The Best Xbox One Games

Forza Horizon 4 – making PS4 sim-racers jealous since 2018. The game has the player hit UK roadways in some of the world's most desirable vehicles. From Land Rovers to Lamborghinis, this open-world racer is a game that's worth jumping into even if you have only a passing interest in motorsport. With beautiful scenery and excellent physics, there are hours of fun to be had in this title.

Visually thrilling, Gears 5 offers a new look at the Gears series. It carries on the franchises' good Swarm-slaying fight, but this time the player takes control of the tough-as-nails Kait Diaz. It's full of gore, gristle, and adrenaline-pumping style. Along with Halo, Gears remains part of the quintessential Xbox experience.

Not only is Red Dead Redemption 2 impeccably crafted and gloriously expansive, but it gives us plenty of license to live out our rogue-cowboy dreams. The player has ample opportunity to explore, blast away in shootouts, hunt, horse ride, clean weapons, and partake in criminal deeds of moral ambiguity. Or maybe even the main story quest now and again.

The Wild Hunt is considered by many to be the greatest game ever created. It fulfils its role as an RPG title with finesse, offering both a deep narrative, and comprehensive character skill-tree development. As an open-world title, it's unmatched in ambition, detail, and consistency. If you're still having doubts, take a quick look at any number of its 800-plus awards.

FIFA 20 isn't just FIFA 19 with a few slight changes. This instalment of the long-running football franchise is a true improvement and development of the formula. Off the pitch deeper statistics, refined parameter control, and greater customisation add great value to the game's scope, while on the pitch improved controls and physics help play flow better than ever before.

Doom Eternal is hectic, extra-violent, and thoroughly over-the-top. True to Doom's long-standing reputation, Eternal requires the player to be brave, ceaseless and, at times, a little foolhardy to survive. The onslaught is never-ending, and the player will be left breathless as they attempt to keep from being overwhelmed. This is one of the finest examples of FPS action around.

Odyssey sees players fight for heroic status on the ancient streets of Ancient Greece in a tale of vengeance and victory, set against the backdrop of war between Athens and Sparta. Notable for allowing the player greater freedom to forge alliances and hone their playstyle, Assassin's Creed Odyssey is the apex of the franchise. The map, too, cannot go without mention – a vast and sprawling network of nature and civilisation, it's a true wonderland worthy of continuous and tireless exploration. This is one of the best open-world games of all time, and a rightful entry into any gamer's Xbox library.

Xbox is synonymous with Halo, and vice-versa. The franchise has delivered some extreme highs and withstood significant disappointment in its time. Thankfully, Guardians hits high, offering a solid enough campaign and a belting online multiplayer mode. The online combat is everything we know and love from the franchise, with improved control and fluidity. For those looking for an exquisite multiplayer thrill, head to Halo 5.

The remastering of a PlayStation One classic is always a risky move, as often the game itself is better regarded retrospectively through rose-tinted specs. This isn't the case with Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled. The kart-racing formula is as simple as it is timeless, with arcade-like runs being full of recognisable and much-beloved characters flinging all sorts of whacky weapons at each other. Played with friends, CTR will inspire as much laughter and as rage – a party game worthy of taking a place in any Xbox owners catalogue.

A Plague Tale: Innocence is a stirring title, crafting a tale of humanity and horror during the French Inquisition and English invasion of France. The gameplay's combination of puzzles and stealth is perfect for building tension, the storytelling is compelling and immersive, and the world is thick with a desolate atmosphere. This is an experience you do not want to pass up.

No gaming list in 2020 is complete without some form of monster zombie shooter. We've opted for Resident Evil 2, because this is the one that reaches heights of near-perfection. This is a ground-up rebuild of the original PS1 masterpiece, offering the same great story along with some refined gameplay and excellent graphics, suitable for gamers in this modern age. This is one of the best games of the current console generation, and a shining example of what a caring and thorough remake can achieve.

The Kingdom Hearts series is very odd. It's an epic JRPG, featuring an array of Disney's best-known characters and worlds, where the player takes control of a young boy who fights with a massive key. That this curious game even exists is exciting enough, but the fact that it has been executed with such accuracy and excellence makes it all the more special. The third instalment is fantastic, it's a vast and deep game brimming with fun and RPG prestige.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a glorious game, taking players on a magical narrative journey while forcing them through some intense Metroidvania gameplay. This game offers a great deal more than the first title, with new combat mechanics and player abilities adding to the original game's already accomplished fare. Plus, it's visually arresting, with animations being at once wistful, beautiful, and dramatic.

Apex Legends feels like it came out of nowhere, suddenly launching and immediately posing a threat to the then-biggest names in the battle royale genre. In addition to rapid gunplay and maps that'll be instantly recognisable for players of Titanfall, one of the free-to-play game's greatest innovations is its team communication method, which streamlines the co-op elements.

Mayhem (still) reigns. Originally launching in 2013, GTA: V's single-player story is a lawless romp, full of vulgarity and gunplay, taking place on a huge and diverse island. Then there's the online mode, which hosts a whole new level of disorder. Until now, the cities of GTA were populated by neutral citizens, with the solo-player raging through these streets on binges of absurdity. GTAV switches this up and fills the city with dozens of players – they're gung-ho, unrelenting and they're everywhere. To this day, it's still worth jumping on to spend a few hours bathing in mayhem.