Well, that went fast.
Although the wait for next-gen consoles is unbearable a fantastic era of gaming is drawing to a close, with the 2010s seen as when consoles, and the Xbox One, in particular, brought us closer to it being more than just a games console.
Whether PS4 or Xbox One had the best run in the decade is up
for debate – so we have split them up, and here we look at the best Xbox One
games of the last 10 years.
10. Dark Souls III
Year: 2016
Developer: FromSoftware
Not as visually superior as the other games on the list, but
by the time we reached Dark Souls III, the graphics were starting to support one
of the most brilliant game franchises we’ve seen.
In the midst of Game of the Thrones fever during the
decade, Dark Souls was the perfect tonic as you battle dragons, sorcery and
ghoulish bosses.
It looks as if we will not see any more of the Souls series
on next-gen consoles, but let’s hope the team at FromSoftware can relight the
flame with a new development in the years to come.
9. Destiny
Year: 2014
Developer: Bungie
Destiny was always be compared to the Halo franchise, with many suggesting that the Bungie title maimed Microsoft’s biggest bespoke title. Of course, the team at Bungie had developed Halo up until 2010, so perhaps this was a big two fingers as to how they can operate without one of the big consoles propping them up.
Politics aside, Destiny was the finest RPG Shooter upon its arrival, even if the plot of the story mode didn’t quite hold up.
READ MORE: The Best Switch Games of 2019
There are no signs of Destiny 3 coming anytime soon, but Bungie
have suggested that it is in the pipeline.
8. Titanfall 2
Year: 2014
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Getting a game right in both single player and multiplayer is a challenging task, but Titanfall 2 set a new benchmark of what needs to be asked from first-person shooters.
The beauty of Titanfall is that you get to control two hugely
contrasting characters. You will feel tiny, and well, mortal, using Jack Cooper,
but the world is your oyster when you step inside titan BT-7274.
Unfortunately, there have not even been whispers of a Titanfall 3… and that is a titan-sized whole (which is pretty god damn large) in all of our lives.
7. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Special Edition)
Year: 2016
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
It was hard to build on the smash that Skyrim was on PS3 and
Xbox 360, but its upgrade to next-gen took the game to a completely new level.
One of the finest games we’ve seen was revived thanks to remarkable graphics, and there are hundreds of mods available to customise the game to your desire.
READ MORE: The Best PS4 Games of 2019
Of course, the premise of Skyrim remains the same with well
over 100 hours of gameplay, but further story additions to next-gen could have
taken it even higher up the list.
6. Rocket League
Year: 2016
Developer: Psyonix
You can argue that if it hadn’t been for Rocket League,
Fortnite would not have had its success. The Psynoix title first arrived on PS4
and Windows completely free (with Xbox a year behind) – and transformed the
concept of gaming.
Putting rockets on cars and having them play football just
makes perfect sense – with the game hugely popular (and frustrating) for
professional and casual gamers alike.
Where it goes on next-gen remains to be seen, but the
pick-up-and-play factor of the title should see it emerge once again in the
years ahead.
5. Red Dead Redemption 2
Year: 2018
Developer: Rockstar Studios
Had the original Red Dead Redemption been released on
Xbox One, it would have been a contender for top spot – but the much expanded
RDR 2 (including the old map of the original) is still a very fine game.
The visuals are astonishing with the scenery of the wild west receiving an almost unfathomable sense of detail. Hear gunfire? Go and investigate and be rewarded with a situation that you have the option to sort.
READ MORE: The Best Previous Gen Games of the Decade
Other characters flinch when a gun is fired near them, and
we haven’t even got into the main plot of the game – which actually takes a
back seat in this incredible open worlder. It acts as a prequel to the
original, as outlaws battle with the law to continue their success.
4. PlayerUnknown’s Battleground
Year: 2018
Developer: PUBG Corporation
Fortnite’s big bad brother, PUBG is there for players who
what a more hardcore and realistic battle royale.
It took almost nine months for it to come to Xbox One, but with a four-star rating on the PlayStation store from over 6,000 reviewers, it was worth the wait.
Of course, it does not have the variation and phenomenon that Fortnite has, but it did pave the way for battle royale titles.
3. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Year: 2015
Developer: CD Projekt Red
Witcher 3 has to be one of the finest games ever made.
Players take control of the famous Witcher (or monster hunter), Geralt of Rivia, in his quest to find his adopted daughter, Ciri. Fans of the original Sapkowski novels couldn’t have wished for any more, as CD Projekt truly brought this world to life.
READ MORE: The Best Xbox One Games of 2019
The best thing about the game is just how easy it is to
control Geralt and his huge array of fighting skills and magic abilities. If
you haven’t played this game yet, it’s an absolute must-buy.
2. Grand Theft Auto V
Year: 2014
Developer: Rockstar North
Despite being released on PS4 and Xbox One five years ago,
people are still playing GTA V today, thanks to the updating of online gameplay
– making it the most popular game in the franchise.
It has drawn comparison to modern-day America, and that is perhaps why it has struck a chord with so many fans.
Open worlds nowadays are in fantasy lands, but few offer the
realistic experience of the GTA franchise, especially with the crumbling
foundations of Los Santos.
1. Fortnite Battle Royale
Year: 2017
Developer: Epic Games
It may be a controversial selection, but you cannot argue
against the seismic impact Fortnite has had on society in the 2010s.
The Epic Games smash got the public on board by making the game free-to-play, transforming Battle Royale into one of the most-played games we’ve ever seen.
READ MORE: The Best Mobile Games of the Decade
Whether your building, blasting or dancing, Fortnite has
been thrust into the public eye thanks to the likes of Drake, Antoine
Griezmann, Marshmello and has created a modern superstar in the form of Ninja.