Fallout 4
Best Xbox One X Games (Xbox One X Enhanced Games)
Graphical powerhouse is probably not a descriptor you’d associate with Fallout 4, but with the enhanced version on Xbox One X, the Commonwealth has never looked better. The main difference here is the improved draw distance which makes exploring the world a lot easier. This applies to grass, objects, trees, and NPCs and definitely adds a lot to the base experience. There’s also 4K support so that super mutants look even more gruesome, enhanced God Ray effects, and a Dynamic Resolution.
The latter definitely helps highlight the awesome lighting effects in the game and makes the deep dark vaults of the world even more spooky.
The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt
Best Xbox One X Games
As if you needed any more reason to play The Witcher 3, on Xbox One X it’s even more breathtaking. Given the sheer size and scope of the game’s world, it’s quite simply baffling that it manages to look as good as it does, especially with all of the improvements the enhanced edition brings with it. The new update offers players the chance to play at 60 FPS or at 4K resolution. Both add a bunch of depth to the dynamic world of The Continent.
There’s higher-resolution textures, as well as better texture filtering, ambient occlusion and shadows on offer here, as well as use of the Xbox One X’s HDR function. Ultimately, which mode you choose to run the game in is personal preference with the increased frame rate adding smoothness to the game and 4K visuals making everything look sharper and more clear. By enhancing it for the world’s most powerful console, CD Projekt Red have managed to make one of the best games ever made even better.
Gears of War 4
Best Xbox One X Games
One of Microsoft’s flagship Xbox titles, Gear of War has always been at the forefront of graphical excellence. Gears of War 4 takes players across a gorgeous sci-fi world, made up of stunning vistas and horrifying enemies. Every inch of the game is enhanced by 4K visuals, HDR, and an increased frame rate. The bump up to 60 FPS has a particularly noticeable effect on Gears of War 4’s frenetic third person combat, making transitioning between cover and chainsawing enemies all the more smooth.
Giant aliens, lightning storms, and mech suits all combine to make Gears of War 4 one of the best looking games on Xbox One X. And when combined with the excellent voice acting and motion-capture performances, it takes the series to new heights.
Forza Motorsport 7
Best Xbox One X Games
The Forza games are consistently the best looking games on the market when they release, rendering vehicles in a near photo-realistic fashion. It seems a no brainer then that Forza Motorsport 7 has received the Xbox One X Enhanced treatment. There’s a noticeable difference in the way lighting works in-game thanks to a dynamic lighting upgrade. It also runs at a solid, locked 60 FPS at 4K resolution meaning that it is absolutely breathtaking in motion, perfect for a racing game then.
It makes sense that developer Turn 10 has managed to get the most out of the Xbox One X given that they likely got first dibs on the Project Scorpio prototype kit when making the game. One of the very few console games to boast the same graphics as an ultra high-end PC, Forza Motorsport 7 is perhaps the best example of what Xbox One X can do.
Assassin’s Creed Origins
Best Xbox One X Games (Xbox One X Enhanced Games)
The Xbox One X update recently arrived to Assassin’s Creed Origins and brought with it some noticeable upgrades to Ubisoft’s rendition of Egypt. It benefits from temporal anti-aliasing and dynamic scaling technology that aims for optimal GPU utilisation at all times. The base game is notable for the way it uses lighting to portray its sun-scorched environments, something which is massively improved in the enhanced version. Draw distance has also been improved, making it easier to spot far off tombs which may be filled with tantalizing treasure.
The frame rate is a lot smoother, too, good news to those who had problems with the base game’s frequent dips and stuttering. Assassin’s Creed’s world is diverse, filled with rivers, swamps, deserts, and bustling cities. Every single area benefits from the upgrade making it the best looking AC game yet.
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Best Xbox One X Games (Xbox One X Enhanced Games)
Shadow of War is quite possibly the best game to highlight the difference between PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. The ground textures are noticeably clearer and sharper, fixing some of the low-texture issues that the base game faced. There are two modes to choose from, one which favors visual upgrades like draw distance, shadow and lighting conditions, vegetation, ambient occlusion and texture filtering, and boosts polygon counts while another optimises resolution to produce a native 4K image.
The updated visuals culminate in one of the most realistic renditions of Middle Earth yet, rendering fell beasts, trolls and orcs in glorious 4K. These awesome visuals, along with the game’s revolutionary Nemesis System, make each character feel like a living, breathing entity, making it all the more awesome when you build an entire army of them to fight for you.
Halo 5: Guardians
Best Xbox One X Games
It could be argued that the Xbox One X version of Halo 5: Guardians is the fully realised vision by developer 343. Upon release back in 2015, 343 sacrificed image quality for a silky smooth 60 FPS, something which definitely dragged the game down. With the enhanced edition though, Halo 5: Guardians still runs at a solid 60 FPS but with a fully 4K visual fidelity. Texture filtering is also greatly improved, polishing the low-end textures found on the base Xbox One version.
