Best games
Best Xbox Series X|S games of 2021
The 101 best Xbox Series X|S games released in 2021, ranked from 12,168 critic and player ratings.
The best Xbox Series X|S game of 2021 is Toem, with a critic score of 95/100 — updated August 2026.
01
Toem
An aesthetic adventure with the premise of enjoying the little things! Toem is an adventure game, it aims to capture the curiosity of a child! Should I go left, right, who cares I'm on an adventure! Your smile, that's what's important to us.
95
/100
02
Forza Horizon 5
Your Ultimate Horizon Adventure awaits! Explore the vibrant and ever-evolving open-world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world’s greatest cars.
94
/100
03
Unpacking
Unpacking is a zen puzzle game about the familiar experience of pulling possessions out of boxes and fitting them into a new home. Part block-fitting puzzle, part home decoration, you are invited to create a satisfying living space while learning clues about the life you’re unpacking. Over the course of eight house moves, you are given a chance to experience a sense of intimacy with a character you never see and a story you’re never told.
92
/100
Toem
An aesthetic adventure with the premise of enjoying the little things! Toem is an adventure game, it aims to capture the curiosity of a child! Should I go left, right, who cares I'm on an adventure! Your smile, that's what's important to us.
95
/100
02
Forza Horizon 5
Your Ultimate Horizon Adventure awaits! Explore the vibrant and ever-evolving open-world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world’s greatest cars.
94
/100
03
Unpacking
Unpacking is a zen puzzle game about the familiar experience of pulling possessions out of boxes and fitting them into a new home. Part block-fitting puzzle, part home decoration, you are invited to create a satisfying living space while learning clues about the life you’re unpacking. Over the course of eight house moves, you are given a chance to experience a sense of intimacy with a character you never see and a story you’re never told.
92
/100
04
F1 2021
Every story has a beginning in F1 2021! Enjoy the stunning new features, including the thrilling story experience 'Braking Point', two-player career, and get even closer to the grid with 'Real-Season Start'. Take your team to the top in the acclaimed ten-year 'My Team' career mode, or race head-to-head in split-screen and multiplayer. Immerse yourself in the greatest racing spectacle on the planet and race with the authentic lineup of twenty heroic drivers and ten iconic teams from the 2021 season.
92
/100
05
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is an enhanced edition of the original role-playing game developed and published by ZA/UM. It retains the core gameplay and narrative while adding full voice acting, new quests, additional endings, and other narrative revisions.
91
/100
06
Disco Elysium: Final Cut
90
/100
07
Valheim
Valheim is a brutal exploration and survival game for 1-10 players set in a procedurally-generated world inspired by Norse mythology. Craft powerful weapons, construct longhouses, and slay mighty foes to prove yourself to Odin!
90
/100
08
The Forgotten City
The Forgotten City is a mystery adventure game of exploration and deduction, and a re-imagining of the critically acclaimed mod of the same name. Combat is an option, but violence will only get you so far. Only by questioning an intertwined community of colorful characters, cleverly exploiting the time loop, and making difficult moral choices can you hope to solve this epic mystery. Here, your decisions matter. The fate of the city is in your hands.
90
/100
09
Tails of Iron
Tails of Iron is an Adventure RPG-lite game set in a charming and brutal world. Playing as Redgi the Rat, you are heir to the throne when your kingdom is raided by the Iron Frog. Players face challenging, tactical and stunning combat encounters in order to rebuild the Rat Kingdom.
90
/100
10
Deathloop
Deathloop transports players to the lawless island of Blackreef in an eternal struggle between two extraordinary assassins. Explore stunning environments and meticulously designed levels in an immersive gameplay experience that lets you approach every situation any way you like. Hunt down targets all over the island in an effort to put an end to the cycle once and for all, and remember, if at first you don’t succeed… die, die again.
