The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles are now out in the wild.. The specs and features of both devices are undoubtedly brilliant, but the games are of course the most exciting aspect. So, what is worth playing right now?
We’ll have a dedicated article featuring all of the best upcoming games for both consoles in the near future, but for now we’ve rounded up the best games from present and future for Microsoft’s duo of powerful machines.
This list will be updated frequently throughout the next few months, as Microsoft has promised to unveil even more first and third-party games fairly soon – but for now, have a look below at the best Xbox Series X and Series S games. While thin of the ground in terms of exclusives, there’s still plenty of good stuff to jump into.
Cyberpunk 2077
Developer: CD Projekt Red
Release Date: December 10, 2020
Whenever Cyberpunk 2077 has been showcased to the general public on the world stage, it has been given a helping hand by Xbox. It’s reveal “hacked” a press conference while the legendary announcement of Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhands had the Microsoft Theatre audience losing their minds. Trust us, and we were there.
It was a wonderful moment and an indicator of the deep relationship between these two companies. So, chances are, if Cyberpunk 2077 ever comes to Xbox Series X, it will look absolutely gorgeous. CD Projekt Red has already confirmed that its upcoming RPG will scale well with future technology, so perhaps we’ll see an enhanced port or ‘GOTY Edition’ in the coming years. Either way, we cannot wait to finally play it.
Related: PS5 vs Xbox Series X
Halo Infinite
Developer: 343 Industries
Release Date: 2021
It’s been almost four years since the release of Halo 5: Guardians, which is a long absence from Master Chief and company, especially when The Reclaimer Trilogy remains unsolved after a truly epic cliffhanger. Cortana has gone rogue, taking control of UNSC systems across the galaxy. Oh, and she’s found another Halo ring, meaning she could bring the entire universe down with her if Chief, Arbiter and friends don’t stop her before it’s too late.
Halo Infinite will continue this story, despite not being a numbered entry in the franchise. It’s heading in a new direction, aiming to depict wider environments and more ambitious mechanics all made possible by Slipstream Engine. Chances are you’ll be teaming up with friends, taking on missions and finally concluding a narrative we’ve been waiting years to see come to fruition. It’s time to finish the fight.
Microsoft recently announced that Halo Infinite would no longer be a major launch title for Xbox Series X, which is a massive blow to the console’s early library. It noted logistical problems and overall quality as the reason for pushing things back, with a new release date yet to be confirmed beyond a loose 2021 window. The game will be definitely be better for it, but it’s still a huge shame we’ll have to wait until next year to play it.
Related: Everything we know about PS5
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Developer: Ubisoft
Release Date: Out Now
Following in the footsteps of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, the next entry in Ubisoft’s open-world series will take players to The Viking Age scattered across Great Britain, Norway and Scandinavia. It’s poised to be a vast, beautiful and ambitious adventure which will build further upon the series’ growing adoption of RPG mechanics.
Much like Odyssey, you can choose between a male or female protagonist, and will have your very own settlement to grow and mould into your own virtual home throughout the game’s campaign. Chances are its occupants, atmosphere and morales will be influenced by your own decisions. Obviously, players can once again expect the franchises’ signature exploration, combat and massive sense of scope, pushed even further with next-gen consoles.
Related: Best Racing Games
Dirt 5
Developer: Codemasters
Release Date: Out Now
Dirt 5 is officially the first racing game officially confirmed for Xbox Series X. While a Forza title is almost guaranteed to arrive within the first year of the Xbox Series X launch, the Dirt 5 reveal will no doubt be great news for all racing fans.
The reveal trailer showed that the various Dirt 5 tracks would take place all across the globe, including New York, China, Italy and Brazil. Codemasters also said there will be the widest array of cars available to drive in a Dirt game yet.
Details were also offered for the career mode, with industry legends Nolan North and Troy Baker confirmed to be lending their voices to some significance characters in the story.
Related: Best PC Games
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
Developer: Hardsuit Labs
Release Date: 2021
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines has become a cult classic since its release a number of years ago. Many believed a sequel would never surface, but Hardsuit Labs was more than happy to to dispel such worries with Bloodlines 2. This new entry is coming to both PS5 and Xbox Series X, and poised to introduce a deep, subversive RPG experience that takes everything we loved about the original and improves upon it.
You can expect deep storytelling, nuanced factions and a variety of ways to tackle each given situation. The world you inhabit is also drenched in atmosphere, proving to be both strangely charming and absolutely terrifying in equal measure. After a number of delays, Bloodlines 2 will hopefully receive a concrete release date in the coming months, too.
Related: Best Xbox One Games
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Release Date: Out Now
Having already been released as a PS4 exclusive in Japan, Yakuza: Like a Dragon will be arriving on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and PC in the West later this year. That’s more platforms than any Yakuza launch before it, and teases a hugely exciting future for Sega’s cult franchise. It’s one we’ve been screaming about from the rooftops for years here at Trusted Reviews, and we can’t wait for its popularity to skyrocket.
