What are the best Xbox exclusives you can play as of January 2024?
The Xbox ecosystem has been home to some truly stellar Xbox exclusives over the years, top-notch titles that you'll only find on Microsoft's family of consoles and PC. What's more, the vast majority of these titles are now available via Xbox and PC Game Pass, making it easier than ever for you to dive into some of the best gaming experiences currently available.
In order to help you choose which Xbox exclusives to get stuck into next, we've gone ahead and put together a list of our absolute favourites, games from across several generations that encompass a wide range of genres - there really is something for everyone to enjoy here. For your convenience, we've also highlighted whether or not each and every listing below is currently available on Xbox Game Pass in 2024.
We've primarily stuck to Xbox One and Xbox Series exclusives for this list, although you'll also find some Xbox 360 exclusives in the mix. Regardless, everything listed here works on modern Xbox consoles like the Series X and Series S.
If you're interested in more than just the best Xbox exclusives, don't forget that we've also got other guides such as the best Xbox RPGs and all 120FPS supported Xbox games. We've also got a full list of everything announced for Xbox Game Pass in 2024 so far, so be sure to check that out for a full roundup of what's coming to the service soon.
Let's jump in!
Best Xbox Exclusives (As Of January 2024)
Sea Of Thieves (Xbox One)
Arrrrrr! Rare’s colourful pirate hijinks have come a long, long way since they first arrived on the scene back in 2018. What was once a rather threadbare and often aimless experience has been utterly transformed into a rich and vibrant world full of adventure and intrigue through constant updates, improvements and tasty content additions.
Yes, getting into great big sea battles against other players, fighting all manner of fantastical creatures and searching for treasure may be the main draw, but even the simple act of working together to successfully manoeuvre your ship here is a joy, such is the craftsmanship and attention to detail with which Rare has put this world together. With the best water we’ve ever seen in a video game - the sea here really is a character in and of itself - Sea of Thieves is a highly atmospheric adventure playground that provides an absolute timesink for groups of friends and solo players alike. This is one of our absolute favourite Xbox exclusives thus far!
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
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Planet of Lana (Xbox Series X|S)
There was a lot of hype behind Planet of Lana before it arrived on Xbox Game Pass in May of 2023, and fortunately it managed to live up to that hype, delivering a stunning puzzle-adventure experience that lives long in the memory. We gave it a "Great 8/10" score here at Pure Xbox, praising it as a "gorgeous" addition to the Game Pass service.
In fact, Pure Xbox users actually voted Planet of Lana as their favourite Xbox Game Pass addition in May 2023 by a significant margin, with the game receiving 35% of all votes and beating the likes of Redfall, FIFA 23 and Ravenlok. For that reason alone, we highly suggest checking it out right now!
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Forza Horizon 5 (Xbox Series X|S)
One of the most exquisite looking games currently available on any gaming platform, that also happens to be just about as good as arcade racing games get? Yeah, that'll be Forza Horizon 5.
Playground Games' latest may not do anything particularly new for the franchise, but it doesn't really need to, as this is the open world racer's exquisite gameplay loops honed to absolute perfection and plonked down in the very best setting the series has seen to date. An endless array of wonderfully flashy sports cars, tons of events, seamless online functionality and constant, almost overwhelming, bells, whistles and unlockables see every moment you spend with this game feel like some sort of crazy, car-based sugar rush. Forza Horizon 5 is as good as arcade racing gets in the year of 2024.
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Palworld (Xbox Series X|S)
Who'd have thought Palworld would be the next big Xbox console exclusive everyone would talk about? The January 2024 launch was a smash hit, racking up ridiculous player numbers on Steam in its first day, and certifying itself as one the most popular Xbox Game Pass titles in the process. A huge success for the devs of Craftopia!
You've probably heard about this being a Pokémon-like experience, and that's definitely true to an extent, but it also shares similarities with the likes of Ark: Survival Ascended, Valheim and even Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The game launched in early access so there's plenty of development to go, but it's got off to an absolutely fantastic start.
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Microsoft Flight Simulator (Xbox Series X|S)
Microsoft Flight Simulator is an extraordinary experience, a truly jaw-dropping game that gives you the freedom to hop into one of its stunningly recreated planes and take to the skies to explore the world - yes, the entire world - in an almost unbelievable level of detail. Of all the Xbox exclusives on this list, we feel like Flight Sim is truly special, a one-of-a-kind game that it's quite hard to believe has actually made its way to consoles playing and looking quite as well as it does.
