With Microsoft finally putting its first-party catalog on Nintendo and Sony’s platforms, it’s harder than ever to recommend a solid list of Xbox exclusives. So while not all of these games are only found on Xbox, they’re all relatively easy to access on the platform.
10
Flight Simulator 2024
Believe me when I say that Microsoft and Asobo have put a lot of work into Flight Simulator 2024 to make it appealing to more than just simulator nerds. Sure, you can invest in a flight yoke and pedals and pretend you’re a transatlantic pilot while “working from home” in the office; but you can also just hop in a plane and check out what your house looks like. After all, the whole world has been mapped to some degree in this technological masterpiece.
The latest entrance in the Flight Simulator franchise improves on the previous major version (released in 2020) in almost every way. Reliance on cloud infrastructure and data streaming caused some problems when the game first launched, but now that demand has died down you can get flying without sacrificing hundreds of gigabytes of precious Xbox disk space (though you may blow your data cap).
The game features simplified flight models for those who aren’t taking things too seriously. You can just pick a location and go, and the game will put you in the air at cruising speed so you can explore. Alternatively, you can work your way through the new career mode and learn how to pilot each aircraft from take-off to landing.
9
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
I played a lot of Age of Empires II as a kid, particularly at LAN parties. This real-time strategy game tasks you with establishing a settlement, gathering resources, researching new technologies, and building a fearsome army. Fortify your defenses, advance through the ages, and then further your own interests through diplomacy or military might.
The Definitive Edition landed on Xbox in 2019 with beautiful 4K quality graphics, four new civilizations, improved AI, and a heap of quality of life improvements. It’s just as more-ish as it always was, and though you can plug a mouse and keyboard into your Xbox the game is very playable with a controller thanks to some clever radial menus and an optimized UI.
If you like this one, make sure you check out 2023’s Xbox port of Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition and 2024’s Age of Mythology: Retold remaster too.
8
Gears Tactics
Gears Tactics is a strategy game that acts as a prequel to the first Gears of War. Though it was first released on Windows, Microsoft did a stellar job of optimizing it for the gamepad and brought it to Xbox consoles in late 2020. It serves as an excellent jumping-on point for the Gears-curious gamer who prefers slow-paced tactical gameplay rather than over-the-shoulder cover shooters.
Being a prequel, the game does a good enough job of setting up the lore so you shouldn’t feel too lost if it’s your first Gears rodeo. The game takes place a year after the world-changing events of Emergence Day, where a race of creatures emerge from the ground and start wiping out the human race.
The game adopts a tried and tested turn-based strategy approach, where careful planning is necessary to survive. The game keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the story shines with its highly polished voice acting and cutscenes between battles.
7
Black
Black is a 2006 first-person military shooter from Criterion, a studio that was best known for arcade racer Burnout at the time. The game launched on both Xbox and PlayStation 2, but is now most accessible on the Xbox platform thanks to Microsoft’s backward compatibility program and its inclusion in the Game Pass catalog
Often dubbed a precursor to Activision’s Modern Warfare, Black sticks to the mid-2000s FPS tropes pretty rigidly. The story advances level by level, relying on checkpoints to save progress. The action is satisfyingly explosive, and visuals like weapon and player models have held up well. There’s a real weight to the guns, and the sound design puts some modern games to shame.
Though enemies can feel a bit spongey, the game itself is frequently lauded as one of the most underrated examples of its time.
6
Psychonauts 2
From the brilliant mind of the legendary Tim Schafer (The Secret of Monkey Island, Grim Fandango, and many more) comes Psychonauts 2. This is 2021’s follow-up to the 2005 cult classic about a character called Raz and his time spent at Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp. It’s a game about entering minds and resolving trauma, in the guise of a 3D platformer.
This criminally underrated sequel takes place immediately following the events of the first game, which is impressive given the 16-year gap between releases. Fortunately, the game does a good job of filling you in so you don’t need to make your way through the original first (though I did so a few years ago, and I had a blast).
Psychonauts 2 is well worth a shot for anyone who loves a good 3D platformer throwback. Though the game was also released on the PS4, the Xbox Series X version is the superior pick if you’re going the console route for its higher render resolution and stable frame rate.
5
Halo 3: ODST
When you think of Halo, you probably think of the original Combat Evolved or the multiplayer glory days of Halo 3. But ODST might be the franchise’s finest hour, at least from a campaign perspective. The game takes place in an open-world version of Kenya’s New Mombasa on Earth and sees you mounting attacks, defending bases, and preventing the invading Covenant forces from capturing UNSC assets.
