17 Great Next-Gen Xbox Series X/S Games You Can Play Now

The first Alan Wake game was a cult hit when it dropped in 2010. Developer Remedy Entertainment has been honing its craft now for over a decade, and it has developed hits like Control, building its own connected universe of games. All that led to Alan Wake II, a master work of immersive horror. In this sequel, you play as both the titular Alan Wake and a new character named Saga Anderson, alternating between the two stories, weaving together a meta narrative that will mess with your mind. And that's before you even get to one of the most incredible scenes in modern gaming. I won't spoil it here, but you'll know it when you see it.

Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 captures the magic, adventure, and even the accidental, excessive horniness of Dungeons & Dragons. The narrative-driven game actively rewards you for playing your own way, and it was such a hit that even Microsoft misjudged how much it would resonate with fans. If you've been disappointed by recent RPGs and looking for something that's more story-driven, with a lot of player choice, then this is a must-play for you.

FromSoftware's latest game, Elden Ring, is the long-anticipated collaboration between the storied game studio and author George R. R. Martin. Following in the footsteps of the Dark Souls series, Elden Ring puts you in the shoes of a wretched undead creature crawling out of the grave to seek the ancient and terrible power of the eponymous Elden Ring. This journey takes you to the Lands Between, a dizzyingly vast open world you can explore with the help of your adorable goat-pony, Torrent. Easily one of the best games for Xbox Series X, and one of the best games ever. And soon, the best will get even better.

In June 2024, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion for Elden Ring will drop, bringing new weapons, new equipment, new storylines, and a new map that's comparable in size to the already-huge Limgrave region from the base game.

You can't have an Xbox console without at least one brand-new Halo game. Halo Infinite is the latest entry in the series, and it sees the return of the Master Chief, a few other old friends, and the introduction of a brand new Halo installation to explore. This one differs from previous entries in that it's an open-world game, allowing players to explore the vast Halo installation and unlock its mysteries at their own pace.

Included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

It took a few years for the hyper-stylized action-adventure Cyberpunk 2077 to hit its stride. After the Phantom Liberty update in September 2023—which brought a combat overhaul, a major story expansion, and a lot of bug fixes—it's essentially a new game compared to the mess that WIRED reviewer Adrienne So didn't care for back in 2020. If you were holding off on checking out this game, now's a great time to pick it up.

Pentiment is an odd one. It's a role-playing game that puts you in the shoes of an artist who makes illuminated manuscripts in the 16th century. The game itself is rendered in beautifully realized illustrations that look like they've leaped straight from the pages of the illuminated manuscripts you make as part of your adventure across 16th-century Bavaria. You'll solve puzzles, investigate murders, engage in lively debates, and explore lusciously illustrated vistas during your travels.

Included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

That's how WIRED staff writer Boone Ashworth described Diablo IV in his review. The latest entry in Blizzard's long-running Diablo series brings back much of the charm of its predecessors. It's an open-world action game that gives players truly visceral combat, smashing, splatting, and smearing demons across the walls of hell.

Included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

In Control, players take on the role of Jesse Faden, a young woman who possesses extraordinary abilities, which she uses to explore the foreboding and infinite office building called The Old House. It plays like a classic Metroidvania in the best ways. It's been out for a while now, but the Control Ultimate Edition includes all previous DLC and add-ons, plus a new graphical update for the Xbox Series X.

Included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

An Xbox and Windows mainstay ever since its release, Sea of Thieves feels more like a sandbox than a game, in the best way. On Xbox Series X, those characteristically lavish weather and sea visuals really come to life. Ocean swells feel so much more vivid rendered at 60 frames per second, and the sight of a storm on the horizon is every bit as breathtaking as it is terrifying. Despite the scary things that can happen at sea, Sea of Thieves often feels like a staycation to a tropical paradise with a few friends, and we could use more games like that.

Included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

If you're a glutton for punishment, you've probably come across Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. On the Xbox Series X, it looks better than ever, and with liquid-smooth gameplay at 60 fps, it plays like an absolute dream. If you've been holding off on trying it, now is definitely the time. Sekiro puts you in the shoes of an elite assassin tasked with protecting his liege lord. Like most games in the Dark Souls and Bloodborne series, the story is obscure at times, but the gameplay is thrilling, unique, and incredibly difficult (but super satisfying).

An absolute feast for the eyes, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is the follow-up to 2015's Ori and the Blind Forest, and a worthy one at that. The visuals here aren't in the same vein as other games on this list. Instead Ori boasts a gorgeous illustrative style similar to what you might see out of a stylized (and kind of spooky) Pixar film. Don't let the peaceful and beautiful visuals fool you—this game is tough. But it's so pretty it's hard to stay mad no matter how many times you die.

Included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Want a next-gen looter-shooter experience? Outriders is worth checking out. The story is thin, but engaging and fast-paced gameplay more than make up for it. Team up with other players to explore an alien world and defend the colonists settling there, all while harnessing supernatural abilities to obliterate your enemies.

Assassin's Creed: Valhalla pairs Ubisoft's typical open-world gameplay with a crush-worthy protagonist, Eivor Wolf-Kissed. The latest entry in the Assassin's Creed series is just an all-around killer game. Plus, it looks great on next-gen consoles. It's available for both the PS5 and Xbox Series X, and the visuals and sweeping vistas were jaw-dropping on both. In Valhalla you'll explore a vast open world, build a settlement, and take your Viking crew on daring raids across the sun-spattered woodlands of England and the frozen fjords of Norway.

Included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

The modern Hitman series is a brilliant return to form, and the third installment is no exception. The story continues from the first two entries, so you might want to play those first, but Hitman 3 really goes the extra mile in harnessing the power of the Xbox Series X. Environments are enormous and detailed, full of passages and multiple ways to assassinate enemies in increasingly elaborate manners (like sabotaging an art installation and serving up some extra spicy fruit juice.)

The Forza series sets the standard for realistic, beautiful racing games, and Forza Horizon 5 is the series in peak form. Even now, a few years after its release, the game has stunning visuals, beautiful landscapes, and heart-pumping action. If you're looking for one of the best Xbox Series X showcase games—or just want some high-quality racing—this one should be on your list. Reviews editor Parker Hall, a sim racing aficionado, considers this the most fun racing game ever made, due to its ease of play and massive array of cars and racing styles.

Included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of those games that perfectly nails its niche. Even calling it a game feels a bit misleading, as it's exactly what it says on the tin: a highly realistic simulator, designed to recreate the experience of flying a plane. It's so involved and so detailed that some players build dedicated rigs just to fly. We even have a guide to the best controllers for Microsoft Flight Simulator if you want to bring the magic of flying to your own home.

Included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.