Best Xbox games of 2026

Looking for the best Xbox games of 2026? Here’s our hand-picked selection of must-play titles that deliver great gameplay, graphics and freedom of choice. In this curated ranking you’ll find games for every taste — from action and battle royale to RPG, strategy and casual fun.

1. Sea of Thieves

Sea of Thieves is a 2018 action-adventure game developed by Rare and published by Xbox Game Studios. The player assumes the role of a pirate who completes voyages from different trading companies.

2. Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 is a 2021 racing game developed by Playground Games and published by Xbox Game Studios. It is the fifth Forza Horizon title, following Forza Horizon 4, and the twelfth main instalment in the Forza series.

3. Gears of War 5

Gears 5 is a 2019 third-person shooter video game developed by The Coalition and published by Xbox Game Studios for Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. It is the fifth main installment of the Gears of War series and the sequel to Gears of War 4. Gears 5 follows the story of Kait Diaz, who is on a journey to find out the origin of the Locust Horde, the main antagonistic faction of the Gears of War series.

4. Age of Empires IV

Age of Empires IV is a 2021 real-time strategy video game developed by Relic Entertainment in partnership with World’s Edge and published by Xbox Game Studios. It is the fourth installment of the Age of Empires series, the second set during the Middle Ages after Age of Empires II, and the first installment not developed by Ensemble Studios.

5. Hi-Fi Rush

Hi-Fi Rush is a 2023 rhythm-based action game developed by Tango Gameworks, originally published by Bethesda Softworks, and currently published by Krafton. The game’s story follows self-proclaimed “future rock star” Chai (voiced by Robbie Daymond in English and Hiro Shimono in Japanese), whose music player is accidentally embedded in his chest during experimental cybernetic surgery funded by the corrupt Vandelay Technologies, allowing him to rhythmically fight and re-perceive the world through environmental synesthesia.

6. Forza Motorsport

Forza Motorsport is a 2023 sim racing video game developed by Turn 10 Studios and published by Xbox Game Studios. Released for Windows and Xbox Series X/S on October 10, 2023, it is the thirteenth main installment in the Forza series.

7. Grounded

One of the most popular Xbox titles

8. Quantum Break

Quantum Break is a 2016 action-adventure third-person shooter video game developed by Remedy Entertainment and published by Microsoft Studios. The game centers on Jack Joyce (Shawn Ashmore), granted time manipulation powers after a failed time-machine experiment, as he comes into conflict with former friend Paul Serene over how to deal with an apocalyptic “End of Time”.

9. Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a 2020 platform-adventure Metroidvania video game developed by Moon Studios and published by Xbox Game Studios. Announced during E3 2017, the title is a direct sequel to 2015’s Ori and the Blind Forest, and was released in March 2020 for Windows and Xbox One.

10. Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator is a 2020 flight simulation video game developed by Asobo Studio and published by Xbox Game Studios. It is a sequel to Microsoft Flight Simulator X (2006) and a reboot of the Microsoft Flight Simulator series, which began in 1982.

11. Psychonauts 2

Psychonauts 2 is a 2021 platform game developed by Double Fine and published by Xbox Game Studios. The game was announced at The Game Awards 2015 ceremony, and released on August 25, 2021 for PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, and on May 24, 2022 for Linux and macOS. Like the game’s predecessor, the player controls Raz, a young acrobat who is training to become a Psychonaut, a member of an international task force that uses their psychic abilities to stop those that perform nefarious deeds with their own psychic forces.

12. Starfield

One of the most popular Xbox titles

These are some of the best games for Xbox in 2026. Got a favorite we left out? Share it in the comments — we love discovering new titles.

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