The Best RPGs To Play On Xbox Series X|S

RPGs are a dime a dozen on multiple platforms, which means trial and error isn’t going to be optimal. Luckily, as an Xbox Series X|S owner, there are objectively great RPG picks available to your console. Whether new or old, you’ll find the ones for you on this list based on genre and story.

Many of these games are popular titles with great acclaim, and you’ll end up spending hours on most with the amusing side quests and extra content that these games have. Prepare to be chair-bound, because these RPGs are sure to captivate you from start to finish.

Diablo 4

This game most likely already crossed your mind when its development was announced on 2019. Maybe you heard that SUGA and Halsey collaborated on Lilith, which is Diablo 4‘s theme. If not, you were probably drawn to it with its amazing trailer and the spotless animation that accompanied it.

But the animation and music aren’t all this game has to offer. It has a great story, which stands on its own even if you haven’t played any of its predecessors. This non-linear action RPG does not hold back on grotesque and bloody, which is expected for a game that starts off with the summoning of the daughter of the Lord of Hatred himself.

Hades

It goes without saying that this literal prison break from the bowels of the Greek underworld is a must-have on your Xbox Series X|S. You don’t have to be a Greek myth nerd to love this game, the witty and inclusive writing, the amazing soundtrack and voice acting, as well as the dungeon-crawling madness should be reasons enough to start playing this game.

Taken out of context, Hades is a story about a boy who is hell-bent on escaping his dad’s sprawling mansion. As funny as that reads, you’ll inevitably find yourself getting attached to Zagreus and his heartfelt pursuit for belonging and family.

Dark Souls 3

Embrace tradition by choosing Dark Souls 3 over Elden Ring, or playing it before Elden Ring if your fingers have never danced around a Souls game before. With the Age of Flame dying out in the Kingdom of Lothric and monsters sprouting like daisies, you, the Ashen One, will be responsible for putting an end to this apocalypse.

In the grand scheme of things, it’s funny how you, technically an undead who was disturbed from eternal rest, are now thrust upon the duty of saving the world.

Final Fantasy 15

It’s never too late to start the Final Fantasy series, even if you want to start at Final Fantasy 15. If you’re looking for an iconic JRPG to play with a long history, you shouldn’t look further and start exploring the world of Eos with the boys.

If you play this one game, you might end up spiraling into playing the other installments in the series to get a better grasp of the world of Final Fantasy. Sadly, the three most modern big-scale FFs – FF7 Remake, followed by FF16, and later FF7 Rebirth – aren’t available on Xbox. They’re worth a PS5 pickup, though!

Persona 3 Reload

Persona 3 Reload is an early contender for one of 2024’s best RPGs, and it’s certainly no slouch on the Xbox Series consoles. It’s vibrant and poppy and stylish as they come, much like a certain other mainline Persona game that you can probably predict will appear later on this list.

A remake of the original Persona 3, Reload brings the cast to life all over again with additional scenes, a fresh pass at the script, and plenty of welcome quality of life features. It lacks the stuff that makes Persona 3 Portable so good – the decision to exclude that version’s female protagonist option stings – but it’s still a great time on its own merits.

Cyberpunk 2077

Maybe you’ve had enough of fantasy settings, swords, and armor. You love modernity. In fact, you like envisioned futures full of high-tech gear and gadgets instead of your olden axes. Cyberpunk 2077 has it all: a Keanu Reeves cameo, body modifications, and a great story that will get you tearing up. What’s not to love?

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that this game is responsible for the resurgence of its genre given its flawless design and compelling plot. It also features a protagonist with a colorful personality, no matter which faction you end up in.

Skyrim

You’re a defiler and a debaser if this game isn’t on top of your must-plays. If you’ve never played it before and are an avid fan of open world RPG games, Skyrim’s is sure to be an absurd and fun experience. You might be in it for the game’s rich lore and have plans to go tomb raiding while bashing the undead within them.

Conversely, you’re in it to be an outlaw that kills chickens on sight. You might even be seriously considering this game solely for the memes and to get firsthand experience of things that don’t make sense, such as pick-pocketing people’s clothes from head-to-toe. Skyrim isn’t just immortal because of the memes, but because of its unlimited replay value that mods provide.

Fallout New Vegas

Fallout New Vegas is a classic RPG take on futuristic gone dystopian. You’ll be playing as a courier working for the Mojave Express, set in the year 2281 in New Vegas. This is a game where your decisions will determine the ending of the story, so choose wisely.

With new factions after the events of Fallout 3 going all out at each other to take control of Hoover Dam, your choices will be key to determining the victor of the faction struggles in New Vegas and the Mojave.

