The 12 Best Single-Player Games On The Xbox Series X

The Xbox Series X has been out for quite some time, amassing a decent library of games that have been engaging in their own right. With the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard finally succeeding after months of legal battles between Microsoft and Sony, it’s only a given that this console is going to be a hub for some truly great titles that may convince people to choose Xbox over PlayStation.

There is a wealth of single-player games that players can check out on the console if they wish to get lost in amazing story-driven adventures that will elicit a ton of emotions in them. These titles encompass a host of genres and will keep most players occupied for a while if they get invested in the proceedings.

Updated on April 26, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: The Xbox Series X is the powerful variant of the two consoles released by Xbox, with their insistence on making gaming accessible for all being a great initiative that allows players to check out the games of their choice without breaking the bank. While some people have criticized the presence of Xbox in the current console generation, there’s no denying that the sheer wealth of games that players can already check out on the Series X is pretty impressive in its own way. There are many excellent single-player titles that fans can check out on the console, taking players on wonderful adventures across numerous genres with great finesse.

12 Yakuza: Like A Dragon

Metascore: 84

The idea of a real-time brawling game like Yakuza switching over to a turn-based format made for a worrying sight for many fans. They had no idea if Like a Dragon could pull off such a drastic switch in gameplay, only for players to be proven completely wrong as the Dragon Engine showed just how malleable it was.

Like a Dragon is a brilliant game that introduces a new protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga. His goofy but determined attitude made him a great protagonist, with his journey of vengeance leading him to fight against some familiar faces in incredible boss fights where players must whip out a wealth of abilities to attain success.

11 Hogwarts Legacy

Metascore: 84

The hype around Hogwarts Legacy was through the roof, especially since a lot of gamers loved the idea of an open-world series in a world that they grew up with. While there are a lot of people who feel that Hogwarts Legacy missed the mark when it comes to what a Harry Potter game should feel like, that shouldn’t take away from its allure in the slightest.

Roleplaying as a Hogwarts student and exploring the landscapes in and around this magical school makes for a great time indeed. The game may have been a missed opportunity in some ways, but most players can’t go wrong with this game if they’re huge Harry Potter fans.

10 Cyberpunk 2077

Metascore: 86

Cyberpunk 2077 is a video game that launched in such a pitiful state that many people just wrote it off instead of giving CD Projekt Red a chance. However, it didn’t take long for the developer to turn things around.

Now, with the launch of Update 2.0 and Phantom Liberty, Cyberpunk 2077 is finally living up to its potential of being one of the greatest action-adventure games players can check out. The game is more stable than ever before and deserves its time in the spotlight.

9 Halo Infinite (Singleplayer Mode)

Metascore: 87

There’s no denying that the multiplayer component of Halo Infinite has failed somewhat, halting progression behind a massive grind and not really featuring too much content for players to get invested in the first place. It’s a shame since the single-player campaign was definitely quite engaging.

It’s the first Halo game to adopt an open-world structure, which is done pretty neatly. Players who are invested in Master Chief’s story will have a great time blazing through the campaign, even if some elements of it won’t feel all that new or revolutionary in any way.

8 Psychonauts 2

Metascore: 87

The wait for Psychonauts 2 was agonizing at one point, so fans were finally glad to find out that they could enjoy Razputin’s mind-bending shenanigans once again when they got their hands on this game. The novelty of exploring a person’s mind is still quite fresh, and it helps that Psychonauts 2 features some great gameplay and visual improvements.

As a result, the platforming feels natural and exciting to engage with. Combat has also taken a turn for the better, allowing players to use a wealth of abilities to tackle their enemies while uncovering a sinister plot in the process.

7 Hi-Fi Rush

Metascore: 87

Shadow-dropping Hi-Fi Rush was a bold move for the Xbox brand, with the game surprising everyone with its colorful visuals, excellent soundtrack, and scintillating action that made for a breath of fresh air. Combining rhythm and action gameplay has reaped major dividends every time, and Hi-Fi Rush is no exception to this golden rule.

