It’s no secret that many of the best Xbox Series X games are shooters. The console was built on Halo, after all, and is still home to all the great FPS franchises. That isn’t all the console has to offer since you also have a large selection of open-world games and RPGs for Series X now, but shooters just feel more at home on Xbox. Since its launch, the library of FPS titles has grown to a level where there are almost too many great options to play them all. If you get hooked on one of the best multiplayer games on the Xbox Series X especially, you may miss out on tons of other great upcoming Xbox Series X games. These are all the best FPS games you can boot up right now.
Alternatively, if you prefer your competitive games a bit more old-school, you can check out the best fighting games for Xbox Series X or best co-op games on Xbox Series X.
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Halo Infinite
86%
4/5
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter
Developer
343 Industries
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios
Release
November 15, 2021
After a rocky launch, Halo Infinite is at the level of quality you would expect from such an important franchise. You can trust that Microsoft and 343 made sure Halo Infinite was optimized for the Series X, so expect a smoother frame rate and better graphics than ever before, including support for 4K, HDR10, Dolby Atmos, and more. This Halo also supports a more open-world map concept that allows for a greater amount of exploration and more dynamic missions. Plus, the multiplayer brings back the arena-style gameplay from the original trilogy — there’s even console keyboard and mouse support included, so get ready to get competitive.
Apex Legends
78%
4/5
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Respawn Entertainment
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Release
February 04, 2019
Apex Legends stealth released as a new battle royale right when the market seemed to be overflowing with games attempting to cash in on the craze. However, coming from the talented team that brought us the criminally overlooked Titanfall series, Apex Legends brings a fresh take on the formula that propelled it to one of the genre’s best. Characters have unique skills like hero shooters, and the game is built around squads of three players with fast-paced action. While not quite at the level of a Titanfall, movement in Apex Legends is fast, fluid, and adrenaline-pumping. This is also where the ping system first showed up, which was quickly copied by all other big BR titles after it.
Overwatch 2
65%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher
Blizzard Entertainment
Release
October 04, 2022
If you want a traditional hero shooter, there’s no alternative to Overwatch 2. This sequel is really more just a large expansion to the first game since everything from that game has carried over here. Every single hero released for the first game has made a comeback, plus a few new ones with more on the way. Each role and character is fully unique and has uses in every match, giving you tons of heroes to experiment with and find your favorite. If you’ve got a solid group of friends to party up with, there are not many games out there as fun to play as Overwatch 2.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
81%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows)
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
GSC Game World
Publisher
GSC Game World
Release
November 20, 2024
If you take the best elements from Fallout and crank up the lethality of the world and survival aspects, you start to get an idea of what Stalker 2 is going for. This is a massive immersive sim experience set in the radioactive Zone where factions of humans do whatever it takes to survive, including you. You won’t be leveling up or getting super weapons here, but fumbling to unjam your rifle and constantly juggling resources in your limited inventory. If you like hardcore games that reward careful play, critical thinking, and responds dynamically to your actions, don’t sleep on Stalker 2.
GoldenEye 007
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Code Mystics
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios
Release
January 26, 2023
This is a little bit of a nostalgia pick, but so many shooter fans out there were thrilled when GoldenEye 007 got an official Xbox Series X port. This was one of the first real FPS games people got addicted to on consoles and, while clearly dated, holds up as a fantastic time capsule and artifact of how the genre evolved. The single-player is still tons of fun, and playing split-screen matches is clearly unbalanced but great for some casual battles. Even if you missed out on it in the glory days, you owe it to yourself to see what made this game so appealing back in the day.
Neon White
86%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter, Platform, Indie, Visual Novel
Developer
Ben Esposito
Publisher
Annapurna Interactive
Release
June 16, 2022
We’ve talked about fast and slow FPS titles, but Neon White is the only one that makes speed running a core component. The game is set in various stages that almost feel more like puzzles than arenas. Your goal is to dispatch every demon in the level and reach the end as fast as possible using Soul Cards. These can be used either as weapons or discarded for a one-time ability. Thoughtfully using your cards to get through the stage in a perfect flow requires a lot of planning and tight execution but comes with a massive sense of accomplishment when you beat your best times.
Resident Evil Village
84%
3/5
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia, PlayStation VR2
Genre
Shooter, Adventure
Developer
Capcom Development Division 1
Publisher
Capcom
Release
May 07, 2021
Not all FPS games are pure power fantasies, which we first learned with Resident Evil 7. Resident Evil Village, the next mainline installment in the massive and enduring survival horror franchise, continues that FPS experience but is tuned slightly more on the action side of things. Don’t get it twisted, though, this game will scare you. It’s just that you also have plenty of opportunities to relieve some of that stress by blasting some werewolves and other creatures of the night. It’s an incredibly well-designed experience, with action, puzzles, and, of course, scares. You’ll get lost in this one and love every second of it.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
67%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Tactical
Developer
Infinity Ward
Publisher
Activision
Release
November 16, 2022
If you love the battle royale genre but wish for a more fine-tuned version, we highly recommend Warzone 2.0. It’s somewhere between popular battle royale games like Apex Legends and traditional CoD gameplay, with a combat arena that can hold up to 100 players. The support for 120 frames per second will work well with a high-quality TV and the Series X, too. Best of all, the game is free to download, so you don’t lose anything by trying it out.
