The Xbox Series X and its less powerful sibling, the Series S, have been out since November 2020. There is a wealth of games to experience on the consoles, and this catalog is helped exponentially by Microsoft's dedication to backward compatibility.

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Once the kids are in bed, certain players might want to bite into something meant for a mature audience. It's not that people who like M-rated games are necessarily gorehounds, but this rating gives developers the freedom to do almost everything they want. What are the best mature Xbox games?

Updated September 28, 2023 by Mark Sammut: M17+ Xbox Series games are not particularly rare, and some of 2023's best releases are rated as such. Therefore, anyone looking for adult Xbox games has quite a few options at their fingertips.

12 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.

11 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.

10 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.

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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.

9 Mortal Kombat 1

NetherRealm rebooted Mortal Kombat in 2023, establishing a new era for the ultra-violent fighting franchise. While not a home run in every department, Mortal Kombat 1 gets it right where it matters: combat. Kameo Fighters add an exciting new dimension to battles, and they are hardly the only fresh addition the game offers. That said, more than anything, MK1 fine-tunes and improves upon its immediate predecessor's very strong foundations.

Story-wise, MK1 generally delivers the goods as it sets up a new timeline featuring revamped versions of many of the franchise's most iconic characters. The single-player campaign offers quite a bit of content, at least for a fighting game, and is generally fun.

8 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.

7 Lies Of P

Inspired by FromSoftware's Bloodborne, Lies of P envisions a Gothic hellscape filled with deadly puppets and corrupted humans. Soulslike games have become almost commonplace, with 2023 producing releases like Remnant 2 and Blasphemous 2; however, Lies of P still manages to feel like a fresh addition to the saturated genre.

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Aggressive and addictive, the game's combat is punishing but generally fair, although players will need to master the perfect guard mechanic if they want to stand a chance against the many bosses. Like any Soulslike, Lies of P is not going to be for everyone, but if the game clicks with someone, it might become one of their favorites.

6 Starfield

A new Bethesda game is always going to attract a lot of attention, and that goes triple for Starfield, the developer's first new IP in more than two decades. Allowing players to explore the wonders of the Milky Way, the 2023 sci-fi game is ambitious in scope and presentation, delivering an overall package that feels decidedly current-gen.

As with most of the company's releases, Starfield's main story merely makes up a small fraction of the campaign, and the game encourages players to move away from the linear path and carve out their own identity. While its slow start can be off-putting, once Starfield opens up, it becomes something special.

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. However, CD Projekt Red spent the next three years trying to rehabilitate the game's reputation, culminating in the release of the 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty expansion.

While the underwhelming debut version is still a low point for CD Projekt Red, Cyberpunk 2077 has evolved into a great first-person RPG that lives up to the developer's past projects. Night City is an immersive sandbox packed to the brim with personality and intelligent storytelling, while the main narrative is largely engaging.

4 Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

2019's Modern Warfare and its sequel were exceptional entries 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.

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Some smaller multiplayer modes offer fast-paced carnage reminiscent of TimeSplitters and other arcade-style 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.

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