Xbox Game Pass adds immense value to the platform, and with the Xbox Cloud streaming service there are so many great ways—hardware and software—to play games on the system. What makes Xbox stand out is the lateral availability of games across systems.
With the newest blockbuster Halo Infinite, for example, players using an Xbox One or Xbox Series console are able to play together. In most instances, just popping in a disc will fire up the right version of the game, and the new Smart Delivery feature pushes performance to the best it can be for the console the game is installed on.
Of course, there are some outliers and many weird cases that are outlined on this FAQ , but for the most part games with an Xbox label will work on just about any Xbox One or Series console. Even some original classic Xbox and Xbox games will work on modern hardware with a quick patch download. Overall, the Xbox family of systems is an excellent choice for players who enjoy a lot of mainstream games, but Game Pass users often discover amazing indie-developed games.
Several of these games either launched on Xbox first or are exclusive to Xbox in the console market but are also available on PC either through the Xbox app or Steam. While there are hundreds of titles available on this platform, not to mention some of the most anticipated games yet to be released, my list includes 10 that represent the Xbox One extremely well.
While the console has been mostly geared toward mature games, there is a wide variety to enjoy across lots of genres, from run-and-gun to survival. This list is for anyone with access to the Xbox ecosystem, a gaming platform that appears to be evolving in exciting ways that will give players more options. People want to play together, and a more seamless play experience is now more common than not. Get Digital Code. After the lukewarm reception of Gears of War 4 , developer The Coalition finally hit its stride with Gears 5 after taking up the reins to a franchise that defined the Xbox Starring Kait Diaz, a Gear with a mysterious connection to the monstrous Locusts that have always been the iconic foe in the games, players meet up with Marcus Fenix to fight another battle in the constant struggle over the planet Sera.
Gears 5 , paired with the Hivebusters DLC expansion, feels like a full package with plenty of modes to explore and items to unlock. Considering the entire Gears franchise is playable on Xbox One and with a newfound potential in what could come next, now is a great time to be a fan of this action-packed series. As one of the top names in racing games, Forza continues to push video game visuals further with the latest entry to its more open-world offering Forza Horizon 5.
Set in Mexico, Forza Horizon 5 literally drops players into the action—out of a plane—right from the start. This game has adrenaline-fueled races one minute and then some of the most relaxing digital drives available the next. Even non-racing fans can enjoy time behind the wheel. While it definitely feels best behind a simulation racing wheel, Forza Horizon 5 is a game that is just fun to play no matter the controller.
I personally encourage going for a drive and listening to a full album, an audiobook, or a podcast. In my opinion, this is one of the best ways to unwind on the Xbox.
That, and racing is always there should the competitive itch arise. A lot of Xbox games, especially the multiplayer-focused titles, have improved significantly over time. Sea of Thieves , a make-your-own-fun pirate adventure, puts players into the fantasy of having a crew, sailing toward sun-kissed horizons, dredging up treasure from sunken ships, and fighting off other pirates. With the right group of friends, Sea of Thieves can lead to legendary nights of gaming. Keeping the crew organized is also necessary when coming across other players, who likely will want to steal hard-earned loot.
Featuring some of the most incredible music in games, Ori and the Will of the Wisps feels like a playable heartfelt storybook. Tight controls and beautiful visuals are what made both Ori games stand out, but I always felt like Will of the Wisps , the followup to Ori and the Blind Forest , was a stronger title between the two. Oozing with style and a unique charm, it's a cozy experience that evokes a Saturday morning cartoon vibe.
That said, Cuphead's actual gameplay is quite challenging, which makes it better suited for tweens or teens that have a decent amount of gaming experience. It's essentially a boss rush game starring Cuphead and his brother Mugman who are on a quest to save their own souls by procuring the soul contracts of an eclectic batch of cartoon villains, from clowns, to sentient vegetables, to candy shop owners.
