The Best Games To Play On Xbox Series X|S Right Now - IGN

After a whirlwind end to 2024 and a strong start to 2025 that included the best Call of Duty in years, a fantastic Silent Hill 2 remake, a new Dragon Age, a new Assassin's Creed, STALKER 2, Metaphor: ReFantazio (AKA IGN's Game of the Year 2024) and a stunningly great Indiana Jones game, among others, it's about to get a lot tougher to pick your favorite Xbox Series X/S games. Here's our staff's list of the 25 best games on the Xbox Series X|S – meaning they were either released directly for this generation of Xbox consoles or have been updated to take advantage of their improved resolution, frame rate, and other features. Note that to avoid the scourge of recency bias, we’ve cut off new additions as of the end of September 2024, since anything more recent than that is still a bit too new to rank. But don't worry, they’ll be considered for future rankings!

This is NOT an attempt at an “objective” ranking.

But what do we mean by “best?” To be very clear, this is not an attempt at an “objective” ranking that will indisputably line up with the tastes of gamers of all types. That, sadly, can never exist; when one person’s epic RPG masterpiece is another’s boring and impenetrable slog, they’ll never see eye to eye on where that game should rank against others of different genres. Even the personal lists of two people who love the same types of games will rarely line up exactly.

Instead, this is a list of games that IGN’s crew of Xbox gamers recommend as a group, with major re-ranks using our Face-Off tool so that everybody got to weigh in equally on which games they thought should be placed above others. It’s presented in the spirit of recognizing games we love, and encouraging others to try them if you haven’t.

With only 25 slots to fill, there are tons of amazing recent games that didn’t float to the top – but that doesn’t mean we don’t think they’re awesome, too! Everybody who participated in voting has a long list of personal favorites that didn’t gain quite enough traction with the group to make the cut, which is inevitable when there are this many games and so many different perspectives. We encourage you to make your own Playlist of your favorite Xbox Series X|S games and share it in the comments below!

Most recent game updates were made on March 25, 2025.

Under Consideration

These well-reviewed 2024/2025 games are too fresh to be ranked in this current list, which considered games released up to the end of September 2024. But rest assured, we have our eye on them and will factor them into the voting for the next refresh of this list (once they're at least six months old).

  • Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
  • Monster Train 2
  • Doom: The Dark Ages
  • Oblivion Remastered
  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
  • Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
  • Commandos: Origins
  • Blue Prince
  • The First Berserker: Khazan
  • Atomfall
  • MLB The Show 25
  • Assassin's Creed Shadows
  • WWE 2K25
  • Wanderstop
  • Split Fiction
  • Two Point Museum
  • Monster Hunter Wilds
  • PGA Tour 2K25
  • Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
  • Avowed
  • Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
  • Civilization 7
  • Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
  • Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
  • Dynasty Warriors: Origins

2024

  • Marvel Rivals
  • Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
  • STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl
  • Dragon Age: The Veilguard
  • Life is Strange: Double Exposure
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
  • Silent Hill 2
  • MechWarrior 5: Clans
  • Metaphor: ReFantazio

More on the best of Xbox:

  • Where to buy an Xbox Series X
  • Best Xbox One Games
  • Best Xbox 360 Games

25. Resident Evil 2

Every IGN Resident Evil Game Review Ever

<a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/1996/11/26/resident-evil-7">Reviewed by IGN Staff</a><br>November 25, 1996<br>At the heart of Resident Evil lies its basic, graphic-adventure premise. Zombies have come alive, and you (as one of two story-specific characters) must investigate the freaky goings on. The graphics are gorgeous, combining polygon-modeled characters with prerendered backgrounds. Camera angles are limited, but allow for a greater degree of detail on the characters. You really do identify with the protagonists, something lacking in many games.View 60 Images<a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/04/26/resident-evil-3">Reviewed by Matt Casamassina</a><br>April 26, 2002<br>So there are a couple of issues, sure. It's not a perfect game. But Resident Evil is easily the scariest, most atmospheric videogame I've very played. It's the only one I've ever been afraid to play alone. It's a triumph as a stand-alone adventure and a major accomplishment as a remake. Every gamer -- whether you've played the original or have never heard of the franchise -- should pick this up for their GameCube. It's one of the must-haves that you'll cherish not only as a truly fantastic, spooky videogame, but as a technical feat and prize that you can show your friends who still doubt the power and capabilities of Nintendo's next-generation console in the hands of the right developer.<a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/02/07/resident-evil-deadly-silence">Reviewed by Craig Harris</a><br>February 6, 2006<br>So, for the most part, Resident Evil: Deadly Silence is a great conversion of Resident Evil that tweaks a bit here and tightens a bit there. What was good about the PlayStation version is still good here on a smaller scale, and the added elements do a decent job enhancing the experience and shaking things up for those who've experienced the game a hundred times before. But, honestly, it's hard to ignore all the little quirks in gameplay and presentation that were a bit easier to disregard in the earlier days of 3D adventuring, so if we look at it as a new title instead of a revival, well, it's not a whole lot better than a good but flawed game design.<a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/07/07/resident-evil-archives-review">Reviewed by Matt Casamassina</a><br>July 7, 2009<br>If you find yourself wondering why Archives has received a different score than its GCN predecessor despite the fact that the two games are nearly identical, note that what held true seven years ago does not necessarily still hold true today.<a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/01/19/resident-evil-review">Reviewed by Jose Otero</a><br>January 19, 2015<br>I love coming back to Resident Evil, and this version does a good job of updating the look and feel of an old game for a modern audience. Some of the older visual flaws detract from the experience and pulled me out of tense moments, but the gameplay hooked me right back in. Resident Evil relies on atmosphere, tough limitations, and danger creeping around all corners, and this port recaptures the formula of a classic, relentless survival-horror game.