This one's an Xbox Series exclusive for obvious reasons (although it works via the cloud on Xbox One), and it'll take you some time to get used to all the various controls, but once it all clicks into place, there's nothing like it. We've sank hours and hours into discovering and exploring here and still get the same level of thrill every time we run through our pre-flight checks and take off for another journey, even if that journey consists of nothing more than circling our own houses for the umpteenth time.
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Rare Replay (Xbox One)
Released back in 2015 to celebrate Rare's 30th anniversary, Rare Replay is a splendid compilation that spans the developer's work across multiple genres and console generations. From the ZX Spectrum right up to the Xbox 360, there's a treasure trove to explore here and it's enhanced by behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, snapshot and rewind functions, built in cheats and more besides.
There's so much to dig into here, and GoldenEye 007 recently joined the lineup as well! With the likes of Sabre Wulf, R.C. Pro-AM 2, Blast Corps, Battletoads, two Perfect Dark titles, Jet Force Gemini, Killer Instinct, Banjo Kazooie and a whole heap more, this is a fascinating history lesson and boatload of fun-times all rolled into one.
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Forza Motorsport (Xbox Series X|S)
There's something for everyone with the Forza series! While Forza Horizon is based on exploring big open world maps and racing in slightly more arcade-like conditions, Forza Motorsport is all about replicating the hardcore simulation aspects of the sport. Just like previous entries in the series, that's exactly what the reboot sets out to achieve.
Instead of going to Forza Motorsport 8, the team over at Turn 10 decided to give the franchise a refresh with its Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S debut, suggesting we could be looking at many years' worth of content for the new Forza Motorsport in the future. If you're intrigued by this one, it's definitely something to add to your download list.
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Halo Wars 2 (Xbox One)
2017's Halo Wars 2 is a fantastic RTS-spin on Halo and still has us yearning for a sequel almost seven years on. Creative Assembly worked with 343 to deliver a great console-catered RTS experience here, and the game's Xbox One X enhancements mean this one still looks and plays great on Xbox Series X in 2024.
Halo Wars 2 lets you control entire armies of Marines, Warthogs, Scorpion tanks and Spartans on the battlefield, and its narrative slots nicely into the overall Halo storyline as well. We'd love to see more of this sort of thing arrive for other Xbox franchises, and years later we still treasure our time with both Halo Wars franchise spinoffs. HW2 definitely deserves a spot on this list!
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Gears 5 (Xbox One)
Gears 5 is an absolutely essential entry in the long-running Xbox exclusive franchise that sees the Gears right back at the top of their game in an action-packed adventure that's fully playable in co-op either locally or online. There’s a strong campaign here, surprisingly character-driven stuff for a series that’s known chiefly for its brutal battles, it manages to pack an emotional punch while serving up all the carnage fans have come to expect and more besides.
With the Ultimate Edition of this sprawling adventure available on Game Pass, alongside the truly excellent Hivebusters expansion, there’s no excuse not to grab some friends, ready your Lancers and get blasting some Locust scum across the main campaign, Escape and Horde modes! Gears 5 is a massive package of brutal, bloody good times.
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Valheim (Xbox Series X|S)
The outstanding PC game Valheim became an Xbox console exclusive when it arrived on Xbox Game Pass in March 2023, and although the graphics might not be up to much, you definitely don't want to miss out on this one!
Valheim is a "brutal" survival and exploration game which you can either play solo or with friends online, with extensive building mechanics, a massive procedurally-generated world to explore, bosses to conquer and much more. It might take you an hour or two to get into the rhythm of Valheim, but once you're there, this is a game that's extremely difficult to put down. There's a reason it has an "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating on Steam based on hundreds of thousands of user reviews!
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Comments 94
Didn't know insomniac did sunset overdrive, may have to give it a try at some point this weekend
Apart from FH5 the only top end AAA new exclusive in 2021 for Series consoles, you might as be living in the past.
No where’s my Tardis 😂
@UltimateOtaku91
Good game sunset overdrive, a bit different but great.
But isn't xbox the console with "no games"?!?! 😧
Genuinely had to open the article to see how the list was going to be padded.
And it's not hate, I'm an Xbox owner just as everybody else. But man, would it have been a short list without backward compatibility
cough*Recore*cough
does Gears 5 not have series X/S version?
