To say that Xbox had a busy 2025 would be an understatement. It was a year full of big game launches, strategy shifts, and several unpleasant surprises from Microsoft’s gaming division in the form of price increases and mass layoffs. The main takeaway for Xbox in 2025 was consistency, as there was a steady feed of new games on PC and Xbox Series X|S from Xbox Game Studios alongside the launch of an expensive Xbox-branded handheld PC.
But what does it mean to be an Xbox game in 2025? Microsoft doubled down on bringing its console exclusives to PlayStation 5, and many of those games were bestsellers on Sony’s hardware. Doom: The Dark Ages, Gears of War: Reloaded, and The Outer Worlds 2 all had day-and-date launches on multiple platforms, and next year will see Microsoft’s crown jewel, Halo, arrive on PS5.
If an Xbox is the only console in your home, 2025 was still a great year overall for grabbing new games. From GOTY contenders like Blue Prince and Hollow Knight: Silksong to interesting third-party titles like Mullet MadJack and The Alters, there was no shortage of exciting games to grab. Many of them earned high review scores, and you can see which ones were critically acclaimed, thanks to some number-crunching by our sister site Metacritic.
For a deep dive into the best of 2025, you can also read up on GameSpot’s GOTY pick, the best Xbox exclusives, and the biggest news stories of the year. We’ve also got a running list of the best Xbox games and Game Pass games to play right now.
More Best Of 2025:
- Best of 2025 hub
- Why Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Is GameSpot’s GOTY 2025
- GameSpot’s 10 Best Games of 2025
- The Best PS5-Exclusive Games Of 2025
- The Best Nintendo Switch And Switch 2 Exclusives Of 2025
- The Best-Reviewed Games Of 2025
- 2025’s Biggest Gaming News: Banned Games, GTA 6 Delayed, Price Hikes
Split Fiction
Hazelight cemented its position this year as not only the best in the business when it comes to co-op games, but a force to be reckoned with when it comes to storytelling as well. Not just a triumph of inventive gameplay, Split Fiction complements that experience with a tale about the power of human creativity.
Metascore: 93 | Read our Split Fiction review
Blue Prince
Blue Prince captures you from the outset thanks to the mystery of the shifting manor. Clever puzzles and a dose of RNG can be initially frustrating, but as you progress through the game and uncover the deeper lore and secrets, that frustration dissipates to make room for satisfaction and awe. Blue Prince offers so much more depth than it appears to at first glance, and when you start to put the pieces together, you’ll be hooked.
Metascore: 92 | Read our Blue Prince review
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
One of the best RPGs of the year, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wows you with its stellar turn-based gameplay and breaks your heart with its elegantly melancholic storytelling. Innovative and beautiful to behold, Sandfall Interactive’s debut game makes an incredible first impression.
Metascore: 91 | Read our Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review
Monster Hunter Wilds
Capcom’s previous Monster Hunter games have been terrific adventures, but Monster Hunter Wilds shows just how good the franchise’s signature formula can be once all the friction has been removed from it. If you’ve been teetering on the edge and looking to play your first Monster Hunter game, Monster Hunter Wilds makes a strong case for the franchise with its polished gameplay and gripping story.
Metascore: 90 | Read our Monster Hunter Wilds review
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hollow Knight: Silksong more than lived up to the lofty expectations placed upon it by its eager fanbase, as the follow-up to 2017’s Hollow Knight was pure metroidvania magic. Challenging and charming in equal measure, Team Cherry delivered an energetic sequel that could be ruthlessly difficult and incredibly satisfying when you overcame those obstacles.
Metascore: 90 | Read our Hollow Knight: Silksong review
Arc Raiders
One of the best “stories” in video games this year was arguably Arc Raiders, which technically has little to no story, but the combination of its setting, lore, and player-to-player interactions have made it a fascinating storytelling vehicle, the likes of which rarely come around in games.
Metascore: 88 | Read our Arc Raiders review
Final Fantasy 16
One of the boldest reinventions of Final Fantasy since the franchise jumped from cartridge to CD-ROM, Final Fantasy 16 is a fascinating shift into new territory for the series. Featuring the darkest fantasy setting to date, gameplay that keeps you engaged with the battles on your screen, and several jaw-dropping boss fights, it’s one of the all-time greats in the mainline series.
Metascore: 88 | Read our Final Fantasy 16 review
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Being one of the longest games of the year doesn’t automatically make it one of the best, but that was surely the case for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, an RPG that will easily take you 100+ hours if you plan to see all it has to offer. And you probably should, too, as it’s easily one of the most interesting RPGs on Xbox in years.
Metascore: 88 | Read our Kingcom Come: Deliverance 2 review
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
This year has seen several great side-scrolling beat-’em-ups released, and you can count Shinobi: Art of Vengeance among their number. Not just a stylish resurrection of Sega’s ninja mascot, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a slick and fast-paced action game that is a joy to play from beginning to end.