While the remade version of Resident Evil 4 is the IGN staff’s favorite in the series, Resident Evil 2 isn’t far behind. It's absolutely gorgeous to look at and contains some of the legendary zombie-slaying series' best moments to date. This modernization brings all the best parts of classic Resident Evil games to newcomers, letting us experience the original’s characters, enemies, and locations with features like ammo crafting, an over-the-shoulder camera, and expandable inventory slots. For series veterans, it feeds off your familiarity with the iconic RPD and subverts expectations in unique and horrifying ways, plus Easter eggs are sprinkled throughout the Racoon City Police Station. The tension created by Mr. X chasing you is palpable, creating some of the series’s best unscripted scares. His presence alone keeps additional playthroughs from getting repetitive and maintaining the horror.

Release Date: January 2019 | Developer: Capcom | Last Position: 25 | IGN's Resident Evil 2 review | IGN's Resident Evil 2 wiki

24. Hitman: World of Assassination

Seeing as it collects all of the deviously designed scenarios from Io Interactive’s recent Hitman trilogy under one banner, Hitman: World of Assassination is too good to pass up. With all of the rich, rewarding, and highly replayable sandboxes at your fingertips, there’s virtually no end to the cold-blooded and often hilarious trouble you can cause as Agent 47. Tracking down a multitude of surprising and imaginative assassination opportunities requires examining every nook and cranny, carefully observing every NPC’s behavior, and making full use of every piece of gear and weapon – and getting away with a perfect hit with no one even knowing you were there is one of gaming’s biggest and most satisfying thrills.

Release Date: January 2023 | Developer: IO Interactive| Last Position: 24 | IGN'sHitman 3 review | IGN's Hitman 3 wiki

23. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Delivering an unexpected but extremely welcome sequel to Relic Entertainment's 2011 Warhammer 40K Space Marine, Saber picked up the chainsaw sord and ran with it, smashing through waves of Tyrannid enemies in a highly satisfying way. Its slow but steady third-person action has clear roots in the classic Gears of War games, but this is no cheap knock-off: it makes those ideas its own by facing you and your co-op squad off against enormous hordes of enemies and encasing everything in Warhammer 40K's distincitive look and feel (which itself influenced just about every power-armored space marine design from the past several decades).

Release Date: September 4, 2024 | Developer: Saber Interactive | Last Position: NEW | IGN's Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 review | IGN’s Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2 guide

22. Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus

Screens - Wolfenstein: The New Colossus

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BJ Blazkowitz’s 2017 alternate-history Nazi curb-stomp romp was updated to run in its full glory on Xbox Series X, and it absolutely holds up. Between the giddy joy of blasting away with a machine gun in one hand and a shotgun in the other, some fantastic locations across fascist-occupied America, and an absolutely diabolical villain to go up against – General Engle has some pretty jaw-droppingly sadistic moments – this is an absolutely non-stop shooter the likes of which we haven’t seen in recent years. It doesn’t seem like the kind of game that could have a heart under it all, but the story also does a great job of establishing its supporting cast, and even humanizing even a killing machine like BJ.

Release Date: October 2017 | Developer: Machine Games | Last Position: 22 | IGN's Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus review | IGN's Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus wiki

21. Unicorn Overlord

The first thing that will stand out with starting Unicorn Overlord is the striking 2.5D art style, with characters appearing to almost float through through storybook backgrounds. While it almost deserves to make this top 25 list on looks alone (shout-out to the best looking food in gaming), it is paired with an excellent squad-based combat system that blends traditional turn-based strategy gameplay and RTS mechanics as you explore a tabletop-inspired overworld, gather resources, and discover secrets to rebuild the war-torn nation. The tactics come in as you decide how to move your squads across some of the best and most creative maps in strategy games and work out what type of squads to create and deploy. There’s a huge amount of build variety available, with 40+ classes and 70 characters to choose from to form your specialized squads. These diverse characters come from a variety of backgrounds and races, from the more mundane humans and elves to werelions, giants, and angels, and that’s the basis for the strongest moments in the story.

