Best Xbox Series X games to experience on Microsoft's latest console

2023 is here, which means we're on the countdown to the launch of Starfield and Redfall as probably the biggest contenders for the best Xbox Series X games for the year (confirmed so far anyway). Just the presence of those two alone will no doubt cause chaos on this list, and that's before we even get to anything else that's due to drop over the next 12 months. We've actually had a sneaky new addition to the list in the form of Hi-Fi Rush, which stealth launched in February and took us all by surprise - both by existing, and also by how seriously awesome it is.

In our pick of the best Xbox Series X games, you'll find a range of third-party delights and Xbox exclusives, you're sure to find something here that speaks to you. For those who have an Ultimate subscription on Xbox, it's also worth noting that many of these gems can be found in our selection of best games on Xbox Game Pass. So, if you're looking for something to tuck into on the latest Xbox console, read on below to discover our list of the best Xbox Series X games you can play right now. 

15. High on Life

High on Life is an FPS like no other. From the brain of Rick and Morty creator, Justin Roiland, this is a sci-fi romp where you've got to save the world (and your parents) from an alien race that have released that humans are the best drug you could possibly take. Cue a planet-hopping adventure featuring your new mentor Gene, your sister, and an entire arsenal of talking weapons. Told you it was different. 

14. Ori and the Will of the Wisps

It may have been released on the Xbox One originally, but the Xbox Series X patch takes this stunning adventure to a whole new level of pretty. Running at 120fps at 4K and with HDR, the Xbox Series X is the ultimate way to experience the game. For those who haven't taken a trip to the forest with Ori yet, it's an amazing action-platformer with some metroidvania elements. You play as the titular Ori and although this is the second game in the series, you don't *really* need to have played the original to enjoy this latest adventure. However, both titles have had the Xbox Series X upgrade and are available via Game Pass - we'd just say that Ori and the Will of the Wisps is the superior experience.

13. Grounded

Grounded has really established itself as one of the best Xbox Series X games over the course of its couple of years in Early Access. In September 2022, the title launched in full, rounding out its story and adding even more content. This isn't the end for the Obsidian title though, with more content planned to continue the game's success in the future. It's a brilliant survival game, where you play as kids trying to exist in the wilderness that is the back garden, Honey I Shrunk The Kids-style. So think blades of grass as huge forests, sandpits for deserts, and really, really big bugs.

12. Pentiment

Pentiment is unlike any of the other games on our best Xbox Series X games list and all the better for it. It's essentially a triple murder investigation, but one that takes place over the course of 25 years in the 16th Century. You'll immerse yourself in town, which looks like an ancient comic book, and learn all about its inhabitants as you try to solve the mystery of what's happened. It's all about the dialogue, both in what they say and how it's presented, with different fonts used amazingly well to demarcate dialect, education, and other elements. There's a lot to dive into, and love the course of its three acts you'll discover Pentiment is one of the best mystery games around right now. Whodunnit? Well, that's all down to you to find out.

11. Yakuza: Like a Dragon

A surprise launch exclusive for Xbox Series X, Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a wonderful entry-point to the long-running series. It arrives with a brand new character, a new turn-based combat system, and further investment in easy-to-grasp (but surprisingly deep) RPG systems. It's a ridiculous game with a specific sense of humour which helps to transform what could have been a dour story of crime and corruption throughout a fictional recreation of Kabukichō, called Kamurocho here, into something truly standalone. While the game comes equipped with a bevvy of performance modes to let you dial the experience in against your priorities, it's truly wonderful to see it run at a smooth 60 frames per second with hyper quick load times. Don't sleep on Yakuza: Like a Dragon. 

10. Hi-Fi Rush

Hi-Fi Rush launched as a complete surprise at an Xbox live-stream event, and has immediately leapt into the list of best Xbox Series X games. It was a surprise in so many ways, particularly as this colorful, cel-shaded, rhythm action title is coming from the same game studio that brought us The Evil Within and Ghostwire: Toyko. Horror this is not. Instead, it's a toe-tapping action game where you let loose attacks and build up combos by moving to the beat. It's mad fun, with an epic soundtrack, creative boss fights, and amusing music-inspired finishing moves. It's a genuine triumph from Tango Softworks. 

