Xbox One.
The Xbox One is the watercooler successor to the Xbox 360.
System Specs & Details Edit.
8GB DDR3 RAM 8 core "Jaguar" CPU non-replaceable 500 GB/1 TB internal Hard Drive, External Hard Drive support available Blu-Ray/DVD Wifi with ethernet port in back HDMI in-out USB 3.0, three ports Region-Free (physicial and digital, cross-region store purchases possible without needing alt accounts) Always Online by default- Internet + working servers needed to play many games. Mandatory use of cloud saves. All games and Apps (even Youtube) may fail if the Xbox network is acting up. More details. Day One update required to be able to use the system offline. Backwards compatibility to 360 limited, but expanding. Full list Xbox Live Gold Required for online play. Can import and use your Xbox 360 profile. Achievements will be ported from Xbox 360 along with your profile Mandatory game installs of even disc-based games Games with Gold: Every month, Xbox Live Gold users will receive two free Xbox One titles and two free Xbox 360 titles, all digitally. The Xbox One titles can be downloaded and played so long as you keep your subscription, while the 360 titles are yours to keep forever. All forthcoming 360 titles will be backwards-compatible, so you basically get four free games every month.
The List Edit.
A-on is short for Always Online. For this list it means that the game requires an internet connection to have all it's features. If the game servers or the internet are down then the game will not work correctly. In short, this game will most likely not be functional outside of this console gen as game servers are taken down due to games getting older. For a general rule of thumb, any game that holds multiplayer above single player and any Ubisoft title is suspect to A-on features.
Disc-based titles Edit.
The story is set on XVIII century Caribbean sea with many naval sections. Being a pirate is so fun you'll be sad when you're forced to go onto dry land. The world map is huge and contains lots of additional (mostly filler) stuff to do. Overall it's one of the best entries in the AC franchise.
Note: If you play offline, you will be unable to access certain naval convoys, white whales, and social treasure chests you can only find when your friends find them online.
Note - As WB Games is publishing this title, there is already a metric fuckload of DLC cut up and sold in tiny bite-sized packages (unless you bought the season pass). Most opinions on the DLC are somewhat mixed, especially concerning how long they are, so I would suggest holding out for the inevitable GOTY edition if you want it THAT much.
Ashes of Ariandel is a 3 hour piece of shit with little content and two bosses, while The Ringed City has more to offer with DS2-levels of bullshit difficulty.
The Fire Fades Edition contains all DLC, so if you've waited to get a complete edition while waiting for a reasonable price, then get it now.
Has updated graphics compared to the PSP version, as well as the option to change the voices to English or Japanese, no multiplayer (as if anyone cared about it), an exclusive alternate ending, an updated soundtrack and an exclusive demo for Final Fantasy XV for the Day One edition. Keep away from the English dub, it is the worst English dub Square has ever worked on (even worse than Final Fantasy X, but not as bad as FF4 SNES). Has a somewhat spotty translation so get the PSP version if you are willing to pirate and you have PPSSPP or a PSP with CFW.
The plot is a complete mess and features Cortana becoming a literal AI goddess who slaughters millions of people. Beneath the ridiculous plot you will find some really great gameplay even if it's far from the best in the series.
The main game can be played offline, but you're not likely to buy this for the main game. Most people play Guardians for multiplayer and Forge.
Multiplayer is the best it's ever been, even though it's 100% online matchmaking with zero couch co-op.
The new Forge is one of the best map editors to ever be created for a console game. 343 has been consistently releasing free updates on a monthly basis and has, so far, patched in almost every feature the community has been asking for. While 343 completely botched Master Chief Collection, they seem to be doing right by their fans with this game.
Be aware that there is a free PC port of the custom games multiplayer (with server browser) and Forge for Windows 10. It doesn't have matchmaking, but as Forge and Multiplayer are the only good parts it may be worth playing.
Compiles Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2, Halo 3, and Halo 4 (plus Halo: ODST as DLC) into one big ol' package, as well as featureing new graphics and audio for Halo 2's campaign a la Combat Evolved Anniversary, and unlike CE:A, Halo 2's multiplayer remade in a modern enegine as well.
Obviously, the story modes are still top notch and have loadsacontent. The only downside so far is the multiplayer: sadly, 343 Industries has a knack for making half-baked matchmaking experiences. Maybe they'll patch it, maybe they won't. At this point, most of the major bugs in multiplayer have been patched, but you should still expect up to 10 minute wait times for some matchmaking playlists. The patches have stopped coming and 343 seems to have given up on fixing this mess.
Note: The "sorta" in terms of always-online refers to FOB missions, where you can invade other players' Mother Bases and vice versa. There's also reportedly microtransactions related to base building, so tread with caution.
It is available as retail only in Japan, as the worldwide release is digital-only. However, if you have the Japanese release the game will be automatically updated to your region.
Note: An internet connection is required right after download to verify the Xbox 360 titles. This collection can be played offline after said verification, but will not work due to "needing an update" until then.
Another game featuring our favorite limbless hero and friends. Collect Teensies, punch enemies to make them inflate and explode, rescue axe-wielding princesses. If you played Rayman Origins, you can guess what the gameplay's like.
It's an Ubisoft title, though, so expect features like daily challenges to be locked behind online play. All the regular single-player levels are still available, though.
Xbox Live Downloadable Titles Edit.
The Xbox Live marketplace requires internet access for many downloadable titles. If you downloaded anything marked "Xbox Live Arcade", it is online only and will not function if the servers are down. Please keep this in mind when buying downloadable games!
Cuphead and Mugman lost a bet with The Devil, now they must search and fight all of his debtors or else they'll lose their souls! A stylish and balls hard run and gun styled after the classic cartoons from the 30's. Also on PC.
Also on PC, released on places like GoG and Steam.
The game is free to play. Everyone has access to at least one character, which changes every so often 'League of Legends' style. The rest costs you dosh; you can buy them separately or all together in a bundle.
GX, 5Ds, and the newest series. Play through the story mode using pre-built decks that are accurate to the anime characters' counterparts, or play using your own custom deck. The story decks are pretty fun to play with. You can also switch sides and play as the other character using their deck. Beating characters unlocks their deck recipes for multiplayer. Some characters have challenge decks that use modern archetype cards with Synchros, XYZ, and Pendulums, which are much harder to play against.
Multiplayer works like you would expect it to. Beat opponents to win duel points, spend duel points on card packs to get more cards. No microtransaction pay for digital cards bullshit here, thankfully. You have a win/loss record and global leaderboards but there is no other ranking system of any kind unfortunately.
Worth a buy for the story mode alone, especially if you like playing classic Yu-Gi-Oh! before Konami decided to ruin the game with power creep. Also on PS4.
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The best Xbox One games.
The Xbox One has come a long way since its 2013 debut. Microsoft has fixed the console's hardware flaws with the One S and the recently released One X, but now it has a different problem to address: a dearth of compelling games you can't play anywhere else. In recent years the company has relied on timed third-party exclusives that eventually make their way to other platforms or are also available on Windows and Steam.
It happens on PS4 as well, but the difference there is that Sony has a wide assortment of games that you can only play on its console. That's not to say there aren't exclusive games worth playing on Xbox; it's just that they're buried among annual Forza racing games, middling modern Halo releases and the testosterone-fueled Gears of War franchise. Microsoft has promised to break out of that predictable release cadence, though, so the future could be brighter than you may have come to expect. As it stands, these are the best Xbox One games you can play right now.
AAA vs indie darlings.
Microsoft proved that indie games could have an audience on consoles when it published Braid on the Xbox 360 in 2008. Fast forward nine years and the landscape has changed quite a bit. The Nintendo Switch is increasingly becoming the home for niche titles, and PlayStation's selection of blockbuster tentpole games grows with every trade-show Sony attends. Faced with this harsh reality, last month Xbox chief Phil Spencer admitted that his team hadn't invested as much in original games as it should. Next year, he's going on a shopping spree for games and development studios to make up for the ones he cancelled and closed.
The company trotted out Capybara Games' Below in the lead-up to the Xbox One's launch in 2013, and since then it's been delayed indefinitely. For a while it looked like Cuphead would face a similar fate, but as luck would have it Studio MDHR released the game this September after repeated delays. Fullbright's Tacoma had similar misfortunes on the road to release. Limbo studio Playdead's haunting sophomore effort Inside was only exclusive to the Xbox One for a few short months before appearing on PC and PS4. Same goes for Oxenfree .
But that's not necessarily a bad thing. After all, a good game is a good game regardless of where you play it. Case in point: Minecraft , once the biggest indie game in the world, which is now owned by Microsoft. The thing is, until Microsoft proves it can dream beyond Forza , Gears of War and Halo though, indies are your best bet for interesting, inventive ideas on Xbox.
Since purchasing this blocky freeform building game in 2015, Microsoft has drastically upgraded its graphics (while retaining the game's lo-fi charm). Just as important, it unified nearly every version of Minecraft , allowing people on disparate platforms to play together. Surprisingly, the game didn't lose its soul in the process. It's as charming and soothing as ever, while fancy visual tricks like HDR and detailed textures add some overdue modern flair next year. Combine those additions with Minecraft 's addictive building and survival gameplay and you've got a game that just about anyone can appreciate.
Playdead's follow-up to its macabre debut Limbo shows what's possible when a studio keeps it simple. Inside is a haunting physics-based platformer that follows a young boy on his journey to, uh, get inside a research facility. As compelling as the game mechanics are, your primary motive for pressing onward should be the game's narrative. While "dystopian sci-fi" starring an adolescent might bring The Hunger Games to mind, Inside 's story is more Black Mirror than YA fiction. By the time the credits roll, the frustration of repeatedly getting caught by sentry guards should be a distant memory thanks to one of the craziest endings in modern video games.
If you're playing Blizzard's hero shooter on a console, Xbox One is where you should do it. Playing with friends online feels effortless thanks to the way Xbox Live is baked into every facet of the console. Adjusting the balance between party chat and game audio, adding new friends to your group and even broadcasting your session via Mixer is dead simple on Microsoft's hardware. The game was first released last year, and is showing no signs of getting stale. The team at Blizzard keeps the game humming by regularly releasing new heroes, maps and modes, for free. Just remember, if you're going to play, there are never enough people moving the payload toward the objective. Your team will be grateful for the help.