I would love to play Fable 2 GOTY but it looks terrible on a 75” TV. That release needs some love!
yes, it sucks to be a Xbox player
@trev666 Yeah it does, the tags in each header just relate to which generation each game launched in.
When it comes down to it, it's a personal choice. Sure Xbox has games. With GamePass, literally too many (good thing).
That said, all things being equal, personally, I would rather have the exclusives on the PlayStation, then what's on the Xbox as it sits right now. I say this as an Xbox owner.
Maybe a fun article/poll to have? Which exclusives would you rather want.
@Savage_Joe Yeah I never understood the "no games" thing, like exclusives should be the only games I should ever have any interest in playing at all times. In fact my problem has always been the opposite, I got way too many games to play and it can be hard to decide sometimes. Especially considering the massive back catalog of games you have access to on Xbox thanks to the unrivaled backwards compatibility support.
@UltimateOtaku91 sunset overdrive can be played on the PS5 since insomniac is owned by Sony
@Arcnail i would prefer the higher quality exclusive on the PS5 personally
@phoenix1 Looking for Sunset Overdrive on PS5. I don't see it.
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@Arcnail PS5 console and Xbox games on PC. Best of both worlds!
My plan is i will play xbox this generation with gamepass as most stuff will come out on that. Rewards paid for the console and continues to pay for gamepass.
and i wont miss out on PlayStation exclusives as at the end of the generation i will buy a ps5 and play them all then when they are cheap or on their own sub service. Im not paying £70 for a game
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Ain’t no way you put Sunset Overtrash on this list 🤣🤣
@JayJ Thanks to Backwards Compat ? So Xbox gamers just get rid of the old systems ? PlayStation gamers keep their systems so we don’t need it as much as you lot go on about it
I should have realised the comments would be full of complaining and fanboys listing Playstation games.
But that aside can anyone think of any missed off? I’ve got Recore and Gun Valkyrie. Knights of the Old Republic?
Im sorry, but new consoles need new games and pointing out games from bygone years is hardly cattering for thise who crave top new experiences.
As a repository of excellent titles from the past, xbox and gp nail it, and they have big enough pockets to supply some excellent 3rd party titles too. But theres so little new stuff you cant experience elsewhere and it IS an issue.
@Titntin
It definitely seems to be for some people. I don’t get very motivated by exclusives personally.
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@NattyKing Well why are you on an Xbox site promoting the Sony Playstation? What makes you think everyone on a site called Pure Xbox would be all about the PS5?
@electrolite77 Yeah funny enough the people who seem to be extremely motivated by a mediocre list of exclusives are people who go to an Xbox website to promote the PS5. Says everything really.
This kind of behavior is why Sony Playstation fans are notorious for being by far the worst and most invasive fanboys. Nobody else does this, going to websites specifically for a different platform just to fanboy for Playstation. Like I don't see Nintendo or PC fans doing this.
I guess when all you got for why you promote something is a small list of games and an exclusivity status that nobody really cares about, you gotta really double down on reassurance. You would think these people would just stick to Sony Playstation websites if they want to be surrounded by people praising the PS5 and promoting it.
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It’s a bit much wen the console’s been out 2 years and the best exclusives are games that are years old!! Apart from FORZA Horizon 5 there’s been nothing. I said months ago Starfield would not release in 2022. And they can’t blame the pandemic! Sony also had a pandemic yet Playstation has numerous new games! MS are dropping the ball again like they did with the Xbox One. Great console but wat use is it with no games!!?
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@sjbsixpack You didn't really answer my question. Why are you in the comments section for an article about Xbox exclusives if you are only interested in promoting and talking about Playstation exclusives?
@Savage_Joe clearly
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There's some really good games on this list but they're mostly really old and i've sadly played everything I want to except Sable. (Was hoping that might be in PX Game Club)
@JayJ
I think there’s an element of insecurity attached to ‘exclusives’ in Gaming. It seems really important to some that they have something others don’t. I don’t get it personally.
I tried Quantum Break and just couldn’t get on with it. Not my style with the FMV scenes in it.
Rest of the list is pretty solid, but their are a ton of third party games to play too.
@sjbsixpack It is also a bonafide ‘fact’ that Sony delay's games too… so what’s your point?
@trev666 Yes it does, plus the next gen DLC free to Game Pass members.
@sjbsixpack Sony delayed games due to the pandemic too. Doesn’t matter if they have released as they were delayed.
