Best upcoming games for Xbox Series X and Series S: The top next-gen games for 2021 and beyond

The next generation of console gaming is upon us, with the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S out at last. Of course, no console is much without games - not even the "most powerful" in the world.

That's why we've put together a list of the games that have either been confirmed already or hinted at coming to the Xbox Series X and S in the coming year or so.

Some will also be part of the monthly Xbox Game Pass membership scheme, which will save you a stack of money. And some will also be part of Xbox's Smart Delivery programme, meaning that if you buy them for Xbox One you'll get them on Series X or Series S for free. 

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So here are the best upcoming games for Xbox Series X and Series S. Enjoy.

Rainbow Six Extraction

• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Release date: 20 January 2022
• Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC

Another Ubisoft game with a release date that's shifting about a fair amount, Rainbow Six Extraction caused quite a stir during the company's E3 2019 presentation (although it was called Quarantine back then). It dispenses with the real-world combat-style themes of Siege - instead shifting to survival horror, with three-player teams battle goopy black aliens.

Dying Light 2

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• Publisher: Techland
• Release date: 4 February 2022
• Exclusive? No, also on PS5, PS4, Xbox One and PC

Although Techland is yet to officially confirm Dying Light 2 is coming for next-gen machines, its release delay and sheer scope suggest that it is a shoo-in for the new consoles. The game is a sequel to the amazing first-person parkour zombie-a-thon we're still playing to this day, but it takes the concept to an all-new level. Every action and decision you make in the game will affect the entire gameworld - with different factions growing and fading depending on your choices.

Elden Ring

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• Publisher: Bandai Namco
• Release date: 25 February 2022
• Exclusive? No, also on PS4, PS5 and PC

The next game from Hidetaka Miyazaki, Elden Ring looks like it will take the format the Dark Souls and its sequels made so popular and turn it on its head by embracing an open world and letting players decide what order they'll tackle it all in.

Tunic

• Publisher: Finji
• Release date: 16 March 2022
• Exclusive? No, also on PC and Mac

This gorgeous indie game has had a few demos that absolutely charmed us, and will hit Game Pass when it releases. It's a top-down Zelda-like adventure that sees you take on the role of a small fox with plenty of power, and reminds us a lot of the excellent Death's Door.

Starfield

• Publisher: Bethesda
• Release date: 11 November 2022
• Exclusive? No, also on PC

Like The Elder Scrolls 6 below, little is known about Starfield right now. It is thought to be a sci-fi RPG though and something of a departure from the Fallout franchise - and, again, will be straight onto Game Pass when it releases. 

Sonic Frontiers

• Publisher: Sega
• Release date: Holiday 2022
• Exclusive? No, also on PS5, PS4, Switch and PC

Sonic is going open-world, with this interesting looking new game that will continue the blue hedgehog's legacy. We haven't seen much gameplay beyond the shots of the world contained in the trailer above, but it's sure to be fast-paced as always.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

• Publisher: Warner Bros.
• Release date? 2022
• Exclusive? No, also on PS5, PS4 and PC

We're finally ready to get back into a Rocksteady game, years after it last dropped some Batman goodness into our laps. This game will let players take on the roles of a few nasty pieces of work in the Suicide Squad, tasked with taking down corrupted versions of the Justice League's heros.

Scorn

• Publisher: Ebb Software
• Release date: 2022
• Exclusive? Yes

When we first saw the trailer, we thought someone was making a game of Ridley Scott's Prometheus - or the abandoned ship section of Alien. Scorn, from debut studio Ebb, is about as HR Giger-esque as it comes, with first-person horror overtones and creepy audio. Definitely one to watch.

The Lord of the Rings - Gollum

• Publisher: Daedelic Entertainment
• Release date: 2022
• Exclusive? No, also on PS5, Windows 10 (rumoured)

There is no full trailer for Gollum as yet but we do know that the game with be a story-driven action-adventure and from a studio well-versed in such things. We also know it's coming to next-gen consoles, and its artistic vision looks pretty interesting so far.

