The best Xbox One games in 2022

What are the best Xbox One games?

Choosing the best Xbox One game is a difficult task. However, there are some outstanding games that are well worth a look regardless, such as Doom Eternal and Gears 5 in the shooter genre, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in the third-person RPG genre, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which combines Samurai combat with Dark Souls-style difficulty.

Then there's Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption 2, a game that's as beautiful to look at as it is to play, especially on the Xbox One X. We'd argue that it's a must-have for any Xbox gamer.

For fans of driving and racing games, there's Forza Horizon 4, which runs very well on the Xbox One X. If you can't decide what to play, Xbox Game Pass offers a large selection of games for a low monthly subscription fee.

The best Xbox One games you can buy right now

1. Red Dead Redemption 2

Choosing the best Xbox One game is a difficult task. However, there are some outstanding games that are well worth a look regardless, such as Doom Eternal and Gears 5 in the shooter genre, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in the third-person RPG genre, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which combines Samurai combat with Dark Souls-style difficulty.

Then there's Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption 2, a game that's as beautiful to look at as it is to play, especially on the Xbox One X. We'd argue that it's a must-have for any Xbox gamer.

For fans of driving and racing games, there's Forza Horizon 4, which runs very well on the Xbox One X. If you can't decide what to play, Xbox Game Pass offers a large selection of games for a low monthly subscription fee.

2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Is it your thing to battle mythical beasts like dragons and wraiths? Do you enjoy embarking on epic quests that promise untold riches? Do you enjoy spending hours playing cards? How would you like to navigate a love triangle, star in a play, decide the fate of a nation at war, and square off against an unstoppable villain who has plagued you for two games? The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the game for you.

The third entry in the Witcher series follows protagonist Geralt of Rivera as he searches for his lost love and his adopted daughter across The Continent. This bombastic title, billed as one of the largest open-world third-person action role-playing games on the market, is one that players should expect to spend at least 100 hours with, and is easily one of the best Xbox One games for RPG fans.

3. Dishonored 2

Dishonored 2 is, unsurprisingly, the sequel to the first Dishonored. While the stealth meets magical powers and frenetic first person action formula remains, the game can now be played from two perspectives: Corvo Attano from the first game and Empress Emily Kaldwin from the second. Both have unique abilities that allow you to navigate the game's inventive missions and areas in new ways, as well as dispose of targets in novel ways. Or you could simply choose not to use any power or kill anyone; the immersive sim nature of Dishonored 2 allows you to complete objectives in pretty much any way you see fit.

The original game's environment and level design were excellent, but Dishonored 2 simply takes it to a new level, with The Clockwork Mansion and Crack in the Slab being particular highlights. Even if you're not a fan of stealth games, Dishonored 2 is worth a look for its sheer variety, style, and creative, albeit bloody, fun you can have within the game's systems. It, along with its DLC, is also available on Xbox Game Pass.

4. Doom Eternal

Doom Eternal amplifies everything great about the 2016 Doom reboot. The adrenaline-pumping first-person shooting action in the game is more dynamic and fluid than ever, thanks to a sandbox of weapons and skills that allow you to create a ballet of beautiful violence during every encounter. Slaying demons across a demon-infested Earth is a blood-soaked blast thanks to new abilities like the flamethrower and all-powerful blood punch, as well as new platforming moves like the double jump and air-dash.

Doom Eternal is one of the best shooters in years, thanks to a satisfying progression system, tonnes of secrets and collectibles, and absolutely breathtaking visuals and level design. It's a cathartic, satisfying experience with a better-than-expected story and an incredible sense of atmosphere. It's without a doubt one of the best Xbox One games in a long time.

5. Gears 5

Gears 5 is the biggest and most beautiful instalment yet in Microsoft's enduring third-person shooter franchise, as well as one of the best Xbox One games. Gears 5's ambitious campaign, this time focusing on Kait Diaz and her quest to understand her Locust heritage, combines vehicular open-world exploration with the most satisfying and dynamic cover shooting the series has seen yet.

