Best Xbox Series X and Series S games: 25 ranked (2026)
100 XSX/S games ranked by the GamingPickz Score, a published composite of player sentiment and critic reception. The formula is below in full, and no placement on this page can be bought.
The XSX/S games on a map
Compare the whole catalogueThe same 25 games, plotted rather than listed. The two axes below are the ones the ranking is built from, so a game sitting high and right is a game the formula placed near the top. Change either axis to see the field a different way. Where we hold a publisher wordmark, the game is drawn as its mark rather than a dot.
25 games have both
Axes are fitted to these 25 games rather than the full 0 to 100 scale, because a filtered list shares a narrow band and would otherwise sit in one corner. End values are marked. A point on the left edge is the lowest of thesegames, not a low score.
Players. The share of Steam reviews marked positive, pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it. A game with 200 reviews moves a long way toward the average; one with 200,000 barely moves at all. Without this a title sitting at 100 percent on nine reviews outranks Half-Life 2 at 98 percent on 278,000.
Popularity. A blend of two things that are not the same. Audience is how many people wrote a Steam review, which is a floor on how many played it. Reach is how many language editions of Wikipedia document the game, which is cultural footprint rather than sales. A game can score high on one and low on the other: a huge free-to-play title has audience without reach, and a landmark console exclusive has reach without a Steam audience at all. Where both exist they are averaged; where only one does, that one carries it.
- Mobile
- Multi-platform
- Xbox
Every point links to that game's entry. The value map and the reception map are fixed views of the same data.
How positions are decided
No paid placement, no favouritism, live third-party data
- Placed by the published method, not by us. Every coordinate is computed from the axis definitions and weights printed on this site. Nobody moves a point. See the axes.
- Nothing here is paid for. No sponsored placements, no promoted slots, no arrangement of any kind affects a position. If that ever changes it will be labelled and sit outside the ranking.
- No favouritism, including our own. The 16 games we have written full reviews of are scored by exactly the same formula as the other 1,510, from the same third-party inputs, and they land where it puts them. Our own opinion of a game does not enter its coordinates.
- A position is not an endorsement. It says how a game was received and what it costs, not that we recommend it. Where we do recommend something, it carries a written review with a name on it.
- Fetched from live third-party data. Player sentiment from Steam, critic aggregates as published on store pages, prices checked hourly, attention from Wikipedia. Each figure carries its source and the date it was read, and we do not adjust any of them.
The short version
- Top pick: Elden Ring, GamingPickz Score 9.0/10 from 1,151,628 player reviews and a critic aggregate of 94.
- 4 score 8.5 or above out of 100 ranked XSX/S games.
- Price range free to $69.99, median $39.99, with 9 free to play.
- 46 are Steam Deck Verified by Valve's own testing.
- 27 declare six or more accessibility features. Listed per game below.
At a glance
The top 12 side by side. Full entries below.
| # | Game | Best for | Score | Players | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elden Ring | The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence | 9.0 | 93% (1,151,628) | $59.99 |
| 2 | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | Players who need accessibility options that actually exist | 8.9 | 97% (885,535) | $49.99 |
| 3 | Undertale | The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence | 8.8 | 96% (338,731) | $9.99 |
| 4 | Tomb Raider | The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence | 8.5 | 96% (269,385) | $2.99 |
| 5 | Subnautica | Handheld play, small install and Deck verified | 8.4 | 97% (379,053) | $29.99 |
| 6 | Balatro | Handheld play, small install and Deck verified | 8.4 | 98% (197,690) | $14.99 |
| 7 | Kerbal Space Program | A consistently well-received pick in this category | 8.4 | 96% (146,438) | $39.99 |
| 8 | Quake | Playing through with a friend online | 8.4 | 96% (16,302) | $9.99 |
| 9 | Ori and the Will of the Wisps | A consistently well-received pick in this category | 8.3 | 97% (146,084) | $29.99 |
| 10 | Hotline Miami | A consistently well-received pick in this category | 8.3 | 97% (127,794) | $9.99 |
| 11 | Omori | A consistently well-received pick in this category | 8.3 | 97% (88,417) | $19.99 |
| 12 | Cyberpunk 2077 | Players who need accessibility options that actually exist | 8.2 | 87% (976,377) | $59.99 |
25 best XSX/S games, ranked
Ordered by GamingPickz Score. Every figure links back to the source that produced it.