After a series of delays, Cuphead finally came out this year. And it was worth the wait. Studio MDHR's challenging side-scrolling shooter calls to mind classics like Contra and Ghouls 'n Ghosts , with retro visuals to match. Rather than pixel art reminiscent of the 8- or 16-bit era, though, Cuphead features hand-drawn animation inspired by cartoons from the 1930s. Keep in mind, this game isn't for the faint of heart. You'll simultaneously have to memorize level layouts, enemy placements and bosses' attack patterns if you want to succeed. That's in addition to reminding yourself to duck incoming fire and not get distracted by the inventive audio and visual design. If that seems like a tall order, it is. But you like a challenge, right?
Halo has been Microsoft's golden goose since the original Xbox launched in 2001. But recent years haven't been kind to the series, which has seen some duds. That's why we recommend The Master Chief Collection ( MCC ), a greatest-hits collection of the franchise's best releases, with upgraded visuals and unique twists like playlists that group campaign missions by theme. Want to play the opening level from each game in succession? Have at it. Same goes if you'd rather play nothing but vehicle-based missions. Additionally, MCC takes every map from the franchise's multiplayer suite online. The player population has since migrated to Halo 5: Guardians , but if you want to recreate the experience of playing capture the flag on Blood Gulch at your first Xbox LAN party, this is your best bet.
Forza Horizon 3 isn't just Microsoft's most recent off-road racer -- it's the best entry in the Horizon series to date. And you don't have to be a gearhead to have a blast tooling around the game's Australian outback. Unlike the mainline Forza Motorsport series, the emphasis here is on pedal-to-the-metal, arcade-inspired fun that emphasizes silliness over simulation. But that doesn't mean Horizon isn't serious about accuracy; physics still matter, and you can of course upgrade and tune your favorite ride to your heart's content. Need a break from the Outback's beaches and jungles? The "Blizzard Mountain" expansion takes the terror out of driving in inclement weather, while the Hot Wheels add-on puts the toy cars and their trademark orange loop-de-loop tracks on your flatscreen.
The Xbox One's biggest advantage over the competition is that you can play a huge swath of the Xbox 360's catalog on it. That includes Alan Wake , Remedy Games first Microsoft exclusive from 2009. If the recent Twin Peaks revival made you want to take a trip to the Pacific Northwest, consider this game about a horror novelist whose creations are coming back to haunt him. The sleepy town of Bright Falls is being corrupted by a dark presence that possesses people and inanimate objects, even turning wheelbarrows into fearsome enemies. You'll need more than just firearms to defeat them, too; flashlights and flares are as important as firearms, as you need to "burn" the darkness out of an enemy before destroying it for good.
Ori and the Blind Forest will break your heart in the first 10 minutes. After that, things get easier -- at least from an emotional standpoint. Ori follows the tradition of Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night by giving you a huge interconnected 2D world to explore, where secrets are hidden in plain sight and familiar areas give way to new ones as you unlock abilities for Ori. Gorgeous art and music complement the onscreen exploration; if you're a fan of physics-based platforming à la Super Meat Boy , you're in for a treat. Now's the perfect time to try the game, too: Microsoft said earlier this year that it's ordered a sequel. But with no release date in sight, you should have plenty of time to explore the game's mysteries.
When Microsoft bought Rare Ware back in 2002, a big questions was whether the company would resurrect the long-dormant fighting franchise Killer Instinct . Eleven years later, a series reboot served as an anchor for the Xbox One's meager launch lineup. In the four years since, development passed to Divekick studio Iron Galaxy. Meanwhile, Microsoft added Gears of War bad-guy General Raam, Halo 's third-fiddle protagonist The Arbiter, and Rash from Rare's Battletoads series to the roster. The game now boasts almost 30 fighters, and its combo-based pugilism feels as satisfying as it did on the Super NES and N64. A quasi-story mode helps keep things interesting for solo players, and you can even fight against AI based off the fighting style of people on your friends list. Think of it like Forza 's Drivatar system, but for punching faces.
Quantum Break is at once a cinema-inspired third-person shooter and an interactive TV drama where the choices you make in the game affect how each episode of the show plays out. Manipulating time goes beyond the game's narrative and impacts how you solve puzzles and take out enemies. The game's surreal vistas are particularly impressive. Thanks to a glitch in the space-time continuum, time itself is breaking down. Which means every now and again, everything in a given scene will go into still-frame, be it a shipping barge crashing into a suspension bridge, or a helicopter attacking an office building. It makes for some incredibly cool platforming sequences. And if you've just picked up an Xbox One X, Remedy went back over the game to make those "stutters" (and everything else) perform better on Microsoft's new hardware.
Fru wasn't just one of the last Kinect games -- it was one of the best reasons to own Microsoft's do-all sensor. Rather than use the camera array and microphones for clunky motion and voice controls, Fru takes advantage of a different aspect of the hardware: its ability to read silhouettes in real time. The game is a platformer at its core, and to cross certain gaps or find hidden treasures, you'll need to position yourself in a way that allows the fox-masked protagonist to run along or inside your silhouette. You can make the game even more challenging by trying to play solo as you contort your body in front of the sensor. Or, you can tap your yoga-master best friend to hold their Vriksasana pose while you make your way ever rightward along the game's 2D plane.
Over the past nine years, Timothy’s covered everything from drag shows to heavy metal, and he even debunked a local ghost story before joining Engadget in 2013. He’s an A/V enthusiast who adores physical media, much to the chagrin of his available shelf space. Movies by David Fincher and music from Amon Tobin, Deftones, Run the Jewels and Trent Reznor are his favorites. He has a complicated relationship with photography too and shares an exact birth date with Katy Perry.
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TechRadar.
The best Xbox One games 2018: 25 must-play titles.
All the best games for Microsoft's Xbox One.
Best Xbox One Games introduction.
It's a new year and you know what that means: new games on the Xbox One. However, while the new year is a time for looking forward, it's also a time for reflection and we think it's important to remember the greats that you can already play on Microsoft's console.
[ Update: Monster Hunter: World is our first 2018 title to make its way onto our must-play list.]
Sure, 2018 is going to bring some thrilling new titles to the Xbox family of consoles, from big exclusives like Sea of Thieves and Crackdown 3, to new games from big third-parties like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Anthem.
But we're trying to reign in our excitement and focus on the fantastic games that we can play in the here and now.
In the five years since its launch, we've seen some true greats come to the Xbox One. There are a diverse range of exclusive experiences available, whether you're looking for exciting indies like Cuphead and Ori and The Blind Forest, or high-octane AAA adventures such as Forza Motorsport 7.
And that's without even taking hugely successful third-party blockbusters like Assassin's Creed Origins and Overwatch into account.
With the release of the Xbox One X in 2017, we've seen the Xbox family grow and change but thanks to backwards compatibility, you don't have to miss out on anything. Yes, whether you're on original Xbox, the Xbox One S or you've just set up your sparkly new Xbox One X, you're more than able to experience the wonderful games we've picked out here.
As delightful as all these great games are, they do pose a problem: which ones are worth your time and money?
We understand the struggle, which is why we've put together this best-of list; whether you're looking for a high-octane adventure, a thrilling racing sim or razor sharp first-person shooter, you'll be able to find it on Xbox.
Check out the video below to see more on the Xbox One X.
Make sure you frequently check back here as we frequently update this list to make sure you never fall behind on the latest and greatest releases.
Forza Horizon 3.
Huge, exotic and amazing to behold: Australia is a petrol-head's dream.
While the original Forza titles were about pristine driving skills around perfectly kept tracks, the Horizon series has a penchant for trading paint and isn't afraid to have you get down and dirty with off-road races from time to time.
While the first two entries in Turn 10's spin-off franchise surprised and delighted, Forza Horizon 3 is the unabashed pinnacle of the series, and stands amid some of the greatest racing games ever made. Good news for Xbox One X owners – Forza Horizon 3 now has its 4K and HDR patch.
Gears of War 4.
The Gears keep on turning for this excellent third-person shooter franchise.
Despite a new platform, a new development team and a new-ish set of muscled heroes on its box art, Gears of War 4 isn't some grand reimagining of the series that helped Xbox 360 go supernova back in 2006. But then again, such a revelation shouldn't come as a shock – this is the cover shooter that made cover shooters a fad-filled genre all unto itself, so messing too drastically with that special sauce was never a viable option.
Instead, the Xbox One and Xbox One S get the Gears of War template we all know and love with a few extra features gently stirred into the pot. For a start, the jump to current-gen tech has made all the difference to The Coalition's first full-fat Gears title. Spend a little time in the previously remastered Gears of War: Ultimate Edition and you'll see how small and confined those original level designs were, even with a graphical upgrade to make it feel relevant again.
It's more than just graphics, though. It's the return to form for the franchise; the focus on what makes a Gears game so great, that really won us over.
Beautiful and frustrating in equal measure.
After a long development and lots of anticipation, Xbox indie exclusive Cuphead has finally been released. Was it worth the wait? It certainly was. Cuphead is a run-and-gun platformer with stationary boss fight levels thrown in.
With visuals and a soundtrack inspired by 1930s animation but gameplay inspired by the platformers of the 80s this game has had us torn since we first tried it at Gamescom. It's lovely to look at but its gameplay is challenging and you're going to find yourself frustrated and dying a lot.
We enjoyed Cuphead so much we named it Best Xbox Exclusive in our 2017 Game of the Year Awards.
Still, it's an indie experience that shouldn't be missed and you'll only find it on Xbox and PC.
Battlefield 1.
A refreshing jump back in time.
In the latest Battlefield game, DICE takes players back in time to World War One and by doing so completely rejuvenates the once stagnating franchise.
The game offers a poignant and entertaining single-player campaign that sets a new standard for first-person shooter. Broken into six sections, each following a different character and front line location, the campaign never feels dull or repetitive –and even feeds neatly into Battlefield 1's multiplayer mode which, while familiar, also benefits from the much-needed breath of life that the change in setting gives.
Graphically impressive, entertaining, and sometimes touching, Battlefield 1 is a return to form for the series.
Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition.
You'd have to be blind to miss this indie fantasy stunner.
A top-class graduate of the "Metroidvania" school of action-adventure design, in which an enormous world gradually opens up as you unlock new abilities, Ori is the kind of experience you show a reactionary relative who thinks "videogame art" is a contradiction in terms.
There's the world, to start with - a dreamlike maze of canted-over trunks, thorny caverns and sunlit glades – but it's not just a question of blissful visuals. Ori is a crisp, empowering platformer, with a main character who learns to scurry up surfaces and ricochet away from projectiles, like a spacecraft "sling-shotting" around a planet.
The Definitive Edition improves upon the original by adding new areas to explore and additional background on one of the game's most beloved characters.