90
/100
11
Wildermyth
89
/100
12
B
It Takes Two
88
/100
13
Deathloop
88
/100
14
Final Fantasy
88
/100
15
Tales of Arise
87
/100
16
Psychonauts 2
87
/100
17
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
87
/100
18
Monster Hunter Rise
87
/100
19
Death's Door
87
/100
20
F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch
87
/100
21
Chivalry 2
86
/100
22
Guilty Gear -Strive
85
/100
23
Loop Hero
85
/100
24
Life is Strange: True Colors
84
/100
25
Unpacking
84
/100
26
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Anniversary Edition
84
/100
27
Resident Evil: Village
83
/100
28
Hitman 3
83
/100
29
Road 96
83
/100
30
Dysmantle
83
/100
31
Shin Megami Tensei V
82
/100
32
Inscryption
82
/100
33
Little Nightmares II
82
/100
34
Knockout City
82
/100
35
Tormented Souls
82
/100
36
Alan Wake Remastered
82
/100
37
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
81
/100
38
Diablo II: Resurrected
80
/100
39
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
80
/100
40
Subnautica: Below Zero
80
/100
41
The Artful Escape
80
/100
42
Exo One
80
/100
43
Scarlet Nexus
79
/100
44
Black Book
78
/100
45
Rain on Your Parade
78
/100
46
Solar Ash
78
/100
47
Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth
78
/100
48
Eldest Souls
78
/100
49
Tails Noir
78
/100
50
Lost in Random
77
/100
F1 2021
Every story has a beginning in F1 2021! Enjoy the stunning new features, including the thrilling story experience 'Braking Point', two-player career, and get even closer to the grid with 'Real-Season Start'. Take your team to the top in the acclaimed ten-year 'My Team' career mode, or race head-to-head in split-screen and multiplayer. Immerse yourself in the greatest racing spectacle on the planet and race with the authentic lineup of twenty heroic drivers and ten iconic teams from the 2021 season.
92
/100
05
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is an enhanced edition of the original role-playing game developed and published by ZA/UM. It retains the core gameplay and narrative while adding full voice acting, new quests, additional endings, and other narrative revisions.
91
/100
06
Disco Elysium: Final Cut
90
/100
07
Valheim
Valheim is a brutal exploration and survival game for 1-10 players set in a procedurally-generated world inspired by Norse mythology. Craft powerful weapons, construct longhouses, and slay mighty foes to prove yourself to Odin!
90
/100
08
The Forgotten City
The Forgotten City is a mystery adventure game of exploration and deduction, and a re-imagining of the critically acclaimed mod of the same name. Combat is an option, but violence will only get you so far. Only by questioning an intertwined community of colorful characters, cleverly exploiting the time loop, and making difficult moral choices can you hope to solve this epic mystery. Here, your decisions matter. The fate of the city is in your hands.
90
/100
09
Tails of Iron
Tails of Iron is an Adventure RPG-lite game set in a charming and brutal world. Playing as Redgi the Rat, you are heir to the throne when your kingdom is raided by the Iron Frog. Players face challenging, tactical and stunning combat encounters in order to rebuild the Rat Kingdom.
90
/100
10
Deathloop
Deathloop transports players to the lawless island of Blackreef in an eternal struggle between two extraordinary assassins. Explore stunning environments and meticulously designed levels in an immersive gameplay experience that lets you approach every situation any way you like. Hunt down targets all over the island in an effort to put an end to the cycle once and for all, and remember, if at first you don’t succeed… die, die again.
90
/100
11
Wildermyth
89
/100
12
B
It Takes Two
88
/100
13
Deathloop
88
/100
14
Final Fantasy
88
/100
15
Tales of Arise
87
/100
16
Psychonauts 2
87
/100
17
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
87
/100
18
Monster Hunter Rise
87
/100
19
Death's Door
87
/100
20
F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch
87
/100
21
Chivalry 2
86
/100
22
Guilty Gear -Strive
85
/100
23
Loop Hero
85
/100
24
Life is Strange: True Colors
84
/100
25
Unpacking
84
/100
26
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Anniversary Edition
84
/100
27
Resident Evil: Village
83
/100
28
Hitman 3
83
/100
29
Road 96
83
/100
30
Dysmantle
83
/100
31
Shin Megami Tensei V
82
/100
32
Inscryption
82
/100
33
Little Nightmares II
82
/100
34
Knockout City
82
/100
35
Tormented Souls
82
/100
36
Alan Wake Remastered
82
/100
37
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
81
/100
38
Diablo II: Resurrected
80
/100
39
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
80
/100
40
Subnautica: Below Zero
80
/100
41
The Artful Escape
80
/100
42
Exo One
80
/100
43
Scarlet Nexus
79
/100
44
Black Book
78
/100
45
Rain on Your Parade
78
/100
46
Solar Ash
78
/100
47
Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth
78
/100
48
Eldest Souls
78
/100
49
Tails Noir
78
/100
50
Lost in Random
77
/100
FAQ
What is the best Xbox Series X|S game of 2021?
Toem currently tops the ranking with a score of 95/100 across 68 ratings. Ranking updated August 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.