For those unfamiliar, Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a role-playing video game set in Yokohama, Japan. Unlike previous entries in the series, this is a turn-based affair featuring a new protagonist, new city and an abundance of new zany activities to partake in throughout the massive campaign. It’s still somewhat alien to see such an established PlayStation franchise make a splash on Xbox, but if it means even more people can enjoy it, who are we to complain.
Madden NFL 21
Developer: EA Tiburon
Release Date: Out Now
Major sporting franchises are always some of the first big hitters to arrive on new consoles, and Electronic Art’s Madden NFL 21 is no different. While not hugely popular in Europe, Madden is absolutely massive in the United States, and will likely be one of the console’s biggest and most ambitious launch titles.
Fans of the franchise can expect gorgeous visuals, a new selection of modes and updated rosters which reflect the current state of NFL. Given that much of the season has been suspended due to Covid-19, this could be quite an usual year for sporting sims, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be just as fun to play.
Hellblade 2: Senua’s Saga
Developer: Ninja Theory
Release Date: TBA
Ninja Theory is one of many studios now living under the Microsoft umbrella, developing games exclusively for Xbox platforms and PC. So, it’s no surprise the company has used this newly acquired ownership to develop a sequel to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. The original was an immensely personal journey which delved into the themes of mental health like few games had and left a huge impression as a result.
We know little about Senua’s Saga thus far, beyond the fact it will be available on Xbox Series X and will once again star the titular character of Senua. Despite its excellent storytelling, the combat and puzzles of the first were decidedly underbaked, holding it back from greatness for many. If Ninja Theory can create something with more mechanical complexity with the heart-wrenching story intact, it could be something special.
Marvel’s Avengers
Developer: Crystal Dynamics
Release Date: Out Now (backward compat), Q1 2021 (next-gen)
Given the rampant success of Marvel’s cinematic universe, we’re surprised it’s taken the company this long to break into the gaming realm. However, it’s clear the company has taken it’s time, ensuring the iconic team’s first foray into the virtual medium is done right, and is far more than a generic licensed tie-in we’ve seen hundreds of times before.
Developed by Crystal Dynamics (who you may remember from the Tomb Raider trilogy), Marvel’s Avengers is a sprawling co-operative adventure which will see you play as Iron Man, Hulk, Black Widow, Captain America, Thor and Miss Marvel. Each of these heroes has their own slate of abilities, enhanced by a sprawling customisation system where you can change every little component, whether it’s a belt buckle or an entire outfit.
Square Enix has confirmed Marvel’s Avengers will tell a completely original story and will be supported for years to come with new heroes, missions and unlockables for players to pursue. From what we’ve played, it feels like Marvel’s approach to something like Destiny or The Division, hoping players will invest a huge amount of time into its huge, inviting world.
Resident Evil 8: Village
Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 2021
A new entry to the Resident Evil series was confirmed during the PS5 showcase, with the survival horror series taking a new approach by expanding its roster of murderous monsters to include werewolves.
Capcom has hit a hot streak recently, with both Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil 2 gaining critical acclaim. We’re hoping Resident Evil 8 continues this form, with the new next-gen hardware giving it a visual upgrade at the very least.
The only downside is that the next Resident Evil entry won’t launch until 2021, but with the Xbox Series X boasting such a strong line-up already, we don’t think that’s a major issue.
Far Cry 6
Developer: Ubisoft
Release Date: TBA 2021
Far Cry 6 is a new entry in Ubisoft’s flagship shooter franchise coming to current and next-generation consoles, and it’s set to stand out from previous titles with an ambitious new setting and Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito in the starring role. It looks to be a gorgeous open-world shooter for the next generation, and will hopefully push the tired franchise forward in some exciting ways.
It will take place on the fictional Caribbean Island of Yara, which has been heavily inspired by Cuba. Ubisoft describes it as “the largest Far Cry playground to date” and a “tropical paradise frozen in time.” So this explains why a tyrannical regime has managed to emerge without the interference of wider civilization.
Watch Dogs Legion
Developer: Ubisoft
Release Date: Out Now
Watch Dogs Legion takes players to a future vision of Britain where the controversial Brexit result has turned London into a neon-drenched dystopian hellscape. A sudden terrorist attack has brought the capital under authoritarian rule, with military police roaming the street and putting unruly citizens into submission.
You are DedSec, and can recruit anyone in the world to a resistance to seeks fight back against evil powers and liberate the city of London. By completing missions you can play as literally anyone in the open world, each with their own unique skills and abilities to experiment with. It’s an exciting new direction for the series, even if the impact of its political storytelling seems a bit divisive.
FIFA 21
Developer: Electronic Arts
Release Date: Out Now
FIFA 21 is making a predictable splash on next-generation consoles later this year, and will be bringing with it an assortment of visual and mechanical enhancements alongside all the expected licenses and teams being renewed from the previous season. The Covid-19 pandemic means the world of professional sport has been a little strange this year, but things are slowly returning to normality.
This year’s installment will see all your usual modes, teams and mechanics alongside the return of Volta – a new vision of street football which debuted with FIFA 20. Don’t expect a new chapter in Alex Hunter’s The Journey anytime soon though, it seems Electronic Arts has abandoned that. Either way, football fans have a lot to look forward to with this one.