplay, and deep character customization, means you can live a whole new life in the futuristic Night City. The game has got so popular that CD Projekt has a Netflix show based on it and a sequel planned. Oh, did we mention Keanu Reeves and Idris Elba can be found in Night City as well? Yeah... there's another reason to jump in.

1. Elden Ring

Release date: February 25 2022
Developer: FromSoftware
On Game Pass? No

What do you get when Dark Souls developer FromSoftware and Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin collaborate? Game of the Year 2022 winner Elden Ring, of course. This incredible Soulslike takes the brutal combat systems of the Dark Souls games and thrusts it all into an open-world environment that is a little more accessible for players new to the genre. Make no mistake, though... the life of a Tarnished is a hard one, and you will die a lot, but you're almost guaranteed to have a great time doing it! The stunning fantasy world, epic boss battles, and masterful storytelling make Elden Ring the must-have game for everyone on Xbox Series X|S. Magic and monsters await you, so get exploring!

Written by Tom West

Tom has been playing video games since he was old enough to hold a controller, experimenting with a number of systems until he eventually fell in love with Xbox. With a passion for the platform, he decided to make a career out of it, and now happily spends his days writing about that which he loves. If he’s not hunting for Xbox achievements, you’ll likely find him somewhere in The Elder Scrolls Online or fighting for survival in Battlefield.