- 1
Elden RingWe reviewed this
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
9.0GamingPickz ScoreOur review: 9.5/10high confidenceElden Ring at a glance Released 2022 Studio fromsoftware Player sentiment 93% positive of 1,151,628 Critics 94/100 Price $59.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 60 GB Accessibility 7 declared features Raw 93% shrinks to 93.0 on 1,151,628 reviews, then blends with the 94 critic aggregate, giving 9.0.
What the data supports- 93% positive across 1,151,628 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 7 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
PlayStation 5PlayStation 4Xbox Series X and Series SXbox OnePC
- 2
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist
8.9GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt at a glance Released 2015 Studio CD Projekt RED Player sentiment 97% positive of 885,535 Critics 93/100 Price $49.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 50 GB Accessibility 9 declared features Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 885,535 reviews, then blends with the 93 critic aggregate, giving 8.9.
What the data supports- 97% positive across 885,535 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 9 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
PCPlayStation 4PlayStation 5Xbox OneXbox Series X and Series SNintendo Switch
- 3
Undertale
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceUndertale at a glance Released 2015 Studio 8-4 Player sentiment 96% positive of 338,731 Critics 92/100 Price $9.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 0.2 GB Accessibility 0 declared features Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 338,731 reviews, then blends with the 92 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.
What the data supports- 96% positive across 338,731 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Small install at 0.2 GB.
PlayStation VitaPCPlayStation 4Xbox OneXbox Series X and Series SNintendo Switch
- 4
Tomb Raider
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.5GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceTomb Raider at a glance Released 1996 Studio Core Design Player sentiment 96% positive of 269,385 Critics 86/100 Price $2.99 Steam Deck verified Install size Not stated Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 269,385 reviews, then blends with the 86 critic aggregate, giving 8.5.
What the data supports- 96% positive across 269,385 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- 5
Subnautica
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
8.4GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceSubnautica at a glance Released 2014 Studio Unknown Worlds Entertainment Player sentiment 97% positive of 379,053 Critics 87/100 Price $29.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 20 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 379,053 reviews, then blends with the 87 critic aggregate, giving 8.4.
What the data supports- 97% positive across 379,053 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
Balatro at a glance Released 2024 Studio LocalThunk Player sentiment 98% positive of 197,690 Critics 90/100 Price $14.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 0.15 GB Accessibility 6 declared features Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 197,690 reviews, then blends with the 90 critic aggregate, giving 8.4.
What the data supports- 98% positive across 197,690 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Small install at 0.15 GB.
- 7
Kerbal Space Program
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
8.4GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceKerbal Space Program at a glance Released 2015 Studio Squad Player sentiment 96% positive of 146,438 Critics 88/100 Price $39.99 Steam Deck playable Install size Not stated Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 146,438 reviews, then blends with the 88 critic aggregate, giving 8.4.
What the data supports- 96% positive across 146,438 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
PCPlayStation 4PlayStation 5Xbox OneXbox Series X and Series SSteam Deck
Quake at a glance Released 1996 Studio Nightdive Studios Player sentiment 96% positive of 16,302 Critics 94/100 Price $9.99 Steam Deck verified Install size Not stated Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 96% shrinks to 95.7 on 16,302 reviews, then blends with the 94 critic aggregate, giving 8.4.
What the data supports- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Cloud saves and cross-platform play, so progress follows you between machines.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
Nintendo 64PCPlayStation 4PlayStation 5Xbox OneXbox Series X and Series S
- 9
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
8.3GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceOri and the Will of the Wisps at a glance Released 2020 Studio Moon Studios Player sentiment 97% positive of 146,084 Critics 88/100 Price $29.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 20 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 146,084 reviews, then blends with the 88 critic aggregate, giving 8.3.
What the data supports- 97% positive across 146,084 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- 10
Hotline Miami
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
8.3GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceHotline Miami at a glance Released 2012 Studio Dennaton Games Player sentiment 97% positive of 127,794 Critics 85/100 Price $9.99 Steam Deck verified Install size Not stated Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 127,794 reviews, then blends with the 85 critic aggregate, giving 8.3.
