10 Best FMV Games on Xbox Series X|S (January 2026)

Many of the realistic games of today are aiming for characters who move and behave like we do. They want to capture believable facial expressions and actions that feel natural. But even sprites, animations, 3D models, computer-generated graphics, or even AI struggle to achieve that deep sense of realism. 

Well, developers have long since found the best alternative in FMV, or full-motion videos. Since the arcade days, they’ve used live-action films of actual people to create interactive games. Players make choices that affect the story’s outcome while enjoying a truly immersive tale. 

With your next-gen console on hand, be sure to check out the following best FMV games on Xbox Series X/S today.

10. Not for Broadcast

The news has much more influence on the world than we give it credit for. And in Not for Broadcast, you’re put on the steering wheel of spearheading the narrative the nation hears and acts on. What’s more ridiculous is that you’re the news station’s janitor, stepping in for the news editor who has gone MIA.

There are definitely lots of laugh-out-loud moments throughout your playthrough, with some jokes pretty dark. Yet, all falling in line with the current political propaganda you have to deal with. Can you wisely select the segments that should go on air? Which parts of the broadcast are best left out of the stream? The ball is in your court. 

9. Love is All Around

I know you’ve secretly wondered how you’d do in one of those dating shows, especially if you’re the bachelor or bachelorette, choosing from the contestants. Well, Love is All Around gives you the ultimate “dating show” experience. You’re Gu Yi, meeting six lovely ladies vying for your hand in marriage. 

The girls each have different personalities. Some are sweet, others sexy, others pretty smart. It can be tricky picking who to take to the final round. But the fun is definitely in the journey of it all, making it one of the best FMV games on Xbox Series X/S.

8. Dark Nights With Poe And Munro

Each of the six TV-like episodes in Dark Nights With Poe And Munro seems crazier than the last. You’re dealing with a stalker at one point and a vengeful ghost the next. The game certainly doesn’t hesitate to throw the strangest and supernatural things your way.

And it’s the surprises that keep you glued to the drama unfolding on screen. The chemistry between the local radio hosts, Poe and Munro, is entertaining on its own. But so are the absurd events in August town that they have to deal with. 

7. The Complex

If you’re looking for a sci-fi thriller, you can’t go wrong with The Complex. It takes place after a bio-weapon attack on London, leading to two scientists getting trapped in an underground lab with limited time and air. 

Just as its name implies, The Complex weaves truly complicated narratives that take a while to unwind. It makes for a perfectly replayable FMV game, assessing the details you might have missed. Moreover, it has eight distinct endings that you’ll want to chase down. Be sure to use backwards compatibility to play the game on Xbox Series X/S.

6. Telling Lies

Do you have what it takes to be a detective? Telling Lies might be your ultimate test, assessing the secret video recordings of four people living separate lives. But somewhere in their stories lies a connection, a deep central mystery you must unravel. While searching for the truth, you easily get lost in the story, deeply engaged in the narrative arcs that follow.

5. Five Dates

Another rom-com you might want to check out among the best FMV games on Xbox Series X/S is Five Dates. It brings back the COVID-19 days when physical touch wasn’t an option. Instead, Vinny is forced to find love through a screen, connecting with one of the five potential matches the game creates for you.

4. The Shapeshifting Detective

Perhaps one of the best FMV games of all time is The Shapeshifting Detective. It puts a unique twist on the search for the truth, allowing you to shapeshift into other characters. And that way, you can trick them into telling you the truth and reveal their secrets. 

3. The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker

Another murder-mystery solving game with a unique twist is The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker. It puts you in the role of a psychiatrist, interviewing the strange patients of the recently deceased Doctor Dekker. As you type questions, they reveal curious patterns. But they may also ask you questions that you have to be wise in answering, lest you affect yours and their fates.

2. Late Shift

As a Mathematics student called Matt, you find yourself trapped in the robbery of a lucrative auction house. So, now, you must prove your innocence through the choices you make. Late Shift is perhaps the most thorough decision-making FMV game you’ll play through, with more than 180 decision points. Each decision, no matter how small, bears consequences for the outcome.

And the decisions are fun and engaging, too. You could be forced to choose between stealing a car or running away, for instance. And often, you only have mere seconds to make up your mind, with the entire game having no breaks or video loops.

1. Immortality

And lastly, we have Immortality, a truly excellent FMV take on gaming. It follows the investigation of the mysterious disappearance of Marissa Marcel. All you have are the three movies she starred in, but which never got aired. While assessing the movies, you have to be extremely thorough. Even the most minute details might count toward solving the case. 

And the game is deeply interactive, too. You can click items in the movie scenes, assessing them further. You can discover hidden secrets by pausing the game to click on a person or item of interest and possibly unearth a new narrative clue.