Last year was really rich in terms of games. From many very good to excellent titles, we genuinely had the opportunity to enjoy a very large number of very good games.
But which of those games was the best for Microsoft’s Xbox Series X console, you’ll find out in the following article!
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
A game that fixed everything that could be fixed from standard Cyberpunk. An action RPG is what Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is and it has gone through a turbulent cycle of creation. Released in what was, to put it mildly, an incomplete and bug-ridden console release, it took three years of constant patching and a brilliant piece of DLC to turn the hugely ambitious but undeniably bug-ridden game into a modern masterpiece.
As soon as you fire up Cyberpunk’s DLC, you’ll be treated to one of the most beautiful games in console history. Night City is simply a stunning space that you can easily get lost in, the game mechanics are surprisingly great on almost every level, and that means the Ray Tracing capabilities on the Xbox Series X console are nicely polished.
Maybe the beginning was difficult, but when it comes to good endings, then it can be said that Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the games for which the saying is definitely true: “It’s better to end something and start another than to imprison yourself in hoping for the impossible.”
Forza Horizon 5
Following in the footsteps, or rather tire tracks, of Forza Horizon 4, Forza Horizon 5 pretty much perfected the series’ open-world driving and racing formula. Now set in Mexico and harnessing the power of the Xbox Series X, the game not only looks amazing but runs significantly better. There’s a huge amount of content for you to go through, in different Mexican environments.
Car handling works better than ever and offers just the dose of realism you want without being too corny. Whether you’re into racing or not, Forza Horizon 5 is still a top Xbox Series X game that you should really check out.
Psychonauts 2
In many aspects, Psychonauts 2 is an odd but fascinating game. It’s a good idea to check out this game because it is one of the rare ones that you will come across, especially when it is well-designed. This much-awaited sequel, which is a combination platformer and puzzle game, has all the biting humor you’d have hoped for from a Tim Schafer creation. Nothing compares to Raz’s journey that changes perceptions, which is precisely why it’s one of the greatest Xbox Series X standalone games.
While perhaps the pacing of the story is a bit inconsistent at times, this is a minor flaw that can easily be forgiven. The reason why this shortcoming can be so easily forgiven is all the pluses that this game has, and there are plenty of them: from the beautifully designed characters, the interesting game world, and the simply interesting way of playing the game, Psychonauts 2 is a game whose pluses far outweigh the minuses.
Let’s be honest: how can you not love a game that revolves around a little guy with a smashed pumpkin for a head who can control the powers of telekinesis, levitation, and ignition?
Elden Ring
Anyone who enjoys this kind of RPG game, including admirers of Dark Souls, shouldn’t miss this one. Elden Ring is the open-world Souls game you’ve always been waiting for. It provides a large open world with numerous dungeons, formidable monsters, and common opponents that must be defeated.
If a fight is too difficult for you, you can use the open world and bypass some fights, which you can, if you want, come back to later when you have better weapons, equipment, and experience. As the first foray into a truly open world, Elden Ring marks another great game from the Souls world. It may lack the extremely polished structure of Dark Souls or Dark Souls 3, but regardless, the game still offers a compelling experience for fans of tough but fair games wrapped in a dark fantasy setting.
Resident Evil Village
Although Resident Evil is one of the franchises most associated with the PlayStation, it has been a multi-platform series for some time. The eighth sequel, which was released in 2021 and whose DLC, “Shadow of Rose” was released last year, did very well on Microsoft’s console. On the Xbox Series X console, you have access to Ray Tracing and the Smart Delivery system, which means that if you bought the game on Xbox One, you get a free update to the Series X and Series S versions.
The game Resident Evil Village is a good blend of action adventure and survival horror, with a percentage ratio of about 65:35. Is it among the best games in the series? Nope. Is it still worth your time, though, particularly if you have an Xbox Series X system? Indeed.
Halo Infinite
Despite being the most successful eSports game from the Xbox “line-up” thanks to the famous Halo Championship series, which has been drawing huge interest among competitive gamers since 2014 and being on the offer of the best US dollar bookmakers 2024 here after 11 teams confirmed for the 2024 season (9 hailing from North America and only 2 from Europe), the two previous Halo games were somewhat lackluster. Now, Halo Infinite is back with a bang, literally thanks to a new grappling hook that lets you swing over chasms and climb cliffs with ease. Seemingly taking over the Silent Cartographer mission from the original game, Halo Infinite is a semi-open world game where you can tackle various missions and tasks in any order you want and in different ways, such as taking out enemies from a distance or using the giant Scorpion tank.
A little more variation in the environments and a better story would have been nice, but in terms of pure Halo fun and action, Halo Infinite is a huge success and an absolute must-have and must-play for anyone who wants a great first-person shooter on Xbox Series X console.
Gears of War 5
It could be argued that the Gears of War franchise, by the time Gears of War 4 came out, was on its way out, at least as far as the single-player game was concerned. But Gears 5 marked a triumphant return to form for the series. Of course, the game comes with flashy cutscenes full of bombastic scenes, as expected from a Gears game. But there’s also action, which is what the Gears series has been known for since the early days.
Gears of War 5 is a gorgeous and tasty game, with all the hallmarks of the original series remaining. The joy of quick recharging is just the cherry on top. The game has quite impressive graphics as well. The X series’ increased power improves shadow and texture detail and adds a “lightweight” version of Ray Tracing. Playing Gears 5 is essentially limited to running the game at a consistent 60 frames per second in 4K.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
The most recent installment in Ubisoft’s venerable Assassin’s Creed historical action/stealth series is called Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. This time, you’ll be in charge of Eivor, a Viking warrior who has to find his tribe a new home in the remote lands of medieval England. You can engage in all of the standard Assassin’s Creed activities here, such as tracking down missions and treasure, pursuing Templar operatives, amassing a collection of combat and stealth weapons, and more. As any decent Viking would, however, you’ll also construct a village, sail by longship, and raid monasteries.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla loads fast and aims for consistent 4K/60 frames per second on the Xbox Series X. Not only is the game visually stunning, but it also functions brilliantly and never keeps you waiting to get back into the action, whether you’re retrying a particularly uncomfortable boss fight or quickly exploring the world.
Hitman 3
Hitman 3, the last game in the World of Assassination trilogy, is an amalgam of all the lessons creator IO Interactive took away from its other Hitman titles. Hitman 3 is essentially the best version and application of every system the Hitman remake has delivered since 2016, despite the fact that it doesn’t add anything to the game. Having said that, the game features a number of nearly flawlessly designed missions with a variety of intriguing approaches to take down various targets.
They might be anything from simple pushes of a structure to cunning ploys. Some of the missions that are particularly noteworthy are breaking into a rave party in Berlin, exploring the neon-lit, rain-soaked streets of Chongqing, China, and breaking into a farmhouse in the desolate and windswept region of English Dartmoor. Aside from the many settings, though, the mission structure is intricate and profound. You can either turn off a lot of suggestions and work things out on your own, or you can take advantage of a succession of opportunities that present themselves to meticulously kill a challenging target. In any case, the Hitman experience on the Xbox Series X system is going to be among the best.
Sea of Thieves
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to step into the boots of a pirate from a game reminiscent of an animated movie, sailing the high seas with four other ships, pillaging islands and sinking other ships just for the sheer joy of it? If the answer is yes, then Sea of Thieves is the game for you.
What started as a somewhat thin experience on Xbox One and Windows has matured into a much deeper game full of secrets. The optimized version for Xbox Series X will run in 4K and a smooth 60 fps, making the whole experience even more fluid and enjoyable.