What the data supports- 97% positive across 127,794 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
AndroidAndroid TabletPlayStation VitaPlayStation 5Xbox Series X and Series SSteam Deck
- 11
Omori
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
8.3GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceOmori at a glance Released 2020 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 97% positive of 88,417 Critics 88/100 Price $19.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 2 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 97% shrinks to 96.9 on 88,417 reviews, then blends with the 88 critic aggregate, giving 8.3.
What the data supports- Small install at 2 GB.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- 12
Cyberpunk 2077
Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist
8.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceCyberpunk 2077 at a glance Released 2020 Studio CD Projekt RED Player sentiment 87% positive of 976,377 Critics 86/100 Price $59.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 70 GB Accessibility 10 declared features Raw 87% shrinks to 87.0 on 976,377 reviews, then blends with the 86 critic aggregate, giving 8.2.
What the data supports- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 10 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
PCPlayStation 4PlayStation 5Xbox OneXbox Series X and Series SSteam Deck
- 13
Palworld
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.2GamingPickz Scoremedium confidencePalworld at a glance Released 2024 Studio Pocketpair Player sentiment 95% positive of 482,162 Critics No aggregate Price $20.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 40 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 95% shrinks to 95.0 on 482,162 reviews, giving 8.2. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- 95% positive across 482,162 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Cloud saves and cross-platform play, so progress follows you between machines.
- 14
Deep Rock Galactic
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceDeep Rock Galactic at a glance Released 2020 Studio Ghost Ship Games Player sentiment 97% positive of 379,460 Critics 85/100 Price $29.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 3 GB Accessibility 8 declared features Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 379,460 reviews, then blends with the 85 critic aggregate, giving 8.2.
What the data supports- 97% positive across 379,460 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Declares 8 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
- Small install at 3 GB.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
Stray at a glance Released 2022 Studio BlueTwelve Studio Player sentiment 97% positive of 177,458 Critics 82/100 Price $14.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 10 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 177,458 reviews, then blends with the 82 critic aggregate, giving 8.2.
What the data supports- 97% positive across 177,458 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Small install at 10 GB.
Worth checking first- Players rate it well above critics, 97 against 82. Usually a sign it improved after launch, or that it delivers something reviewers undervalued.
PCPlayStation 5Xbox Series X and Series SNintendo SwitchSteam Deck
- 16
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
Best for: Playing through with a friend online
8.1GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceAge of Empires II: Definitive Edition at a glance Released 2019 Studio World's Edge Player sentiment 95% positive of 181,889 Critics 84/100 Price $34.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 15 GB Accessibility 7 declared features Raw 95% shrinks to 95.0 on 181,889 reviews, then blends with the 84 critic aggregate, giving 8.1.
What the data supports- 95% positive across 181,889 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Declares 7 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
- Cloud saves and cross-platform play, so progress follows you between machines.
Crusader Kings III at a glance Released 2020 Studio Development Studio Player sentiment 90% positive of 143,235 Critics 91/100 Price $49.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 20 GB Accessibility 6 declared features Raw 90% shrinks to 90.0 on 143,235 reviews, then blends with the 91 critic aggregate, giving 8.1.
What the data supports- 90% positive across 143,235 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
To the Moon at a glance Released 2011 Studio Freebird Games Player sentiment 96% positive of 86,409 Critics 81/100 Price $9.99 Steam Deck playable Install size Not stated Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 96% shrinks to 95.9 on 86,409 reviews, then blends with the 81 critic aggregate, giving 8.1.
Worth checking first- Players rate it well above critics, 96 against 81. Usually a sign it improved after launch, or that it delivers something reviewers undervalued.
AndroidAndroid TabletPlayStation 5Xbox Series X and Series SNintendo SwitchSteam Deck
- 19
Hi-Fi Rush
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
8.1GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceHi-Fi Rush at a glance Released 2023 Studio Tango Gameworks Player sentiment 97% positive of 35,895 Critics 90/100 Price $29.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 20 GB Accessibility 7 declared features Raw 97% shrinks to 96.9 on 35,895 reviews, then blends with the 90 critic aggregate, giving 8.1.
