Best Xbox One Games
The Xbox One turns six years old this year, and it's had a great run. But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. We've been getting more details about the upcoming Xbox Project Scarlett, and soon we'll be retiring our old Xbox consoles for the newest version. Before that happens though, we want to look at some of the best Xbox One games that we've played and loved.
Without further ado, let's take a look at our top ten Xbox One games.
#10: Forza Horizon 4
An Xbox list isn’t complete without a mention of the Forza series, so starting off our list at number 10 is Forza Horizon 4.
After the death of the Project Gotham Racing series, Forza has been the undisputed racing series for Xbox gamers. We had a bit of trouble deciding whether to put Horizon 4 or Motorsport 7 on this list, but we decided to go with Horizon 4. For those unfamiliar with the Forza series and the differences between Horizon and Motorsport, Motorsport is a true-blue racing sim while Horizon is open world and more of an arcade racer. Which for most people, means more fun.
Horizon 4 is the latest in the Horizon series and the first to feature a changing of the seasons which can open up new places to explore depending on the season.
Horizon 4 features over 700 cars for you to take for a spin and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to use them. There are a ton of challenges to complete, both story and seasonal, and you’ll never run out of things to do in this game.
The game is regularly updated, and until a presumed Horizon 5 is released on Xbox’s ninth generation console, Horizon 4 will be your go-to game if you’ve got a need for speed.
#9: Sunset Overdrive
Never let it be said that Insomniac Games lacks versatility.
Insomniac Games has built up their reputation and brand for their classic Spyro the Dragon and Ratchet and Clank series (along with their Resistance series). However, they have always been PlayStation developers so the release of an Xbox game was a bit out of left field. But we’re glad they did it because Sunset Overdrive is an unforgettable game.
Set in the fictional metropolis of Sunset City, an energy drink company by the name of FizzCo has unleashed the apocalypse with the release of their new energy drink Overcharge Delirium XT. The drink has caused the Kyles of the Sunset City to turn into violent mutants, and as a former FizzCo employee, it’s your job to stop the madness.
Sunset City is a vibrant and zany open world that gives the player free rein to go out and cause some havoc. Sunset Overdrive is a chaotic and wonderful fusion of a number of games. It combines the colorful art style of Jet Set Radio Future with the rock and roll soundtrack of Brutal Legend, “skating” of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, and parkour elements of Prince of Persia.
The gun-play of Sunset Overdrive is also very fun which comes as no surprise considering Insomniac Games’ experience with the Resistance series. You can play by yourself or bring your friends along for some eight-player co-op.
Insomniac Games refers to the world of Sunset Overdrive as an "awesomepocalypse," and that’s probably the best word to describe the game as a whole. It's definitely a one of a kind experience that you don’t want to miss out on.
#8: Doom 2016
It’s no secret that the FPS genre over the past couple of years has gotten somewhat cluttered. Chock-full of derivative modern-day or futuristic shooters makes us wish for the good old days of the 90s FPS. One of the greatest video games of that era (or any era for that matter), is Doom. A pioneer of the FPS era and a timeless classic. Well, now it’s back.
The FPS gods have blessed us with the release of Doom 2016. Serving as a reboot of the Doom franchise, Doom 2016 ended the 12-year drought without a release in the Doom franchise. Doom 2016 is a great example of how to modernize a game for the current era while still staying true to the spirit of the game. If you loved Doom before, you’re still going to love Doom now. Doomguy is back, the Cyberdemons are back, the BFG 9000 is back, and it’s a darn good time.
We had to choose between Doom 2016 and Wolfenstein: The New Order for this spot and although it was extremely close, we picked Doom for the best revitalization of a 90s FPS. Put away your Battle Royale games and your Homefronts, and pick up a real FPS!
#7: Devil May Cry 5
In 2013, fans of the Devil May Cry series were perplexed by the release of a wholly unnecessary franchise reboot. Taking place in an alternate reality, DmC: Devil May Cry wasn’t a bad game, but it also wasn’t the Devil May Cry game that fans were looking for. The developers heard us and came back strong with Devil May Cry 5.
Released in 2018, Devil May Cry 5 is a return to form for the series. The whole gang is back with Dante and Nero as playable characters, and Lady, Trish, and Vergil also returned. A new character by the name of V is also playable.
Devil May Cry is hack n slash royalty, and Devil May Cry 5 is no exception. Fast-paced, combo stringing action is here, and it’s an absolute blast from start to finish. There is still debate as to whether or not Devil May Cry 5 has surpassed Devil May Cry 3 as the best in the series, but it’s a must play title either way.
#6: Grand Theft Auto 5
Does Grand Theft Auto 5 really need much in the way of explanation? The latest entry in Rockstar Games’ flagship series, Grand Theft Auto 5 currently sits at number three on the best-selling video games of all-time list, and for good reason. The single-player experience alone can offer up many hours of gaming. The new and improved state of San Andreas is huge and filled with an insane amount of things to do.
The shooting mechanics have been revamped for Grand Theft Auto 5 and put a heavier emphasis on cover shooting. The eighth-generation version of GTA 5 allows for first-person mode for those who want it to feel even more like a shooter.
If you want to take a break from the single-player experience, you can hop onto Grand Theft Auto Online, which is designed to be enjoyed for pretty much forever. Whether you’re doing heists with friends or role-playing as a clothing store owner, there is very little that you can’t do in GTA 5.
