GTA 6 Needs a 96 to Beat Xbox's Best Game of 2026

With just over a month until Grand Theft Auto 6 arrives, the race to crown the best games of 2026 is entering its final stretch. But before Rockstar’s long-awaited return to Vice City dominates the conversation, Xbox already has a leaderboard worth looking at.

According to Metacritic’s Xbox game rankings, as reported by Pure Xbox, Hades 2 currently sits at the top with a 95 Metascore, followed by Resident Evil Requiem at 93 and Mixtape at 92. The results offer an interesting picture of Xbox gaming in 2026. Established franchises have delivered some of the year's highest-rated releases, while smaller and less conventional games have earned their place alongside major productions.

Here are the 10 highest-rated Xbox games of 2026 according to the reported Xbox-specific Metacritic rankings, and what their positions tell us about the year's Game of the Year race.

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Metacritic's top 10 Xbox games of 2026

1. Hades 2 — 95/100

Hades 2 is the game everyone else has to catch. With a Metascore of 95, it leads the Xbox-specific ranking by two points over the second-place title and sets an exceptionally high bar for anything hoping to claim the year's top spot.

Supergiant Games' action roguelike builds on the formula established by the original Hades, bringing players into a new mythological conflict centred on Melinoë. Its position at the top suggests that a sequel does not need to reinvent everything to stand out; it needs to deliver on what made its predecessor work while giving players a compelling reason to return.

The bigger question is whether any remaining release can match that critical reception. For now, Hades 2 is the benchmark.

2. Resident Evil Requiem — 93/100

Resident Evil Requiem takes second place with a score of 93, giving Capcom another strong showing for its long-running survival horror franchise.

Its position is notable because Requiem sits just two points behind Hades 2. That leaves it firmly in the conversation among 2026's most acclaimed Xbox releases, even with the year's biggest remaining blockbuster still ahead.

For players choosing what to play before the Game of the Year discussions begin, Resident Evil Requiem is one of the clearest critical standouts on the platform.

3. Mixtape — 92/100

Mixtape takes third place with a 92, putting it ahead of several larger releases.

Its presence is a useful reminder that the highest-rated games do not always come from the industry's biggest franchises. The game's position also highlights how a strong critical response can put a less conventional release in direct competition with major action, horror and racing titles.

There is another reason to pay attention to its score: the ranking changes when reviews from other platforms are considered. That difference becomes important when comparing Xbox's best performers with the games competing for the overall Game of the Year conversation.

4. Forza Horizon 6 — 90/100

Forza Horizon 6 is fourth with a 90, making it one of the strongest entries in Xbox's racing lineup this year.

Racing games can sometimes struggle to receive the same awards-season attention as major action-adventure releases, but Forza Horizon 6 has secured a place among the year's highest-rated games.

Its score also makes it one of the more recognisable names near the top of the ranking. While it trails the three leaders, a 90 still puts it comfortably among the critical standouts on Xbox.

5. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve — 88/100

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve occupies fifth place with an 88.

The flight-combat series has a dedicated audience, and its appearance in the top five gives the ranking some variety beyond horror, racing and action games.

It also shows how competitive the middle of the leaderboard has become. The gap between fifth place and the top three is noticeable, but the 88 puts Ace Combat 8 among the year's better-reviewed Xbox releases.

6. 007 First Light — 88/100

007 First Light shares an 88 Metascore with Ace Combat 8, placing it sixth in the reported Xbox ranking.

The James Bond game is another major licensed property in a year that has produced a varied collection of highly rated releases.

Its score puts it within striking distance of the top five, although the leaderboard is ultimately a reflection of accumulated critic reviews rather than a direct prediction of awards success.