Release Date: March 2024 | Developer: Atlus | Last Position: 21 | IGN's Unicorn Overlord review | IGN's Unicorn Overlord wiki

20. Marvel’s Midnight Suns

Every Character in Marvel Midnight Suns

Marvel Midnight Suns' fully customizable protagonist and the child of the Mother of Demons, The Hunter.View 14 ImagesThe vampire-slaying vigilante, Blade.Earth's Mightiest Hero, Captain Marvel.The Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange.The Spirit of Vengeance, Ghost Rider.

XCOM developer Firaxis’s take on Marvel superhero combat is challenging and refreshing thanks to its deckbuilding approach to turn-based brawls. Crafting a set of cards that allows heroes to work as a team by combining their signature moves and taking down supernatural-infused enemies keeps things fresh, evolving, and unpredictable over the course of an epic-length campaign. It looks great, too, and bashing enemies into things for increased damage is endlessly entertaining. If you’re into the Persona-style relationship-building conversations there’s a lot there for you to uncover as you chat with Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, and many more favorites between battles – if not, you can skip most of that and jump back into the action.

Release Date: December 2022 | Developer: Firaxis | Last Position: 20 | IGN's Midnight Suns review | IGN's Midnight Suns wiki

19. Doom Eternal

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Is Doom Eternal better than 2016’s Doom? That debate will rage on for eternity, but for this list it doesn’t matter because Doom (tragically) was never updated for the Series X/S. That makes Eternal the champion of this generation by sweet, sweet default. The current standard-bearer for the revitalized first-person space-demon-mulcher series is fast, punchy, gloriously gorey, and easily one of the best single-player shooters in years. Loaded with excellent weapons, abilities, secrets, and enemies, this is a game that continually teaches you how to play faster, smarter, and more efficiently, with lots of options at every step of the way to tailor fights to your preferred slaying style, and it’s an absolute blast along the way.

Release Date: March 2020 | Developer: Id Software | Last Position: 19 | IGN's Doom Eternal review | IGN’s Doom Eternal wiki

18. Resident Evil 4

Simultaneously one of the newest games on this list and also the oldest, the 2023 remake of 2005’s Resident Evil 4 took everything that made the original a standout action-horror classic and modernized it to thrill present-day gamers just as much as it had those who always saw it through rose-tinted glasses. Rebuilt from the ground up, it builds tension with high-intensity combat against a ferocious cast of creatures and brings the Resident Evil world to life with rich detail as the story rapidly guides you through a series of unwaveringly impressive action sequences. There’ve been many games that have attempted to evoke RE4’s style over the years, but none that nailed it quite as well as this.

Release Date: March 2023 | Developer: Capcom | Last Position: 18 | IGN's Resident Evil 4 review | IGN’s Resident Evil 4 wiki

17. Persona 3 Reload

A stellar visual overhaul and countless small changes and additions beyond it leave a significant impact, making Persona 3 Reload a more fully realized version of a beloved RPG. Although still dated in some respects next to Persona 5, quality of life improvements and new features refresh its exciting turn-based combat and add depth to its touching story moments. Through an incredible new voice cast that embodies these unforgettable characters and an endearing soundtrack to reforge its identity, Persona 3 Reload tells a powerful, timeless story of tragedy and hope with sharp emotional sincerity over the course of its meaty 70-hour campaign. This is the kind of remake we always hope for.

Release Date: February 2024 | Developer: Atlus| Last Position: 17 | IGN's Persona 3 Reload review | IGN’s Persona 3: Reload wiki

16. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Gameplay Screenshots

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It seems like every other game that comes out these days has at least a bit of Metroidvania design in it, so it’s rare for one to stand out in such a crowded genre. And yet Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown absolutely nails everything you could want in a side-scrolling platformer that has you piling on abilities to reach new areas on a truly massive map. It has all the standard moves and features (double jump, dash, equip-able amulets), plus lots of fun innovative ones – like the ability to teleport across the room to avoid death during the tough-but-fair boss fights. It introduces those moves at a satisfyingly steady pace, so by the time you reach the late-game bosses and teeth-clenching environmental challenges you’re basically an expert, navigating obstacles like a virtuoso playing an instrument and making it all look easy.

Release Date: January 2024 | Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier | Last Position: 16 | IGN's Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown review | IGN's Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown wiki

15. Devil May Cry 5

Even with all of its imitators, there’s still nothing quite like a Devil May Cry game, and Devil May Cry 5 stands tall not only as not only one of the best in its own series but one of the best character action games ever created – full stop. No other game offers the same level of creativity and expression through its combat, whether you’re playing as Nero and bouncing foes around in the air with your Gerbera Devil Breaker, slashing them while precisely timing revs of your sword to charge up your Exceed meter; or chilling out as V while your summoned familiars fight all around you; or hot-swapping between an entire arsenal of weapons and fighting styles as Dante. The depth of DMC5’s combat is near bottomless and endlessly fun to play around in, with finely tuned difficulty options to meet you wherever your skill level is at.

