RELATED: Best Xbox Third-Peron Shooters
Once the kids are in bed, certain players might want to bite into something meant for a mature audience. This list has those gamers in mind. Most of the games below are playable on Xbox One as well, but they all have a version available on the current-generation console. It’s not that people who like M-rated games are necessarily gorehounds. However, this rating gives games the freedom to do almost everything they want.
9 The Medium
The Medium is a survival horror game taking cues from classics like Silent Hill. It even uses fixed camera angles, and what’s more, Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka contributed to the soundtrack.
While some elements of the gameplay were criticized, it will surely please players looking for a unique horror game taking advantage of the new console’s power. The dual-screen mechanic that showcases the game world in two forms is a unique gimmick.
8 Back 4 Blood
Back 4 Blood is a great game, but it received a little backlash for not being quite as good as Left 4 Dead. People thought it was a perfectly acceptable follow-up, but it did not exceed fans’ expectations or innovate on the genre in the same way its spiritual predecessors did.
All the same, players will find a lot of enjoyment if they play Back 4 Blood with friends. Zombies might be played out for some, but plenty of players were happy enough to see developer Turtle Rock Studios come back to a cooperative shooter.
7 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Some players might be tired of the Ubisoft open-world formula. However, folks who only play a couple of games a year will get a lot of mileage out of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The 2020 game is simply massive and filled with content to explore.
RELATED: Ways Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Is The Best (And Worst) In The Franchise
Going through the main story alone will take dozens of hours, and doing all the extra content extends that to well over one hundred. This is arguably too big for some, but it is perfect for certain players.
6 Dying Light 2
The first Dying Light was a surprise hit. Developer Techland also supported the title for years after its release, adding new updates and story content. Dying Light 2 was in development for years longer than expected, and only came out in 2022.
The narrative is not significantly more advanced than its predecessor, despite promises from press conferences and marketing, but it makes for a great co-op action game. The combat focuses on confrontational melee attacks, and the parkour movement makes traversing the environment pure bliss.
5 Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 had a disastrous launch in 2020. The PS4 and Xbox One versions were nearly unplayable, though they worked better on PS5 and Series X via backward compatibility.
Only recently did a true Xbox Series X/S version come out. Many of the technical issues were fixed, and the newer hardware makes for a significantly smoother gameplay performance. Players still won’t get what they would find on a high-end PC, but it is a massive upgrade.
4 Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
2019’s Modern Warfare was an exceptional entry in the Call of Duty franchise. Black Ops Cold War took the series back in time once again. While the campaign was not as celebrated as other entries, the multiplayer still has a lot of unique goodness to offer.
RELATED: Things Players Didn’t Know About Jason Hudson
Some smaller multiplayer modes offer fast-paced carnage reminiscent of TimeSplitters and other arcady first-person shooters, a far cry from what Call of Duty is known to offer. Call of Duty: Vanguard had a mixed reception, so there are still plenty of active players in Black Ops Cold War.
3 Resident Evil Village
The most recent Resident Evil game is larger than Resident Evil 7, though it is still relatively grounded. The rural setting recalls the vibe of Resident Evil 4, which is always a good thing. The campaign is short compared to other Triple-A titles, but it’s satisfying.
Like most Resident Evil games, it encourages multiple playthroughs with new tools to use on subsequent runs. With single-player DLC in the works, now is as good a time as ever to play through the campaign.
2 Hitman 3
The closing game of this new Hitman trilogy brings back everything fans love about the recent titles. Every level is infinitely replayable, as players discover new ways to take out the targets and interact with the environment and AI.
The game is also supported with post-launch content. Developer IO Interactive is currently working on a James Bond game, which feels like a perfect fit when considering the stealth and disguise sensibilities of Hitman.
1 Yakuza: Like A Dragon
The seventh mainline entry in the Yakuza franchise dropped the numbering convention and took the series from a brawler to a turn-based RPG. This move worked perfectly. The new protagonist also makes this title a great starting point for newcomers.
The current-gen version was released exclusively on Xbox for months before coming out on PS5, a curious move considering how the franchise has often been associated with PlayStation.
MORE: The Multiplayer Games That Defined Each Xbox Console
