There are many great Xbox One games to choose from, but here are some of the best:
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – This open-world RPG is widely considered one of the best games of all time, featuring an engrossing storyline, memorable characters, and stunning graphics.
- Grand Theft Auto V – This action-adventure game has been a fan favorite for years, with its sprawling open world, diverse characters, and engaging storyline.
- Red Dead Redemption 2 – From the same developers as GTA V, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a Western-themed open-world game with gorgeous graphics, engaging characters, and a captivating story.
- Halo 5: Guardians – This first-person shooter is a staple of the Xbox franchise, with intense combat, expansive multiplayer modes, and a gripping storyline.
- Forza Horizon 4 – Racing fans will love this game, which features stunning graphics, a vast open-world map, and a huge selection of customizable cars.
- Ori and the Blind Forest – This indie platformer has won critical acclaim for its beautiful art style, engaging gameplay, and emotional storyline.
- Cuphead – This side-scrolling shooter has a unique art style inspired by 1930s cartoons, and features challenging gameplay and boss battles.
1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an open-world action role-playing game developed by CD Projekt RED and released in 2015 for Xbox One and other platforms. It is the third game in the Witcher series, and it follows the story of Geralt of Rivia, a skilled monster hunter known as a Witcher, as he searches for his missing adopted daughter, Ciri.
The game takes place in a vast open world filled with cities, villages, and wilds, and the player can explore, take on quests, and fight monsters. The game’s combat system is based on swordplay, with Geralt able to use various weapons and magic spells to defeat his enemies.
One of the game’s standout features is its rich and engrossing storyline, which is based on the popular book series by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. The game also features memorable characters, stunning graphics, and a dynamic day-night cycle and weather system that affects gameplay.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has won numerous awards and critical acclaim, and is widely considered one of the best games of all time. It has also spawned a popular Netflix TV series based on the books and games.
2. Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) is an action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games in 2013 for Xbox One and other platforms. It is the fifth main installment in the Grand Theft Auto series.
The game takes place in the fictional city of Los Santos, which is based on Los Angeles, and the surrounding areas. The player takes on the roles of three different characters – Michael, Trevor, and Franklin – who work together to commit heists and other criminal activities.
GTA V features a vast open world with a wide range of vehicles, weapons, and activities, including driving, shooting, flying, and more. The game’s single-player campaign follows the three characters as they navigate their way through the criminal underworld of Los Santos, with the player switching between them as the story progresses.
The game also features a multiplayer mode called GTA Online, which allows players to create their own characters and explore the world of Los Santos with other players. GTA Online features a range of game modes, including co-operative heists, races, and deathmatches.
GTA V has won numerous awards and critical acclaim, with praise for its open world, engaging storyline, memorable characters, and attention to detail. It is also one of the best-selling video games of all time.
3. Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is an action-adventure game developed and published by Rockstar Games in 2018 for Xbox One and other platforms. It is a prequel to the 2010 game Red Dead Redemption, and it takes place in 1899 in the American Old West.
The game follows the story of Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang, who must navigate his way through the changing landscape of the American frontier while trying to survive and protect his fellow gang members. The game features a vast open world with a variety of environments, including towns, mountains, forests, and deserts, all filled with wildlife and other NPCs.
Red Dead Redemption 2’s gameplay is a combination of exploration, combat, and various activities such as hunting, fishing, and gambling. The game features a variety of weapons and tools, including guns, knives, and explosives, as well as a horse as a primary means of transportation.
The game’s story is richly developed and character-driven, with multiple endings and player choices affecting the overall outcome. The game has received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its engaging storyline, immersive open world, and stunning graphics. It has won numerous awards, including Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2018.
4. Halo 5: Guardians
Halo 5: Guardians is a first-person shooter game developed by 343 Industries and published by Microsoft Studios in 2015 for Xbox One. It is the fifth main installment in the Halo series and follows the story of the Master Chief, a super-soldier, and the Spartan Locke, a new character introduced in the game.
