The Woodstock of gaming is here as QuakeCon 2025 takes center stage, flooding the weekend with BYOC (bring your own computer) events, tournaments, and the irresistible pull of nostalgia. But between panels and livestreams, there’s still a latent reminder to pick up controllers and celebrate what unites players at such big events: good games. This weekend offers plenty of time to dive into a great game on Xbox Series X/S - or four if a player is inspired by this list. This week’s picks connect to the current gaming scene in different ways, whether they relate to QuakeCon excitement, explore new trends, or hint at upcoming releases.
From a blockbuster Game Pass adventure to a tactical shooter heating up on social media, this weekend’s lineup has a little bit of everything. And if one is more in the mood for chaotic, large-scale warfare or a grounded medieval RPG, those bases are covered too. Clear some space on the calendar, because these Xbox titles are calling everyone’s name.
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
It’s hard to think of a better weekend to crack Indy's whip than QuakeCon weekend. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is front and center on Game Pass, making it an easy pick for fans ready to dive into one of gaming’s most adventurous and relatively recent releases. Packed with puzzles, daring escapes, and enough historical intrigue to make even Dr. Jones proud, it’s a perfect bridge between QuakeCon’s ZeniMax Media spotlight and the urge to explore a richly crafted world.
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s story drops Indy into a globe-trotting race to uncover the secrets of the titular Great Circle. And most importantly, the game follows him as he attempts to stop the evildoers who are seeking to harness a power connected to it. Players will traverse ancient ruins, bustling cities, and treacherous landscapes while piecing together a mystery steeped in myth and history. Along the way, expect the familiar mix of whip combat, stealth, and quick thinking that makes this a quintessential Indiana Jones adventure. As a fun fact to situate true Indiana Jones fans, this game is set between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- December 9, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- MachineGames
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Engine
- id Tech 7
WHERE TO PLAY
Uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a first-person, single-player adventure set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them - Indiana Jones™. You’ll become the legendary archaeologist in this cinematic action-adventure game from MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, and executive produced by Hall of Fame game designer Todd Howard.
YOU ARE INDIANA JONES
Live the adventure as Indy in a thrilling story full of exploration, immersive action, and intriguing puzzles. As the brilliant archaeologist – famed for his keen intellect, cunning resourcefulness, and trademark humor – you will travel the world in a race against enemy forces to discover the secrets to one of the greatest mysteries of all time.
A WORLD OF MYSTERY AWAITS
Travel from the halls of Marshall College to the heart of the Vatican, the pyramids of Egypt, the sunken temples of Sukhothai, and beyond. When a break-in in the dead of night ends in a confrontation with a mysterious colossal man, you must set out to discover the world-shattering secret behind the theft of a seemingly unimportant artifact. Forging new alliances and facing familiar enemies, you’ll engage with intriguing characters, use guile and wits to solve ancient riddles, and survive intense set-pieces.
WHIP-CRACKING ACTION
Indiana’s trademark whip remains at the heart of his gear and can be used to distract, disarm, and attack enemies. But the whip isn’t just a weapon, it’s Indy’s most valuable tool for navigating the environment. Swing over unsuspecting patrols and scale walls as you make your way through a striking world. Combine stealth infiltration, melee combat, and gunplay to combat the enemy threat and unravel the mystery.
THE SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY
Venture through a dynamic mix of linear, narrative-driven gameplay and open-area maps. Indulge your inner explorer and unearth a world of fascinating secrets, deadly traps,and fiendish puzzles, where anything could potentially hide the next piece of the mystery – or snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?
Ready or Not
Sometimes, a game surges in popularity not because of a new update or sale, but because it hits consoles at the right moment. Ready or Not has been having exactly that kind of week on social media, with clips of tense, tactical SWAT gameplay drawing in new players daily. Its methodical pacing and realistic approach to law enforcement scenarios make it a refreshing change from the run-and-gun chaos of more arcade-style shooters. And with Ready or Not’s August update, the best time to jump into the hype is now.
In Ready or Not, players can customize characters who either command or work alongside a squad from the fictional Los Sueños Police Department. Players get to tackle high-stakes missions triggered by criminals and terrorists. The game’s gritty tone and unforgiving difficulty force you to plan carefully, communicate clearly, and execute with precision. It’s not just about reflexes—it’s about staying cool under pressure.
Ready or Not
- Released
- December 13, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Users Interact
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, FPS
Battlefield 2042
While Battlefield 6’s open beta is live now, its maps have come under fire from some veterans for being too small - meaning there’s no better time to jump back into Battlefield 2042. Even if a player missed its rocky launch, the game has evolved into a solid, large-scale shooter with improved balance, new content, and more refined maps. Playing it now is a great way to shake off the rust before the full release of the next installment, and it offers the large-scale battles BF6's beta only dabbles with.
The game offers sprawling fights across land, sea, and air, with up to 128 players in chaotic, objective-driven warfare. Whether one is parachuting into a hot zone, piloting a jet, or providing sniper cover from a distance, Battlefield 2042 thrives on the unpredictability of its sandboxes. It’s the kind of game where no two matches ever feel quite the same, giving a player hundreds of reasons to play “just one more round.”
Battlefield 2042
- Released
- November 19, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
Kingdom Come: Deliverance – Royal Edition
If anyone has been waiting for the right moment to play Kingdom Come: Deliverance, this weekend is the perfect time to catch up. Not only is the Royal Edition experiencing a major sale on Xbox, but it’s also the perfect warm-up for the upcoming Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s Legacy of the Forge DLC. If a player starts now, by the time they finish both games, the new DLC will likely be around the corner for a gander.
Set in a realistic recreation of medieval Bohemia, Kingdom Come: Deliverance strips away fantasy tropes in favor of grounded historical storytelling. Players follow Henry, the adoptive son of a blacksmith, as he’s swept into the chaos of war and political intrigue after losing his family to a raid. Driven by a desire to avenge his family, Henry enlists under Lord Radzig to oppose the invader, King Sigismund, who is vying for the Bohemian throne against his brother. With an emphasis on survival, skill progression, and historically accurate combat, it’s an RPG experience unlike any other on the market.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 72 /100 Critics Rec: 48%
- Released
- February 13, 2018
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Warhorse Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Deep Silver
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG