The Xbox Series X is a huge technical jump from its older sibling the Xbox One. While still playing catch up to what PCs can do, it's still a big deal for consoles. Packed with 4K capabilities and the potential to do 120 frames per second gaming, is something to talk about.
RELATED: The Best Horror Games of 2020
Gaming is in the early days of the current generation, so there are only a couple of exclusives that are only on the Series X. Most games are optimized for it. Thankfully there are tons of games that look and perform really well on the new console. While there are many, here are some huge Xbox Series X games that run at 4K and 60 frames per second.
Updated July 22, 2021 by Mark Sammut: The Xbox Series X is steadily amazing an impressive library of games, some of which are embracing the advantages provides by Microsoft's hardware. As the console is still early in its life, there has yet to be a game that truly tests the Xbox Series X's limits; in fact, plenty of titles are also available on the Xbox One. While it might be a few years before the full potential of the Series X is unleashed, at the moment, the platform delivers the best version of most console games. This article has been expanded to include a few more 2021 Xbox Series X releases that support 60 fps and 4K resolution.
14 Scarlet Nexus
- Release Date: June 25, 2021
Bandai Namco's new action RPG was received well by both critics and players, perhaps signaling that the future could include further missions with the OSF. Visually, Scarlet Nexus is not the most impressive game on the Xbox Series X, particularly when it comes to its environments and textures; however, the characters look great and, most importantly, the gameplay is fantastic.
Requiring two playthroughs to see everything the story has to offer, Scarlet Nexus will keep players entertained for over 50 hours.
13 Doom Eternal
- Release Date: June 29, 2021 (Xbox Series X)
id Software's Doom Eternal is now available for the Xbox Series X and PS5, a change that makes a world of difference. Next-gen versions offer three graphics settings, with Balanced Mode delivering 4K resolution and 60 fps. Performance Mode reduces the resolution to 1800p but elevates the frames per second to 120. Last but not least, Ray Tracing Mode delivers 1800p and 60 fps.
Doom Eternal is controlled chaos, as the Doom Slayer must remain constantly on the move to avoid certain death.
12 Resident Evil Village
- Release Date: May 7, 2021
Capcom's most recent horrorfest builds upon the strong work of Resident Evil 7, retaining the first-person viewpoint and Ethan as a protagonist. Set in a creepy village in Europe and featuring an antagonist that broke the internet, Resident Evil Village incorporates frights and thrills expertly, creating an experience that is more action-based than its predecessor.
RELATED: Resident Evil Village: Things You Didn't Know About Lady Dimitrescu's Daughters
Permitting Ray Tracing is not activated, Resident Evil Village runs at 60 fps and 4K on the Xbox Series X. For a game filled with plenty of horrifying nightmares, Village has its share of beautiful imagery.
11 Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
- Release Date: March 12, 2021 (Xbox Series X)
The classic Sony mascot is no longer confined to just PlayStation systems, a fact that works in Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time's favor. Debuting in 2020, Crash 4 made its way to ninth-generation consoles a few months later, allowing the game to take advantage of the new hardware's power.
Crash 4 is gorgeous and vibrant, making it a perfect candidate to showcase the Xbox Series X's 4K potential. The gameplay is smooth even on last-gen systems, but the Series X greatly reduces the load times for levels.
10 Dirt 5
- Release Date: November 10, 2020 (Xbox Series X)
While Dirt 5 looks fine on the older platform, there's a noticeable difference between the two. For starters, everything about it is a smooth ride. The driver has more control over the vehicles now because it's almost 1 to 1 with no delay.
This gives players on the newer console a slight advantage over the ones playing on older platforms. When racing on dirt roads with little traction and having the game be slow changes the whole experience. The frame rate increase from 30 to 60 helps the driving in general.
9 Dead By Daylight
- Release Date: November 12, 2020 (Xbox Series X)
Dead By Daylight works well for both survivors and killers. Quicker response time for the survivors to get away or do tasks, while the killers are more mobile and get their targets faster. What makes this game a good example of what the Xbox Series X can do is its graphical upgrade.
The already spooky-looking maps are even scarier thanks to its next-gen overhaul. Much like most games that got an update for the new console, everything got better, so playing on the Series X is a noticeable change.
8 ARK: Survival Evolved
- Release Date: August 29, 2017
This wacky dinosaur survival simulator makes good use of the Series X's hardware. Although still glitchy, ARK: Survival Evolved looks much better. Not much has improved graphically, but behind the scenes, things are running smoother. Like loading times are quicker, matchmaking has improved, and of course, the frame rate has increased.