People seem to be singling Xbox out here, yes it sucks games have been delayed, but Sony has delayed games just as much. I look at the third party titles still coming to Game Pass and am excited still, Atomic Heart? Yes please, plus a ton of other games I haven’t played.
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@sjbsixpack It is a direct comparison, it is a bit ignorant to claim otherwise. God Of War Ragnarock will probably be delayed till next year too as no gameplay, not even a screenshot or CGI has been shown for the game. It’s very comparable.
@sjbsixpack Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite, The Gunk, Phsyconauts 2, MS Flight Simulator, Gears. 5 Hivebusters, The Ascent was a timed exclusive, The Medium was too.
These are only just the ones I’ve played or can remember. Good lost here of what has and is coming http://news.xbox.com/en-us/2021/01/15/2021-xbox-exclusive-games/
So yeah just a few more then ‘one’… stop making things up, plenty has and is coming to the platform.
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@sjbsixpack So if a game is on PC it's not exclusive? Well only Nintendo have exclusive games then. Because Sonys games are on PC too... no, I am 100% sure of everything I said, all those games were exclusive or times exclusive but they weren't or aren't on Sony and Nintendo consoles. I've been enjoying all those Xbox exclusives over the last couple of years. Not sure why you think any different?
@sjbsixpack @sjbsixpack Didn't know they had made a CGI trailer for it, hmm 8 months ago and no release date. Is that all they've shown in 8 months? Yeah I think it could be delayed.
@sjbsixpack Good for them, I'm not watching a click bait video, I'm pretty certain I could link to one setting the total opposite, I have my own opinion and appreciate the facts the Xbox has had plenty of 'exclusive' games despite the impression you are trying to give. I await the other exclusives coming this year and what is announced at the E3 event.
@S1ayeR74 your acting as tho i’m hating on Xbox, i’m not. I have a Series X, my kids av Series S. It’s a fact tho MS av dropped the ball. Again. I’m not saying Flight Sim isn’t exclusive, i’m saying it isn’t a Series X exclusive, it’s an old game that was originally made for PC. Like i wouldn’t say Knights of the Old republic is a PS5 exclusive. Also some PS games come to PC, not all and they come out up to 4 years after release. God of War recently landed, Ragnorok is out in a few months.
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@electrolite77 I totally get what u r saying. I think some people almost make their console of choice part of their identity. That said, I think at least to a degree, you buy a console to play their exclusives. Granted, to some this might not matter as much, especially those who just buy one or two games a year like COD and Madden…..
recore is quite good xbox exclusive.. very underrated
@Arcnail for me Playstation exclusives are on another level. They’re more than just good games, the story, the acting, the immersion, the emotion, they really are incredible!! I own an love both the PS5 an XSX but like i said, PS exclusives are mind blowing. Like AAA Netflix series where you control an make decisions for the lead character.
@S1ayeR74 you were saying bout GoW Ragnarok??? 😆😆😆
@rhyno_888 I agree. Recore was definitely solid and underrated. For me, it was one of those memorable 7/10 tier games that built a foundation to what could’ve been a good franchise… if, y’know, it wasn’t more popular to bash Inafune than buy the game. At the risk of speaking heresy by most Xbox gamer standards, I’d personally take Recore over Gears any day.
Ouch, that hurts. Why remind us how limited they are? There's only a few worth playing to top it off.
For Fable 2, you write "the fictional land of Albion".
Albion is an antiquated name for Britain.
Thanks for all the recommendations!
Yikes... not a very compelling round-up
@Skedaddle Yep, some good shouts and we'll keep adding to this in the future. Rogue Legacy 2 isn't actually exclusive anymore - it's on Switch as of last week!
lost odyssey & blue dragon should have been put here
those two games are very underrated
Added a few more games to the list based on some recent releases. Keep your suggestions coming and we'll continue revising this throughout the year!
@FraserG Any chance of adding Recore?
@xanderten50 Never quite understood people's fascination with ReCore. Yes it had a great premise and started brilliantly, but it ran out of ideas very quickly and stayed on long after the gameplay mechanics were tired. One of the few games I really had to convince myself to finish.
A Metacritic of 63 on Xbox and 58 on PC doesn't suggest a classic even if you liked it.
@themightyant For the most part that's all true - I still need to go back and finish it myself! But with it being one of the few Xbox one exclusives, I thought it deserved a mention at least!
