The Best Xbox Series X Games for 2021

After an uneven console cycle with the Xbox One, Microsoft’s latest consoles are aimed at getting the ship back on course. The Xbox Series X is a next-generation powerhouse that rivals gaming PCs, while the Xbox Series S is an affordable stopgap for those who are curious about trying new games.

There’s no shortage of games to play on either console thanks to Xbox Game Pass, which gives players immediate access to a library of titles old and new. That built-in catalog is an extra value on top of all the new games available on the system that take advantage of its impressive technical specs. When it comes to first-party exclusives, the Series X is still growing. Halo Infinite is the biggest exclusive currently in the works, but there’s not a lot else lined up for 2021. That’ll likely change soon as Microsoft’s recent Bethesda acquisition will bring exclusives in the near future, but the console’s strength lies in third-party support.

With the Series X and Series S out in the world, we’ve combed through the current batch of new Xbox games to put together a running list of titles that new console owners shouldn’t miss.

It Takes Two

It Takes Two might be the best multiplayer game of its kind. The two-player adventure game is a labor of love by Hazelight Studios and director Josef Fares. Rather than pitting players against each other, it’s a pure co-op game in which players solve puzzles and platform together. Each level features entirely new mechanics that keep things fresh throughout the 12-hour adventure. It’s a game that was designed from the ground up with multiplayer in mind and that shows.

Good co-op games are hard to come by. While there are tons of multiplayer games out there, few ask players to work together to progress through an authored story. It Takes Two is a rare example of a game that cares about multiplayer mechanics as much as it cares about narrative. The story is a romantic comedy about a couple on the verge of divorce who are turned into tiny dolls. They must work together to both get back to normal and repair their relationship. It’s a clever narrative framework that pairs perfectly with a genre that’s built on good communication and cooperation between players. It’s a multiplayer game that’ll save your friendships, not destroy them.

Read our full It Takes Two review

Hitman 3

Over the past few years, IO Interactive has been knocking it out of the park with its Hitman series. The stealth action game got a huge boost of adrenaline in 2016 with the first game in a sort of rebooted trilogy called World of Assassination. Hitman introduced an ingenious puzzle element to the long-running series, allowing players to find creative and outrageous ways to take out targets. The series has only stayed consistent since, and now Hitman 3 offers a perfect capper to the trilogy.

Hitman 3 doesn’t shake the formula up in many ways, instead opting to double down on what’s made the previous games so enjoyable. The levels are better than ever, offering sprawling sandboxes filled with challenges and surprises. The game’s murder mystery Dartmoor level is especially noteworthy, bringing a classic whodunnit movie setup to the game. Hitman 3 essentially acts as a house for all three games as players can import progress and levels from Hitman and Hitman 2, making it a must-own “complete edition” of the series.

Read our full Hitman 3 review

Control: Ultimate Edition

Control was a massive fan favorite when it originally launched in 2019. Remedy Entertainment’s off-kilter action game offered some mind-bending telekinesis and a bizarre story straight out of Twin Peaks. The game even landed a coveted Game of the Year nomination at the 2019 Game Awards. Now, next-gen console owners can get an Ultimate Edition of the game, which contains all of its DLC in one package.

Control: Ultimate Edition frankly makes the game even better. While the original Control suffered from some tech hiccups and an unstable framerate, the next-gen version runs much more smoothly. New tech means that the game looks better than ever too thanks to ray-tracing. For players who missed out the first time around, the next-gen version is a perfect excuse to jump back into one of the more inventive AAA games to launch in the past few years.

Scarlet Nexus

No one would blame you if you mistook Scarlet Nexus for a PlatinumGames project. The action RPG features the kind of fast, complex combat that you’d expect from something like Bayonetta or Vanquish. The game’s futuristic police force setting also makes it feel like a long lost cousin to Astral Chain. The game actually comes from developer Bandai Namco, which has delivered a stylish hidden gem with a wild, twisting narrative and the intense fights to match.

The main hook of Scarlet Nexus is that players can use telekinesis to hurl objects at enemies, not unlike Control. That goes hand in hand with fast-paced slashing, which allows players to rack up some astonishing combos. The complexity doesn’t stop there. Players can bring along allies, each of which has a different elemental power that augments the standard move set. One ally may add electric powers to your move set, while another can temporarily slow down time. The joy of Scarlet Nexus is seeing how all of those little abilities can come together and interact to create a ballet of colorful action.

Read our full Scarlet Nexus review

Outriders

In another year and under different circumstances, Outriders may have flown under the radar. The third-person shooter from Bulletstorm developer People Can Fly was a new IP that could have had trouble standing out amidst a sea of high-profile shooters. When 2021’s launch schedule slowed down due to mass delays, Outriders quickly became one of spring’s most exciting games. It helped that it launched on Xbox Game Pass too, giving Xbox Series X owners something to do.

It’s not just good because there was nothing else to play, though. Outriders is a legitimate blast. It’s a high-octane action game where players control a superpowered hero who can shoot and launch space magic at once. There are tons of ways to tweak and build characters thanks to multiple character classes and a deep perk system that augments every piece of gear. Three-player co-op also turns it into one of the better multiplayer experiences available on Series X right now. As far as new IPs go, it’s a franchise with a bright future ahead of it.

Read our full Outriders review

Tetris Effect Connected

After all these decades, Tetris is still a perfect puzzle game. Clearing four rows of blocks with one straight tetromino piece is still the most satisfying experience in gaming. While several games have found clever ways to play with the formula (see Tetris 99 or Puyo Puyo Tetris), Tetris Effect is hands down the most gorgeous way to experience the game.

Originally released on PlayStation 4 with an excellent VR mode, the Xbox version brings the game’s trippy visuals to the Series X. Players essentially play through rounds filled with aesthetically pleasing visuals and music, making it the perfect chillout game. The Xbox version features new multiplayer options (hence the Connected moniker), bringing co-op and competitive play to the game. While it lacks the VR component that made the original release a hit, it’s still a pleasing puzzler filled with good vibes.