The age-old Xbox vs PlayStation debate has finally been put to rest, with the latter attaining an insurmountable lead over the former. That being said, Xbox continues to be a leading games platform with some stellar first-party studios as well as a loyal community of players. Its Series X and Series S consoles continue to receive the latest AAA releases, while Game Pass remains the best value-for-money subscription service that gaming has to offer.
These are positive signs for Xbox as a whole, but the sheer range of games released on the platform can cause plenty of confusion among players. To help ease your selection burden, we’ve put together a list of the very best Xbox games that you should check out in 2026, including details on what makes them worth your hard-earned cash.
List of Best Xbox Games to Play Right Now
Below, you’ll find a quick overview of the 15 best Xbox games to play in 2026. Some of these titles are also present in the Xbox Game Pass service, so we highly recommend checking out the full catalogue before making a purchase.
| Name | Genre | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Baldur’s Gate 3 | Turn-based RPG | December 7, 2023 |
| Indiana Jones and the Great Circle | First-person Action-Adventure | December 9, 2024 |
| Resident Evil Requiem | Survival Horror | February 27, 2026 |
| Doom: The Dark Ages | First-person shooter | May 15, 2025 |
| Kingdom Come: Deliverance II | Action RPG | February 4, 2025 |
| Sea of Thieves | Multiplayer Action-Adventure | March 20, 2018 |
| Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 | Third-person shooter | September 5, 2024 |
| Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | CRPG | April 24, 2025 |
| Split Fiction | Co-op Action-Adventure | March 6, 2025 |
| Keeper | Third-person Adventure | October 17, 2025 |
| Elden Ring | Third-person Soulslike | February 25, 2022 |
| Hi-Fi Rush | Third-person Rhythm-Action | January 25, 2023 |
| Forza Motorsport | Sim Racing | October 10, 2023 |
| Alan Wake 2 | Third-person Survival Horror | October 27, 2023 |
| Arc Raiders | PvPvE Extraction Shooter | October 30, 2025 |
Baldur’s Gate 3
- Release Date: December 7, 2023
- Developer(s): Larian Studios
- Genre: Turn-based RPG, Adventure, Strategy
Two years on from its initial release, Baldur’s Gate 3 remains one of the best games that you can play on any platform. Larian’s turn-based RPG offers such a wide breadth of choice and consequence, coupled with some of the most compelling characters the genre has ever seen. There’s a reason why it won all those Game Awards and why it never drops below a 20% discount. We highly recommend finding out why if you’re still holding out.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Released: December 9, 2024
- Developer(s): MachineGames
- Genre: First-person Action-Adventure
The best thing we can say about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is that it feels like a genuine part of the original trilogy. MachineGames successfully translated the whip-cracking magic of the silver screen into a first-person adventure that does justice to the iconic character. In the Great Circle, you’ll spend hours punching Nazis, pulling off death-defying stunts, and making archeological discoveries that would make Professor Ravenwood proud. How could you possibly need any more convincing?
Resident Evil Requiem
- Release Date: February 27, 2026
- Developer(s): Capcom
- Genre: First/Third-person Action, Survival Horror
Resident Evil Requiem is the delicious result of putting the best elements of the franchise into a blender. It’s part spooks, part action thrills – balancing the tension of scurrying into a dark corner with the sheer satisfaction of roundhouse kicking zombies into oblivion. It’s also part first-person horror, part third-person shooter, and an absolute blast from top to bottom with a gameplay focus as razor-sharp as Leon Kennedy’s gaze. It’s already recognised as one of the best Resident Evil games of all time, which naturally makes it one of the best games on Xbox.
Doom: The Dark Ages
- Released: May 15, 2025
- Developer(s): iD Software
- Genre: First-person shooter, boomer shooter
A wise man once said, “DOOM is BOOM,” and for our money, Doom: The Dark Ages is the “boomest” Doom yet. Yes, it’s a massive gameplay departure from Doom 2016 and Eternal, but with those changes, iD Software has crafted the punchiest power fantasy you’ll ever play. Throughout its 15-hour duration, you’ll be marauding through dark fantasy battlefields and mowing through hordes of demons as a literal super weapon of unstoppable proportions.
