Over the past two decades, Microsoft has turned the Xbox brand into a veritable juggernaut in the console gaming world. The Xbox Series X and Series S, the combined fourth generation of the Xbox, have sold over 21 million units. The Xbox One, which was still supported until 2023, sold over 58 million units worldwide.
As Microsoft shifts its focus toward supporting console and PC gamers alike with the Game Pass subscription service, there's never been a larger ecosystem of Xbox consoles to choose from.
The future of the Xbox seems more than ever to rest in the hands of game developers, as original intellectual properties like Scorn and Pentiment become just as important as fan-favorite franchises such as Halo and Gears of War. If more of this year's Xbox exclusives follow in the footsteps of 2024 releases like Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, that future is sure to be bright.
CNET curated this list of the best games you can buy right now, including entries for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S and PC Game Pass.
Best Xbox Series X/S Games of August 2025
Bethesda Doom: The Dark Ages In this prequel to 2016's reboot of the Doom franchise, you'll discover why exactly the only thing the demons fear is the Doom Slayer. Doom: The Dark Ages is a planet-hopping adventure that embraces heavy metal tropes by going full medieval. The Doom Slayer blasts through the feudal fantasy planet Argent D'Nur, the circles of hell and realms beyond human comprehension in order to stop the demon prince Ahzrak from overrunning mankind. Along the way, you'll pick up a new arsenal of weapons including bone shrapnel launchers, spike-firing rifles and more. A chainsaw-bladed shield slices through enemies and parries crushing blows, while the inclusion of dedicated melee weapons (including a massive flail and mace) changes the flow of combat. Players are encouraged to get up close and personal with demons instead of kiting around the outside of arenas in Doom: The Dark Ages. This game isn't Doom 2016 or Doom Eternal, but it isn't trying to be. It's an entirely new power fantasy that makes the player feel like a fast-moving tank as they cut a swath through the battlefield. Release Date: May 15, 2025
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC
Genre: Medieval first-person shooter with a rhythmic flow of combat
Developer: id Software $49 at Amazon $50 at Best Buy
Obsidian Entertainment Avowed Obsidian Entertainment's 2025 fantasy game, Avowed, is a choice-filled first-person action RPG that takes place in the same universe as the studio's popular isometric RPG Pillars of Eternity. The world of Eora is full of thrills and danger that's perfect for newcomers and veterans alike. The studio's "depth over breadth" mentality has once again bred a game that plays out differently for each player. As an envoy from the Aedyr Empire, you arrive in the Living Lands to root out the source of an illness known as the "dream scourge." But after being struck down by rebels and revived by a mysterious deity, players are free to carry on however they please. You can continue serving the empire, join the rebels or solve the plague. The world is your oyster. If you just want to start beating down on some reptilian Xaurips, you'll have a blast with that too. Avowed lets players engage in classic first-person hack-and-slash gameplay, but you aren't limited to swordfighting. Bows, spells and rudimentary firearms augment your arsenal, and you can choose to specialize in certain skill trees to become a powerful wizard, a stealthy ranger or something else entirely. If you enjoy other RPGs from developer Obsidian Entertainment, such as Fallout: New Vegas or The Outer Worlds, it's well worth giving Avowed a try. This game includes the same multi-solution, morally complex problems that have made other Obsidian games fan-favorites many years after they were released. Release Date: Feb. 13, 2025
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