After making its surprise debut at The Game Awards in 2019, the Xbox Series X left viewers𒊎 and audience members alike with the promise of unprecedented power inside its tower-li♒ke form factor. And while its claim of being powerful enough to "power your dreams" seemed a bit lofty, we'd also gotten our first taste of that power during that award ceremony.
Best Story-Driven Games Oᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚn The🉐 Xbox Series X|S
If you're looking for a great narrative experience on the Xbox,🍒 then these games are a must.
This came through a tech demo for Hellblade 2 by Ninja Theory, showing Senua's face being rendered in real-time with an almost impossible level of detཧail. Since the console launched, we've had quite a few games come forth, proving the machine's capabilities. What follows are a few games that put all the extra teraflops in both the Xbox Series X and S to good use💟.
Updated February 08, 2025 by Sanyam Jain: If you want to push your console to its limit, one of the best games to do that would be Stalker 2: Heart Of Chornobyl. Apart from adding that, we've also added more information for each game on this list!
13 🥂 High On Life
- Released
- December 13, 2022 🔜
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Violence, Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Use of Drugs, Strong Lꦜanguage, Crude Humor
- Developer(s)
- 🌟 ꦓ Squanch Games
- Publisher(s)
- Squanch Games, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Game Studios
- Engine
- Unreal ❀Engine 4
- PC Release Date
- ⭕ December 13,🐓 2022
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- 🐈 December 13, 2022
- PS5 Release Date
- ✤ July𒆙 22, 2023
- Platform(s)
- PC, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series X, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- How Long To Beat
- 10 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 57 GB (November 2023) 🐠 ♛
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
A day-one launch title for Xbox Game Pass, High on Life is a hectic, comedy-focused shooter with talking guns. What more do you need? It's silly, it's full of jokes, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:fourth-wall breaking, and absolute nonsense through and through.
However, whether or not this is your style of game, it's undeniably gor🍬geous. It uses a cartoony style to portray the many different environments you'll explore throughout this wild adventure, and all of it looks incredibꦐle.
With so many types of♛ locations to explore, effects to play around with, and strange-ꦿlooking sentientweapons to be way too close to you at all times, this is a worthwhile game for the visual experience alone.
12 Scorn
- Released
- ♚ October 14, 2022
- ESRB
- 𝐆 💜 M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes
- Developer(s)
- ๊ 🌳 Ebb Software
- Publisher(s)
- 🐬 Ebb Software
- Engine
- ༒ Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- Scorn
- Platform(s)
- PC, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series X
- How Long To Beat
- 7 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- ꧅ 18 GB (November 2023) ꧂
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Launched in𒐪 time for Halloween in 2022, Scorn subverted expectations by being more of a puzzle-based walking simulator than an outright horror game like . However, despite its lack of action, fans of the works by H.R Giger will find a lot to love about Scorn and its grotesque visual aesthe🤡tic.
The use of its biomechanical art design is reminiscent of the , and the game can shock and disgust the strongest stomach. The corridors and machinery look like they were created out of something once alive. Scorn is a more artistic take on the horrorꦏ genre. It isn't scary, but the visuals running in 4K on a large screen have the power to shock and disgust.
It's only let down by the respective nature of the game and perhaps the overuse of yellows, browns, and grey. As a result, the🦄 shock value does wear off.
11 Grounded
Grounded
- Released
- ꦫ September 27, 2022ꦰ
- ESRB
- ⛎ 🏅 Teen // Blood, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Game Studios
- Engine
- 🥂 Unreal Engine 4
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op ꧒
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Nintendo Switch, PC
As a studio better known for creating RPGs like 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Pillars of Eternity and 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Star Wars: Knight⭕s of the Olꦯd Republic 2, the base-building survival game Grounded is something ♎of a departure. However, it's not the first time the studio has developed games outside the traditional CRPG genre. The well-received is still highly regarded as one of the best-licensed video games of all time.
12 Unmissable Indie Games On Xbox Gam💜e Pass
These Indie titles on Game🍃 Pass are ones you ne🥀ed to check out.
With Grounded, Obsidian has created one of the best games on the console. If you grew up i꧑n the 1980s loving Honey, I Shrunk the Kids starring Rick Moranis, then Grounded is the closest you'll get to a video game capturing the spirit, feel, and perspective of the movie. Just like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, you take on the role of a teenager shrunk down to the size of an insect.