It’s a shame that the game wasn’t the killer app that Microsoft hoped would convince more people to try out the Game Pass, since it deserved way more love than it got at launch. For what it’s worth, players who did manage to check this title out loved what it had to offer and couldn’t stop talking about how imaginative the gameplay was, leading to some effective word-of-mouth marketing that allowed many players to discover this title.

6 Alan Wake 2

Metascore: 88

Alan Wake 2 is one of the most experimental AAA games players can check out. The meta-narrative in this title is truly ludicrous and goes to show just how brilliant Remedy is at crafting some truly engaging video game experiences.

The journey that Alan Wake 2 takes players on is a truly riveting one, and this rollercoaster ride doesn’t stop delivering its fair share of thrills at every step of the way. It’s a narrative that would only be possible in the realm of video games, which makes Alan Wake 2 pretty revolutionary indeed.

5 Dead Space

Metascore: 89

Dead Space is a game that already looked pretty mind-blowing, and most people wondered if a remake of this title was even warranted. However, it didn’t take long for EA to show just how much room there really was for improvement in this game.

The Dead Space remake is a thing of beauty to behold, and some of its levels have been expanded upon too. The end result is a masterful gaming experience that will scare players out of their wits over and over again.

4 Resident Evil 4 (2023)

Metascore: 93

Many people were worried that the attempt to remake Resident Evil 4 would end up leaving a sour taste in everyone’s mouths, given how the original game is a gem of a survival horror title that featured the perfect amount of camp while introducing players to a new control scheme in the form of over-the-shoulder shooting that has become the norm in most titles today.

However, despite losing some of the original’s charm, Resident Evil 4 was a brilliant title that floored everyone with its incredible presentation and faithfulness to the original game. Capcom’s string of Resident Evil remakes has been brilliant, and this game was no exception either.

3 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Metascore: 94

It’s a testament to the immense quality of The Witcher 3 that players can’t stop revisiting this title to this day. It helped that the re-release of this title on next-gen platforms with a brand-new update ensured that everyone could enjoy Geralt’s fantastical adventures with a fresh coat of ray-traced paint that made this jaw-dropping look even more amazing in every way.

This dark fantasy tale serves as the final chapter in Geralt of Rivia’s tale, with his quest to hunt down Ciri taking him on a wild goose change that ends on an emotional note that varies based on the ending players get. Regardless of what fate players get at the end of this title, there’s no denying that The Witcher 3 will leave their mark on players for years to come.

Persona 5 was a massive step forward for Atlus when it came to this series. The amazing art style and enthralling gameplay were something fans couldn’t get enough of, with the Phantom Thieves quickly becoming one of the best groups ever featured in a JRPG. People may have their personal preferences, but no one can deny that Persona 5 is the finest and most polished game in the series by a country mile.

To make things even better, the Royal edition expands on the plot and lets players enjoy an epilogue that’s pretty engaging in its own right, even if some people feel that the original ending was more satisfying. Regardless, there aren’t many single-player games on the Xbox Series X that are as amazing as this one, and players who enjoy turn-based combat will love what this title has to offer.

2 Elden Ring

Metascore: 96

FromSoftware took the world by storm with an amazing open-world RPG that combined the best parts of their combat and level design to make for a truly special experience. Controlling the Tarnished and uncovering the truth behind this game makes for a great time, with the amazing exploration and excellent combat encounters feeling satisfying.

There’s no denying that Elden Ring has a problem with the excessive recycling of boss fights and a huge leap in difficulty midway through the game. However, these issues are minor in the grand scheme of things, and fans of Elden Ring can’t wait for the upcoming DLC to sweep them off their feet again.

1 Baldur’s Gate 3

Metascore: 99 (Xbox Critic Reviews)

Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the greatest RPGs ever made, proving once and for all that the CRPG genre is well on its way to a modern revival where a ton of modern developers would try to make a name for themselves in this genre. The sheer amount of love poured into each and every corner of this game is simply mind-boggling and goes to show why labors of love will always beat any game that only has the motive of earning a quick buck and keeping shareholders happy.

Even after putting in hundreds of hours in this game across multiple playthroughs, it’s very much possible that most people still won’t uncover every piece of unique content in this game. It speaks to the sheer volume of well-written dialogue and branching questlines present in Baldur’s Gate 3 that every part of this title feels carefully curated and enrapturing in every way.