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The best Xbox One games of all time

Features
By Sam Loveridge Contributions from Jasmine Gould-Wilson, Heather Wald, Emma-Jane Betts, David Meikleham last updated 13 January 2026

Here's our pick of the best Xbox One games of all-time that are still great to play in 2026

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Wondering what the best Xbox One games are? Maybe you've found yourself looking for recommendations, or perhaps you want to look back over Xbox's previous console generation, and we're here to help you do that with our roundup.

Here, we've brought together the 30 most memorable games that came to the Xbox One. Many of them defined the generation, delivering fantastic adventures that are still well worth checking out if you've yet to experience them. So whether you're eager to jump into some highlights for yourself, or make the most of what's on offer on Xbox Game Pass with some last-gen offerings, this list is a great place to get an overview of the standout games.

From Xbox exclusives to some stellar third-party games that found a happy home on the Xbox One, this ranking has a wide range of games to explore. And of course if want some current-gen recommendations, be sure to head on over to our selection of the best Xbox Series X games list, or see what's yet to come with overview of the biggest upcoming Xbox Series X games. Ready to be taken through the best Xbox One games of all-time? Well then, without further ado, read on below as we take some time to celebrate the last-gen games.

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The best Xbox One games ever to grace the console, starting with...

30. Final Fantasy 15

Final Fantasy 15 screenshot of four male characters standing on a roadside with rocky cliffs with builds atop them seen in the background.

(Image credit: Square-Enix)

Release: 2016
Developer: Square Enix

The Final Fantasy name isn't exactly synonymous with Microsoft's console, but we're happy just the same as Final Fantasy 15 is easily one of the best RPGs of the year, and one of the best Xbox One games. It blends the vast open-worlds of Western RPGs with Final Fantasy's hallmark over-the-top anime absurdity to great effect, crafting a world based on the highways and byways of Middle America while filling that world with ferocious monsters, massive crystals, and powerful magic.

There are times when Final Fantasy 15 feels like an idiosyncratic mishmash of ideas, but when you throw everything together - the strange world, the thrilling, real-time combat, the lovable characters who stick with you for your entire journey - it becomes something much greater than the sum of its parts. It becomes one of the best Final Fantasy games in ages; a game well worth the wait. For more information, read our Final Fantasy 15 review next!

29. Cuphead

Cuphead sceenshot of the Cupheads in a candy-themed world confronting a sentient pink castle, with an angry woman raising her fist at the duo angrily from on top.

(Image credit: Studio MDHR)

Release: 2017
Developer: Studio MDHR

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After delays that led to maybe just a touch of apathy, Cuphead is here and has instantly become one of the best Xbox One games of all time - especially if you like shooters. While the presentation is crafted beautifully from 1930 cartoon art - things like Betty Boop shorts and Disney's Silly Symphonies - this takes gameplay cues from sources like Mega Man, Contra, Metal Slug, and Gunstar Heroes.

The levels aren’t huge but it’s the challenge, not the size that matters here as you dodge bullets and learn enemy patterns. Everything tests your skills and reactions in a range of interesting ways and, most importantly, is a joy to beat. As our five-star Cuphead review says, "Cuphead sure is swell", so be sure to pick this one up if you haven't already, folks!

28. Halo: Master Chief Collection

Halo: The Master Chief Collection promo manner featuring Master Chief's helmet in center screen below the logo, with faded vignettes of the character places either side

(Image credit: Xbox)

Release: 2014
Developer: 343 Industries

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*braces for complaints* Yes, we are well aware of the problems that plagued this particular entry, but now that it works, there's no doubting the craftsmanship here and its place in our best Xbox One games list. Bungie's genius meets 343's love in a package that truly does justice to an industry-shaking legacy.

Buffed-up, re-varnished, and back in the shop window, The Master Chief Collection leaves us to wonder if Halo always looked so lovely. And you know what? It more or less did. If you want to have an in-depth look at this title, don't worry, we have got you covered. Just head over to our glowing Halo: The Master Chief Collection review for more details.

27. NieR: Automata - Become as Gods Edition

Nier Automata screenshot of a short haired blonde woman with an eye patch covering both eyes standing in front of a leafy green background

(Image credit: PlatinumGames)

Release: 2018
Developer: PlatinumGames

It's a little late to the Xbox One party but a wait that's been worthwhile as Nier: Automata - Become as Gods Edition, brings a 4K edition of Platinum's esoteric action adventure complete with DLC and extra costumes. It's a strange and unusual game about androids questioning the nature of existence via beating up robots and cleverly crafted homages to other games - when you're not mastering the acrobatic gunplay, the camera plays with angles that turn this into things like a top-down shooter, or side-scrolling brawler.

