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The Xbox Series X and its more affordable counterpart the Xbox Series S have been on the market for over three years now and the catalogue of games is only getting better and better especially with last year being revered as one of the best years in gaming ever. As you probably guessed there are a few 2023 releases on this list.
This article will highlight some of the best single-player experiences that are available on the Xbox side of the pond for those of you who just want to sit down and enjoy a solo adventure getting lost in different worlds, and narratives combined with satisfying gameplay.
Furthermore, it'll also rank the games and pick out our top 10, which is no easy task with the sheer amount of brilliant exclusive and third-party titles that you can play right now, oh and let you know if they're available on Xbox Game Pass.
Opencritic Score: 86/100
Release Date: 8th December 2021
Developer: 343 Industries
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Genre: First-Person Shooter
Is it on Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Although Halo Infinite's reputation is somewhat marred by how 343 Industries decided to handle the free-to-play multiplayer aspect of the game that should not take away from the game's rather excellent single-player campaign.
For the first time, Master Chief is thrown into an open-world setting with plenty of unique side missions that tell their own compelling little stories and only assist in elevating the overarching campaign. There are some of the best boss fights in the series to date and if you're a fan of Master Chief it is worth experiencing his latest story, especially if you already have a subscription to Xbox Game Pass.
Opencritic Score: 84/100
Release Date: 10th February 2023
Developer: Avalanche Studios
Publisher: Warner Bros. Games
Genre: Action-RPG
Is it on Xbox Game Pass? No
The reality is that Harry Potter games have never been particularly great, with the later film tie-ins especially being very rough titles that were essentially cash grabs. However, Hogwarts Legacy is a dream game for Harry Potter fans and does a grand job of bringing the wizarding world to life.
Whilst it's lacking in some parts, where's the quidditch Avalanche? There is still so much to like here, Hogwarts itself is very well done and a joy to explore and there are some brilliant side stories with my personal favourite being the Slytherin quest line. If you're a fan of Harry Potter this is simply a must-play game on Xbox Series X.
Opencritic Score: 89/100
Release Date: 25th January 2023
Developer: Tango Gameworks
Publisher: Bethesda
Genre: Action
Is it on Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Games released out of nowhere are always cool and it's even better when the game turns out to be great. Xbox dropped Hi-Fi Rush at the Xbox Developer Direct back in January 2023 which had a segment about the game that then revealed it was releasing later that evening.
Hi-Fi Rush is certainly a diversion from Tango Gameworks' usual horror titles but they smashed it out of the park with Hi-Fi Rush with its great cell-shaded style and rocking soundtrack that fit perfectly with the rhythm-based gameplay. A solid single-player edition to the Xbox Game Pass library and well worth a download.
Opencritic Score: 89/100
Release Date: 10th December 2020, DLC: 26th September 2023
Developer: CD Projekt Red
Publisher: CD Projekt Red
Genre: First Person Shooter, Action, RPG
Is it on Xbox Game Pass? No
Cyberpunk 2077 had a rough start on release, it feels like the game came out way too early due to things like stakeholder pressures and led to a marred launch, especially on the older Xbox One / PS4 consoles. Playing at launch myself I struggled and eventually dropped the game entirely, being extremely disappointed as a huge fan of both CD Projekt Red & the Cyberpunk setting. However, CD Projekt Red committed hard to making Cyberpunk 2077 a better game and right now thanks to the large overhaul update Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 and the DLC I can wholeheartedly recommend this single-player experience on Xbox Series X.
The story is great with decisions that matter, the characters and performances are sensational and that's only expanded upon with the DLC which is worth your time. The new skill trees and perk systems allow you to tailor your protagonist V whether it be a hacking netrunner or melee specialist slowing time and slicing people to bits with your Sandevistan.
Opencritic Score: 94/100
Release Date: 31st March 2020
Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Sega
Genre: JRPG
Is it on Xbox Game Pass? No (it was for a year but was removed in October 2023)
Persona is pretty much the king of modern JRPGs, Persona 5 was critically acclaimed on release and somehow Persona 5 Royal managed to only expand and add on the incredible base already set up in 2017 becoming the definitive way to play Persona 5. The game combines the dual life of a high school student in Tokyo who at night becomes a phantom thief that scours dungeons fighting corruption with a deep turn-based combat system.
Combining intriguing dungeon design and oozing style this JRPG is simply a pleasure and has one of the strongest narratives in the series. This is an easy single-player recommendation on the Xbox Series X for fans of JRPGs. Just warning you this game is huge as well and can easily take up over a hundred hours.
Opencritic Score: 89/100
Release Date: 27th October 2023
Developer: Remedy Games
Publisher: Epic Games
Genre: Survival Horror
Is it on Xbox Game Pass? No
Alan Wake 2 is by far the most unique game on this list and Remedy continues to solidify itself as a truly excellent developer with a serious amount of flair.