It plays like an old-school run-and-gun, so kids who like classic franchises such as Mega Man and Contra will feel right at home. See our Cuphead review. When it comes to open-world racing on Xbox, it doesn't get better than Forza Horizon 4. The gorgeous world is brimming with a wide variety of races and challenges to enjoy. As a spin-off series, Forza Horizon 4 relies more on arcade racing than the mainline Motorsport series, but it's designed to give players the freedom to fine-tune the experience to their preferences with a range of difficulty settings.
Newcomers to traditional racing games can feel welcome, while kids with lots of racing miles under their belts in video games, hopefully can ratchet up the difficulty to get an experience that's closer to a simulation racing game. With a huge roster of cars, plenty of content whether you're playing solo or online, and a dynamic world with changing weather, Forza Horizon 4 is adrenaline-pumping racing at its finest.
It's available on Xbox Game Pass. If they enjoy it, Forza Horizon 5 releases on November 9. See our Forza Horizon 4 review. It should be noted that It Takes Two deals with a difficult subject matter. When Rose overhears her parents discussing divorce, she consults a book about relationships. Her tears drop on dolls resembling her parents, which then transports their consciousness to the tiny dolls, sending them on a startling adventure in and around the family home.
While the themes may be hard for some kids to wrestle with, It Takes Two handles the subject in a really graceful manner. Plus, the platforming and puzzles, which rely on constant teamwork, make for one of the most inventive co-op games in recent years. To be clear, you have to play It Takes Two with a partner, either split-screen or online only one copy of the game is needed , so this is a great game to play with your kid.
See our It Takes Two review. This wouldn't be a best games list for kids if it didn't include a Lego game. Traveller's Tales Lego series has been a great pick for kids for more than 15 years. It also includes Lego Marvel's Avengers, which isn't as good but is still fun for those who like the Avengers movies.
All three games feature local co-op, so the whole family can pick their favorite Marvel hero and jump in for some breezy and lighthearted fun. Lego Marvel Collection is a solid choice for all ages, but it's especially good for new gamers and young children. Even parents who aren't plugged into games at all have heard of Minecraft.
Chances are, your kids have heard of it, too. After all, Minecraft is only the best-selling game As such, it's certainly possible the kids in your life already play the iconic sandbox game. But if your kids are just starting to get into games, Minecraft is a wonderful entry pointt. It's essentially an imagination simulator that allows you to build worlds from the ground up.
Kids who like Lego and building things will find much to love with Minecraft. If they get hooked, Minecraft offers limitless replay value, and it's also a fairly good educational tool. See our Minecraft review. Minecraft Dungeons is a thoroughly engaging spin-off that will appeal to both fans of Minecraft and those who haven't played it at all.
In this game, the player drives a car around a huge arena and plays soccer on a massive scale while still inside their superpowered, high-speed car. While this seems like a game that would make no sense, it's a surprisingly fun and unique game, perfect for a sports lover that wants a fast-paced game. Donut County is an absurdly simple video game. In it, you control a giant hole in the ground that goes around swallowing up the town.
From sandwiches to houses to mountains, it'll eat anything! The hole slowly gets bigger as you feed it until the level is completely empty. The premise is as goofy as it is heartwarming: the holes are being ordered by the local raccoons and one of them, BK, must earn his friends' forgiveness for ruining all their homes. If you were a Sonic fan growing up, you might enjoy watching this just as much as the kid will enjoy playing it. In this brightly colored Sonic adventure , players travel through an amusement park to free a race of aliens known as the Wisps.
There's a reason Sonic has been a beloved character for so long, after all. His games are action-packed, bright, engaging, and, above all, fun! Whether the kid wants to play with you in local co-op or take on the adventure themselves, they're bound to have a blast.
Unravel Two is a unique platformer game in which the player controls two creatures known as Yarnys. A Yarny is an anthropomorphic creature made entirely of yarn. In this game, one Yarny was separated from his home after drifting out to see and when he washes ashore, meets another Yarny. The two of them tie their ends together and head out on an adventure together. The player controls the Yarnys as they make their way through the world, solve puzzles, and form a friendship with one another.
