The Most-Anticipated Xbox Games Of 2023 And Beyond

We're now entering the second half of 2023, and while the year so far has been a non-stop ride of high-quality releases, the majority of those titles on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One have been third-party releases. Arkane's Redfall was a disappointment, but when it comes to a first-party shot in the arm for the brand, there's still plenty to look forward to. There are high expectations for Starfield ahead of its release, and thanks to an invigorating June Xbox Showcase, Xbox players have a lot to look forward to when it comes to exclusives in 2024 and beyond.

For fantasy fans, Avowed and Dungeons of Hinterberg look magical in action, South of Midnight has a fascinating art direction, and Fable looks like cheeky fun. Then there's precision racing to look forward to in Forza Motorsport and elegant air travel in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. On the third-party front, the rest of 2023 is shaping up nicely as well with Immortals of Aveum, Assassin's Creed Mirage, and Lies of P. If you're a fan of horror, the one-two punch of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Alone in the Dark looks like spooky fun, while fighting game fans can get their knuckles dirty in Mortal Kombat 1.

We've compiled a list below of the biggest upcoming games for 2023 and beyond, a collection of interactive entertainment to look forward to. Remember, every Xbox first-party console exclusive will be released day one on Xbox Game Pass, and Microsoft is always updating the service with new entries from third-party and indie developers, some of which also plan to release their games on day one for Game Pass. There's a lot to be excited for in the near-future, so you might want to start making some plans to free up your schedule.

Deck13, the developer behind The Surge series, is back this year with a desert adventure that goes all in on action. Set in a magical world where humanity has been oppressed by a malevolent god, it's up to you to fight back, master your mystical gauntlet, and commit some deicide with your new sand-based powers. Deck13 has also added an in-depth customization feature to the combat, as collecting dozens of essence stones will allow you to fine-tune your combat style to allow for versatile builds.

Horror franchises and asymmetric multiplayer go together like fictional homicidal serial killers and power tools, but in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Gun Interactive and Sumo Nottingham are putting a little twist on the formula. You and your unlucky pals won't just be facing Leatherface, but also his extended family as you run for the hills. For fans of the film franchise and survival-horror games, this faithful recreation of the cult-classic film is revved up and ready to grab your attention.

Hexen might be a dead franchise--for now--but the idea of fast and frantic spell-slinging lives on in Immortals of Aveum. Imagine if Doom Eternal swapped shotguns for fireball spells, and you'll have a pretty good idea of what to expect from this upcoming action game. Immortals of Aveum tasks you with saving the day by using your destructive magical power to unleash some arcane artillery on anything that stands in your way.

After years of swords and sorcery, From Software is back in the mechanized game with a brand-new sequel in the Armored Core series. Armored Core 6 once again puts you in the pilot seat of a powerful mech, and in this sequel, expect hard-hitting action, detailed loadouts, and customizing your titular armored core to survive some of the brutal battles that lie ahead.

Starfield is an upcoming action-RPG from developer Bethesda Softworks, the first new intellectual property developed by the studio in over 25 years. In Starfield, you customize your own space explorer and then set out into a solar system that's enjoyed 20 years of uneasy peace following a war between the United Colonies and Freestar Collective. Like in the Fallout and The Elder Scrolls games, Starfield's story is heavily defined by role-play, allowing you to shape your story with dialogue decisions and allying with different factions.

Tropical paradise is about to get a little noisy, as The Crew is making a comeback this year. The third game in the series, The Crew Motorfest shifts its V8 action to Hawaii this time around. Like the previous game, there'll be a variety of races and multiple disciplines to master, with this threequel focusing on celebrating car culture specifically. Special playlists, car meets, and other social features will be available to help hammer home the festival atmosphere.

Lies of P isn't exactly hiding its Bloodborne inspirations and aspirations, but unlike the dozens of other Souls-like games that have been produced over the years, this dark adaptation of the tale of Pinocchio might just capture the gothic charm of From Software's acclaimed classic. With a demo that provided a great first taste of what the rest of the game has to offer, Lies of P's is shaping up to be the spiritual successor to Bloodborne that fans have been waiting for.

