The Xbox Series X has solidified its place as one of the most powerful consoles ever released, bringing a massive leap in performance, visuals, and load times. Since its launch in late 2020, it’s become a go-to platform not just for next-gen exclusives, but also for upgraded versions of beloved favorites. With hardware that supports up to 4K resolution at 120 FPS, ray tracing, and near-instantaneous SSD-based loading, the Series X brings blockbuster experiences into sharper, faster focus than ever before.
If you’re looking to get the most out of your Xbox Series X, choosing the right games is key. From expansive RPGs and cinematic adventures to competitive shooters and family-friendly fun, many of today’s best titles are built—or upgraded—to showcase what the console can do. Microsoft’s Smart Delivery system also means you automatically get the best version of a game for your console, without having to rebuy anything.
Below is a curated list of the best games for Xbox Series X in 2025, based on performance, critical acclaim, and fan enthusiasm.
Best Games for Xbox Series X (2025 Edition)
1. Baldur’s Gate 3
- Genre: RPG
- Why It’s Great: A deep, choice-driven RPG with brilliant writing and turn-based combat
- Xbox Series X Enhancements: 60 FPS, native 4K, ultra-fast load times
- Details: After its Game of the Year wins in 2023, Baldur’s Gate 3 continues to dominate on Xbox with its full co-op support, expansive narrative freedom, and D&D-based gameplay. The Series X version loads faster than on PC and looks spectacular on a 4K TV.
2. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
- Genre: Open-world RPG
- Why It’s Great: A massive, fully realized sci-fi world with deep storylines and action
- Xbox Series X Enhancements: Ray tracing, 4K visuals, improved AI and crowd density
- Details: Following the Phantom Liberty expansion and countless patches, Cyberpunk 2077 is now the game it was always meant to be. The Xbox Series X version finally delivers smooth performance and spectacular visuals, cementing it as a must-play.
3. Forza Motorsport (2023)
- Genre: Racing
- Why It’s Great: Realistic racing simulation with cutting-edge visuals and physics
- Xbox Series X Enhancements: 4K/60 FPS, real-time ray tracing, ultra-fast loading
- Details: Built from the ground up for Series X|S, this Forza entry brings dynamic weather, detailed damage modeling, and a revamped career mode. It’s one of the best showcases of the console’s technical muscle.
4. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Why It’s Great: First-person, story-driven adventure with cinematic presentation
- Xbox Series X Enhancements: High-fidelity textures, quick resume support
- Details: Developed by MachineGames (Wolfenstein), this globe-trotting Indy adventure blends puzzle-solving, whip-cracking action, and lush visuals. It’s also exclusive to Xbox and PC.
5. Starfield
- Genre: Sci-fi RPG
- Why It’s Great: Explore over 1,000 planets in Bethesda’s most ambitious game yet
- Xbox Series X Enhancements: Locked 30 FPS in 4K, massive draw distances
- Details: While polarizing at launch, Starfield has improved significantly with updates and mod support. It’s one of the deepest space exploration games available, and feels at home on the Series X.
6. Hellblade II: Senua’s Saga
- Genre: Narrative Action
- Why It’s Great: Visually stunning and emotionally intense
- Xbox Series X Enhancements: Unreal Engine 5 visuals, 3D spatial audio
- Details: A showcase of cinematic storytelling and next-gen graphics, Hellblade II is a short but powerful experience. It sets a new bar for visual fidelity on Xbox consoles.
7. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Next Gen Update
- Genre: Action RPG
- Why It’s Great: One of the best open-world RPGs ever, now with modern polish
- Xbox Series X Enhancements: 4K textures, ray tracing, quality/performance modes
- Details: CD Projekt Red’s masterpiece received a free upgrade for next-gen consoles, adding enhanced visuals and new content. The Series X version makes the world of Geralt more alive than ever.
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)
- Genre: First-person shooter
- Why It’s Great: Fast-paced multiplayer and new zombies mode
- Xbox Series X Enhancements: 120 FPS mode, quick loading
- Details: While the campaign is short, the real draw here is multiplayer. Series X users get the best performance, especially with high refresh rate displays.
9. Sea of Thieves
- Genre: Co-op Adventure
- Why It’s Great: Open-world pirate sandbox that keeps getting better
- Xbox Series X Enhancements: 4K resolution, 60 FPS, quick resume
- Details: Sea of Thieves remains one of the best co-op experiences on Xbox. With new content constantly being added, it’s still a go-to for shared online adventures.
