Best Offline Xbox Series X/S & Xbox One Games

While modern technology has improved video games as a medium tremendously, it also means some people occasionally get left behind. For gamers without internet access or more commonly poor-quality internet service, many aspects of modern games can't be enjoyed by them.

Luckily, as video games have improved as a whole, so have single-player experiences that don't require internet access. Despite almost launching as an online-only console, the Xbox consoles are now home to a wide selection of fantastic games that don't require an internet connection to enjoy. What are the best offline Xbox games?

Updated October 12, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Galleries and updated specs have been added for every offline Xbox Series and Xbox One game mentioned below. Also, a huge JRPG has just hit the scene.

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Another Atlus Masterpiece

At this point, it is starting to seem like Atlus knows a thing or two about crafting immaculate JRPGs. Releasing on Xbox just a few months after Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance, which is also an easy recommendation for anyone remotely interested in turn-based, demon-collecting goodness, Metaphor: ReFantazio marks a bold new era for the publisher, one built on decades of growth and experience. Rather than a contemporary setting, the 2024 project drops players into a fantasy realm amid political turmoil born out of a deceased monarchy and the rise of a rat race to claim power. Consequently, players must go on an expansive journey to claim the throne, and it is anything but simple.

Metaphor: ReFantazio showcases Atlus at its provocative best, telling a story rich in scope, personality, and complexity. As more of this world is revealed, players get a holistic view of its biases, tragedies, vices, and humanity. The turn-based combat sticks fairly close to the standard Megami Tensei formula, albeit with an array of new features, twists, and adjustments. Metaphor utilizes a flexible class system that allows players to assign an Archetype to any of the playable characters, and they can be changed too. This lends itself to highly customizable parties and a strong sense of progression that keeps combat feeling fresh.

Baldur's Gate 3

A Long, Deep, & Replayable RPG That Gets Nearly Everything Right

Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 took a while to launch on the Xbox Series X/S, but like on every other console, the RPG was well worth the wait. Similar to something like The Witcher 3, BG3 was genre-defining and set the bar higher for every other project on the market. While an argument could be made that Larian previously accomplished this feat with Divinity: Original Sin 2, that game did not really capture the cultural zeitgeist, despite being brilliant. The same cannot be said for the 2023 release, which was an unprecedented success, especially since modern turn-based Western RPGs are not particularly mainstream.

In terms of quality, Baldur's Gate 3 is a tour-de-force on nearly every level. The game excels in customization, world-building, NPC interactions, and combat, all of which combine to create an experience that varies greatly from player to player. While supporting online co-op, Larian's masterpiece can be played offline without problems. The RPG should even be receiving a physical release in 2024.

Cuphead

A Tough-As-Nails Boss Rush Game WIth Stunning Visuals

Cuphead, a game that has since branched out to other consoles, was originally a crown jewel for the Xbox. The beautifully animated run-and-gun boss rush game inspires nostalgic feelings in more than just the art department. The game is challenging, often even unfair, but it rarely gets to a point where the player feels the urge to put the game down. There's just something so addictive about running into a boss over and over again while looking for that big win.

Cuphead is a perfect offline Xbox One experience. All the content is available on download or with a physical copy. It even has couch co-op, a rarity in the gaming scene today. It's a budget game with a perfectly proportioned experience. It's worth playing on a rainy day.

Ori And The Will of the Wisps

A Stunning Xbox Metroidvania With Powerful Storytelling

Ori and the Blind Forest is a Metroidvania title that boasts a gorgeous art style, great music, and incredible level design. While other Metroidvania's have a habit of feeling bloated and overdone, Oristayed its welcome at the perfect length and knew when to pull at the player's heartstrings. It wasn't a surprise to see a sequel, Will of the Wisps, get greenlit.

In terms of new Xbox titles, Will of the Wispshas everything great about the first title but with an even better art style and narrative. The game is gorgeous, plays great, and tells an emotional story without much dialogue. Although the title is also available on Nintendo Switch, it was originally home to the Xbox and plays the best on that platform. With no online features, it's an ideal game to play without the internet.

