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Xbox fans have plenty of games to look forward to as 2021 comes to a close. November and December alone are seeing some amazing Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S releases, including titles like Halo Infinite and Microsoft Flight Simulator: Game of the Year Edition. Now that holiday sales have arrived, it’s the best time to grab copies of these new releases to stay entertained all winter long. Here are the best Xbox games coming in the 2021 holiday season.

Microsoft Flight Simulator: Game of the Year Edition, releasing on Xbox during the holiday 2021 season
‘Microsoft Flight Simulator’ | Xbox

‘Microsoft Flight Simulator: Game of the Year Edition’ — Nov. 18

The Xbox and PC-exclusive Microsoft Flight Simulator series has been around for decades. In fact, it’s become one of Microsoft’s longest-running software. Players control various aircraft and complete flights all around the globe. The newest installment brought breathtakingly beautiful sky scenes to Xbox Series X|S in 2020, and many fans used the game as a way to travel the world virtually during coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns.

In celebration of Microsoft Flight Simulator’s success, Xbox released an enhanced version, called Game of the Year Edition, on Nov. 18. Those who already have the game can receive a free update with the enhancements, while new customers can purchase the newer edition. According to Xbox, the game received new content and quality-of-life improvements.

‘Minecraft Caves & Cliffs Update Part 2’ — Nov. 30

OK, this one isn’t a new title, but it is a pretty huge and highly-anticipated content drop. In just a few days, Minecraft players can expect to receive Part 2 of the Caves and Cliffs update. Over the summer, Part 1 added new blocks and tools to the sandbox game. Now, fans will see some changes to the appearances of the mountains and caves. The cave systems will become more intricate, while some mountains will become even taller.

Minecraft’s Caves and Cliffs Update Part 2 arrives on Nov. 30. And after that, fans will see another colossal update coming down the pipe: The Wild Update.

‘Chorus’ — Dec. 3

Chorus comes with a very unique concept: a sentient plane. Fishlabs and Deep Silver’s space combat game follows a character named Nara as she pilots her aircraft, named Forsaken. Players can use Nara and Forsaken to complete various quests across the open-world galaxy, but of course, the adventure does come with combat. Weapons like missile launchers and lasers will aid players in their missions.

Eager fans can pre-order Chorus for Xbox Series X|S now.

‘Halo Infinite’ — Dec. 8

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Another highly-anticipated holiday 2021 Xbox release is Halo Infinite. The first-person shooter game comes as the sixth in a long-running Halo franchise. Players control Master Chief, a military officer and supersoldier, as they attempt to discover a new type of artificial intelligence.

Developer 343 Industries gave Halo fans a pleasant surprise in November — the studio released Halo Infinite’s multiplayer mode early. However, those who want to try the single-player campaign will need to wait until Dec. 8. The game is available for pre-order now. Additionally, players with an Xbox Game Pass subscription can access Halo infinite via the Game Pass library on launch day.