The 10 Best Open-World Games on Xbox Series X|S in 2027

1. Elden Ring

Elden Ring ranks first for its unmatched exploration, where the Lands Between rewards curiosity with six dense regions and no map markers. On Xbox Series X, the performance mode delivers 60 frames per second, and SSD respawns turn death into quick retries. The 96 Metacritic score reflects its craft, though there is no easy mode. The base game lists at $59.99, with the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion adding roughly 30 hours.

2. Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 ranks second because it offers the best pick-up-and-play experience on the console, with no harsh fail state and assists for every skill level. Its recreated Mexico is a continuous seamless world that runs at 60 frames per second on Series X. The game is included with Xbox Game Pass and supports both solo and online play. Sessions can last five minutes or five hours, making it ideal for any schedule.

3. Starfield

Starfield ranks third for its deep ship-building and outpost crafting systems, which reward systems-oriented players despite a 75 Metacritic. The 1,000-plus planets and 30-to-40-hour main story are punctuated by loading transitions, and post-launch updates added a land vehicle and 60fps support. It is included with Xbox Game Pass. The Shattered Space expansion adds new content, but planetary exploration can feel repetitive.

4. The Witcher 3 Complete Edition

The Witcher 3 Complete Edition ranks fourth because it offers over 100 hours of content at a sale price of roughly $9.99, the best value on the console. The free Next-Gen update added ray tracing and a 60fps mode on Series X, and its side quests remain the genre benchmark for moral weight. The combat feels stiffer than modern RPGs, but the Blood and Wine and Hearts of Stone expansions are included. It lists at $49.99.

5. Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 ranks fifth for its unmatched atmosphere and photorealistic five-state frontier, which runs at 60 frames per second on Series X. The 50-hour story is deliberate and unhurried, with animations for looting and skinning that some find meditative and others obstructive. It lists at $59.99 and has repeatedly fallen to $19.99 on sale. The game plays fully offline and is a continuous seamless world.

6. Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 ranks sixth because the 2.0 update overhauled skill trees and delivered a stable 60fps performance mode on Series X, fixing the launch issues. Night City is a dense, vertical open world with a 25-to-40-hour main story and branching endings based on choices and lifepath. It lists at $59.99 and commonly reaches $29.99 on sale. The Phantom Liberty expansion adds a new district and is widely regarded as the game at its best.

7. Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Assassin's Creed Valhalla ranks seventh for its massive map of England, which offers roughly 60 hours of main story and over 100 hours with expansions. The game provides constant map markers and guidance, suiting players who prefer direction over discovery. Its scale is also its weakness, with repetitive activities that can make completionist play a grind. It routinely sells for around $15, making it a strong value for volume.

8. Hogwarts Legacy

Hogwarts Legacy ranks eighth for its gentle pacing and familiar setting, which makes it a strong entry point for newcomers to open-world games. The 30-to-40-hour story explores a detailed recreation of Hogwarts and its surrounding areas. It lists at $59.99 and commonly reaches $29.99 on sale. The game is fully single-player and playable offline, with no harsh fail state, though its world is smaller than many competitors.

9. Sea of Thieves

Sea of Thieves ranks ninth as the best shared persistent world on Xbox, where the ocean is populated by other real crews. It requires a live internet connection and is markedly less rewarding solo, as sailing and treasure hunting are built around a crew. The stylized ocean looks excellent on Series S at lower resolutions. It is included with Xbox Game Pass and supports cross-play, with seasonal content that has no completion point.

10. Avowed

Avowed ranks tenth for its dense, handcrafted regions in the Pillars of Eternity world of Eora, which offer roughly 25-plus hours of content with minimal filler. The zone-based footprint means higher content density per square kilometer than larger maps, suiting players with limited hours. It is a Microsoft first-party title included with Xbox Game Pass, listing at $69.99. The game is fully single-player and playable offline, with no loading screens between zones.

How we ranked these

The ranking was decided by evaluating games across three structural categories: continuous seamless worlds, hub-and-zone worlds, and shared persistent worlds. Each game was assessed on performance across Xbox Series X|S hardware, value, and fit for different play styles. Subscription coverage and sale prices were factored to prioritize cost-effective recommendations.

Related questions

Which of these are included with Xbox Game Pass?

Starfield, Forza Horizon 5, Sea of Thieves, and Avowed are Microsoft first-party titles included at no extra cost with a Game Pass subscription.

Do these games run meaningfully better on Series X than Series S?

Yes. The Series X targets 4K with high-frame-rate modes; the Series S typically renders 1080p-to-1440p and may omit demanding quality modes.

What is the cheapest genuinely great option?

The Witcher 3 Complete Edition, which regularly falls to roughly $9.99 and includes over 100 hours of content with expansions.

Which one should a complete newcomer start with?

Forza Horizon 5 has no harsh fail state, difficulty assists for all skill levels, and flexible session lengths.

Do any of them require an internet connection?

Sea of Thieves does. Forza Horizon 5 has offline solo mode. All others play fully offline.

FAQ

Is Elden Ring still the best open-world game on Xbox in 2027?

For exploration payoff, yes. It holds a 96 Metacritic, runs at 60fps on Series X, and the Lands Between remains the benchmark for rewarding curiosity. No easy mode or gentle on-ramp.

Is Starfield worth playing given its 75 Metacritic?

For the right player, yes. Post-launch updates added a land vehicle and 60fps. It offers deep ship-building and a New Game Plus loop, but planetary exploration repeats and loading screens punctuate travel.

Should I buy Shadow of the Erdtree or Phantom Liberty right away?

No. Both require substantial base-game progress to access. Buy them only after finishing the base content to avoid dead capital.

How much storage do these games require?

These are large installs. Four or five modern open-world titles will fill a Series X or S. Budget for an official expansion card, as USB drives cannot run Series-optimized games.

What is the best strategy for buying these games on a budget?

Start with Game Pass for four titles. Then wait for sales: The Witcher 3 near $10, Valhalla near $15, Red Dead Redemption 2 near $20. Patience saves 60-80%.

Which game is best for short play sessions?

Forza Horizon 5 is built for 20-40 minute sessions with clean entry and exit. Elden Ring works with bonfire stopping points. Sea of Thieves requires longer commitments.

Sources

• https://www.metacritic.com/game/elden-ring/
• https://www.metacritic.com/game/starfield/
• https://www.metacritic.com/game/forza-horizon-5/
• https://www.metacritic.com/game/red-dead-redemption-2/
• https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt/
• https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/starfield/9P2G7G8V7Z4J
• https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/forza-horizon-5/9NKP3BN8K3L1
• https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/sea-of-thieves/9P2N57H8V7Z4
• https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/avowed/9P2G7G8V7Z4J
• https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-complete-edition/9P2G7G8V7Z4J

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