Metascore: 87 | Read our Shinobi: Art of Vengeance review
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
With every Like a Dragon game, you know exactly what you’re getting: familiar faces and locations, a completely over-the-top story, and some of the best action in modern gaming. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii does just that and more, as this spin-off gives fan-favorite character Goro Majima a chance to shine in a high-seas adventure.
Metascore: 87 | Read our Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii review
Two Point Museum
After adventures in the health sector and academia, Two Point Studios turned its attention to history this year. Two Point Museum is another winner in the studio’s quirky library of management games and is packed with new ideas to help you build the finest repository of history on the block.
Metascore: 86
The Alters
The Alters is another fascinating exploration of the human condition from 11 Bit Studios, as the game weaves together tight resource-management gameplay and base-building with a philosophical look at how our choices shape us over the course of our lives. Human resources taken to the extreme, it’s an introspective mixture of genres that’s pulled off successfully.
Metascore: 86 | Read our The Alters review
Mullet MadJack
Roguelite games are tough to get right, especially when mashed up with a genre as popular as the first-person shooter, but Mullet MadJack is a massive success. Blending cyberpunk aesthetics and surprisingly funny writing with its “just one more level” roguelite gameplay, it’s never a huge disappointment to die. Instead, it’s a great opportunity to see how things could go just a little differently with a new weapon or strategy.
Metascore: 86
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4
Available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from launch day, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is another excellent remake, this time from Iron Galaxy. The classic two skateboarding games play almost identically to 1 + 2 from a few years ago, and the new additions–like a sprawling waterpark level filled with secrets–make it worth checking out, even if you’ve never stopped playing the originals from back in the day.
Metascore: 86 | Read our Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 review.
Helldivers 2
In a year that saw the barrier between console platforms break down more than ever, Xbox’s big win from PlayStation was certainly Helldivers 2. Previously voted one of the best games of 2024 by GameSpot, among many others, Helldivers 2 made its Xbox debut and picked up where it left off: being one of the most exciting, hilarious games going today.
Metascore: 85 | Read our Helldivers 2 review
Doom: The Dark Ages
A remarkably different game from its two predecessors, Doom: The Dark Ages not only sends us to a much different time period (and environments), it also radically alters the first-person shooter gameplay. Emphasis is put on parrying and countering enemies’ attacks rather than zipping around them like Spider-Man, making the Doom Slayer feel like the ultimate demon-killing machine rather than just a vessel for large guns to do the work.
Metascore: 85 | Read our Doom: The Dark Ages review.
Gears of War: Reloaded
Decades after it was first released, Gears of War still stands tall as one of the best blockbuster games of all time. The Reloaded edition doesn’t offer any real surprises beyond its shinier coat of 4K paint and accessibility options, but it does show just how good the original game still is.
Metascore: 85
Battlefield 6
It took a few tries, with some relative highs and lows in between, but Battlefield 6 feels like it’s the series’ return to form. With its huge maps, compelling class-based roles and warfare, and a free-to-play battle royale bringing in new players all the time, Battlefield 6 is Battlefield operating at peak performance.
Metascore: 84 | Read our Battlefield 6 review
WWE 2K25
In what was a big year for WWE, as it said goodbye to its decades-long main character, John Cena, its video game tie-in was also creating a splash. The series is now all the way back from its debacle of a few years ago, and 2K25 stands as a testament to Visual Concepts’ remarkable comeback story as a studio, offering great in-ring gameplay, a deep selection of intriguing modes, and the very best character-creation suite in the medium.
Metascore: 84 | Read our WWE 2K25 review
Mortal Kombat: The Legacy Kollection
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection is a celebration of the bloody fighting game franchise, spanning its early years and bringing to life a rich selection of behind-the-scenes content and curated classic games. It’s a complete package that treats these games–even the bad ones–with reverence and respect, creating the ultimate time capsule for fans to crack open and enjoy.
Metascore: 84 | Read our Mortal Kombat: The Legacy Kollection review
The Outer Worlds 2
Obsidian is one of the most well-versed studios making RPGs, and it shows in The Outer Worlds 2, its latest sardonic take on a Fallout-esque experience. The Outer Worlds 2 is rarely dire but often adventurous, and sees players planet-hopping from one capitalistic dystopia to the next, always leaving space for the player to alter outcomes in their own special ways.
Metascore: 83 | Read our The Outer Worlds 2 review
Lego Voyagers
In the same vein as games like It Takes Two and Split Fiction, Lego Voyagers is a mandatory co-op game, but it’s also better for it. It’s hard to imagine how two small Lego bricks, each with nothing but a googly eye sticker on them, could do some much emotional heavy lifting, but playing this with a loved one will surely have your eyes feeling not googly, but a bit misty, at least.