Release Date: March 2019 | Developer: Capcom | Last Position: 15 | IGN's Devil May Cry 5 review | IGN's DMC5 wiki

14. Assassin's Creed Odyssey

Among the three (soon to be four) Xbox Series X-generation Assassin’s Creed games, Assassins’ Creed Odyssey stands head and shoulders above the rest. This epic takes Origins’ combat style and focus on roleplaying, adds some extra ingredients to the mix, then sets it all against the sprawling backdrop of Ancient Greece – a world aflame with the war between Athens and Sparta. It’s an enormous, vibrant game, with some of the most stunning vistas we’ve seen in the series both at land and sea (yes, naval warfare is in the mix, and it’s wonderful).

Its distinctive spin on Assassin’s Creed’s notoriety system sees you hunted across these environments, in a series of cat-and-mouse chases that set a new standard for the series, while the nation struggle system sees you fighting large-scale battles in the name of your chosen faction. It’s also got a relatively compelling story for a game that can take 60-odd hours to beat, with some eccentric sidequests that’re fronted by a genuinely charismatic protagonist (whether you play as the male or female version). Even after you finish Odyssey’s main story, there’s still so much to plunder and discover, and it’s a delight to simply exist in its meticulously recreated historical world.

Release Date: October 2018 | Developer: Ubisoft Quebec | Last Position: NEW | IGN's Assassin's Creed Odyssey review | IGN's Assassin's Creed Odyssey wiki

13. Forza Horizon 5

Every IGN Forza Game Review Ever

<a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/04/forza-motorsport">Reviewed by Douglass Perry</a><br>May 3, 2005<br>I can go on and on about the nuances and the plusses and minuses of Forza Motorsport, but the real thing is this: It's a hell of a racing simulation. There is nothing quite like it on Xbox, and fans who have been screaming for their own version of Gran Turismo finally have what they wanted.View 17 Images<a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/05/30/forza-motorsport-2-review-2">Reviewed by Hilary Goldstein</a><br>May 29, 2007<br>So Forza 2 has brilliant physics, great customization options, and solid online play. So why isn't it earning greater esteem from IGN? As I said early on, a racing game is about more than just the cars. Much like its predecessor, Forza 2 lacks soul. The only personality you'll find in Forza 2 are the custom skins created by fans. While it's certainly an enjoyable and well-made game, it just doesn't have the spark of energy and excitement found in almost every other racer.<a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/10/08/forza-motorsport-3-review">Reviewed by Hilary Goldstein</a><br>October 8, 2009<br>Forza Motorsport 3 is an exemplary racing game. It's beautiful, the controls are spot-on, the career mode is satisfying, and the multiplayer component is awesome. But there's still room to grow. The visuals could be even better, the career mode sags at times, and there needs to be at least one more option for AI difficulty. Even with those concerns, Forza 3 is a big step forward for sim racing games. Turn 10 has thrown down the gauntlet and it will be a real challenge for Polyphony Digital to deliver a superior racer with Gran Turismo 5. After all, this is the best racing game of this generation. Good luck topping it.<a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/10/06/forza-motorsport-4-review">Reviewed by Luke Reilly</a><br>October 6, 2011<br>Like the step up from FIFA 11 to FIFA 12, there's no going back to Forza 3 now. The changes and updates are too welcome and widespread. The improved visuals, the added cars on track, the wealth of new race types, the tweaked AI and closer racing, the ferocious sound and superior sense of speed, the even better livery editor, the lot. With Forza 4 Turn 10 has crafted a driving game like no other; it's hands-down this generation's premier racing simulator.<a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/12/forza-horizon-review">Reviewed by Luke Reilly</a><br>October 12, 2012<br>If you love Forza 4, this is the perfect companion. If you love cars, this is essential. The school of thought may be that it’s hard to push racing games this late in a generation, but Playground Games hasn’t just moved the needle here. It’s buried it.

Forza Horizon 5 isn't just the best game of 2021 (as IGN's 2021 Game of the Year winner), it's also the best car game, period, of at least the last decade. The difference between Horizon 5 and other racing games (not named Forza Horizon) is that it is, in fact, a driving game. And yes, there's a difference between a driving game and a racing game. Driving can include racing – and FH5 most certainly does – but perhaps the greatest of its many triumphs is successfully tapping into someone's love for cars. You don't need to be a gearhead with a nose for adjusting tire temperatures and maximizing downforce, as you do in simulation racers.