The next chapter in the Mortal Kombat saga is straying from its roots, as Mortal Kombat 1 is doubling down on what makes the series so memorable: blood, guts, and impressive graphics that make every fatality look horrifyingly real. The biggest change in Mortal Kombat 1--aside from Liu Kang using his godly powers to press the reset button on the timeline--is the new Kameo Fighters system, which can be used to call in a strategic assist when needed. With the right character in your corner, each match is now a tag-team effort that ends with someone getting turned into a pile of gruesome giblets at the end.

Starbreeze Studios isn't deviating from the successful formula of its Payday games, and for the threequel, expect a bank-heist simulator that doubles down on what made the original games so popular--plus a few new tricks. The upcoming co-op heist shooter will once again see teams of players pull off daring bank robberies and crime sprees in pursuit of the titular payday, with these missions unfolding across large-scale urban maps.

While Phantom Liberty might be billed as an expansion for Cyberpunk 2077, this premium slice of content is shaping up to be a major overhaul of the original game. Virtually no aspect of the game has been left untouched on a technical level, as developer CD Projekt Red has gone all out to rewrite the very DNA of its dark-future sandbox. Throw in a spy-thriller story, Idris Elba starring as secret agent Solomon Reed, and Keanu Reeves reprising his role as renegade rocker Johnny Silverhand, and Cyberpunk 2077 looks set to wrap up its story in grand fashion.

Forza Motorsport is an upcoming racing simulator game from Turn 10 Studios, not to be confused with Playground Games' recent racing arcade game, Forza Horizon 4. Turn 10 Studios' new game will be the eighth main entry to the Forza Motorsport series, which generally focuses a lot more on detailed simulation in comparison to the Forza Horizon series.

It's been a long time since Assassin's Creed focused on sticking to the shadows, exploiting moments to take down unsuspecting foes, and using raw cunning to escape the long arm of the ancient law, but this year, Assassin's Creed Mirage is going back to the roots of the franchise. Set before the events of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Mirage charts the rise of Loki's incarnation Basim as he joins the precursor organization to the Brotherhood. Expect a more classic approach to Assassin's Creed action, as Basim learns the assassination ropes and how to use the deadly tools of his trade.

Poor Alan Wake can't catch a break thanks to the forces of darkness being a relentless lot, but at least he'll have some company in his new adventure. 13 years after the original game, Remedy Entertainment fleshes out the tale of the troubled author and (partially) shifts to a new viewpoint this time around, as FBI agent Saga Anderson finds herself dealing with homicidal bumps in the night. Expect a cinematic and dark mystery in this sequel, as Remedy is focusing on its storytelling strengths to deliver a spooky tale full of surprises, twists, and a reminder to never leave home without a flashlight.

Few genres are as relaxing--or stressful when things go pear-shaped--as city-building, and if you're up to the challenge of establishing the perfect metropolis, then this sequel to the beloved Cities: Skyline should be on your radar. Like the first game, you can expect in-depth options for your bustling city, an absurd number of ways to customize your human habitat, and regular emergencies that you'll need to respond to. Arriving later in October, the game will also be available day one through Xbox Game Pass.

It's been more than a decade since Alone in the Dark delivered a pulse-pounding jump-scare, but at long last, a new entry in the series is on the horizon. A reimagining that stars actors David Harbour and Jodie Comer as dual protagonists Edward Carnby and Emily Hartwood, this new incarnation is written by Mikael Hedberg of SOMA and Amnesia: Dark Descent fame. Combined with modernized gameplay and a spooky over-the-shoulder perspective, this remake of the 1992 classic looks set to deliver some fresh frights. If you're interested in an early taste of that horror, a free prologue chapter is available now on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5.

Between Russia's invasion of Ukraine and hackers leaking an early build of the game, things haven't been easy for developer GSC Game World. The Ukrainian developer has still persevered in the face of all this, and after several delays, the long-awaited sequel to the Stalker series is expected to launch sometime in 2023. Like the previous games, this survival-horror shooter has plenty of gear to scavenge in an irradiated wasteland, a tense atmosphere, and some terrible creatures lurking in the shadow of this dark playground.

Ubisoft is coming back from Pandora this December, and it's bringing a first-person action-adventure game back with it. If you've ever wondered what it would feel like to step into the blue DNA of a Na'vi, Frontiers of Pandora will answer that question as it combines familiar Far Cry-like gameplay with a vast alien world sandbox to explore. Featuring an original story in the Avatar universe set between the films, this spin-off will take place on a section of Pandora called the Western Frontier and you'll be able to wield both native and human weaponry in your quest to reclaim the planet.