The level design is immaculate, the gunplay is superb, and even the story produces some memorable moments. If all the chatter surrounding the game has you confused, allow our Doom: The Dark Ages review to convince you of the title’s greatness.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Release Date: February 4, 2025
- Developer(s): Warhorse Studios
- Genres: Action RPG, Open World Adventure
If you’ve ever wanted to feel the actual weight of a longsword or the genuine anxiety of being a soldier in the middle of a civil war, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is your definitive medieval simulator. Warhorse Studios has doubled down on everything that made the original a cult classic, refining the hardcore mechanics into something that feels deeply rewarding rather than punishing.
It’s a world where your reputation precedes you, where showing up to a royal court covered in mud and blood will get you laughed out of the room, but putting on some shining armor will earn you reverence like nothing else. Luckily for you, KCD 2 recently joined the Game Pass catalogue, so there really is no reason not to check it out immediately.
Sea of Thieves
- Released: March 20, 2018
- Developer(s): Rare Ltd
- Genre: Action-adventure
Sea of Thieves is a fantastic fit for Xbox and offers a unique pirate adventure. To begin with, it captures the thrill of the high seas. You and your crew set sail on a beautiful open world, navigating by the stars, battling waves, and steering clear of treacherous rocks.
The core gameplay loop of sailing, exploring, and plundering is deeply satisfying, especially with friends at the helm. The title also has an amazing online sandbox nature, where you can team up with other players and have fun, making it one of the best crossplay games on the market.
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2
- Released: September 9, 2024
- Developer(s): Saber Interactive
- Genre: Third-person shooter
Warhammer 40,000 is one of the deepest and most intimidating sci-fi universes out there. It houses dozens of factions and chapters upon chapters worth of lore. Despite this, we can guarantee that you’ll have the greatest time playing Space Marine 2 even if you don’t have a lick of knowledge about the franchise. Besides the narrative framework, what makes the game so compelling is the visceral nature of its combat and the sheer spectacle of its environments.
You’ll go from one gorgeous skybox to the next, staring at the glorious destruction that has befallen the locale until a World War Z-sized horde of Tyranids starts clambering over each other in a desperate rush to slash you to death. And guess what? You’ll stand there in your bespoke metal armor, strike a power pose, and welcome the carnage with open arms. If you aren’t shouting “For the Emperor” by the time credits roll, then feel free to scream at us in the comments.
Clair Obsur: Expedition 33
- Release Date: April 24, 2025
- Developer(s): Sandfall Interactive
- Genres: Turn-based RPG, Action-Adventure
If Final Fantasy and Bloodborne had a high-fashion, Belle Époque-inspired love child, it would look exactly like Expedition 33. Developed by indie outfit Sandfall, the turn-based RPG places you in a hauntingly beautiful world where a “Paintress” wakes up once a year to paint a number on a monolith, erasing everyone of that age from existence. This hook immediately makes the stakes feel personal while the engaging turn-based combat and the stellar cast of characters do the rest.
Split Fiction
- Release Date: March 6, 2025
- Developer(s): Hazelight Studios
- Genres: Co-op Action-Adventure
From the geniuses behind It Takes Two comes Split Fiction – a co-op adventure that has somehow managed to raise the high bar the 2021 GOTY winner previously set. What makes the game so special is its genre-bending approach, which forces two players to navigate completely different gameplay styles simultaneously.
Think one player traversing through cyberpunk environments while the other strolls through a vibrant fantasy world – all on the same screen. The magic lies in how these two perspectives literally bleed into each other, requiring genuine communication and high-speed coordination to solve inventive environmental puzzles. If you’re looking for a game to enjoy with a loved one, then Split Fiction is the best Xbox game for you.