Halo 5: Guardians.
Halo multiplayer at its best.
A franchise that has defined Xbox as a platform for a long time is Halo and Halo 5: Guardians is a worthy addition to the series. With both a single-player campaign and the usual thrilling multiplayer combat, this is the Halo game for Xbox One you don't want to miss.
Though its single-player campaign isn't the best in the franchise in terms of story, this is Halo multiplayer combat at its most fun and anyone that loves playing online with friends will enjoy what the various modes on offer.
The team-based shooter you need to buy on Xbox One.
Overwatch has, without a doubt, been one of our favorite games to come out of the last year – garnering our Game of the Year 2016 award.
It's a classic team arena shooter from Blizzard that sets two six-person teams of wildly different characters against each other in a bright and cartoonish science fiction universe. And while it feels similar to the Call of Duty you've played before, Overwatch turns traditional shooters on their heads by adding unique character abilities and cool-downs to the mix that force you to strategize every once in a while instead of blindly running from room to room.
Great graphics, tight maps, and a good roster of characters to enjoy playing. Overwatch is good old fashioned fun and we thoroughly recommend it.
Dark Souls 3.
Consult your doctor first to see if Dark Souls 3 is right for you.
Playing a Dark Souls game is a masochistic thing. The pain of losing to the same boss ten times in a row is crushing, but chasing the buzz of a victory makes it all worth it.
Dark Souls 3, the latest in the soul-crushing series, is back and more terrifying than ever. The graphics have been updated for the modern era, with stunning lighting effects, which illuminate all that is good, as well as what's better left unseen.
The gameplay is faster than previous Souls games, riffing off of BloodBorne's rapid pacing. Finally, the story and the online multiplayer come together to make this a game that you won't put down once you pick it up.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.
A chilling return to form.
Your gaming collection isn't really complete if it doesn't have a quality horror title and if we had to suggest one it'd be the newest installment in the Resident Evil franchise.
Resident Evil is the franchise that put survival-horror games on the map and though it lost its way slightly in later titles, the newest game is a return to form for Capcom.
By going back to the survival-horror basics and getting them dead on, Capcom has made Resident Evil 7 a genuinely frightening and exhilarating gaming experience. If you have the stomach for the gore, it's absolutely worth playing.
Don't miss our full review of the game.
Titanfall 2.
They had the technology to rebuild him, better than before.
The original Titanfall was a great game – so great that it long held a place on this very list. However, its sequel, Titanfall 2, improves on it every conceivable way: the motion is more fluid, there are more distinct titans to choose from and, hold onto your hats here, there's actually a single-player campaign that might take the cake for the best first-person shooter story of the year.
This game's pedigree is inherited from one of this generation's smartest and most unusual shooters. The original Titanfall married ninja-fast on-foot combat to the gloriously thuggish thrill of piloting giant mechs, which are summoned from orbit a few minutes into each match.
The skill with which Respawn has balanced this mix of styles in the sequel is remarkable – Titans have firepower in excess but they're easy to hit, and maps offer plenty of places for infantry to hide. These ideas coalesce into one of this year's most remarkable entries in the genre and is well-deserving its own shot in the spotlight as well as a Game of the Year nomination.
A retro-slash-modern romp through the underworld.
DOOM is very, very good. Not in a “wow, that’s good for a remake” kind of way, either. It’s genuinely a great shooter – so much so that we gave it a Game of the Year award in 2016. While Overwatch reinventing the wheel for first-person shooting games, DOOM impresses us by bringing us back to the time where dial-up internet was the only way to access AOL email: DOOM is, in so many ways, an excellent evolution of what the series was 20 years ago. It’s brutal. It’s bloody. It has devilish, frightening creatures that bleed when you slice them in half with a chainsaw. It’s the experience we wanted two decades ago but couldn’t articulate it because of the limitations of technology.
Rise of the Tomb Raider.
The name of the game is freedom in Lara's latest sprawling outing.
Despite being the sequel to a prequel about the young life of the Lara Croft, this still feels like a Tomb Raider game that has grown up. The reboot which saw a brave new direction for the franchise seemed a lot of the time to be little more than a bit of light Uncharted cosplay, but Rise is a far more accomplished game.
There's now a genuine open world which feels like there is always something to do, and something more than just harvesting up collectibles in exchange for a light dusting of XP. There are also tombs. Yes, that might seem a fatuous thing to say given the name, but the previous game gave them short shrift. In Rise though they are deeper and more plentiful. Rise also has one of the best narratives of any Tomb Raider game, penned again by Rhianna Pratchett, it's sometimes rather poignant.
So come on, ditch Fallout 4's wasteland for a while and give Lara some love.
The homecoming we've waited seven years for.
All things considered, this is one of the best games Bethesda has made. It ticks all the boxes: a massive, detail-oriented open-world; still-fantastic tenets of looting and shooting; a story filled with intriguing side quests and subplots that feel like they matter; and of course a classic soundtrack that brings it all to life.
In many ways it's the game we've been waiting for since Fallout 3 steered the series away from its top-down role-playing roots. Not only is the world itself wider, but the plot is better, and more digestible, than any of the games before it. There's still a sense of mystery about what's happening but you no longer have to dig forever and a day through terminals to piece it together.
Welcome home, stranger.
Dragon Age: Inquisition.
"Our weapons are fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency and gigantic sidequests."
Inquisition is the proverbial RPG banquet - a 200-hour array of quests, magic-infused scraps, postcard landscapes and well-written character interactions that's perhaps a bit too familiar, at times, but makes up for it with sheer generosity.
It puts you in charge not just of a four-man party of adventurers but also a private army with its own castle and attendant strategic meta-game, tasked with defeating a mysterious demon menace.
The choice of Unreal Engine makes for vast open environments and sexily SFX-laden combat – fortunately, you can pause the latter to issue orders if the onslaught becomes overwhelming. It's a genre giant.
Monster Hunter: World.
Friends who slay together, stay together.
You've probably heard of the Monster Hunter franchise before now – it's a classic that's been going a long time. But we haven't seen it on console for a while. Until now. Monster Hunter: World is the franchise's debut on the latest generation of consoles and it's a true breath of fresh air.
Giving players the option to play solo or team up with up to three other friends, this game invites you into a living, breathing game world to hunt down some monsters. For research. And fun.
You'll face a learning curve with Monster Hunter: World and the dark-souls style of combat has the potential to frustrate, but this is the most accessible Monster Hunter game we've seen in years. If you've been looking for a chance to break into the series, this is it.
In our review we called the game "a bold and confident new chapter" and gave it a "play it now" recommendation. Thinking of becoming a Monster Hunter yourself? Make sure you check out our full survival guide .
Dishonored 2.
A smart, stealthy, steampunk adventure.
Following the surprise 2012 hit Dishonored wasn't going to be an easy task, but Dishonored 2 has more than lived up to its expectations.
Picking up 15 years after the events of the original, Dishonored 2 takes players back to the Victorian Steampunk city of Dunwall. This time, though, you have the choice of whether or not you want to play as the original title's protagonist Corvo, or his equally-skilled protegee Emily.
Dishonored 2 doesn't differ wildly from the first game, but there was nothing wrong with Dishonored in the first place. What we get is a vastly improved and close to perfected take on it.
Anyone who likes their games filled with atmosphere, character, and a bit of wit and intelligence will find Dishonored 2 worth picking up.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Stories don't come bigger than this.
Geralt didn't have the smoothest of entries to consoles, but after some heavy patching and a lot of angry words about visual downgrades, we're left with an RPG boasting tremendous scope and storytelling.
Oh, and combat. And don't forget Gwent, the in-game card game. And there's the crafting to get stuck into. And the alchemy.
You're rarely short of things to entertain yourself with in The Witcher 3's quasi-open world, then, and all the better that you're in a universe that involves the supernatural without leaning on the same old Tolkien fantasy tropes. Invigorating stuff.
Still the best football sim money can buy.
FIFA is, for many console owners, a highly anticipated annual event. The latest and arguably greatest installment in the football sim series has arrived in the form of FIFA 18.
Whether you're looking to play against others online, build up a management career on your own or play a cinematic story mode that'll give you an insight into the dramatic life of a premier league footballer, FIFA has a game mode just for you.
The best thing is, there's always more than enough to throw yourself into and agonize over until the next game rolls around with further incremental improvements that'll convince you to upgrade.
You can read our full review of FIFA 18 right here and make sure you're the best on the pitch using our tips and tricks guide.
Out of this world online multiplayer.
Taking the place of the original Destiny on this list is, of course, its sequel Destiny 2. With its original game, Bungie managed to create a huge triple-A success as well as a cult hit.
Now, however, it's opening up to the masses and anyone that felt like they couldn't jump on the Destiny band wagon the first time shouldn't miss the opportunity to do so now.
This huge online multiplayer shooter will reel you in with its universe, single-player story, satisfying gameplay and addictive online modes. In our full Destiny 2 review , we call Destiny 2 "the Destiny you know, and the Halo you used to love, all in one loot-filled package."
If you're just getting started, it's also worth taking a peek at our handy tips and tricks guide which will allow you to hit the ground running.
Grand Theft Auto V.
There's no fear and loathing in Los Santos – just explosive entertainment.
Yes, including one of last generation's greatest games among this generation's finest is rather boring, but GTA V on Xbox One is too good to ignore, with HD visuals, a longer draw distance and a faster frame-rate.
Among other, more practical perks it includes a first-person mode, which genuinely makes this feel like a different game, though the missions, tools and characters are the same. The new perspective pushes Rockstar's attention to detail to the fore, allowing you to better appreciate the landscape's abundance of in-jokes and ambient details.
GTA V's open world multiplayer remains a laidback thrill, whether you're stuntdiving with friends or teaming up to complete a Heist (a long overdue addition to MP, but worth the wait) – it's probably the best place to hang out on Xbox Live.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
How many Snakes does it take to change a lightbulb?
Okay, so Hideo Kojima's last game for Konami - and his last ever Metal Gear game - might be a little tough for the MGS n00b to get to grips with, but it's still one of the best stealth-action games ever crafted. The open-world shenanigans will satisfy all your behind-enemy-lines / Rambo fantasies and probably confuse you with crazy plot twists and a million characters all with the same gravel-toned voices.
But hey, that's all part of its charm, right?
Assassin's Creed Origins.
Making the old feel new again.
After a year away, Assassin's Creed is back and it's bigger and better than ever. In Assassin's Creed Origins you go back to ancient Egypt, before the brotherhood and before the Templars, where you play as the original assassin Bayek.
