Best of
The best Xbox games
The Xbox lives off its library and the subscription behind it, which is both a blessing and a problem: with that much choice you eventually have no idea where to start. This list filters out the titles that are actually worth it.
This list in numbers
- 674 games in this category
- 94 average rating of the top 30
- 35 median playtime in hours
- 27 release years covered (1998 to 2025)
- 5 of 30 playable in co-op
- 12 of 30 are cheap or free
Why these three lead
Elden Ring takes the top spot with 97 out of 100, followed by Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain at 96 and Undertale at 96. All three clear the 94 point average of this list, and the gap to the rest of the field is small enough that your own taste matters more than the ranking.
How this list is put together
I start from every game in the database that fits this category, currently 674, and sort them by the aggregated critic rating. The 30 highest scoring titles make the list. No publisher can pay to appear here, and the affiliate links have no effect on the order. The full method is explained under how I pick.
- 1
- 2
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Profile
Big Boss builds a private mercenary army in the eighties and infiltrates huge open military areas in Afghanistan and Africa. Free stealth systems, base building and emergent mission approaches make every task individually solvable.
PCPlayStationXbox - 3
- 4
- 5
Resident Evil 4 (Remake 2023) Profile
Described in detail under The best horror games
PCPlayStationXboxMobile - 6
Return of the Obra Dinn Profile
Described in detail under The best puzzle games
PCPlayStationXboxSwitch - 7
Forza Horizon 5 Profile
A vibrant arcade racer set in a huge, open recreation of Mexico with hundreds of vehicles. Approachable handling and constant seasonal events keep the world feeling alive.
PCXboxPlayStation - 8
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Profile
Described in detail under The best mobile games
PCPlayStationXboxMobile - 9
- 10
- 11
Ninja Gaiden Black Profile
Ninja Ryu Hayabusa fights demons and ninja clans with brutal precision in one of the most demanding action titles of its era. The 2005 Black edition bundles all improvements over the original and is considered the definitive, mercilessly hard version.
- 12
- 13
Red Dead Redemption 2 Profile
An epic cowboy tale about loyalty and the downfall of an outlaw gang in a dying Wild West. The pacing is deliberately slow and the world feels alive down to the smallest detail.
PCPlayStationXbox - 14
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Profile
Described in detail under The best RPGs
PCSwitchXboxMobile - 15
- 16
- 17
Burnout 3: Takedown Profile
Fast arcade racing rewards risky driving, ramming opponents, and spectacular slow-motion crashes. The 2004 classic remains the benchmark for action packed, unrealistic arcade racing and can be played on original hardware or via emulation.
PlayStationXbox - 18
- 19
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Profile
Described in detail under The best mobile games
PCPlayStationXboxMobile - 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
Resident Evil 2 (Remake 2019) Profile
Described in detail under The best horror games
PCPlayStationXboxSwitchMobile - 27
- 28
SSX 3 Profile
On one huge connected mountain, snowboarders race each other with wild tricks and exaggerated speed. The 2003 classic is considered the best entry in the arcade winter sports series and remains playable via backward compatibility or emulation.
PlayStationXbox - 29
Street Fighter 6 Profile
A technically deep fighting game with modern and classic control schemes for beginners and pros alike. The open world mode World Tour also offers an RPG-like solo experience.
PCPlayStationXboxSwitch - 30
Worth reading on this
Common questions
- How many games of this kind are in the database?
- There are currently 674. This page shows the 30 with the highest critic rating, so nothing below that cut is missing by accident, it simply scored lower.
- What is the single best pick right now?
- Elden Ring, with 97 out of 100. That said, the top of this list sits within a few points, so the second or third entry may fit your evening better.
- How much time do these games ask for?
- The median across this list is about 35 hours. 10 of the 30 entries are finished in fifteen hours or less if you are short on time.
- Can I play these with friends?
- 5 of the 30 entries support co-op. The rest are built as single player experiences.
Prefer a recommendation tailored to tonight instead of a list? The finder takes three minutes.
Find your next game →