Bringing amazing games to the forefront of the gaming world is a core part of our mission. We aim to spread the joy and camaraderie of gaming across the globe. Today, more than ever, almost any screen can be transformed into an Xbox, showcasing the remarkable array of games crafted by talented developers from every corner of the world. These teams are the heart and soul behind unforgettable gaming experiences that captivate and inspire players of all ages. As a token of appreciation for the brilliant minds creating these games, we are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Xbox Excellence Awards, celebrating the games players loved most this year.
With over a thousand games making their debut on Xbox consoles, PCs, and the cloud every year, determining the winners might seem like a simple task of assembling a panel. However, these awards specifically highlight the way you, the players, engaged with Xbox over the past year. To compile this list, we focused on four essential categories that reflect players’ enthusiasm and affection:
- Store Rating: This includes the highest-rated content across our stores, released in 2024, based on a minimum of 500 ratings.
- Player Engagement: Games drawing the highest average hours per player in their first six weeks.
- Daily Active Users: Recognizing games, expansions, or major updates with the top single-day active user counts in 2024. Some titles here might have launched earlier but underwent significant updates recently.
- Units Sold: Tracking the best-selling content across Xbox and Microsoft stores.
The final list showcases a diverse lineup of titles created by studios ranging in size from just a handful to thousands of developers, spanning 15 countries worldwide. Below, you’ll find the titles for each category, arranged alphabetically:
| Store Rating | Player Engagement | Daily Active Users | Units Sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balatro | Dragon Age: The Veilguard | Apex Legends | 7 Days to Die |
| Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden | Dragon’s Dogma 2 | Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 | Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora |
| Botany Manor | EA Sports College Football 25 | Dead Island 2 | Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 |
| Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth | EA Sports FC 25 | Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred | Dragon Age: The Veilguard |
| Little Kitty, Big City | F1 Manager 2024 | EA Sports College Football 25 | Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero |
| Lollipop Chainsaw RePop | Farming Simulator 25 | EA Sports FC 25 | Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree |
| Metaphor: ReFantazio | EA Sports Madden NFL 25 | Fortnite | Farming Simulator 25 |
| Nobody Wants to Die | Fallout 4 | Forza Horizon 5 | Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth |
| Persona 3 Reload | MLB The Show 24 | Grand Theft Auto Online | Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 |
| Poppy Playtime: Chapter 1, 2, 3 | NBA 2K25 | NBA 2K25 | NHL 25 |
| Return to Grace | NHL 25 | Palworld | Palworld |
| Rounds | Path of Exile 2 | Phasmophobia | Roblox |
| Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II | Skull and Bones | Rocket League | Sonic x Shadow Generations |
| Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance | Star Wars Outlaws | S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart of Chornobyl | Star Wars Outlaws |
| Still Wakes the Deep | The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria | The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria | Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege |
| Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 | Unicorn Overlord | Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 | WWE 2K24 |
Very soon, developers and publishers will be receiving their well-deserved trophies, so keep an eye out for their unique ways of celebrating!
Are you thinking about trying out the award-winning games that so many players have enjoyed? Check out the selection of games honored with the Xbox Excellence Award for 2024, right on the Xbox Store.