There’s a reason why Halo 5 continues to be an eSports staple, what with its polished, twitchy gameplay, made all the more smooth by its Xbox One X enhancements. It seems that Microsoft’s first party offerings are often the ones which make the best use out of the new hardware, extracting every bit of graphical goodness out of the base experience. Halo 5 on Xbox One X is the definitive way to play the game, allowing the developer to finally achieve the full scope of what they set out to create.
Minecraft
Best Xbox One X Games (Xbox One X Enhanced Games)
The Super Duper Graphics Pack for Minecraft adds 4K graphics to the crafting sandbox game. There’s also improved water effects and more dynamic lighting, too. The game was originally set for a fall 2017 release before being pushed back to 2018. An E3 trailer showed off the upgrade, and it’s certainly something special.
There have been several incremental upgrades to the graphics of Minecraft over the years but this one definitely seems like the natural conclusion. The game may be made up of cutesy pixel art but the updated lighting alone takes it all a step further. The game looks clearer and sharper than ever, meaning that we can’t wait until it releases in full later this year.
FIFA 18
Best Xbox One X Games
The FIFA series has always excelled at delivering a great graphical experience coupled with fast-paced action. The Xbox One X adds 4K native resolution and improved grass draw distance. The players and their kits too, look more realistic than ever, definitely adding a layer of depth to the proceedings.
The game already looked great in motion but improved anti-aliasing and resolution results in a much smoother, stable experience. In a game where split-second decisions can be game-breaking, it’s reassuring that performance is so consistent here.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Best Xbox One X Games (Xbox One X Enhanced Games)
If you’re going to shoot Nazis, you may as well do it in native 4K. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is yet another of example of how the Xbox One X can blow the PS4 Pro out of the water. It offers a 2.25x increase in pixel count resulting in a much clearer image. Bethesda have a habit of offering their games up to be enhanced on Xbox One X, definitely making them some of the smoothest shooters on the market.
The game really benefits from the use of HDR as it pulls players through post-nuclear landscapes, vibrant American towns and giant, metallic cities. Settings for lighting, post effects and more are a match for higher end PCs, giving an idea of just how powerful this console is.
Far Cry 5
Best Xbox One X Enhanced Games
Ubisoft’s Far Cry games have always looked great. Whether it be the dusty plains of 2, the blue waters of 3, or the snowy mountains of 4, the settings have always stood out. The fifth numbered game takes the series to blue sky country, aka the fictional area of Hope County Montana.
It may be more grassy fields and dense forests than paradise like mediterranean islands, but it’s no less stunning. Offering 4K and HDR on Xbox One X, it looks better on Microsoft’s console than any other, and the cutscenes are some of the most realistic facial animation around.
Sea of Thieves
Best Xbox One X Enhanced Games
Sea of Thieves has its own visual style, and it may seem quite simple, but the lighting effects can make it look phenomenal, especially when you’re playing on an Xbox One X and standing on the deck of you ship. The sun glistens off the waves as monsters leap between them, and the water moves incredibly realistically. As you’d expect from an Xbox exclusive, it features 4K and HDR, which make the colorful world pop. If you just want to quickly check out how it looks, you can pick it up using a Games Pass free trial.
Call of Duty: WWII
Best Xbox One X Enhanced Games
Call of Duty is all about bombastic cinematics and dramatic set-pieces. WWII is no different to the games that came before it, but it’s arguably more intense. The battlefields look incredible, with explosions ripping the land to shreds left right and centre. It looks great while you’re shooting, but it’s the cutscenes that look better than almost anything else around. The characters look great, and the direction of the action makes it feel like a Hollywood blockbuster. As you’d expect, the HDR and 4K that are brought by the Xbox One X makes it look better than the series ever has before.
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Best Xbox One X Enhanced Games
The step up in presentation and visual flair between the first game in the rebooted series and Rise of the Tomb Raider is incredible. Lara Croft’s adventures have always been set in pretty stunning locations, but those in Rise look amazing. The Xbox One X update brings more than just 4K and HDR. When it was updated, it added improved anti-aliasing, enhanced geometry, improved reflections, new volumetric lighting, and higher texture filtering, on top of frame rate improvements. The opening, ice-climbing scene, is one of the most impressive you’ll play on your new console.
Forza Horizon 3
Best Xbox One X Enhanced Games
Microsoft tend to use the Forza franchise to show off the power of their systems. The standard Forza Motorsport series shows off the beauty of the cars, but the Horizon series is more varied. The third game sees you explore a condensed part of Australia, in the midst of a racing and music festival. The cars themselves are, of course, still a sight to behold, but it’s the world itself that stands out. On Xbox One X, it runs at a native 4K, with improved car reflections and shadow resolutions, as well better details and draw distances. It’s one of the best looking racing games you can play anywhere.
For a full detailed list of all Xbox One X Enhanced games, click here.
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