So Santa brought you an Xbox Series X or S for Christmas? Great! Now, it’s time to dive into some of the best games the platform has to offer.
1 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
When you fire up Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, you get a great single-player campaign to dive into. It’s a spy thriller set in the early 1990s and features a great story, awesome set pieces, and some of the most incredible gunplay the series has ever seen.
Then you have multiplayer, which comes with all-new maps and various game modes, such as Team Deathmatch, Domination, Kill Confirmed, Hardpoint, Search and Destroy, and Zombies.
2 Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is arguably one of the best-looking console games around. You take on the role of Senua, a Pictish warrior from Orkney (part of modern-day Scotland), as she continues to face threats inspired by Norse mythology while struggling with her own psychosis. It’s an epic cinematic experience, with psychological horror elements, dynamic combo-based combat, and clever puzzles to engage with as well.
3 Starfield
Starfield is an action role-playing game from Bethesda Softworks that puts space exploration and player choice at the forefront. Once you get the keys to your spaceship, you can visit over 1,000 planets and engage in various activities, including main and side quests, combat, resource gathering, building, crafting, and NPC interactions. Starfield encourages you to venture off the beaten path and offers so much variety that everyone’s playthrough will be different.
4 Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite sees the triumphant return of everyone’s favorite Xbox super soldier, Master Chief. In the campaign, you are battling a new alien faction called the Banished. The action takes place in Zeta Halo, a semi-open-world environment where Master Chief must battle foes with an assortment of weapons, vehicles, and an all-new grappling hook that offers some new exciting combat and movement capabilities.
5 Forza Horizon 5
I am not a fan of racing games, but Forza Horizon 5 is one I couldn’t resist trying after seeing the reviews. It was easy to get into since it’s an arcade racer, and it features a beautiful open-world rendition of Mexico that’s packed with hours of content. The game has varied environments, plenty of customizable cars, and a robust multiplayer mode that lets you race against friends or join events with other players around the world.
If you love this one, grab
Forza Horizon 5
now, as it may be
delisted from the Xbox store
due to licensing issues.
Forza Horizon 3
was delisted on September 27, 2020, with
Forza Horizon 4
following suit on December 14, 2024.
6 Gears 5
Gears 5 is the fifth mainline entry in the popular third-person shooter franchise. It’s more narrative-focused than the rest, as you play Kait Diaz (a supporting character in Gears of War 4) on a journey to uncover the origins of the Locust. In addition to your usual cover-based shooting, Kait can explore the game’s world to discover side quests, secrets, collectibles, and materials to upgrade her support robot, Jack.
Gears 5 also comes with a multiplayer component. You have your intense ranked modes, such as Team Deathmatch and King of the Hill, and the more casual non-ranked modes, such as Horde Mode and Quick Play. You can also tackle the campaign with a friend in co-op mode.
7 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle puts you in the shoes of Indy as he goes around the globe trying to stop the usual bad guys from obtaining a world-ending MacGuffin. This first-person game sees you punch, whip, stealth, and occasionally shoot your way through encounters. During the quieter moments, you will be solving puzzles while being immersed in the environment with the first-person camera. It’s a must for any fans of the film franchise (or the immersive sim genre in general).
8 Hi-Fi Rush
Hi-Fi Rush was a bit of a surprise, not because it was shadow-dropped on the day it was announced, but because it came from Tango Gameworks, a studio known for horror games. This vibrant and cel-shaded game is a character action game with rhythm-based combat where timing your button presses to the beat is key. Furthermore, it has a fun cast, loads of humor, bombastic boss fights, and a rocking licensed soundtrack.
9 Grounded
It’s hard to play Grounded and not think of the movie Honey, I Shrank the Kids (it was a heavy inspiration for the game). This is a survival game where you play one of four kids who have been shrunk and need to scavenge, craft, build, and fight for survival in the backyard against giant insects. You can play solo or with three other people through online multiplayer.
10 Psychonauts 2
Psychonauts 2 is a third-person platformer in which you play Raz, a member of an organization tasked with protecting the world from psychic threats. Raz enters the mental landscape of various characters to resolve conflicts that are fueling their actions. He uses his psychic abilities, such as telekinesis, pyrokinesis, and levitation, to fight enemies, solve puzzles, and explore the world. You don’t need to have played the original to jump into and enjoy this modern 3D platformer.
11 Quantum Break
Quantum Break is another third-person shooter from Remedy Entertainment, the developers of Max Payne. But instead of just bullet time being the central mechanic, the characters you play, Jack Joyce (Shawn Ashmore) and Paul Serene (Aidan Gillen—Littlefinger from Game of Thrones), have a host of time manipulation powers. You get a guns-blazing, time-bending, action-packed game with high production values and live-action cutscenes that look decent and are well-acted.
Quantum Break isn’t a Series X|S game, it’s an older Xbox One-era title, but it’s still a great Microsoft exclusive.
All the games mentioned here have one thing in common—they’re all on Game Pass! So, while Santa might have given you the great gift of an Xbox, you can give yourself the gift of Game Pass. If you have been using Microsoft products and services for a while, there is even a way to get a free month of Game Pass Ultimate.