Keeper
- Release Date: October 17, 2025
- Developer(s): Double Fine Productions
- Genres: Third-person Adventure
Keeper is a short-and-sweet third-person adventure where you play as an awakened, ancient lighthouse navigating a surreal ocean alongside a lone seabird companion. The only tool at your disposal is your light, of course, acting both as a tool for navigation and as a weapon against encroaching shadows.
The game is incredibly linear, with next to nothing in terms of side distractions, but that’s honestly part of the charm. You can blow through Keeper in one sitting, and quickly consume its cozy, contemplative narrative. In a time when most games are stuffed with bloat and busywork, Keeper is an Xbox first-party title that respects every minute you give it.
Elden Ring
- Released: February 25, 2022
- Developer(s): FromSoftware, Inc.
- Genre: Soulslike, Action RPG
Elden Ring is one of the hardest video games on Xbox, and for good reason. The game offers an incredible open-world experience for RPG lovers. The Lands Between is vast and full of secrets to uncover, challenging enemies to conquer, and rewarding loot to unearth. Elden Ring’s difficulty feels above-balanced, whether you’re a Soulsborne veteran or a newcomer.
You can explore freely, finding new areas and powering up your character before tackling tougher foes. And if things get too spicy, Xbox’s seamless co-op lets you summon a friend for backup. You can start immediately and see if you want to get the Erdtree DLC for a more challenging adventure.
Hi-Fi Rush
- Released: January 25, 2023
- Developer(s): Tango Gameworks
- Genre: Rhythm Action
Hi-Fi Rush is an ideal game for Xbox Game Pass users. However, even buying the game is worth it as it offers a lot of freshness that most new titles lack. Hi-Fi Rush is an amazing combination of action-rhythm gameplay and a creative art style. If you want something new in the hack-and-slash combat genre, then Hi-Fi Rush deserves your attention on Xbox. Unfortunately, our dreams of getting a Hi-Fi Rush sequel are over.
Forza Motorsport
- Released: October 10, 2023
- Developer(s): Turn 10 Studios
- Genre: Sim Racing
Although there are plenty of Forza games to choose from, we are picking the latest due to its spectacular visuals and sim racing focus. Forza Motorsport delivers a fantastic balance between accessibility and simulation. You can tailor the experience to your skill level with adjustable difficulty settings and driving assists. This makes it welcoming to newcomers who want a casual racing experience but also caters to seasoned players who crave realistic simulation.
As mentioned earlier, the visuals in this latest edition will fully utilize your Xbox console. This will create a more exciting experience when you are racing in real-world locations. Forza Motorsport also has over 500 cars to choose from, most of which are recreated with painstaking precision.
Alan Wake 2
- Released: October 27, 2023
- Developer(s): Remedy Entertainment
- Genre: Third-person Survival horror
If you are more about the story than the action, then Alan Wake 2 is the best horror game for Xbox. The game packs some mind-bending aesthetics and visuals, complemented by great sound design that sends goosebumps down your spine every time you load up the game. In short, Alan Wake 2 is a perfect merge of exploration and scares in a AAA title.
Arc Raiders
- Release Date: October 30, 2025
- Developer(s): Embark Studios
- Genres: PvPvE Extraction Shooter
As stated in our Arc Raiders review, the extraction shooter has single-handedly revolutionized the genre by delivering both style and substance. The extraction loop itself is sublime, with unpredictable enemies and juicy loot to keep you occupied. On top of this, the game’s retro-future, post-apocalyptic aesthetic is so alluring that simply wandering across Topside is an absolute joy. The cherry on top is, of course, the game’s wonderful community, who are always keen on collaboration, leading to wholesome moments that all happen organically.
There’s an argument to be made that Arc Raiders is the best multiplayer game you can play right now, and as such, it’s the perfect title to round out our list of the best games on Xbox.
These are the best Xbox games you should try right now. Have you played any of these already? Let us know in the comments below!
Rishabh Sabarwal
