The 24 Biggest Upcoming Xbox Exclusives
The Xbox Series X|S has built up an impressive catalog of games since launching in 2020, but the coming months and years are bringing some of its biggest titles yet. Many of these will even be exclusive to Xbox: High on Life, Starfield, Forza Motorsport, and more will only be playable on Xbox consoles–and a number of them will be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch.
Whether youโre already an Xbox Series X|S owner or want to see what the future holds before picking one up, here are the 24 biggest upcoming Xbox exclusives. Keep in mind that many of these games will also be available on PC, just not other home consoles. And if you’re a Game Pass Ultimate member, you’ll be able to play some of these games on PC and perhaps even on your mobile device with Xbox Cloud Gaming for no extra charge.
While a handful of these games are dropping in 2022, most of them won’t launch until at least next year. Several of the most notable upcoming Xbox exclusives are years away. Regardless, the future looks bright for Microsoft when it comes to exclusives, in large part because of its acquisition of Bethesda and ZeniMax, which has opened the door for console exclusives from some of the most beloved franchises in gaming.
If you need something to play today, consider checking out our roundup of the best Xbox exclusives or the best Xbox games overall. Game Pass members should install some of our favorite Xbox Game Pass games. If you’re looking for a specific type of experience on Game Pass, we have roundups of the best Game Pass multiplayer games, FPS games, and open-world games.
Immortality – August 30
Immortality is an interactive movie from Sam Barlow–the mind behind Her Story. Youโll jump through three different movies, spanning more than three decades, as you unravel a chilling narrative that plays out through live-action scenes. Much of the game is shrouded in mystery, but it looks to be another novel concept from Barlow.
Grounded – September 27
Itโs been around for a while, but Grounded finally exits early access on September 27. The game sees you running around as a kid whoโs been shrunk down to the size of an insect, and youโll need to fend off hostile bugs, collect useful resources, and build a diminutive base in your backyard as you try to figure out how to get back to your normal size.
Scorn – October 2022
Scorn isnโt for the faint of heart. This first-person horror game will send you to a variety of nightmarish locations as you try to solve puzzles and learn more about the strange world youโre inhabiting. Ammo and weapons are scarce, and youโll need to pick your battles carefully if you want to survive every threat Scorn throws your way.
High on Life – October 25
Justin Roiland, co-creator of Rick and Morty, is responsible for High on Life–so it should come as no surprise that itโs filled with dark humor, a cast of colorful characters, and dialogue that sounds like it’s actually from Rick and Morty. Youโre tasked with saving the world from an intergalactic threat, using an arsenal of talking guns to help take down your foes. Itโs a wild concept, but one that looks like a breath of fresh air in a sea of gritty, military FPS games.
Pentiment – Fall 2022
Pentiment is an RPG thatโs inspired by historical manuscripts. The gameโs art style looks like something out of a history book, which perfectly fits its 16th-century Germany setting. When youโre not ogling its eye-catching graphics, youโll play as Andreas Maler–an artist who gets tangled up in a series of scandals, and itโll be up to you to get them out of trouble.
Warhammer 40K: Darktide – Late 2022/Early 2023
We donโt have a specific launch for Darktide on Xbox, but itโs expected to drop โshortly afterโ its PC release on November 30. The game is a cooperative adventure that sees you and three other players blasting your way through the city of Tertium as you discover a story that’ll continue to be told in the months following launch. If you loved Vermintide, this is one to keep your eyes on.
BattleCakes – TBA 2022
Adorable, colorful, and probably delicious. BattleCakes is a lighthearted adventure game that has you building your own pastry before heading out on a family-friendly, turn-based adventure to learn more about the revered BattleCakes. If youโre a pacifist, youโll be glad to know that most battles can actually be resolved using the โBefriendโ mechanic, which lets you turn your enemies into allies.
Planet of Lana – TBA 2022
Planet of Lana is a vibrant adventure game about preserving the sanctity of nature. Lana is under attack, and youโll need to solve a variety of puzzles, tackle a bunch of deadly platforming segments, and face off with nightmarish creatures as you fight to keep your world wild.
Hello Neighbor 2 – TBA 2022
Hello Neighbor 2 is looking to expand on the creepy stealth gameplay of the original, giving you an entire town to explore thatโs filled with mysteries. Every character you encounter will grow smarter based on your actions, and youโll need to outwit them if you want to figure out the town’s darkest secret.
Forza Motorsport – Spring 2023
Turn 10 is turning back the naming convention with the next entry in the iconic Forza Motorsport franchise. Rather than calling it Forza Motorsport 8, it’s simply Forza Motorsport. Early footage has looked nothing short of stunning. Five different tracks and 37 cars have been revealed, but there will surely be many more of each at launch. According to the developer, the game will offer drastically improved physics and a “dynamic time of day” feature to increase realism. Based on the footage so far, it certainly does seem like Forza Motorsport will be a big leap forward. With an expected Spring 2023 launch date, it shouldn’t be long before we learn more. In the meantime, check out our roundup of everything we know about Forza Motorsport.
