Now surely approaching their twilight years, the Xbox Series S and X machines nevertheless still have plenty to offer both new and veteran owners. We have selected 15 titles that show the range of what’s on offer, from the biggest blockbusters to lesser known indie gems you may have missed. Whether you’re after tense psychological horror or wild escapism, it’s all here and more.

Alan Wake 2

Alternate dimension … Alan Wake 2. Photograph: Remedy Entertainment

Thirteen years after vanishing at the end of the original game, cursed horror author Alan Wake is trapped in an alternate dimension and determined to write his way out, while FBI agents close in on the mysterious town of Bright Falls.

Why we love it: “A thoroughly entertaining blend of detective procedural and surrealist survival horror.” Read the full review.

Psychonauts 2

Psychic playground … Psychonauts 2. Photograph: Double Fine

The long-awaited sequel to Double Fine’s cult 3D platformer sees the return of psychic acrobat secret agent Raz embarking on a mission to root out a dangerous new adversary.

Why we love it: “I’ve rarely played anything that is so unashamedly itself. Each hour is different, each character distinct and memorable, each new psychic playground full of surprises.” Read the full review.

**Death Stranding **2

Delivering the apocalypse … Death Stranding 2. Photograph: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Hideo Kojima shifts his metaphysical post-apocalypse thriller to Australia, where Sam must track down his kidnapped “Bridge Baby” while reconnecting society and saving the environment. A fascinating and stylish adventure.

Why we love it: “Combat feels punchier, the world map more hand-crafted, missions more varied.” Read the full review.

Elden Ring

Spectacular landscapes … Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Photograph: FromSoftware

A grandiose fantasy opera from the makers of Dark Souls, filled with spectacular landscapes, bizarre characters and seemingly insurmountable bosses. Complete with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC it’s a challenging and engrossing open world like no other.

Why we love it: “This is a massive world, astonishingly rendered (the sun and moon wheel in the sky, casting each scene anew) and seemingly limitless in its creative diversity. It is an unrivalled feat of design and inventiveness.” Read the full review.

Forza Horizon 4

Perfectly recreated cars … Forza Horizon 4. Photograph: Microsoft

A beautiful open-world driving game providing hundreds of square miles of the British countryside to explore while racing other drivers, completing challenges and collecting stunningly modelled supercars.

Why we love it: “As driving games go, it’s the best I’ve ever played, not only because of its irresistible scenery, exhilarating driving and perfectly recreated cars, but because spending time with it puts me in a lasting good mood.” Read the full review.

Hades II

A witch in time … Hades II. Photograph: Supergiant Games

The sequel to 2020’s brilliant mythological action game brings us new lead character Melinoë, a witch who must defeat the god of time and his retinue of sexy, chaotic boss characters. As before, dying returns you to the beginning, but you always reanimate and begin again, lessons learned and experience gained.

Why we love it: “[Jen] Zee’s new character illustrations are, if anything, likely to inspire even more aggressively thirsty fanart and fanfic. And writer Greg Kasavin’s wonderful script is wittier, wiser and flirtier than ever.” Read the full review.

Hi-Fi Rush

Unashamedly music-centred … Hi-Fi Rush

Better known for its horror adventure series The Evil Within, Tokyo studio Tango Gameworks surprised us all with this stomping rhythm action brawler where enemies, action and hallucinogenic environments are all in sync with the infectious beat.

Why we love it: “As brazenly colourful as a Jet Set Radio fever dream, it’s refreshing to play a game that is so unashamedly music-centred.” Read the full review.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Whip-smart action… Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Photograph: Bethesda

Taking place just after Raiders of the Lost Ark, this rip-roaring adventure has Indy punching and puzzling his way around the world on the trail of mythological giants and powerful ancient secrets.

Why we love it: “A lavish, comprehensive and affectionate expansion of Spielberg’s films, one that keenly understands and eagerly engages with the history.” Read the full review.

Lavish … Metaphor: ReFantazio. Photograph: AP

A king is assassinated and his heir is in a coma – a tricky political situation that leads to an epic quest for one young boy, while chaos reigns and giant monsters roam the land. This is a gigantic, lavish role-playing adventure from the makers of the famed Persona series.

Why we love it: “It is so bold, and so well-crafted: the developer, Atlus, has set exceptionally high standards for visual design and music over the years, and it’s impressive that ReFantazio lives up to them”. Read more here.

Minecraft

Ultimate crafting adventure … Day Gliding in Minecraft: Console Editions Holiday (2016). Photograph: Mojang

The ultimate crafting adventure, providing a vast procedurally generated world to explore and an almost limitless range of activities from building castles, to fighting zombies, to competing in mini games. Fifteen years old and showing no sign of running out of ideas.

Why we love it: “By constructing the world from 1x1 blocks that can be arranged in every imaginable combination, Minecraft is perhaps the closest we have to a true god game.” Read the full review.

Pentiment

Inspired by illuminated manuscripts … Pentiment. Photograph: Xbox Game Studios

In an Alpine Bavarian village during the 16th century a young artist sets out to solve a series of gruesome murders. With luscious visuals inspired by illuminated manuscripts of the era, this is an extraordinary detective adventure.

Why we love it: “It provides a wonderfully evocative window into the past […] a gift to any player who longs for a historical setting that’s more than a surface texture.” Read the full review.

Persona 5 Royal

Messy adolescent love … Persona 5 Royal. Photograph: Atlus/ Sega

A group of Tokyo high-school students develop incredible powers and set out to battle evil and corruption – while also falling in and out of messy adolescent love. Part sprawling metaphysical role-playing game, part super-cute dating sim.

Why we love it: “With its stylish cuts and transitions, loose and unorthodox structure and real-world setting Persona 5 is unlike any other video game. Its depth and texture far outstrips even earlier games in the series.” Read the full review.

Resident Evil 4 Remake

Bloody thrills … Resident Evil 4 Remake. Photograph: Capcom

Arguably the greatest ever survival horror game, brought bang up to date while retaining its mix of bloody thrills, cunning puzzles and truly horrible monsters.

Why we love it: “It is resplendent, delicious and decadent, like an incredibly rich banquet served amid the detritus of some horrible battle.” Read the full review.

Sea of Thieves

A rollicking adventure … Sea of Thieves. Photograph: Rare

Effectively a pirate fantasy simulator, player crews take to the high seas together, discovering buried treasure and battling with other buccaneers. A rollicking co-op adventure filled with memorable moments of shared excitement and hilarity.

Why we love it: “You’ll laugh, you’ll sail, you’ll drink grog until you’re sick. What a luscious, singular sandbox experience.” Read the full review.

Split Fiction

Sucked into their own stories … Split Fiction. Photograph: Electronic Arts

Two authors, one writing sci-fi the other fantasy, are sucked into their own stories when a virtual reality machine goes awry. From the makers of the award-winning It Takes Two, this is another cooperative adventure in which players work in tandem to solve ingenious puzzles.

Why we love it: “One level could be all-action space-blasting, the next will have you puzzling through a fantasy jungle as transforming animals, and an unexpected diversion will have you working together to wriggle sentient hotdogs into buns.” Read the full article here.