Your protagonist and three other teens have to survive in their backyard fending off spiders, scorpions, and more. It's a beautiful game with a colorful art style and vibrant vegetation, ponds, and giant-sized litter that can be used for shelter. Grounded is one of the most creative and best-looking games on thཧe Xbox Series X/S.
10 Stalker 2: Heart Of Chornobyl ⛄
- Released
- 2024
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- 🦩 GSC Game World 🍌
- Publisher(s)
- ꦚ GSC Game World 𓂃
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5 ꦜ ꧋
- Platform(s)
- Xboxꦛ Series X and Series🦩 S, Microsoft Windows
If a game features an open-world as big as Stalker 2: Heart Of Chornobyl, you can already expect it to take a 𝕴lot of performance out of your device. However, the kind of graphics presented in this game takes it to the next level. As the name suggests, you'll be playing at the center of the radiation disaster in this one.
As you e🅰xplore The Zone, you'll🍬 get to know about how it changes everyone's personality while facing danger every step of your way. To make it even better, your choices can have a lasting impact with a whopping four different endings that you can reach.
9 Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
- Released
- 🐻 August🦩 16, 2017
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blo𒅌od and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Ninja Theory
- Publisher(s)
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Ninja Theory
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4 🎶
- Franchise
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Hellblade
- Platform(s)
- PS4, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series X, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series S, Switch, PC
- How Long To Beat
- 8 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 𓆉 ♛ 19 GB (November 2023)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
First launched in 2017 for the PC and PS4, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice was remastered for the Xbox Series X/S in 2021, and the difference in visuals is like night and day. It's a dark fantas⛄y action adve🎉nture steeped in Celtic folklore and Norse mythology. The dark aesthetic doesn't hide what is one of the best-looking games on the system despite its last-gen roots.
The Xbox Series X/S version features a new enriched mode option by adding DirectX Raytracing. As a result, reflections and shadows look better than ever, and the use of vol🌟umetri𒉰c lighting contributes to what was already an atmospheric experience from start to finish.
In addition to the visuals, Hellblade has an incredible audio design that encourages you to wear headphones as the voices in a Senua's replace waypoints and a HUD. It'🦩s a unique experience that's best experienced on the Xbox Series X/S and PC.
8 ෴ Psychonauts 2 🐓
- Released
- Au🔯gust 25, 2021
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacc🗹o
- Developer(s)
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Double Fine
- Publisher(s)
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Game Studios
- Engine
- 🤡 Unreal Engine 4 ಞ
- Franchise
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Psychonauts
- Platform(s)
- PS4, Xbox One, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series X, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series S, PC, Linux, macOS
- How Long To Beat
- 16 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 28 GB (November 2023) 🍌
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Following a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2015, Double Fine set out to make its most ambitious game yet in the form of Psychonauts 2, a sequel to the action-adventure platformer, which had made its debut on the original Xbox in 2005. Xbox Game Studios subsequently acquired the studio in 2019, which no doubt helped to inject even more resources into the p🧜roject.
Thankfully, all that extra time a🃏nd resources paid off in the final product, which is arguably one of the best-looking games to grace an Xbox console in recent memory. The game debuted to unanimous praise, with most of that praise being directed at its gr♏aphics and inventive level design.
The striking quality of its visuals might have more to do with its art direction tha𒊎n the sheer number of polygons being rendered on the screen, but it is all still brought to life so vividly ꧙on the Xbox Series X and S.
7 Sea 🏅Of Tღhieves
- Released
- ▨ March 20, 2018
- ESRB
- 𒁏 T for Teen: Crude Humor, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Rare
- Publisher(s)
- ♊ Microsoft Game Studios
- Engine
- 🐼 Unreal Engine 4
- Multiplayer
- 🔥 ⭕ Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS5, Xbox ﷺOne & Xbox Ser🌱ies X|S
- Platform(s)
- PC, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:PlayStation 5, Xbox One, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series S, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series X
- How Long To Beat
- 130+ Hours 🐲 🍌
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 89 GB (December 2023) ꦑ
- Metascore
- 69
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PC, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S, PS5 ๊
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
While a little bit of an older game now, in comparison to current-gen releases, Sea of Thieves still deserves its praise for just how beautiful it is. Not only does it hold up as stunning in the absolutely nailed art style it goes for, but it also has enhancements for the Xbox Series X and S, making it even more beautiful than e🐻ver.