The game is particularly notable for its atmosphere and features arguably the finest soundtrack of any Halo game. The dark brooding atmosphere within the city is perfectly accompanied by moody licks of saxophone that help set the scene for a mission that goes wrong from the very start.
The game was a standalone $60 release in 2009 but has since been added to The Master Chief Collection. If you’re planning a playthrough of the series, don’t skip it (and bring a friend, the game works great in both split-screen co-op or networked multiplayer).
4
Fable Anniversary
Fable was Microsoft’s big attempt at redefining the RPG experience on a console. The brainchild of video game visionary Peter Molyneux (Theme Park,_Black & White), it’s fair to say that Fable_ didn’t quite live up to its promises upon release for the Xbox in 2004. Even so, the game was well-received enough to see a full HD remake in 2014 with Fable Anniversary.
This saw the game move to the Unreal Engine 3, with improved graphics, support for achievements, and a number of quality of life improvements including a new save system. It’s an excellent place to start if you’re wondering what all the fuss was about, with a dry wit befitting its British roots and an accessible learning curve.
It’s especially worth your time if you’re eagerly awaiting the upcoming Fable reboot. Both Fable II and Fable III are also on Game Pass if you find yourself captivated.
3
Viva Piñata
Viva Piñata didn’t invent cozy gaming, but it was certainly doing it a long time before it was considered cool. This Xbox 360 classic was developed by the legendary Rare and released in 2006 to overwhelmingly positive reviews. Despite the acclaim, Viva Piñata is arguably one of the most underrated games of its time (I got my copy in a double-disc release alongside Forza Motorsport 2, for crying out loud).
This is a chilled-out life sim about tending a garden with the ultimate goal of attracting creatures (piñatas). Use a variety of tools to make your garden appealing so that you can tempt and eventually breed piñatas. There are 60 creatures in total, and some of them will actually feast on your existing piñatas. And yes, you can hit them with your shovel.
Viva Piñata is well worth spending an afternoon on in 2025 and beyond, plus the sequel Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise is also on Game Pass if you fancy it.
2
Mechwarrior 5: Clans
Let me preface this by saying Mechwarrior 5: Clans is available on PC and PlayStation 5, so its status as an Xbox game is a bit tenuous. That said, the Mechwarrior franchise can be a bit of a divisive one. If you haven’t jumped into this kind of armored combat simulation before, signing up for a month of Game Pass might be a better choice than paying the full $70 access fee.
Clans is a standalone expansion to 2019’s Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries. The game is all about piloting (and fighting other) heavily armed mechs, of which there are several customizable classes to choose from. These killing machines are a delight to pilot in a weighty sense; it’s like swinging Kratos’ axe in God of War, except you are the axe.
The game has a surprisingly engrossing story and the missions are interesting enough, if a little repetitive. Though reviewers complained of some bugs at launch, enough time has passed that the majority have been fixed up by now.
1
Pentiment
Pentiment was an Xbox and PC exclusive up until late 2024, when it was added to PlayStation and Nintendo Switch catalogs. I’m still including it here, however, because it’s an absolute no-brainer for any Game Pass subscriber (or Xbox owner) who appreciates an engrossing narrative adventure from master storytellers Obsidian.
The most striking thing about Pentiment is the visuals, a blend of period-appropriate 16th-century aesthetics and crispy 4K animations. This is a roleplaying game in which you must investigate a series of murders and eventually decide who to blame and punish. Like any Obsidian game, there’s a lot of opportunity to stamp your mark on your protagonist and the world around them.
Critics heaped praise on Pentiment on release in 2022 for its intoxicating blend of player choice, historical accuracy, interesting narrative, and the simple fact that they don’t often make them like this anymore.
Looking for even more Xbox games? Check out some of the best Xbox One games that are worth revisiting on Xbox Series hardware.
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Xbox Series X
The Series X is the most powerful current-generation console and offers access to Microsoft Game Pass for a large library of subscription games out of the box. It also doubles as a UHD Blu-Ray player!
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Xbox Series S
While not as powerful as the Series X, it’s incredible the Xbox Series S can still run the same library of next-gen titles. If you aren’t interested in running games at 4K, you can save a lot opting for the Series S instead.
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Xbox Core Wireless Controller
$49 $65 Save
$16One of the best controllers you can buy, regardless of platform. The Xbox Core controller was designed with the Xbox Series consoles in mind but works great on a Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and more.