Resident Evil 4 Remake

Revisiting An Action-Horror Classic

Capcom has been on a roll since roughly the release of Resident Evil 7, and, going by the company's 2023 projects, that is not going to change anytime soon. 2005's Resident Evil 4 is one of the greatest and most influential survival horror games of all time, and it has been ported to most modern systems. In fact, a remaster is available on Xbox One for anyone who wants to revisit the original version; conversely, they can pick up the 2023 remake, which managed to do the impossible and (nearly) live up to its legacy.

Narratively, the remake sticks close to its predecessor, although there are enough changes to make the overall campaign feel like a somewhat fresh experience rather than just a rethread drenched in a fresh coat of paint. Unsurprisingly, Resident Evil 4 tweaks the gameplay and controls quite a bit, stepping away from the original's tank controls.

Sunset Overdrive

Do Not Ignore This Xbox One Gem

Insomniac Games' Sunset Overdrivehas been somewhat forgotten since debuting in 2014 as an early Xbox One exclusive. A PC port introduced the game to a wider audience, but it still firmly exists in the shadow of Insomniac's other recent releases such as Marvel's Spider-Manand Ratchet & Clank. Set in a city where grind rails are just the best way to travel, Sunset Overdrivegets movement spot on, crafting an experience where the basic action of traversal is inherently enjoyable.

Colorful visuals and a lighthearted tone enhance the sense of chaos presented by Sunset Overdrive's gameplay, even if the comedy can be a bit hit-and-miss. Fans of the studio's other projects should not skip this one.

Hogwarts Legacy

A Magical Escape

Putting subjective opinion aside for the moment, Hogwarts Legacy was undoubtedly one of 2023's biggest releases. The Harry Potter game was always destined to perform reasonably well, but it has been nothing short of a massive success. Avalanche's single-player project allows players to live out their Wizarding World fantasies as they attend Hogwarts roughly a century prior to the events of the novels and movies.

Hogwarts Legacy shines through its ability to immerse fans in a setting they are already deeply familiar with, but a pre-existing love for everything Harry Potter is not required to enjoy this open-world title. Hogwarts Legacy also has a fun combat system, a decent story, serviceable side quests, and memorable NPCs.

Hi-Fi Rush

The Type Of Game That Should Define Xbox

Toward the end of January 2023, Hi-Fi Rush suddenly dropped onto Xbox Game Pass without much warning. Tango's hack and slash title differentiates itself from the competition by throwing a rhythm game into the mix; when synched to the beat, the player's actions receive a boost in performance, be it delivering more damage in combat or allowing for multiple dodges in quick succession. Even the enemies' attacks move to the music.

Hi-Fi Rush is the full package. The gameplay is fantastic and accessible, the graphics are gorgeous, the story is silly but enjoyable, and the characters are frequently hilarious. It might have come as a surprise, but this release is one of the best offline Xbox games on the market.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

FromSoftware Just Does Not Miss

FromSoftware can be credited with games that helped define a genre and a generation of action RPGs. Souls-likes only exist because the team did incredible work in the past. However, Souls games benefit from online interactions and PVP. This is not the case with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, a single-player action-adventure game that pushes players to the limits in terms of difficulty.

Sekirohas a great atmosphere and natural storytelling, like the other Soulsborne titles. However, Sekirois a very refined experience by comparison, with a set character and a set of skills that don't develop too drastically over the course of the game. The player has to get good with Sekiro's moves if they want a chance of beating the game. This title was great enough to win Game of the Year at the Game Awards in 2019, and it's worth playing anytime.

Pentiment

A Unique Trip Through History With Fantastic Writing

An Obsidian release is always a reason to celebrate, and Pentiment stands alongside the studio's greatest projects even if it does not have the same mass appeal as Fallout: New Vegas or The Outer Worlds. Utilizing a unique visual style rooted in the game's 16th-century setting, Pentiment follows an artist who moves to a small town and becomes entangled in a murder mystery that spans more than two decades. The campaign is structured around different arcs set years apart, but the stories are all connected and the player's actions ripple throughout the entire narrative.