Metal: Hellsinger
78%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One
Genre
Shooter, Music, Adventure
Developer
The Outsiders
Publisher
Level Infinite, Funcom
Release
September 15, 2022
If you ever wondered what Doom would look like as a rhythm game, look no further than Metal Hellsinger. It has all the gory, metal visuals of the modern Doom games but forces you to shoot to the beat to be effective. That might sound like it gets in the way of the action, but the two ideas blend beautifully together into a symphony of blood, guts, and heavy metal guitar riffs.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
75%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher
Activision
Release
October 25, 2024
We would also be remiss to ignore the more traditional Call of Duty experience, which is at its best with Black Ops 6. This the the best complete package the series has had in years, with a fantastic campaign, thrilling and addictive Zombies mode, and revamped multiplayer that is faster and more dynamic than ever thanks to the new omnimovement system. The core multiplayer modes, maps, and progression are back to what made the franchise great in the first place and is sure to win back any lost fans.
Starfield
72%
3.5/5
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release
September 06, 2023
While it isn’t a traditional FPS in the way you think, Starfield is absolutely worthy of including on this list. The feel of the gunplay isn’t on par with Call of Duty, but it makes up for it with the world and RPG systems you use them in. You can wield all kinds of weapons, from regular ballistics to lasers, with unique ones with special properties hidden behind quests. There’s also an extensive modding system so you can fully tweak your weapons to your liking. If nothing else, getting into a gunfight in zero gravity is such a novel experience that it is worth playing just to see for yourself.
Valorant
74%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Tactical
Developer
Riot Games
Publisher
Riot Games
Release
June 02, 2020
Most people never thought Valorant would end up on consoles, but somehow it managed to make the jump and is instantly one of our favorites on the platform. This game has been out on PC for a while and was already massively popular for blending hero shooter elements with the tactical, round-based rhythm of a game like Counter-Strike. It all works wonderfully on a controller and is just as intense and rewarding on Xbox if you can get into the mindset of playing slow, choosing your shots, and working as a team.
Superhot
77%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter, Puzzle, Tactical, Indie
Developer
SUPERHOT Team
Publisher
IMGN.PRO, SUPERHOT Team
Release
February 25, 2016
For the most part, shooters are all about reflexes and aim. Superhot doesn’t require those as much as it does critical thinking and foresight. In this game, time only moves when you do so you are free to pause, assess a situation, and enact the perfect plan to dodge incoming fire, grab a weapon, pick off targets, and navigate the level. Most people think of the game more as a first-person puzzle game that just so happens to have guns, which isn’t a bad way to describe it. Regardless, it is incredibly fun if a bit short.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
81%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter, Tactical
Developer
Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher
Ubisoft Entertainment
Release
December 01, 2015
Optimized for Series X and ready to go, Rainbow Six Siege is focused on 5v5 action with a long list of different “operators” to choose from, each with their own tools and loadouts depending on what you prefer to play. Find the abilities you like best, from traps and drones to infrared vision and more. It’s a great pick if you like the idea of multiplayer games like Overwatch 2, but prefer games with more realistic shooting experiences. Rainbow Six Siege continues to be updated with new operators and events, although it does have a credits system you’ll need to use if you want to purchase lots of add-ons or cosmetics.
Far Cry 6
73%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter, Adventure
Developer
Ubisoft Toronto
Release
October 07, 2021
If you’ve played a Far Cry game before, Far Cry 6 isn’t going to change your mind on how you feel about the series. However, if you know you enjoy the formula of these open-world FPS titles, then Far Cry 6 will check all your boxes. It features a vast, beautiful world to explore with tons of collectibles, quests, guns, and fun interactions to be had. You can do things at your own pace, either alone or in co-op, and just generally have a great time with all the toys the game gives you. The new location is also extremely detailed and a blast to shoot your way through.
DOOM Eternal
85%
4.5/5
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter
Developer
id Software
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release
March 20, 2020
It’s a very good thing that Doom Eternal is optimized for the Series X, because it’s a blast to play and even more fun with graphics and frame-rate improvements. The phrase “mindless fun” applies to a lot of Doom’s blast-away gameplay, but it’s not all mindless — you have to master the flow of killing and ripping apart enemies to harvest more health and energy. Don’t stop fighting if you want to survive. Mastering an increasing roster of weapons is also a challenge of its own. If you haven’t played before, note that between blasting demons, Eternal has a bit more platforming than many of the other picks on our list.
Destiny 2
74%
3.5/5
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Tactical, Adventure
Developer
Bungie
Publisher
Activision
Release
September 06, 2017
Destiny 2 is optimized for Series X — and beyond the graphics boost that will make it more fun than ever to jump, soar, cast, shoot, and smash, the Series X also helps with the game’s loading times, which can get a little depressing on older, slower systems. There’s a ton to do in Destiny 2 if you haven’t played yet, so make sure you grab a buddy to help fill in the details and explain all the space magic, or make friends with others in the Tower.