Since ARK features cross-play, it's now easier to play with PC players because Series X has almost the same reaction time. The best thing about this game is that most technical issues were fixed.
7 Borderlands 3
- Release Date: November 12, 2020
The good thing about the Borderlands titles is that they're not physically demanding, and the current-gen systems run them better than ever. The 4K update makes it feel like Borderlands 3 is a new game.
RELATED: Best Fantasy Games From The '90s That Were Way Ahead Of Their Time
Colors are richer and more vibrant, and with the 60 frames per second, the chaos feels more focused. Plus, just everything about the game feels better just because it's on the new console, as the updated graphics bring more life to its worlds. It's like night and day in how the new hardware changes Borderlands 3.
6 Ori And The Will Of The Wisp
- Release Date: November 10, 2020 (Xbox Series X)
This already stunning platformer looks even better on the new console. The 4K works really well with games like Ori and the Will of the Wisps because of the depth of the colors. The light colors really pop out and they give the game a different feel. While the darker ones blend in really well with the background.
It's no wonder why Ori and the Will of the Wisps is one of the best-looking games of 2020. The frame rate is also consistent on the Xbox Series X. The title is quite hard as it's mostly about timing, so having smoother gameplay can help the players beat the game.
5 Sea Of Thieves
- Release Date: November 10, 2020 (Xbox Series X)
Online multiplayer games have a noticeable change on the newer console. Load-in times are quicker, allowing people to quickly connect with their friends. Not only that but graphically Sea of Thieves is beautiful; the sun blanketing the water looks amazing.
At night and with 4K, the view gets clear and with richer colors. Even when a player's internet isn't as good as the rest of the party's, the frame rate helps somewhat with that. The smoother camera turns and quicker reaction time makes the game much better.
4 Assassin's Creed Valhalla
- Release Date: November 10, 2020 (Xbox Series X)
Ubisoft is known for making the Assassin's Creed landscape and cityscape be life-like. The latest in the series is not an expectation. Playing on the new console, players can visit some gorgeous-looking scenes in Assassin's Creed Valhalla and see what the Series X has to offer. The increase in frames translates into smoother combat. Players can time their attacks faster and do it more efficiently.
RELATED: The Best & Worst Things To Happen To The Elder Scrolls Franchise In The Last 10 Years
These games are huge, especially Valhalla, so it's amazing seeing the loading time is cut down more than half on the Xbox Series X. This was probably the first game to really show what the new console could do.
3 Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War
- Release Date: November 13, 2020
First-person shooters utilize the higher frames well. PC players know well that reaction time is the main thing to win. Therefore, if a player is playing on the Series X they'll have an advantage because the frame rate gives them that.
While not looking all that different from the older version, Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War is technically better on the Xbox Series X. Matchmaking and loading times are better. Even the zombie modes look good as well. Those modes can be hard, but with more frame coming in it could change and makes it easier to play.
2 Forza Horizon 4
- Release Date: November 10, 2020 (Xbox Series X)
Racing games also use this new technology well, the rich landscapes and detail in the cars, developers can make them look life-like. In Forza Horizon 4, the countryside of Scotland is one of a kind. The draw distance is even farther on the Xbox Series X, and it looks more realistic due to the 4K resolution.
With the addition of 60 fps, it allows the player to drive with ease and more control. Since it's optimized on the new console, the load times are cut down. For online games that have a big open world, this helps a lot. All these reasons are why Forza Horizon 4 was one of the best games available at the launch of Microsoft's latest console.
1 Gears 5
- Release Date: November 10, 2020 (Xbox Series X)
Gears 5 is one of those games that is considerably different on the Xbox Series X. It's what is underneath the hood that makes it a different game from the Xbox One version. On the new console, Gears 5 looks amazing.
On top of that, the frame rate helps the online action, allowing for smoother and more satisfying gameplay. Playing on the newer console just feels all-around better, and turnaround time between online matches is even faster.
Every Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, And PC Game Coming Out In 2021 (And Beyond)
Dying Light 2, Far Cry 6, and Forza Horizon 5 are just some of the Xbox Series X games set to drop over the next few months, all of which should be well optimized for Microsoft's console. Anyone searching for that next big game they can sink hundreds of hours into should check out these articles: