The Xbox Series X and Series S have been building a solid collection of games. Despite the somewhat lack of major new exclusives on Microsoft’s platform, these two consoles have a lot of games for you to try.Â
Here are our picks for some of the best Xbox Series X/S games to play, whether you want to go on a brand-new adventure or play through an old favorite.
30. High on Life (2022)
Action/Adventure/Open World | Metacritic Score: 67
High on Life is a wildly bizarre sci-fi adventure that’ll spark lots of laughter. It’s the latest project from Squanch Games, helmed by co-creator of Rick and Morty, Justin Roiland.
The tones, colors, and personalities of the worlds are vivid. Every planet has aliens with unique designs and limbs, from spherical weirdos to perpetually chained and lusty cuddly bears. You’ll have talking guns by your side all the time. We can’t promise that this is a pleasantly comfortable experience or a hilariously dark one.Â
29. Sea of Thieves
Open World/Multiplayer/Adventure | Metacritic Score: 69
Sea of Thieves lets you live the ultimate pirate fantasy. It’s a sandbox with many activities, made exciting and thrilling by the presence of other players. It might be an absolute racket to coordinate across the deck of a giant pirate ship, but it is also immensely amusing.Â
Despite being a shared-world online adventure game, Sea of Thieves is not an MMO with a persistent environment. This means that depending on the size of your crew, you are always handed a brand-new ship in one of three classes when you join into Sea of Thieves.
28. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Action/RPG/Adventure | Metacritic Score: 80
Guardians of the Galaxy is a well-loved Marvel entity, and the game does justice to every aspect of this bunch of lovable nitwits. Humorous, action-packed adventure and some genuinely moving story moments take the spotlight in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Depending on the decisions you make, these moments in the game may take some unexpected turns. The connections and banter between its characters keep things interesting as they develop.Â
27. Grounded (2022)
Action/Adventure/Survival | Metacritic Score: 82
In Grounded, you’ve been inexplicably reduced to the size of an ant. Don’t panic; you’re not alone! With up to three other players, you must survive in the micro-world of a suburban garden.
You’ll spend a good portion of your time gathering resources in the charming backyard setting, creating awesome items from the remains of your enemies. You’ll also construct incredible structures to protect yourself and your belongings, battling enormous bugs that bring out co-op nightmares and exploring extremely challenging dungeons.
26. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (2023)
Action/Adventure/Open Zone | Metacritic Score: 84
Jedi: Survivor is a promising sequel to one of the best Star Wars games of this generation. If there’s a third in the series, it will easily be an excellent Star Wars trilogy.
Survivor explores a matured, well-balanced Cal who is now in charge of his ways-of-the-lightsaber and destiny. You’ll re-connect with the gang, explore an array of planets, and experience a story that builds on many levels. There are also new ‘stances’Â for you to completely wield the potential of your lightsaber, along with novel possibilities to use your Force.Â
25. Gears 5 (2019)
Action/Adventure/Open-Zone | Metacritic Score: 84
Gears 5 runs like a charm on the Xbox Series X. There has never been a better moment to play or repeat the Xbox One shooter, primarily because it supports crossplay with PC and earlier consoles, ensuring that your buddies won’t feel left out if they don’t update. While it’s only taking a half-step in the correct direction, the semi-open regions substantially expand upon the gameplay.
However, the game still revolves around hiding in cover and shooting Locust sponges from beginning to end. The multiplayer and Horde modes are still among the most enjoyable in both cooperative and competitive settings, and they now support up to 120 frames per second.
24. Outer Wilds (2019)
Action/Adventure/Open World | Metacritic Score: 85
Ever wanted to explore the universe but wanted to be relaxed about it? Outer Wilds lets you do that. It lets you brave a miniature solar system with a compass in hand. Out of the many joys of this amazing title, the excitement of discovery itself takes the cake. As you progressively unravel the factors revolving around each not-so-distant globe, there’s a sense of satisfaction that follows. There’s so much to uncover – secrets, mysterious sci-fi, fantastic music, and endearing indie-style aesthetics.
23. Tunic (2022)
Action/Adventure/Open Zone | Meta Critic Score: 85
Tunic is one of the most adorable Soulslike you’ll ever play. Soulslike games are usually riddled with dark settings, themes, and gore. Instead, here we have a little fox with a sword traversing a magical world.Â
It’s a fantastic Zelda-style game for the Elden Ring generation that asks you to develop quick reflexes to master the combat and campaign. Much of the world is written in a cryptic language, but the intricate level design makes sense of it. And that’s the ideology behind Tunic – bringing you mystical themes that somehow make sense as you progress through the story.Â
22. Halo: The Master Chief Collection (2014)
Action/Adventure | Metacritic Score: 85
Halo: The Master Chief Collection is a must-have for everyone who appreciates first-person shooters on consoles, regardless of whether you’ve played previous Halo games or not.
The four core Halo games have never looked better than they do right now. Every game has a smooth 60 FPS framerate, and three of the four games achieve the desirable 1080p resolution. Even Halo 3 and 4 gain from enhanced lighting effects and resolution boosts (albeit Halo 3 ends up appearing the most basic of the four), while Halo CE and Halo 2 both provide their stunning Anniversary Editions. Additionally, Halo 2 Anniversary has brand-new music and effects that sound really wonderful.
21. Pentiment (2022)
Adventure/RPG | Metacritic Score: 86
The game is set in the fictitious German town of Tassing in the early 16th century, when the printing press was gradually spreading throughout Western Europe. The wave was bringing in all the sociological and economic changes that went along with it.Â
Pentiment presents its narrative as a thriller. You interview witnesses, gather proof, and investigate your suspicions. The truth is essential to the game, though. There are no certainties, whoever you identify as the murderer. Instead, you have to bear the effects of your choices.
Pentiment isn’t an action game with unique skills or leveling up. Instead, it’s an adventure game akin to Oxenfree or Night in the Woods.
