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The best Xbox Series X exclusives

Jacob Roach
Jesse Lennox
By and

Microsoft’s latest console, the Xbox Series X, is a powerhouse, oftentimes matching or outperforming the PlayStation 5 in multiplatform releases. But how are the exclusives? The Xbox Series X had a thin lineup at launch, but with our guide to the best Xbox Series X exclusives, you’ll know which games to download.

Technically, the Xbox Series X doesn’t have any exclusives right now, and with Microsoft’s Smart Delivery feature, it won’t for at least a couple of years. So, we had to make some concessions. We’re defining Xbox Series X exclusives as games that aren’t available on the PS5.

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Similarly, we only included Xbox One games if they’ve been optimized for Series X and S (like Gears 5). Also, we’re ignoring PC entirely. If you factor in PC releases, Microsoft hasn’t had a console-exclusive game in years. While many exciting games are still to come, such as Starfield, Redfall, and Hellblade 2, there are more than enough to keep you satisfied until then.

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Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite
85 %
4/5
T
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Genre Shooter
Developer 343 Industries
Publisher Xbox Game Studios
Release November 15, 2021
Of all the franchises out there, Microsoft is most closely tied with the Halo series. It essentially was the reason to buy the original Xbox when it first launched and pioneered not only the first-person genre on consoles, but revolutionized online multiplayer too. Xbox owes a lot to this franchise, so it makes sense that they would want to keep it alive. Despite being delayed for two years after the Series X and S launched, we finally got our first taste of a brand new Halo game on these upgraded machines in the form of Halo: Infinite.  Split between the free-to-play multiplayer and campaign, this Halo is a little light on content but promises to continue to grow over time. At the core, though, the gameplay is more than enough reason to jump in. This throwback to the classic arena-style shooter is a breath of fresh air in a genre filled with specialists, loadouts, complex abilities, and overpowered builds.
Read our full Halo Infinite review

Hi-Fi Rush

Hi-Fi Rush
92 %
T
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S
Genre Music, Platform, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Developer Tango Gameworks
Publisher Bethesda Softworks
Release January 25, 2023

Announced and released on the same day, Hi-Fi Rush was one of the best surprises to kick off 2023. Made by Tango Gameworks, whose previous titles all revolved around horror, this game is anything but horrific. The bright, vibrant art style is matched only by the game’s sense of style and commitment to its core concept of rhythm. Everything in the game happens to the music, which is a mix of new and cover songs that all make combat much more engaging. Thankfully, the game doesn’t punish you for being off the beat, but instead gives you bonuses for when you do attack the rhythm.

Hi-Fi Rush - Reveal Trailer | Xbox & Bethesda Dev Direct 2023

Immortality

Immortality
85 %
M
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, Xbox Series X|S
Genre Point-and-click, Simulator, Indie
Developer Half Mermaid, Sam Barlow
Publisher Half Mermaid
Release August 30, 2022
A game like Immortality could only come from the mindthat created a game like Her Story. This is another full-motion video-style game, but it represents the peak of pushing that genre to the limits. You’re once again scrubbing through real video footage trying to unravel a mystery, but instead of seeing clips and searching keywords like Her Story, this time you swap between scenes by selecting people or objects to find other scenes they appeared in. It doesn’t sound like it should work, but trust us, it does. This is one of the most satisfying stories to unravel, made all the more interesting in how each player will uncover clues at different times, in different orders, and through different paths.
Immortality Announcement Trailer - New game from Sam Barlow - Future Games Show E3 2021

Sea of Thieves: Season 5

Sea of Thieves: Season 5
4/5
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One
Genre Adventure
Developer Rare
Publisher Xbox Game Studios
Release December 02, 2021
Although criticized upon launch for a lack of content, Sea of Thieves has still become one of Microsoft’s largest exclusives, and it’ll likely stay that way throughout the Series X’s life. Unlike Destiny 2 and similar games-as-a-service titles, Sea of Thieves isn’t concerned with guiding players down one particular path. Instead, Sea of Thieves is a fluid experience. You can throw up a quest on your ship’s map to find new loot, engage in naval battles, or spend some time far out on the high seas, landing on a random island in a distant land. It’s that freedom that makes Sea of Thieves such a compelling experience, offering just enough content to quality as a “game” while never forcing players to actually undertake that content. Freedom is Sea of Thieves’ biggest strength, but it’s the game’s biggest weakness, too. A group of seafaring friends is essential in Sea of Thieves, so if you fancy yourself a solo player, it’s best to choose one of the other Series X exclusives on this list.
Read our full Sea of Thieves: Season 5 review