10. Lies of P
- Genre: Soulslike Action RPG
- Why It’s Great: A dark and stylish retelling of Pinocchio in a Bloodborne-inspired world
- Xbox Series X Enhancements: Fast load times, fluid combat, stunning environments
- Details: This surprise hit offers satisfying combat and a creepy, atmospheric world that pushes the Xbox’s visuals and performance to the limit.
What Does “Optimized for Xbox Series X|S” Mean?
Games with the Optimized for Xbox Series X|S badge are built—or rebuilt—to fully take advantage of the new consoles. This often includes:
- Native 4K resolution or dynamic scaling
- Faster loading thanks to the Xbox Velocity Architecture
- Higher frame rates (up to 120 FPS)
- Enhanced textures, draw distances, and ray tracing
- Smart Delivery: buy once, play the best version for your hardware
These optimizations can dramatically change how a game feels to play—cutting load times from minutes to seconds and making combat or movement feel far smoother.
Final Thoughts
The Xbox Series X has come into its own, with a growing list of exclusives, Game Pass day-one releases, and cross-gen upgrades. Whether you love sprawling RPGs, high-stakes multiplayer, or visually dazzling action-adventures, there’s no shortage of quality titles to explore. If you want to experience the best the Xbox ecosystem has to offer, the games above are your essential starting point.
1. Elden Ring
Elden Ring stands out as one of the best games available for Xbox Series X. The game combines challenging combat with a vast open world that players can explore at their own pace.
Players have reported that Elden Ring runs smoothly on the Xbox Series X. Many fans have put in over 170 hours without framerate issues, making combat and movement feel fluid throughout their adventure.
The game has earned impressive recognition from the gaming community. It won numerous awards including The Game Awards Game of the Year and Golden Joystick Awards Ultimate Game of the Year.
Compared to developer FromSoftware’s previous titles, Elden Ring offers improvements in several areas. These include better model quality, denser scenes, enhanced lighting, and improved special effects. These upgrades help make the world feel more alive and engaging.
The game features challenging boss battles that test players’ skills and patience. Each encounter requires different strategies, keeping the gameplay fresh and exciting throughout the journey.
What makes Elden Ring special is how it welcomes both veterans and newcomers. Long-time fans of Dark Souls will feel at home with the combat system, while new players can take their time learning the mechanics in the open world.
The Xbox Series X version takes advantage of the console’s power to deliver impressive visuals. The detailed environments range from sprawling fields to dark, mysterious dungeons.
Players can customize their character with different weapons, armor, and abilities. This allows for unique playstyles that fit how each person wants to approach the game’s challenges.
The story unfolds through exploration rather than traditional cutscenes. Players piece together the lore by talking to characters, reading item descriptions, and discovering hidden areas.
For those looking for a deep, challenging experience on their Xbox Series X, Elden Ring offers countless hours of gameplay in a richly crafted world.
Graphics and Performance Enhancements
The Xbox Series X shines brightest when it comes to visual quality and smooth gameplay. Games that are Optimized for Xbox Series X|S take full advantage of the console’s powerful hardware.
These optimized titles offer faster load times, better visuals, and frame rates up to 120FPS. The difference is immediately noticeable compared to previous generation consoles.
Top Visual Showcases:
- Forza Horizon 5 – Mexico’s landscapes look stunning with realistic lighting
- Cyberpunk 2077 – Night City comes alive with ray-tracing
- Red Dead Redemption 2 – Incredible detail in both characters and environments
- Gears 5 – Spectacular effects and character models
Forza Horizon 5 is often considered the gold standard for Xbox Series X graphics. The racing game combines photorealistic cars with beautiful open-world environments.
Many games now offer two display modes: Performance (higher frame rates) and Quality (better visuals). This lets players choose between silky-smooth gameplay or maximum eye candy.
Ray tracing technology brings realistic lighting to games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Shadows look more natural, and reflections appear true-to-life.
The Quick Resume feature lets players switch between multiple games without long loading screens. This technical innovation makes the gaming experience more seamless than ever before.
Games with action-packed moments benefit from stable frame rates, reducing stuttering during intense gameplay sections. This makes combat in titles like Mortal Kombat 1 feel responsive and fluid.
Unique Features of Xbox Series X Games
Xbox Series X games offer cutting-edge technology that transforms gaming experiences with faster load times and stunning graphics. The platform combines powerful hardware with innovative features that make games more accessible and enjoyable.