Assassin's Creed is a series that was growing increasingly stale but with Origins the formula has been refreshed with new RPG mechanics, story-driven side quests and a far more free-flowing combat system.
Whether you're new to the series or a fatiguing fan, Assassin's Creed Origins is absolutely worth playing as it's the strongest installment we've seen in years.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War.
Bold, brilliant and brutal.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is the sequel to the accomplished Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and builds upon all of its strengths.
Taking up the role of Talion once more, this game takes you back to a beautifully realized world that's bursting with originality. If you were a fan of the original game, we highly recommend that you pick of Shadow of War as it's an improvement in almost every way.
Rocket League.
Looking for a game that you can dip into between those long-winded RPGs? Take a gander at the online extravaganza that is Rocket League.
Cars essentially playing football shouldn't really work but thanks to Rocket League's outstanding mechanics and physics system it really does. You play with and against others online in matches of varying numbers and though each match only last 5 minutes so it should be easy to break away.
Invariably, though, you'll find yourself hours later murmuring about winning "just one more". Rocket League has been available for a while now and as a result it's built up a dedicated and skilled community. Prepare yourself for a challenge.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus.
Looking for an incredible single-player shooter? Look no further than the 2017 wonder that was Wolfenstein II. Picking up from where the original game left off, this game is a timely social commentary and a superbly silly adventure all rolled into one well-written package.
With tight mechanics and a story worth caring about this is one of the most satisfying first-person shooters we've played in a long time. In our full review we called it "expertly crafted" and recommended that you play it now.
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The 9 Best Xbox One Kids' Games to Buy in 2018.
Shop for the best music, toy-to-life, superhero and puzzle-solving kids' games.
When it comes to selecting a game for your kids, there's a lot to consider. You want to find something that's both entertaining and age-appropriate, and it can be a difficult balance to strike. So whether you're looking for the best superhero, old-school, puzzle-solving or toy-to-life game for your child, our top Xbox One kids' games to buy will more than deliver.
Though Mario may not be on the Xbox anytime soon, your best bet for the best Xbox One kids' game is Yooka-Laylee. It’s made by the same developers from yesteryears classics such as N64’s Banjo Kazooie; a solid platforming game with intriguing characters, gorgeous graphics and fun-filled gameplay.
Yooka-Laylee puts kids in the role of a buddy duo: a chameleon named Yooka and a bat named Laylee, who work together to bring their own awesome abilities that can be used in level progression. Players unlock moves as they journey through levels, offering a more custom set of options in how to play and explore the game’s vast worlds. This is the surefire choice Xbox One game for kids, made by experienced developers that bring both an intriguing atmosphere and lifelike characters in an overall game built solely on having fun.
Continue Reading Below.
The biggest and best superhero game on Xbox One is easily LEGO Marvel Super Heroes. Featuring just about every beloved Marvel hero and villain you can think of – The X-Men, Spider Man, Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Guardians of the Galaxy, Fantastic Four and more – LEGO Marvel Super Heroes gives you the massive, open world of Manhattan to explore while trying to stop an evil plot by Loki and Doctor Doom. Each of the characters has distinct skills and abilities – Iron Man can melt gold objects, Wolverine can slash through walls, Hulk can lift heavy items, etc. – that you use to explore the levels and solve simple puzzles. Having so many great characters all in one game makes LEGO Marvel Super Heroes a sure fire hit with kids and comic fans alike.
Continue Reading Below.
Minecraft Story Mode takes place in the familiar blocky world players know and love, but features a large fully voiced cast of characters and a linear story about your character using their unique building abilities to seek out a mysterious group of heroes called the Order of the Stone and, eventually, save the world.
This is a story-driven game where you talk to characters, find items, and solve basic puzzles to access new areas and move the story forward; it's not an open world like normal Minecraft. It does have the traditional Minecraft crafting and building elements at key points in the story, however.
Even the most experienced Minecraft players will enjoy seeing all of the familiar items, blocks, locations and techniques presented in a new way here. The combination of the familiar Minecraft aesthetic with an actual story and cast of lovable characters make Minecraft Story Mode a must-play.
Music games like Rock Band 4 are great for kids and the whole family because they allow everyone to play together with the guitar, bass, drums and microphone. Sure, the fake plastic instruments aren’t very close to the real thing in these games, but learning basic musical timing and rhythms and getting your fingers into shape playing Rock Band really does help when it comes to learning to play the real thing.
The music selection in Rock Band 4 is absolutely massive as well, thanks to the huge amount of songs in just about every genre that are available as downloadable content. So more than likely your favorite songs will be playable in the game. Creating music, even with toy instruments, is extremely satisfying, and sharing that feeling with kids can lead them to a lifetime of loving music.
Continue Reading Below.
Toy-to-life games are awesome for kids because they’re really two toys/games in one. To start, you get real world toys and action figures that are fun to play with, but those special figures can also be scanned into a video game and played digitally as well. Our favorite toy-to-life game, LEGO Dimensions, takes it one step further by having you actually build the figures and playsets (which include licenses such as “Jurassic World,” “Back to the Future,” “Ghostbusters,” “Doctor Who,” “Scooby-Doo” and more) piece-by-piece with LEGO bricks. The video game levels based on those licenses are the same 3D action/platforming as other LEGO games, but you can swap any characters from any license in and out on any level, which creates some fun and funny crossover situations you’ll only find in LEGO Dimensions.
The “Jurassic Park” movies aren’t always exactly kid-friendly, but LEGO Jurassic World presents all four of the films in a light-hearted and humorous way where no one actually dies or gets hurt, and any violence is replaced with silly jokes. Not only does the game let you play through the plot of all four “Jurassic” movies, but it also gives you fully open world versions of the locations from the movies for you to explore.
Even better, along with the playable cast of human characters like Alan Grant, Dr. Sattler, Ian Malcom and more, there are also a number of playable dinosaurs including velociraptors, brontosaurus and T-Rex. The graphics are an interesting mix of realistic backgrounds with plastic characters that looks fantastic, and the sound effects/music were all taken directly from the movies.
Continue Reading Below.
Zoo Tycoon is a zoo building/management simulator at its core, but its real appeal comes from the fact that it is a great way to simply observe and interact with animals. The free play mode allows you to ignore the management aspect entirely so you can just build a zoo with whatever animals you want, and it is in this mode where the experience really shines.
Lions, tigers, bears, elephants, giraffes, chimpanzees and many other species of animals are available here, and just sitting back and watching them as they run around and play is an absolute joy. The graphics are fantastic, right down to the soft- and fuzzy-looking fur on the animals that makes you want to reach out and touch.
The best kids' games get them to think a little and maybe learn something new, and Adventure Time: Finn & Jake Investigations does this very well. In this game, Jake (the dog) and Finn (the boy) have to solve mysteries all over the land of Ooo. You explore fully 3D versions of key locations from the show, like Treetrunks’ house or Princess Bubblegum’s palace, in order to find clues and items that you piece together to solve the mystery.
Things like combining a bottle+water+soap to make a giant bubble so you can float upward, or having to interview everyone around town to figure out who took a key item are just some of the puzzles. You really have to think critically and be smart, and solving the puzzles is really quite fun. All of the fan-favorite characters from the show are here, fully voiced by the real actors, and the presentation overall is top notch.
Continue Reading Below.
Kinect for Xbox One was an undeniable flop, but if you do happen to have a Kinect you’re in for a treat with Fantasia: Music Evolved. Fantasia: Music Evolved pairs the visual brilliance of the Disney “Fantasia” films with a motion-controlled music game where you create music like the conductor of a symphony. The game includes classical pieces from Mozart and Bach, as well as modern songs from David Bowie and Queen.
By moving your hands in different ways to mimic onscreen indicators, you bring the music to life. The gameplay is relatively simple and intuitive, but the challenge comes from making sure your hands and body are in the right position to complete the next series of moves, not just the current one, which is tougher than it sounds. Once you learn to play, though, Fantasia: Music Evolved is extremely fun and stands as easily the best Kinect game ever.
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The 25 best Xbox One games.
What are the best Xbox One games to buy? Take a look at this list and all will become clear.
The cream of the crop.
In case you missed it, Monster Hunter World is pretty popular right now. It\s sold well, and is good, but it's best Xbox One games good?
Well, not quite. There's been some online problems on Xbox One and while it's good, it's not really a hall of fame job. It was a similar story with the recent Vanishing of Ethan Carter, an atmospheric supernatural murder mystery that, like Monster Hunter World, is highly recommended. However, when you've only 25 places to fill they've got to go to the best of the best.
That means things like Assassin's Creed Origins and Wolfenstein 2 most recently. They're also two Xbox One X Enhanced games so if you have a 4K TV and an X, then those are great games to show everything off.
In terms of upcoming Xbox One games, Coming up soon we'll have Monster Hunter World on Jan 26, and Far Cry 5 on March 27, along with this little selection over the next couple of months.
Mar 13 - The Crew 2.
Mar 23 - A Way Out.
'Spring' - State of Decay 2.
'Spring - Crackdown 3.
Only time will tell if any of those will make it into the 25 best Xbox One games list.
For the meantime, though the best Xbox One games is still full of classics like Fallout 4 , Cuphead , Titanfall 2 , Minecraft and Gears of War 4 . If it's an essential Xbox One title it's here, and as there's only 25 places competition only the best get a look in. Every time something new comes alone we review it, appraise it and then, if it's good enough, it might be added here.
25. Final Fantasy 15.
The Final Fantasy name isn't exactly synonymous with Microsoft's console, but we're happy just the same as Final Fantasy 15 is easily one of the best RPGs of the year. It blends the vast open-worlds of Western RPGs with Final Fantasy's hallmark over-the-top anime absurdity to great effect, crafting a world based on the highways and byways of Middle America while filling that world with ferocious monsters, massive crystals, and powerful magic. There are times when Final Fantasy 15 feels like an idiosyncratic mishmash of ideas, but when you throw everything together - the strange world, the thrilling, real-time combat, the lovable characters who stick with you for your entire journey - it becomes something much greater than the sum of its parts. It becomes one of the best Final Fantasy games in ages; a game well worth the wait.
24. Cuphead.
After delays that led to maybe just a touch of apathy, Cuphead is here and has instantly become one of the best shooters all time (according to our review). While the presentation is crafted beautifully from 1930 cartoon art - things like Betty Boop shorts and Disney's Silly Symphonies - this takes gameplay cues from sources like Mega Man, Contra, Metal Slug, and Gunstar Heroes. The levels aren’t huge but it’s the challenge, not the size that matters here as you dodge bullets and learn enemy patterns. Everything tests your skills and reactions in a range of interesting ways and, most importantly, are a joy to beat.
