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
- 700 games in this category
- 94 average rating of the top 30
- 30 median playtime in hours
- 28 release years covered (1997 to 2025)
- 5 of 30 playable in co-op
- 13 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 700, 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.
- 01 97/100
- 02 96/100
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Details
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 - 03 96/100
- 04 95/100
- 05 95/100
Resident Evil 4 (Remake 2023) Details
Described in detail under The best horror games
PCPlayStationXboxMobileSwitch - 06 95/100
Return of the Obra Dinn Details
Described in detail under The best puzzle games
PCPlayStationXboxSwitch - 07 94/100
Forza Horizon 5 Details
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 - 08 94/100
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Details
Described in detail under The best mobile games
PCPlayStationXboxMobile - 09 94/100
- 10 94/100
- 11 94/100
Ninja Gaiden Black Details
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 94/100
- 13 94/100
Red Dead Redemption 2 Details
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 94/100
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Details
Described in detail under The best RPGs
PCSwitchXboxMobile - 15 93/100
- 16 93/100
- 17 93/100
Burnout 3: Takedown Details
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 93/100
Dave the Diver Details
Described in detail under The best simulation games
PCPlayStationSwitchXboxMobile - 19 93/100
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Details
Described in detail under The best mobile games
PCPlayStationXboxMobile - 20 93/100
- 21 93/100
- 22 93/100
- 23 93/100
- 24 93/100
Resident Evil 2 (Remake 2019) Details
Described in detail under The best horror games
PCPlayStationXboxSwitchMobile - 25 93/100
- 26 93/100
SSX 3 Details
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 - 27 93/100
Street Fighter 6 Details
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 - 28 92/100
- 29 92/100
Batman: Arkham Knight Details
The finale of the Arkham trilogy sends Batman up against Scarecrow and an entire lineup of old foes across a fully drivable Gotham City. The Batmobile becomes a fixed part of combat and puzzles for the first time.
PCPlayStationXboxSwitch - 30 92/100
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Details
Described in detail under The best RPGs
PCPlayStationXboxSwitch
Worth reading on this
Common questions
- How many games of this kind are in the database?
- There are currently 700. 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 30 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.
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