Best RPGs On Xbox Series X/S

If there’s one genre in which Xbox tends to fall short in the eyes of the gaming public, it’s probably RPGs. While Nintendo’s got the console exclusivity advantage with popular strategy-based and traditional RPG series like Fire Emblem and Xenoblade Chronicles, and PlayStation can say the same about games like the Final Fantasy series, Xbox can seem like it’s a little lacking in that department.

But if you’ve committed yourself to a Series X or S, don’t fret. RPGs built for modern consoles include some of the best the genre has ever seen, and there are a bunch of them available to Xbox players. Let’s take a look at the best.

10 Yakuza: Like A Dragon

A Weird & Wonderful Modern-Day Adventure

The series that has been known by both the names — Yakuza and now Like a Dragon — has been through more than 20 mainline games and spin-offs (not all of which are available in the west) since its debut back in 2005, and the game with both those titles in its name may well be the best of the bunch. Shifting the formula from its classic action-adventure roots to a turn-based RPG, Yakuza: Like A Dragon follows new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga on a quest to reform himself and become a hero.

…there’s enough absurdity to keep the gangland story from becoming too heavy.

But best of all, it gets weird — the good kind of weird. From stopping an escaped chimpanzee from causing carnage with heavy construction machinery to fighting adult men wearing diapers in a giant nursery, there’s enough absurdity to keep the gangland story from becoming too heavy. We gave it a 9.5/10, with our reviewer noting: “Whatever the tone, Kasuga’s earnestness and determination are infectious and always drive the story onwards. And then, moments later, he’ll bust out another Dragon Quest reference and shift the moment right back to the other tonal extreme as if it was completely natural.”

9 Tales Of Arise

Familiar & Innovative At The Same Time

Much like the last game in this list, Tales of Arise is another in a long line of popular games, and it also shifted its battle format, though not quite to the same dramatic degree. Specifically, it’s the 17th mainline entry in the JRPG Tales series, which also lays claim to classics like Tales of Symphonia and Tales of the Abyss. Adding better dodge and counter controls really modernizes this game, and switching between characters mid-battle adds a lot of depth to the gameplay.

…it’s been both nostalgic and a breath of fresh air for fans of action RPGs.

Even with those changes, there’s still plenty here that’ll be familiar to Tales fan. With a story featuring two different worlds at odds with each other, the harvesting of a magical energy (in this case, astral energy), and spirit cores that enhance heroes’ abilities, it’s been both nostalgic and a breath of fresh air for fans of action RPGs.

8 Starfield

A Game Of Truly Epic Scope

As the game with probably the most build-up on this list prior to launch, Starfield also has the honor of being the sole Xbox Series X|S console exclusive on this list. Absolutely booming at launch, its actual quality has been the subject of a lot of debate, with many players picking it down to the bone in criticizing its every aspect, from its repetitive points of interest to its cookie-cutter companions.

…there’s plenty to keep players entertained for hundreds of hours apiece.

Even with those criticisms, it’s almost impossible to deny the massive scale of the game. With more than 1,000 explorable planets and moons, smooth space-based battles, and a robust shipbuilder that gives you the ability to let your creative juices fly with nigh-countless habs, engines, and other parts, there’s plenty to keep players entertained for hundreds of hours apiece. Our Emma Ward gave it a 9/10 and particularly praised the main storyline, saying: “Bethesda has delivered something truly special here, and I felt it with every twist, turn, and gut-wrenching decision made along the way.”

7 Cyberpunk 2077

A Cinematic Experience Like No Other

Starting out as a bit of a walking punchline, Cyberpunk 2077 underwent a phoenix-like transformation in 2023, rising from the ashes of its disastrous launch as one of the most talked-about RPGs on modern consoles — but for the first time, in a positive light. The 2.0 update brought with it a revamping of the formerly bemoaned perk system, more logical use of stamina and cyberware, and the thrilling addition of vehicular combat.

But what really sells this game is its ability to tell its story in an engaging way, especially through the addition of Keanu Reeves’ Johnny Silverhand, who’s become a gaming icon in his own right. Coming back to the game for a re-review in October 2023, our Vlad Mazanko praised the game’s cinematography, lauding its “best-in-class cinematic dialogue featuring captivating characters and superb writing.”

6 Skyrim: Anniversary Edition

Some Classic Games Never Die

If you’re an RPG gamer who’s just come out of a 12-year-long coma, good news! People are still playing Skyrim, so you should still have plenty to talk about. One of the most celebrated RPGs of all time brought its Anniversary Edition to the Xbox Series X|S in 2021, and with the packaging of the Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn expansions, it really is the definitive version of Skyrim.

A modder’s paradise for players who aren’t usually into modding.