Backward Compatibility
The Xbox Series X shines with its impressive backward compatibility features. Players can access thousands of games from previous Xbox generations, including original Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One titles.
Many older games receive automatic enhancements when played on the Series X. These improvements include:
- FPS Boost: Doubles or quadruples frame rates for smoother gameplay
- Auto HDR: Adds high dynamic range effects to games that didn’t originally support it
- Enhanced resolution: Many games run at higher resolutions without developer updates
Games like Halo Master Chief Collection show how older titles can feel brand new on Series X hardware. Players don’t need to abandon their existing game libraries when upgrading consoles.
Smart Delivery
Smart Delivery ensures players always get the best version of their games without paying twice. This consumer-friendly approach automatically provides the optimized version for whatever Xbox console is being used.
When purchasing a game with Smart Delivery, players receive:
- The Xbox One version for older consoles
- The optimized Series X|S version with enhanced features
- Seamless upgrades when moving between console generations
Popular titles using this feature include Forza Horizon 5, Cyberpunk 2077, and Sea of Thieves. The upgrades can be substantial, with games like Sea of Thieves now running at 4K/60fps on Series X hardware.
Smart Delivery also transfers save data between consoles, letting players continue their progress regardless of which Xbox they use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Xbox Series X owners have many questions about which games they should play. Here are answers to common questions about the best titles for Microsoft’s powerful console.
What are some must-have titles to play on Xbox Series X?
Several games stand out as essential experiences on Xbox Series X. Elden Ring is widely considered a must-play title with its challenging gameplay and vast open world.
Halo Infinite offers both an exciting campaign and free-to-play multiplayer that takes advantage of the console’s power. It runs smoothly at 60fps with beautiful visuals.
Forza Horizon 5 shows off what the Series X can do with stunning Mexican landscapes and incredible car physics. The racing gameplay is accessible yet deep enough for enthusiasts.
Which multiplayer games offer the best experience on Xbox Series X?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III provides excellent multiplayer action with quick loading times and stable frame rates on Series X. The haptic feedback through the controller adds to the immersion.
Sea of Thieves has received numerous updates and looks fantastic on Series X. Playing with friends as you sail the seas hunting for treasure is a unique experience.
Destiny 2 runs beautifully on the Series X with improved loading times and steady frame rates during even the most chaotic firefights. The Xbox community for this game is very active.
What games look the most stunning visually on the Xbox Series X?
Flight Simulator is possibly the most visually impressive game on Series X. The photorealistic environments and lighting effects showcase what the hardware can do.
A Plague Tale: Requiem features some of the most impressive lighting and particle effects seen in gaming. The rat swarms consist of thousands of individually rendered creatures.
Cyberpunk 2077, after updates, now runs beautifully on Series X. The ray-tracing effects and dense city environments make Night City feel alive and visually striking.
Could you suggest the top-rated games currently available on Xbox Series X?
According to recent ratings, Elden Ring remains one of the highest-rated games available. Its blend of challenging combat and exploration earned it Game of the Year awards.
Starfield has become one of Bethesda’s most ambitious titles, offering hundreds of planets to explore. Players enjoy the freedom to create their own space adventure.
Diablo IV brings the classic demon-slaying action to Series X with impressive visuals and smooth gameplay. The dark fantasy setting looks incredible on a modern display.
What games are fully optimized to take advantage of Xbox Series X features?
Microsoft Flight Simulator uses the SSD to stream world data seamlessly without loading screens. It also takes full advantage of the GPU for photorealistic graphics.
Forza Motorsport uses ray tracing during races (not just replays) for realistic reflections. The game loads incredibly fast thanks to the SSD and hardware optimizations.
Hellblade 2: Senua’s Saga showcases what the Series X can do with its incredibly detailed character models and environments. The audio design also uses the console’s 3D audio capabilities.
What are the standout Xbox Series X games I can find on Game Pass?
Starfield is available day one on Game Pass and offers hundreds of hours of space exploration. Players can build ships, fight in space, and discover new worlds.
Hi-Fi Rush surprised everyone with its colorful rhythm-based combat system. This Game Pass title combines action and music in a way that feels fresh and fun.
Minecraft lets players take advantage of the Series X’s power with better draw distances and faster loading. Many new Xbox owners find this classic game running better than ever on the powerful hardware.