23. Halo: Master Chief Collection.
*braces for complaints* Yes, we are well aware of the problems that plagued this particular entry, but now that it works, there's no doubting the craftsmanship here. Bungie's genius meets 343's love in a package that truly does justice to an industry-shaking legacy. Buffed-up, revarnished and back in the shop window, The Master Chief Collection leaves us to wonder if Halo always looked so lovely. And you know what? It more or less did.
Is that mug a Mimic? How about that chair? Or even that corpse. There's nothing quite like exploring Talos-1, just waiting for its terrifying alien predators to appear when you least expect it before splatting them senseless with a wrench. But that's only the beginning of the joys of Prey. Before long, you're expertly juggling Neuromods, experimenting with new abilities and attempting to stay out of sight of horrific Typhons and the frankly intimidating Nightmare. Prey requires to explore every inch of its space station, heading into tunnels when you'd rather go the other way and hunting down corpses of those who came before. Add in the twisting narrative that gradually unravels before you and this is an instant addition to our best Xbox One games list. Just remember your GLOO gun. You'll need it.
21. Rainbow Six Siege.
The first few minutes of a Rainbow Six: Siege match feel more like a slasher film than an all-guns-blazing FPS. The pitter-patter of combat booted feet sounds through the roof. Defenders erect Home Alone defences. Was that the whine of a rappel buckle? It's a sense of tension that beats most horror games. And once all hell does break loose, you're suddenly thrown into the midst of deep, strategical, brutally unforgiving warfare. Ripe with tactical options and built for "one more go" appeal, this is by far Xbox One’s smartest multiplayer shooter.
20. Halo 5: Guardians.
Halo's always been a balance of campaign with multiplayer, but this entry's a tad lopsided. The story of Locke chasing Chief isn't quite the era-defining moment we were hoping for but, luckily, it's the series-best multiplayer that gets our visors misty. Halo 5: Guardians offers so very much to prospective online warmongers. Arena is a return to the Halo of old, tense cerebral skirmishes that are an oasis of sanity in a sea of crude shooters. If you fancy some madness, then you have Warzone - mega-battles powered by a desperately addictive card-collecting system. And more's being added - 343 just reintroduced Big Team Battles and a new version of classic map, Blood Gulch for free. We're home.
19. Ori and the Blind Forest.
Imagine a lavish, beautiful storybook world… that slams shut on your stupid, bleeding fingers for seven brutal hours. This is Ori and the Blind Forest, the result of Microsoft handing a group of retro fanatics enough money (and freedom) to make a worthy successor to the platformers of old. Not only is this a pitch-perfect update to the formula set up by Metroid and Castlevania, combining mechanical satisfaction with tear-jerking narrative sequences, it's also quite probably the best-looking 2D game of all time. So yeah, it's pretty special.
18. Middle-earth: Shadow of War.
With a bigger, richer world and more tightly honed mechanics Shadow of War is a great sequel - the combat is more immediate and satisfying, the environments more detailed varied, and everything combines beautifully. It's also one of the best Xbox One X enhanced games if you want to show off all that power. This is a big game though - seriously, seriously huge. 15 hours or so will finish the prologue; another 25 odd will unlock the rest of the map, so don't pick this up for a quick fling - you need to commit. The series' nemesis system that defines the series has had expanded to create a twisting narrative of encounters, defeats and victories as you meet and battle various orcs - yours and their progress defined by who wins the fight. This time it's also been expanded to include castles you can storm, building and training an army up to the task. Even if you don't like Lord of the Rings, it's a massive and exciting open world to explore.
17. FIFA 18.
It's another step on for FIFA 18 this year, with some great tweaks to the action: taking a shot from a distance now has more impact, crosses are improved with a genuine whip added to the ball. AI's been improved as well with far more individual character and personality to different star's playing styles and, while lower league team don't feels quite as good, teams do have different feeling tactics when you play them. The continuation of the single player Journey also continues to impress with an exciting and even occasionally touching campaign as you follow his career. It's this mode that gives FIFA 18 the edge over PES this year as it's leagues ahead of any comparable mode you might find in similar games. And, finally, the monster that is FIFA Ultimate Team is improved by Squad Battles which let you progress better without spending real money. A welcome addition if chasing cards and coins is big part of your life.
16. Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus.
Wolfenstein: The New Order is one of the most unique, brutal, brave, hilarious, and intelligent shooters of the generation so far. MachineGames' sequel, The New Colossus, confidently doubles down on all of that. Moving BJ Blazkowicz's very personal war further into the alternative-universe '60s, and transposing it to an America under Nazi rule, The New Colossus is uncompromisingly relevant. It's a smart, sensitive, and emotive discussion of callousness, prejudice, and cruelty, that nevertheless knows how to be fun at all times. A biting portrait of human failures and social horrors, that does its biting with big robot teeth and hatchet blades. It's a game that exemplifies heart and brains throughout, but never with more unremitting flair than when it comes to the noble art of tearing Nazis to shreds with bloody and balletic style.
15. Battlefield 1.
We were worried DICE had set themselves up for a fall with a WW1 shooter, when Battlefield 1 was announced. Taking on one of the most bloody and tragic conflicts in human history isn't typically the best starting point for a fun game. But the anthology format is a masterstroke, using different perspectives to capture the sensational action of conflict, while sensitively showing the human cost of war. The story of the British chauffeur turned tank driver alone is more emotionally nuanced than anything we've seen from Battlefield before. But this isn't some weepy drama – it's a WW1 epic, an overwhelming shooter like nothing else on Xbox One, with 64 player multiplayer mode to keep you coming back. It's a gamble that paid off. Just be careful how you Tweet about it next time, OK EA?
14. Rocket League.
Nobody expected this to be quite such an explosive success but then think objectively and put the words ‘cars’ and ‘football’ together and suddenly it all makes beautifully insane sense. Both local and online modes for its petrol fuelled madness makes Rocket League multiplayer gold. Slews of DLC - Back To The Future’s DeLorean anyone - since release and now a new Xbox One/PC multiplayer option means it’s now bigger and better than ever, and there’s no better time to put your hand on your wallet and foot on the gas. Make it one of your life… goals.
13. Rise of the Tomb Raider.
Don’t be fooled by its frostbitten landscapes; this is the kind of barn-burning action-adventure that, until recently, only (ahem) other consoles used to get. Pivoting effortlessly from digital sightseeing to cinematic survival, then into stealth before exploding into brutal action, this is truly blockbuster stuff - appropriate for one of gaming's biggest icons. Amidst a gaming landscape packed with open worlds that sap full weeks of your life away, that Rise of the Tomb Raider packs all its thrills into a dizzying ten hours isn't just welcome, it's an accomplishment - this is non-stop fun. Except when Lara's murdered by your fumbling fingers. That's not so nice.
12. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.
Let's face it. Resident Evil had gone a bit like a foot left out of the fridge too long. A bit, well, off . After the glorious heady heights of Resi 4 defining the third person shooter as we know it, it all got a bit mediocre. Well 2017 is the year Resi got its groove back and you should be very afraid. Turning the franchise on its head, Resident Evil 7 is a first person survival terror-fest that sees you sneaking through a decrepit Louisiana mansion hunting for your missing wife. Texas Chainsaw Massacre style fiends? Check. Horrific body horror? Check that too. Add in a story that'll leave you forgetting to breathe for a little too long and Resident Evil 7 manages to be an exhilarating rollercoaster ride that reinvents the franchise. Sure you'll recognise those green herbs but this is a new brand of horror that just demands you creep through its hallways even if it feels like you should run in the opposite direction.
11. Forza Motorsport 7.
Improved AI, collisions, handling - what Forza Motorsport 7 gets right reads like a list of everything a racing game should do perfectly. Cars all feel great to control, giving you the confidence you need to push the handling to its limits - drifting on cue, or hugging the rails when you need dig the tires in. In fact, throughout, this a game that tweaks and adjusts everything the previous installment got wrong. It’s all about delivering the best player experience and creating a game that’s both realistic and fun. Some of the progression is a little demanding, with numerous barriers to surmount as you collect cars and win events, but there’s nothing that really take the shine of one the greatest racers currently available.
10. Gears of War 4.
It was during Act Four, when the storm was raging, bullets were flying from all sides, blood was gushing all over us as we chainsawed close-up enemies and then tried to aim at those sniping us from afar, when suddenly the music rose at the perfect moment. It was as if God himself was singing 'I'm really sorry for Gears of War: Judgment'. Apology accepted. A bloodbath with real brains, Gears of War 4 adds an army of new monsters, each demanding fresh tactics to dispatch and bringing new ideas to how we approach combat. It means the first sequel since Gears 2 that can surprise newcomers without sacrificing the excellent cover-shooting that made the series famous. Bloody essential.
9. Titanfall 2.
Any FPS that lets you run along walls and then double jump into a giant mechanical Titan instantly has our attention. Titanfall 2 does that and so much more. “But where's our single-player?” we moaned, when the first Titanfall came to Xbox in 2014. “Fine!” retorted Respawn. “How about for this sequel, we tell the story of a pilot and his Titan? One where you steadily unlock Titan weapons that look powerful enough to burn the universe in half? How about a stage wherein you can travel through time at the touch of a button? How about several hours of dizzyingly paced, ideas-stuffed action that makes every shooter since we made Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare look lazy?” Well that certainly shut us up. Throw in Bounty Hunt, a capitalist nightmare of an essential multiplayer mode, and we promise never to accuse Respawn of laziness again.
8. Overwatch.
Well if Valve aren't going to bother making Team Fortress 3, we'll have Blizzard do it instead. The World of Warcraft studio had never made a shooter before, so it makes no sense at all that Overwatch is one of the best multiplayer FPS' ever. A ridiculously varied cast of colourful heroes, each with powers that should logically break the game (Tracer can travel back through time for crying out loud!) Yet it all checks and balances, letting us fire bows and arrows, sky dragons, walls of ice and whip chains through the air for hours and hours without ever feeling like its cheaty or unfair. Months later, and still the only flaw we can find is Tracer's horrid cockney accent. By this logic, if Blizzard ever offer to make us dinner, expect world hunger to be eradicated within the hour.