Alan Wake 2 follows two tales side by side with Alan Wake trapped in a dark world he can't escape from whilst our other protagonist FBI agent Saga is investigating a series of murders that have been happening in a small lakeside town. There's a combination of investigative work alongside combat sequences but the true star here is the narrative here and how it's woven together. I don't want to say too much as it's best to just experience this brilliant single-player title yourself.
Opencritic Score: 92/100
Release Date: 24th March 2023
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Survival Horror
Is it on Xbox Game Pass? No
Capcom's on an unstoppable run lately and their Resident Evil remakes are at the core of this, the remake of Resident Evil 4 just like its predecessors impressed and delighted fans of the Survival Horror series. Resident Evil 4 is a beloved game, and remaking it could always backfire but Capcom treated it with utmost respect enhancing controls and bringing the presentation into the modern age so that it could be enjoyed by new fans of the franchise and the old guard.
Resident Evil 4 (2023) in my eyes does everything that a remake should do, remaining faithful to the original but modernising the gameplay and graphical style as well as adding some surprise twists and turns to keep those who enjoyed the game back in 2005. Keep bringing the heat Capcom.
Opencritic Score: 94/100
Release Date: 17th September 2020
Developer: Supergiant Games
Publisher: Supergiant Games
Genre: Action, Roguelike
Is it on Xbox Game Pass? No (left the service in August 2022)
Supergiant Games is a developer who only seems to release bangers, and their latest Hades is probably my personal favourite. I love rogue-likes and Hades is one of the best on the market, with excellent replayability and a cool take on its setting of the Greek underworld this is a seriously satisfying game that'll have you saying "Just one more run" until the early hours of the morning.
Hades has extremely tight and satisfying gameplay which combined with its build variety makes each run its own there's good reason for its incredibly high review scores. Easily one of my favourite drop-in and drop-out single-player games on the Xbox Series X and one you simply must play if you enjoy roguelikes ahead of the release of its sequel.
Opencritic Score: 96/100
Release Date: 3rd August 2023
Developer: Larian Studios
Publisher: Larian Studios
Genre: cRPG
Is it on Xbox Game Pass? No
I am a big fan of all the games on this list as single-player Xbox experiences but the top two stand on a precipice and trying to pick which one goes in 1st or 2nd could change every day. Today it turns on that 2023 game of the year Baldur's Gate 3 will be taking the number 2 spot.
I can't praise Baldur's Gate 3 enough, it's up there with my favourite games of all time thanks to its brilliant narrative, lovable characters, downright amazing music and voice acting as well as having a great DND-inspired combat system. I think putting a cRPG onto a console is never going to be an easy task but Larian has done a great job at making it work with Baldur's Gate 3 once you get used to the controls you'll soon stop making those clumsy mistakes. I don't know if there's a game I've played that I've had more fun making decisions in conversation and role-playing my character, your companions feel real and the world is lived in. It's a game where you simply lose yourself which I think is what I love most about playing games single-player, your companions are so well acted that at times you forget you're playing alone.
There's a reason Baldur's Gate 3 got game of the year last year over Tears of The Kingdom and it's for all the things I said and more, it's a wonderful game which has had so much love poured into by Larian and is one well worth taking the time to play through as one of the best story-driven RPGs in gaming.
Opencritic Score: 95/100
Release Date: 25th February 2022
Developer: FromSoftware Inc.
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Genre: Action RPG
Is it on Xbox Game Pass? No
Elden Ring's at the forefront of everyone's minds right now with the DLC Shadow of the Erdtree having its 21st of June release date and that's probably why it's just pipped Baldur's Gate 3 for me at the top of the list.
Elden Ring is simply one of the most impressive open-world RPGs of all time, its sheer size and scale are obscene with a world that just seems to get bigger and bigger the more you play. Its scope dwarves previous FromSoftware games to a huge extent. The level and area design is just unparalleled and the reality is anything you can see, you can probably get to somehow. The gameplay is crisp and smooth removing some of that jank from previous FromSoft games, there's 100s of weapons and spells to choose from as you tailor your build to your preferred combat style. Yes Elden Ring is hard and you will die, but overcoming those challenges is what makes these titles so special.
The narrative here is not told straightforwardly it's ominous and strange and leaves you wondering why you're doing the things you're doing but it's just so intriguing that if you're anything like me you'll end up spending hours and hours on YouTube researching things like the lore of the Golden Order.
With the DLC on the horizon, it is now a fantastic time to jump into one of the best Single-Player experiences in gaming history.
Well, there you have it some of the best single-player experiences on the Xbox Series X. Are there games I've missed or any you think don't belong on the list? I'm sure there will be after narrowing it down to just 10 so let us know down below in the comments.
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