Psychonauts 2

Psychonauts 2
90 %
4/5
T
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Genre Platform, Adventure
Developer Double Fine Productions
Publisher Xbox Game Studios
Release August 25, 2021
If you’re an old school fan of DoubleFine games, then you’ve probably been eagerly awaiting the sequel to the cult hit Psychonauts for a decade or more now. Thanks to some help from Microsoft after purchasing the studio, the team was able to expand their original vision for Psychonauts 2 and include more content and polish to this creative and daring game that likely never would have happened otherwise. Playing as Raz once again, you traverse through some of the most creative, subtle, and thought-provoking levels of any 3D platformer ever developed. The story is as bizarre as you would expect, but also full of heart and strong messages about mental health. This is a modern take on the genre that we unfortunately don’t see enough of.
Read our full Psychonauts 2 review

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator
91 %
E
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Genre Simulator
Developer Asobo Studio
Publisher Xbox Game Studios
Release August 17, 2020
Even if you’re not a hardcore simulation fan, Microsoft Flight Simulator is worth a look just to, well, look at it. The game is one of the most technically impressive achievements ever packed onto a console. You have the entire world to fly around, and somehow it all looks stunningly lifelike. For those who do like to get into the weeds of simulators, the range of planes and attention to detail on them will make it a dream come true. This is a perfect game to throw on for a casual day in, letting you unwind and just relax to the calm hum of your plane engine and vast open skies ahead of you.
Microsoft Flight Simulator - E3 2019 - Announce Trailer

Pentiment

Pentiment
89 %
M
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Genre Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher Xbox Game Studios
Release November 15, 2022
A smaller project from Obsidian, which is usually known for massive RPGs, Pentiment is a murder mystery with a striking art style. Set in 16th-century Germany, this adventure title is simple yet effective, thanks to strong writing and a gripping mystery to unravel. Just about every part of this game is unique, and if you’re up for a more narrative type of adventure that will test your deductive skills, you can’t go wrong with this passion project.
Behind the Scenes of Pentiment - Xbox Games Showcase Extended 2022

Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5
86 %
4/5
E
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Genre Racing, Sport
Developer Playground Games
Publisher Xbox Game Studios
Release November 09, 2021
Without question, Forza Horizon 5 is one of the best racing games there is, not just on Xbox. The Series X enhanced version runs excellently, too. You’re getting a locked 60 fps during events and when driving around the open world, as well as vastly improved load times compared to the Xbox One version. Racing games always strive for high-quality graphics, and Forza Horizon 5 is the best-looking (and best-sounding) racer yet. Even in performance mode, you might have to do a double-take to realize you’re not looking at actual racing footage. The new locals are all breathtaking, and there’s never a shortage of things to do. Forza Horizon 5 is friendly to both racing enthusiasts and those who prefer a less simulation-style experience.
Read our full Forza Horizon 5 review

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Ori and the Will of the Wisps
88 %
E
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S
Genre Platform, Adventure
Developer Moon Studios
Publisher Xbox Game Studios, iam8bit
Release March 10, 2020
Even among Gears 5 and Forza Horizon 4, Ori and the Will of the Wisps may be the best showcase of the Xbox Series X’s power. On Xbox One X, Ori and the Will of the Wisps ran at 4K60, though not without problems. The experienced frequent frame drops below its target on Microsoft’s last-gen hardware, though stayed impressive in the resolution department. The Xbox Series X solves all of those issues. 4K is still the target resolution, though now with a locked 120 fps. The game even includes supersampling to run at 6K at 60 FPS. Simply put, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a visual treat, especially with HDR enabled. It’s a great game on its own, too. Moon Studios matches the somber, dream-like atmosphere of the original game while adding plenty of new content (including boss battles). Ori and the Will of the Wisps is one of the best Metroidvania games around, and although it’s technically available on Nintendo Switch, the game feels most at home on Series X.
Read our full Ori and the Will of the Wisps review

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Jacob Roach
Jacob Roach
Senior Staff Writer, Computing
Jacob Roach is a writer covering computing and gaming at Digital Trends. After realizing Crysis wouldn't run on a laptop, he…
All status effects in Lies of P and how to cure them
Pinocchio in Lies of P.