7. Destiny 2.
After the endless, life absorbing life sink of the original game what could Destiny 2 possibly do to beat it? The answer is actually obvious: more of the same, only richer, more accessible and. just. more Destiny. The sequel takes nearly every element of the space travelling, gun collecting, number raising MMO and polishes it to a fine sheen. You can see almost every area where Bungie learned from the last game, making the areas you explore richer with things to do, adding depth to both the systems that progress your character, and hte activities you take on to do so. Few games mix combat, multiplayer and character progressions so well and it's an addictive draw as a result.
6. Grand Theft Auto 5.
Gaming's biggest blockbuster deserves its place at the head of the list. GTA 5 was already an excellent, brutal, beautiful open-world game, and is made even more so on Xbox One with a visual tidy-up, a glut of new content and the addition of first-person pedestrian-beating. With the addition of online Heists to make its online component even more enticing, Rockstar edges closer to making a game world so vast and varied that you could start to do away with anything else. Which, come to think of it, was probably the plan all along.
5. Minecraft.
As simple or as complex as you want it to be, Minecraft is the perfect example of a game that lives up to the hype. Whether you just fancy pottering around in creative mode, or jumping into survival to take on various blocky nasties in your quest for the End, Mojang's masterpiece always feels perfectly yours and unique. This is a world worth just wandering in for eternity. Plus, the constant evolution with new packs, new textures and gameplay tweaks means that Minecraft is always moving forward. If you thought it was just about stacking up green blocks, it's time to catch up.
4. Assassin's Creed Origins.
Assassin's Creed Origins is the long awaited reboot the series has needed. And ye gods, is it ever exactly what we hoped for. It's also a flagship Xbox One X Enhanced game so a great way to show off your new console. Remodelling Assassin's Creed into a true open-world RPG, full of creative stabbing, character stats, and malleable gameplay (What is best in life, Conan?), the ancient Egyptian adventure is a vast, sprawling, actual, bona fide country of a game, packing with detail, side-quests, and secrets to tackle your own way, at any time you want.
With the overhauled combat now fuelled by a fully customisable gear system (Want twin daggers that put people to sleep, and a poisonous shield? Or a sword that buffs your health, and a bow with controllable arrows? You can have all of these things), any hint of the old series’ weary gameplay is long gone. Packed with wit, warmth, and a staggering scale of options, it's really rather fitting that the game that goes back to the beginning of the story is also the one that gives Assassin's Creed a fresh start.
3. Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.
If we didn't know better (or should that be worse?), we'd say Konami took the Hideo Kojima brand off of his last stab at MGS 5: The Phantom Pain because it feels quite so different to his previous efforts. Yes, it's packed with the off-kilter jokes, mechanical ingenuity and conspiracy theories so wild they're seemingly drawn from the darkest of the internet's depths - but at it's core, this is a very different kind of Hideo Kojima game.
2. Fallout 4.
We sort of knew what we were getting. It's big, it's buggy, it's Bethesda. Fallout 4 is a natural evolution, bringing with it the often aimless exploration, gentle humour and moral greyitude of the last two instalments, while propping it all up with a new-gen veneer. They might not be enormous shifts, but main character voice acting, better gunplay and (shock) not having to look inside crates to loot them all make this a streamlined version of a now-classic formula. Frame rate dips and occasionally horrifying glitches rear their heads as usual, but it's difficult to feel too bad when there's simply so much going on. Once again, Bethesda has crammed several games' worth of joyously inconsequential stuff in here, resulting in one of the most compulsive, moreish games of this generation. Get stuck in, and you won't emerge for weeks.
1. Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
One of the most immersive RPGs ever made - a standout, mutable storyline, endlessly satisfying detective-cum-hitman Contracts, and side quests deeper than many games' main campaigns. The Witcher 3's world is one of the few game spaces to deserve that title - full of political intrigue, folklore and gross beasts to slice into ribbons. And all of that's failing to mention CD Projekt RED's raft of free DLC, and a couple of expansion packs - the first of which, Hearts of Stone, is responsible for this shooting up to the highest reaches of this list. Beautiful, rewarding and essential, this is a game we'll remember for years and years to come.
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The Best Xbox One Games.
The Xbox One must-haves.
by Randolph Ramsay on May 10, 2017 11:32 AM.
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Microsoft's Xbox One was released back in November 2013, and some years after its release, you may be wondering what's worthwhile playing on the new system. As it turns out, there are plenty of great games already available for the successor to the wildly popular Xbox 360. Check out our list of top Xbox One titles below, and let us know what you think about our picks in the comments. Of course, with even more games scheduled to come out, expect us to add and update this list as the months roll on!
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.
"There's an incredible scope to what you can do in Black Flag, with a level of harmony between its component parts that encourages you to try it all, and a story that keeps you invested throughout the whole thing."
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.
Assassin's Creed Syndicate.
"Coupled with strong, loveable leads and a seemingly endless procession of ways to leave your (fictional) mark on London's history, Assassin's Creed Syndicate is a shining example of gameplay and storytelling."
Battlefield 4.
"Battlefield 4 multiplayer is a blast and definitely the best reason to return to this hallowed franchise or dive in for the first time. Though the campaign makes strides in the right direction, it remains a sideshow to the main event. Expansive and exciting, challenging and empowering, Battlefield 4 multiplayer is a thrilling endeavor in this generation or the next."
Child of Light.
"There are so few games willing to explore that dull ache that I became mesmerized by Aurora's journey, even when I needed to step away from her plight while I regained my composure. Child of Light is a wonderfully realized, somber adventure, and I couldn't be happier that such a game exists."
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.
"Advanced Warfare makes for a convincing foundation of futuristic yet relatable combat that is worth exploring and expanding further."
Dark Souls III.
"There are several possible endings to Dark Souls III, and although most are anticlimactic, they drive home the loneliness of the paths we took. The old lords have abandoned their posts, and in the hunt to usurp them, we descend into those dark valleys, and climb those imposing peaks. This is the essence of Dark Souls III: periods of doubt, followed by great reward. The journey may be rocky, but there's a throne waiting at the end."
Dead Rising 3.
"Survival may not be always be pretty in Dead Rising 3, but it's fun to roam around in this LA-inspired setting for Capcom's latest take on a zombie apocalypse. You'll be able to hop in a car and traverse from one end of this city to the other in about five minutes, but the thrill is in the journey rather than the destination."
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.
"Deus Ex: Mankind Divided refines and reinforces the defining foundations of the series. It creates challenging situations and gives players the tools and flexibility to deal with them in a multitude of ways, all within an absorbing cyberpunk world. Although not a significant departure from Human Revolution, Mankind Divided is still a uniquely fulfilling experience, one which feels rare in games today."
Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition.
Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition.
"Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition feels like the happy conclusion of a two-year public beta, with the initial purchasers on PC bearing much of the grief with the auction house and the slow pace to reach level 60."
Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved.
"When trumpet fanfares and wailing guitars fill the room, the game calls for dramatic sweeps and swift punches; when plaintive violins and cellos encourage quiet contemplation, your hands swish about in graceful arcs."
"Many shooters chase the thrill Doom delivers, but few are as potent in their execution. It captures the essence of what made the classic Doom games touchstones of their day, and translates it to suit modern palates with impressively rendered hellscapes and a steady influx of tantalizing upgrades. Doom is the product of a tradition as old as shooters, and while it's not the model to follow in every case, modern shooters could learn a thing or two from Doom's honed and unadulterated identity."
"Fallout 4 can be an intoxicating experience. You're often forced to sacrifice something--a relationship, a lucrative opportunity, or your health--to make gains elsewhere. And the deeper down the rabbit hole you go, the more you wonder: what if I chose a different path? You second guess yourself, not just because you had other options, but because you aren't sure if you did the right thing. The fact that your decisions stick with you after walking away from the game is a testament to the great storytelling on hand. Fallout 4 is an argument for substance over style, and an excellent addition to the revered open-world series."
Far Cry Primal.
"When it uses the Stone Age setting to elevate the combat and reinforce the brutality of nature, it thrives. It fosters a give-and-take relationship with the wilderness, granting you the means to survive, but also the threats you have to overcome. That focus on primitive times can become a hindrance at certain points, with limited tools and repetitive combat, but in the end, Far Cry Primal stays true to its callous setting, fleshing out every layer of the captivating world it creates."
"FIFA needed a year like this. Without serious competition from Konami’s PES in the past few years (until now), and with Ultimate Team keeping players playing and paying all year round, there’s been no pressing motivation to ring the changes. Annual titles will always evolve gradually, but recent progress has felt glacial. FIFA 16 can be stubborn and stifling, but it feels gloriously new, and having to learn fresh strategies and nuances in a game series like this is an almost-forgotten pleasure."
Forza Motorsport 6.
"As merely the second installment for the Xbox One, Forza Motorsport 6 not only keeps up with the high bar set by Forza 5, it capitalizes on that foundation of quality. The Mod system and the weather effects are reasons enough for Forza 5 enthusiasts to seriously consider this sequel and the abundance of difficulty and assist options makes Forza 6 an immensely accessible driving simulation for newcomers."
Halo 5: Guardians.
Halo 5: Guardians.
"In some ways, Halo 5 is the boldest Halo yet. The franchise's multiplayer is at its peak, with a mode I'm sure I'll return to several times over. But then there's the campaign, which introduces fluid new movement and open level design, yet can't tell a coherent story to match. There are signs of a phenomenal shooter here, but certain narrative aspects feel underdeveloped, holding the franchise's newest sequel back from true excellence."
"This is a beautiful, haunting, and memorable game, a worthy follow-up to Limbo. Its puzzles, although rarely difficult, are engaging complements to the story. The real achievement of this game, though, is the way that it crafts its narrative: detailed environments convey the bizarre world that you travel through; introspective moments are filled with minimalist sound design and just the barest touches of music; and the things you must do to complete your journey force you to confront the realities of humanity, freedom, and existence."
Lords of the Fallen.
"Superficially, you could call Lords of the Fallen a Souls game for the meek and the uninitiated. But it earns more respect than such a flippant description."
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
"When it comes to storytelling, there has never been a Metal Gear game that's so consistent in tone, daring in subject matter, and so captivating in presentation. The Phantom Pain may be a contender for one of the best action games ever made, but is undoubtedly the best Metal Gear game there is."
Minecraft Xbox One Edition.
"Minecraft: Xbox One Edition surpasses the Xbox 360 Edition with cleaner, sharper visuals, and a farther view distance, and it runs at 60 frames per second for complete smoothness."
Mortal Kombat X.
"Mortal Kombat X successfully continues the tradition of mixing a fighting game with gore-laced slapstick."
