The best free Xbox Series X games | Digital Trends (2024)

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Overwatch 2

Overwatch 2 makes a few big tweaks to the original’s formula (such as a new 5v5 format), but returning players should immediately feel right at home. Every playable character from the old game is still playable, along with many of its maps. You’ll also get to experiment with a few new characters and a PvE mode that’s expected to drop sometime in 2023. Whether you’re a returning player or new to the franchise, Overwatch 2 is definitely worth checking out — especially since it’s free.

PUBG: Battlegrounds

The first game to put the battle royale genre on the map was PUBG: Battlegrounds, but it ended up giving away its No. 1 spot to Fortnite mainly due to it being a PC exclusive. Thankfully, it didn’t stay that way forever and you can now jump into one of the most hardcore games in the genre on your Series X. While that original version felt unstable and more like a mod, the game has been steadily improving and adding content for several years. It follows the same basic rules of the genre, but has a much more realistic sim style to it where aiming, shooting, moving, and getting hit all have far more weight than in other games.

MultiVersus

MultiVersus is essentially the Warner Bros. version of Super Smash Bros. Instead of playing as Link, Mario, Kirby, and Pikachu, you’ll get to pummel your opponents into oblivion as Batman, Shaggy, Bugs Bunny, Arya Stark, and tons of other familiar faces from the Warner Bros. catalog. Each character offers their own unique skillset to master, and with plenty of updates planned for the future, now is a great time to check out the free fighting game.

The Sims 4

With The Sims 5 officially in development, you can now access The Sims 4 base game for free. You’ll get to customize your character, build your dream home, and determine how your Sim spends their day. The level of detail is truly staggering, with hundreds of available items giving you endless ways to personalize your playstyle.

Fall Guys

Although it’s not nearly as popular as it was at launch, Fall Guys is still an incredibly fun game. The quirky battle royale has you racing through obstacle courses and participating in other wild game modes in an attempt to outperform the competition and advance to the next round. Colorful graphics, impressive level design, and the adorable bean-shaped main characters make it hard not to crack a smile while playing — even if you’re one of the first eliminated.

Halo Infinite

Although Halo Infinite‘s campaign is a premium experience, its multiplayer offering is entirely free. The gameplay somehow manages to blend old-school mechanics with modern convenience, and fans of the series will no doubt find a lot to love about the new entry in the series. Aside from the standard offering of both casual and ranked play, there’s also a surprisingly massive Battle Pass that provides you with plenty of incentive for diving into another match. Unlocking new tiers takes quite a while — but 343 Industries said you’ll be able to unlock the rewards even after the current season ends.

Fortnite

It should come as no surprise, but Fortnite is available for free on Xbox Series X. The battle royale is a perennial favorite and comes with a host of upgrades on next-gen consoles — including improved graphics and performance. Constant updates, a robust creative mode, and crossovers with popular franchises such as Marvel and Star Wars have kept players coming back for years. Fortnite‘s future is incredibly bright, and one of the best ways to experience the colorful mayhem is on your new Xbox Series X.

Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0

If you like your battle royales with a bit more grit, skip out on Fortnite and dive right into Warzone 2.0. Featuring the same fast-paced combat you’ll find in the best Call of Duty games, Warzone adds in a massive world to explore, deep progression, and the unique 1v1 Gulag mechanic. Warzone is always experimenting with new modes, giving you a reason to dive back into the frenetic action. There’s also an intriguing story that plays out in the background, as new sections of the map are unlocked and you learn more about the struggle taking place on the battlefield.

Killer Instinct

There are very few free fighting games out there, and Xbox has one of the best in Killer Instinct. This was originally a launch title and one of the best Xbox One games, but it has been kept alive on the Series X as a free-to-play game. Now, this game does have a slight asterisk since the free version doesn’t give you access to everything, mainly DLC characters and such, but there’s more than enough free content to know if you’re into it enough to put any cash down.