What the data supports- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 7 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
- 20
Valheim
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
8.0GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceValheim at a glance Released 2021 Studio Iron Gate Studio Player sentiment 94% positive of 540,990 Critics No aggregate Price $29.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 1 GB Accessibility 6 declared features Raw 94% shrinks to 94.0 on 540,990 reviews, giving 8.0. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- 94% positive across 540,990 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Small install at 1 GB.
- 21
Grand Theft Auto V
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.0GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceGrand Theft Auto V at a glance Released 2013 Studio Rockstar Toronto Player sentiment 83% positive of 218,663 Critics No aggregate Price $19.79 Steam Deck unsupported Install size 105 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 83% shrinks to 83.0 on 218,663 reviews, giving 8.0. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
Worth checking first- Carries in-game purchases. Check what they cost before committing.
- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- Valve rates it Unsupported on the Steam Deck.
- 22
Cult of the Lamb
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
8.0GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceCult of the Lamb at a glance Released 2022 Studio Massive Monster Player sentiment 96% positive of 128,972 Critics 82/100 Price $24.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 4 GB Accessibility 7 declared features Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 128,972 reviews, then blends with the 82 critic aggregate, giving 8.0.
What the data supports- 96% positive across 128,972 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 7 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first- Players rate it well above critics, 96 against 82. Usually a sign it improved after launch, or that it delivers something reviewers undervalued.
- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
Split Fiction at a glance Released 2025 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 97% positive of 126,246 Critics No aggregate Price $49.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 85 GB Accessibility 5 declared features Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 126,246 reviews, giving 8.0. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- 97% positive across 126,246 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Cloud saves and cross-platform play, so progress follows you between machines.
Worth checking first- Multiplayer only. There is no solo mode to fall back on.
- 24
Outer Wilds
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
8.0GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceOuter Wilds at a glance Released http Studio Mobius Digital Player sentiment 96% positive of 107,214 Critics 85/100 Price $14.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 8 GB Accessibility 8 declared features Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 107,214 reviews, then blends with the 85 critic aggregate, giving 8.0.
What the data supports- 96% positive across 107,214 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 8 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
- 25
Red Dead Redemption
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
8.0GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceRed Dead Redemption at a glance Released 2010 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 92% positive of 21,331 Critics No aggregate Price $49.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 12 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 92% shrinks to 91.8 on 21,331 reviews, giving 8.0. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- Small install at 12 GB.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
How to choose between these
25 entries, six things that separate them
The ranking answers "which is best received". It cannot answer "which is best for you", because that depends on things no formula knows. Here is what actually separates these 25 XSX/S games, in the order worth thinking about it.
Check the sample size before the score
A score is only as good as the evidence under it. 22 of these have more than 50,000 player reviews, which makes their number very hard to move.
Look at where critics and players disagree
The widest gap here is Stray, where players sit above critics by 15 points. A gap that size usually means the game changed after launch, or that it does something critics undervalue. It is worth reading why before deciding which number you trust. The disagreement map plots this across the catalogue.
Decide what you are actually willing to spend
The median here is $29.99, and the cheapest paid entry is Tomb Raider at $2.99. Prices move constantly, so a game a place or two down the list is often the better buy this week. Filter by price below rather than assuming the top pick is the right purchase.
Match it to the hardware you own
15 of these are Steam Deck Verified by Valve's own testing, and install sizes vary by more than an order of magnitude. If you are choosing for a handheld or a drive that is nearly full, that narrows the field faster than any score.
Check it supports how you want to play
Solo, with a friend online, or two people on one sofa are different requirements, and a well-reviewed game that does not support yours is the wrong game. The filters below answer this directly.
Look for the things a score hides
11 declare six or more accessibility features, and 1 carry in-game purchases. Neither shows up in a review score, and both change the experience substantially. Each entry lists its own.
Choose one if…
Tick what matters to you. This filters the ranking above rather than reordering it, so the order you see is still the order the formula produced, minus the games that do not fit. Every filter reads a field from the game's own store listing.