"The fact that NBA 2K16 is a great basketball experience can’t be ignored. Few sports games come close to providing a more authentic and fun virtual representation of the real thing, and even if this is the least user-friendly entry in years, I can’t stop playing it."
Ori and the Blind Forest.
"Ori and the Blind Forest is a rapturous platformer that is as fun as it is beautiful."
Ori and the Blind Forest.
"Overwatch is an intelligent cascade of disparate ideas, supporting one another, pouring into one another, and coiling around themselves as they flow into the brilliant shooter underneath."
Rare Replay.
"Rare Replay is a great way to experience some of the best games from the studio's past, and the new videos that document Rare's storied history are the icing on the cake; it's just a shame that you can't access them from the start."
"It's the very epitome of a pure gaming experience, one that can be as deep or as simple as you want it to be, and one that never loses sight of what makes it so appealing to so many people."
Rayman Legends.
"Momentum is the name of the game in this 2D platformer. Rayman runs, leaps, swings, glides, and swims with a kinetic grace that compels you ever onward. Being able to squeeze past spikes and thunder across toppling towers should be expected in any adventure that presents such formidable challenges, but what makes Legends special is how joyful such movements are."
Rise of the Tomb Raider.
Rise of the Tomb Raider.
"Rise of the Tomb Raider's first shot pans over the vast, foreboding landscape we'll soon come to know. In many ways, it functions as a promise on the part of Crystal Dynamics: there are big things ahead of us. And at the end of Lara's journey, after we've seen her through this adventure, and experienced everything the world has to offer, it's clear that promise was kept."
"From the moment you embark on your journey right up until the final deathblow, Strider is a blast to play. Controlling this agile ninja feels empowering right out of the gate, and each new upgrade brings with it an enjoyable new way to engage your foes."
Sunset Overdrive.
"Sunset Overdrive never pretends to be anything but an excuse to swear like a sailor, jump off of a skyscraper, and blow up a gang of monsters."
Super Time Force.
"Super Time Force gleefully shreds conventional concepts of time travel in both its writing and gameplay, making it a refreshing twist on the side-scrolling shooter."
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
"Where the Witcher 2 sputtered to a halt, The Witcher 3 is always in a crescendo, crafting battle scenarios that constantly one-up the last, until you reach the explosive finale and recover in the glow of the game's quiet denouement. But while the grand clashes are captivating, it is the moments between conflicts, when you drink with the local clans and bask in a trobairitz's song, that are truly inspiring."
"The high-flying action intertwines beautifully with the brutish, tactical titan battles, creating battlefields that crackle with possibility. Titanfall is a leap forward for shooters, a game that combines the vibrant and new with the tried and true to create something special."
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition.
"What's most remarkable about Tomb Raider is how its many elements so perfectly complement each other, so that no matter which activity you're currently engaged in, you're fully invested. Even the straightforward platforming, in which Lara's sticky hands ensure there's little chance of failure, is thrilling thanks to brief quick-time events that keep your mind focused on even your smallest actions."
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege.
"My experiences weren't always perfect, but when Siege works, there's nothing else like it. It's not designed to appeal to all players, and that's exactly what allows it to be something special. With so much strategic depth, those periods between firefights actually become some of the most rewarding, while firefights themselves are made all the more intense by the knowledge that you're fighting for your life, not just your kill/death ratio."
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege.
Tom Clancy's The Division.
"No matter how frustrated I grew with the game's semi-indestructible enemies or its repetitive leveling structure, I absolutely could not stop playing. The world was too engrossing, the loot was too enticing, and the campaign was too gripping for me to simply walk away. I stopped caring about the game's flaws after the first few hours and proceeded to lose myself in obsessive stat optimization and cooperative gun battles. The problems (and frustration) never disappeared, but I was more than happy to play through the pain."
Trials Fusion.
"This is another expertly designed entry in the enthralling series. Though the core action remains largely unchanged, it's as exciting as it has ever been, thanks in part to the gorgeous visual design that brings each location to life."
Watch Dogs.
"Watch Dogs is a lushly produced and riotous game with an uncanny ability to push you from one task to the next, each of which is just as fun as the last. This version of Chicago is crawling with a hyperbolic number of degenerates, and I didn't mind squashing pyromaniacs and slavers."
* GameSpot's Best Of Lists will be updated periodically as new games worthy of inclusion are released on their respective platforms.
Last updated May 10, 2017.
Randolph Ramsay.
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The Xbox One has a serious exclusive games problem.
How can Microsoft match Sony’s stellar roster?
Microsoft has given Xbox head Phil Spencer a vote of confidence, promoting him to executive vice president of gaming. In return, Spencer will be expected to solve the company’s immediate problem: The Xbox One doesn’t have enough big-name exclusives.
As we tumble into the mass-consumer era of this console generation, the Xbox One is far behind the PlayStation 4 in terms of global install base. Microsoft refuses to release hardware sales numbers, but analysts we spoke to estimate the Xbox One at around 35 million, compared to the PlayStation 4 at more than 73 million.
That yawning 2-to-1 disparity is unlikely to get better this year. A look at the two companies’ 2018 exclusives roster makes for grim reading, at least for Xbox fans.
The Xbox One’s confirmed 2018 exclusives include State of Decay 2 , Crackdown 3 and Sea of Thieves . These are interesting games from good studios, yet all but the most rabid of fans must admit that this is a less invigorating prospect than Sony’s solid lineup. The high-profile cancellations of two Xbox One games over the past two years, in PlatinumGames’ Scalebound and Lionhead’s Fable Legends , were blows to Microsoft’s slate of exclusives.
Spencer knows he’s got a problem. He said so himself. “Our ability to go create content has to be one of our strengths,” he told Bloomberg late last year. “We haven’t always invested at the same level. We’ve gone through ups and downs in the investment.”
Finding the games that will energize the Xbox One is going to be the biggest challenge of his long career.
Analysts’ view.
We spoke to four analysts who all agreed that Microsoft needs to act soon, and that major acquisitions are by far the most likely route.
“Microsoft recognizes this as an important issue,” said Piers Harding-Rolls, director of research and analysis at IHS. “Hence, Phil Spencer’s comments about investing more in delivering first-party content.”
“Sony’s going to be aggressive at this stage of the hardware cycle,” said SuperData Research CEO Joost van Dreunen. “It gives the impression that Microsoft’s exclusives portfolio is pretty meager. They haven’t had that consistent content agenda like Sony has and so that’s why I think they now come up [a] little short. Some of their titles didn’t perform all that well.”
Microsoft has a cash pot of at least $130 billion, boosted by recent tax cuts that heavily favor large corporations. When you consider that the market capitalization of a company like Electronic Arts is around $35 billion, it looks like a handy war chest.
“Microsoft overall had a great year,” said David Cole, owner of DFC Intelligence. “But that had nothing to do with the Xbox One. For the Xbox team, they’ve got to make some pretty big strategic decisions. They need to explain a strategy for how they can be relevant going forward in the game industry.”
Rumors of acquisitions are a perennially favorite pastime in the game industry. But with Microsoft’s exclusives problem, married to its lagging behind PlayStation and its pot of gold, the gossip has intensified recently.
Acquisition rumors.
Some of the names being thrown around as possible acquisitions by Microsoft are, frankly, astounding, even unthinkable. But the fact that they are doing the rounds is instructive. The most recent one we heard (from a reliable source close to Microsoft) was, in fact, Electronic Arts. We also heard a whisper about Valve and about Korean outfit PUBG Corp., which Microsoft last year signed to a timed exclusive for its hit survival shooter, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds .
“Because of where we are in the lifecycle of all these things, I’m expecting to hear Microsoft announce something very, very shortly,” said van Dreunen.
Another reason for optimism about an acquisition comes from internal shifts within Microsoft. Spencer was promoted in the fall to executive vice president, gaming, where he has a much bigger say over how video games fit into the company’s overall strategy.
“He came on at a time when the Xbox One was in a bad position,” said Cole. “I think he’s made the best of a bad situation. The overall strong position of the company is positive because it gives the room to invest in gaming.”
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is more enthusiastic about games and Xbox than his predecessor, Steve Ballmer, greenlighting the $2.5 billion purchase of Minecraft developer Mojang as one of his first major acquisitions in 2014.
Patchy record.
It’s worth looking at Microsoft’s patchy history of game industry acquisitions. Mojang was Microsoft’s first game studio acquisition since Lionhead in 2007. Lionhead was closed in 2016.
Prior to that, Microsoft bought Rare in 2002. Rare has proven to be a disappointment, relegated until recently to punching out Kinect games. This year, it makes something of a return with the unusual multiplayer pirate adventure Sea of Thieves .
“Sony has a lot of internal studios, and that means they are going to have more exclusive games than Microsoft,” said Michael Pachter, a senior analyst with Wedbush Securities. “Sony has always been about first party and Microsoft wanted to emulate that, but they allowed studios like Rare and Lionhead to fade away.”
A promotional shot from Halo 5: Guardians . 343 Industries/Microsoft Studios.
Microsoft’s biggest studio success was Bungie, which it acquired in 2000, fueling the Halo series through three generations of consoles. But Bungie is no longer a part of Microsoft. Its hit sci-fi shooter series Destiny overshadowed replacement internal studio 343 Industries’ Halo 5 .
Back in 2013, while he was corporate vice president of Microsoft Studios, Spencer said he planned to open new internal studios and incubators, but these seem to have mostly come to nothing, with decent work like Project Spark fading away.
Some of Microsoft’s teams do great work. Turn 10 Studios and Playground Games release a Forza Motorsport or Forza Horizon title every year, respectively. The ID@Xbox program is doing a competent job of attracting great indie games, like Cuphead .
This year, a number of smaller exclusives will arrive on Xbox One, including Ashen , Deep Rock Galactic and The Darwin Project . But none of these are likely to make a difference against Sony’s behemoths. And, of course, Sony too has a strong slate of indie exclusives, including an attractive PlayStation VR lineup.
No doubt, Microsoft has some secrets up its sleeve. A new Gears of War to follow The Coalition’s 2016 Gears of War 4 would be a welcome addition, but there’s no word on it, outside of a passing mention in Microsoft’s recent announcement about Xbox Game Pass. It’s possible that a studio like The Coalition is working on a big new IP, although this seems unlikely, given that company’s false start with its earlier attempt to create something new to take on Sony’s Uncharted series.
And, of course, Microsoft has Mojang, but the studio’s biggest game isn’t a Microsoft exclusive — Minecraft is available on just about everything.