The game’s campaign mode takes place across several planets, and the player controls both the Master Chief and Spartan Locke as they pursue their respective objectives. The game’s single-player campaign also features a new gameplay mechanic called “Fireteam AI,” which allows players to issue commands to other members of their team.
In addition to the campaign, Halo 5: Guardians features a robust multiplayer mode that includes both classic game modes like Deathmatch and Capture the Flag, as well as new game modes like Warzone. The game also includes a Forge mode that allows players to create and share their own custom maps and game modes.
Halo 5: Guardians received generally positive reviews for its engaging storyline, improved graphics, and new gameplay mechanics. However, some fans were critical of the game’s campaign mode for being too short and not living up to the expectations set by previous Halo games.
5. Forza Horizon 4
Forza Horizon 4 is a racing game developed by Playground Games and published by Microsoft Studios in 2018 for Xbox One and Windows 10. The game is set in a fictionalized version of Great Britain and features over 450 different licensed cars from more than 100 manufacturers.
The game’s open-world environment allows players to explore and race across various terrains, including cities, countryside, and coastal areas. The game features dynamic seasons that change the environment and gameplay, with each season affecting the handling of cars and opening up new routes and challenges.
Forza Horizon 4’s single-player mode features a variety of events, including circuit races, point-to-point races, and stunt challenges. The game’s multiplayer mode includes cooperative and competitive races, as well as user-created events and challenges.
The game features stunning graphics and an impressive attention to detail, including realistic weather effects and day/night cycles. It also includes a robust car customization system that allows players to modify and upgrade their vehicles.
Forza Horizon 4 received widespread critical acclaim for its open-world environment, gameplay variety, and stunning graphics. It is widely considered one of the best racing games of all time and has won numerous awards, including Best Sports/Racing Game at The Game Awards 2018.
6. Ori and the Blind Forest
Ori and the Blind Forest is a platform-adventure game developed by Moon Studios and published by Microsoft Studios in 2015 for Xbox One and other platforms. The game is set in a mystical forest and follows the story of a young orphan spirit named Ori, who must navigate the forest and restore balance to its ecosystem.
The game’s gameplay mechanics include platforming, puzzle-solving, and exploration. The player controls Ori as they jump, climb, and use various abilities to traverse the environment and defeat enemies. The game also includes a unique save system where players must use “Soul Links” to save their progress and regain health.
Ori and the Blind Forest features a beautiful hand-drawn art style and an emotionally driven storyline that explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the power of nature. The game’s soundtrack, composed by Gareth Coker, is also widely acclaimed for its orchestral arrangements and use of traditional instruments.
The game received widespread critical acclaim for its engaging gameplay, beautiful art style, and emotional storytelling. It has won numerous awards, including Best Art Direction at The Game Awards 2015 and Best Indie Game at the British Academy Games Awards 2016.
7. Cuphead
Cuphead is a run-and-gun platformer game developed and published by StudioMDHR in 2017 for Xbox One and other platforms. The game is inspired by 1930s cartoons and features a unique hand-drawn art style and jazz-inspired soundtrack.
The game’s gameplay mechanics include side-scrolling platforming and boss battles, with the player controlling the titular character Cuphead as they fight through various levels and collect power-ups. The game is notoriously difficult, with challenging boss battles that require skill and quick reflexes to overcome.
Cuphead’s hand-drawn art style and animation are one of its most notable features, with each level featuring vibrant colors and dynamic animations that evoke the classic cartoons of the 1930s. The game’s jazz-inspired soundtrack, composed by Kristofer Maddigan, also adds to the game’s charm and atmosphere.
Cuphead received widespread critical acclaim for its unique art style, challenging gameplay, and memorable characters. It won numerous awards, including Best Independent Game at The Game Awards 2017 and Best Art Direction at the British Academy Games Awards 2018. The game’s success also led to the development of an animated series based on the game, which premiered on Netflix in 2021.