The best Xbox One games you can buy: Halo, Gears, Forza, and more

Looking for the best Xbox One games out there? Whether you’re rocking the fully 4K-enabled powerhouse Xbox One X, the affordable Xbox One S, or even the original console, there are plenty of old and new Xbox One games worth your time and cash.

The Xbox One family has pushed the game industry forward with consumer-friendly services like Xbox Game Pass, Play Anywhere, xCloud, which is currently in preview, and even the huge number of Xbox One backwards compatible games. Microsoft has even ported some previously exclusive Xbox One games to Nintendo Switch.

To keep things simple, this list of the best Xbox One games is for all of you console-only gamers with an Xbox One that want the best titles you can’t experience on a PlayStation 4 or Nintendo Switch. We’ll also list ten of the best non-exclusive and third-party games available for the Xbox One too!

Best Xbox One games

1. Forza Horizon 4
2. Gears 5
3. Halo: The Master Chief Collection
4. Ori and the Will of the Wisps
5. Sea of Thieves

Editor’s note: This list will be updated as new Xbox One games launch.

1. Forza Horizon 4

Petrolheads with Xbox One consoles are spoilt for choice when it comes to virtual racing, but for our money, Forza Horizon 4 is out in pole position.

Forza Horizon 4 sees you zipping through disturbingly realistic representations of rural Britain in everything from bulky ATVs to mouth-watering supercars.

Those that want track-based racing thrills would be better off with Forza Motorsport 7, but there’s nothing that matches the adrenaline of taking a razor-sharp turn and narrowly missing a flock of sheep.

2. Gears 5

After a lackluster fourth outing, Gears 5 marked a gory, gutsy return to form for the iconic Xbox franchise.

While developer The Coalition dropped “of War” from the name, Gears 5 delivers on the boots-on-the-ground, third-person shooter skirmishes fans expect, while also deftly answering some unexplained mysteries spanning the entire history of the now-venerable series.

The multiplayer is a little too grind-heavy, but Gears 5 ranks easily among the best Xbox One games on the strength of its stellar single-player campaign.

3. Halo Master Chief Collection

While you should absolutely check out Halo 5: Guardians to see where the series is heading next in the not-so-distant future, it’s hard to deny the ludicrous bang for your buck you get with the Master Chief Collection.

The bundle comes with Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach (a.k.a. The Best Halo), and Halo 4.

Throw in a multiplayer system that encompasses maps and modes from all six games and you’ve got arguably the best gaming collection since The Orange Box.

4. Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Arguably the biggest breakout indie series in the console’s library, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a relatively new Xbox One game that expands on the now multi-platform original game with gorgeous 3D modeling, a streamlined save system, a very welcome overhaul to combat.

Cutesy indie platformers are dime a dozen in gaming, but the second Ori game is a masterful, emotive journey that Xbox One players shouldn’t miss.

5. Sea of Thieves

After years of mediocrity well below the standard of the halcyon days of the Nintendo 64, Rare finally delivered a game worthy of its retro heritage with Sea of Thieves — a quirky pirate game where you sail the high seas in the hunt for booty with up to four co-op scallywags.

The online adventure is a breath of fresh air in its genre, with strict missions and hand-holding towards objectives jettisoned in favor of loose nautical escapades that frequently devolve into hilarious farce.