Alan Wake 2

• Publisher: Epic Games
• Release date: 2023
• Exclusive? No, also on PS5 and PC

Alan Wake is back, at last, and Remedy says that his mainline sequel will be more survival-horror focussed than the last game, which sounds like it could potentially make for a pretty terrifying package. The teaser trailer is ominous so we can't wait to learn more.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

• Publisher: Focus Entertainment
• Release date: TBC
• Exclusive? No, also on PC

The first Space Marine came out a decent while ago, but was a well-like third-person action and shooter that felt like a nice way into the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Now, it's finally getting a sequel, and from the glimpses of gameplay at the end of the announcement trailer it should be a bloody good time.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2

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• Publisher: Paradox Interactive
• Release date: TBC
• Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Windows 10

A new, superb trailer has got us even more excited for this long-awaited RPG sequel. We also saw previous footage running with ray-tracing at an Nvidia event during Gamescom 2019, so have a great idea what to expect on Xbox Series X with its similarly capable graphics.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II

• Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
• Release date: TBC
• Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One and Windows 10

Ninja Theory's first Senua game - Hallblade: Senua's Sacrifice - not only wowed with its almost photorealistic graphics, but the clever, well informed grasp on mental health issues was much lauded. The sequel looks even more stunning, based on a trailer made entirely using the in-game engine. The action-adventure will be available on the current generation Xbox, but we suspect it'll be the Series X version everyone will be talking about.

Fable

• Publisher: Playground Games
• Release date: TBC
• Exclusive? No, also on Windows 10

A beloved franchise is returning with the as yet simply-titled Fable, bringing players back to Albion and its topsy-turvy world of moral extremes. The teaser we got gives us almost nothing to go on, but we're sure it'll promise much more witty humour and fantasy tropes. 

Wonder Woman

• Publisher: Warner Bros.
• Release date: TBC
• Exclusive? No, also on PS5 and PC

Diana Prince is finally getting a proper mainstream videogame adaptation, likely as a result of the recognition factor that Gal Gadot's movie version has garnered. We can't wait to learn more about what the game will bring to the table.

Star Wars Eclipse

• Publisher: LucasFilm Games
• Release date: TBC
• Exclusive? No, also on PS5 and PC

The next game from Quantic Dream will be a story-driven multi-character Star Wars adventure set during the High Republic era, and while the trailer above has plenty of vivid imagery we don't know a huge amount about the story this game will try to tell.

State of Decay 3

• Publisher: Undead Labs
• Release date: TBC
• Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One and Windows 10

The State of Decay franchise lives on, and will drop a third iteration on Xbox Series X - the first trailer looks absolutely amazing, even if it's got no gameplay to share. It looks like animals are getting infected, though, which could be a game-changer when it comes to making your way around. Hopefully we'll learn more soon. 

Dead Space

• Publisher: EA
• Release Date: TBC
• Exclusive? No, also on PS5 and PC

EA has resurrected its terrifying science-fiction franchise and is making a full remake of the original game. It should be absolutely horrifying, using the power of next-gen to summon up some sights we hoped we'd never see again.

The Outer Worlds 2

• Publisher: Take Two Interactive
• Release date: TBC
• Exclusive? No, also on PC

If you're going to make a trailer that contains almost no details, you might as well poke fun at yourself why you do, as this great announcement teaser for The Outer Worlds 2 manages. We'll doubtless find out plenty more about the game down the line, but for now it's great to know that it's on the way.

Redfall

• Publisher: Bethesda
• Release date: Summer 2022
• Exclusive? Yes

Another gorgeou trailer that doesn't give away a huge amount when it comes to gameplay details, Redfall is coming from the brilliant minds at Arkane, and seems to be set in a world or vampires and magic powers. It looks like vibrant fun, but we'll have to wait to see gameplay at some point.

The Elder Scrolls 6

• Publisher: Bethesda
• Release date: TBC
• Exclusive? No, also on PC

We've not heard a peep about The Elder Scrolls 6 since its tease at E3 2018. However, after the massive news of Bethesda being bought entirely by Microsoft, we know that when it does eventually appear, it'll be on Game Pass from day one, and could even be an Xbox exclusive. 

Forza Motorsport

• Publisher: Turn10
• Release date: TBC
• Exclusive? No, also on Xbox One

The next Forza game is looking absolutely jaw-dropping in terms of fidelity, and while we know it's not going to drop anytime soon, it's clear that this will end up being one of the best-looking racing games ever made. We can't wait to dive in. 

Gothic

• Publisher: THQ Nordic
• Release date: TBC
• Exclusive? No, also on PS5, Windows 10

After releasing a playable teaser for PC on Steam, which was very well received, THQ Nordic decided to greenlight a fully remastered, remade version of RPG Gothic. It also announced that it will be coming to the next-generation consoles too.

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