Here, there's quite literally fun around every corner, whether it's trying to best your buddy's photo radar speed, busting through one of the countless billboards scattered around Horizon's gorgeous fictionalized Mexico, entering proper Horizon Festival events, or just doing goofy multiplayer events. Forza Horizon 5 is as chill and casual or as serious and hardcore as you want it to be, and that's a near-impossible feat for any car game.

Release Date: November 2021 | Developer: Playground Games | Last position: 13 | IGN's Forza Horizon 5 video review | IGN’s Forza Horizon 5 wiki | Buy It Here: Amazon

12. Alan Wake 2

It took Remedy 13 years to get the sequel of its cult-favorite thriller Alan Wake off the ground, but it was worth it. Billed as Remedy’s first true survival horror game, the studio best known for its high-concept, cinematic approach to games takes a similarly filmic view to the new genre by creating a terrifying chapter in Alan Wake’s — and new protagonist Saga Anderson’s — stories. Fans of horror will find a tense, scary experience, but those of you waiting to learn what happened to Wake all those years ago will want to check out Remedy’s sequel immediately.

Release Date: October 2023 | Developer: Remedy | Last position: 12 | IGN's Alan Wake 2 video review | IGN’s Alan Wake 2 wiki

11. Remnant 2

“Dark Souls with Guns” was the theme of the first Remnant, and Remnant 2 doubled down on that idea with more guns, classes, and more enemies to blast to pieces, all while also delivering extremely challenging and rewarding bosses and a major twist to its design. Remnant 2 is different each playthrough thanks to the way it randomizes most puzzles, bosses, and events each time you replay it. And you will probably want to replay Remnant 2 a lot, because sometimes you will need to defeat bosses in multiple ways to get its most enticing rewards. The fact that two players can finish the campaign and fight different bosses along the way (or maybe they see the same bosses but get different rewards) makes it almost as much fun to talk about as it is to play. Since launch, it’s added two sizable DLC packs with more storylines, weapons, classes, gear, and crazier bosses. Remnant 2 is one of those games that always has us coming back for more thanks to its high replayability, creative design, fun gameplay, and ability to easily play with friends.

Release Date: July 2023 | Developer: Gunfire Games | Last Position: 11 | IGN's Remnant 2 review | IGN's Remnant 2 wiki

10. Halo: The Master Chief Collection

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Halo: The Master Chief Collection now collects six Halo games all under one digital roof – everything except Halo 5: Guardians. It's been torn down to the studs and rebuilt in grand fashion, and even better, it's been upgraded AGAIN for Xbox Series X with support for 120fps gameplay. Crazy to think that these games were 480i/30fps the first time we played them...

See our guide on how to play the Halo games in order before diving into the collection.

Release Date: November 2020 | Developer: 343 Industries | Last Position: 10 | IGN's Halo: The Master Chief Collection video review | IGN's Halo: The Master Chief Collection wiki

9. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Respawn’s sequel to the hit Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order continues the journey of Cal Kestis as he makes his way through the galaxy and fights the Empire. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor improves on almost every element of the first, refining the level design and combat to its sharpest point yet. It is also one of the best avenues to explore the Star Wars universe in its latest era. See our list of the best Star Wars games to see where it ranks.

Release Date: April 2023 | Developer: Respawn | Last Position: 9 | IGN's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor video review | IGN’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor wiki

8. Hades

Hades is the current gold standard of the roguelite genre, and it isn’t even close. From its exhilarating combat, to its incredible soundtrack, to its clever and well written narrative with characters that seemingly never run out of meaningful things to say, all the way to its deep and innovative post game that keeps you wanting to come back for more even after beating the last boss.

It may be incredibly difficult, but it never feels punishing in defeat. Dying is part of the fun, and actually comes with its own rewards in the form of new conversations with its fascinating cast of characters, new opportunities to purchase game changing upgrades, and an opportunity for a brand new run with a completely new set of godly boons that dramatically alter how you approach combat. Hades is a masterclass of roguelite design, and just another example of how Supergiant Games just doesn’t miss.

Hades 2 Early Access is available now.

Release Date: December 2018 | Developer: Supergiant Games | Last position: 8 | IGN's Hades review | IGN’s Hades wiki

7. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition

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One of the greatest RPGs of all time is better than ever thanks to the graphics overhaul from The Witcher 3 Complete Edition. While fans of 4K graphics can now play the game in higher fidelity, the performance mode might be the way to go as it smoothes over all the rough frame-rate patches in this massive game, making this 100+ hour adventure as smooth as butter.

Release Date: December 14, 2022 | Developer: CD Projekt Red | Last Position: 7 | IGN'sThe Witcher 3 video review | IGN'sThe Witcher 3 wiki

6. Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 stumbled out of the gate at launch on consoles specifically. While the RPG has always been a state-of-the-art marvel on PC, it took CD Projekt Red a few years to optimize the game for consoles like the Xbox Series X|S. After cutting out the last-gen systems and a series of free updates, Cyberpunk 2077 and the newly released expansion, Phantom Liberty, finally shine bright on Xbox. With best-in-class presentation, a deep and rewarding RPG system, and one of the best stories CD Projekt ever created, now is finally the time to hack into Cyberpunk 2077.