9. Gears 5

Available as a standalone purchase and through Xbox Game Pass, Gears 5 is the game you'll want to stick on once it's safe to have friends over to your house. Gears 5 launched in 2019 and The Coalition has spent much of the last year optimizing its action game for Xbox Series X, working to deliver stunning native 4K graphics and 60 frames per second performance for the game's campaign. If you've never played a Gears of War game, Gears 5 is a great place to start and undoubtedly one of the best entries into the series yet. Should your 4K TV support it, there are also 120hz performance modes for multiplayer for a faster, more responsive experience. Don't sleep on Gears 5. 

8. Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Assassin's Creed Valhalla launched alongside the Xbox Series X on November 10, and it's a clear day one purchase for any of you that are after a sprawling open-world adventure to show off the capability of the new generation of consoles. Running at 4K and a stable 60 frames per second, Assassin's Creed Valhalla looks quite unlike any other game in the series that has come before it. Not only does it look stunning and feel incredibly smooth, but it also boasts wickedly quick load times that help to ensure that your journey across England's Dark Ages in the 9th Century is frictionless. Assassin's Creed is back and better than ever.

7. The Artful Escape

The Artful Escape is one of those games that feels more like an experience than other titles. From developer Beethoven and Dinosaur, it's a platformer on paper, but it's filled with bedazzled set pieces, mad light shows, and a whole load of music. Oh, and some aliens. It comes with a star-studded cast, and might just be one of the most unique experiences yet.

6. Elden Ring

The latest title out of FromSoftware has done it again, iterating on the Soulsborne formula by transferring it to an open-world setting. Elden Ring is the game of the moment, and looks and plays fantastically on Xbox Series X. 

5. Hitman 3

Agent 47's latest adventure also happens to be his greatest. With his global journey now taking him to new locales like Dubai and the UK's Dartmoor, the game offers huge scope and inventiveness that bring each level to life. Everything can be used as a weapon, and in fact, everything should be used as a weapon. It's all about murderous playfulness here, and you'll be celebrated for it in Hitman 3.

4. Sea of Thieves

Sea of Thieves has quietly become one of the leading console exclusives for Xbox. Rare's pirate simulator is the ultimate expression of Xbox Live, letting you and your buddies (or randoms, should you have the patience for all manner of shenanigans) explore some truly gorgeous oceans and locales in search of fame and fortune. Sea of Thieves has been optimized for Xbox Series X, now running at 4K and 60 frames per second, and it remains a real delight. Despite releasing in 2017, the game continues to be updated and iterated upon, making it a flagship title of sorts for Xbox Series X – available, of course, as both a standalone purchase or through Xbox Game Pass. 

3. Psychonauts 2

Psychonauts 2 is the long-awaited sequel to the 2005 cult-hit, and it is easily one of the best Xbox Series X games to date. Available on Game Pass, and also on PC, this Double Fine original is an absolute delight of a platformer, full of inventive ideas and wonderfully weird ideas. Don't worry if you've not played the original either, as it offers up a handy recap before the game begins that'll get you up to speed. Trust me, if you love quirky stories and platforming games with inventive worlds, you're going to love this one.

2. Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite is the best shape the series has been in for quite some time, with a confident campaign that celebrates the series' legacy. In it you'll be exploring a new ringed world, accompanied by a new AI with a familiar face and voice, with Master Chief trying to save the world again. Of course, the campaign is just one part of it though, with the multiplayer launching as a free-to-play entity. There's a Battle Pass to purchase, as you'd expect from a FTP game, but it's got plenty to enjoy in one great package.

1. Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 is a true showcase of the power of the Xbox Series X, and an absolute must for console owners. Playground Games delivers stunning graphics that show off the diverse landscapes of Mexico and the vast library of cars in impressively realistic detail. With biggest open-world yet, the latest entry in the Forza series gives you so many reasons to get behind the driver's seat time and again, with a wealth of different races, challenges, new social features, and updated modes. With impeccable audio design, smooth, responsive controls, and a beautiful world to speed your way through, Forza Horizon 5 sets benchmark for racing games of this generation.