If you need any convincing, it won't take long here. As soon as you set sail o𝔉n th♏at boat of yours, the ocean waves will wow you instantly - and they will continue to wow you for hours to come.
There are other aspects of the game that are beautiful as well, of course, such as the islands and caverns you can explore; 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:but damn, that water looks incredible.
6 Halo Infinitಞe
- Released
- December 8, 2021 ൲
- ESRB
- ♎ T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Viol🎀ence
- Developer(s)
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:343 Industries
- Publisher(s)
- 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Game Studios
- Engine
- Slipspace
- Multiplayer
- ♏ Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, Xbox One & Xbox Serꦛies X|S 💝
- Cross Save
- yes
- Franchise
- Halo
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox One, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series X, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series S
- How Long To Beat
- 12 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 90 GB (Novℱember 20🦹23)
- Metascore
- 87
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PC, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S 🐻
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
It is stil🅷l hard to believe that the Xbox Series X launched without Halo Infinite or any other kind of must-play title to justify its purchase.
But given how poorly received the game's first showing had been in 2020, 343 Industries had no choice but to delay it into a 2021 launch 🃏window so that it could receive the kind of polish fans expected from a next-gen Halo game with some of the best graphics on the Xbox Series X/S.
Best Choice-And-Consequence 🧔Games On Xbox Game Pass
There are plenty of titles o🔯n Xbox Game Pass that task you with making the big decisions.
The gam🐬e wouldn't come until the tail end of 2021, though, b♍y which time it was clear that the additional year and a half of development time had paid off in spades.
Not only did it look leagues better than it originally did in that initial build, but it also boasted one of the best sandboxes featured in a Halo game,𓃲 hearkening back to the freeform exploration first seen in Halo: Combat Evolved on the original Xbox.
5 𝓡 🐼The Ascent
- Released
- July 29, 2021 🦋
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Refer♒ence, Sexual Themes, Strong ♏Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- 🐓 Neon Gian❀t
- Publisher(s)
- ꧟ Curve Digital 💙
- Engine
- 🅰 Unreal Engine 4 ꩵ
- Multiplayer
- ꦛ Local Co-Op, Online Cꦫo-Op
- Split Screen Orientation
- 🐎 N/A (Shared Screen)
- Platform(s)
- PC, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:PlayStation 4, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:PlayStation 5, Xbox One, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series X, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series S
- How Long To Beat
- 12 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- 🐲 ไ Extra & Premium
- Local Co-Op Support
- 🔴 🍰 1-4 Players
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
When discussing the most graphically demanding games, one does not typically think that a twin-stick shooter played from a top-down, isometric viewpoint would fit the bill. Except now we have The Ascent, the debut game from indie developer Neon Giant, proving we haven't seen everything 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:that particular style of play has to offer.
The game was unveiled during an Xbox showcase in 2020 but failed to launch along𓄧side the Xbox Series X as originally intওended. It would instead get launched in 2021 as a timed console exclusive.
Despite being developed by a team of just 11 people, the game still serves as a worthy showcase for the capabilities of the Xbox Series consoles, wowing players with its densely detailed cyberpunk-inspired world. The fact that it had launched with some technical issues is a further testament to just how hard it was pushing the h🍌ardware.
4 Starfield
- Released
- September 6, 2023 🗹
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ꦛ Due To Blood, Sugge𒉰stive Themes, Use of Drugs, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Engine
- 🦄 proprietary engine 🌜
- Cross-Platform Play
- 💞 no multiplayer 𒊎
- Cross Save
- no
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- Platform(s)
- PC, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series X, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Xbox Series S
- How Long To Beat
- 20 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- ꦓ 101 GB (September 🎶2023)
- Metascore
- 86
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
It might not have made the "ten-year" splash that Bethesda had been hoping for, but has still sold pretty darn well, and its plethora of worlds all pop with visual splendor that sells in a way that's far more important for us players - it sells the universe.
Lush worlds brimming with greenery. Desolate worlds f🦂ull of rocks. Red-tinted worlds, strikingly hostile. Oceanic oasis worlds. 🥀And the skies, oh the skies - seeing a planet's gorgeous rings high above you is an unforgettable moment, and Starifeld is bursting with these awe-inspiring bits.
