Microsoft's newest consoles, the Series X and Series S, are finally overcoming their supply shortages and are becoming easier to find in stores (especially the Series S). That means players can make the leap to the 9th generation of gaming and experience all that it has to offer, like increased ray tracing, faster loading times, and a better playing experience thanks to Xbox's proprietary Velocity Architecture.
Best of all, Microsoft is keeping its legacy alive by including tons of backward compatible games. Players can dive into numerous titles optimized for X/S, as well as hit games from Xbox One, 360, and the original Xbox. It's also good to note that, thanks to upgrades like the FPS Boost, many games still have enhanced features when played on the X/S, even if they aren't deemed to be "optimized".
Gears 5 - Optimized for X/S
One of Xbox's premier franchises is Gears of War. Its first game launched in 2006 on the Xbox 360 and the series has been a player favorite ever since. The newest installment, Gears 5, picks up after the events of the 4th game and sees remnants of the subterranean Locust race - the Swarm - attacking humanity. Gamers take on the role of Kait Diaz to fight against the Swarm and discover her unique backstory.
Gears 5 was praised for its story and action, and it even includes split-screen and online co-op modes, both of which have regained popularity in recent years. Plus, thanks to an excellent finale, it seems that players can expect a Gears 6 in the future.
Sable - Optimized for X/S
Fans of open-world exploration games will love Sable. Designed with powdery earth tones, the game has a distinctive look and vibe that blends the feel of old PC games with the speed and crispness of next-gen consoles.
In Sable, gamers solve puzzles, search for clues, interact with locals, and guide the protagonist through an unforgiving desert world. Some have noted its similarities to games like Abzu and AER, which are more about getting lost in the ambiance and mood than they are about action or suspense. Sable is a peaceful, though sometimes melancholy, adventure through distant worlds.
Sunset Overdrive
Hailed as one of Xbox One's first big must-play titles, Sunset Overdrive is a bonkers, off-the-rails adventure game about a new soda that turns drinkers into violent mutants. The game is filled with vibrant colors, absurd weapons, great humorous dialogue, and a special grinding mechanic that was heavily inspired by the Dreamcast classic Jet Set Radio (Jet Grind Radio for Americans).
Gamers take the role of a deadbeat ne'er-do-well who suddenly becomes tasked with saving his city before the evil soda company can blow it up to hide their failed experiment. It's perfect for players who love nonstop madcap mayhem.
Halo: Master Chief Collection - Optimized for X/S
All true Xbox players have a duty to revisit the games that made the console famous. Plus, with the gorgeously updated and remastered Master Chief Collection, gamers can replay classic Halo missions that still seem incredible decades after their release.
The collection includes the original Halo: Combat Evolved, as well as Halo 2, 3, 4, ODST, and Reach. Halo is one of the best first-person shooter franchises ever made and is famous for its excellent co-op campaigns. It's also a great way to get reacquainted with the Halo universe before diving into the newest release, Halo Infinite.
Rare Replay
Rare was once known for making Nintendo's best video games. They were the minds behind Donkey Kong Country, Perfect Dark, and Goldeneye 007. However, in 2002 Microsoft bought Rare, turning them into a first-party developer for their Xbox consoles. Now, oddly enough, Xbox consoles are the easiest way to play some of Nintendo's best retro games through the Rare Replay collection.
It includes Banjo-Kazooie, Jet Force Gemini, and Conker's Bad Fur Day, as well as tons of other games from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s like Viva Pinata, Battletoads, Killer Instinct Gold, and, most notably a remaster of Perfect Dark.
Microsoft Flight Simulator - Optimized For X/S
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a novice-friendly flight simulator series that Microsft began releasing in the early 80s. Originally, the games were mainly for hardcore aerophiles and aviation junkies. It was seen as a very niche game. However, throughout the years, the games developed a reputation for actually being quite fun and using some of Microsoft's most technologically advanced design features, creating some of the smoothest and best-looking games of their time.
The most recent incarnation was launched in 2020 and has been fully optimized for the X/S. Upon release, it received universal acclaim, being praised for its gorgeous destinations and realistic feeling of flight.
Gears Tactics - Optimized for X/S
Serving as both a spinoff and prequel to the franchise, Gears Tactics took the universe of Gears and morphed it from a third-person shooter into a tactical, turn-based strategy game.
Gears Tactics was praised for its challenging combat, intricate maps that provided hurdles and barriers for combat, and its incorporation of RPG elements like having unique characters that all provided special abilities on the playing field, enabling gamers to build and customize their squad. It's also more challenging than a typical Gears game, as strategy games are more like playing chess than they are about running and gunning.
Sea of Thieves - Optimized for X/S
Sea of Thieves was released for the Xbox One in 2018. The game allows players to embark on a giant, open-world RPG pirate adventure. While partaking in various missions across the high seas, players will encounter other gamers. Alliances will be made, battles will ensue, and everyone is competing to become the most notorious pirate legend.
Despite the game receiving lackluster reviews at launch, it became a massive hit and players loved being able to take on the role of pirates. Throughout the years, more content has been added and patches have been released to fix the game's earlier growing pains, providing a much smoother play experience with tons of new content to explore.
Forza Horizon 5 - Optimized for X/S
The most recent entry in Forza the franchise, Forza Horizon 5 was met with rave reviews. The racing series has always been a popular hit for Xbox and has held a reputation for showing the graphical power of each new console they're launched on.
Horizon 5 takes place in a fictionalized Mexico, allowing gamers to drive around gorgeously crafted volcanos, jungles, beaches, and even ancient ruins. The Horizon games are also known for having open-world maps, which helps differentiate them from other racing franchises. Forza Horizon 5 has the biggest map yet in the series and even includes dynamic weather events including thunderstorms and duststorms that add a new layer of fun and challenge to the racing genre.
Halo Infinite - Optimized for X/S
No gaming experience on a new Xbox console would be complete without playing Halo. Furthermore, the most recent mainline Halo game before Halo Infinite was Halo 5, released all the way back in 2015, creating the longest hiatus in the franchise to date. Fortunately, Infinite was released to great reviews, with many saying it was both a return to form for the series, while also feeling fresh and next-gen.
The game was also praised for shifting from linear levels to an open-world concept, which is a radical change for the Halo franchise. Luckily, it paid off and critics and gamers loved the newfound freedom and feeling of exploration. Best of all, Infinite's online multiplayer mode can be ed completely for free.
