The best Xbox Series X|S game is Elden Ring, tied with Baldur’s Gate 3 at the platform’s highest Metacritic score of 96. Right behind them, Hades II (95) leads the newer releases and Forza Horizon 5 is the standout Xbox exclusive. With Game Pass, most of this list is a single subscription away. Whether you want an RPG, a racer or a roguelike, the top pick for each is below.
Below are the best Xbox Series X|S games ranked by Metacritic score, with release year and genre. Scores are the Xbox critic aggregate; where games tie, the more essential Xbox experience is placed higher. Many are also on Game Pass on day one.
The best Xbox Series X|S games, ranked
Ranked by Metacritic as of 2026. Year is the Xbox release; genre marks the style of game.
| # | Game | Year | Genre | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elden Ring | 2022 | Action RPG | 96 |
| 2 | Baldur’s Gate 3 | 2023 | RPG | 96 |
| 3 | Hades II | 2025 | Roguelike | 95 |
| 4 | Persona 5 Royal | 2022 | JRPG | 94 |
| 5 | Metaphor: ReFantazio | 2024 | JRPG | 94 |
| 6 | Resident Evil 4 (remake) | 2023 | Survival horror | 93 |
| 7 | Hades | 2021 | Roguelike | 93 |
| 8 | Forza Horizon 5 | 2021 | Racing | 92 |
| 9 | Microsoft Flight Simulator | 2021 | Simulation | 90 |
| 10 | Forza Horizon 6 | 2026 | Racing | 90 |
| 11 | Resident Evil Requiem | 2026 | Survival horror | 89 |
| 12 | Diablo IV | 2023 | Action RPG | 88 |
| 13 | Hi-Fi Rush | 2023 | Rhythm-action | 88 |
| 14 | Halo Infinite | 2021 | FPS | 87 |
| 15 | Sea of Thieves | 2018 | Adventure | 85 |
| 16 | Star Wars Jedi: Survivor | 2023 | Action-adventure | 85 |
| 17 | Stellar Blade | 2026 | Action | 84 |
| 18 | Starfield | 2023 | RPG | 83 |
Why Game Pass changes the maths
The Xbox library’s real strength is Game Pass. Almost every game on this list — and most first-party titles on day one — is included in the subscription, so trying Hades II, Forza Horizon 5, Starfield or Hi-Fi Rush costs nothing extra. Xbox leans on Bethesda, Blizzard and its own studios for exclusives like Forza and Halo, while the biggest third-party RPGs, Elden Ring and Baldur’s Gate 3, sit right at the top. It is the best-value way to play a huge slice of the best games going.
The essential Xbox games
Four games no Xbox owner should miss.
Xbox and PS5 share most of the biggest multiplatform games — see how the PlayStation side compares in our best PS5 games ranking. Elden Ring and Baldur’s Gate 3 also top our best RPGs list, and Forza leads our best racing games ranking.
Best Xbox game by type
Straight to the top pick for what you want to play.
| Type | Best pick |
|---|---|
| RPG | Elden Ring / Baldur’s Gate 3 |
| Xbox exclusive | Forza Horizon 5 |
| Racing | Forza Horizon 6 |
| Roguelike | Hades II |
| Shooter | Halo Infinite |
| Horror | Resident Evil Requiem |
| Co-op adventure | Sea of Thieves |
| Best on Game Pass | Hi-Fi Rush |
Many of these all-time greats also sit on our overall best games of all time ranking.
