In the years since launch, the Xbox One has consistently brought some truly staggering games into our lives. While it is very difficult to narrow down the immense selection available to just 10, the list below will give you the best of the best. Whether it's a gift for someone or just some inspiration for your next game purchase, read on...
10. Doom Eternal
Armed with a shoulder-mounted flamethrower, a wrist-mounted blade and upgraded guns and abilities, the demonic invasion of Earth will be no match for you. As hordes of blood-thirsty demons come at you from every angle in this hellish horror shooter, the action comes thick and fast - be prepared for a lot of gore as you fire up your chainsaw and become an unstoppable army of one.
9. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Fus-ro-dah! It simply isn’t a gaming best-of list without keeping a spot for Skyrim, and for good reason. This fantasy epic – now available in everything from VR to handheld – is at its best when played on a good old-fashioned home console, and the Xbox One edition enhances the original game to staggering new heights. The living, breathing world of Tamriel is an absolute beauty on the Xbox One and still looks, feels and plays as good as ever. A masterpiece.
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
“Bravo six, going dark”. After a rather mixed few years in the Call of Duty universe, Modern Warfare reboots the iconic 2007 entry with great aplomb. Boasting the most intense, fast-paced and graphically proficient campaign in the series thus far, Modern Warfare is a must-own shooter worth picking up for the story alone. The fact that the game also delivers phenomenal multiplayer is just a wonderful bonus!
7. Resident Evil: Biohazard
Turning the iconic franchise on its head, Resident Evil: Biohazard is an exhilarating rollercoaster thrill ride that will rattle your bones and leave you breathless. Tasked with sneaking through a spooky old Louisiana mansion searching for your missing wife, you will encounter some of the most harrowing sights in modern horror gaming. Not for the faint of heart, but Biohazard is an absolute masterpiece of game design and atmosphere.
6. Halo: Master Chief Collection
Halo needs no introduction! It just isn’t Xbox without Master Chief. Beautifully remastered, this must-own collection bundles together one of gaming’s most beloved legacies onto one disc and it is truly momentous. Being able to experience the original Halo trilogy on the Xbox One with stunning updated visuals is a feast of delights for any gamer. And with new content due to be added in December, this one is essential.
5. Fallout 4
With an unprecedented scale and a truly staggering amount of quests, collectables and levelling up, Fallout 4 is a game that will consume your life – in the best possible way. This richly designed post-apocalyptic wasteland is bursting with content, not to mention improved gunplay and combat mechanics since the critically-acclaimed Fallout 3. Fallout 4 is an essential RPG that reminds us what next-gen consoles are capable of.
4. Red Dead Redemption II
What do you get if you take Grand Theft Auto and put it in the old West? Why you get Red Dead Redemption II of course! With breathtakingly gorgeous visuals, rich character development and one of the most engrossing stories in modern gaming, Red Dead Redemption II is a truly essential title that words cannot do justice for. Ride into Red Dead Redemption and you will be absorbed by gaming’s most authentic worlds. Yee-haw, partners!
3. Halo Infinite
How is it enhanced: 4K, HDR
It's been a while since we've seen Master Chief on top form, but Halo Infinite is here to rectify that, and then some! This is a near-perfect homage to everything we loved from the Bungie series with a modern twist. You are set loose to traverse a vast and open world with heaps more autonomy and a wide arsenal of iconic vehicles, guns and foes. The single-player campaign shines best in the heat of battle when you really remind yourself why this game deserves to be in the run for best new shooter.
2. Grand Theft Auto V
But while Red Dead Redemption II is a staggering masterpiece in itself, GTA V is Rockstar’s finest hour. While technically part of the previous console generation, this remastered update added a surprisingly effective first-person mode and graphical enhancements that made the already stunning game truly burst off the screen. With flawless gun combat and driving mechanics and a narrative to die for, GTA V is one of the finest games of this or any generation.
1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Set in a staggeringly huge and gorgeous world, The Witcher 3 is widely – and rightly – considered the finest game on the Xbox One. A masterpiece of design, storytelling and combat, you control iconic hero Geralt of Rivia as you embark on a thrilling main story and endless side-quests, each of which packed with enough excitement and intrigue to rival most games’ main narratives. An essential and rewarding example of modern gaming at its finest.
