Riding high off the success of the Xbox 360, Microsoft’s Xbox brand looked poised to conquer the current generation. As we all know, that isn’t what ended up happening. The Xbox One failed to close the gap with the PlayStation 4 and will eventually have the Nintendo Switch surpass it in sales (if that hasn’t already happened). To say the Xbox brand had a rough decade would be an understatement.
Despite the setbacks, Xbox managed to have some top-tier exclusives this decade: both on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One. While a good chunk of these are also available on PC, they still count as Xbox games. The titles listed below represent the very best the Xbox brand has to offer, games you can likely play on the upcoming Xbox Series X.
Sunset Overdrive
Platform: Xbox One
Release date: October 18, 2014
Before Spider-Man, Insomniac Games released another exceptional open-world title: Sunset Overdrive. Like Spider-Man, Sunset Overdrive gives players the freedom to traverse a large city and fight a variety of different enemies. There’s also a deep level of weapons customization. Sunset Overdrive stands out because of its Punk Rock aesthetics and soundtrack; which serve to amplify the already over-the-top gameplay. If you enjoy Spider-Man on PS4, you owe it to yourself to play Sunset Overdrive to see where many of its ideas came from.
Ori and the Blind Forest
Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Release date: March 11, 2015
Metroidvania-inspired games are ubiquitous nowadays. Despite that, Ori and the Blind Forest manages to stand out thanks to its captivating graphics and hard-as-nails gameplay. As one progresses, they’ll earn numerous power-ups and abilities that make traversing earlier levels easier. These same power-ups come in handy when dealing with the game’s harrowing boss encounters. If you can manage to get past the steep difficulty, you’ll find Ori and the Blind Forest extremely rewarding.
Cuphead
Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Release date: September 29, 2017
Cuphead is the ultimate throwback game. Not only do its hand-animated graphics hearken back to the Golden Age of Animation, but its gameplay is also a throwback to the platformers of the 1980s. Unlike old-school games, you don’t need to replay entire sections if you lose. This incentivizes players to continue until victory is theirs. While Cuphead can get hair-rippingly frustrating, finally defeating a nasty boss leaves one feeling elated beyond description.
Quantum Break
Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Release date: April 5, 2016
Alan Wake stylized itself after TV shows but Quantum Break is where Remedy took that idea to its logical extreme by having actual episodes of a series within the game. Though the result was somewhat clunky, you have to give credit to Remedy for mostly pulling this off. The in-game narrative and episodes mostly gel well together. On top of its unique presentation, Quantum Break is a blast to play thanks to the myriad of psychic powers at the player’s disposal. If you liked Control but haven’t checked out Quantum Break, you should do yourself a favor and do so.
Alan Wake
Platform: Xbox 360
Release date: May 18, 2010
Alan Wake came out during a time when “cinematic” games were all the rage. It took things further by having a TV show-like structure. The fact each chapter begins with “Previously on Alan Wake” is a testament to this. Alan Wake’s Stephen King-inspired storyline and supernatural abilities served as a solid foundation for Quantum Break and Control to build upon. Considering the current success of Control, it would be wise for Remedy to bring Alan Wake back in some fashion.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Platform: Xbox One
Release date: November 11, 2014
We’ll ignore the many issues plaguing the online portion of Halo: The Master Chief Collection so we can focus on how awesome this package is. Halo is, of course, Xbox’s most recognizable franchise so any compilation containing all of its best entries is an automatic win. This collection is not only great for long-time fans but for those who may have never experienced Halo before. It practically sells itself.
Killer Instinct
Platform: Xbox One
Release date: November 22, 2013
Killer Instinct was all but extinct until the franchise made its glorious return on Xbox One. In some ways, Killer Instinct influenced modern fighting games by introducing the concept of “seasons.” Each year would see a new set of fighters added to the already robust roster. Players could unlock new fighters by playing through the various modes or through in-game purchases. Killer Instinct isn’t as talked-about now but it’s still the Xbox’s premiere (i.e only) fighting game franchise.
Forza Horizon 4
Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Release date: October 2, 2018
Forza Horizon 4 is not only one of the best racers on Xbox One, but it is also one of the finest on any console. Set in England, this entry features a massive open world full of different racing challenges to complete. The big twist this time around is the dynamic seasonal weather. During summer, you’ll need to drive around lakes and large rivers. In winter, you can simply drive over frozen bodies of water. Seeing and challenging real-world players to races is also a huge draw. Considering how EA refuses to release a new Burnout, Forza Horizon 4 is the place to get your open-world arcade racer fix.
Titanfall
Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Release date: March 11, 2014
Titanfall is what happens when you take Call of Duty’s tight FPS mechanics and toss in giant mechs. Though it lacks a proper campaign, its highly addictive gameplay more than makes up for it. There’s nothing quite like being on the battlefield shooting foes before calling in your Titan to truly tear things up. Even though Titanfall 2 exists, there are those who continue playing the original. It’s just that good.
