The 15 best Xbox Series S/X games to play in 2025
It was November 2020 when Microsoft launched its latest console duo into the rapidly evolving gaming marketplace. Over four years later, the Xbox Series X – together with its more budget-friendly counterpart, the Series S – has amassed an impressive and varied library of games, ranging from sprawling open-world blockbusters to intimate indie puzzlers. If you're just getting started with the console, here are 15 games that represent the variety on offer, each one interesting, enjoyable and rewarding in its own right.
Thirteen years after the original game, cursed horror author Alan Wake returns, now trapped in an alternate dimension and determined to write his way out, while FBI agents close in on the mysterious town of Bright Falls.
Why we love it: 'a thoroughly entertaining blend of detective procedural and surrealist survival horror.' Read the full review.
One of the greatest role-playing fantasy games of the modern era, providing players with almost as much narrative and imaginative freedom as a table-top D&D adventure as they face off against the mighty mind-flayers.
Why we love it: 'It's a towering landmark of an RPG. Bustling with life, brimming with scope, and bursting with imagination.' Read the full review.
The long-awaited sequel to Double Fine's cult 3D platformer sees the return of psychic acrobat secret agent Raz embarking on a mission to root out a dangerous new adversary.
Why we love it: 'I've rarely played anything that is so unashamedly itself. Each hour is different, each character distinct and memorable, each new psychic playground full of surprises.' Read the full review.
Hideo Kojima's elegiac science-fiction adventure is like nothing else you'll ever play, a post-apocalyptic quest to save humanity, following a parcel courier with an extremely valuable and unlikely parcel.
Why we love it: 'This uncompromising, unashamedly political work of artistic intent is 2019's most interesting blockbuster game by a distance.' Read the full review.
A grandiose fantasy opera from the makers of Dark Souls, filled with spectacular landscapes, bizarre characters and seemingly insurmountable bosses. Complete with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC it's a challenging and engrossing open world like no other.
Why we love it: 'This is a massive world, astonishingly rendered (the sun and moon wheel in the sky, casting each scene anew) and seemingly limitless in its creative diversity. It is an unrivalled feat of design and inventiveness.' Read the full review.
A beautiful open-world driving game providing hundreds of square miles of the British countryside to explore while racing other drivers, completing challenges and collecting stunningly modelled supercars.
Why we love it: 'As driving games go, it's the best I've ever played, not only because of its irresistible scenery, exhilarating driving and perfectly recreated cars, but because spending time with it puts me in a lasting good mood.' Read the full review.
Fight your way out of hell while enjoying the horny shenanigans of ancient Greek gods. Has there ever been a more attractive premise for a Rogue-like action role-playing romp?
Why we love it: 'Interesting things happen all the time, and no matter how long I spend with Hades I feel like I am only just getting acquainted with it.' Read the full review.
Better known for its horror adventure series The Evil Within, Tokyo studio Tango Gameworks surprised us all with this stomping rhythm action brawler where enemies, action and hallucinogenic environments are all in sync with the infectious beat.
Why we love it: 'As brazenly colourful as a Jet Set Radio fever dream, it's refreshing to play a game that is so unashamedly music-centred.' Read the full review.
The ultimate crafting adventure, providing a vast procedurally generated world to explore and an almost limitless range of activities from building castles, to fighting zombies, to competing in mini games. Fifteen years old and showing no sign of running out of ideas.
Why we love it: 'By constructing the world from 1x1 blocks that can be arranged in every imaginable combination, Minecraft is perhaps the closest we have to a true god game.' Read the full review.
In an Alpine Bavarian village during the 16th century a young artist sets out to solve a series of gruesome murders. With luscious visuals inspired by illuminated manuscripts of the era, this is an extraordinary detective adventure.
Why we love it: 'It provides a wonderfully evocative window into the past […] a gift to any player who longs for a historical setting that's more than a surface texture.' Read the full review.
A group of Tokyo high-school students develop incredible powers and set out to battle evil and corruption – while also falling in and out of messy adolescent love. Part sprawling metaphysical role-playing game, part super cute dating sim.
Why we love it: 'With its stylish cuts and transitions, loose and unorthodox structure and real-world setting Persona 5 is unlike any other video game. Its depth and texture far outstrips even earlier games in the series.' Read the full review.
Arguably the greatest ever survival horror game, brought bang up to date while retaining its mix of bloody thrills, cunning puzzles and truly horrible monsters.
Why we love it: 'It is resplendent, delicious and decadent, like an incredibly rich banquet served amid the detritus of some horrible battle.' Read the full review.
Effectively a pirate fantasy simulator, player crews take to the high seas together, discovering buried treasure and battling with other buccaneers. A rollicking co-op adventure filled with memorable moments of shared excitement and hilarity.
Why we love it: 'You'll laugh, you'll sail, you'll drink grog until you're sick. What a luscious, singular sandbox experience.' Read the full updated review.
Gruff monster hunter Geralt takes on his defining quest as he searches for his adopted daughter Ciri through a chaotic world of giant beasts and warring factions. Memorable characters and a rich seam of romantic tension bring depth to the destruction.
Why we love it: 'Geralt has a Swiss army knife of interactive tools, and his set of abilities offer a uniquely varied and diverse journey'. Read the full review.
This hilarious, shambolic and gripping refresh for the Yakuza series features low-level gangster Ichiban Kasuga attempting to get his life back in order on the mean streets of Yokohama. Come for the fights, stay for the karaoke.
Why we love it: 'Like a Dragon preserves the old-fashioned, somewhat unreconstructed vibe of the previous Yakuza games, while adding a new twist that diverts it into a different genre […] a very Japanese, gangster-themed, interactive comedy soap opera'. Read the full review.