Starfield – TBA 2023
Starfield is arguably the most anticipated Xbox game on the planet. It’s also the first new IP for Bethesda in more than two decades, although it looks to borrow heavily from Fallout–giving you a massive, sci-fi world to explore, unique factions to join, and tons of gear to collect. Best of all, itโll be available at launch on Xbox Game Pass. For more details, check out our roundup of everything we know about Starfield.
Redfall – TBA 2023
This open-world FPS throws you into a world infested by vampires and other supernatural beings. Youโll face off against them solo or with a squad, using unique abilities to help blast them into oblivion and reclaim the small town of Redfall. Seeing as itโs coming from the same team responsible for Dishonored and Prey, expect plenty of freedom to approach objectives as you see fit–and tons of environmental storytelling.
Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl – TBA 2023
Stalker 2 is a survival FPS thatโs built around player choice. Several endings are up for grabs, and how your tale ends is largely up to you. Youโll also have to contend with the need for sleep and food, along with the ever-present threat of radiation poisoning from your apocalyptic surroundings.
Ark II – TBA 2023
Gameplay footage of Ark II has yet to be released, but expect it to be another survival adventure filled with dinosaurs, gorgeous environments to explore, and… Vin Diesel. The game is a sequel to the original Ark and will once again give you a giant sandbox to play in and will take place on the planet of Arat. Beyond that, everything else is still under wraps.
Fable – TBA
A new Fable game is coming to Xbox Series X, but thatโs about all we know right now. It was first announced in 2020, although Xbox has been silent ever since. Hereโs hoping we get another glimpse at the highly anticipated title soon. For what little has been shared, check out everything we know about Fable.
Lab Rat – TBA
Lab Rat is a puzzle game featuring handcrafted levels and a satirical sense of humor. Youโll get to work through more than 80 puzzles, all while an AI machine is mocking you for your performance. Itโs a bizarre concept, but one that puzzle fans could get a lot of mileage out of.
State of Decay 3 – TBA
State of Decay 3 was revealed in 2020 and has been quiet since. The game will undoubtedly see a band of survivors fending off legions of undead foes, but Undead Labs just isnโt ready to give fans a closer look. At any rate, knowing another installment in the popular franchise is on the way should be more than enough for zombie enthusiasts.
Everwild – TBA
Everwild is a new IP from Rare (Sea of Thieves, Banjo-Kazooie), although the game has been eerily quiet over the past few years. Revealed in 2019, the game boasts some colorful graphics and tons of striking creatures–but thereโs no clear consensus on how Everwild will actually play. Itโs definitely one to keep your eye on, and hopefully we learn more in the not-too-distant future. Check out everything we know about Everwild.
The Outer Worlds 2 – TBA
The Outer Worlds 2 will take players to a new solar system filled with a fresh cast of characters, so you can likely enjoy it without playing the original. That said, we’d definitely recommend playing the first game before the sequel releases. And you have plenty of time to do that, as The Outer Worlds 2 doesn’t have a release window yet. It will likely feature the same quirky sense of humor, dozens of deadly weapons, and plenty of ways to customize your character.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II – TBA
Senuaโs visceral, emotional journey continues in Hellblade II. Early footage of the game has looked incredible, and the developer is hoping to make combat more engaging with increased enemy variety and enticing reasons to experiment with your playstyle.
The Elder Scrolls VI – TBA
We know little more than nothing about The Elder Scrolls VI. A teaser trailer was released for the game in 2018, but thatโs about all weโve seen (or heard) of the upcoming title. Itโs also not expected to launch for several years and is only in the โpre-productionโ phase of development. It will, however, be an Xbox exclusive.
Avowed – TBA
Avowed is a first-person RPG from Obsidian Entertainment–the studio behind The Outer Worlds, Fallout: New Vegas, and Alpha Protocol. It doesnโt have a release date and no gameplay footage has been revealed, but no doubt RPG fans should keep an eye on this upcoming title.
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 – TBA
Space Marine 2 is a third-person action game set in the beloved Warhammer universe. It follows Captain Titus as he fights to protect humanity against hordes of deadly monsters. The debut trailer from 2021 gave us a bit of gameplay, which showed our hero slicing through wave after wave of enemies and making use of some deadly firearms to pick them off from a distance.
Fallout 5 – TBA
Bethesda has confirmed that Fallout 5 is happening, but it wonโt drop until after Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6. In other words, itโs going to be years before you jump into a new post-apocalyptic adventure. While it hasn’t been explicitly announced as an Xbox/PC exclusive, with Starfield and Elder Scrolls VI being exclusive, it’s hard to imagine Fallout 5 coming to PlayStation.