Other interesting ideas include things like a chip system that lets you automate parts of the game you might struggle with. For example, if you're not great at dodging, an auto-evade chip can take care of that for you, while leaving every other facet of combat under your control. It's an odd, inventive, and fascinating game hitting Xbox in its most definitive edition. Read our Nier: Automata review for more on this must-play.

26. Rainbow Six Siege

Rainbow Six Siege screenshot of a soldier aiming through a broken wall at an unseen target

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Release: 2015
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

The first few minutes of a Rainbow Six: Siege match feel more like a slasher film than an all-guns-blazing FPS. The pitter-patter of combat booted feet sounds through the roof. Defenders erect Home Alone defences. Was that the whine of a rappel buckle? It's a sense of tension that beats most horror games. And once all hell does break loose, you're suddenly thrown into the midst of deep, strategic, brutally unforgiving warfare.

Ripe with tactical options and built for "one more go" appeal, this is by far Xbox One's smartest multiplayer shooter. In our Rainbow Six: Siege review, we also praised its "brilliantly balanced asymmetrical action" and "well-designed maps". However, if you are looking for a solo experience with your shooters, this won't be the one for you. So keep that in mind before you dive in.

25. Rise of the Tomb Raider

Lara Croft with bloodied face in winter gear in Rise of the Tomb Raider

(Image credit: Square Enix)

Release: 2015
Developer: Crystal Dynamics

The best entry in Lara's rebooted trilogy is an amazing advert for Xbox One X. While Rise of the Tomb Raider looks fairly impressive on the base console, play this Siberian-set sequel on Microsoft's supercharged system and a 4K television, and the trinket-scavenging action looks incredible.

Expanding on the hub areas of the first game and making those Challenge Tombs more intriguing than ever, Lara's frosty adventure combines sharp Uncharted-style shootouts with platforming sections that give you more agency than PlayStation's poster boy ever trusts you with. Is the story mostly nonsense? Sure. But when you're wading through the most impressive virtual snow on Xbox and sticking your pickaxe into a furious grizzly's throat, you'll forgive the gaping plot holes. Check out our Rise of the Tomb Raider review next.

24. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice screenshot of a man using a grappling rope to traverse an icy imperial Japanese landscape, with a city in the distance

(Image credit: Activision)

Release: 2019
Developer: FromSoftware

FromSoftware's hack-and-slash hit proves itself an even more brutally tough customer than Dark Souls. Yet despite being furiously tough, the masterfully balanced Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice never feels overly unfair. Encouraging controlled bouts of aggression, this is a game that rewards seriously steely nerves. And how about those boss fights? Demanding expert parrying and unblinking attacks, even the most skilled shinobi can end up getting downed by a monstrous ape and its poisonous poo. Don't ask.

Yet master Sekiro's sharp, responsive combat and toppling its hardest enemies offers cathartic highs that are tough to top. In our Sekiro review, we believe that the combat in the game is like no other, writing, "Sekiro has the best swordfights in any video game. It leans too heavily on its mediocre stealth, but its satisfying combat will keep you going through hundreds of brutal deaths.

23. Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus

Wolfenstein 2 screenshot of the player character gunning down two enemies on a staircase

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Release: 2017
Developer: MachineGames

Wolfenstein: The New Order is one of the most unique, brutal, brave, hilarious, and intelligent shooters of the generation so far. MachineGames' sequel, The New Colossus, confidently doubles down on all of that. Moving BJ Blazkowicz's very personal war further into the alternative-universe '60s, and transposing it to an America under Nazi rule, The New Colossus is uncompromisingly relevant.

It's a smart, sensitive, and emotive discussion of callousness, prejudice, and cruelty that nevertheless knows how to be fun at all times. A biting portrait of human failures and social horrors, that does its biting with big robot teeth and hatchet blades. It's a game that exemplifies heart and brains throughout, but never with more unremitting flair than when it comes to the noble art of tearing Nazis to shreds with bloody and balletic style. Read our Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus review for more details.