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Games Inbox: Will Nintendo games ever come to PC?
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Doesn't sound likely but I think you could say that for a lot of things that have happened recently, which is basically what the Reader's Feature about PlayStation 5 was getting at this weekend. So I wouldn't rule out Nintendo games coming top PC at some point. I agree that Sony seem to be out of the conversation at the moment and are not influencing gaming the way they used to, whether the PlayStation 5 is selling or not. Even if Microsoft can never compete with them on even ground, I still feel they'd like to see Sony taken out of the picture and this way they can use someone else to do it. Manson The plan worked I had no intention of getting Elden Ring Nightreign because of it being multiplayer-focused but it's still disappointing to find out that it was a cheap cash-in and that it's popular anyway. FromSoftware are one of the developers I respect the most right now, but this is really disappointing to me. 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EXCLUSIVE From hanging with 'Jeff Bezos' to hitting rock bottom: Inside the secret life of alleged Aussie fraudster who hit up American high society - and then skipped town
An alleged Aussie fraudster posing as a friend to the rich and famous is accused of emptying the wallets of socialite millionaires in one of America's most refined cities. Timothy Alford, the brother of Sydney socialite Hollie Nasser, left quite an impact on high society in the charming 'Old South' city of Charleston, South Carolina. After an 18-month whirlwind of women, flashing the cash, big wheel deals that never quite made it, and passing around photos of himself with a man who he claimed was Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, Alford left town without even paying the dog groomer. It is only now - after news of a $50million embezzlement investigation by the FBI into Alford, and his connection with the hit Paramount+ drama Fake - that Charleston authorities have been forced to do its own investigation into his time in the city. One man-about-town who Alford befriended told Daily Mail Australia that the alleged con man's behaviour became 'more and more bizarre, and then one day he was gone'. Charleston's experience with the elusive Alford only came to light after an investigative series by Nine Newspapers revealed late last year that the FBI has launched an investigation into fraud allegations against him. The accusations span two countries and involve alleged scams against US multi-millionaires and the ex-wife of a French president. Charleston realtor Matthew Brockbank contacted Daily Mail Australia following an article about Alford's real life connection with the show, Fake. In Fake, the love rat character played by Australian actor David Wenham who preys upon Asher Keddie's character, alludes to how he had allegedly been scammed himself. That alleged scammer was none other than Alford, the big brother of Hollie Nasser. Alford's alleged $6million scam on the romance con man Sean Lander (played in the show by Wenham) escalated to a creepy online threat toward Alford's family. It was just another tangled tale for a family that has repeatedly been at the centre of scandal and intrigue in recent years. But now more information has come to light regarding Alford's alleged exploits in Charleston, a city renowned for its historic charm, luxury hotels, culture and pre-Civil War architecture. Mr Brockbank said that Alford arrived in Charleston in 2020 and left suddenly in 2021. While Alford was awash with cash at first - 'always insisting he would pay and it was always cash' - by the end of his 18 months in the city he had grown 'p***ed off, stressed, angry and asking people to pay'. 'He was always flashing money, like a successful businessman and wannabe high roller. There were always women around,' Mr Brockbank said. 'He showed photos of himself with (Amazon boss) Jeff Bezos and (Mötley Crüe drummer) Tommy Lee to brag and was always talking about wheeling and dealing in Los Angeles and New York. Realtor Matthew Brockbank (left) has some bizarre stories about Alford's time in Charleston, where the Australian was always asking to buy expensive property but never quite coming through with the money Tim Alford is the brother of Hollie Nasser (above) who in 2021 became a central part of Sydney's biggest love scandal when she ran off with her best friend's husband 'He would always pay cash and refuse to let anyone else pay, and then left town owing debts. I had a buddy who lost a bunch of money. With me, all he did was waste a s***load of my time.' On several occasions, Alford asked the real estate agent to set up property deals which never came to fruition. One time he said 'Matthew I'm going to relocate to South Carolina, can you find me land up to $50million for polo ponies, that has a polo field'. But when Mr Brockbank tried to nail Alford down on the financials, the deal - like all his others - did not come together. 'About four times I said "I need to see proof and talk to the financial adviser", but no. I said whatever, he took me to dinner, and I don't hold a grudge, but it's an insane ego boost pretending to buy places. 'And then, suddenly he disappeared.' Mr Brockbank said one of the more bizarre schemes was Alford's alleged bid to buy all the antiques from a private club which had gone bust in Charleston. Mr Brockbank's mother, an antiques expert, spent days going through the wares and putting together 'a really good deal'. 'I said I needed to get the money first ... and he said "I'll get it to you later". He kept on saying "I'll have the money in two days to you".' The money never eventuated, the deal fell through, and the antiques were sold at auction. Then there was the unpaid dog groomer. 'This was even more bizarre. Alford had a beautiful golden retriever and one of his assistants, a young girl, would take it to Carrie, the dog groomer.' Carrie Montgomery operates one of Charleston's most stylish grooming business called The Dog Wash, in the city's historical downtown area. 'The assistant would always pay with her (personal) credit card to Carrie and when she found out the assistant wasn't being paid back, she told the girl "you're not paying me any more". 'Tim absolutely lost his mind at this and then said "it's ridiculous how much you charge" and paid her nothing. 'Next thing he came to me ... and said "we're going to open a dog grooming business". 'Tim told me he would be the investor and that would show Carrie he could run a dog grooming business. He left town right after that.' Mr Brockbank at first believed Alford may have gone to Dubai, but later learnt via his direct Instagram messages that Alford was in South America. 'Hell ... owing money in countries like Colombia and Dubai, they'll straight up chop his head off,' he said.