We know there’s a new Tomb Raider game coming from Square Enix, but whether it will be a yearlong Xbox One exclusive like 2015’s Rise of the Tomb Raider is an open question. Commercially, it’s more difficult to argue for this than it was earlier in this console generation.
Rumors are knocking around that shooter brand Perfect Dark might make a comeback. British studio Electric Square is staffing up significantly to work on an Xbox One exclusive.
Looking forward.
Certainly, we can expect something at E3 this year. In November, Xbox publishing manager Shannon Loftis told GameSpot: “I think our offering is good and it is solid. I definitely hear that gamers want more. Would we love to have two-dozen more super-strong exclusives? You bet. We do have more coming; more that are in the works that we’re not talking about now.”
But it will take a lot to close the perceived quality gap with Sony, positioning Microsoft as a viable contender in this generation. After all, it now faces a serious threat from Nintendo’s runaway success with the Switch, which that company is achieving through exclusive games as well as smart hardware design.
“On top of PlayStation 4’s continued success, the Switch had an incredible year,” noted Cole. “Once Microsoft falls behind, they may start to be seen as a secondary platform.”
All this brings us back to the potential for an acquisition that might give Microsoft a pool of development talent, some great new IP and potentially, big new games ready at hand for release on Xbox One.
Tomorrow, we’ll look at the most (and the least) likely targets of a big Microsoft acquisition.
More than 5 Kinect games worth playing on Xbox One.
One of the coolest features of Microsoft’s Xbox One console is its new Kinect camera which allows users to navigate the system via voice commands and gestures. This relatively new technology can be intimidating for some Xbox One users but for those who have fully embraced it, many find it hard and even inconvenient to go back to a system that doesn’t log in users via face detection, allow them to pause a video with a voice command, and open apps instantly by asking the Xbox One to do so.
The Kinect has changed the way users control media on their television sets and it has also evolved the way many play games with a growing library of Kinect-enabled games now available on Xbox One that allow for gamers to play with their entire body as opposed to just a controller. Here’s a list of some of the better Kinect games on Xbox One accompanied by a mini-review and personal thoughts on each release. It’s by no means a complete list of Xbox One Kinect games but it is a good example of the variety of experiences available and a great place to get started.
Boom Ball for Kinect and Squid Hero for Kinect.
Both developed by Virtual Air Guitar Company, these two Kinect games are aimed at the younger gamer and provide some basic gameplay options without the complex interaction of other titles.
Boom Ball for Kinect is a simple ball game that kind of acts like a three dimensional version of pong. Balls are thrown at the player who must deflect them back at the screen with their hands while trying to aim the ball at obstacles onscreen. Because of its target demographic, adults may have trouble playing as the game will automatically assume all players are the height of a 12 year old child. Younger players will have no problem though and may even appreciate the handicap given to their adult competition.
Squid Hero for Kinect is more of an endless runner with players tasked with navigating a swimming squid around obstacles while trying to collect as many items as possible. The game is remarkably easy to play and is particularly fun for kids in 2 player mode with the customizable hats adding an extra level of playability. It’s a fairly simply game but one that gets more complex as it progresses with a challenging difficulty spike.
Neither Boom Ball for Kinect nor Squid Hero for Kinect feature graphics or sound that will blow users away but they’re also priced appropriately and are a very cheap investment for parents looking for an affordable way to keep their kids entertained.
Just Dance 2014 and Just Dance 2015.
The game franchise that most people associate with the Kinect, Just Dance is a fun dance game that’s enjoyable in solo play but works much better in multiplayer with up to eight local players now supported in both Just Dance 2014 and Just Dance 2015, and the soon to be released Just Dance 2016. The aim of the Just Dance games isn’t to necessarily train players to become the world’s best dancer but to have fun and “just dance”. The gameplay consists of mirroring the digital music video on screen and matching the moves that appear in a timely fashion.
The icons can often be ambiguous though (to the point of not resembling the characters’ dance moves at all) and around 60% of the songs’ choreography consists of walking around and striking poses instead of actually doing any dancing. Much in the same way Twister won’t teach anyone Yoga, Just Dance won’t improve anyone’s dance skills. It is super fun at parties though and the recently added online multiplayer and friend challenges provide significant content to keep many fans coming back for more. At least until the next annual instalment comes out.
Heavily promoted when it first launched alongside the Xbox One, Xbox Fitness is a bit of a mixed bag that unfortunately still hasn’t managed to live up to its potential. Designed to provide Xbox One owners with a way to stay fit, Xbox Fitness is available to all Xbox Gold subscribers and offers around 30 workout videos for free for users to play. These videos are essentially workout programs that play on the screen but with the added benefit of the Kinect sensor which tracks the user’s body movements and records intensity and even how much weight or stress is being applied to each muscle group. Xbox Fitness also records stats for each section of a workout and compares it to the user’s friends in the form of in-game challenges. The technology is fairly impressive and for the most part truly provides a great source of motivation… when it works.
While most of the video streaming issues that plagued Xbox Fitness for months after its launch have been fixed, very little else has been worked on in the last two years, leading to a sense of abandonment for many users despite promises of more updates coming soon. Body-tracking glitches are still a common occurrence and range from instances of next to zero activity measured to error messages instructing the user to speed up or slow down despite the fact they’re working at the same speed as the instructor on screen. The Kinect still has trouble tracking floor exercise such as sit-ups, push-ups, and plank (often not detecting any movement at all during these exercises) and there are also problems with the clunky user interface which oddly restricts itself to showing only one friend on the leaderboard and requires the navigation through several layers of menus and filters just to find the right workout. There is a lot of room for improvement with Xbox Fitness, though for a program that’s free for most Xbox One owners (who doesn’t have a Gold membership these days?) it’s worth checking out at least a few times. Recommended workouts: Anything by Mossa and Jullian Michaels.
By far one of the best Kinect games on Xbox One, Dance Central Spotlight is a dance game that actually wants to make the player a better dancer. Using a truly massive library of songs, each track features four unique routines that gradually introduce the required dance moves and build upon the previous move set to get even total non-dancers up to a level of coordination where they can gold star a Pro routine. There’s also Cardio and Strength routines, for those after more of an aerobic workout, as well as an extra beginner and advanced level routine in a completely new style to keep things fresh.
What really sets Dance Central Spotlight apart from the other dance games is its “Hey, DJ!” feature which allows single players to pause a song at any time, slow down sections, and practice specific moves on a loop until they’re mastered. Coupled with the game’s remarkably accurate body tracking, this creates a true sense of skill progression and satisfaction and makes it very difficult to go back to a game like Just Dance which feels more like dancing along to a music video by comparison.
The popular fruit slicing game has come to the Xbox One with a variety of extra mini-games in addition to the traditional Fruit Ninja mode of the original. This new version looks and sounds fantastic on the Xbox One with its Saturday morning cartoon-style characters and backgrounds. It’s obviously not the most historically or culturally accurate depiction of ninja but it is damn fun and showcases some of the best Kinect functionality in any Xbox One game. Hand gestures swipe exactly where the player expects them to on screen and the menu navigation is impressively fast and simple to use. Layers upon layers of unlockables make Fruit Ninja a game most will return to often and its local four person multiplayer capability makes it a great go-to for parties. Fruit Ninja Kinect 2 is a surprisingly really solid game that deserves a lot more attention than it’s been given.
What Kinect games do you play on your Xbox One? Share your thoughts with the WinBeta community in the comments below. Agree with our recommendations?
Eurogamer.net's Recommended Xbox One games.
Eurogamer.net's recommended games listings are complete for PlayStation 4, Wii U and Xbox One, and date back to 1st January 2014 on other platforms.
Dragon Ball FighterZ review.
Dragon Ball FighterZ is a fantastic fighting game, and worth playing whether you're into Dragon Ball and fighters or not.
Essential PC PS4 One.
Celeste review.
A platformer aimed at speedrunners is also an adventure for the rest of us to savour.
Recommended Mac PC PS4 Switch One.
Monster Hunter World review.
Monster Hunter opens up for the most accessible, most detailed and most magnificent entry yet.
Essential PS4 One.
Subnautica review.
An oppressively beautiful portrayal of an undersea environment, and a well-wrought survival game with a vaguely eco-friendly message.
Recommended PC One.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm review.
Intelligent and enriching, this is a preview worth playing.
Recommended PC PS4 One.
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds review.
The Battle Royale genre gets its first definitive success.
Recommended PC One One X.
Super Lucky's Tale review.
Generous and inventive, this 3D platformer is filled with charm.
Recommended PC One One X.
Call of Duty: WW2 review.
Sledgehammer takes Call of Duty back to its roots, refining rather than redefining the series for the best entry in years.
Recommended PC PS4 PS4 Pro One One X.
Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus review.
Vicious, affecting, witty, spaced-out, crude, inventive, morbid and for the most part, a success.
Recommended PC PS4 PS4 Pro One One X.
Assassin's Creed Origins review.
Assassin's Creed returns and its vast and evocative Egypt inspires wonder - even if much in the game remains familiar.
Recommended PC PS4 PS4 Pro One One X.
Stardew Valley review.
A modern indie classic on PC finds in Nintendo's Switch the perfect platform.
Essential PC PS4 Switch One.
A Hat in Time review.
An adorable platforming adventure that steadily finds it own voice.
Recommended PC PS4 PS4 Pro One One X.
Forza Motorsport 7 review.
Another handsome, well built and entertaining Forza rolls off the production line - though there are controversial changes under the hood.
Recommended PC One.
FIFA 18 review.
High-scoring fun from EA Sports, but FIFA 18 is an unspectacular upgrade.
Recommended PC PS4 PS4 Pro One One X.
Dishonored: Death of the Outsider review.
A morbid, potent epilogue for Dishonored 2 equipped with new powers, some great locations and some overdue tweaks.
Recommended PC PS4 One.
Destiny 2 review.
Bigger and better - but there's not enough genuinely new for Destiny 2 to achieve greatness.
Recommended PC PS4 One.
PES 2018 review.
A timely overhaul that should take a great game to new heights - though it's not quite on peak form this year.
Recommended PC PS4 One.
Absolver review.
A one-of-a-kind blend of blood-thumping martial arts, combo curation and grindy multiplayer set in a ravishing wasteland.
Recommended PC PS4 One.
XCOM 2: War of the Chosen review.
War of the Chosen is a generous expansion that's bustling with brilliant new systems that's a must for anyone who's completed XCOM 2.
Recommended PC PS4 One.
F1 2017 review.
Codemasters delivers a detailed, deep and passionate take on motorsport's top tier that might be even more enjoyable than the real thing.
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