22. Devil May Cry 5 

Devil May Cry 5 screenshot of a combat encounter between a white haired man and two towering insectoid-like creatures

(Image credit: Capcom)

Release: Capcom
Developer: 2019

Capcom has outdone itself with Devil May Cry 5, building off all the best bits of Ninja Theory's brilliant DmC in terms of aesthetic and style, then calling back to the series' beloved, finger-blistering history with its combo-heavy action and cast of fan-favorite characters. Our three heroes - Nero, Dante, and dapper newcomer V - all have distinct, over-the-top fighting techniques featuring fantastical weaponry (or animal companions, in V's case) for wildly divergent playstyles.

In our Devil May Cry 5 review, we write: "Capcom has done it again, re-energising a classic series like never before, and pushing the genre forward in a fresh way. It looks better than ever, plays better than ever. It's Devil May Cry better than ever." Seriously, it's one of the best Xbox One games ever for good reason - trust us.

21. Resident Evil 2 Remake 

Resident Evil 2 Remake cover art of police officer Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield standing in front of silhouetted zombies

(Image credit: Capcom)

Release: 2019
Developer: Capcom

There are comebacks, and then there's Resident Evil 2 Remake. Not only is it one of the best Xbox One games ever made, it's also one of the best zombie games by a pretty huge margin. The decision to completely recreate the horror classic with a game that not only honours the 1996 original, but feels just as influential and relevant has paid off.

It takes the original setup of a zombie outbreak in Raccoon City and crafts a gorgeous-looking game with new controls and a camera that feels as fresh as it does scary, as you fight zombies, jump scares, and the always-chasing MR X to stay alive. It's a slick, great-looking and an essential buy for horror and action fans alike. Check out our Resident Evil 2 Remake review for more information.

20. Monster Hunter World

Monster Hunter World art showing large armored beings charging at one another as a flying fire breathing dragon soars in the background

(Image credit: Capcom)

Release: 2018
Developer: Capcom

If you've never played a Monster Hunter game before, then ignore all that 'most accessible yet' stuff. If this is your first time with Capcom's creature killer, then you'll find a weirdly obtuse and alien game. Stick with Monster Hunter World, though, and you'll see what the fuss is about as you track monsters, kill them, and harvest the parts to make the gear to take on bigger challenges.

That core loop is everything here as you dive into stat boosts, attack types, and try to master a range of fantastically over-the-top and excessively styled weapons. What really brings it alive is playing it with friends as you coordinate classes, weapons, and tactics. Battles are long tests of skill and cooperation, but the hunt is everything, and when a monster finally falls, it's an amazing feeling. Want more details on this gem? Head on over to our Monster Hunter World review next.

19. A Way Out

A Way Out screenshot of two men playing with a tic-tac-toe style toy in a hospital waiting room

(Image credit: Hazelight)

Release: 2018
Developer: Hazelight Studios

Most co-op games revolve around boosting a friend over a wall and doors that can only be opened by two people at once. A Way Out has some of that, but overall makes so much more of its two-character ideas. Both players are routinely given divergent but related objectives that keep you working together without feeling like you're joined at the hip.

From jail breaks to fixing cars, it uses both players' time beautifully while still fitting in great set pieces, emotional character moments, lighter moments, and a truly memorable ending. In our A Way Out review, we also mentioned that not only does the game give us innovative co-op gameplay, but it also has a story that could rival iconic adventures such as Uncharted. If you are looking for a shared experience, you won't find much better than this.

18. Fallout 4

Fallout 4 screenshot of a man in a blue jumpsuit looking down at a German shepherd dog

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Release: 2015
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios

We sort of knew what we were getting. It's big, it's buggy, it's Bethesda - and yet Fallout 4 is still one of the most iconic and best Xbox One games ever. It's a natural evolution, bringing with it the often aimless exploration, gentle humour and moral greyitude of the last two instalments, while propping it all up with a new-gen veneer. They might not be enormous shifts, but main character voice acting, better gunplay, and (shock) not having to look inside crates to loot them all make this a streamlined version of a now-classic formula.

Frame rate dips and occasionally horrifying glitches rear their heads as usual, but it's difficult to feel too bad when there's simply so much going on. Once again, Bethesda has crammed several games' worth of joyously inconsequential stuff in here, resulting in one of the most compulsive, moreish games of this generation. Get stuck in, and you won't emerge for weeks. Read our Fallout 4 review if you want more in-depth details on this one.

17. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Resident Evil 7 screenshot of enemy Jack Baker lunging at Ethan Winters with a pole-like melee weapon as Ethan shoots him

(Image credit: Capcom)

Release: 2017
Developer: Capcom

Let's face it. Resident Evil had gone a bit like a foot left out of the fridge too long. A bit, well, off. After the glorious heady heights of Resi 4, defining the third-person shooter as we know it, it all got a bit mediocre. Well, 2017 is the year Resi got its groove back, and you should be very afraid. Turning the franchise on its head, Resident Evil 7 is a first-person survival terror-fest that sees you sneaking through a decrepit Louisiana mansion hunting for your missing wife.

This awesome Xbox One game has it all. Texas Chainsaw Massacre style fiends? Check. Horrific body horror? Check that too. Add in a story that'll leave you forgetting to breathe for a little too long, and Resident Evil 7 manages to be an exhilarating rollercoaster ride that reinvents the franchise. Sure, you'll recognise those green herbs, but this is a new brand of horror that just demands you creep through its hallways even if it feels like you should run in the opposite direction. Read our Resident Evil 7 review next!

16. Titanfall 2

Titanfall 2 screenshot of a small mech-like character flying through the air at a far larger mech in a leafy green environment

(Image credit: EA)

Release: 2016
Developer: Respawn Entertainment

Any FPS that lets you run along walls and then double jump into a giant mechanical Titan instantly has our attention. Titanfall 2 does that and so much more. "But where's our single-player?" we moaned when the first Titanfall came to Xbox in 2014. "Fine!" retorted Respawn. How about for this sequel, we tell the story of a pilot and his Titan? One where you steadily unlock Titan weapons that look powerful enough to burn the universe in half?

How about a stage wherein you can travel through time at the touch of a button? How about several hours of dizzyingly paced, ideas-stuffed action that makes every shooter since we made Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare look lazy? Well, that certainly shut us up. Throw in Bounty Hunt, a capitalist nightmare of an essential multiplayer mode, and we promise never to accuse Respawn of laziness again. Just read our stellar Titanfall 2 review if you need any more reasons to check this one out.

15. Destiny 2: The Final Shape

Destiny 2 The Final Shape Cayde-6 holding his Ace of Spaces hand cannon

(Image credit: Bungie)

Release: 2024
Developer: Bungie

After the endless, life-absorbing sink of the original game, what could Destiny 2 possibly do to beat it? The answer is actually obvious: more of the same, only richer, more approachable and... just... more Destiny. The sequel takes nearly every element of the space-travelling, gun-collecting, number-raising MMO and polishes it to a fine sheen. You can see almost every area where Bungie learned from the last game, making the areas you explore richer with things to do, adding depth to both the systems that progress your character and the activities you take on to do so.

There are so many reasons why Destiny 2 is one of the best Xbox One games ever (as we point out in our Destiny 2: The Final Shape review), but here's our attempt at summing it up. Few games mix combat, multiplayer, and character progressions so well, and it's an addictive draw as a result. And with a helping of expansions now added to the experience, there's never been a better time to jump into Destiny 2.

14. Overwatch

Overwatch screenshot of sniper Widowmaker

(Image credit: Blizzard)

Release: 2016
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment

Well, if Valve isn't going to bother making Team Fortress 3, we'll have Blizzard do it instead. The World of Warcraft studio had never made a shooter before, so it makes no sense at all that Overwatch is one of the best multiplayer FPS games ever. Even Overwatch 2 can't compare to the original, meaning we have no intention of downgrading Overwatch from its perch among the rest of the best Xbox One games.

A ridiculously varied cast of colourful heroes, each with powers that should logically break the game (Tracer can travel back through time for crying out loud!) Yet it all checks and balances, letting us fire bows and arrows, sky dragons, walls of ice and whip chains through the air for hours and hours without ever feeling like its cheaty or unfair. Read our Overwatch review for more information on this classic.

13. Forza Horizon 4

Forza Horizon 4 screenshot of two cars racing along a leaf-strewn highway

(Image credit: Turn 10)

Release: 2018
Developer: Playground Games

Unlike the stuffier Forza Motorsport 7, Forza Horizon 4 is available free for Xbox Games Pass subscribers. However, as our near-perfect Forza Horizon 4 review suggests, it's still very much worth your time. One of the best technical showcases you can find for Xbox One, this breezy racer rules. Steering the sandbox franchise onto the roads of a bite-sized, extra blustery Britain, Horizon 4 serves up a series of exhilarating races. Those ludicrous Showcase Events also make a return, and they’re as brilliantly silly as ever.