The follow-up to one of the best action games of the 2010s, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II sticks to its anti-cover-shooter roots as you once again don the power armor of Titus and dive chainsaw-sword first into a swarm of heretics. Like its predecessor, this third-person action features an arsenal of melee and ranged weapons to be used against hordes of enemies. This time, the Tyranids are spreading chaos throughout humanity's empire and you'll be able to sweep through the swarms with a friend at your side thanks to the inclusion of a co-op campaign mode.

It's going to be a quite a while before Bethesda's ready to release a new Elder Scrolls adventure, but at least Obsidian Entertainment is almost ready to fill that gap in Avowed. Not just a first-person spell-shooter, Avowed also throws in swords, flintlock firearms, and more with its combat. You can even dual-wield combinations of these weapons and spells across the lush fantasy biomes that you'll explore, which just so happen to be populated by beasts, bandits, and bears. Oh my.

We're still not exactly certain what Fable looks like in action, but thanks to the recent Xbox Showcase, we do know that there'll be at least one sequence in which we have to murder a giant that bears a striking resemblance--and sound--to British actor Richard Ayoade. For now, it looks like Fable will retain its cheeky sense of humor as you explore its realm, become a hero, and kill a giant who was only trying to solve world hunger.

It has been a long time since the last King of the Iron Fist tournament, but that's all about to change as Tekken 8 laces up its boots and steps back into the ring for another round of combat and dysfunctional father-son relationships. Featuring a new gameplay system that rewards aggressive action, a roster of familiar faces, and its signature three-dimensional brawling, Tekken 8 is bringing the heat as it aims to become a new pillar of the fighting game community.

Fancy a trip to the American South for some magical fun? South of Midnight could be what you're looking for as this third-person action-adventure game from developer Compulsion Games looks striking with its blend of rural folklore and swampy atmosphere. There aren't too many details on the game just yet, but for now, we do know that it stars Hazel, a mage who uses sewing-like magic called Weaving. Set in a world that combines magical realism and gothic design, South of Midnight is aiming to feel both magical and authentic with its design.

Who needs the Force when you've got guts, a trusty laser-pistol in your holster, and a reprogrammed battle droid by your side? Ubisoft's upcoming sandbox set in the Star Wars galaxy looks like it covers all the bases, as this third-person action-adventure has ground battles, speeder-bike chases, and outer-space dogfights. Alongside those classic Star Wars action beats, there's even a morality system as you have to gauge just how far you're willing to go to keep the Empire off your tail as you prepare for the ultimate galactic heist.

A cooperative action-roguelike that aims to hit the sweet spot for multiplayer numbers, 33 Immortals is set in a world where damned souls are "rebelling against God's final judgment" and the afterlife has become a battleground. Described as a "pick up and raid" from Spiritfarer developer Thunder Lotus, the game combines a hand-drawn art style with a multiplayer focus and roguelite elements.

Details are still slim on Ichiban Kasuga's next adventure, but it looks like at least one part of the game will see the Yakuza with a heart of gold doing his best Austin Powers impression when he wakes up buck-naked on a Hawaiian beach. Set to launch in early 2024, this latest chapter in the LAD series is expected to feature a more refined version of its predecessor's turn-based RPG combat, as well as the return of familiar faces and a Yakuza legend who's almost unrecognizable thanks to his trendy new hairstyle.

Onimusha is on indefinite hiatus for now, but at least a spiritual successor in the form of Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is on the way. Capcom's latest IP from the creators of Resident Evil and Monster Hunter blends feudal Japanese architecture with fantasy, creating a surreal and vibrant visual style. The only problem here? An army of grotesque Yokai monsters looking to ruin the vibe. It'll be up to you to cut down their forces and keep them out of paradise.

There's trouble in the steampunk paradise of Avalon, and you're going to need more than just an artisanal weapon to help you pull off a rebellion for the ages. From developer InXile, Clock Revolution allows you to change the future by time-traveling into the past, creating butterfly effects in your attempt to stop Lady Ironwood's iron-fisted reign of Avalon. First-person action RPG elements, dynamic time-bending combat, and the ability to create your own unique character from the ground up are just some of the highlights of Clockwork Revolution, with development being led by Arcanum's Chad Moore and Jason Anderson.