There's also a lot of multiplayer content, such as a pick-up-and-play Arcade mode, a full competitive suite, a revamped Horde experience with character-specific abilities, and a tense co-op Escape mode. It's also the best-looking Gears game yet, with vibrant, colourful environments that look great on both the Xbox One S and Xbox One X.

6. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Are you up for a real challenge? Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the latest brutal action-RPG from Dark Souls developer From Software, requiring you to carefully hack your way through a mythological version of 16th-century Japan filled with monstrous enemies out to kill you. Sekiro deviates from the Dark Souls formula by allowing you to grapple-hook from ledge to ledge and switch between stances to catch your opponent off guard.

Sekiro is already being lauded as one of the best (and most difficult) From Software games to date, as there is no way to grind for better stats — only your skill will get you through. Nonetheless, there are ways to mitigate the game's difficulty by carefully observing your surroundings and managing your limited skill set. Sekiro isn't impossible; it just appears that way at first.

7. Mortal Kombat 11

Mortal Kombat 11 is the biggest, bloodiest, and best Mortal Kombat game yet, with tonnes of spine-chilling content for both casual and competitive players. The epic story mode of the game celebrates the series' past and present with a delightfully off-the-wall time travel adventure, the rotating Towers of Time offer a constantly fresh set of challenges, and The Krypt is a fan service frenzy filled with neat unlockables.

The new custom variation system in Mortal Kombat 11 allows you to create a truly unique version of characters like Liu Kang, Cassie Cage, and Scorpion, down to their outfits and gear pieces and individual moves. But, most importantly, Mortal Kombat 11 is a fantastic fighting game, with the most balanced, rewarding combat mechanics the series has seen to date, as well as an excellent online netcode for taking on the world. Put your strength to the test.

8. Forza Horizon 4

Forza Horizon 4 is the pinnacle of Playground Games' beloved arcade racing series, letting players loose in a massive, stunningly true-to-life recreation of Great Britain brimming with fun activities. Horizon 4 introduces shared-world multiplayer, which populates your game world with real players, as well as dynamic seasons, which means you'll have to adjust your racing tactics for summer, fall, winter, and spring as the seasons change every week.

But, as with any Horizon game, the real draw of Horizon 4 is how good it feels to drive, whether you're performing insane stunt jumps or competing in races with your online friends. Everything about Forza Horizon 4 is a love letter to car culture and the drivers who love it, from the stunning variety of vehicles to the insane battle royale mode to the intricate world map.

9. Cuphead

Cuphead combines brutal 2D platforming with a stunning hand-drawn art style inspired by 1930s cartoons, resulting in a package that is both charming and challenging. This engrossing bullet hell sidescroller is distinguished by inventive, punishing boss fights that are supplemented by a handful of platforming levels, all of which can be enjoyed solo or with a friend. (Bring a friend if you can; the game is difficult regardless, but it can be brutal by yourself.)

Cuphead may make you want to hurl your controller at times, but overcoming each unforgiving encounter provides some of the most satisfaction of any action game. It's easily one of the best Xbox One games for those who enjoy a challenge, not to mention one of the most visually appealing titles in recent years.

10. Devil May Cry 5

Capcom's beloved over-the-top action series makes a triumphant return with Devil May Cry 5. You'll take on the roles of franchise icons Nero and Dante, as well as the mysterious newcomer V, all of whom can put together ridiculously stylish and satisfying combos with a variety of swords, guns, and spells. Longtime fans of the series will enjoy the game's bombastic, unapologetic ridiculous story, while the game's strikingly photorealistic graphics make it the best-looking Devil May Cry game to date.

If you want to spend a few afternoons slicing up demons as stylishly as possible, Devil May Cry 5 is the game for you. If you have an Xbox One X, the game will look even better because it can reach 4K resolutions and 60 frames per second. In a game where split-second combos are in high demand, the latter is especially useful.

11. Madden NFL 20

Madden NFL 20 is one of EA's long-running football series' most significant upgrades in years, introducing Superstar X-Factor abilities that allow playmakers like Patrick Mahomes and Antonio Brown to perform game-changing feats once they get hot. Face of the Franchise: QB1, a cinematic career mode in which you take your custom quarterback from college to the NFL Draft to a full-fledged NFL career that changes based on your actions, incorporates this mechanic as well.