Nothing selected, so all 25 XSX/S games are shown below. Pick one or more above to narrow it.
The best XSX/S games for a specific need
The ranking answers "which is best overall", which is rarely the actual question. These are the answers to the narrower ones, computed from the same scores, so a single pick is named for each.
- What is the best cheap XSX/S game?
- Undertale, top of 10.
- What is the best co-op XSX/S game?
- Elden Ring, top of 9.
- What is the best XSX/S game for local co-op?
- Quake, top of 3.
- What is the best XSX/S game for the Steam Deck?
- Elden Ring, top of 15.
- What is the best XSX/S game for a small hard drive?
- Undertale, top of 14.
- What is the best accessible XSX/S game?
- Elden Ring, top of 11.
- What is the best XSX/S game to play with a controller?
- Elden Ring, top of 19.
- What is the best offline XSX/S game?
- Elden Ring, top of 21.
- What is the best XSX/S game with the most reviews?
- Elden Ring, top of 22.
- What is the best co-op XSX/S game for local co-op?
- Quake, top of 3.
- What is the best single-player offline XSX/S game?
- Elden Ring, top of 20.
- What is the best cheap XSX/S game for the Steam Deck?
- Tomb Raider, top of 6.
- What is the best Steam Deck co-op XSX/S game?
- Elden Ring, top of 6.
- What is the best controller-friendly XSX/S game for local co-op?
- Quake, top of 3.
- What is the best highly rated cheap XSX/S game?
- Undertale, top of 9.
- What is the best accessible single-player XSX/S game?
- Elden Ring, top of 11.
Why trust this list
Most "best games" lists are either one person's taste presented as fact, or an affiliate feed with the highest commission at the top. This is neither. It is a ranking of 100 XSX/S games computed from two third-party signals we did not generate, using a formula printed below.
Our team has played and reviewed games for over twenty years, somewhere around 3,000 titles across every generation since the PS1. A good number of the XSX/S games on this page are among them, and that experience is what lets us tell you which of these numbers are worth trusting.
It is not, however, what set the order. The formula did, and we think that is the right way round: a list ordered by one person's memory is a list you have to take on trust, and this one you can check line by line.
The order comes out of the grid. Every game in the catalogue is placed on eighteen measured axes, each one a number read from a named source rather than an opinion: player sentiment and its sample size, the critic aggregate, review volume, Wikipedia language editions, price, install size, Steam Deck rating, accessibility features. A ranked list is that grid collapsed to one dimension. The map at the top of this page plots these same 25 games on two of those axes, so you can see the position the ranking gave each one and check it against where the game actually sits. If the list and the map ever disagreed, the list would be wrong, and they read the same numbers so they cannot.
1 entry on this page carries a full review of ours, marked as such and linked. For the rest, the score reflects how other people received the game, and we say so rather than implying a verdict we have not written.
Update history 1
- First published with 25 entries ranked.
How we chose these
This ranking is a projection of the same axes the grid plots, not a second scoring system sitting alongside it. The grid answers where a game sits on two chosen measures; a ranked list needs one number, so the axes are collapsed using published weights. A game cannot be high on the grid and low here for a reason nobody can point at, because both read the same values.
Every ranked game gets a GamingPickz Score out of 10. It is a weighted blend of the axes below, and these percentages are read directly from the code that computes the ranking rather than written out separately, so the published formula cannot drift from the applied one.
| Component | Weight | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 52% | The share of Steam reviews marked positive, pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it. A game with 200 reviews moves a long way toward the average; one with 200,000 barely moves at all. Without this a title sitting at 100 percent on nine reviews outranks Half-Life 2 at 98 percent on 278,000. |
| Critics | 23% | Metacritic and OpenCritic aggregate, normalised to 0 to 100. |
| Popularity | 20% | A blend of two things that are not the same. Audience is how many people wrote a Steam review, which is a floor on how many played it. Reach is how many language editions of Wikipedia document the game, which is cultural footprint rather than sales. A game can score high on one and low on the other: a huge free-to-play title has audience without reach, and a landmark console exclusive has reach without a Steam audience at all. Where both exist they are averaged; where only one does, that one carries it. |
| Reader likes | 5% | How many GamingPickz readers tapped the heart on the game, log-scaled to 0 to 100. This is the only signal here that comes from our own readers rather than a third party, so it carries a deliberately small weight and is a snapshot taken at the last build, not a live figure. A per-browser flag stops the same person liking twice; it is a popularity reaction, not a verified poll. |
Shrinkage is the part that matters most. Without it a game with nine reviews at 100 percent outranks Half-Life 2 with 278,000 at 98. Player sentiment is pulled toward the catalogue average of 84 using a 400-review prior, in proportion to how thin the evidence is.