@xanderten50 Perhaps. But this is a list of the "Best Xbox exclusives" not "All Xbox exclusives" personally I think there is no need to include the more average games else this list will get very long and unmanageable.
Though i'd love a Recore sequel. There was enough in the idea that with a bit more work, care and attention it could be something great.
@themightyant that's possibly a little harsh - and by that logic you could already prune a few titles off (like State of Decay for starters), I just think it deserves a mention - especially since the definitive edition fixed several of the complaints from the launch version.
@xanderten50 Perhaps. Though personally I WOULD remove games like State of Decay 2 and High on Life off the list (games that reviewed in the 60s) as it just makes the "best of" list look worse. Quality over quantity.
I'd just have them listed as honourable niche mentions. i.e. "you might enjoy these". But I can understand others might have different views and we all like different things.
ReCore has been left off the list for now as there's a bit of debate about it, but it sounds like a good idea to add an "honourable mentions" section in the near future.
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You can revise the Rare Replay description with Goldeneye officially released now. Though it's bizarre it was never actually added to the Rare Replay menu, just associated via the Store page?
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@Jay J ???
This is actually a very decent list albeit with some previous gen exclusives but I skipped Xbox One completely so this current gen on Gamepass has been incredible value thus far. I'd argue Xbox has had more or at least better overall exclusives than Nintendo. The Switch has a handful of genre defining games which almost every owner erm, owns. Xbox is pretty solid though. PlayStation is consistently strong from generation to generation with a few hiccups here and there. It's a good time to be a gamer.
Ok list. Xbox One is my Forza 5-7 (don't like them as much as 1-4, 6 does not exist to me personally it's how I feel about GT7 just less terrible as GT7 is of GT5 fair design but so disgustingly tone deaf and wasted potential with a GT4 menu lying to players in marketing).
Sunset Overdrive (I know on PC but hey it's my 1 of 2 favourite open worlds beside Gravity Rush 1, a thing I don't like is open worlds so they are rare exceptions), ReCore and Rare Replay machine. All 3rd parties sand 1st parties are a bonus.
Gears is good yes. Halo 5 is fine not great. Quantum Break, Lucky's Tale are fair games. The other IPs I haven't experienced (Crackdown 3, State of Decay 1 or 2, the Ninja Theory multiplayer game I forget exists and saw for $2 one day and photographed) so not commenting on them really.
Even then OG/360 are more exciting to me (old entries especially and those left behind) first party western and Japanese games on those consoles.
One/Series are fine but eh.
Forza Horizon 5 on this list I don't know what to believe of fans or critics or fans ok with the game then those not.
NFS/Horizon/The Crew have some fine ideas/execution but I still even if I don't play open world racers do things their going weird directions business model, appeal to audiences outside the norm and otherwise.
While I stick to particular arcade/sim/futuristic/whatever else appeals of mostly old and very very few 'new' gen games in racing.
@FraserG
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
Age of Empires IV
Dead Rising 3
Halo Wars: Definitive Edition
Halo Wars 2
Pit People
Tell Me Why
The Gunk
Titanfall
I grew up playing HALO as one of my favorite games and I bought XSX because I miss my childhood.
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Valhiem is the only game I like from this list
@Skedaddle Nice suggestions! We'll add a few
This list is missing one of the best OG Xbox exclusives there ever was, with a metascore of 94, I am referring to Ninja Gaiden Black.
"But Blaine! Ninja Gaiden Sigma is available for PS and Patricia keeps crying blah blah blah"
Not the same! NG Black is only on the OG Xbox and vastly superior to every Ninja Gaiden game that came after it.
@FraserG The above comments are confusing as they no longer represent the article.
Why weren't new articles made per year, while linking back to previous articles?
For instance, comment #1 is about Sunset Overdrive, which is no longer listed within the article.
@Scummbuddy Sunset is definitely still there! It's just on page two.
@FraserG I apologize. I did not see that there were pages to this article. I see them now.
@Scummbuddy No worries!
Planet of Lana will be released on PS4/5 in Spring 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64wBNm_rIgQ
this list has highlighted some of the things that piss me of with xbox because they don't provide a choice,
grounded and hi-fi rush are both games i would buy and play if they had physical releases.
i enjoyed vermitide 2 solo offline and was hoping to have a go with Warhammer 40,000: Darktide but you need XBOXgold/live to use the game at all.
they want you to be subscribed to these services but not providing the options to play offline or buy discs makes it feel like blackmail and just sours the brand for me.
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