Want to race the Flying Scotsman as it steams through the Highlands towards Edinburgh? Have at it, petrolhead. The changing seasons, which add heaps of snow and eye-searing autumnal reds, ensure this is one of the most visually varied racers and one of the best Xbox One games to boot. The crisp handling model – pitched to just the right level of arcade accessibility – also remains best-in-class.

12. What Remains of Edith Finch 

What Remains of Edith Finch screenshot of the interior of one of the rooms in the Finch house, with books and a stair lift visible.

(Image credit: Giant Sparrow)

Release: 2017
Developer: Giant Sparrow

What Remains of Edith Finch is one of those games you really don't want to know too much about before playing. It's clever, inventive and emotional in a way few games have achieved. The story follows the Edith of the title as she backtracks through her family tree, rediscovering the lives of various relations who have all died early and unfortunate deaths.

Each tale is built from completely different mechanics and vary from brief narrative punches to long, heartfelt looks into the characters they follow, matching it all to how it plays in incredible ways. Few games have managed to include so many different ideas, styles of gameplay and just pure feeling into a story about life, love and loss. It's a beautiful game that should be in everyone's collection.

11. Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Ori and the Will of the Wisps screenshot of a ghost flying on the back of an owl with glowing yellow eyes

(Image credit: Microsoft / Xbox)

Release: 2020
Developer: Moon Studios

A short but sublime action-platformer that’s sure to delight your eyes and ears – the soundtrack is sensational. While its predecessor is still one of the most gorgeous adventures on Xbox One, Ori and the Will of the Wisps wisely leans on another 2D Metroidvania to flesh out its backtracking quests. Introducing brilliantly judged new abilities in compelling drip-fed fashion – ala Hollow Night – the game’s adorable cat/marsupial thingy is a joy to control.

Bounding around the screen with effortless jumps, vine swings and other powers we won’t ruin, there are few other games on Xbox One that feel quite so empowering with a controller in your hand. Check out our Ori and the Will of the Wisps review for more on the best metroidvanias on the console.

10. Control

Control screenshot of Jessie

(Image credit: 505 Games)

Release: 2019
Developer: Remedy Entertainment

Talk about a misleading title. Despite the fact you star as a kickass bureau director who can fling dudes around with the power of her mind, you never really feel like you're in control in… well, Control. Remedy's brilliant action-adventure could be one of the best Xbox One games for pure WTF factor alone. nothing is quite what it seems. Throwing you into a contorting, utterly bemusing government building, The Oldest House is the most interesting video game setting of the current console generation.

While the walls and ceilings of this labyrinth twist around you, Remedy throws you into challenging battles that let you experiment with Jesse's telekinetic abilities in constantly inventive ways. As you levitate around the joint like a young Magneto, crushing enemies with office furniture, it feels like you've been thrown into a thrilling TV show. One in which the star just happens to be the most badass pencil pusher ever. Read our Control review for more details!

9. Fortnite

Fortnite screenshot of a host of playable characters in front of a yellow background

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Release: 2017
Developer: Epic Games

The monster that is Fortnite shows no signs of slowing down. It's got tens of millions of players and is one of the few games to be an honest to God cultural phenomenon as children, celebs, and footballers alike floss like crazy, whether they've played the game or not. What's even more amazing is that it's the 100-player battle royale mode wasn't even the main game. It started live as a co-op crafting and survival game that added on battle royale to catch a bandwagon and ended up taking over the world.

In our Fortnite review, we also mention how there is plenty for players to do, and that will keep you hooked in its gameplay loop. While its building and battling gameplay is already strong, it's used of seasons - with constantly changing meta stories, secrets, mechanics, and items - means it stays fresh even when the core mechanics remain the same.

8. Gears 5

Gears 5 screenshot of four characters holding large firearms standing with their backs to a sunset

(Image credit: Microsoft Studios)

Release: 2019
Developer: The Coalition

It only took five attempts, but Xbox's number two franchise finally delivers a decent plot. Sensibly shunting terminal dullard J.D. Fenix aside for the far more interesting Kait Diaz, Gears 5 manages to tell a genuinely compelling story that fleshes out both its new lead character and the ever-present Locust threat. Gears is also still really good at guns and gore. While open-world style hubs, various upgrade systems, and other modern-day tropes sneak into The Coalition's third-person blaster, this is very much an old-school cover shooter at heart.

