Summary
TheXbox Series X|Slaunched 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 July 13, 2025 by Ben Jessey:There are many wonderful games to play on the Xbox Series X|S. This inspired us to make a list of the best ones, which we’ve now updated to add a few more.
The Stanley Parable is a unique first-person game with no combat. You play as a man named Stanley working in an abandoned office. As you search around the place, you have a voice-over narrating your actions.
There are plenty of things you can do and ways you can go in this seemingly ordinary office building, and this narrator comments on them all. So, he reacts to whatever you’re doing. He’s the star of the show and the reason why this game is so highly regarded. The voice acting for him is fantastic, and the writing is hilarious.
Jusant is a perfect example of how great simple games can be, as it’s really just about climbing a mountain. The title doesn’t include a lot of characters, there is no voice acting, and the game is pretty silent most of the time. However, there is still an interesting story in the game that you slowly learn through well-written diary entries that you can find on your adventure. They give you a fascinating insight into the world you’re in and provide more context to your quest.
As the game’s basic premise is that you need to claim a big mountain, the climbing mechanics are important. Thankfully, they’re also incredibly well-tuned and feel satisfying. And there is a puzzle element to them, as you have to continually figure out how to get past obstacles in your way and progress further up the mountain.
The original Oblivion was one of the greatest RPGs of its generation. When compared to today’s titles, it doesn’t hold up visually. Yet, with the remastered version, you don’t have to worry much about that, as it is stunning. Plus, there have also been a few quality-of-life changes to make it feel a bit smoother to play.
The best part, though, is these upgrades haven’t taken anything away from the original experience. It still feels very much like Oblivion, meaning it is a deep first-person RPG with a fantastic world and fun content. Additionally, there is a wealth of content to enjoy.
The thing that immediately stands out about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is its premise. It’s set in a sci-fi-like fantasy world that includes a monument with a number written on it. Every year, that number decreases, and everyone older than that number is instantly wiped out. Most of your characters are nearing that age, so they set out on an expedition to see if they can stop the cycle. This results in an incredible and brilliantly written story featuring a diverse cast of great characters.
The game also excels outside of conversations and cutscenes. This is because it’s a very well-designed RPG. The battle system is deep and complex. Plus, it’s unique, as it combines a traditional turn-based system with a few real-time combat mechanics. Altogether, this original form of RPG combat works great.
Neon White is a first-person shooter that’s played at a blistering pace. In each level, you’re encouraged to sprint towards the end goal. In the process, you do plenty of wall-running and jumping around. Also, you eliminate any enemy in your way. Both the parkour and shooting mechanics are incredibly smooth.
The most interesting aspect of the game, though, is the weaponry. While you’re sprinting, you acquire weapons by picking up brightly covered cards on the ground. Naturally, you can use these weapons to kill your adversaries. Alternatively, you can discard a weapon, which gives you a boost to your parkour skills. It’s a neat feature that adds an extra bit of strategy in a very fun game.
In Blue Prince, your character inherits a large mansion that you’re able to only claim if you find the 46th room in the large estate. Sounds easy enough, but this is a special mansion with rooms that switch and change. You are part of that process, as every time you enter a door in the mansion, you have to select which room appears on the other side. So, you essentially build the place. However, you only have a limited number of doors you can go through each run. When you run out, you must start again.
In the rooms you enter during a run, you’re able to search around and perhaps find some clues that may help you discover how to get to the 46th room. These rooms may also contain little puzzles to solve, so figuring out how to reach the 46th room isn’t the only puzzle in the game. Overall, it’s a unique and well-designed experience that has a surprisingly deep story that you slowly uncover.
Assassin’s Creed fans have been waiting years for the series to have a game set in Japan. Now, they finally have one in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and it’s terrific. It’s an action RPG where you have the ability to switch between two characters.
One is a shinobi named Naoe, who prefers a stealthy approach when dealing with her adversaries. The other protagonist is Yasuke, a samurai who lacks Naoe’s subtlety. Both of them are interesting characters with their own motivations and gameplay styles. Therefore, they’re both fun to control. What’s also fun in this game is exploring the large open world. It simply looks beautiful.
Minecraft was released a long time ago, but it’s a timeless game. The sandbox survival game is playable on the Xbox Series X|S and is as great as ever.
There are so many things you can do in its blocky world, from mining to creating things to exploring to fighting and killing the Ender Dragon. You can even just stay at your base and do some farming if you like. The possibilities are almost endless, which is partly why the game has such longevity.
By this point, Hazelight Studios has a reputation for crafting incredible co-op experiences. The company has done the same once again with Split Fiction, asreviewer Jade King calls it"the pinnacle of couch co-op." It’s an action-adventure game about two writers, Mio and Zoe, who attempt to work for a major publisher to get their stories published.
However, in order to extract their stories, they put them in a special machine. Something goes wrong, though, and the two protagonists end up in the same one. Then, as the duo, you play through a bunch of wonderfully crafted levels to find a way out. Each level is based on a story one of the characters wrote. They’re all very distinct, mainly as each contains a unique gameplay mechanic.
The Tomb Raider Remastered collection doesn’t exactly test the power of the Xbox Series X|S since it contains three games originally released in the ‘90s. Yes, their visuals have been upgraded a bit, but not really to modern standards.
That said, there is a reason why these titles and Lara Croft are iconic in the first place. These are three excellent action-adventure games that take you to exotic locations and include some exciting third-person action. Plus, the protagonist, Lara Croft, is very charming and witty.