Popularity is deliberately a minority weight. At 20 percent it nudges well-known games up without letting fame decide the order. Weight it higher and the list becomes "games you have already heard of", which nobody needs a ranking for. Weight it at zero and a game almost nobody played can top the list on the strength of a few hundred enthusiastic reviews. Neither is useful, so it sits in between. How popularity is measured.
Where a game has no critic aggregate, that 35 percent is redistributed onto player sentiment rather than counted as zero, and the entry says so.
Games with fewer than 50 reviews are excluded outright. Shrinkage is symmetric, so a game sitting at 0 percent on one review would otherwise be pulled up near the average, which flatters something nobody has actually assessed.
What we deliberately do not do. No paid placement, no sponsored slots dressed as editorial, no hidden weighting. If sponsorship is ever introduced it will be labelled and will sit outside the ranking. The formula above is the whole formula.
Xbox Series X and Series S games by the numbers
The figures below describe all 100 entries on this page together, not the top pick. They are recomputed on every build, most recently on 18 October 2026, from 18,670,018 player reviews.
What the pricing looks like
90 of the 100 carry a listed US price, with a median of $39.99 and a mean of $38.19. The mean sitting at or below the median tells you the field is evenly priced. The cheapest is Tomb Raider at $2.99, the most expensive Indiana Jones and the Great Circle at $69.99. 9 are free to download. 30 carry in-game purchases on top of whatever they cost. Prices are read hourly from the US Steam storefront and move constantly.
How much this field agrees with itself
Player sentiment spans 58 points across these 100 entries. That is a wide band, which means the position of an entry here genuinely matters rather than splitting hairs. 54 carry a critic aggregate, averaging 83 out of 100. Players rate this field 4 points higher than critics on average, which is worth knowing before you weigh either number. See where the two diverge.
Who makes them, and what they overlap with
The studios appearing most often here are Criterion Games (3), Respawn Entertainment (3), Ubisoft Kyiv (3), Ubisoft Toronto (3) and Asobo Studio (2). The genres these entries also sit in are open-world (50), action-adventure (40), rpg (32), fps (28), horror (28) and action-rpg (21), which is a fair map of what you are actually choosing between.
Which way attention is moving
We track Wikipedia pageviews over 28 days for 98 of these. 29 are gaining attention and 46 are losing it, with the rest flat. Attention is not quality, and we do not feed it into the ranking. The full monitor shows the movements across the catalogue.
The other 96 XSX/S games
The 25 above are the top of the ranking. These 96 are the rest of the category: games that ranked below the cut, and games with too few reviews or no store listing to be ranked at all, which is normal for console and Nintendo exclusives.
Also catalogued
96 more XSX/S games, not yet reviewedNone of these carry a review yet. The rest are catalogue records: title, year, studio and platforms, sourced from Wikidata. They are not indexed by search engines, because a record is not a review.
- Grand Theft Auto VIsource
- Valorantsource
- War Thundersource
- Apex Legendssource
- Mystsource
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siegesource
- Far Cry 6source
- Dead by Daylightsource
- No Man's Skysource
- Mortal Kombat 11source
- Assassin's Creed Valhallasource
- Fall Guyssource
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Ordersource
- Kingdom Come: Deliverancesource
- Fallout 76source
- The Elder Scrolls Onlinesource
- Doom Eternalsource
- Smitesource
- Battlefield 2042source
- Hitman 3source
- For Honorsource
- Kingdom Hearts IIIsource
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlordsource
- Sea of Thievessource
- Tekken 8source
Common questions
What is the best XSX/S game?