Lies of P is a challenging role-playing game that will test your mettle at every turn with deadly enemies and dastardly environmental traps. But to make things even a bit more difficult, you'll have to contend with a collection of status effects that can majorly affect your character and make things much harder for you in battle. We've compiled a list of all status effects in Lies of P, as well as a list of ways to cure them.
All status effects
There are a total of seven status effects, with each either dealing damage or having a noticeable impact on your ability to perform in battle. Here are all of them and how they work.
Overheat
Overheat is caused by taking too much fire damage too quickly. When the Overheat bar fills entirely, you'll begin to burn and lose health until it is cured or wears off naturally. During this time, your Guard Regain recovery amount will also be reduced, which can drastically impact your survivability in fast-paced encounters.
Shock
When Shock is applied, your character's stamina recovery will be reduced significantly, which can have devastating consequences. Until this effect is cured or wears of naturally, you'll be stuck with very limited movement and attack opportunities due to your decreased stamina.
Electric Shock
Not to be confused with standard Shock, Electric Shock is caused by taking too much Electric Blitz damage in a short period of time. When this happens, you'll take increased Electric Blitz and physical damage for the duration of the effect, and your Fable meter will drain continuously, which can reduce your attack options in combat.
Decay
Decay is caused by taking too much Acid damage within a small time window. This will cause constant weapon and acid damage, both of which can make life difficult for you in battle since letting it go on for too long can result in needing to repair your weapon while also dodging your foes' attacks.
Corruption
Corruption is caused by a buildup of, well, Corruption. When this happens, you'll be afflicted with what is essentially your textbook poison effect, meaning your HP will drain continuously until it wears off or is healed with an item. This can be especially challenging to cope with when also fighting enemies, so avoiding sources of Corruption is highly advised when possible.
Break
Break is an annoying status effect to contend with, as letting its bar build up entirely will temporarily decrease how much health your Pulse Cells heal. This can be especially frustrating when you already find yourself at low health and don't have many Pulse Cells left, but it's usually best to wait until the effect wears off before healing so you can ensure you get the maximum amount of health possible.
Disruption
Disruption is perhaps the most concerning of all status effects in the game, as you'll be instantly killed when the Disruption bar fills up entirely. If you find yourself in a situation where a lot of Disruption damage is being doled out, it's best to back off until the bar depletes some or you'll soon be seeing a Game Over screen.
How to cure status effects
There are multiple items in the game designed to help you cure specific ailments, as well as items that can increase your resistance to them so that you can reduce your chance of becoming infected to begin with. You can find these cure and resistance items in various places while exploring throughout the game, or you can buy them with Ergo from Polendia at Hotel Krat.

Attribute Purification Ampoule - Cures Overheat, Electric Shock, Decay, and Corruption
Special Purification Ampoule - Cures Shock, Break, and Disruption
Attribute Resistance Ampoule - Enhances resistance to Overheat, Electric Shock, Decay, and Corruption
Special Resistance Ampoule - Enhances resistance to Shock, Break, and Disruption

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The best RPGs for Xbox Series X
best-single-player-nintendo-switch-games

If there's one genre the Xbox series of consoles has struggled to really break into in the past, it's RPGs. Yes, each system had a standout title or two, like the original Xbox having Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and the 360 having Lost Odyssey, but this particular family of consoles was always seen as secondary to RPG fans compared to Sony, or even Nintendo, machines. With the release of the Xbox Series X, Microsoft has made a strong effort to fill that gap in their library and has already done a great job of publishing, or at least supporting via Game Pass, some of the best RPGs in recent memory.

What counts as an RPG today covers a wide range of games. They can be turn-based, real-time, action-focused, narrative-focused, first-person, and more. So many games incorporate RPG elements now that it can be a little tough to find one that doesn't anymore. However, for this list, we're picking only games that are RPGs at their core, or at least have it as the main component rather than a game that just throws in progression bars and nothing else. Still, that leaves a lot of ground to cover. If you're feeling the itch for a new RPG to play on your Xbox Series X, we've picked out the best from a range of titles that should fill the exact experience you're looking for.

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Is Starfield on Xbox One?
Key art for Starfield

Starfield is one of the biggest games of the year and space exploration has never looked so good (especially on a new PC with the correct settings tweaked). Released natively for PC and Xbox Series X, a lot of gamers are going to be left out of Bethesda's latest RPG — it'll never be released on PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch. But there's good news if you're still playing on a last-gen Xbox One. While Starfield isn't being released on the older console directly, there's still a way to play on Xbox One.

There are also a few other ways to play Startfield without an Xbox at all.
How to play Satrfield on Xbox One

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