Fable III
Platform: Xbox 360
Release date: October 26, 2010
Fable was Xbox’s primary RPG series for many years. Unfortunately, Fable III would be the last proper entry. Taking place 50 years after the events of Fable II, Fable III tasks players with overthrowing the king of Albion and then ruling over said kingdom. In true Fable fashion, this game is all about player agency. Any decision you make throughout the course of the adventure can and will impact you in ways both big and small. With luck, Microsoft will resurrect the venerated series in the 2020s. It would be a shame to go another decade without a real Fable title to play.
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
Platform: Xbox 360
Release date: April 13, 2012
I’m tossing The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings in here because it is technically an Xbox console exclusive. Many forget that The Witcher video game series didn’t gain its current popularity until the second installment. Though it still features the same characters and settings from the first game, the overhauled combat mechanics and overall streamlined gameplay made The Witcher 2 come into its own. It perfectly set the stage for its insanely successful follow-up, The Witcher 3.
Rare Replay
Platform: Xbox One
Release date: August 4, 2015
Rare Replay features 30 games from across Rare’s 30-year history. Players will find titles that originated on the ZX Spectrum all the way to the Xbox 360. In addition to a flood of titles, Rare Replay contains hours of behind-the-scenes content that delves into the history of each. Video game preservation is a subject few pay attention to despite its importance. Titles like Rare Replay do a fantastic job of showing everyone how best to preserve and compile games for future generations.
Halo 5: Guardians
Platform: Xbox One
Release date: October 27, 2015
Halo was once the king of all FPS games but ceded ground last-gen thanks to the titan that was Call of Duty. Halo 5: Guardians attempts to revitalize the franchise by introducing new features (for Halo) like aiming down sights. Special “Spartan Abilities” give players added maneuverability and extra attack and defensive options. The story itself shakes things up by having two playable characters: Master Chief and Spartan Locke. Some weren’t fond of that particular direction, but it showed 343 Studios’ willingness to experiment.
Gears 5
Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Release date: September 10, 2019
Gears 5 has only been out for three months (at the time of this writing) but it has already secured itself a spot among Xbox’s greats. The game retains the series’ celebrated (and often imitated) cover-based shooting mechanics along with its various multiplayer options, including Horde Mode. It also flips the script by focusing on a new central protagonist: Kait Diaz. The tale of Gears 5 isn’t quite over as The Coalition will no doubt continue adding content to multiplayer. If this is the future of the franchise, long-time fans have little to worry about.
State of Decay 2
Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Release date: May 22, 2018
State of Decay 2 takes the basic premise behind survival games — i.e. scavenging the world for materials useful for survival — and tosses in a zombie element on top of it. Looking for bottles of clean water is hard enough without having a hundred zombies on your butt. This is where the game’s four-player co-op becomes essential. It’s easier to defeat or escape from zombies if you have friends at your side. If you’re looking for a better version of DayZ, State of Decay 2 is for you.
Halo Wars 2
Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Release date: February 21, 2017
Halo Wars 2 is a meat-and-potatoes RTS experience where players build bases and armies using local resources before going off to attack enemy bases. This is a title that’s perfect for RTS newbies thanks to its simplified, streamlined mechanics. However, it may not satisfy veteran players used to games with more robust options. With all of that said, it’s a solid entry in the Halo series.
Halo: Reach
Platform: Xbox 360
Release date: September 14, 2010
Halo: Reach was the last Halo title developed by Bungie. As such, the developer bid their creation a grand farewell with what many consider the best Halo game ever. Set before the events of the original trilogy, Reach tells the story of the doomed human-controlled colony and those who died defending it. Though Reach is just as exciting as its predecessors, it has a decidedly somber tone given the inevitability of its finale. Halo: Reach is the standard all future Halo games must try to surpass.
Forza Motorsport 7
Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Release date: October 3, 2017
Forza Motorsport 7 doesn’t do anything to upset the franchise’s patented sim-racing formula. That’s not a negative considering how fine-tuned of an experience this game delivers. Players get to choose from over 700 different vehicles to race across dozens of beautifully rendered tracks. The Forza Motorsport series has always given Sony’s Gran Turismo a run for its money and Forza Motorsport 7 is a fine example of why.
Sea of Thieves
Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Release date: March 20, 2018
Those looking for an enjoyable pirate adventure need look no further than Sea of Thieves. Co-op is a major component since every player is responsible for different ship functions (steering, navigation, weapons). Since this is an active open world, conflict with other players is inevitable; further necessitating having a crew. Sea of Thieves sailed over rough waters during its launch but is now one of the bigger Xbox games out there (especially on Twitch). This particular sea shanty is far from over so it’ll be interesting to see where Sea of Thieves sails to next.
Splinter Cell: Conviction
Platform: Xbox 360
Release date: April 13, 2010
One of the most criminally overlooked games on this list is Splinter Cell: Conviction. Inspired by Fox’s 24 TV series, this entry introduced many mechanics that also made it over to the equally brilliant/underrated Splinter Cell: Blacklist. This includes “Mark and Execute” which allows players to mark targets and shoot them automatically and the ability to interrogate targets in real-time. It is possible Conviction didn’t attain more success because it was an Xbox 360 exclusive but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the Xbox’s finest games.
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