Diablo IV (Xbox Series X|S)

We all had high hopes for Diablo 4, and fortunately it delivered. Over six years' worth of hard work went into making this the best entry in the series, and in our opinion Blizzard absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one.

Here's what we had to say in our Diablo 4 review on Pure Xbox:

"You can see why it’s taken Blizzard over six years to get this one out the gate when you look at the end product. Diablo 4 is a natural evolution of the series with its new open-world design and gameplay, enhanced social and multiplayer experience, and a live service that promises to keep players returning to the world of Sanctuary for years to come.

These strong foundations and scale of the whole experience, combined with the five unique classes and seemingly limitless customisation options for builds, should keep even the most diehard demon slayers busy for a very long time. With all of this in consideration, Diablo 4 is a must-play if you’re a veteran of the series and it's a great starting point for newcomers. We can't wait to jump back in!"

  • Xbox Game Pass? Yes (as of March 28)

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (Xbox One)

ZA/UM's 2019 RPG is a bonafide masterpiece, a deliriously intoxicating existential adventure that drags players into its exquisitely designed world and threatens to never let them go.

What starts out as a fairly straightforward noir detective affair involving a dead body hanging from a tree, soon spirals every which way into a fantastically dark, incredibly well written adventure where nothing is what is seems. There's a chaotic world full of amazing characters here, one that challenges you to forge your own path, to be the version of its central protagonist that you want to be, as you explore the painterly, realist environs of Elysium. This final cut edition also fixes the only problem we had with the original game by adding full voice acting, resulting in one the very best RPGs we've ever played. There's nothing else quite like Disco Elysium.

  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Divinity: Original Sin 2 (Xbox One)

Divinity: Original Sin was critically acclaimed for Xbox One when it released in 2015, but its sequel raised the bar even further three years later, becoming known as one of the greatest RPGs of all time. In fact, it's so good, that Metacritic actually classes it as the second best RPG in the entire Xbox One library.

The game is centred around deep, tactical, turn-based combat, and sees you gather your party and develop relationships with your companions as you explore the world of Rivellon, either in single-player or via drop-in/drop-out cooperative play. There's a reason this one is so beloved by fans and critics alike, so give it a try!

  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Dragon Age: Inquisition (Xbox One)

Remember what it was like to have a new Dragon Age game? It's been eight long years now since the release of 2014's Dragon Age: Inquisition, but even despite its age, it remains a fantastic RPG to sink your teeth into in 2024. And again, it's included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate as part of EA Play, which is excellent.

The game's story sees you tasked with saving the world from itself, featuring a ridiculously huge world to explore, strategic combat and a choice-driven narrative. It still looks like it's going to be some time before Dragon Age 4 is finally released on Xbox Series X, but given that Inquisition takes around 50 hours to beat (and much longer if you want to do everything), there's plenty to keep you busy in the meantime.

  • Xbox Game Pass? Yes (Game Pass Ultimate)

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age (Xbox One)

Another excellent addition to Xbox, Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age is simply put, one of the greatest JRPGs ever made. It manages to retain that title whilst simultaneously doing very little in breaking of genre conventions.

Why it's so well regarded is the fact it perfects those conventions, making each element the best it can possibly be, instead of attempting anything massively new. The combat is easy to learn, but hard to master; the world is a colourful, vibrant joy to explore; and the story lasts a substantial length with many magical twists and turns. With the Definitive Edition, even more inclusions have been added, making one of the best JRPGs about even better.

  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Dragon's Dogma 2 (Xbox Series X|S)

We actually didn't include the original Dragon's Dogma on this best Xbox RPGs list originally, but you better believe we're putting the sequel on here! This is a game we awarded a very rare "Outstanding" 10/10 score to here at Pure Xbox (despite some issues with performance across all platforms), so it's safe to say we love it!

What's so good about it? Well, we'll let our Dragon's Dogma 2 review speak for itself:

"You can feel the desire to perfect every aspect of the game that we got in 2012 here, with slicker combat, a more engaging pawn system, an incredible world stuffed full of amazing beasties and a general vibe that just begs you to slow down, take your time, and enjoy the majestic adventure ahead. If you're in the market for a fantastic RPG with the power to fully transport you to a world of gritty fantasy and magical friends, we reckon this might just be right up your street."

  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Elden Ring (Xbox Series X|S)

How does FromSoftware do it? First blowing our collective minds with Demon's Souls all the way back in 2009, they continued their hot streak with the masterful Dark Souls series followed by the absolutely phenomenal Bloodborne and Sekiro.

Now they've returned with Elden Ring and, true to form, this latest outing is not just a great game, it's one of the very best action-RPGs ever made. We had concerns this time around, chiefly with regards to how they'd factor an open world into proceedings, but we needn't have worried as what's here is a glorious meshing of classic Souls combat with an astounding and enormous world full of secrets, challenges and lore to get absolutely lost in. An instant all-timer.

  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Everspace 2 (Xbox for PC)

Yes, it's a fast-paced space shooter first and foremost, but Everspace 2 has also got more than enough RPG elements in place to warrant a place on this list as it finally arrives on Xbox Game Pass for consoles.

ROCKFISH Games has managed to improve on every aspect of the original Everspace here with some sublime dogfighting action mixed with the sort of in-depth exploration, looting, resource management and crafting that should see players diving deep for the long-haul. It's one of our favourite space-faring adventures on PC, and we're delighted that it's now available for console players to blast into. Don't miss out on this one!

  • Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Fallout 4 (Xbox One)

Bethesda only released one single-player focused RPG during the Xbox One's lifespan, yet it certainly made a big impression. The world of Fallout 4 is ugly, desolate and devoid of life, and yet, it's in equal measures beautiful and captivating to explore. Underneath its ugly exterior is a slice of humanity trying to survive, and in the RPG fashion, you're there to assist.

Exploration is rewarding, as is crafting your character into your own. Not only that, but the game also features a fairly addictive settlement building element, encouraging you to maintain your own factions. Fallout 4 has a lot to offer and hundreds of hours worth of content. An absolute treat.

  • Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Final Fantasy XV (Xbox One)

Final Fantasy XV is a game all about bond. Its main cast of four characters gel and bounce off of each other so naturally that it's hard not to become enamoured with them. Even with its larger than life fantasy world, it somehow manages to feel perfectly grounded due to its central performances.

Outside of that, the fantasy world itself is huge, sprawling and begging to be explored. With an engaging main plot, hundreds of side quests and a fresh take on Final Fantasy combat, the most recent title is a great RPG on Xbox consoles and begs to be played.

  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Hades (Xbox Series X|S)

Supergiant Games had already delivered us the stunning trifecta of Bastion, Pyre and Transistor before unleashing Hades, a game that really feels like this amazing developer fully reaching its potential.

This is quite possibly the very best roguelike we've played to date (and, boy, have we played a few) an adventure that's been polished to perfection, featuring exquisite visuals, top-notch writing, a cleverly evolving narrative that keeps you hooked in to the end and silky smooth combat that expands and evolves to suit your chosen playstyle.

Zagreus' journey through the underworld is critically acclaimed for good reason, it's a slick and stylish romp that can't fail to put a big fat smile on your face. If you've ever been tempted to jump into the roguelike genre but were afraid you might not completely jive with it, this is the game to get you in the mix. Hades is, quite simply, a modern classic.

  • Xbox Game Pass? No