Microsoft plans to merge gaming on Xbox with Windows 10. As an example, you can sign up for “Xbox Game Pass for PC”, a monthly subscription service purchased standalone, or as part of the “Xbox Game Pass Ultimate” service. It allows you to download 100+ top Xbox games on your PC and play them via Xbox Game Bar as long as you keep paying. Moreover, the Xbox Cloud Gaming service allows streaming Xbox games to PC or Mac via browser. Finally, many titles are released on both PC and Xbox. Therefore, our list of the best games for Xbox on PC has a little bit of everything.
1. Overwatch
Overwatch is the best FPS Blizzard game and winner of “Game of the Year” at The Game Awards in 2016, among other things. It’s also an incredibly addictive multiplayer game featuring 32 distinct playable characters, and during gameplay, pins 2 teams of 6 players each against each other. The goals are pre-defined – attacking and defending objectives, defending a payload, collecting points, and most importantly, killing the opponents. It’s fast-paced and maps are limited and have an abundance of cramped spaces. Therefore, clashes are strongly encouraged. inevitable, and almost ever-occurring.
2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt took the runner-up position among the top Xbox games for PC. Besides winning “Game of the Year” at The Game Awards in 2015, it also topped our rundown of top warrior PC games. The game is single-player only and features the story of Geralt of Rivia, a member of the human-like race named the Witchers. They’re known and feared for their distinctive yellow eyes, superb swordsmanship skills, and magic abilities. The game is about exploring the massive open-world, slaying disfigured creatures and horrible humans, and finding a child prophecy foretold.
3. Grand Theft Auto V
You must’ve heard about Grand Theft Auto V, an action-adventure game available for solo playing under the eponymous game, or multiplayer via Grand Theft Auto Online. Both games are held in high regard for their graphics, available weaponry, car park, free-roam open world, an active modding scene, and a long but immersive storyline. To us, the 3 protagonists, Franklin, Michael, and Trevor are the game’s strongest suit. Not only can you switch between them, but they often meet and interact, and each has a unique ability useful during missions. We’re talking slow-motion driving (Franklin), bullet-time slowdown (Michael), and rage-induced invulnerability (Trevor).
4. Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is both one of the leading Xbox PC games and holder of spot #2 on the “top Rockstar games” list. The setting is the American Frontier, e.g., the Wild West, and you’ll play as both Arthur Morgan and John Marston (from Red Dead Redemption). The open world is incredibly intricate, the graphics are gorgeous, and you’ll switch between first and third-person perspectives seamlessly. Besides revolvers, there’s a host of firearms, explosives, throwables, and horses to tame and ride. Finally, you’ll walk the line between honor and indignity thanks to the game’s Wanted system.
5. Halo: The Master Chief Collection
You must’ve known Halo: The Master Chief Collection would make its way among the top Xbox PC games. It’s actually a compilation of 6 Halo games, from Halo: Reach to Halo 4 (2019-2020). The package contains 120+ multiplayer maps, 4 single-player campaign modes with 4 difficulty levels, and 67 unique campaign missions. As for genre, the games fall somewhere between first-person shooter and action–adventure. Additionally, the community actively utilizes the game’s Map Editor software and creates custom maps and game modes. Finally, the developers are consistently releasing updates.
6. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a critically acclaimed action-adventure game. Is the fact it won “Game of the Year” at 2019 The Game Awards proof enough? You’ll play as Wolf, a master samurai/shinobi, seeking to enact revenge on an enemy clan that kidnapped his lord. It goes without saying a lot of violence, sword-slashing, and ninja-like movements are a key part of gameplay, too. However, the game allows for playstyle changes and occasionally encourages you to switch to a stealth game to avoid patrols and enemies inside camps. Your lord, if saved, and your life will thank you.
7. Forza Horizon 4
Forza Horizon 4 not only landed the top spot on our rundown of the top paid games for PC, but its prequel dominated the car racing games genre too. Set into a fictional environment heavily inspired by the Great Britain scenery, it allows you to drive 670+ licensed vehicles, from slow and heavy to lightweight/tuned-up sports cars. Moreover, there’s an online and offline mode, so you get to decide which type of playstyle appeals to you. If you get bored of the default game (which you most likely won’t), there’s a Route Creator, a utility for making and editing in-game races.
8. Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Shadow of the Tomb Raider continues where the prequel, Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015) left off. You star as Lara Croft, a renowned and female protagonist with an interest in archaeology and survival. The goal? Solve puzzles, investigate the unpredictable and often lethal parts of the jungle, and fight off humans wandering about and wild animals alike. The game intertwines direct assaults with sneaking around and avoiding falling into traps. Furthermore, it’s undoubtedly among the most breathtaking 3D games. In fact, many gamers use it to calibrate HDR settings on monitors and TVs.
9. DOOM Eternal
DOOM Eternal (2020), like its predecessor, Doom (2016), has both a single-player and multi-player mode. What’s more, you’re playing as Doom Slayer, a space marine with various physical and mental enhancements, again. Unsurprisingly, your goal is again to prevent the Earth takeover by gruesome monsters sent straight from the gates of Hell. They’re led by Maykr, a top-level alien with a master plan to do away with humanity. The game features an easy mode when you need to blow off some steam. However, its Nightmare game mode will truly test your reflexes and shooting and survival skills.
10. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare from 2019 is among the most influential gun games in existence, primarily because its missions are undoubtedly engaging, challenging, and intense. You’ll play as Captain John Price, Sergeant John ‘Soap’ MacTavish, and a few other eligible characters and constantly utilize sophisticated weapons and advanced military technology. Besides shooting accuracy, success also lies in timing. Case in point – coordinating strikes on air or land that can wipe the environment and enemies alike. The game also has a multiplayer mode, if friends want to join in.
11. Fallout 4
Fallout 4 is one of the best-known Bethesda Xbox games for PC. It’s perhaps the best game they’ve made, too. Your immersion will begin from the first second since you get to customize your character fully. Once you start playing, you’ll emerge from a doomsday shelter into a dystopian setting of Commonwealth in the year 2287. What you’ll quickly discover is that you’re the sole human survivor, and you only have a German Shepherd pet named Dogmeat, following you around. Your task is to start going on missions to gather resources, dismantle constructions and bases, and use them to craft weapons, armor, drugs, and new bases.
12. Dark Souls 3
Dark Souls 3, although not an FPS and without a multi-player mode, is similar to DOOM Eternal. It tells the story of a hero too and tests your attack and defense skills, speed, survival instinct, and the ability to spot and remember monsters’ movement and attack patterns. Likewise, it will test your patience and the ability to remain calm because like in DOOM Eternal, you’ll die repeatedly. Nothing is in your favor, actually. The creatures on the way will weaken and slow you down. In contrast, the main bosses are ginormous, quick, cunning, and will wipe the floor with you after one wrong step.
13. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain takes place 9 years after the events of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Heroes. As expected, you’ll walk the fine line between action and stealth, as a member of the “Metal Gear Solid Team”. Only this time, instead of rarely seeing him as a medic in MGSV: GH, you’ll play as Venom Snake throughout the game. The game has an open-world concept and realistic day/night change and a variety of weather conditions, most notably sandstorms. You’ll also get to ride a horse (D-Horse), and have a loyal companion a dog named D-Dog, whose eye is gouged out like yours.
14. Gears 5
Gears 5 is the 6th game in the Gears of War series and continued the story of Gears of War 4 a few months later. It’s a third-person shooter, and besides single-player mode, you can play with 2 more players via online co-op or split-screen. As for gameplay, you’ll take the role of Kait Diaz, who is of Locust descent. Because she knows very little about her heritage, her goal is to uncover the origins of her race and her family history. Additionally, there are 5 distinctive game modes you can play independently: Campaign, Escape, Versus, Map Builder, and Horde.
15. Battlefield 1
Battlefield 1, published by EA and developed by DICE, marks the 15th game in the Battlefield series. It’s set in World War 1 and is widely praised for its solo campaign, visual appeal, and soundtrack. The single-player campaign puts lets you assume some of the prominent WW1 personalities. Some examples are Lawrence of Arabia, an Arab assassin, Danny Edwards, a British Mark V Tank driver, a pilot, and many others. Multiplayer servers allow playing 32 vs. 32 player battle and game modes such as Capture the Flag, Capture Objectives, Release War Pigeons, etc.
16. Sea of Thieves
Sea of Thieves stands out for 2 primary single-player campaigns and 11 distinct tales – everything a pirate games aficionado needs. The graphics are outstanding, and its open-world is expansive and intricate, providing an immersive environment (concealed islands, uncharted waters) and objects (lost artifacts and shipwrecks). Moreover, completing quests, building your character’s skills and talents, and exploring will occupy 30+ hours of your playtime. Multi-player mode adds PvP combat, and the game publisher’s live service swore to continuously update the game.
17. Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is an action RPG video game based on the lore from J.R.R. Tolkien’s collection of in-world legends named Legendarium. You’ll play as Talion, a warrior whose strong suits include his fighting skills and tendency to kill opponents with ease. As is common with Tolkien’s stories, there’s magic. Coming straight from Talion, in fact! He returned from the dead as Wraith and shares his body with an elf spirit. The spirit, named Celebrimbor, grants him undead magical powers and enhanced physical prowess.
18. Final Fantasy XV
Final Fantasy XV is one of the best action-adventure RPGs among Xbox games for PC. It also has a multiplayer game mode and anime PC game visual style. What’s more, it was deliberately created to be a fantasy game based on reality – its creatures and locations are based on the real world. The gameplay features the open-world of Eos, the conquering empire of Niflheim, and the Lucian royal family whose magical Crystal was stolen. You’ll play as Noctis Lucis Caelum, heir to the Lucian family. Your motivation lies in fighting back and acquiring the Crystal and the rightful throne again.
19. Dishonored 2
Dishonored 2 was poorly optimized at launch. Luckily, those problems are gone, and the game now runs well. It also received visual improvements, and even features 2 separate storylines, with Corvo (Dishonored protagonist) and, Emily. If you played the prequel, you know what both games are about – a mixture of action, adventure, and stealth. We also love fighting AI – it’s tireless, reflexively responds to attacks and defenses, and never lets you off easy on any of the harder game difficulties.
20. Darksiders III
We’re finishing our deep dive into Xbox games for PC with a horror game set in the post-apocalyptic world with elements of Christian literature. We’re referring to Seven Deadly Sins and their loyal servants in the form of monsters. You’ll play as Fury, and your task is using your magical and physical abilities and moves to rid the Earth of these horrid beasts. Besides gaining a variety of swords, daggers, flails, and bombs, you’ll explore the open world as time goes on. Additionally, every enemy you kill drops a soul, which you can then loot and use as in-game currency.