With the eight console generation set to end sometime in the next two years, the hardware’s best games have mostly already been decided. When it comes to a game’s quality,Metacriticserves as something of an authority, even if critic and user scores frequently fail to complement each other.
RELATED:10 Best Xbox One Controllers Ever, Ranked
The Xbox One has been overshadowed by the PlayStation 4, but that hardly means Microsoft’s console does not have its fair share of great titles. Today, the focus is squarely on sequels, with each franchise being limited to a single entry.
10NBA 2K17 (90)
The only sports game to earn a spot on this list,NBA 2K17represents arguably the pinnacle of 2K’s franchise. The gameplay is complex, addictive, and captures the beauty of the game, while the microtransactions are slightly less pronounced than in the latter entries.
NBA 2K17is not going to win any non-believers, but it is a fantastic game for basketball fans seeking to either play through a robust career mode or online. It is a sports sim done right, offering both accessibility and gameplay depth.
9NieR: Automata - Become as Gods Edition (90)
As a sequel toNieR,Automataimproves in nearly every department. Thanks to PlatinumGames, the combat is dynamic, endlessly entertaining, and fluid. While not particularly expansive or visually unique,Automata’s world is soaked in history and personality, with every pixel telling a story. The narrative is the only part that could be viewed as a downgrade fromNieR, but that is more of a testament to the latter’s brilliance than anything else.
TheBecome as Gods Editionincludes all the DLC, although they are primarily cosmetic; however, the most important part is thatSquare Enix’s decided to portNieR: Automatato the Xbox One. Microsoft’s console has traditionally struggled to attract Japanese publishers, so this was a step in the right direction.
8Monster Hunter: World (90)
Monster Hunter: Worldbrought Capcom’s franchise back to consoles after almost a decade. While not a sequel in the traditional sense,Worldis unquestionably aMonster Huntertitle. Even if the campaign has been made more approachable to cater to a wider audience, the license’s challenging combat and gameplay loop remain firmly intact.
RELATED:The Top Ten Co-Op Games For PS4, Ranked
Along with the fantasticIceborneexpansion,Monster Hunter: Worldserves as the perfect blueprint for how to refurbish a beloved product for a modern audience while preserving the franchise’s core appeal.
7The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (91)
Regularly described as the greatest RPG of all time,The Witcher 3: Wild Huntraised the standard for the genre and gaming as a whole. Accumulating a myriad of awards and praised for its emotionally engrossing writing, particularly with regards to its side quests,The Witcher 3brings Geralt’s story to a satisfying and epic conclusion.
Even if the combat requires some adjusting to, CD Projekt RED still crafted a massive RPG packed with memorable characters, distinct but thematically consistent explorable areas, and remarkable gameplay depth.
6Divinity: Original Sin II - Definitive Edition (92)
As a successor to 2014’sDivinity: Original Sin, Larian Studios' sequel proved that even near-perfection can be surpassed. As far aswestern RPGsare concerned, few come close to matchingOriginal Sin II’s complex tactical combat, respect for player choice, and its impressive roster of characters.
Like its predecessor,Original Sin IIhas a steep learning curve, with the RPG seldom opting to hand-hold its player base. The main-storyline is long and fascinating, but this is one of those games that rewards players who attempt to follow their own path.
5Forza Horizon 4 (92)
Forza Horizon 3also ranks among the best sequels on the Xbox One, but 2018’s entry just has the edge over its Australian counterpart. Set in Scotland,Forza Horizon 4is an open-world arcade racing game that only cares for realism in relation to the environments and car models. Otherwise, anything goes!
RELATED:The 10 Best Racing Games Ever Made (According To Metacritic)
Forza Horizon 4’s new feature is a weather system to reflect the changing seasons, an addition that offers far more than just a new coat of paint. Some areas become drastically different in winter, and picking the ideal car to handle the challenges presented by the condition of the tracks becomes essential.
4Resident Evil 2 (93)
Aremakeand sequel,Resident Evil 2earned Capcom a great deal of goodwill. Updating a classic is always a risky move; luckily, 2019’s remake cut absolutely no corners. With the original’s tank controls replaced with the more action-oriented system used in the post-Resident Evil 4games, the remake is unquestionably the bestResident Evil 2has ever played.
Although the plot mainly covers the same beats as 1998’s sequel, Capcom added a few surprises to keep veterans of the franchise guessing. The sound work is excellent, the graphics are nothing short of breathtaking, and - most importantly -Resident Evil 2is genuinely terrifying.
3Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (95)
The Phantom Painfinds Hideo Kojima’s beloved franchise at the height of its power, at least, when it comes to the gameplay. WhileMetal Gear Solidhas generally always had competent mechanics,The Phantom Painis arguably the only entry to truly live and die by its combat.
RELATED:10 Games You Need Play If You Love Metal Gear Solid
Told from the perspective of Punished “Venom” Snake, the narrative is surprisingly unintrusive, which can be disappointing for those expecting more of that famousMetal Gear Solidstorytelling.
2Grand Theft Auto V (97)
Rockstar Games seem to exist solely to push consoles to their absolute limits.Grand Theft Auto Vis among the best-selling video games of all time, an honor that is fully earned. Set in the intricate and pulsating Los Santos, the single-player campaign follows three criminals with widely different goals and dispositions.
Rockstar has primarily focused onGTA Online, which is still going strong after all these years. As a sequel,GTA Vis bigger and arguably better than anything previously created by the developer.
Unsurprisingly, Rockstar Games take the two top spots, withRed Dead Redemption 2andGrand Theft Auto Vbeing thehighest-rated gameson the Xbox One. Released nearly a decade afterRed Dead Redemption, the sequel follows an outlaw called Arthur Morgan, who happens to be a member of the Van Der Linde gang.
It should go without saying, but the open-world is a marvel to behold. By this point, there is no reason to expect anything less from Rockstar. That said, the story isRed Dead Redemption’s true crowning achievement, which is further serviced by random events that help make the adventure feel more spontaneous and natural.