Release Date: February 2022 | Developer: CD Projekt Red | Last position: 6 | IGN's Cyberpunk 2077 video review | IGN’s Cyberpunk 2077 wiki

5. Grand Theft Auto 5/GTA Online

Every GTA Game Ranked

From humble beginnings — the series originally began as top-down car-stealing games — to creating some of the most advanced and realistic open world games in the industry, each new Grand Theft Auto game is worthy of celebration. So, with Grand Theft Auto 6 on the horizon, IGN has thought back on both modern blockbusters and retro classics to create a definitive ranking of all of Rockstar’s open-world crime games and determine which GTA game is the best.<b>15. Grand Theft Auto: Advance</b><br></br>  After having already made the switch to 3D, Grand Theft Auto: Advance returned the series to its top-down roots in 2004 for a Game Boy spinoff. A prequel to the events of Grand Theft Auto 3, GTA: Advance successfully brings the classic car-jacking, crime spree gameplay of the original games to Nintendo’s portable. While there is a story that ties into GTA 3, GTA: Advance is primarily gameplay driven, giving players over 300 missions to complete which makes for a fun excursion but hardly a full GTA experience in the modern sense.  View 16 Images<b>14. Grand Theft Auto: London 1969</b><br></br>  An expansion pack for the original GTA, Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 is notable for taking place in the real city of London as opposed to a fictional amalgam like Los Santos (Los Angeles) or Liberty City (New York City). Like most of the early GTA games, it is hardly recognizable today and is more of a fun retro relic of the past. However, London remains one of the most fan-requested locations for the series to revisit.   <b>13. Grand Theft Auto 2</b><br></br>  Released two years after the first Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar returned with an improved sequel. Set in an almost cyberpunk-ish retro futuristic city, it boasted better graphics and tuned-up gameplay. But this early on in the series, Grand Theft Auto was still mostly about stealing and destroying cars and scoring the most points. One notable thing about GTA 2 was an eight-minute long short movie created by Rockstar that was used as the intro cutscene for the game, hinting at the cinematic direction the series would take later on in the series.   <b>12. Grand Theft Auto</b><br></br>  The game that started it all, Grand Theft Auto 1 seems almost unrecognizable from the game series it is today. A top-down, mission-based experience where players steal cars to reach the end of a level, Grand Theft Auto 1 was mostly about running over people and evading cops. While GTA started as an honest-to-goodness car-stealing game, the wanton destruction and irreverent sense of humor was part of the series’ DNA from the very beginning, and these traits would carry on throughout as the series made the jump to 3D. <b>11. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars</b><br></br>  Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars delves into the world of the Triads, one of the many criminal factions that have appeared on the sidelines throughout the series. It was released during the series’ popularity surge of the PS2 3D era, but opted to resurrect the original top-down design, albeit reinforced by a striking visual design inspired by GTA’s iconic box art. Sticking to tradition, it is yet another story of a small-time con making it big in the criminal underworld, but the main attraction is Chinatown War’s novel use of touch controls.  While Chinatown Wars has since been ported to several handheld consoles including PSP and iOS devices, many agree that the original DS version is the best experience thanks to the fun and unique ways Chinatown Wars utilized Nintendo’s touch screen. Not many other games on Nintendo’s dual-screened system will let you use the screen to hotwire a car.

Grand Theft Auto 5’s sprawling yet meticulously detailed map is still the high bar to which most open-world games aspire. Not only is it huge, it’s incredibly dense with excellent content – not just the driving and shooting and three-protagonist story that make up its campaign, and not limited to the numerous side activities, but all the sights, sounds, and bustling activity you'd expect to find in a city teeming with humans – seedy underbelly included. With so much to do, explore, and play with, both as a single-player game and Grand Theft Auto Online, it’s truly amazing on multiple levels.

As for what’s next, Rockstar has officially confirmed GTA 6 will be released in 2025. It will feature a return to Vice City and star the series' first female playable character in a Bonnie & Clyde-inspired adventure.

Release Date: September 2013 | Developer: Rockstar North | Last position: 5 | IGN's GTA 5 review | IGN’s GTA 5 wiki | Buy It Here: Amazon

4. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review Screens

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review ScreensLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review ScreensView 24 ImagesLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review ScreensLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review ScreensLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review ScreensLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review Screens

Describing Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth sounds a bit like a fever dream: it's a collection of minigames stuffed inside of larger activities inspired by classics like Crazy Taxi, Pokémon Snap, Pokémon, and Animal Crossing… and all of that is wrapped up inside of a life simulator, which is itself inside of a 50-hour turn-based RPG. Miraculously, this somehow all works together and balances honoring the roots of the Like a Dragon/Yakuza series while continuing to propel it forward. This can be seen in almost every aspect, most obviously that a huge portion of the story takes place outside Japan, and instead has you exploring Hawaii.

