The Ones Everyone Kept Talking About
The Xbox One era had a lot of releases that landed well, but it's no surprise that a few soared high above the rest. These 20 games either nailed the storytelling, the mechanics, or had that simple pull that just kept gamers coming back. Here are some of the best games we’ve had grace our screens.
1. Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar Games developed and published this one, and you can feel the studio’s obsession with detail in almost every mission and mechanic. It performed so well because the campaign is lengthy, well-paced, and confident about letting you take your time. Players also stuck around due to the sheer detail of worldbuilding.
2. Grand Theft Auto V
Rockstar North built GTA V and Rockstar Games published it, and the result is a huge sandbox that supports a lot of playstyles. It did well because the core open-world loop is entertaining, and the game gives you plenty to do without forcing you into one path. It’s no surprise that fans continue to hold out for the long-awaited GTA VI.
3. Metal Gear Solid V
Kojima Productions developed The Phantom Pain under Konami. The game performed strongly because every outpost feels like a problem you can solve in multiple ways, and the tools support experimentation. Once you learn how enemies react, the game becomes all the more satisfying.
- EMR - from Chicago, USA on Wikimedia
4. Celeste
Created and published by Maddy Makes Games, Celeste is built around tight movement that stays consistent even when the difficulty ramps up. It did so well due to its quick retries, clear feedback, and a challenge that feels intentional. The story also connected with a lot of players, which helped it stand out beyond being “just” a tough platformer.
Maddy Makes Games on Wikimedia
5. Resident Evil 2
Capcom developed and published this remake, modernizing a classic in all the right ways. It performed well because the pacing is sharp, the resource management stays meaningful, and the atmosphere rarely lets you relax.
Sergey Galyonkin from Raleigh, USA on Wikimedia
6. INSIDE
Playdead both developed and published INSIDE, and it’s a great example of confident design with very little wasted space. The game communicates through animation, sound, and level flow instead of over-explaining everything, which made it all the more enjoyable. The puzzles also feel natural to the environment, as if they were always a part of the world.
7. Forza Horizon 4
A joint creation between Playground Games and Microsoft Studios, Forza’s open-world structure makes it easy to jump back in at any time of day. It performed so well because driving feels accessible while still rewarding skill, and players never wanted for content. The seasonal world changes also kept the map feeling different without asking you to relearn the basics.
Sergey Galyonkin from Raleigh, USA on Wikimedia
8. Divinity: Original Sin II
Larian Studios made the game, and its console release brought that deep RPG approach to Xbox One in a big way. It succeeded because combat rewards, smart positioning, and creative combos, and co-op turns planning into a shared experience instead of a solo puzzle. The writing and choice-driven quests also gave players plenty of reasons to discuss outcomes and replay.
9. Edith Finch
Developed by Giant Sparrow and published by Annapurna Interactive, this gorgeous narrative game is unlike any other. With many different types of puzzles, animation styles, and rooms to explore, the real kicker of this game is its heartbreaking, but well-thought-out storyline.
10. Cuphead
Studio MDHR developed and published Cuphead, and the hand-drawn animation style makes it instantly recognizable. It did well because the boss fights are carefully tuned, the controls are responsive, and co-op adds a fun layer of coordination. The soundtrack and visual direction also helped it become a conversation piece, even among people who don’t usually delve into hard games.
11. Dragon Quest XI S
Created by Square Enix, Dragon Quest XI S offers a polished, traditional RPG structure with lots of optional content. It performed strongly because it’s welcoming to newcomers while still delivering a full-length adventure for longtime fans. The extra features, including the added content and mode options, gave it a strong reason to revisit, even if you’d played earlier versions.
12. The Witcher 3
Developed and published by CD Projekt, The Witcher 3 has a strong sense of adventure. It did well because side stories feel meaningful, choices tend to matter, and the world design supports wandering without feeling empty. Even years later, people recommend it because it stays consistently strong across dozens of hours.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe on Wikimedia
13. Blood and Wine
This Witcher 3 expansion adds a substantial new region with its own tone and story. It performed so well because it feels like a completely new arc rather than a small add-on. The quality of quests and characters stays high, so it’s often the content people cite when praising post-launch support.
BANDAI NAMCO Europe on Wikimedia
14. Overwatch
Blizzard Entertainment developed and published Overwatch, and its heroes were designed to be readable and fun even in chaotic matches. It succeeded because the roles are clear, teamwork is rewarded, and the game is quick to learn while still taking time to master. Strong character design and frequent updates helped it stay in rotation for a long time.
15. Sekiro
FromSoftware developed Sekiro, with Activision publishing it internationally for Xbox One. It performed well because combat is precise, enemy patterns are learnable, and victories feel tied to execution rather than stats alone. If you enjoy tough action games, it’s the kind of challenge that keeps pulling you back until you truly understand it.
16. Forza Horizon 3
Playground Games developed it, and Microsoft Studios published it, delivering an open-world racer that’s easy to enjoy even if you’re not a car expert. It did well because the event variety keeps the pace moving, and the world encourages exploration without forcing it upon you.
17. Dead Cells
Motion Twin developed and published Dead Cells, and it blends fast combat with roguelike progression in a way that stays addictive. The runs are short enough to keep your game time quick and snappy, but deep enough to keep you learning. Ongoing updates and new content also helped the game maintain momentum long after launch.
18. Psychonauts 2
Developed by Double Fine and published by Xbox Game Studios, this platformer game combines supernatural abilities and a fleshed-out storyline. Fans of the game say the platforming feels smooth, the writing stays funny without dragging, and the story keeps moving. The result is a polished single-player game that feels thoughtfully made from start to finish.
19. F1 2020
Created by Codemasters, this racing game supports both hardcore fans and casual drivers. It performed strongly because the handling feels solid, the feature set is deep, and the “My Team” mode gave people a new reason to invest time. If you like structured progression, this one stays engaging across a full season.
20. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
Capcom developed and published Iceborne as a major expansion for Monster Hunter: World on Xbox One. This add-on brought a bunch of new hunts and difficulty levels to the more experienced players.
