The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are now familiar sights in living rooms and homes around the world. Of course, no console is much without games – not even the “most powerful” in the world.
That’s why we’ve put together a list of the games that are on their way to the Xbox Series X and S.
Some will also be part of the monthly Xbox Game Pass membership scheme, which will save you a stack of money. And some will also be part of Xbox’s Smart Delivery programme, meaning that if you buy them for Xbox One you’ll get them on Series X or Series S for free.
Our most anticipated upcoming Xbox Series X and S games
The Callisto Protocol
- Publisher: Krafton
- Release date: 2 December 2022
- Exclusive? No, also on PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Switch and PC
A horror game from the minds behind Dead Space, The Callisto Protocol looks like it could be pretty harrowing, with a LOT of ways to die baked into its gameplay. Things are violent and unsettling, and we can’t wait to explore its creepy space prison setting.
Need for Speed: Unbound
- Publisher: EA
- Release date: 2 December 2022
- Exclusive? No, also on PS5 and PC
A new Need for Speed game is on the horizon, promising more car customisation than ever before, with massive street races to take part in. For the first time, you’ll be able to create custom effects to accompany your racing, too, inspired by graffiti, and it looks nice and vibrant
Dead Space
- Publisher: EA
- Release Date: 27 January 2023
- Exclusive? No, also on PS5 and PC
EA has resurrected its terrifying science-fiction franchise and is making a full remake of the original game. It should be absolutely horrifying, using the power of next-gen to summon up some sights we hoped we’d never see again.
Dead Island 2
- Publisher: Deep Silver
- Release Date: 2 February 2023
- Exclusive? No, also on PS5, PS4, Xbox One and PC
A sequel that has taken long years to arrive, Dead Island 2 seems like it will expand on the original game in massive ways, with a way bigger world, more in-depth combat and a whole bunch of zombies for you to slaughter in new and inventive ways.
Hogwarts Legacy
- Publisher: Warner Bros.
- Release date: 10 February 2023
- Exclusive? No, also on PS5, PS4, Xbox One, PC and Switch
We’ve waited too long for a proper big-budget game set in the world of Harry Potter, and will finally get to scratch that itch with Hogwarts Legacy. Set back in the past, you’ll guide your students through their classes while also fighting a major threat to the wizarding world.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
- Publisher: Warner Bros.
- Release date? Spring 2023
- Exclusive? No, also on PS5, PS4 and PC
We’re finally ready to get back into a Rocksteady game, years after it last dropped some Batman goodness into our laps. This game will let players take on the roles of a few nasty pieces of work in the Suicide Squad, tasked with taking down corrupted versions of the Justice League’s heroes.
Starfield
- Publisher: Bethesda
- Release date: Early 2023
- Exclusive? No, also on PC
Starfield is the next big Bethesda franchise (or so it hopes), with a huge 1,000-planet galaxy for you to explore, bases to build and spaceships to fly. There will be a deep story that you can shape with your choices, and it looks pretty great so far.
Forza Motorsport
- Publisher: Turn10
- Release date: Spring 2023
- Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One
The next Forza game is looking absolutely jaw-dropping in terms of fidelity, and it’s clear that this will end up being one of the best-looking racing games ever made. We can’t wait to dive in.
Diablo 4
- Publisher: Activision Blizzard
- Release date: 2023
- Exclusive? No, also on PS5 and PC
We’ve been waiting years for the next big Diablo game, and the fourth in the series looks like it should deliver a gory, dark campaign followed by near-endless satisfying endgame content, too. With five classes to pick from, it should have plenty of variety to offer up.
Alan Wake 2
- Publisher: Epic Games
- Release date: 2023
- Exclusive? No, also on PS5 and PC
Alan Wake is back, at last, and Remedy says that his mainline sequel will be more survival-horror focussed than the last game, which sounds like it could potentially make for a pretty terrifying package. The teaser trailer is ominous so we can’t wait to learn more.
Redfall
- Publisher: Bethesda
- Release date: 2023
- Exclusive? Yes
Redfall is coming from the brilliant minds at Arkane, and seems to be set in a world of vampires and magic powers. It looks like vibrant fun, with four-player co-op built into the game from the ground up, which should make it a very new sort of challenge.
