Last Updated on May 20, 2024 by Jhonni Jets

The launch of the next-generation Xbox Series X and Series S consoles from Microsoft brought with it a new era of incredible graphics, blazing fast load times, and immersive gameplay experiences. With their powerful hardware, the Series X and S are capable of pushing gaming to new heights. However, it takes the right games to truly showcase what these consoles are capable of. In this article, we’ll explore the 10 best games available on Xbox Series X and S that push the limits of these systems and deliver amazing experiences for players.

Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 is a technical and graphical showcase for the Series X/S. As the latest entry in Playground Games’ beloved open-world racing franchise, Forza Horizon 5 takes full advantage of the new consoles’ hardware. Players can explore a breathtaking representation of Mexico with 11 distinct biomes, from sandy beaches to lush jungles and more. With over 500 cars available at launch, Horizon 5 offers incredible variety and the best in class driving mechanics. It also runs at a smooth 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, demonstrating the speed and power of the Series X. The world is beautifully detailed and lively, coming to life day and night in all kinds of weather conditions. Forza Horizon 5 is simply one of the best-looking games available and a must-own title for any Xbox owner.

Halo Infinite

As one of Xbox’s flagship franchises, Halo Infinite had to deliver for the launch of the new consoles. Thankfully, it does just that. Offering an expansive open world and returning to the roots that made Halo so iconic, Infinite captures that classic Halo gameplay while evolving it for modern times. The visuals are simply stunning, with lush environments like the towering forests of Zeta Halo realized in incredible detail. Weapon effects feel impactful, enemies are intelligently animated, and more. Infinite runs at 60FPS across both campaigns and multiplayer on Series X and a variable resolution/framerate on Series S. It’s an incredible technical achievement that proves these consoles have plenty of untapped power left. Coupled with a compelling story, varied open-world gameplay, and robust multiplayer, Halo Infinite is one of the defining next-gen experiences available right now.

Forza Motorsport 7

While Forza Horizon 5 offers an open world racing experience, Forza Motorsport 7 remains the premier hardcore racing simulator on Xbox. With stunningly detailed tracks and hyper-realistic car handling, Motorsport 7 pushes fidelity to its limits. Running at 4K resolution and 60FPS on Series X, every tiny imperfection in asphalt or piece of debris kicked up feels tangible. The car models are exact down to subtle reflections and imperfections, conveying a powerful sense of presence. Motorsport 7 also gets a visual upgrade on Series X/S consoles, with improved textures, lighting, and atmospheric effects making each race feel cinematic. Its impressive physics engine delivers nuanced control over every aspect of a car’s performance. For racing purists, Forza Motorsport 7 is a technical showcase that exemplifies how far console graphics have come.

Gears 5

As one of Xbox’s premier franchises, Gears 5 had big boots to fill on the new hardware. Thankfully, The Coalition delivered in spades, crafting a visually stunning third-person shooter. Running at 60FPS and up to 4K on Series X, every weapon feels powerful, enemies react realistically to damage, and environments like the open world of Sera come to life with incredible material shading effects and lighting. Character and enemy models look photorealistic thanks to improvements like subsurface scattering. Coalition also implemented ray tracing for the first time, casting realistic shadows and reflections. The campaign delivers cinematic set pieces and dynamic battles that truly show off these consoles’ graphics prowess. With its technical accomplishments, Gears 5 is a premium showcase of what next-gen visuals can achieve in a blockbuster action game.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

While side- scrolling platformers may not seem like graphical showcases, Ori and the Will of the Wisps proves otherwise. Running at an optimized 120FPS at up to 4K on Series X, every inch of its stunning, hand-painted world is realized with loving detail. Its lush forests, mysterious ruins, and haunting landscapes come to life at a resolution and framerate that renders its motion buttery smooth. Dynamic lighting makes colors and effects pop off the screen while complex particles simulations give attacks and abilities a sense of tangible impact. Will of the Wisps is also a technical tour de force, implementing ray tracing and spatial audio to deliver an enthralling sensory experience. With an emotionally compelling story and platforming as tight and fluid as its visuals, Ori is that rare example of a game that shows off visual prowess while retaining gameplay substance.

Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition

The definitive version of Capcom’s genre-defining hack and slash masterpiece, Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition takes the already incredible experience to new heights on Series X. Running at a silky smooth 120FPS, its over-the-top combat is rendered in smooth, responsive glory with no compromises. Up close, character models like Dante and Nero are detailed to an incredible degree while enormous demons maintain a sense of epic presence. Ray tracing is also implemented, giving supernatural lighting and particle effects an ethereal quality befitting the series. The already visually striking world is further enhanced, making combat feel more visceral through its improved visual fidelity. Special Edition is a technical showcase of just how fluid and detailed action games can be pushed on these new consoles.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Respawn Entertainment’s acclaimed Star Wars action-adventure game received some visual polish on Series X/S to take advantage of the increased power of the new hardware. While the game already looked great on past generation consoles, here it runs at a smooth 60FPS at 4K resolution. This enhanced clarity brings you deeper into the world of Cal Kestis and the Empire. Planetary environments like forest worlds and cities are realized with lush vegetation and lighting effects. Textures are sharper, allowing you to appreciate subtle details like stitched leather and rusted chrome. Character models and animations are smoother, giving combat a heightened sense of presence and impact. Fallen Order benefits greatly from the optimizations, improving an already compelling Star Wars experience.

Doom Eternal

id Software’s hardcore first-person shooter pushes the technical capabilities of any platform to their limits. Doom Eternal’s polished Xbox Series X/S version is no exception. Running at an incredibly smooth 60FPS at 4K resolution, its hellishly detailed levels become nightmarish playgrounds for stylized carnage. Textures are sharper than ever while lighting, particle effects and gore fly off demons in gruesome glory. Best of all, thanks to id Tech 7, it remains silky responsive even in the thickest fights, letting players annihilate legions of enemies without missing a beat. Series X’s SSD also loads levels near-instantly, keeping the action fast and brutal without interruption. Doom Eternal is a technical tour de force that exemplifies how to push next-gen hardware to its limits through frantic, demon-slaying action.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Rockstar Games’ epic open world western may have launched on older hardware, but its optimized versions for Xbox Series X/S bring it to new heights. Now running at a stable 60FPS at 4K resolution, the expansive frontier of the late 19th century American west is realized in incredible, vivid detail. Textures are sharper, revealing intricate stitching on worn clothing or blades of grass swaying in the wind. Shadows and lighting bring out the atmosphere of deserted fields under the setting sun or bustling saloons at high noon. Character models have improved textures as well, giving a heightened sense of realism to Arthur Morgan’s journey. The enhanced technical capabilities unlock an even richer experience in Rockstar’s living, breathing open world.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that with their powerful hardware and optimizations, the Xbox Series X and Series S truly bring games to new visual heights. The 10 titles highlighted here exemplify how genres from racing to shooters to action-adventure can push technical boundaries on Microsoft’s new consoles. Through impressive resolutions, rock solid frame rates, lightning fast loading, and enhanced visual effects, these games deliver transformative experiences over their previous generation counterparts. With more next-gen optimized titles on the horizon and iterations that take fuller advantage of techniques like ray tracing, the potential of these consoles is only beginning to be tapped. Games will only continue getting more immersive, responsive and visually spectacular. Microsoft’s new Xbox systems have ushered in a true next-gen of possibilities in interactive entertainment.