5 games to play first on your new Xbox

Happy holidays, or maybe it's your birthday, or you've just decided to treat yourself to a brand new Xbox Series X (or Series S). What now? Of course, you can peruse Polygon's list of the 22 best Xbox games or the 25 best games on Xbox Game Pass. But you don't have time for that! You're probably reading this on your phone right now as your new Xbox happily buzzes away, installing all the fancy new console updates. The clock is ticking, and I have you.

Here's what you should install first on your new Xbox.

Originally released under the title Tetris effect in 2018 and later updated to Tetris Effect: Connected in 2020, this beautiful and mind-bending Tetris experience has much more to offer than just Tetris. (That said, normal degular Tetris is one of the absolute best games ever made, period, so there's that.) Dazzling visuals and the heart-pounding music accompaniment will make you feel like a Tetris supergod, whether in single player or multiplayer (co-op and competitive modes are available, both online and local, for 2-4 players). High quality headphones are highly recommended to fully immerse yourself in the vibrations.

Image: Playground Games/Microsoft Studios via Polygon

There's a reason racing games are often presented as a showcase of what new consoles can do Forza Horizon 5 fits in perfectly and offers truly stunning drive-by vistas. Mexico is the setting for this, which means there's a huge diversity of climates – from beaches to jungles to swamplands – not to mention the very realistic-looking weather simulation. You don't even have to be a good driver to appreciate this one.

Image: Bungie/Microsoft Game Studios

This collection of Halo games contains a lot of games, and many of them are old, so they won't exactly show off the power of your brand new console in the same way as Tetris Effect: Connected or Forza Horizon 5. But if this is your first time owning an Xbox console, you simply have to check out one of the most influential gaming series to date. If you're really not sure where to start and don't want to go back in time at far, come along Halo 3 (2007) and see how it feels.

Image: Mobius/Annapurna Interactive

This game has no weapons; it's all about exploring and discovering the mysteries of an ancient civilization. But while it may not require the fast response times of the previous games on this list, Outer Wilderness is perhaps the most challenging game of the bunch as it will really test your brain. As you explore each of the planets in a relatively small but carefully designed solar system, you'll have to think laterally and let your mind slowly inflate as each of the pieces falls into place. Like I said, it will be hard, but in the end you will find it to be one of the best stories you have ever experienced.

Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft

I could tell you to install Assassin's Creed origins, which is the best Assassin's Creed game, but at this point I stop messing around and start getting real. If you've played the other games on this list and want to know what to install next on your Xbox, the answer is Xbox Game Pass (and Assassin's Creed origins). Or you can save some money and get Game Pass first, because Forza Horizon 5 is there, along with Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Tetris Effect: Connected And Outer Wilderness used to be there, but that is no longer the case. Still, that's proof that almost every great Xbox game is getting its time in the Game Pass rotation, making the service a very worthwhile investment.