Pentiment highlights Obsidian's mastery of storytelling. Even if the game presents itself on essentially a flat canvas, its world is three-dimensional and complex. Players could become so immersed in this town that they will likely yearn to speak to every NPC they can, but time does not stand still in Pentiment. Choices matter in this adventure game.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Still The Standard Setting Of Open-World RPGs

The (almost) undisputed game of the year from 2015, The Witcher 3: Wild Huntis as long as it is deep. This RPG epic is packed full of amazing stories and combat systems that any RPG lover would enjoy.

Newcomers to the series should not be deterred by the "3" in the title as this game is pretty easy to pick up without having played the other two titles, both of which are good but not nearly as good as Wild Hunt. The RPG has no online features and plenty of gameplay to keep you entertained for hours.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

Current-Gen Visuals And A Strong Story

Permitting it is being played on the Xbox Series X/S, PS5, or a PC, A Plague Tale: Requiem does not require an internet connection. The action-adventure game builds beautifully on its predecessor, 2019's Innocence, to craft a harrowing story about survival, sacrifice, and corruption.

As Amicia, players need to navigate hordes of plague-infested rats all the while trying to stay ahead of the French Inquisition. Requiem is among the most visually impressive games on the Xbox Series X/S, and it also tells one of 2022's most memorable gaming storylines.

Gears Of War 5 (Campaign)

Expanding On A Winning Formula

Following the decent but unspectacular Gears of War 4, the Xbox first-party property came back in a big way with its fifth numbered entry. Gears 5shifts focus to Kait Diaz and also opts for a more open-level design, dropping the Gears in areas that can be freely explored. The gunplay is as smooth and impactful as ever, while the story has a strong sense of mystery and sets up the next chapter in the saga well.

Only Gears 5's campaign can be played offline, providing roughly 10–15 hours of content. Horde and Escape cannot be accessed since they utilize cloud gaming.

Tunic

A Zelda-Style Adventure

Nintendo's Link will never feature in an Xbox game, but that does not mean there are no Zelda-like experiences on Microsoft's consoles. Tunic is one such title, and it succeeds in taking inspiration from The Legend of Zelda's isometric era without coming across as a blatant rip-off. This particular influence shines through Tunic's colorful aesthetic, puzzles, free-roaming world, and item-gated exploration. While the combat revolves around weapons that will be familiar to Zelda fans, the actual gameplay is closer to something like Dark Souls.

Tunic is a throwback to classic action-adventure games that does not come across as antiquated or retro. Overflowing with charm and packing a reasonable challenge, this indie darling is simply a delight.

Psychonauts 2

A Mind-Bending Journey In The Best Possible Way

After a very long wait, Double Fine finally released its Psychonautssequel, and the 2021 game was more than worth the wait. As a platformer, Psychonauts 2's gameplay is decent but unspectacular; it gets the job done, with Raz's Psi-Powers being by far the most enjoyable mechanic in the game.

On the other hand, Psychonauts 2's story and world-building are incredible, not just for the platformer genre but for gaming in general. Psychonauts 2deals with grief, regret, family, and responsibility. It is an ambitious game that combines lofty ideas with vibrant visuals and unforgettable characters.

Elden Ring

FromSoftware's Soulslike Masterpiece

As Elden Ring fuses an online component into its single-player campaign, an offline playthrough takes something away from the overall experience. That said, FromSoftware's ambitious RPG is still brilliant when played without an internet connection.

The Lands Between is an unforgiving place filled with terrifying monstrosities, stunning locations, and secrets. In some ways, playing Elden Ring offline enriches the game's sense of isolation and dread.

Devil May Cry 5

One Great Combat System? Nah, How About Three!