When you combine improved animations, more detailed playbooks, and less dead time between plays, you have one of the best modern Madden instalments yet. The graphics depict everything clearly, the sound effects are realistic, and all of your favourite players are on the teams where they belong. You can compete against friends online or against the AI to bring your favourite team to victory.

12. Apex Legends

Say hello to the new battle royale king. Apex Legends distinguishes itself from competitors such as Fortnite and PUBG by providing tactical team-based gameplay in which 20 squads of three battle it out using a variety of distinct characters, each with their own unique set of abilities. Apex's brilliant Ping system allows you to communicate with your teammates even when you're not saying anything, and the game delivers the distinct blend of tight shooting and smooth movement you'd expect from Titanfall's creators (seriously, just spend a minute sliding around in this game).

Best of all, Apex Legends is completely free to play, so there's no reason not to jump into the action and find out for yourself. The developers are constantly adding new features and characters, so even if you've tried Apex Legends before, it might be worth a second chance.

13. Resident Evil 2

Resident Evil 2 is a brilliant reimagining of Capcom's 1998 horror classic, delivering tight third-person gameplay, a maze of fun puzzles, and a stunningly horrific new graphics engine that makes exploring the Raccoon City Police Department more terrifying than ever. It's also a much better experience than before, as it's difficult to put into words how much better the controls are this time around. You'll most likely never want to return.

You'll once again take on the roles of Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield, each with their own storyline that combines elements from the original games and includes the most immersive, cinematic cutscenes the series has seen to date. Resident Evil 2 isn't just a great remake; it's practically a brand new game, and it's one of the most delightfully dreadful horror experiences on Xbox One.

14. Overwatch

Overwatch is a unique multiplayer shooter that almost anyone can enjoy. This game, which features over 20 colourful characters battling in equally colourful arenas, is all about working as a team and utilising your hero's unique abilities rather than simply racking up kills. Sure, shooting down enemies is important, but so is healing your teammates, deceiving your opponents, and putting yourself in danger to do as much damage as possible. Whatever your play style is, there is an Overwatch hero for you.

Overwatch is the type of game that can keep you hooked for months – or years – with tonnes of skins to unlock and a steady stream of free content updates. Plus, what other game allows you to team up a cowboy, a talking gorilla, a pop star in a mech suit, and a roller-skating medic?

15. Celeste

Celeste isn't just a fantastic indie title; it's also one of the best 2D platformers of this generation. Celeste has you navigate a series of brutal but satisfyingly challenging platform levels using only a jump, a dash, and a wall-grab to avoid all manner of hazards and pits.

Celeste's razor-sharp gameplay is enhanced by arresting pixel art and a hauntingly memorable synth soundtrack. It's made even more special by Celeste's ability to seamlessly weave in a moving story about mental health and overcoming one's demons. This game is not for the faint of heart, but it's also not as punishing as it could be. Many of the optional objectives are difficult to achieve, but simply getting through the story requires little determination and a lot of patience.

16. Assassin's Creed Odyssey

Assassin's Creed Odyssey is a massive open-world epic that pushes the series forwards in significant ways. It's bigger, prettier, and more ambitious than any previous game in the series. This time around, you get to choose between Kassandra and Alexios as your main character, and your choices throughout the game's story sequences affect the overall narrative.

The real draw of Odyssey is its stunning take on Ancient Greece, which is packed with fun activities that set the stage for some of the franchise's best combat and exploration yet. Whether you're sailing across the Aegean Sea or battling Medusa (there are some light fantasy elements this time around), Assassin's Creed Odyssey always has something fun to do and something unexpected to show you. If it's not the best game in the series, it's certainly the most expansive, and possibly the most ambitious.

