Most modern videogames offer multiple graphical settings on home consoles, which most likely include a performance mode that will let you play at a high frame rate.
You can check out this guide at Seeking Tech to see how you can enable higher frame rates on the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X consoles.
How to enable performance mode for Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X games
Unlike the PlayStation 5, there is no system-wide option to enable performance mode for all games on the Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X. Instead, you have to do so on a game-by-game basis.
You can usually find the option to enable higher frame rates from the in-game menus of a game that supports multiple graphical settings. You should be able to find the performance mode, or its equivalent, in the graphics or visual settings.
How to enable performance mode for backwards compatible games on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X
Just like the native Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X games, you also have to turn on performance mode one at a time for backwards compatible Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Xbox games.
If there is an option for higher frame rate (most older games before the Xbox One generation most likely won’t offer this feature), then you will most likely find it in the in-game menus under the graphics or visual settings.
Some of the older games may also support FPS Boost, which will let you play them at a higher frame rate than they were originally designed for on the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X consoles.
You can find a full list of FPS Boost supported games with this link.
While some games have FPS Boost enabled by default, others may not. In order to enable this feature, you need to take the following steps:
1. If you haven’t done so already, you should turn on your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console.
2. With your console powered on, press the Xbox button on your controller to open the “Guide” menu.
For the uninformed, the Xbox button has the Xbox logo and should be lit up when your controller is turned on.
3. Inside of the “Guide” menu, go down and then select “My games & apps” from the list.
4. Next, select the “See all” option.
5. In the new menu, first select “Games” from the list in the left column.
6. On the right side of the same menu, you will see the games that are currently installed on the storage of your Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console.
Here, you need to navigate over to the game that you want to enable the FPS Boost feature for.
7. With that game highlighted, press the Menu button on your controller.
On the Xbox Series controller, the Menu button has three horizontal lines.
8. In the small pop-up menu, select “Manage game and add-ons.”
9. In the next screen, select “Compatibility options” on the left side.
10. Once you get to the “Manage – Compatibility options” menu, you will see the “FPS boost” setting.
If the box next to the “FPS boost” setting is empty, then it indicates that the FPS Boost feature is currently disabled for that specific game. To enable it, select the “FPS boost” setting to check the box next to it.
If you the setting is greyed out and can’t be selected, then it means that the game doesn’t not support the frames-boosting feature.
About 120 Frames Per Second and Variable Refresh Rate
Both the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X support 120 frames per second.
Since the Xbox Series X comes with a HDMI 2.1 cable, you will be able to play games at 120 fps in up to 4K resolution.
As the Xbox Series S comes with a HDMI 2.0 cable, you can play games at 120 fps in up to 1440p resolution.
The Series S console also supports HDMI 2.1 cables; so, if you got a HDMI 2.1 cable available, you can also play games at 120 fps in 4K.
Both the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X also support Variable Refresh Rate, which will prevent any stutters and screen tears.
With both consoles, you will need a television set or monitor that supports displaying games at 120 frames per second and with Variable Refresh Rate in order to use either or both of these display features.