With the recent success of the Amazon television adaptation, many newcomers to the Fallout scene are wondering which games to prioritize. New Vegas is one of those games, trust us.

Starfield

Bethesda Game Studios has their work cut out for them when Starfield’s Shattered Space expansion launches in Fall 2024. Following a massive launch as befits a developer of its pedigree, the company has watched, no doubt at least a little disappointed, as public opinion on their space adventure RPG has… kind of cratered.

Still, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that there are still plenty of fans of what Starfield does well – including ourselves. Yeah, the game falters in what should probably be its greatest strength: exploration. But for all their rote design, so many of Starfield’s planets are gorgeous. Combat is crisp, ability trees are reasonably complex, factions and their associated storylines are largely impressive. The cast of companions is kind of weak, but hey, you get to lug them around in your own customized starship.

There’s a lot to like about Starfield. Surely enough to give it a try if you own an Xbox Series console. Temper expectations and you may be rewarded!

NieR: Automata

Imagine Earth with no more humans, just androids and machine dystopia. That’s NieR: Automata‘s story in a nutshell, but to reduce it to cleaning earth up of evil, out-of-control robots would be a disservice to this tearjerker.

Robots are capable of feelings, and nobody knows this more than 2B herself, who is subjected to a painful cycle of eliminating those she cares for.

The best part about this game is that some outcomes are only unlocked once others are reached, so you will get the fullest extent of emotional damage possible when you, as 2B, are forced to make hard decisions for the sake of completion.

Yakuza: Like A Dragon

The Yakuza games have the perfect balance of action, slapstick humor, open world immersion, and main story drama, which is rare for its genre. Yakuza: Like A Dragon takes you away from the familiar streets of Kamurocho and into Yokohama, following the story of Ichiban Kasuga.

He might not be the Dragon of Dojima, but Ichiban himself is a breath of fresh air into the Yakuza series. He’s a unique personality himself, and while he couldn’t exactly beat Kiryu in a fight (literally), his character and integrity make his story worth following.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition

The Mass Effect: Legendary Edition contains three excellent RPGs in one. However, it feels like one long adventure because there is an overarching narrative, and your choices carry over between the games.

That story revolves around the hero, Commander Shepard. You customize how they look and their gender, but they’re always the main soldier who is attempting to stop an impending invasion from a dangerous species.

Along with making choices and talking to people, all the games contain some superb third-person shooting combat, where you use both your and your teammates’ skills to succeed in battles.

Persona 5 Royal

Would you go far for justice if it meant being implicated yourself? That’s what happens to high schooler Ren Amamiya, who attempted to step in to save a woman who was being harassed, only to be arrested, kicked out of school, and forced to relocate.

The game doesn’t shy away from modern social commentary like all Persona games, and the shocking and sad reality that Ren must endure is reflective of that.

Overall, Persona 5 Royal is a game that many people would wish they could forget just so that they could experience it again as a blank slate. This common reaction is a testament to the game’s well-conceived plot and carefully written story.

The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt

Adventures with Geralt and Ciri across the Continent will make you go through a rollercoaster of emotions. The Witcher 3 will give you difficult enemies to face and even harder decisions to make, but everything is worth going through especially if you’re invested in Geralt and Ciri’s story.

You don’t need to go through the previous games to enjoy the third installment, but it will help for context. Even if not for the magic, fights, monsters, and complicated love triangles, at least do it for the sake of Gwent.

Elden Ring

If every other game before this entry lacks the challenge you’re looking for, Elden Ring is sure to give you more hardships than you’ve bargained for. But it didn’t win Game of the Year 2022 for no reason, so it’s worth the struggle and Revenants you’re bound to face.

There’s nothing more exciting than venturing through a world that is falling apart, where God is seemingly dead, and abominations run amok. It doesn’t have the peace a desk job offers, but it’ll save you from dying of boredom and oversitting.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 is set in the world of Dungeons and Dragons, but you don’t need to appreciate DND to enjoy this exceptional RPG. The narrative starts off simple enough, as your customizable protagonist is implanted with a parasite, so their goal is to get it out.

Yet, the tale gets much deeper than that, and you end up going on a lengthy adventure where you meet and interact with a range of exciting characters. You also participate in some interesting turn-based combat that requires strategy and, sometimes, creativity.

Avowed

Obsidian has done it again – it’s successfully crafted a new world with outstanding character writing. Or is it new, truly? Avowed is set in the same universe as Pillars of Eternity and its direct sequel, and while those of us who have played Pillars 2 may forever be holding our collective breath for a third entry, it’s lovely to be back in this setting.

Too frequently, fans and media alike have compared Avowed to Skyrim. In many ways, the games could not be more dissimilar, but they’re both well worth playing!