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#5: Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt at least heard of the Assassin’s Creed series. You’ve also probably heard of the franchise fatigue that Assassin’s Creed suffers from. Assassin’s Creed is without a doubt a series that is tired. Too many entries within a short span of time and inconsistent quality have caused the series to lose a fair bit of its luster.
But before you knock the Assassin’s Creed series as something no longer worth prioritizing, let us introduce you to The Ezio Collection. Introduced in Assassin’s Creed 2, Ezio Auditore da Firenze is easily the greatest protagonist in the franchise. Players were able to enjoy playing as Ezio for several games before his story came to an end.
The Ezio Collection contains Assassin’s Creed 2, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, and Assassin’s Creed: Revelations. Playing all three will let you see Ezio’s story from start to finish. Ezio’s story is arguably the best of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, and the Assassin’s Creed games most deserving of your time.
#4: Red Dead Redemption 2
Coming in at fourth place on our list of best Xbox One games Red Dead Redemption 2. This game had the second biggest launch in entertainment history.
Red Dead Redemption 2 brought in $725 million in its opening weekend and sold more than 24 million copies. So yes, you could say this game is popular. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to the original Red Dead Redemption. After eight long years, we can say with certainty that Red Dead Redemption 2 is well worth the wait.
Set in 1899 in a fictional version of the declining Wild West, players take on the primary role of Arthur Morgan, a member of the same game as Red Dead Redemption’s John Marston. Marston himself returns as a secondary protagonist.
The massive open world of Red Dead Redemption 2 lets players do pretty much whatever they want. You can go off gambling, hunting, fishing, start bar fights, shootouts, and more. And of course, a Wild West Outlaw can go on heists.
The game also places more emphasis on survival mechanics with things like hunger, cold, and heat coming into play. This makes the game even more enjoyable as you immerse yourself in this time period.
Red Dead Redemption 2 also has an online mode, but it’s not in the best state at the moment. The online mode recently came out of beta, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.
We’d honestly recommend just sticking with the single-player experience with this one. The strong narrative of the original game continues here, and Red Dead Redemption 2 is easily the greatest Western video game of all-time.
#3: Ori and the Blind Forest
Released in 2015 for PC and Xbox One, Ori and the Blind Forest is a Metroidvania action-platformer game. Something you will notice right away is the beautiful art style in this game. Ori and the Blind Forest shows that hand-painted artwork in video games can turn out extremely well.
The musical score in Ori and the Blind Forest is also phenomenal. The soundtrack features an excellent blend of fast-paced tracks during moments packed with action, and serene orchestral music that seamlessly blends in with the set pieces.
Taking control of the titular hero Ori, you’ll platform, solve puzzles, and take down enemies as you progress through the story in a hearty tale that feels akin to a Studio Ghibli movie.
The platformer sub-genre is nearly nonexistent in mainstream gaming in 2019, so when an excellent one comes around, we have to play it. Especially when it's, dare we say, one of the greatest entries in the sub-genre.
#2: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Taking home silver on this list of best Xbox One games is the acclaimed CD Projekt Red RPG The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
CD Projekt Red has quickly become one of the most heralded video game development and publishing companies in the business, and The Witcher series is why it holds that title. After becoming another billion-dollar industry, the video game industry has taken several turns for the worst. In an era filled with microtransactions and sliced bread DLC, CD Projekt Red takes the high road.
CD Projekt Red places a priority on being open and transparent with their fans, and it has paid off. Being consumer friendly definitely attracts more gamers to them. And did we mention that The Witcher 3 has a ton of free DLC and expansion packs? I know expansion packs are probably a foreign concept to new-gen gamers, but they’re here and they are wonderful.
The Witcher 3 is the third installment of the series and has players step back into the shoes of series protagonist Geralt. Set in an open world, the game features an in-depth combat system and skill tree system that offer up a lot of replayability due to the sheer amount of combinations that you can do. There are a plethora of side quests for you to partake in, and dozens of possible endings.
This is definitely a game that you need to pay close attention to when playing, or you might miss some key story elements. And considering the narrative is arguably the greatest aspect of The Witcher series, you don’t want to miss anything.
Admittedly, you really should play both The Witcher and The Witcher 2 before playing The Witcher 3. And unfortunately, these games are not on Xbox One. But we promise you that the payoff is more than worth it. The Witcher 3 is one of the greatest games of all time, and you’d be doing yourself a huge disservice by not experiencing the entire story.
#1: Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Throughout the history of gaming, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft have all amassed their own cadres of iconic characters. Nintendo has Mario, Samus Aran, and Link. Sony has Lara Croft, Solid Snake, Kratos, Nathan Drake, and Crash Bandicoot.
And Microsoft? Microsoft has Master Chief Petty Officer John-117, although most people refer to him as the Master Chief.
It’s been nearly 20 years since the release of Halo: Combat Evolved. Thanks to the release of the Master Chief Collection, gamers can experience what is arguably the most influential post 90s FPS title of all-time.
Along with the Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, you also get Halo 2 Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo 4, and Halo: Reach. Along with the main campaigns, the Master Chief Collection also comes with every multiplayer map for every respective Halo game in the collection.
We could go on all day about why every Xbox One owner should have this game, but do we really need to? It’s Halo. Nothing goes hand in hand with Xbox more than Halo. As one of the most influential and iconic video game franchises of all-time, Halo should be in every gamer’s collection.
