Best Xbox games to play right now: Xbox One & Series X/S
Video games have never looked better.
After two issues of high demand and low supply, the Xbox Series X is finally starting to become a bit more accessible, with the Series S even getting a bit of a price cut in some end-of-year deals.
There are going to be a lot of gamers then after a good game or two to truly see what the next-gen experience is like - and luckily, we have a few recommendations in that area.
From comedy shooters and big-budget RPGs to acclaimed indie platformers, there's a little something for everyone. Here are the best Xbox Series X games out now, which will also run on Xbox Series S and Xbox One.
Best Xbox games on Xbox One and Series X/S
High on Life
From the co-creator of Rick & Morty - if you couldn't tell already - High on Life is a comedic take on the first-person shooter genre, with the wonderfully inventive idea of potty-mouthed talking guns that fire quips to you throughout your adventure.
The game's focus on comedy has proved divisive amongst critics, but user reviews are highly positive and our High on Life review was full of praise for the game's bright colours, locations full of character and weapons bursting with personality. We think as long you don't mind a bit of toilet humour, you'll be laughing as much as you are shooting - with the FPS gameplay itself also pretty rewarding, with surprisingly deep mechanics and multiple fun uses for each (talking) gun.
Buy now at CD Keys for £40.99 or get with Game Pass
Elden Ring
One of, if not the best-reviewed games of 2022 – check out our five-star review – Elden Ring is the result when Dark Souls developers FromSoftware take their notoriously difficult gameplay and put an open-world spin on things. If you're one of the few players left to pick up a copy of Elden Ring, the time is now – the game is full of inspired enemy designs, challenging but rewarding gameplay and of course a fully-realised fantasy world from Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
The Microsoft Flight Simulator series has long been a leader in, well, flight simulators, but the 2020 version took things to the next level by simulating the entire Earth using Bing Maps and 3d generating AI, along with real-time weather and effects. It's one of the greatest technical achievements in gaming – and it keeps getting better with updates including Top Gun: Maverick DLC.
Buy now at Amazon for £53 at Amazon
Halo Infinite
A return to form for the Halo series after the relative disappointment of Halo 5: Guardians, Halo Infinite launched first with an impressive and addictive multiplayer that made us fall in love with the series all over again.
That love only grew when the solo aspect of the game launched with a new open-world element that makes Halo feel fresh. If you want the full ins and outs of how much we loved it, read our review for the Halo Infinite campaign.
Psychonauts 2
Psychonauts 2, the long-awaited sequel to the 2005 original was worth the wait and Raz's next adventure was every bit as fun as the first and, dare we say it, maybe even better than the original. This game is a ton of fun to play and we highly advise picking it up if you are yet to do so.
Read our Psychonauts 2 review to see what we thought about the game in more detail!
Read more on Xbox:
- How to charge Xbox Series X controllers
- What is Xbox Game Pass? Price and perks explained
- How to connect any Xbox controller to Xbox Series X/S
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Taking the Creed franchise and placing it in the heart of the violent Viking invasion of England is the perfect match with a game that is funny, exciting and stunning to look at. Tweaking the gameplay from previous instalments and upping the violence, Assassin's Creed Valhalla is an, at times, brutal game to play and there is enough in there aside from the long campaign to keep players coming back to it to find all there is to discover.
Cyberpunk 2077
The latest game from The Witcher developers CD Projekt Red, Cyberpunk 2077, has now received a next-gen upgrade via a free update. It's hard to point to a game that has been more hyped up recently than this with many eagerly awaiting its release - and not just because Hollywood legend Keanu Reeves features.
While yes, there have been issues with Cyberpunk 2077, and quite a few at that, the game is playing much better on the Series X now than it was and it remains a fantastic game - and it will be even better now most of the kinks have been ironed out.
Discover more great games:
- The very best PS5 games
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- Best Switch Lite games - take these on the go!
- Best Switch games for kids
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
This is a sequel and we highly recommend playing the original, Ori and the Blind Forest, first but as that hasn't upgraded yet, we'll talk about Ori and the Will of the Wisps although both games are stellar. This really is one of the best platformers of modern times and that is down to how beautiful the game looks and the incredible soundtrack that is haunting and gorgeous at the same time. Gameplay for both games is fun, if a little challenging at times, and we fully admit to getting far more emotional at certain points than we expected to.
Watch Dogs Legion
We called Watch Dogs Legion the best title in the series yet in our Watch Dogs Legion review and we stand by that sentiment as this really is a ton of fun if you can switch your brain off somewhat and just go along with the fun. Hacking your way through a city has never been more fun and the gameplay as a whole takes the best of the previous two games and adds enough to it to make this the standout. We would have liked a consistent protagonist though.
Yakuza Like a Dragon
Not yet out for the PS5, Yakuza: Like a Dragon was released early into the release of the Series X and was one of the first titles to be optimised and it looks incredible. The game was late to the party outside of Japan but it was worth waiting for and while the turn-based JRPG-style combat system takes some getting used to, it proves to be quite rewarding the more you play. It's a very different game but it always feels original. There is not anything quite like it elsewhere.
Gears 5
Alongside Halo (which we will get to next), Gears of War is one most popular series on the Xbox and after a bit of a stumble in the fourth game, Gears 5 was a return to form and featured some memorable sequences which looked amazing even upon release. Now it has been optimised for the Series X, it looks even more incredible than it already did and it plays even better too. Plus, if you have never played a Gears game, it's a great excuse to play the lot which you can do thanks to Game Pass.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Halo Infinite may be out now, but there's never a bad time to hop back into Halo: the Master Chief Collection which features almost every game - all suped up to look better on the Series X. Including Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, and Halo 4, all that is missing is Halo 5 but one thing is for sure, getting all these games in one collection is great value for money and it will take you an age to get through it all.
Rocket League
Do you love cars? What about football? Or the word "free"? If all of those things appeal to you then get downloading Rocket League which is one of the most fun pick up and play games out there. The main mode sees you trying to knock a giant ball into your opponent's net while driving a huge range of vehicles, but there are multiple other modes, and a huge array of cars to try out, to keep you busy. And given that it costs nothing now, you have nothing to lose by giving it a go - with the exception of all of your spare time as it is highly addictive.
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Forza Horizon 5
The latest in the Forza Horizon series, Forza Horizon 5 is set in Mexico and while the England-based fourth entry blew us away, especially with its Series X upgrade, this game was made for the new consoles and it definitely looks it.
Forza Horizon 5 is not only smooth to play, but it looks and sounds better than ever and it is one of those games we will never leave unplayed for too long - we're a little addicted truth be told.
FIFA 23
An annual staple of the gaming world, if you love FIFA then you are going to want to play the latest version, FIFA 23, on the Series X as the game has never looked better than it does when played on the new generation of console. On this next-gen console, you'll be able to see the advancements made by HyperMotion 2 Technology, which takes the realism up to the next level.
If you're looking for something else to play, check out our lists of the best PC games and best VR games to try in 2022.
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