Xbox Series X Games Showcase - what you need to know

Microsoft has revealed 10 world premiere and 22 launch exclusives for the upcoming next-gen console Xbox Series X due later this year. We can also look forward to over 100 titles by the end of this year with game upgrades through Smart Delivery. Here is a quick breakdown of all the games we can look forward to on Xbox Series X and Xbox Game Pass.

Halo Infinite - Master Chief is back as a launch title exclusive to usher in this next generation of games. Travel aboard a new Halo ring in this open world style gameplay that breaks the traditional mold of its legacy. This was the only game to show actually gameplay footage and you can see the difference the Xbox Series X is bringing to the table.

State of Decay 3 - The latest installment follows a new lead character following the events of the 2018 sequel game. Infected animals and a woodland setting can make this an interesting game.

Forza Motorsport - With every new console comes a new racing game. No surprise that Forza looks good as this will serve as good tech demo for what the Xbox Series X can bring with ray-tracing technology.

Everwild - A new IP from Rare shows a companionship beaten humans, animals and nature. Explore the exotic world with your human and animal friends in this very stylized game, similar to Journey on the PS3.

Tell Me Why - From the creators of Life is Strange, Dontnod brings another story driven game about a pair of siblings who can view their past through traumatic feelings. This game had been announced prior and will have its first episode available on August 27th.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps - Moon Studios will bring us an updated version of this game which will feature 4K 120fps for the Xbox Series X.

The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon - Explore the Gorgon comet in this brand new adventure. Private Division gives us this DLC expansion that’s due September 9th.

Grounded - Obsidian Entertainment bring this backyard creator from watching Honey, I Shrunk the Kids one-too many times. Traverse your own backyard and fight off bugs, spiders, and ants as you survive your way back home. A beta will be released on July 28th for Xbox and Steam and will allow players to provide feedback before a proper launch.

Avowed - Obsidian Entertainment brings the action in this short trailer that looks to be their own take on the Elder Scrolls gameplay. After making a colorful splash with The Outer Worlds, this new IP looks to provide the next big thing that will get people to purchase an Xbox Series X console.

As Dusk Falls - Interior/Night brings an original interactive drama game with a unique art style. The watercolor look definitely makes this game stand out amongst this crowded field, but the story will be the make-it or break-it weight of this game.

Hellblade 2 - You can head over to Ninja Theory on YouTube right now to see a behind the scenes look at their research into the game from when they visited Iceland.

Psychonauts 2 - Double Fine is getting psychedelic with this sequel as it explores the mindscape and things get funky. Jack Black accompanies this game with music and lyrics with a possible cameo. Prepare to trip balls as Psychonauts 2 Psychedelic Boolagoo keeps things unconventional in a topsy turvy way.

Destiny 2 Beyond Light - Bungie's newest installment will be releasing November 10th and will be compatible with the new Smart Delivery feature. You can move your progress forward to the next console and get access to all DLC via Xbox Game Pass. They also teased the ability to play on your mobile device, so that could be a thing to get players back into the game.

Stalker 2 - a launch title game sees this sequel explore even more unexplained areas. As the first game sent you through the abandoned Chernobyl, expect this sequel to keep the strange and paranormal aesthetic.

Warhammer 40,000 Darktide - Fat Shark and War Hammer bring the next iteration of the table top game to next-gen consoles in 2021. I don't know much about the Warhammer 40K series beyond that, but looks interesting.

Tetris Effect Connected - It’s Tetris Effect remastered with an optimized single player campaign and an all new multiplayer. The multiplayer looks to combine multiple game setups into one large screen to help other players while creating some extremely long Tetrises. This will also be available via Smart Delivery this Holiday season.

The Gunk - From the creators of Steamworld comes a platformer where you clean up a planet from a mysterious black ooze. Plants and animals are effected and it’s up to you to suck up the gunk to solve the mystery of why and how this is happening.

The Medium - Blooper Team brings us the best use of the Xbox Series X power as it simultaneously creates two world out of the same environment in this spooky game. You move through the same space, but can view the two worlds: one of real life and the other of a hellscape demon world. The abandoned and mundane quickly turn into fire and terror as the dual-reality gameplay allows you to interact with these two worlds simultaneously.

New Genesis: Phantasy Star Online 2 - A console launch exclusive, Sega is celebrating the 20th anniversary of this PS2 classic with a sequel that nobody asked for. It’s a JRPG game that has deep roots in gaming history for some, just not all.

CrossfireX - Get caught up in the crossfire with the new game that looks cool. This game ranks very high on the impressive visuals list.

Fable - Playground Games presents the game we all thought to be long dead, but never forgotten. It’s been literal years and most fans giving up hope for a sequel that this comes as the surprise of the showcase. Let's just hope it won't take 6 years to develop like Kingdom Hearts 3 did with its initial reveal during the PS4 launch, only for it to release near the end of its lifecycle.

Overall, most of games here impress visually, but very few inspire the imagination with little story elements being given. Halo Infinite started off strong with gameplay footage, but the rest of the showcase features pre-rendered citizens that while they may have been captured “in engine” gives the fans little to grasp on to. The one major thing Xbox succeeded in pushing was getting you to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass for this next generation as all the games announced today will appear there for players to get their hands on day of release.