It’s been five years since the Xbox One first started gracing our living rooms and in that time there’s been some really top quality exclusive games for everyone to enjoy. Now with the Xbox One X coming up to a year old its a perfect time to delve into your collection.
Sunset Overdrive – October 2014
An indescribable game if ever there was one. Imagine, if you will, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater without the skateboards and a host of mutants ready to eat you alive. Then imagine an amazing punk rock soundtrack, more colours than a standard colour wheel and more unique weapons than early Ratchet and Clank and you’ve got Sunset Overdrive.
Rare Replay – August 2015
Probably the best deal you could ever hope to get as Rare Replay features 30 games from 30 years of Rare’s history. Granted they’re not all perfect but having the Banjo Kazooie series as well as Battletoads arcade and even two of the Viva Pinata games is so much content that you’ll spend hours reliving your gaming youth.
Halo 5: Guardians – October 2015
What Xbox-exclusive list would be complete without the obligatory Halo entry. Giving you control of Master Chief once again its as fun as any Halo title ever is with all the 360 no scopes and energy swords you could want. As first person shooters go, Halo is still one of the best and will give you hours of fun whether off or online.
Quantum Break – April 2016
One of the more confusing games but also one of the most plot driven and for me personally rewarding. Taking a live action narrative and merging it seamlessly with a game all about manipulation of time and the effect it has on the people who can use it, is a game that not enough people seem to remember.
Forza Horizon 3 – September 2016
Another one of Microsoft’s classic franchises – there are more Forza games out now than possibly any other racing game that comes to mind. For me the best example of how good they are nowadays if Forza Horizon 3 where you get to hoon around the Australian desert in a myriad of souped up motor vehicles.
Gears of War 4 – October 2016
Apart from missing a massive opportunity in regards to naming (“Gears of 4”) it’s still a solid game that builds on the franchise whilst adding new elements to keep it fresh. Taking the story forward by focusing on the son of original protagonist Marcus Fenix, it’s a great game that still involves you running for cover whilst brutalizing everything with your lancer.
Cuphead – September 2017
Looking like a 1930’s cartoon and playing like Contra is a juxtaposition that you wouldn’t necessarily expect but its one that works amazingly well. Hard as nails with its game-play but more rewarding than anything when you actually complete it; think of it as a boss rush mode with a few standard “run and gun” levels littered throughout.
Xbox One X
Nowadays Microsoft don’t release many exclusives for the Xbox One but instead give practically every new game an Xbox One X boost allowing them to run better and smoother on traditional HD TV’s but most importantly giving them the ability to output in 4K UHD and make the most of any 4K UHD TV you may have when paired with an Xbox One X.
Author: Hal, Plymouth store