Atlus has a number of Persona games in development, but the company has also managed to squeeze in a new IP in the form of Metaphor: ReFantazio. A fantasy game that shares a few visual design traits with Persona, not too much is known about the game just yet. Judging by the Xbox Showcase June trailer, ReFantazio appears to have a mix of turn-based RPG gameplay and sharp anime cinematics in its fantasy world, while Atlus describes the game as being "fraught with unsettling mystery" in a "fantasy world unlike anything you've seen before."

Get ready to take to the skies again in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, as this sequel builds on the aviation excellence of the previous game. For this sequel, expect to do more than just high-altitude tourism as you'll be able to try your hand at aerial firefighting, mountaintop rescues, running a skydiving operation, hot air balloon tours, and much more.

A new first-person adventure game from developer The Chinese Room, Still Wakes the Deep takes place in 1975. After disaster strikes an oil rig in the dangerous waters of the Scottish coast, things look bad for the survivors aboard the platform. Can the situation get worse? Absolutely, as between mother nature battering the rig and all lines of communication being severed, a terrifying and unrelenting foe begins to hunt the people aboard. You'll need to run, climb, and swim through the flooded corridors and treacherous outer decks of the rig if you want to escape the horror that's after you and your crew in this new game from the studio behind Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs and Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture.

A modern-day fantasy adventure that has a very catching art style, Dungeons of Hinterberg puts you in the spelunking boots of Luisa as she explores dark dungeons and runs into trouble inside of them. A fantastical take on the Austrian Alps with plenty of third-person combat and ancient ruins to discover, Dungeons of Hinterberg is developed by a small, Austrian-based indie game studio called Microbird Games.

Arc Raiders is an upcoming free-to-play, co-op, third-person shooter from developer Embark Studios. In it, you play as a member of the human resistance, fighting against a never-ending army of machines that descend to Earth, sent from some unknown enemy. Using an assortment of good ol' fashioned firearms and more advanced gear like jetpacks, you work with other players to respond to overpower larger-than-life threats and protect the planet.

Cocoon is an upcoming puzzle adventure game from developer Geometric Interactive, and is notably being led by Jeppe Carlsen, the lead gameplay designer for both Limbo and Inside. Like those games, Cocoon seems to explore its tale wordlessly, as you explore increasingly strange alien worlds, each of which can be carried as a small orb on your back. Every orb presents a new world to dive into and uncover, and each possesses a unique ability as well--like illuminating unseen paths--creating Inception levels of world-within-world puzzles.

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is an upcoming open-world action-RPG with Souls-like-inspired combat from developer A44 Games. In Flintlock, you play Nor Vanek, a soldier in the coalition army. The army is at war with the gods, using gunpowder as a means to keep pace with the divine magic they face. Nor's personal vendetta with the gods sees her making an alliance with Enki, a small magical creature with his own problems with the gods. To overcome Flintlock's challenging enemies and eerie bosses, you need to explore how the two partners' skillsets best cooperate together, mixing devastating firearms with potent magic. Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is scheduled to launch for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, and PC in 2023.

Harold Halibut is an upcoming narrative adventure game from developer Slow Bros. The game is made entirely from 3D scanned physical models, emulating stop-motion technology. The result is a gorgeous-looking game about a young lab assistant, Harold, who lives in a city-sized spaceship stuck on an aquatic planet. Though most citizens have accepted their fate, the ship's lead scientist and your boss, Jeanne, hasn't. As you aid her in her attempts to find a way to free the ship from the planet, you can also explore it and meet your fellow passengers, learning what it means to call a place a home. Harold Halibut is scheduled to launch for Xbox One, PS4, and PC in 2023.

Long have we waited to hear the silken strum of developer Team Cherry's sophomore effort grace our ears, to feel the propelled movements of protagonist Hornet as her insectoid feet pirouette through the air with deadly grace. And soon we shall have it. So soon, indeed. Hollow Knight Silksong builds off the intriguingly enigmatic conclusion to Team Cherry's first game, with a brand-new story about an abandoned princess clawing her way to the top of a long-lost kingdom in order to reach a shining citadel. Metroidvania fans, rejoice! Our chosen one approaches, scheduled to launch for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC in 2023.