Gunfights remain thrilling and hectic, while those Locust still turn into extra squelchy chunks when you take the business end of your Lancer’s chainsaw to their supremely fugly faces. Read our Gears 5 review for more information!

7. Grand Theft Auto 5

GTA 5 cover art of Trevor, Michael, and Franklin standing in front of a red truck

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Release: 2013
Developer: Rockstar North

Would it really be a best Xbox One games list without GTA 5? Rockstar's fifth mainline entry was already an excellent, brutal, beautiful open-world game, and is made even more so on Xbox One with a visual tidy-up, a glut of new content, and the addition of first-person pedestrian-beating.

With the addition of online Heists to make its online component even more enticing, Rockstar edges closer to making a game world so vast and varied that you could start to do away with anything else. Which, come to think of it, was probably the plan all along. If you need any more convincing, in our GTA 5 review, we write: "Rockstar has pulled out all the stops to bring GTA V up to speed on PS4 and Xbox One. Beautiful, immersive, essential - it begs to be played all over again." So, yeah, you need to play this one.

6. Minecraft

Minecraft screenshot of two characters running through a blocky outdoor wilderness environment, with a cow and pig watching on from the side

(Image credit: Mojang)

Release: 2011
Developer: Mojang Studios

As simple or as complex as you want it to be, Minecraft is the perfect example of a game that lives up to the hype. Whether you just fancy pottering around in creative mode, or jumping into survival to take on various blocky nasties in your quest for the End, Mojang's masterpiece always feels perfectly yours and unique. It not not be and exclusive, but it made its home on Xbox and belongs high up on the best Xbox One games list.

This is a world worth just wandering in for eternity. Plus, the constant evolution with new packs, new textures, and gameplay tweaks means that Minecraft is always moving forward. If you thought it was just about stacking up green blocks, it's time to catch up.

5. Assassin's Creed Odyssey 

Assassin's Creed Odyssey screenshot of Kassandra with an eagle perched on her hand, a snow capped mountain seen behind her

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Release: 2018
Developer: Ubisoft Quebec

Assassin's Creed Origins might have reinvigorated the series after a short break, but it's Assassin's Creed Odyssey that has really set the tone for the future. It has a more exciting world, a more engaging story and generally tightens up all the ideas and mechanics of Origins to tightened perfection. This is even more of an RPG compared to the previous game with numerous plot threads to follow - none of which we'll spoil.

Set in ancient Greece, it sees you travelling the islands, waging wars (including full-size battles), romancing whoever takes your fancy, and building out your choice of assassin - Alexios or Kassandra. Whoever you choose, you have a glorious open world to explore and a fantastic journey ahead of you. Read our Assassin's Creed Odyssey review for more.

4. Apex Legends

Apex Legends screenshot of an armor-clad character with goggles on his head using the Gravity Cannon gun

(Image credit: EA)

Release: 2019
Developer: Respawn Entertainment

Respawn Entertainment's take on battle royale came out of absolutely nowhere and immediately took the world by storm. Apex Legends grafts the best bits of Overwatch onto the familiar where-we-droppin' formula of Fortnite, with default squads of three Legend characters who wield unique abilities that let you specialize your role.

As with Respawn's Titanfall series, the first-person shooting is sublime, with a wide variety of guns that reward mastery (yes, even the infamously underpowered Mozambique has its moments) and feel great to fire. Like Fortnite, Apex Legends is free to play with cosmetic microtransactions, so anyone and everyone can drop in and see if they have what it takes to become a Champion.

3. Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain screenshot of a man with an eye patch aiming a pistol down the camera

(Image credit: Konami)

Release: 2015
Developer: Konami Digital Entertainment

If we didn't know better (or should that be worse?), we'd say Konami took the Hideo Kojima brand off of his last stab at MGS 5: The Phantom Pain because it feels quite so different to his previous efforts. Yes, it's packed with the off-kilter jokes, mechanical ingenuity and conspiracy theories so wild they're seemingly drawn from the darkest of the internet's depths - but at it's core, this is a very different kind of Hideo Kojima game.

The switch to wide-open spaces featuring multiple missions not only makes this an embarrassing masterclass for the rest of the world's stealth-action developers, but effectively turns every player into their own spy film director. That time you pulled off a tense, magical heist alongside your mute sniper buddy? That was all you. When it all went tits up and you were forced to detonate C4 stashed across an enemy base, before riding into the sunset on your own personal chicken-mech? You were the architect. It's long been said that Hideo Kojima has been more obsessed with emulating his favourite films than making true games. MGS 5 proves that to be false - he wants you to do that yourself. We'll happily spend a few hundred more hours obliging him. Check out our Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain review next.

2. Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2

(Image credit: Rockstar)

Release: 2018
Developer: Rockstar Games

Red Dead Redemption 2 might be slow to start and is the archetypal 'it gets good 20 hours in' kind of game, but it more than deserves its spot as one of the best Xbox One games ever. Its broad Wild West opera builds out a world of characters in a changing time and take you on a journey with them as they face the new world taking over while fighting the old one still chasing them down.

Arthur Morgan is a gruff, hero full of depth, capable of growing a mean beard, and with plenty to keep him busy. This is game where you can rob a bank, hunt animals, fish, play cards, and meet numerous strangers with lots for you to do. While there's a story to follow, with some of the greatest highs and lows in gaming, there's also just a huge, living place to inhabit and live in. Clear your calendars because this a game that has you in for the long haul. Read our Red Dead Redemption 2 review for more.

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3 cover art of Geralt, a white-haired man in leather armor, standing in front of a wintry forest

(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)

Release: 2015
Developer: CD Projekt Red

To absolutely nobody's surprise, the best Xbox One game is none other than The Witcher 3. One of the most immersive RPGs ever made - a standout, mutable storyline, endlessly satisfying detective-cum-hitman Contracts, and side quests deeper than many games' main campaigns. The Witcher 3's world is one of the few game spaces to deserve that title - full of political intrigue, folklore, and gross beasts to slice into ribbons.

And all of that's failing to mention CD Projekt RED's raft of free DLC, and a couple of expansion packs - the first of which, Hearts of Stone, is responsible for this shooting up to the highest reaches of this list. Beautiful, rewarding, and essential, this is a game we'll remember for years and years to come. Read our Witcher 3 review to learn more about our top pick as the best Xbox One game to play today.

Xbox One games FAQs

Are Xbox 360 games compatible with Xbox One?

Yes, many Xbox 360 games are compatible with Xbox One thanks to Xbox's backwards compatibility feature. With a vast library of games — some of which are available for those with an Xbox Game Pass subscription, you can still purchase digital copies of Xbox 360 games on Xbox One. Certain games that are compatible may no longer be available for sale on the Xbox storefront, but if you have a physical copy of the game, you can play it on the Xbox One using the disc.

Do Xbox One games work on Xbox Series X?

Happily, most Xbox One games do work on Xbox Series X with backwards compatibility. The only excluded games are any that required the Kinect Sensor to play, which the Xbox Series X doesn't support – such as Just Dance 2014, Dance Central Spotlight, Kinect Sport Rivals, and Fighter Within.

How do I uninstall a game on Xbox One?

Start by bringing up your home screen and navigating to My Games and Apps. Then select the game you want to uninstall, and click on the menu button on your controller (which has three lines). You should then bring up a list of options, and you're going to want to select Manage my games apps. Then you'll be presented with the option to uninstall all, which will allow you to uninstall the game.

How to share games on the Xbox One

You can share games on Xbox One by making your Xbox One your home console. Then your friends and family will be able to access your games when you're not signed in. It's good to note that you can only switch your home Xbox up to five times in a one-year period.

Can you buy digital games on Xbox One?

Yes, you can still access and purchase a library of digital games on the Xbox One by accessing the console's Microsoft storefront from the home screen. You also buy digital copies of certain original Xbox games and Xbox 360 games, as well as Xbox One games.


For more past-gen antics, check out our roundup of best free Xbox One games

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Sam Loveridge is the Brand Director and former Global Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar. She joined the team in August 2017. Sam came to GamesRadar after working at TrustedReviews, Digital Spy, and Fandom, following the completion of an MA in Journalism. In her time, she's also had appearances on The Guardian, BBC, and more. Her experience has seen her cover console and PC games, along with gaming hardware, for a decade, and for GamesRadar, she's in charge of the site's overall direction, managing the team, and making sure it's the best it can be. Her gaming passions lie with weird simulation games, big open-world RPGs, and beautifully crafted indies. She plays across all platforms, and specializes in titles like Pokemon, Assassin's Creed, The Sims, and more. Basically, she loves all games that aren't sports or fighting titles! In her spare time, Sam likes to live like Stardew Valley by cooking and baking, growing vegetables, and enjoying life in the countryside.

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