Despite some setbacks and controversies at Xbox lately, the Xbox Series X and S remain strong consoles this generation with plenty of excellent games to enjoy.
New Xbox Game Pass games are also being added to the catalogue each month, providing extra value for the platform. Last month, we had Dungeons of Hinterberg, The Case of the Golden Idol and Tchia – games that we recommend checking out if you haven't done so already.
As an aside, if you're on the hunt for some good Xbox offers, we've rounded up the best Xbox Series X and S deals here as well as discounts on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Core codes and Xbox gift card codes.
At Digital Spy, we've gotten together and ended up with a ranked list of our 13 favourite Xbox Series X/S games (not counting backward-compatible games).
Here are the honourable mentions that very nearly made the cut:
- Dragon's Dogma 2
- Halo Infinite
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Hitman: World of Assassination
- Pentiment
- Tetris Effect: Connected
And here are our top 13 games on the Xbox Series X and S...
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13. Venba
Making appetising dishes including idlis and biryani is a large part of the game, yet it's how this ties into the overarching narrative that makes the wider experience one of the most evocative on Xbox.
In immigrant mother Venba's desire for her son Kavin to connect with his Tamil culture, the game touches on themes such as family, identity, and generational divides, and it does so in a heartfelt and affecting way.
12. Grounded
This underrated survival adventure game combines Honey, I Shrunk the Kids with Fallout to produce one of the most creative games available on Xbox. Shrunken down to the size of an ant, you're left to navigate a perilous backyard in single-player or co-op.
Grounded really shines in its exploration and quirky use of everyday household items that have to be repurposed as tools as you build, navigate and fight giant insects.
11. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
One of the best action-adventure games of the last few years just so happens to be a Star Wars game.
Jedi Survivor improves on everything in the first game to create fluid lightsaber combat, snappy movement across its vast and visually stunning levels, and a world of interesting locations to explore – and the best news is that it's now available to play on Xbox Game Pass.
10. Immortality
What happened to Marissa Marcel? Immortality's mystery takes some disturbing turns, as you scrub through footage of three lost films starring the (fictional) actor.
The game takes the interactive movie genre into a new direction and nails its execution. In fact, we called it a "mind-bending love letter to the history of cinema" when ranking it the second-best game of 2022.
9. Doom Eternal
Rip and tear through one of the best first-person shooters ever made with the visceral and violent Doom Eternal.
Slaying demons to a pulsing metal soundtrack from the irreplaceable Mick Gordon never gets old, and the symphony of destruction that combines fast gunplay, fun platforming and gore exploding everywhere makes this a must-play, with both Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal available on Xbox Game Pass.
8. Outer Wilds
Outer Wilds' world may be small when compared to, say, Starfield. But each 22-minute exploration into the unknown feels grand and rewarding in its own way, as you peel back the layers behind the mysteries begging to be uncovered.
It's a game that is filled with wonder and satisfying discovery, and it pays off memorably.
7. The Forgotten City
Based on a popular Skyrim mod of the same name, the devs decided to take the premise of solving a mystery in ancient Rome with a time loop mechanic and successfully created The Forgotten City.
This adventure game has you talking to citizens, solving problems in interesting ways, and exploring a historically accurate hub of Rome with a number of dialogue choices and outcomes that can impact the story.
Don't skip this gem of a mystery game that's available on Xbox Game Pass.
6. Hades
This addictive roguelike hack-and-slash game is a must-play. It's worth trying even if you think the genre isn't for you, with its charming characters and rewarding gameplay part of what makes Hades so good.
Its one-more-run mentality, numerous weapons and evolving systems will make you want to replay this until you've mastered the underworld.
5. Resident Evil 4
The remake of Resident Evil 4 couldn't have gone much better. It's a slick update that stays faithful to the original while providing fluid and crunchy combat, rewarding exploration of its beautifully decaying world and fun gameplay moments that enhance the source material and make this an action-adventure game you shouldn't miss.
4. The Talos Principle 2
The Talos Principle 2 is one of the best games to release in 2023 and is a treat for puzzle game fans.
Full of interesting mechanics that have you directing lasers, defying gravity and creating wormholes to solve puzzles, this beautiful first-person adventure set on sprawling islands is definitely worth your time, especially with the recently released Road to Elysium expansion that adds even more worthwhile content to the game.
3. Persona 5 Royal
You can't go wrong with the other mainline games, but in our view, Persona 5 Royal is a step above the others and stands as a true modern classic.
Lasting more than 120 hours, the game somehow manages to remain incredibly engaging from the first to the very last (and deeply emotional) hour.
Everything from the eye-catching style to one of the best soundtracks in gaming contributes to a presentation that underpins the story of the vigilante Phantom Thieves and their quest to take on the corrupt, and the (missable) third semester is an arc that should not be skipped.
2. Elden Ring
FromSoft's epic action-RPG Elden Ring is undoubtedly one of the best games ever made. Nothing comes close to matching the vast and mysterious dark fantasy world of Elden Ring, which thrives in its exploration and feeling of discovery as you navigate the Lands Between, battling monsters and meeting strange characters.
With the recently released Shadow of the Erdtree expansion providing an entire game's worth of new content to the base game, there's no better time than now to jump in and discover everything this masterpiece has to offer.
Buy Elden Ring + Shadow of the Erdtree
1. Baldur's Gate 3
What hasn't been said about Baldur's Gate 3 by now?
Following its work on the underrated Divinity: Original Sin series, Larian Studios produced one of the greatest role-playing games ever – a rich and dynamic adventure that offers seemingly endless possibilities in how you, as the player, can approach it.
The way the world appears to adapt to your decision-making is beyond impressive, in turn breathing life into Faerûn and making your party's journey feel personal and special.
