Whether you're a seasoned Xbox veteran or have just purchased your first console, we've ranked 11 titles that we believe are the best Xbox games all players should check out. Whether you're looking for an expansive RPG, high-octane racer, a roguelike action epic, or something else entirely, we've got a range of genres here to help you find your next gem on Xbox.
This month, we've added the brilliant Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to the list, which stands out as an exceptional action-adventure game.
Tom —
Best Xbox games to experience in 2025
To help you find your next great Xbox Series X|S adventure, news editor Sean, features editor Heidi, and staff writer Tom have used our own experience, community ratings, and TrueAchievements reviews scores to curate this list of the very best Xbox games.
So, without further ado, here are 11 of the best Xbox Series X|S you can play right now!
11. It Takes Two
- Here are the It Takes Two achievements
- Release date: March 26, 2021
- Developer: Hazelight Studios
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
- On Game Pass? Yes, with 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 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.
It Takes Two is a bizarre, heartwarming adventure about coming together to overcome hardships. It's also ridiculously fun, featuring wacky scenarios that see you piloting underpants, kicking gangster squirrels, bobsleighing down a snow globe, and more. Hazelight created a masterpiece with this gem.
Filled with light-hearted humor, a beautifully detailed world, and intricate puzzles, It Takes Two is 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.
10. Tekken 8
- Here are the Tekken 8 achievements
- Release date: January 26, 2024
- Developer: Bandai Namco Studios
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S
- On Game Pass? No
We loved Bandai Namco's latest fighter in our Tekken 8 review, and it's one of the finest fighting experiences you'll find on Xbox right now. For us, it is the perfect game for players new to the fighting genre, thanks to its Mii-style Arcade Quest. While it's not as exciting as Street Fighter 6's World Tour, Arcade Quest is a ton of fun and does a great job in teaching new players the fundamentals of the genre.
While fighting veterans will find plenty of fun in Arcade Quest, there is also a pretty decent single-player story to play through too, which sees you fighting to save the world from Kazuya Mishima as a selection of fan-favorite characters. Throw in some great multiplayer, a practice mode, ghost battles, and more, and Tekken 8 is the reigning champion for fighters on Xbox Series X|S.
9. Hades
- Here are the Hades achievements
- Release date: August 13, 2021
- Developer: Supergiant Games
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
- 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!
8. Cocoon
- Her are the Cocoon achievements
- Release date: September 29, 2023
- Developer: Geometric Interactive
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
- On Game Pass? Yes, Game Pass Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
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.
7. Forza Horizon 5
- Here are the Forza Horizon 5 achievements
- Release date: November 9, 2021
- Developer: Playground Games
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
- On Game Pass? Yes, Game Pass Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
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.
6. Resident Evil 4
- Here are the Resident Evil 4 achievements
- Release date: March 24, 2023
- Developer: Capcom Entertainment
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S
- On Game Pass? No
Capcom drops onto 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.
5. Starfield
- Here are the Starfield achievements
- Release date: September 6, 2023
- Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S and PC
- On Game Pass? Yes, Game Pass Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
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.
4. Alan Wake 2
- Here are the Alan Wake 2 achievements
- Release date: October 27, 2023
- Developer: Remedy Entertainment
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S
- 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.
3. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
MachineGames created a masterpiece with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which not only stands out as an exceptional action-adventure game but as an incredible entry into the Indiana Jones universe that offers brilliant fanservice.
Set between the events of the Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade movies, the Great Circle sees Indy travel across the world in a race against the Nazis to uncover the mysteries of the titular Great Circle. Featuring gorgeous open-zone environments set in the Vatican, Egypt, Sukhothai, and more, you're free to crack on with the main story or embark on your own adventures via a plethora of side quests and puzzles.
It's just a ton of fun to play and does a remarkable job of making you feel like the intrepid archaeologist himself — the combat systems are brilliant too, making every encounter an adrenaline-fueled bundle of fun. Grab your fedora and dive in, you won't regret it!
2. Cyberpunk 2077
- Here are the Cyberpunk 2077 achievements
- Release date: December 10, 2020
- Developer: CD Projekt Red
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
- 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
- Here are the Elden Ring achievements
- Release date: February 25, 2022
- Developer: FromSoftware
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
- 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!
Just looking at our list of
upcoming Game Pass games, we could see even more first-party Xbox games join this list in the future. For now, though, what do you think of our list? Are there any other Xbox Series X|S games you think should be included? Drop a comment below and let us know!