Upcoming Xbox Series X games — 2022 release dates and what we can’t wait to play

Upcoming Xbox Series X games — 2021 release dates and what we can't wait to play

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Unlike the PS5, the Xbox Series 10 doesn't have a real flagship championship simply all the same, but that could modify over the side by side year or then. Developers take a number of ambitious Xbox games planned for 2021 and across. There's the obvious stuff, similar Halo Infinite and Fable, but even some smaller fare like The Gunk and Twelve Minutes could be admittedly captivating to the right audience.

The Tom'due south Guide staff has catalogued some of our most anticipated Xbox Series X games, from big-budget shooters to indie puzzlers and beyond. We don't have precise release dates for near of these games, just nosotros exercise accept general windows, and we'll update this story as nosotros larn more specific information. For the moment, check out our list of upcoming Xbox Series Ten games, and showtime planning out your gaming schedule.

Play the best Xbox Series X games
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Microsoft Flight Simulator (July 27, 2021)

Microsoft Flight Simulator has been out on the PC for quite a while, and it speedily became a blast striking among fans and critics alike. Using real-world satellite images, this game lets you wing beyond an incredibly realistic facsimile of the planet. You tin become absolutely anywhere, from the airports of New York, London and Tokyo, to the far reaches of the Arctic Circle or the Pacific Ocean. With support for a variety of different control styles, your experience tin be as chill or as technical equally you like. Considering how many people have been cooped upward during the public health crisis, Microsoft Flight Simulator will be a good stopgap until nosotros can explore the world in person again. — Marshall Honorof

Chorus (Dec iii, 2021)

As a game near a pilot and her sentient AI starfighter on a mission to destroy the cult that created her, Chorus seems like a weird game. And I'one thousand into it. It's looking very much similar a infinite gainsay sim set in a night galaxy (both literally and figuratively), punctuated by moody planets, gas clouds and nebulas. Simply there appear to exist planetside dogfights as well, adding a outburst of brightness to the game. Going by the trailer, Chorus looks like a strange alloy of Star Wars: Squadrons and Control. I'chiliad hoping that translates into some frenetic aerial battles, mixed with a creepy-but-absorbing story. Add in ray tracing and 60 fps action, and this could be a sleeper hit for the Xbox Series X. — Roland Moore-Colyer

The Gunk (Dec 16, 2021)

The Gunk is a third-person action game from the creators of the SteamWorld series. And, like the SteamWorld series, The Gunk looks fashionable, weird and unique. You play as two intergalactic explorers who happen upon a planet infested with — you guessed it — a black gunk that infests everything information technology touches. The planet holds groovy riches as well as great dangers. You'll have to brave unsafe landscapes and face up deadly beast in your quest for resource. Aside from the colorful, offbeat art style, The Gunk also promises solid gameplay, which will combine shooting, exploration and platforming. Other games have had similar premises before, just sometimes a dandy execution is all you lot need. — Marshall Honorof

Halo Infinite (Dec 8, 2021)

The kickoff adjacent-gen installment in Xbox's flagship franchise, Halo Infinite has had a pretty rocky ride so far. Originally touted every bit a launch day release, the tepid reaction to Halo Infinite'due south unveiling led to a year-long delay. Nevertheless, franchise fans hope that Halo will return to its quondam glory. If 343 Industries learns from the mistakes of the middling Halo 5: Guardians, Infinite could well be the Xbox Series X's kickoff killer exclusive. The open up-world elements in the entrada seem very reminiscent of the original Halo, and the multiplayer will surely be as addictive as ever. At least some of Halo Space's online modes volition as well be free to play, which should offer a swell chance to try before you buy. — Rory Mellon

Psychonauts 2 (August 25, 2021)

We've been waiting for a Psychonauts sequel since 2005, simply it seems like Psychonauts 2 will finally arrive afterward this year. This humorous platformer picks up where the first game (and the VR spinoff, Rhombus of Ruin) left off, with protagonist Raz as a member of the titular team. As in the first game, Raz will jump into the minds of diverse characters, and explore the dark, subconscious corridors therein. Along the way, he'll learn a variety of platforming and gainsay skills. The real draw here, though, is the oddball character design and surreal humor that creator Tim Schafer brings to this cult-classic serial. — Marshall Honorof

Twelve Minutes (Baronial 19, 2021)

An interactive thriller featuring the vocalization talent of James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley and Willem Dafoe, Twelve Minutes has been gestating for a while now, simply is set to finally launch this year. Focused on a man who must relive a traumatic experience over and over once more in a time loop, Twelve Minutes is likely to exist light on gameplay, but heavy on emotional resonance. Distributed by Annapurna Interactive and launching on Xbox Game Pass, don't let this unique game get drowned out by the more flashy AAA titles on this listing. It could shape upwards to be ane of the twelvemonth's virtually underrated titles. — Rory Mellon

Marshall Honorof is a senior editor for Tom's Guide, overseeing the site'south coverage of gaming hardware and software. He comes from a scientific discipline writing groundwork, having studied paleomammalogy, biological anthropology, and the history of science and engineering. After hours, y'all can find him practicing taekwondo or doing deep dives on classic sci-fi.