Meanwhile, turn-based combat makes a return from Yakuza 7, boasting even more jobs (tennis ace OP!) and a ton of small refinements that vastly increase the amount of control and customization in combat while remaining true to Yakuza's traditional beat em' up style. In a series known for heartfelt stories, Infinite Wealth’s is arguably the most emotional, paying homage to the franchise’s classic characters with a plot driven by the values and actions of the new cast. Mixing the old and new characters is something that often backfires in a long-running series, but RGG Studios expertly blends Kiryu's and Ichiban's stories, pulling off one of the best legacy stories anywhere.

Release Date: September 2013 | Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio | Last position: 4 | IGN's Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth review | IGN’s Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth wiki

3. Persona 5 Royal

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Persona 5 Royal would have very little true competition in the contest for the title of best Japanese RPG of all time. Its endlessly stylish art and unforgettable, jazzy soundtrack create a vibe it's hard not to fall in love with. And that's before we even get to the cast of iconic, endearing characters and an unexpectedly deep, thought-provoking story that only grows more relevant with every year since it was originally released in 2016. Nobody does this style of turn-based, small-party combat better than Atlus, and P5R is the ultimate refinement of everything great about the franchise's earlier adventures.

All of that could be said of the original 2016 version, too, but with Royal, just about everything – from the dialogue to the story to dungeon exploration – has been made bigger and better. It's far from just a remaster with some neat extras; it's almost like getting another entire game on top of an already fantastic one.

Release Date: September 2013 | Developer: Rockstar North | Last position: 3 | IGN's Persona 5 Royal review | IGN’s Persona 5 Royal wiki

2. Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 is easily the best computer RPG of any generation thanks to its robust storytelling and nearly limitless player freedom. Whether that’s romancing a Mind Flayer or convincing a squirrel to go into battle, the ability to play through the world of Baldur’s Gate on your own terms is the reason why Larian Studios' latest RPG has captivated so many players.

The cast of characters, in particular, shines in this party-based RPG. Your companions in this game are some of the most fun, fully-realized characters in any RPG and although Baldur’s Gate 3 is already hundreds of hours long, you’ll want to re-roll new characters to try and mine as much as you can from this deeply rich fantasy world.

Winner of multiple Game of the Year awards, Larian Studios has single-handedly revitalized the computer RPG genre and showcased that ingenuity and smart game design can triumph over the mightiest graphics.

Release Date: December 7, 2023 | Developer: Larian Studios | Last position: 2 | IGN's Baldur's Gate 3 video review | IGN’s Baldur's Gate 3 wiki

1. Elden Ring

Whether you're a longtime fan of FromSoftware's notoriously challenging games or intrigued by the constant buzz, Elden Ring is a fantastic starting point for seeing what the soulsborne genre is all about. Its streamlined introduction, versatility in accommodating your choice of playstyle, and open-world design all work to alleviate the “brick wall” dilemma of getting stuck on a difficult boss in Dark Souls games. It's that elasticity that makes this FromSoftware adventure a (slightly) friendlier one, while still being full of godlike bosses looking to snuff out your life, threateningly large maps, and intriguing NPCs rife with charm, mystery, and tragedy.

It’s since been kicked up a notch thanks to the outstanding Shadow of the Erdtree DLC expansion, which serves as a condensed version of the main game that’s absolutely jam-packed with secrets, valuable treasures, ultra-challenging boss battles, and horrific monstrosities to face of against at every turn. When you stack that on top of the main game, it’s an incredible quantity of high-quality tests of your soulslike mettle.

Release Date: February 25, 2022 | Developer: FromSoftware | Last position: 1 | IGN's Elden Ring video review | IGN’s Elden Ring wiki | Buy It Here: Amazon

Upcoming Xbox Series X|S Games in 2025

April 2025:

  • The Renovator: Origins - April 4
  • South of Midnight - April 8
  • Commandos: Origins - April 9
  • Descenders Next - April 9
  • Monster Energy Supercross 25 - April 10
  • Promise Mascot Agency - April 10
  • Big Buck Hunter: Ultimate Trophy - April 11
  • Lost Records: Bloom and Rage Tape 2 - April 15
  • Lushfoil Photography Sim - April 15
  • Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree - April 17
  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - April 24
  • Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves - April 24
  • Sunseed Island - April 24
  • Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade - April 24
  • MotoGP 25 - April 30

May 2025:

  • Metal Eden - May 6
  • Doom: The Dark Ages - May 15
  • Capcom Fighting Collection 2 - May 16
  • Fantasy Life i: the Girl Who Steals Time - May 21
  • Onimusa 2: Samurai's Destiny - May 23
  • To a T - May 28
  • Elden Ring: Nightreign - May 30

What New Games are Available on Xbox Game Pass in March 2025?