Darwin Project. Violent battle royale isn't always fair but is lots of fun. Dead or Alive 6. Best yet in racy, violent martial arts fighter series. Updated adventure has bloody combat, moral flexibility. Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain. Fun, frantic B-movie shooter series gets a polished reboot. Classic survival horror franchise jump-scares to VR.
Gone Home. Terrific narrative game tackles tough teen identity issues. Fantastic, mature tale focuses on choice vs. Puzzle-platformer with scary imagery rewards cleverness. MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries. Pilot huge robots in complex, destructive adventure. Monster Hunter: World. Fresh take on epic battle between man and beast. Gory action-RPG set in feudal Japan tests, rewards players.
Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth. Dungeon crawler has engaging play but disturbing imagery. Persona 4: Dancing All Night. Slightly mature dance game promotes being true to yourself.
Platforms: PlayStation Vita. Dystopian stealth action is fun but has clunky controls. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun. Brutal strategy game is gory, tough, yet hard to put down. Sine Mora Ex. Mature action game's topics, time controls redefine genre. Tainted Grail: Conquest. Live, die, and repeat in grim fantasy-deck-building tale. Skyrim's move to Switch brings huge adventure on the go.
The Sims Social. Mature but lighthearted life sim with new social features. Torchlight II. Bloody fantasy tale is easy to play, stands test of time. The Blackout Club. Terrifyingly fun, random co-op horror experience. The World Next Door. Beautiful anime adventure has clever gameplay, profanity. Platforms: Mac, Nintendo Switch, Windows. Total War: Warhammer II. Steep learning curve leads to epic violent fantasy battles.
Tropico 6. Strategy game offers tongue-in-cheek political critique. Warframe: The Jovian Concord. Update to free-to-play action shooter adds beauty, gore. Yomawari: Midnight Shadows.
Cutesy horror game can be alternately tense, vague. A Plague Tale: Innocence. Gripping, bloody tale of siblings against impossible odds. Asgard's Wrath. Cosmic power is yours in bloody, mature Norse VR tale. Blacksad: Under the Skin. Mature detective tale is faithful to graphic novel roots.
Futuristic adventure delivers intriguing moral choices. Darkest Dungeon: The Crimson Court. Bloody, tough expansion goes deeper into brutal dungeons. Creepy, violent horror game will make you keep lights on. Unique sci-fi adventure with flawed smart enemies. Hunt: Showdown. John Wick Hex. Turn-based game based on movies glorifies bloody violence. Persona 5 Royal. Huge expansion makes mature adventure a must-have for fans.
Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition. Homage to classic adventures brings fantasy to consoles. Predator: Hunting Grounds. Bloody online-only combat shines when playing alien hunter. Remnant: From the Ashes. Challenging, bloody shooter promotes teamwork vs. Samurai Shodown. Hardcore fighting game with Japanese theme has blood, gore.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Wildly difficult ninja game doubles down on bloody combat. Sniper Elite V2 Remastered. Sneaky good yet bloody World War II third-person shooter. Telling Lies. Mature adventure explores the limits of law enforcement. That's You. Fun, mature social trivia has some repetitive questions.
The Council. Thrilling tale is blend of intrigue, careful conversations. Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle. Definitive, bloody game version of the popular anime series. The Dark Knight returns for an epic but violent new chapter. Battlefield V. Epic, violent WWII shooter targets soldiers' emotional toll. Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise. Bloody, gory action brings mature graphic novel to life. God of War PS4. Engaging, mature action game has you searching for a killer.
Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk. Mature, entertaining turn-based dungeon adventure. Mutant Football League: Dynasty Edition. Frenzied football fun on a violent, trap-filled gridiron. Pathologic 2. Violent survival horror game tests players' moral fiber.
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