Minecraft Legends
- Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
- Release date: 2023
- Exclusive? No, also on PS5, PS4, Xbox One, PC and Switch
An all-new game in the Minecraft universe, Legends sees you take control of armies of followers, but also able to exert an influence over battles yourself thanks to fun hack-and-slash combat. It looks really fun and perfect for gamers with families.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Publisher: Team Cherry
- Release date: TBC
- Exclusive? No, also on Switch and PC
Hollow Knight was a masterpiece from an indie studio, offering up a simply brilliant metroidvania action game of exploration and growth with a real challenge at its heart. The long-awaited sequel, Silksong, will be on Game Pass when it launches, which should be music to the ears of any keen indie gamer.
The Lord of the Rings – Gollum
- Publisher: Daedelic Entertainment
- Release date: TBC
- Exclusive? No, also on PS5, Windows 10 (rumoured)
Gollum will apparently be a story-driven action adventure and from a studio well-versed in such things. We also know it’s coming to next-gen consoles, and its artistic vision looks pretty interesting so far.
Alone in the Dark
- Publisher: THQ Nordic
- Release date: TBC
- Exclusive? No, also on PS5 and PC
An iconic franchise returns with this reboot of Alone in the Dark, set in the American deep south, and summoning very creepy vibes if the reveal trailer is anything to go by. We don’t have a release window to look forward to at this stage, though.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
- Publisher: Focus Entertainment
- Release date: TBC
- Exclusive? No, also on PC
The first Space Marine came out a decent while ago, but was a well-like third-person action and shooter that felt like a nice way into the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Now, it’s finally getting a sequel, and from the glimpses of gameplay at the end of the announcement trailer, it should be a bloody good time.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
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- Publisher: Paradox Interactive
- Release date: TBC
- Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Windows 10
A new, superb trailer has got us even more excited for this long-awaited RPG sequel. We also saw previous footage running with ray-tracing at an Nvidia event during Gamescom 2019, so have a great idea what to expect on Xbox Series X with its similarly capable graphics.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
- Release date: TBC
- Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One and Windows 10
Ninja Theory’s first Senua game – Hallblade: Senua’s Sacrifice – not only wowed with its almost photorealistic graphics but the clever, well-informed grasp on mental health issues was much lauded. The sequel looks even more stunning, based on a trailer made entirely using the in-game engine. The action-adventure will apparently be available on the older=generation Xbox, but we suspect it’ll be the Series X version everyone will be talking about.
Fable
- Publisher: Playground Games
- Release date: TBC
- Exclusive? No, also on Windows 10
A beloved franchise is returning with the as-yet simply-titled Fable, bringing players back to Albion and its topsy-turvy world of moral extremes. The teaser we got gives us almost nothing to go on, but we’re sure it’ll promise much more witty humour and fantasy tropes.
Wonder Woman
- Publisher: Warner Bros.
- Release date: TBC
- Exclusive? No, also on PS5 and PC
Diana Prince is finally getting a proper mainstream videogame adaptation, likely as a result of the recognition factor that Gal Gadot’s movie version has garnered. We can’t wait to learn more about what the game will bring to the table.
Star Wars Eclipse
- Publisher: LucasFilm Games
- Release date: TBC
- Exclusive? No, also on PS5 and PC
The next game from Quantic Dream will be a story-driven multi-character Star Wars adventure set during the High Republic era, and while the trailer above has plenty of vivid imagery we don’t know a huge amount about the story this game will try to tell.
State of Decay 3
- Publisher: Undead Labs
- Release date: TBC
- Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One and Windows 10
The State of Decay franchise lives on, and will drop its third iteration on Xbox Series X – the first trailer looks absolutely amazing, even if it’s got no gameplay to share. It looks like animals are getting infected, though, which could be a game-changer when it comes to making your way around. Hopefully, we’ll learn more soon.
The Outer Worlds 2
- Publisher: Take-Two Interactive
- Release date: TBC
- Exclusive? No, also on PC
If you’re going to make a trailer that contains almost no details, you might as well poke fun at yourself while you do, as this great announcement teaser for The Outer Worlds 2 manages. We’ll doubtless find out plenty more about the game down the line but, for now, it’s great to know that it’s on the way.
The Elder Scrolls 6
- Publisher: Bethesda
- Release date: TBC
- Exclusive? No, also on PC
We’ve not heard a peep about The Elder Scrolls 6 since its tease at E3 2018. However, after the massive news of Bethesda being bought entirely by Microsoft, we know that when it does eventually appear, it’ll be on Game Pass from day one, and could even be an Xbox exclusive.
Gothic
- Publisher: THQ Nordic
- Release date: TBC
- Exclusive? No, also on PS5, Windows 10
After releasing a playable teaser for PC on Steam, which was very well received, THQ Nordic decided to greenlight a fully remastered, remade version of RPG Gothic. It also announced that it will be coming to the next-generation consoles too.