Real talk: It's hard to argue that Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S don’t have the same number of quality exclusives as Sony's PS5. That could all be set to change over the next couple of years, though, with Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard meaning Xbox fans should see more megaton exclusives like Starfield arrive.
Many of the best Xbox Series X games are playable for a reasonable monthly $9.99 subscription fee via Xbox Game Pass. This includes my current top pick as the number one game on Series X, the amazing open-world arcade racer Forza Horizon 5.
I've been playing Xbox games ever since Microsoft's first console launched all the way back in 2001, and I've played every one of these games below extensively. So when it comes to ranking the best Xbox Series X games, you can trust my picks.
1. Forza Horizon 5
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Following in the footsteps, or tyre marks, of Forza Horizon 4, Forza Horizon 5 has pretty much perfected the open-world driving and racing formula of the series. Now set in Mexico and making use of the Xbox Series X's power, the game not only looks extraordinary, it plays like a dream.
There's huge amount of content to get through, across variety of Mexican environments and locals. And car handling works better than ever, offering a dose of realism without being too po-faced about it. For lovers of cars or people who don't care about them, Forza Horizon 5 is still very much a top Xbox Series X game you really should try out.
Read our full Forza Horizon 5 review.
2. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
The ultimate modern gaming redemption story. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty (and you can very much thank the part after the colon for this happy ending) is an action-RPG that's gone through a tumultuous life cycle. Released in a borderline broken state on consoles, it took three years of constant patches and a brilliant piece of DLC to turn what was a hugely ambitious yet undeniably bug-riddled game into a modern masterpiece.
Boot Cyberpunk and its awesome expansion up now, and you'll be treated to one of the best looking games in console history. Night City is a simply stunning space to lose yourself in, mechanically the game is surprisingly strong on pretty much every level and you won't see a better advert for ray tracing on Xbox Series X anytime soon. It may have gotten off to a rocky start, but when it comes to feel good endings, the story of Cyberpunk 2077 is right up there with Andy and Red hugging on that beach at the end of The Shawshank Redemption.
Read our full Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review.
3. Elden Ring
Dark Souls fans, listen up! If you've always wanted an open-world Souls game then Elden Ring is the one for you. It offers an expansive world pitted with dungeons, bosses, monsters and other enemies. But if any get too tough, then you can use the open world to bypass them, returning later when you have better weapons, gear and experience.
As the first foray into a true open world, Elden Ring is another Souls-like triumph. it might lack the extremely polished structure of Dark Souls or Dark Souls 3, but it still offers a compelling experience for fans of tough but fair games draped in a dark fantasy setting.
Read our full Elden Ring review.
4. Starfield
Bethesda’s first new IP in decades is a game of near peerless ambition. Though occasionally its repetitive gameplay loop may sag at times, the sheer scope of Starfield's universe feels almost boundless in a way that’s thoroughly intoxicating.
Going from Working Joe space miner to galaxy-saving hero courtesy of a convenient sci-fi MacGuffin is the sort of rags to riches tale Bethesda specializes in, and there’s no denying the formula still works. While Starfield may not grant you the freedom to explore the cosmos in quite the same way No Man’s Sky does, this is still a stellar sci-fi epic, with the best combat the developer has ever eked out from one of its titles and a game engine that frequently looks spectacular.
Read our full Starfield review.
5. Psychonauts 2
Bold. Brave. Bizarre. That pretty much sums up Psychonauts 2 in a thoroughly odd but equally charming nutshell. Part platformer, part mind-blowing puzzler, this long awaited sequel displays all the razor-sharp wit you’d expect from a Tim Schafer title. There’s nothing else quite like Raz’s perception-altering adventure, and that’s precisely what makes it one of Xbox Series X’s finest exclusives.
If the story pacing is slightly inconsistent at times, it’s a minor flaw that’s easy to forgive. Such is the joy that comes from inhabiting this brain-bending universe full of lovable, beautifully designed characters, you can overlook Psychonauts 2’s slight missteps. Let’s be honest: how can you not love a game that revolves around a little dude with a smashed pumpkin for a head that can wield the powers of telekinesis, levitation and pyrokinesis? Cross all your digits we get a Psychonauts 3.
Read our full Psychonauts 2 review.
6. Halo Infinite
After two previous Halo games that were a tad lackluster, Halo Infinite comes soaring back to success... literally thanks to the new grappling hook that lets you swing across chasms and scale cliffs with ease.
Seemingly taking the original game's Silent Cartographer mission and running with it, Halo Infinite is a semi-open-world game where you can tackle a variety of mission and tasks in any order you like and in a manner of ways such as sniping down enemies from afar of charging in with a huge Scorpion tank. Some more variation in environments and a tighter story would be apricated. But in terms of pure Halo fun and actions, Halo Infinite is a storming success and a must-have for anyone who wants an excellent first-person shooter on the Xbox Series X.
Read our full Halo Infinite review.
7. Resident Evil Village
While Resident Evil is a franchise best associated with PlayStation, it's been a multiplatform series for a while and the latest entry in the series, Resident Evil Village, is great on Xbox Series X. On Microsoft's console you get access to ray tracing and the Smart Delivery system, which means if you purchased it on Xbox One you get a free update to the Series X and Series S version.
As for Resident Evil Village itself, it's an excellent horror-meets-adventure game. In our reviewer Henty T. Casey noted: "Resident Evil Village is the most engrossing game I've played in forever, with a twisted labyrinthine story that hooks you in and pulls you down rabbit hole after rabbit hole."
Read our full Resident Evil Village review.
8. Street Fighter 6
The king of fighters makes a triumphant return in one of the strongest entries even by this incredibly iconic series’ sky high standards. Thanks to the presence of Arcade/Story, Extreme Battle, Battle Hub and the ambitious single-play World Tour story modes, there’s something here for both casual and hardcore fight fans. Street Fighter 6 makes itself even more welcoming with different control schemes that help ease in gamers who don’t know their Hadoukens from their Hundred Hand Slaps.
Weighty yet precise, Capcom doesn’t overly mess with the already winning formula cooked up in Street Fighter 5. If you’ve been away from the franchise for a while, fret not — that old muscle memory will kick back in after a couple of duels. This is also a gorgeous game, with some of the most stylized art around. If you have even a passing interest in the fighting genre, Street Fighter 6 is a must-play experience.
Read our full Street Fighter 6 review.
9. Persona 3 Reload
An expertly judged remake that gives fans of the original exactly what they’ve been pining for. Serving up eye-arousing modern graphics, a new voice cast and key quality-of-life improvements, Persona 3 Reload breathes fresh life into a JRPG classic while still remaining faithful to it.
Considering the OG game out in ye olden days of 2006, Reload obviously looks a whole lot better, and its appeal is further boosted by a fresh user interface. While the story takes a while to fully get going, once it does, it will keep you constantly engaged and guessing over what’s going to happen next. There’s no question this is the best way to experience the darkest entry in the Persona series.
Read our full Persona 3 Reload review.
10. Sea of Thieves
Have you ever wondered what it might be like to fill the boots of a semi-cartoon pirate sailing the open seas with four fellow shipmates, plundering islands and sinking other ships just for the sheer joy of it? If the answer is yes, then Rare’s Sea of Thieves is the game for you.
What started out as a bit of a thin experience on the Xbox One and PC has matured into a much deeper game full of secrets, including a gigantic kraken to take on. The optimized version for the Xbox Series X will run at 4K and a smooth 60 fps, making the whole experience plain sailing on Microsoft's new flagship games console.