17. Monster Hunter: World

Monster Hunter: World brings Capcom's beloved action-RPG series to modern consoles for the first time, and the results are stunning. This massive co-op adventure has a sense of scale and scope unlike any Monster Hunter game before it, with massive, living worlds featuring dynamic day/night cycles, destructible environments, and tonnes of friendly and deadly wildlife. You can hunt alone or with friends, but either way, you should expect tough challenges and a steep learning curve. Mastering Monster Hunter: World's complex systems is a reward in and of itself.

You'll still be mastering one of 14 unique weapons and hunting huge monsters to craft cool gear, either alone or with up to three friends, but the action is tighter and more visually appealing than ever. Monster Hunter: World requires your time and skill, but in exchange, it rewards you with dozens of hours of great gameplay moments.

18. Rocket League

It's like soccer but with cars. What more could you ask for? Rocket League is one of this generation's biggest breakout hits, with addictive pick-up-and-play action that's incredibly difficult to master if you want to compete. The pitch (heh) goes like this: you and an opposing team play soccer, but instead of human players, each of you controls a car. The end result is a chaotic but surprisingly strategic mashup of two genres that shouldn't work together but do.

This bizarre sports game has a plethora of modes, arenas, and items for both hardcore and casual fans to enjoy, and it continues to receive a steady stream of new modes, arenas, and items via free updates. The Xbox One version of the game also supports cross-play, allowing you to compete with friends (and foes) who own other systems.

19. Sunset Overdrive

Sunset Overdrive by Insomniac Games has the makings of a cult classic despite being a critically acclaimed commercial flop. With its colourful backdrop, over-the-top antics, and extensive customization options, this underappreciated game deserves another chance to win over gamers, especially now that it's available on Xbox Game Pass. It's an open-world action game in which you zoom around a vibrantly coloured city, wielding strange powers to defeat even stranger foes. When you consider that Insomniac Games created this shortly before creating Spider-Man, a lot of puzzle pieces begin to fall into place.

Sunset Overdrive wasn't exactly a requested game, but it's a shame that people didn't give it a shot the first time around. If nothing else, are you going to punish zombies who drink energy drinks by blowing them up with exploding teddy bears?

20. Outer Wilds

Outer Wilds is a low-fi space exploration game with an intriguing mystery at its heart, as well as a healthy dose of schadenfreude. It sees you stepping into the shoes of a fledgeling, or should that be hatchling, aquatic bipedal creature who is a member of the Outer Wilds Ventures, a similarly fledgeling space programme looking for answers in the solar system.

To begin, you depart in a spaceship made partially of wood from your home planet of Timber Hearth in search of other members of Outer Wilds Ventures. If you want to play the game with no prior knowledge, stop reading now.

Are you still reading? Okay, you're about 20 minutes into your extraterrestrial exploration when the sun explodes. The game is over.

However, you awake with the knowledge of everything you've learned during your first bout of exploration. This loop will continue until you've solved the game's central mystery. When you realise you've flown too close to the sun's gravitational pull or exited your ship without remembering to put on your spacesuit, it's both relaxing and stressful, intriguing, befuddling, and darkly amusing. Outer Wilds is not a game for people who want instant gratification and are impatient. However, for those willing to persevere, it's an intriguing game available on Xbox Game Pass.

21. Halo: The Master Chief Collection

While there is no Xbox One-era Halo game in Halo: The Master Chief Collection, it is still a must-have for any Xbox One first-person shooter fans. If you're new to Halo, this is the best way to get your hands on the four main Halo games, as well as the seminal Halo: Reach and the passable Halo: ODST. There are modern enhancements, most notably Halo 2 getting a nice facelift, and the original Halo: Combat Evolved looking much better after a lick of modern graphical paint. And, by modern standards, the combat, level design, and story hold up fairly well, though some of the later missions in the original Halo can feel a little repetitive.

You also get all six games' multiplayer modes in one interface. That means there's a tonne of online action to be had, with a plethora of game modes to choose from. Just keep in mind that there are some very experienced Halo players out there who are well-equipped to trounce you if you lack FPS skill. There's also support for classic split-screen multiplayer, which, while novel in 2022, is still a fun way to spice up an evening with some friends.

22. Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight is arguably the Metroidvania formula at its pinnacle. What begins as a fairly claustrophobic 2D game expands into a vast labyrinth of interconnected areas teeming with colourful bugs and sentient critters eager to share the odd pearl of wisdom, boast, or general nonsense. Hollow Knight, like many other games these days, takes inspiration from the Dark Souls games, and sees you delve deeper into the enigmatic land of Hallownest, resting at benches to recover your health and energy, which also happens to respawn dispatched enemies.

This makes it a challenging game, but not one that feels unfair, thanks to a combat and perk system with surprising depth and a plethora of ways to work around tricky obstacles and environmental problems. And, like Dark Souls, it has some difficult boss fights that you may have to bounce off several times until you find the perfect flow moment. It won't push the Xbox One's graphical capabilities to their limits, but the gorgeous art style more than compensates for a lack of flashy effects. It's truly one of the best games out there, and it's well worth a look.

23. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a stunning combination of classic Metal Gear stealth and a slew of open-world settings and missions. As Snake, you can approach missions in a variety of ways, from charging in guns blazing to sneaking around unseen or simply improvising on the fly. Five years after its initial release, the game still looks and plays well. From the main missions to establishing your headquarters on an offshore oil rig.

But it's the game's systems and flexibility that make it so enjoyable. Headshot a lot of guards and they'll start wearing thicker helmets, sneak into a base when it's raining and your footsteps will be muffled, or use a sandstorm to sneak past guards without them noticing. Or take out a deadly sniper by dropping a supply crate on their head from the air. There's plenty of room for experimentation, as well as simple gaming escapades. The Phantom Pain is an excellent stealth game.

24. Halo Infinite

While Halo Infinite is arguably more of a flagship Xbox Series X game, it does work on the Xbox One, albeit with a few less graphical bells and whistles. What a game it is, too.

Following a pair of underwhelming Halo games, Infinite sees a return to the open areas of the original Halo game, albeit expanded to include a pseudo open-world. As a result, you can tear around a broken ring world, gunning down enemy aliens with a variety of weapons or armed vehicles. The grappling hook, on the other hand, makes the Master Chief feel much more manoeuvrable, swinging between chasms and scaling cliffs with ease. In a nutshell, Halo Infinite is classic Halo modernised for a new era, and it's absolutely magnificent.

25. Hitman World of Assassination

The World of Assassination trilogy, which combines all three of the most recent Hitman games into one, provides one of the best stealth game experiences available. Instead of hiding in the shadows, your player character 47 and his trademark bald bonce hide in plain sight thanks to the extensive use of disguises.

From there, you'll be able to despatch a wide range of targets in missions ranging from fashion shows to the infiltration of secret complexes. It's an engrossing game in which you can carefully snipe a nefarious drug dealer or drown a corrupt public relations executive in a toilet. This is the Xbox One game for those who want to feel like a cross between James Bond and Leon.

26. Elden Ring

Elden Ring takes what made Dark Souls great, adds some Bloodborne elements, and wraps it all up in a rather stunning open-world teeming with monsters, enemies, and secrets. Despite its size and scope, it is still compatible with the Xbox One.

The story is obtuse, as is typical of Souls-like games, and can be gleaned by reading item descriptions and chatting with characters scattered throughout the world. And, of course, Elden Ring is a difficult game. However, because the world is open, if you get stuck, you can always take a different path to gain the skills and experience you need to progress. Elden Ring is a must-play for Dark Solus fans.

How to choose the best Xbox One games for you

There is no secret to selecting the best Xbox One games. It's a matter of personal taste. This list should have given you some ideas, but there is no "best Xbox One game," just as there is no "best food" or "best coffee table." It is determined by your requirements and preferences.

In general, you should start by thinking about your favourite genres. If you're looking for a short, fast-paced FPS, buying a long, contemplative RPG won't help you. Consider whether you want a big-budget title that will most likely be meaty and intricate, or an indie title that will be quicker and rely on a few simple hooks.

Price is another factor to consider, though there's no easy way to predict how much a game will cost on any given day. Titles are frequently on sale and vary depending on the retailer. However, in general, old games are less expensive than new ones, making it easier to build your library with titles from a few years ago.