Elden Ring ranks first, with a GamingPickz Score of 9.0 out of 10 drawn from 1,151,628 player reviews and a critic aggregate of 94. That is a statement about how it was received, not a claim that it is the one you personally will enjoy most.
How is this ranking calculated?
The GamingPickz Score is 52% player sentiment adjusted for sample size, 23% the critic aggregate published on the game store page, 20% popularity, from review volume and Wikipedia language editions, 5% popularity, from review volume and Wikipedia language editions. Player sentiment is pulled toward the catalogue average of 83.7% using a 400-review prior, so a game with a handful of reviews cannot outrank one with hundreds of thousands. Nothing on this page is paid for and no placement can be bought.
How many XSX/S games are ranked here?
100 of them qualify. A game needs at least 50 player reviews to be scored, which excludes titles with too little evidence to place fairly.
Why is a game I love missing?
Three likely reasons. It has fewer than 50 player reviews, so it is excluded rather than ranked on noise. It has no Steam listing at all, which is normal for console and Nintendo exclusives. Or it is not in the catalogue yet.
Do you get paid for these placements?
No. Positions are computed from the formula above and nothing else. The site carries advertising, and advertisers can neither see nor influence this page. A position is not an endorsement, it is a measurement of reception.
How current is this?
Recomputed on every build from source data read on a stated date. This page was last rebuilt on 18 October 2026. Player review counts move daily, so positions in the middle of the list shift more than those at the top or bottom.
What is the best cheap XSX/S game?
Undertale is the best cheap XSX/S game, ranking 8.8 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 10 of the 25 XSX/S games qualify.
What is the best co-op XSX/S game?
Elden Ring is the best co-op XSX/S game, ranking 9.0 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 9 of the 25 XSX/S games qualify.
What is the best XSX/S game for local co-op?
Quake is the best XSX/S game for local co-op, ranking 8.4 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 3 of the 25 XSX/S games qualify.
What is the best XSX/S game for the Steam Deck?
Elden Ring is the best XSX/S game for the Steam Deck, ranking 9.0 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 15 of the 25 XSX/S games qualify.
What is the best XSX/S game for a small hard drive?
Undertale is the best XSX/S game for a small hard drive, ranking 8.8 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 14 of the 25 XSX/S games qualify.
What is the best accessible XSX/S game?
Elden Ring is the best accessible XSX/S game, ranking 9.0 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 11 of the 25 XSX/S games qualify.
What is the best XSX/S game to play with a controller?
Elden Ring is the best XSX/S game to play with a controller, ranking 9.0 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 19 of the 25 XSX/S games qualify.
What is the best offline XSX/S game?
Elden Ring is the best offline XSX/S game, ranking 9.0 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 21 of the 25 XSX/S games qualify.
What is the best XSX/S game with the most reviews?
Elden Ring is the best XSX/S game with the most reviews, ranking 9.0 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 22 of the 25 XSX/S games qualify.
What is the best co-op XSX/S game for local co-op?
Quake is the best co-op XSX/S game for local co-op, ranking 8.4 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 3 of the 25 XSX/S games qualify.
What is the best single-player offline XSX/S game?
Elden Ring is the best single-player offline XSX/S game, ranking 9.0 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 20 of the 25 XSX/S games qualify.
What is the best cheap XSX/S game for the Steam Deck?
Tomb Raider is the best cheap XSX/S game for the Steam Deck, ranking 8.5 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 6 of the 25 XSX/S games qualify.
What is the best Steam Deck co-op XSX/S game?
Elden Ring is the best Steam Deck co-op XSX/S game, ranking 9.0 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 6 of the 25 XSX/S games qualify.
What is the best controller-friendly XSX/S game for local co-op?
Quake is the best controller-friendly XSX/S game for local co-op, ranking 8.4 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 3 of the 25 XSX/S games qualify.
What is the best highly rated cheap XSX/S game?
Undertale is the best highly rated cheap XSX/S game, ranking 8.8 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 9 of the 25 XSX/S games qualify.
What is the best accessible single-player XSX/S game?
Elden Ring is the best accessible single-player XSX/S game, ranking 9.0 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 11 of the 25 XSX/S games qualify.
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