The Best Games To Install First On Your Xbox Series X Or S

With no end to the console wars in sight, it can be a hard choice figuring out which gaming system to budget for. No matter which you choose, you’re sure to have a plethora of games to choose from, but that just leads to more decisions.

4:49

Related

The Best FPS Games For The Xbox 360

Let’s take a step back into the 360 era and check out some FPS games.

Whether you’ve been a long-time fan of Microsoft’s Xbox console, or you’re a new convert with the current-gen, the Xbox X/S has plenty of games to choose from. But, in this near endless list, which should you start with?

10 Baldur’s Gate 3

An RPG For The Ages

RPGs are a go-to for long-term gaming thanks to all the quests, character development, and various exploration that usually comes with them. Perhaps no game on the Xbox X/S does the genre justice like Baldur’s Gate 3.

There is a wealth of character customization that genuinely can take you well over an hour to get through if you want to get detailed. Beyond that is a vibrant world full of fantasy lore and combat that you don’t have to be a Dungeons & Dragons fan to appreciate.

9 Hades

A Godlike Roguelike

The roguelike genre has grown exponentially since its beginning, with one of the prime examples of the genre being Hades. If you like your fair amount of Greek mythology in addition, then this should be one of the first games to play, for sure.

You’ll move through the underworld as Zagreus, son of Hades himself, as you fight creatures, meet other gods, and maybe even delve in some romance on your journey as well. There is a lot to draw new players into this game with so many layers.

8 Elden Ring

Arise Ye Tarnished

Sometimes people find difficulty to be the best part of a new game. If you’re looking for a challenge on your Xbox Series X or S, then look no further than Elden Ring. This game is a soulsborne that takes the sub-genre to a new level.

True, the difficulty of this game is apparent, but it is surprisingly kind to new players thanks to an open world where you can grind levels to help you along your journey. A diverse setting, layers upon layers of lore, and boss fights that will give you chills await.

7 Forza Horizon 5

Start Your Engines

If you’re a racing fan, Xbox still has you covered. While there are plenty of titles even in this one genre, none match the gasoline-soaked excitement that Forza Horizon 5 packs into such a simple game.

There are over 800 cars to drive, modify, and race across an open world with plenty of places to test your speed. Forza Horizon 5 matches playability with the realism that you’d come to expect from such a well-received series.

6 Street Fighter 6

Put Up Your Dukes

Fighting game fans aren’t left with the bare minimum of games, either. Some big, and small, names grace the Xbox store shelves in this action-packed genre. Street Fighter 6 is one such example, and from a series with decades of lauded games.

Related

Every Alternate Outfit In Street Fighter 6, Ranked

All 19 characters in Street Fighter 6 have access to Alternate or Classic Outfits, but which one has the best one?

Street Fighter 6 is unique in the genre for being so well-balanced at being kind to new players and allowing for expert players to have their hand at online play and tournaments. A dynamic roster of fighters mixes with a vivid art style in this modern classic of a fighting game.

5 Sea Of Thieves

A Pirate’s Life For Thee?

Playing with your friends is a great way to break in a new console, and there are a lot of online games out there on the X or S to do so with. Seemingly out of nowhere, Sea Of Thieves has made a name for itself in the online gaming world.

You and up to three of your friends can all get together, grab a ship, and start your adventures on the high seas. It has a surprising amount of variation, with combat, exploration, sea shanties, and even some customization here and there. Just make sure to avoid those creepy skeletons.

4 It Takes Two

A Journey Made Together

Speaking of co-op play, sometimes couch co-op is still king. Especially if you live with your partner, or a roommate that enjoys gaming as well. There aren’t a lot of couch co-op or split-screen games on the Xbox X/S, but It Takes Two is definitely the best of them.

Playing as a pair of dolls, you have to explore various household levels full of puzzles, platforming, and boss fights that can only be solved with teamwork (and a little creativity). It’s a game that isn’t too serious, which is great for easing into a new console.

3 Grand Theft Auto 5

The World, Your Oyster

There are some games on the Xbox X and S that are parts of long-standing series with plenty of accolades. One game that hits all of those marks is Grand Theft Auto 5. This is a great beginning game for the console for a handful of reasons.

Related

The 20 Best Weapons in GTA 5, Ranked

Of all Grand Theft Auto V’s many tools of destruction, which should you never leave home without?

It’s got a great storyline, full of emotion and hilarity. An open world and hours of online content means it feels like multiple games in one. Plus, it is constantly getting updated with better graphics, new content, and fixes, so you don’t have to worry about coming in too late.

2 Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Why Not Multiple Games?

Fans of the earlier Xbox consoles are sure to appreciate everything that Halo has done for not only what Xbox is today but also the world of gaming as a whole. Halo: The Master Chief Collection is the first six games in the series all in one place.

This means an entire era of sci-fi FPS gaming from hours of campaign story, all the way to the games’ classic multiplayer modes on maps that are well-ingrained in the minds of generations at this point.

1 Minecraft

Craft Meets Combat

There are few games out there with so much for everyone as Minecraft. No matter what brings you to enjoying a game, Minecraft probably has it in spades. Which is probably why it’s still going strong since 2009.

An endless amount of options awaits you in creative mode, the place where entire cities have been replicated in block form. Or, you can go into survival mode, where you craft and farm from nothing all the way to fighting the devious Ender Dragon. Solo, or with friends, Minecraft is a game that you can put months into.

Next

The Best Xbox Series X|S Games Of All Time

Since its launch in 2020, the Xbox Series X & S have amassed a library of games readily available – these ones are the best of the bunch.