It has been four months since Microsoft released the Xbox Series X, the company's new flagship console leading Xbox players to the new generation of console gaming. Although there are still stock shortages of the Xbox Series X in some areas, more and more players are finally getting their new consoles.
The question now is, are there enough games on the Xbox Series X right now? In terms of pure Xbox Series X games, those are still limited right now. However, Xbox Series X players have tons of cross-gen games to choose from that are optimized for the new console. For players who are looking for the best Xbox Series X games right now, here are the 10 highest-rated Xbox Series X games according to the review aggregate site Metacritic.
1. Ori and the Will of the Wisps - 92
Topping this list is Ori and the Will of the Wisps, a platform-adventure Metroidvania style video game released by Moon Studios in March 2020. The game was then optimized for the Xbox Series X during its launch, making it one of the first few games available to the console. Serving as a direct sequel to 2015's Ori and the Blind Forest, Ori and the Will of the Wisps features improved graphics while retaining the narrative and melee combat from its predecessor. Shortly after its release, Ori and the Will of the Wisps received mostly positive reviews thanks to its gorgeous visuals and challenging combat.
2. Tetris Effect: Connected - 92
Tetris Effect: Connected is the updated version of Tetris Effect, which was launched in 2018. Apart from upgrading visual fidelity and gameplay, Tetris Effect: Connected is also optimized for the Xbox Series X. Additionally, 4 new multiplayer modes have been added to the game. These include variations of the Score Attack Mode, which has been popular in previous Tetris games, and the titular Connected Mode. In Connected Mode, three players team up to defeat AI-controlled bosses.
3. Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate - 88
Since its release in 2019, Mortal Kombat 11 has seen several DLC expansions that brought new characters to its roster. Now, for players who want to get in on the full Mortal Kombat 11 experience, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate includes all previously released DLC characters. Additionally, Ultimate also includes the Aftermath expansion. For those unfamiliar, Aftermath brings a new story content that revolves around what happened after Mortal Kombat 11's main story.
4. Hitman 3 - 87
IO Interactive's Hitman 3 serves as the eighth main installment to the franchise and the third and final entry to the World of Assassination trilogy, which began with 2016's Hitman. Although Hitman 3 was originally released to the Xbox One, the Xbox Series X optimized version of the game takes advantage of the new console's capabilities, such as faster load-times and better framerate performance.
5. Control Ultimate Edition - 87
When Remedy Entertainment first released Control in 2019, the game proved to be a critical success after winning several Game of the Year awards. However, the last-gen version of Control also suffered from performance issues, which is why players on the Xbox Series X are better off with Control Ultimate Edition. This new version of the game fixes all of the original version issues and bundles it with Control's post-launch DLC.
6. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time - 85
The Crash Bandicoot franchise is undoubtedly the most popular platforming game in the 90s and early 2000s. After a long hiatus and a slew of not-so-good spin-offs, Crash Bandicoot made a huge comeback in 2016 with the remake of the first three games in the series, and just last September, Activision released Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. Serving as a direct sequel to Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped, It's About Time received overwhelmingly positive reviews given that many consider it as the franchise's true return to the spotlight.
7. Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition - 84
Devil May Cry 5 was released by Capcom to last-gen consoles back in 2019. The game received mostly positive reviews and has sold 2 million copies in under two weeks. Last November, Capcom released Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition for the Xbox Series X, featuring the addition of Vergil as a playable character. Apart from Vergil, the Special Edition of Devil May Cry 5 also added improved performance, making it the best version to get for players on the Xbox Series X.
8. Planet Coaster: Console Edition - 84
Planet Coaster is a construction management and simulation video game originally released to the PC in 2016. In November of 2020, Frontier Developments released Planet Coaster Console Edition to the Xbox Series X that features everything in the PC edition but with controls optimized for consoles. Players are given three different modes in the game: Sandbox, Challenge, and Career. Sandbox mode allows players to construct a theme park from scratch, while Challenge mode is similar to Sandbox but with added challenges. In Career mode, players assume the role of a theme park manager who must complete several tasks and challenges.
9. Assassin's Creed Valhalla - 84
Assassin's Creed Valhalla is the latest installment in the Assassin's Creed franchise that revolves around a fictional story during Britain's Viking invasion. Players take control of Eivor, a Viking raider who finds themselves in the middle of a conflict between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order. Shortly after its release, Assassin's Creed Valhalla received mostly positive reviews due to its emphasis on the adventure and exploration components that made the Assassin's Creed franchise a household name.
10. Gears 5 - 83
Gears 5 is a third-person shooter game by developer The Coalition. The game was originally released to the PC and Xbox One in 2019 and the Xbox Series X in 2020, making it one of the first games available on the new console. Gears 5 takes place several months after the events of Gears of War 4. Apart from a single-player campaign, Gears 5 also supports three-player local split-screen or online multiplayer gameplay.