Judas is an upcoming narrative-driven first-person shooter from Ghost Story Games, a studio led by Ken Levine--former director of System Shock 2, BioShock, and BioShock Infinite. And you can really tell by looking at Judas, which stylistically and gameplay-wise looks a whole lot like a BioShock game. In Judas, you play as the titular character, who's stuck on a deteriorating starship. The disaster unfolding around you is your fault, and to escape the dire situation you'll have to decide if it's worth putting aside your differences with those you've tried to doom in order to work together and collectively survive. Judas is scheduled to launch for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC--according to digital storefronts, it's "coming soon," which could mean 2023.

Replaced is an upcoming action-platformer from developer Sad Cat Studios. Stylized in an incredible-looking 2.5D pixel artstyle, Replaced sees you play as an AI trapped within a human body who lives in a retro-futuristic sci-fi variation of the 1980s. As an AI, your struggles to adapt to human life leads to one problem after another, including violent outlaws and greedy corporations. Replaced is scheduled to launch for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC in 2023.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is an upcoming action-adventure game from developer Ninja Theory. Like the first game, Hellblade II takes place in a fantastical rendition of the 8th century, taking inspiration from Norse mythology and Celtic culture. Once again, we're playing as Senua, who has come to accept her mental illness as a part of her. We know very little about what she's up to this time around, though the gameplay reveal trailer for Hellblade II does seem to hint that Senua is the head of her own tribe now and this next adventure will see her face the struggles that come with leadership. Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is scheduled to launch for Xbox Series X|S and PC--it does not yet have a release window.

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an upcoming survival-horror first-person shooter with RPG elements from developer GSC Game World. In the long-awaited sequel to 2007's Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl, you once again delve into the irradiated remains of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone in search of valuable artifacts. Featuring a non-linear story in an open-world setting, Stalker 2 features dangerous anomalies to navigate, frightening mutants to shoot, and characters to meet. Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is scheduled to launch for Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2023.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is an upcoming action-adventure third-person shooter from developer Rocksteady Studios. In it, you and up to four friends can play as long-standing members of Task Force X--Deadshot, King Shark, Harley Quinn, and Captain Boomerang--who have been assigned to kill the mind-controlled members of the Justice League. Each member of Task Force X uses a unique weapon and possesses a different way of getting around the open-world setting of Metropolis, which is now full of aliens that need killing. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is scheduled to launch for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC in 2024.

The Finals is an upcoming first-person shooter from developer Embark Studios. This free-to-play shooter has you compete in a virtual game show, where contestants battle it out in very destructible environments--these former Battlefield devs are turning that destructible dial up to 11. To win, you and your teammates have to find and secure vaults of cash, demolishing anyone who tries to stop you. Alongside the destructible buildings, The Finals' interactive environments are a virtual playground of possibility, especially with the use of advanced gadgets like a grappling hook and Prey-like glue gun. The Finals is scheduled to launch for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC--digital storefronts list that it's "coming soon."

The Invincible is an upcoming first-person adventure game from developer Stalward Industries. Inspired by the 1967 sci-fi novel of the same name, The Invincible sees you play as Yasna, a scientist stationed on Regis III who can't remember much beyond her name. Your entire crew is gone and you set out in search of them, reporting what you find to your Astrogator, who remains a faceless voice on a radio you carry with you. Big Firewatch vibes with this one, though the atompunk atmosphere of the game seems to make for an even more chilling experience. The Invincible is scheduled to launch for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC in 2023.

Thirsty Suitors is an upcoming adventure game from Outerloop Games. You play as Jala, who returns home to attend her sister's wedding and take some time to learn self-love and find herself. This quest will see her contending with her demanding parents, skateboarding around town, learning to cook, and hashing things out with her numerous ex-partners in colorful turn-based battles. Thirsty Suitors is scheduled to launch for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC in 2023.

Ghostbusters from another era, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden puts you in the spectre-exterminating boots of Antea Duarte and Red mac Raith. With phantoms making life tough for the living, it's up to this duo to explore the haunted wilds of North America, uncover a few mysteries in the town of New Eden, and discover ancient secrets.

Set a year after the first game, which was first released in 2020, Ghostrunner 2 expands on its cyberpunk action-parkour themes with even more push-forward combat and challenging gameplay. The sequel is also throwing in a few new zones to explore beyond the Dharma Tower, and vehicular combat as you'll be able to explore the wastelands on Jack's motorcycle.