The Xbox Series X|S has only been on the market for a couple of years, and yet its library of published works is already fully stocked with countless award-winning dungeon crawlers, walking simulators, and action role-playing games. 2022 alone, of course, has seen quite the number of additions, many of which have helped flesh out its flourishing empire. And to think, this is really only the beginning to a long and fruitful venture for the next-gen console, with a vast ocean of possibilities left to explore.
Two years have passed since Microsoft launched the Series X, and yet we are still miles away from unlocking its true potential. That said, Metacritic has already awarded plenty of fantastic scores to a number of its games. And when we say fantastic scores, we’re talking about games that have amassed enough reviews to acquire a 9/10 branding. Question is, which five games have been awarded such scores? Well, here’s what we know about the console’s most popular entries to date.
5. Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 5 is Playground Games’ latest and greatest entry in Xbox’s exclusive multi award-winning saga. In the latest instalment, players embark on a high-octane journey across a fictionalized version of Mexico, where racing courses through the veins of every driver west of the coastline. Spread over 11 unique biomes that tally up to 107km², up-and-coming drivers can immerse in one of the biggest open world concrete jungles to date.
Since its release, the fifth chapter has gone on to receive awards for Best Sports/Racing Game, Best Audio Design, and Outstanding Visual Style, netting it a lofty score of 92 on Metacritic. Not only does this make it one of the best performing video games of 2022, but the fifth best Xbox Series X|S game ever conceived.
4. The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
To this day, The Stanley Parable is considered video game royalty. Despite it being almost a decade old, the hilariously destructive story-driven walking simulator still holds a permanent residency in the charts, making it one of the best-selling indies in creation. And it’s because of this, that Galactic Cafe looked to build on its reputation by developing a bulkier edition for modern consoles.
The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe is a pseudo-sequel to the award-winning 2013 original. While retaining its core elements, Ultra Deluxe expands on nearly everything else, including pathways for players to follow and easter eggs to unearth. Unsurprisingly, this reimagined collection of witty shenanigans went on to net a score of 93 on Metacritic.
3. Hades
2018 was a strong year for gaming, even more so for the dungeon crawling category. Hades, which was just one of the titles that released during the year, was living proof of this. As a fish-out-of-water BAFTA winner, the Supergiant Games-led chapter helped open the floodgates for countless up-and-coming and unfathomably ambitious tales. To this end, Hades is not only a beacon of pride for the dungeon crawler community, but one of the best Xbox games to ever honor the system.
Hades follows the tale of Zagreus, son of Hades, as he attempts to escape the Underworld and venture towards the pinnacle of Mount Olympus. Based over a labyrinth of pre-determined room layouts, players must search for an exit by wading through relentless armies and treacherous environments. With each and every run being a unique journey, budding escapees can expect countless hours of chaotic, albeit incredibly addictive combat and exploration. It’s hack and slash 101, and it deserves almost every accolade in the book.
2. Immortality
Immortality is a story-driven cinematic experience that follows the disappearance of an actress. As investigators, you’re tasked with piecing together the footage from three individual movies and each of their exclusive behind the scenes snippets, and then constructing a timeline of events to help shed light on the mystery. Unlocking such revelations, however, involves diving deep into the actresses’ past, something that harbors more secrets than the professional cares to share.
Immortality has only been on the market for a couple of days, and yet, at present, it holds an incredibly high Metacritic score of 94, making it the second most popular Xbox Series X|S exclusive of all time. This, of course, could put it on track to becoming a nominee for GOTY, though it’s too early to confirm. Still, with the amount of credit it has received in just 48 hours, it’s definitely looking like a strong candidate.
1. Elden Ring
Elden Ring was, without a shadow of a doubt, the most anticipated game of 2022. It came as no surprise, of course, what with FromSoftware having a solid reputation for developing some of the best role-playing games on the planet. And so, many will say that Elden Ring was destined to succeed before it was ever officially announced.
Elden Ring is a tough-as-nails action role-playing game that stems from the same minds that shaped the Soulslike cult. In the latest venture, players enter The Lands Between on an epic quest to repair the Elden Ring and, in turn, become the Elden Lord. With demigods and demonic beasts picking the bones of a crumbling civilization, budding warriors must endure deadly battles and earn their right to wield the power of the artefact. It’s chaotically entertaining, though it will take every fiber of your being to see it through to the bitter end. Worth it, though — especially knowing that it pulled a score of 96 on Metacritic. Best Xbox Series X|S game to date? Absolutely.