What really sets it above and beyond the previous versions, though, is the addition of Creation Club content. A modder’s paradise for players who aren’t usually into modding, the add-ons brought in plenty of new aesthetic choices for your Dragonborn with a slew of new weapons and armor, as well as adding immersive features like a survival mode, a fishing mechanic, and new homes for you to make your own. Even if you’ve played a zillion other versions of Skyrim, it’s worth a go just to see what’s been added.

5 Disco Elysium: The Final Cut

Proving RPGs Don’t Need To Be All About The Fighting

Definitely a text-heavy RPG, Disco Elysium’s development team seems to believe in storytelling above all else. Unfortunately, all that reading can make a game less accessible and digestible at the same time. Enter The Final Cut, a 2021 reworking of the esteemed detective story that added full voice acting as well as a slew of other improvements that expand and evolve the detective story to even greater heights.

With the re-release, ZA-UM showed that it listens to its fans, offering higher resolution, customizable controls, fast travel, and a bunch of new quests, which also means new characters to meet and locations to visit. Perhaps best of all is the Hardcore Mode. While it may seem like an odd choice for a game that involves little in the way of combat, it makes skill checks harder, money more scarce, and items more expensive, presenting a new challenge for even seasoned Disco Elysium veterans.

4 Persona 5 Royal

Stealing Your Heart All Over Again

In its initial release, Persona 5 reinvigorated the JRPG genre for a worldwide audience with its flashy presentation and solid story and gameplay elements. The tale of teenage cognitive vigilantes standing up to crummy adults only got better with Persons 5 Royal, adding in three new characters in school counselor Maruki, fellow Metaverse delver Kasumi, and mysterious Mementos dweller Jose, who all affect the story in different but game-changing ways.

Persona 5 reinvigorated the JRPG genre for a worldwide audience with its flashy presentation and solid story and gameplay elements.

In our 9/10 review, we called it: “without a doubt the definitive edition,” making note of the additional story content surrounding holidays and the expanded content that fills out the remainder of the calendar in the endgame. It feels a little like cheating to put Royal on this list at all, since it was initially a PlayStation 4 game, but it hit the Series X|S at the same time as the Xbox One version released, and it’s just too good not to mention among the Series X|S’s best.

3 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition

Tweaking A Great Game Into Perfection

The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt topped the charts when it came out in 2015, bringing home The Game Awards’ titles for Best RPG and the coveted Game of the Year. With that in mind, it must not have been easy to try to improve upon Geralt of Rivia’s grandest adventure with the release of the Complete Edition, but CD Projekt Red pulled it off by tweaking just the bits that could use a tune-up.

Alongside the more standard graphical improvements like ray tracing (on Series X only) and improved character and sky textures, the Complete Edition also addresses a number of quality-of-life issues, like a closer-up camera, an option to only see the minimap when using Witcher Sense, a photo mode, and new looks for Geralt and Dandelion inspired by the live-action Netflix series. Also, like with Skyrim: Anniversary Edition, it took inspiration from its mod community for new content, showing a strong connection to its fanbase.

2 Elden Ring

Soulsborne Design Flourishes In The Open World

When the progenitor of the Soulslike genre and one of the most celebrated fantasy authors of all time come together to make an epic RPG, how could it not be a success? Elden Ring was the brainchild of Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin, who crafted a tale of corrupted demigods and a quest to collect their ring shards and bring peace and stability to The Lands Between.

…the ability to jump into multiplayer for PvP battles and more than 50 challenging bosses to fight means there’s plenty to experience in this dark fantasy world.

Even for those not accustomed to the punishing difficulty that tends to accompany games in the Soulslike genre, Elden Ring managed to skirt this issue by implementing open-world elements that let players avoid higher-level encounters until they can level up their characters and improve their weapons, making this a game for players of all skill levels. Plus, the ability to jump into multiplayer for PvP battles and more than 50 challenging bosses to fight means there’s plenty to experience in this dark fantasy world.

1 Baldur’s Gate 3

The Worst Version Of The Best RPG Is Still The Best RPG

As the deadline approached for the writing of this list, it was obvious that Baldur’s Gate 3 could only occupy one of two positions: the top of the heap or left off entirely. As the newest version of BG3, following releases on PC and PlayStation 5 four to five months prior, the Series X|S version faced some serious alias issues at launch. Specifically, an unhealthy number of players were losing their save files, which is pretty damning for a game that can easily last 55 hours per playthrough.

…the memories you’ll make while journeying with them are well deserving of the top spot among Xbox Series X|S’s greatest RPGs.

Luckily, Larian Studios has already resolved this and other major issues through a patch, bringing the Xbox version of BG3 up to the level of its PlayStation and PC big brethren. And what a level it is. The Dungeons & Dragons-inspired adventure, centered on saving the world from an illithid invasion and The Nether Brain, is packed with some of the most colorful characters in gaming, and the memories you’ll make while journeying with them are well deserving of the top spot among Xbox Series X|S’s greatest RPGs.