5 new Xbox games to play in May 2026

It's a big month for RPG fans and train enthusiasts

After a very busy five months, new game releases are slowing down in 2026. The current game release calendar for June is looking much slimmer than May, which was filled with more excellent games than one could possibly play in one month. June looks like it will be a great backlog month for anyone who’s looking to catch up on some of the year’s best games — that is, unless Summer Game Fest brings some surprise shadow drops.

That doesn’t mean that there aren’t some exciting games dropping this month, though. Xbox players in particular will have plenty to try out while Nintendo Switch 2 owners are off playing Star Fox. From one of the year’s most anticipated RPGs to an indie about a skateboarding train, these are the five games that should be on every Xbox Series X owner’s radar this June.

1 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Release date: June 3

The timed PS5 exclusivity window for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is up, which means that the massive RPG is finally coming to Xbox Series X on June 3. While the second part of Square Enix’s ambitious remake trilogy is two years old at this point, it’s still worth diving into if you haven’t had a chance to yet. The sequel opens up Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s corridor structure with mini open-world maps that give you plenty to do. That includes Queen’s Blood, Rebirth’s fantastic card minigame that will be expanded in the trilogy’s final game. Just be prepared for an emotional (though tweaked) journey if you know the original Final Fantasy 7.

2 Gothic 1 Remake

Release date: June 5

We’re currently living in the age of remakes, where even games that hardly need a touch-up are getting unnecessary overhauls. Gothic 1 Remake, on the other hand, is a juicier proposition. Alkimia Interactive is out to modernize 2001 genre classic Gothic with a faithful Unreal Engine 5 glow-up. It’s comparable to last year’s The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, but even more impressive in scope. Aside from its visual overhaul, the remake sports a revamped combat system that brings it in line with its modern RPG contemporaries. If Alkimia can pull it off come June 5, it should teach younger players about an RPG series that isn’t as celebrated today as Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest.

3 Denshattack!

Release date: June 17

If you’re on the hunt for this month’s breakout indie, Denshattack! is the game to watch. The oddball game, which looks like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater but with a train, has been turning heads ever since it was first revealed. It’s easy to see why as soon as you lay eyes on any of its bonkers trailers. With its killer visual style, over-the-top action, and undeniably awesome elevator pitch, Denshattack! is the kind of summer game that should get everyone who loves oddball games talking. Make sure to check it out when it launches on June 17 or get left in the dust.

4 The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales

Release date: June 18

In a month that’s surprisingly loaded with chunky RPGs, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales might just steal the show. That should come as no surprise if you’re familiar with the work of developer Team Asano, which is co-developing the game with Claytechworks. The team behind Octopath Traveler knows how to make a modern-retro RPG with gorgeous HD-2D pixel art and beefy systems for players to dig into. The Adventures of Elliot is no different, even if it’s more of an ode to Zelda than classic turn-based RPGs. Considering what we’ve demoed already, it could be Square Enix’s next big game. We’ll find out on June 18.

5 Dead or Alive 6: Last Round

Release date: June 25

For anyone looking for a new multiplayer game to check out this month, there’s Dead or Alive 6: Last Round on June 25. It’s a revamped version of 2019’s Dead or Alive 6, optimized for the Xbox Series X and PS5 console generation. With that package, you’re getting a souped-up version of a good 3D fighting game that could have benefited from a tune-up. You’ll get access to all the original game’s roster, including its five DLC fighters. Last Round also adds a Photo Mode if that’s the sort of thing you like toying around with in a fighting game. Considering that Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls is still two months away, Last Round sounds like a perfectly fun stopgap.