On March 18, 33 Immortals (Game Preview) launched on Game Pass. The following day saw Square Enix's roleplaying game Octopath Traveler II, which our reviewer called "a very enjoyable JRPG sequel that feels a little too safe and familiar," and Trian Sim World 5. March 20 saw Mythrecked: Ambrosia Island, and the 25th added Blizzard Arcade Collection. On the 26th, Game Pass gets two highly regarded games in Batman: Arkham Knight and Tunic.

Finally, on March 27, Atomfall launches on Game Pass Ultimate. Our reviewer gave it an 8/10, calling it "A compelling post-apocalyptic survival story that satisfyingly bends to your choices and discoveries no matter which direction you take."

For more details about a subscription, check out our guide to Xbox Game Pass plans and prices.

March 2025 Updates:

Added: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Removed: Mass Effect Trilogy: Legendary Edition

The Best Games to Play on Xbox Series X|S

Xbox is poised for a strong finish to 2024: we're still expecting big things from the likes of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a new iteration of Microsoft Flight Simulator, Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred, Star Wars Outlaws, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, STALKER 2, and more. But to tide you over until that parade of heavy hitters arrives, check out our staff's list of the 25 best games on the Xbox Series X|S.<h3>25. Resident Evil 2</h3>  While the remade version of Resident Evil 4 is the IGN staff’s favorite in the series, Resident Evil 2 isn’t far behind. It's absolutely gorgeous to look at and contains some of the legendary zombie-slaying series' best moments to date. This modernization brings all the best parts of classic Resident Evil games to newcomers, letting us experience the original’s characters, enemies, and locations with features like ammo crafting, an over-the-shoulder camera, and expandable inventory slots. For series veterans, it feeds off your familiarity with the iconic RPD and subverts expectations in unique and horrifying ways, plus Easter eggs are sprinkled throughout the Racoon City Police Station. The tension created by Mr. X chasing you is palpable, creating some of the series’s best unscripted scares. His presence alone keeps additional playthroughs from getting repetitive and maintaining the horror.View 26 Images<h3>24. Hitman: World of Assassination</h3>  Seeing as it collects all of the deviously designed scenarios from Io Interactive’s recent Hitman trilogy under one banner, Hitman: World of Assassination is too good to pass up. With all of the rich, rewarding, and highly replayable sandboxes at your fingertips, there’s virtually no end to the cold-blooded and often hilarious trouble you can cause as Agent 47. Tracking down a multitude of surprising and imaginative assassination opportunities requires examining every nook and cranny, carefully observing every NPC’s behavior, and making full use of every piece of gear and weapon – and getting away with a perfect hit with no one even knowing you were there is one of gaming’s biggest and most satisfying thrills.<h3>23. Hitman: World of Assassination</h3>  Delivering an unexpected but extremely welcome sequel to Relic Entertainment's 2011 Warhammer 40K Space Marine, Saber picked up the chainsaw sord and ran with it, smashing through waves of Tyrannid enemies in a highly satisfying way. Its slow but steady third-person action has clear roots in the classic Gears of War games, but this is no cheap knock-off: it makes those ideas its own by facing you and your co-op squad off against enormous hordes of enemies and encasing everything in Warhammer 40K's distincitive look and feel (which itself influenced just about every power-armored space marine design from the past several decades).<h3>22. Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus</h3>  BJ Blazkowitz’s 2017 alternate-history Nazi curb-stomp romp was updated to run in its full glory on Xbox Series X, and it absolutely holds up. Between the giddy joy of blasting away with a machine gun in one hand and a shotgun in the other, some fantastic locations across fascist-occupied America, and an absolutely diabolical villain to go up against – General Engle has some pretty jaw-droppingly sadistic moments – this is an absolutely non-stop shooter the likes of which we haven’t seen in recent years. It doesn’t seem like the kind of game that could have a heart under it all, but the story also does a great job of establishing its supporting cast, and even humanizing even a killing machine like BJ.<h3>21. Unicorn Overlord</h3>  The first thing that will stand out with starting Unicorn Overlord is the striking 2.5D art style, with characters appearing to almost float through through storybook backgrounds. While it almost deserves to make this top 25 list on looks alone (shout-out to the best looking food in gaming), it is paired with an excellent squad-based combat system that blends traditional turn-based strategy gameplay and RTS mechanics as you explore a tabletop-inspired overworld, gather resources, and discover secrets to rebuild the war-torn nation. The tactics come in as you decide how to move your squads across some of the best and most creative maps in strategy games and work out what type of squads to create and deploy. There’s a huge amount of build variety available, with 40+ classes and 70 characters to choose from to form your specialized squads. These diverse characters come from a variety of backgrounds and races, from the more mundane humans and elves to werelions, giants, and angels, and that’s the basis for the strongest moments in the story.

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