Microsoft’s slate of Xbox consoles remains capable of competing with Sony’s PlayStation family, with many recent Xbox titles proving to be on par with the current PS5 release. Fans of Xbox consoles itching for a new gaming experience may want to challenge their mettle with some of the hardest RPGs that are playable on the Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S.
Depending on their chosen title, Xbox players may find themselves constantly hitting the load or reset button with the difficulty of specific RPGs for the console. However, hardcore Xbox fans willing to take on the challenge may find these titles a much-needed break from their typical Xbox experience. While all of these games can be found on other platforms, they all run great on Xbox Series X.
In a continuation of Geralt’s adventures in the Continent,The Witcher 3: Wild Huntwill have the eponymous Witcher protect his adoptive daughter Ciri from the clutches of the Wild Hunt. Being a Witcher, players as Geralt use two separate swords, potions and bombs, and even basic spells to eliminate threats.
However, whereWild Huntbecomes exceptionally difficult is when players get to underestimate enemies in combat. Enemies still follow specific patterns, and they can easily overwhelm Geralt in terms of sheer numbers. Not all of Geralt’s combos will work with every single enemy either, forcing players to switch up playstyles should a strategy end up not working against a foe.
Despite its age,Dragon Age: Originsservesas a decent alternative to tactical RPG classics such asBaldur’s Gate. Set in the world of Thedas, the dark fantasy game tasks players in becoming Grey Wardens, protectors of the realm that must vanquish a Darkspawn invasion. Unlike other RPGs,Dragon Agespices things up with a flexible gameplay system, giving players options to fight in real-time or in a paused tactical mode depending on their preference.
However, the opportunity to pause a game mid-fight can be a blessing considering the difficulty spikes inOrigins. Despite its immense flexibility, the game’s vast open environments and lack of a hard-set linear progression can put players in dangerous fights, especially when combat persistently challenges the party to think outside the box.
8The Surge
When an exoskeleton implantation surgery goes awry for wheelchair-bound Warren, his experience in the dystopia ofThe Surgeinvolves fighting corrupt robots, mutated humans, and other threats. While the story is somewhat stereotypical for a sci-fi story,The Surgeis particularly challenging due toSouls-inspired combat.
Combat inThe Surgeis more cumbersome than theSoulsseries, with the lack of cancels and telegraphed attacks forcing players to focus more on enemies. Moreover, the gory dismemberment system ties into gameplay. Since detached parts can contribute towards upgrades, players must also be more deliberate in the strategy they want to pursue against foes with those limbs.
Compared to both the traditional fantasy settings of both earlier and laterThe Elder Scrollstitles,The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowindgives players a taste of the quirkiness Tamriel has to offer with its setting and premise. Players take on the role of a pardoned prisoner as they begina new life in Vvardenfell, an island in the province of Morrowind. Unfortunately for them, their eventual involvement with the living gods known as the Tribunal will determine the fate of the entire region.
Morrowindsets a mark among Bethesda titles for being the first in its slate to boast a fully open world. Unfortunately, the game becomes more challenging from both combat and gameplay perspectives. The direction-based FPS attacks can lead to frustrating encounters, and a complicated transportation system on top of the absence of quest markers can exponentially lengthen exploration. But for players looking to not be lead by the nose, this game will certainly scratch that itch.
Among the most challenging backward-compatible Xbox One titles for the Xbox Series X/S would beDarkest Dungeon, a roguelike RPG tasking adventurers to explore dungeons below the mansion players have inherited. Each dungeon players explore is procedurally generated, with a permadeath system.
WhatmakesDarkest Dungeonquite challenging is its punishing nature. Plaguing characters in their journey is the Affliction system, wherein stress from negative events can directly impact their performance. The game’s emphasis on unit management can make dungeons challenging for underprepared players.
5XCOM 2: War Of The Chosen
When 2012’sXCOM: Enemy Unknownreboot ended with the aliens colonizing Earth,XCOM 2: War of the Chosentransformed XCOM into an underground resistance force. Essentially an expansion ofXCOM 2,War of the Chosenimproves gameplay with time-based objectives and procedural maps alongside the introduction of persistent elite enemies known as the Chosen. As with otherXCOMgames,War of the Chosenstill needs players to manage their squad of elite troopers, modifying their load-outs, skills, and researching new approaches to fighting the alien threat.
However, thedifficulty ofWar of the Chosenspikes when players enter active combat. The game’s advanced cover, high ground, and new concealment mechanics can quickly turn the tide of combat in a single turn. A player’s tendency to be outnumbered also forces them to make more deliberate decisions, punishing them for slight mistakes with relentless enemy assaults.
FromSoftware’s recent foray into theSouls-like genre comes in the form ofElden Ring, where players take the role of the Tarnished tasked to restore order by reforming the eponymous Elden Ring. Unlike much of theSoulsgames where its “open” world is divided into instanced areas,Elden Ringgives players access to a large explorable open world. The game also offers new features such as a mount (Torrent), and special attacks via Ashes.
Being aSouls-like game,Elden Ringboasts a mechanical difficultythat requires players to memorize attack patterns and perfect defensive maneuvers. Moreover,Elden Ring’s extremely open premise can leave players unintentionally missing out on important items in the early areas (and even the entire tutorial mode). The open world also tends to leave players vulnerable to wandering enemies, forcing them to take extra precaution.
Despite its age,Dark Souls 2becomes a decent introduction to theSoulsseries. WhileDark Souls 2players also have opportunities to adjust the game’s difficulty via in-game mechanics, the title makes beneficial items accessible in the early game. Among theSoulsgames, these changesmakeDark Souls 2more beginner-friendly.
However, these perks in no way imply the game is any easier. On top of a challenging tutorial boss, the game punishes player deaths by reducing a percentage of their maximum health. Moreover, a clunkier moveset and tougher stage enemies overall make the game’s movement and timing-reliant combat harder to pull off.
Gameplay inKingdom Come: Deliveranceprioritizes realism over intense combat, showing howprotagonist Henry’s quest for vengeance could get difficult considering his nature as a mere blacksmith’s son. To create a realistic experience in the game’s version of 15th-century Bohemia, the game boasts a 16-item armor system, gear management, skill challenges, and even a sleep/hunger system.
While the life sim aspect of the game can already challenge players, combat inKingdom Come: Deliveranceis more punishing. Henry borders on the useless when wielding a weapon for the first time, and he quite literally has to practice to learn new techniques. Fights heavily rely on positioning and timing, with the speed and weight of one’s blow a decisive factor in skirmishes.
Players who want a fantasy take on the survival concept may appreciateOutward: Definitive Edition, where players begin as shipwreck survivors whose first order of business is to either pay off a tremendous debt or lose their family holdings. This rather unfair situation is just the beginning ofthe punishing gameplay ofOutward, where its autosave system that rewrites saves upon death challenges players to think about their actions carefully.
The game’s approach to extreme difficulty is a highlight of its survival system. Even finding basic gear can get complicated for players, with common foes becoming lethal when confronted incorrectly. Magic, while existing, is also extremely difficult to acquire.