Warframe

Warframe is a third-person shooter that is best played with a few friends. While it’s entirely possible to grind through the main campaign solo, teaming up with a few other Tenno makes for a much better experience as you coordinate attacks and shoot your way through hordes of enemies. With customizable characters, upgradeable weapons, and a surprisingly deep endgame, Warframe is a free-to-play game that’ll easily get you hundreds of hours of entertainment. If you get hooked, dropping a few dollars will let you expand your inventory and quickly unlock alternate characters.

Apex Legends

There’s no shortage of great battle royales on Xbox Series X — but Apex Legends is more than worthy of your attention. The squad-based shooter can be enjoyed without dropping a dime, although passionate fans can crack open their wallets to unlock new skins and cosmetic upgrades. Developed by the same people responsible for Titanfall, Apex Legends offers a level of mobility not seen in other shooters. Clamber up walls, slide down hills, and build momentum as you hurtle toward the next circle. Its tight shooting and impressive cast of characters offer a deep level of strategy, and its ever-evolving story keeps you interested in their struggle.

Rocket League

Rocket League recently switched to a free-to-play model, bringing high-flying soccer action to the masses. Pick a car, trick it out with decals, wheels, and toppers, then head to the pitch and try to ram a massive soccer ball into the other team’s goal. It sounds bizarre — and no doubt it is — but it’s probably the most fun you’ll have with a free game. Like many free-to-play titles, Rocket League offers cosmetic upgrades as a premium purchase. But rest assured that spending money won’t give anyone the upper hand — they might look fancy, but those cosmetics won’t make them a better player.

Destiny 2

Destiny 2 is already a fantastic game, but it’s even better on Xbox Series X thanks to its next-gen update. Jump into the free game on your new console and you’ll be able to run it with a 4K resolution at up to 120 frames per second. The game also loads much faster than it did on last-gen consoles, letting you skip those lengthy load times between missions. While much of the game is available for free, there’s a bunch of excellent premium content available if you’re willing to spend a few bucks.

SMITE

It’s not as popular as Dota 2 or League of Legends, but Smite is among the best MOBAs available on Xbox Series X. It’s also a free-to-play title, so there’s no reason to not give it a try. Although it was first released in 2014, Smite has seen constant updates and content patches — and has a surprisingly active fanbase. While many of the MOBA tropes are present in Smite, things play out from a third-person perspective as opposed to the usual isometric, top-down view. This brings you up close to the action and offers a fun twist on the genre you won’t see in many other games.

Lego Fortnite

Despite what the name suggests, this isn’t just Fortnite with a Lego skin slapped on it. Instead of a battle royal, Lego Fortnite is a survival game very much like Minecraft. You will spawn into a world as your own little Lego person and need to explore, gather resources, and build new buildings and equipment to survive. It is a more chill and friendly game than some of the other best survival games, but that’s what makes it such a fun time. It’s a great alternative to those other, more stressful experiences.

Splitgate

Splitgate takes the tight gunplay of Halo and melds it with Portal. Whether you’re using the system to quickly traverse the map or sneak up on unsuspecting foes, there’s no doubt it adds another layer of strategy to Splitgate. What started out as a niche indie game quickly ballooned in popularity, as players flocked to the game due to its unabashedly old-school design. Tons of new content has been added over the past few months — and all of it is available on Xbox Series X for free. Microtransactions are present, but they’re largely for cosmetic items and have no bearing on your in-game performance.

Roblox

Believe it or not, Roblox is actually one of the most successful games on the planet. The world-building sandbox managed to pull in around $1 billion several years in a row, and it shows no sign of slowing down. Roblox gives players the freedom to build their own virtual worlds and hang out with friends around the globe. The possibilities are nearly endless with the game, and players have created everything from simulated governments to simple concert venues. Think of Roblox as a virtual Lego set, and you wouldn’t be far from the truth.

Brawlhalla

A platform that draws inspiration from Super Smash Bros, Brawlhalla pits up to eight fighters against each other in fast-paced, 2D combat. Cross-platform play makes it easy to join up with friends on other consoles — and since the game is free, there are always thousands of brawlers ready for a battle. Cosmetic microtransactions allow the game to remain a free-to-play experience, and a premium battle pass offers plenty of rewards for your hard work. Mastering the game is a challenge, but the basics are easy enough to learn so that anyone can have a bit of fun with this arcade fighter.

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