10 Best Xbox Series X/S Games You Can Play Now (2022)

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Featured in this articleThe Xbox Series X is a big console, and it’s chock-full of powerful next-gen hardware. However, it can be tricky to find games that really make the most of all that brawn. Which games are going to serve the most delicious and irresistible eye candy? We’ve tested dozens of Xbox titles on Microsoft’s latest hardware, and there are definitely a few top contenders.

These are our favorite games for the Xbox Series X and Series S, and each one is gorgeous. If you don’t have either of the new systems, all of these games are also available for the previous-generation Xbox One. Also, if you pay for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you may already have access to some of these titles. (We’ve indicated the games that are available.) The subscription service remains the best deal in console gaming: You get access to more than 300 games and usually new first-party titles from Microsoft-owned studios (like Halo Infinite).

Be sure to check out our guides to the Best Xbox One Games, Best Online Co-op Games, and our Xbox Series X/S tips and tricks to get the most out of the consoles.

Updated December 2022: We’ve added Elden Ring, Pentiment, and Control, and updated links and prices throughout.

Courtesy of BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment

Lands BetweenElden Ring (Xbox)

FromSoftware’s latest game, Elden Ring, is the long anticipated collaboration between the storied game studio and author George R. R. Martin. Following in the footsteps of the Dark Souls series, Elden Ring puts you in the shoes of a wretched undead creature crawling out of the grave to seek the ancient and terrible power of the eponymous Elden Ring. This journey takes you to the Lands Between, a dizzyingly vast open world you can explore with the help of your adorable goat-pony, Torrent. Easily one of the best games for Xbox Series X, and one of the best games ever.

Courtesy of Obsidian Entertainment

A Living TapestryPentiment

Pentiment is an odd one. It’s a role-playing game that puts you in the shoes of an artist who makes illuminated manuscripts in the 16th century. The game itself is rendered in beautifully realized illustrations that look like they’ve leaped straight from the pages of the illuminated manuscripts you make as part of your adventure across 16th-century Bavaria. You’ll solve puzzles, investigate murders, engage in lively debates, and explore lusciously illustrated vistas during your travels.

Also included in Xbox Game Pass.

Courtesy of Xbox Game Studios

Return of the KingHalo Infinite

You can’t have an Xbox console without at least one brand-new Halo game. Halo Infinite is the latest entry in the series, and it sees the return of the Master Chief, a few other old friends, and the introduction of a brand new Halo installation to explore. This one differs from previous entries in that it’s an open-world game, allowing players to explore the vast Halo installation and unlock its mysteries at their own pace.

Available for on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.