Top 20 Best Xbox One Console Exclusives

What do we mean by "exclusive?"

The word "exclusive" can hold a multitude of meanings. For this article, "exclusive" refers to a title that is either only playable on the Xbox One, console-exclusive to Xbox One, or timed-exclusive on Xbox One if by the time of writing it has not been released on PS4.

Neverwinter

The MMORPG has been a tough genre for consoles to wrap their hands around, but developer, Cryptic Studio, give it a fair shake in this free-to-play game, Neverwinter. With the deep customization fans of the genre have come to expect and a variety of quest options, Neverwinter is a more than worthy consideration.

Ryse: Son of Rome

Ryse: Son of Rome was the first Xbox One showpiece to release on the console. Though it has been available to play since the Xbox One launched in 2013, the game continues to be on of the most visually impressive options on the Xbox One. Aside from the repetitive gameplay, Crytek offers a compelling narrative and satisfying gameplay in this recreation of Ancient Rome.

Massive Chalice

Massive Chalice is a successfully kickstarted turn-based strategy game developed by Double Fine Productions. In this game, the player controls individual battles with an XCOM-eqsue style mechanic, as well as managing the year to year growth of the kingdom. The most unique gameplay feature in Massive Chalice is the player's ability to create hero bloodlines through breeding two hero together, creating a long-lasting line of powerful heroes to protect the kingdom.

Killer Instinct

Killer Instinct launched alongside the Xbox One as a free-to-play reboot of the fighting series. The FTP version featured one playable fighter with rest available for purchase. Since its launch, Killer Instinct has launched 2 more seasons of content and now features 24 fighters including Arbiter from the Halo franchise and Rash from Battletoads. Each subsequent season after release has been more well-received critically than the previous.

Max: The Curse of the Brotherhood

Max: The Curse of the Brotherhood is actually the sequel to Max and the Magic Marker which released on Wii, PC, and mobile. This puzzle-platformer maintains the core mechanic from its predecessor where the player uses a marker to draw interactable objects into the world in order to solve the puzzle. While the platforming can be a bit frustrating at times due to the accuracy of a controller as opposed to mouse or touch, the game has moments of brilliance especially near the end.

Dead Rising 3

The Dead Rising series originally began as an Xbox 360 exclusive with the sequel releasing on both Xbox 360 and PS3. Dead Rising 3 returned to its Microsoft exclusive roots. In this Xbox One launch title, Capcom utilizes the power of the machine to create a huge open-world with massive hordes of zombies for the player to obliterate with their classically-crafted undead death machines.

State of Decay: Year One Survival Edition

The zombie theme continues with this next title from Undead Labs. State of Decay: Year One Survival Edition is the remastered version of the 2013 zombie apocalypse title, State of Decay. Unlike Dead Rising, State of Decay offers a more grounded imagining of the undead world with perma-death, relationships, and resource management.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

The issues of this massive collection of games have been well-documented, and the first couple months were frustrating for those who purchased this game for the online component. With those online issues now behind it, Halo: MCC (which features Halo 1-4 and a remastered Halo 2) is the most content rich game available on the Xbox One.

#IDARB

2014 was the year of indie sports games. Though Rocket League received much of the attention, #IDARB, a fast-paced handball-eque sports game, deserves its fair share of attention in that genre. #IDARB, assisted by releasing straight to GwG, took the Xbox One by storm in 2014 with its well-balanced gameplay and 8-bit character creation tool.

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition

Rumors swirled prior to Microsoft's E3 2014 Media Briefing that the Gears of War franchise would receive the same treatment as Halo did in 2013. However, during the press conference, Rod Fergusson revealed that only the original Gears of War would receive the remaster in Gears of War: Ultimate Edition with all subsequent games bundled in the game via backwards compatibility. The remastered campaign and multiplayer, as well as the inclusion of 5 PC-exclusive chapters, make this a game worth having in your Xbox One library.

Rare Replay

Rare has a library of games that have been built up over the last 30 years including some classics such as Conker, Banjo Kazooie, and Battletoads. To commemorate the history of this storied studio, Microsoft published a collection of these well-known games as well as some of the lesser known titles such as Snake Rattle 'n' Roll and Slalom.

Titanfall

Free-running, augmented soldiers and giant, weaponized mechs. Say no more! Sure, Titanfall had its fair share of flaws, but it's hard to argue that the game wasn't fun. Respawn Entertainment created a multiplayer that had gunplay and pacing to rival some of the latest installments of Call of Duty while adding the larger-than-life mech play that gave it that added sense of originality.

Oxenfree

Horror gaming on the 8th generation consoles has shown an incredible amount of range, and Oxenfree is proof that not every terrifying experience has to emerge from hyperrealistic replications of gore and the demonic. Night School Studio created a markedly '80s vibe while somehow avoiding the character tropes often found in that era of horror. The believable characters, witty dialogue, and twist-filled mystery make this game a must-play.

Forza Motorsport 6

Turn 10 Studios sets a standard when it comes to simulation racing games. Forza Motorsport 6 is no exception. Following the amazing success that was Forza Horizon 2, Forza Motorsport 6 takes the racing fan out of the open-world and back into the racing circuit. The sixth iteration of the series gives fans the largest garage of cars to take into competition with over 450 unique models. Forza 6 hits the bullseye on challenging experienced racing fans while also remaining playable to those less-entrenched in the genre that many racing games struggle to attain.

Halo 5: Guardians

Releasing on the heels of a MASSIVE marketing push, Halo 5: Guardians set itself up as the series' return to form after some missteps on the multiplayer side of Halo 4. While many fans of the series were left underwhelmed by the Chief/Locke conflict the pre-release media hyped up, Halo 5's true shine is in its multiplayer. Returning to the arena roots that made Halo's multiplayer a great success allowed 343i to innovate with an entirely separate mode, Warzone. Combine those things with great post-release support and Halo 5 continues to stand out as one of the best experiences on the Xbox One.

Quantum Break

Quantum Break is nothing if not unique. Mixing two mediums -- video game and live-action television series -- Quantum Break tells the story of a man who discovers he has the ability to manipulate time after a failed experiment at a local university. In-game decisions shape the narrative as the player races against time to save the world. Remedy Entertainment, the studio behind Alan Wake, delivered on the "entertainment experience" they were attempting to create with Quantum Break.

Sunset Overdrive

Sunset Overdrive was arguably Xbox's best game in 2014. Insomniac produced a post-apocalyptic storyline that was as over-the-top as the gameplay itself. In a world where a tainted batch of energy drink turns people into mutants, the player combines free-flowing movement and creative weaponry to overcome the perils of a dying, yet still visually vibrant city.

Forza Horizon 2

The Forza Horizon series has shown that Turn 10 Studio can take the off years between Forza Motorsport and make an insanely fun arcade-style racing game. The open-world of southern Europe provides a beautiful back drop for utilizing the satisfying handle-system that the Forza series is known for.

Rise of the Tomb Raider

Take the fumbled messaging of Rise of the Tomb Raider's exclusivity out of the equation, and all that remains is one of the best games to come out during this console generation. Crystal Dynamics pulled out all the visual stops when it came to developing this gorgeous installment of Lara Croft's story. Alongside the stunning graphics, Rise of the Tomb Raider balanced combat, puzzles, and narrative for an excellent end product.

The combination of pixel-perfect platforming, a compelling narrative, emotion-packed soundtrack, and award-winning art-style makes Ori and the Blind Forest a no-brainer. Moon Studios' debut game brought home 7 of the 19 awards it was nominated for including Xbox Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards 2015.