After the polarizing DmC: Devil May Cry, Capcom steadied the ship by returning to the original timeline. Devil May Cry 5marked a significant return to form for the franchise, and the game also took plenty of risks. Gone are the anime-style visuals in favor of more realistic graphics, while Dante is presented as a secondary character who shares the spotlight with Devil May Cry 4's Nero and a new figure named V.

Along with offering plenty of variety, DMC 5's combat is fast-paced, precise, and (naturally) stylish. Each character's moveset is unique and fully developed, allowing the rather long campaign to never become boring.

Control

Great Concept, Setting, & Gameplay

The Twin Peaks-inspired third-person shooter is a wild ride through sci-fi insanity that gets crazier and more interesting with every mission. The game sees Jesse Faden enter the Federal Bureau of Control, the federal agency in charge of dealing with incidents that defy the laws of reality.

The bureau has been evaded by an enemy called the Hiss and she must deal with them to find her brother. This puzzle/shooter mystery is a bonkers adventure that is filled to the brim with lore. The game has tons to offer through its 15–20 hours of gameplay and shouldn't be overlooked just for being weird.

Hades

A Roguelite Gem With So Much Replayvalue

Supergiant Games can be relied upon to deliver excellent single-player experiences, and Hadesmight just be the studio's masterpiece. The roguelite follows Hades' son, Zagreus, as he attempts to make his way from the Underworld to Mount Olympus, a journey that will definitely entail a couple of resurrections. Unlike most other roguelikes, Hadesdoes not reset after each failure and also features a continuously evolving storyline that takes Zagreus' deaths into account.

Frantic but rarely overwhelming, Hades' gameplay is accessible while still offering a lot of depth and customization for those willing to learn and unlock everything the game has to offer.

Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition

Setting The Standard For Indie Metroidvanias

One of the best "Metroidvania" style games to come out in recent years, this gothic 2D platformer has a beautiful art style to wrap together with its challenging combat and interesting story. This game is difficult, but it never feels like the game is cheating you.

The puzzles and exploration of the game are very interesting and complex without being difficult to the point of halting progression. The game's follow-up Hollow Knight: Silksongis currently being developed so get your homework done now and play this fantastic title.

Stardew Valley

The Eternal Farming Sim

This Harvest Moon-inspired title is the best version of the farm simulator games that exist, and Stardew Valleyis fantastic for everyone of any age. This title features every aspect from fishing to farming to mining to kindling relationships. The art style and the world are incredible, taking on a 2D style.

Stardew Valley has incredible depth and possibilities when it comes to how a player goes about earning a living and breathing life back into this small town. This game could easily absorb someone's life and entertain them for hours upon hours while they perfect their virtual farm.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge

A Blast Solo Or With Friends

A throwback to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' beat 'em up glory days, Shredder's Revenge wears its '90s influence proudly, all the while still being a modern interpretation of the franchise's classic releases. While not unheard of in this day and age, beat 'em ups are certainly niche, and the genre rarely produces new titles that make a significant mainstream splash. Shredder's Revenge's success could be credited to its license, although it has probably more to do with the fact that it was the first great TMNT game in roughly two decades. Fans were starved for some heroes in a half-shell goodness.

As a co-op beat 'em up, Shredder's Revenge obviously incorporates online support since that is simply standard practice for modern releases; however, the game can be played offline without much issue. Supporting up to 6-player couch co-op, the title is designed to facilitate multiplayer, and the combat system even includes mechanics that promote cooperative play. That said, Shredder's Revenge is still fun solo, and players can look forward to trying out different characters as they extend their time with the game.

Red Dead Redemption 2 (Story Mode)

Rockstar's Western Epic

Similar to GTA 5, Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption 2can also be played without internet, although this is mainly for physical copies and on Xbox One designated as a home console. Even more so than Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption 2 presents a powerful and satisfying story that requires roughly 50 hours to complete, and that can easily balloon to double that size.

Set in 1899, Rdr2follows Arthur Morgan, an outlaw who has been part of the Van der Linde gang for most of his life. Morgan's development is fantastic, as is the journey the game takes players on.