8 of the 20 Best 2025 Games Are Not Available on Xbox Series X

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Based on Metacritic scores, 8 of the top 20 games of 2025 aren’t available on Xbox Series X, including the highest-rated game of the year. This is a recurring issue for Xbox, similar to what we saw with the Xbox One. While some of these games may eventually come to Xbox, not all of them will, and those that do will likely be released much later than on other platforms.

Here’s a look at eight games planned for 2025 that aren’t currently available on Xbox. We’ll cover details about each game, how likely it is to come to Xbox consoles, and include a trailer for each one.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Death Stranding 2, the follow-up to the acclaimed 2019 game Death Stranding, is shaping up to be another top title this year, according to our review. Similar to the original, which arrived on Xbox after its PlayStation release, the sequel is also expected to be available on Xbox consoles sometime after its PlayStation launch.

Metacritic Score: 89

Platforms: PS5

Dispatch

Dispatch, created by the team at AdHoc Studio (which includes veterans from Telltale Games and Ubisoft), is a highly-rated episodic adventure game with some management features. It’s currently available on PlayStation and is considered one of the best games of 2025 on the PlayStation Store. While it hasn’t been announced for Xbox yet, there’s nothing stopping it from coming to those consoles, so an Xbox release is likely in the future.

Metacritic Score: 89

Platforms: PC and PS5

Hades 2

Currently, the most anticipated game for 2025 is Hades 2, an action-packed roguelike that continues the story of the highly praised Hades from 2020. The original Hades came to Xbox one year after its initial release, so we can expect Hades 2 to be available on Xbox Series X soon.

Metacritic Score: 95

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC

Donkey Kong Bananza

Donkey Kong Bananza is a new 3D platforming game created by the same developers as Super Mario Odyssey, and it’s launching exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. This means players on other consoles, like Xbox, will need to purchase the new Nintendo Switch 2 to experience the game.

Metacritic Score: 91

Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2

Sword of the Sea

Giant Squid’s Sword of the Sea is a standout title among the PlayStation Plus games of 2025. This relaxing adventure game is expected to eventually be available on Xbox, though it will likely take some time. The developer’s last game, The Pathless, was exclusive to PlayStation 5 for three years before being released on other platforms.

Metacritic Score: 88

Platforms: PC and PS5

The Seance of Blake Manor

Spooky Doorway’s The Seance of Blake Manor is a standout game of 2025, currently available only on PC. While there’s no official announcement yet, a version for Xbox consoles is likely in development, considering the game’s popularity on Steam. It’s still uncertain if Xbox will ultimately get the supernatural detective mystery.

Metacritic Score: 88

Platforms: PC

Absolum

Keep an eye out for Absolum, a fun, arcade-style beat ’em up from Guard Crush Games and Dotemu, which released in 2025. It’s available on most platforms, but currently not Xbox, so it’s possible it won’t ever come to Microsoft consoles.

Metacritic Score: 87

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and PS5

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom. It’s a remastered version of their 2004 title, The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky. Given the game is available on most platforms except Xbox, and considering the series hasn’t traditionally appeared on Xbox, it’s unlikely to be released on those consoles.

Metacritic Score: 88

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, and PS5

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2025-11-16 19:45