Metascore: 83 | Read our Lego Voyagers review
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
The best Ninja Gaiden games are the ones that leave you breathless after you manage to overcome seemingly impossible odds by the skin of your teeth, and Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound ticks that box. Part of the Ninja Gaiden hat-trick delivered in 2025, Ragebound is an exciting addition to the franchise that successfully channels the spirit of classic NES games.
Metascore: 83 | Read our Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound review
Ready or Not
This former PC hidden gem went 1.0 in 2025 and became similarly beloved on Xbox. In it, you’ll command a SWAT team in first-person while using strategy-genre-like commands to your squadmates (or play it in co-op) as you try to navigate life-or-death active crime scenes. This one’s not for the faint of heart.
Metascore: 83
F1 25
Just like the real-life sport, F1 25 is a showcase of speed and precision. Codemasters delivered another winner this year–while also addressing several areas of the game that were the subject of heavy criticism from fans last year–resulting in a racing game that plays as well as it looks.
Metascore: 82
EA Sports College Football 26
Football fans are spoiled for choice lately, but if you could only choose one game from the gridiron gang, then EA Sports College Football 26 was hard to beat. This year’s entry in the reborn franchise built on the momentum of last year’s game, while several gameplay improvements helped tighten up the sports simulator.
Metascore: 82 | Read our EA Sports College Football 26 review
Lego Party
All Lego Party really had to do was be the decent Mario Party clone it was probably first expected to be, but the developers at SMG Studio went well beyond that by actually improving on a number of Mario’s past setbacks, like eliminating some RNG and changing how scoring is done, all while wrapping it in a colorful Lego exterior that gives it a vibe of its own.
Metascore: 82
Silent Hill F
For years, Silent Hill 2–and its remake–have been considered the gold standard for the franchise, but Silent Hill F has successfully raised the bar for the series. Atmospheric and hauntingly beautiful, Konami’s gamble on reimagining Silent Hill through a vintage Japanese lens makes for one of the best survival-horror games of the year.
Metascore: 82 | Read our Silent Hill F review
Ninja Gaiden 4
It might have a forgettable story and a protagonist blander than watered-down coffee, but Ninja Gaiden 4 is still a rollercoaster of sublime shinobi action. Capping off a year of Ninja Gaiden remasters and spin-offs, the fourth mainline entry in the modern series keeps you on the edge of your seat with gameplay that demands your utmost attention.
Metascore: 82 | Read our Ninja Gaiden 4 review
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
What’s old is new again, as Bethesda shadow-dropped one of the biggest surprises of the year with The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. It looks as good as you could ask for, but the real charm is that the gameplay has been tweaked just enough to keep the game’s trademark jank in place while several other pain points have been addressed. Almost 20 years later, returning to Cyrodiil has never felt better thanks to this polished remaster.
Metascore: 82 | Read our The Elder Scrolls : Oblivion Remastered review
NBA 2K26
Annual sports games often get criticized for feeling too similar year over year, but such criticism rarely suits NBA 2K, which offers some of the gameplay, modes, and features of any sports sim. This year’s game fixed what a lot of players felt was off about shooting, while it continued to expand on its open world, The City, as the destination hub for NBA fans between real-life contests and games of H.O.R.S.E. at the gym.
Metascore: 82 | Read our NBA 2K26 review
MotoGP 25
Milestone might have a near-monopoly on racing games, but the studio has put in some serious work with its MotoGP games over the years. The 2025 entry is one of the best yet for newcomers looking to check out some high-speed two-wheeled action, thanks to the arcade mode, while series veterans can put their skills to the test by diving into an authentic championship season.
Metascore: 82
Borderlands 4
Ignoring the disappointing campaign, everything else about Borderlands 4 is a huge leap forward for the looter-shooter series. The new open-world environment of Kairos is a toybox of destructive fun, new gameplay systems made players feel like agile war machines in the heat of battle, and buildcrafting is better than ever thanks to the robust selection of options present in the game.
Metascore: 81 | Read our Borderlands 4 review
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
After years of saying Assassin’s Creed would never go to Japan, Ubisoft finally relented and transported the series to the country in the 16th century. The action-adventure game features two playable protagonists: shinobi Naoe (who you should always try to play as) and samurai Yasuke (who you should only play when you must), and returns to the franchise’s familiar well of seeking revenge for a dead family member and killing a cabal of masked villains.
Metascore: 81 | Read our Assassin’s Creed Shadows review and Assassin’s Creed Shadows: The Claws of Awaji DLC review
Elden Ring Nightreign
Elden Ring Nightreign is not an expansion, nor a DLC, but a standalone roguelike experience. As one of eight Nightfarers, or classes, you’ll traverse the Lands Between taking on familiar Elden Ring mobs. All the while, a lethal storm is encroaching upon you, closing the playable area until you’re forced into the path of powerful bosses. Its satisfying gameplay loop and engaging narrative have cemented it as a meaningful installment in the franchise.
Metascore: 84 | Read our Elden Ring Nightreign review
