Xbox History: The Best Games by Month

[anon98342452]

May 2017

Prey

Prey is incredible. I could probably just point you to the documentaries done by No Clip on YouTube and be done with it. They do a much better job showing just how thoughtfully this game was designed, it’s top tier stuff. But, in order to keep with the thread theme I’ll point out why I love Prey. This is a series reboot, taking the name of the old Xbox 360 shooter and reforming it into a first person immersive sim. It’s a magical game, not in the sense of theme but in its execution. Set in a space station, this is heavy sci-fi, alien spooky gaming. It’s a creepy game, not something I’d consider pure horror but definitely a game that leaves you feeling uneasy. The mimicks…if you’ve played, you know what’s up. The thing that really makes Prey amazing is the way it allows you to tackle each situation in a variety of ways that fit your play style. It’s a water-cooler game, one that creates amazing stories based on how you “got into that one room with the foam” but your friend did it by “blowing the darn door off!” I love this open-ended approach. It’s gaming at its best, most creative, staying out of the players way to empower them. The story isn’t half bad either! Play it if you haven’t. It’s one of the best games of the gen, I really hope we see another from Arkane after Deathloop and Redfall.

Other notable games released include Rime, Portal Knights, Injustice 2, Shadow Warriors 2, The Surge, Seasons After Fall, Forza Horizon 3: Hot Wheels expansion, World to the West, Dreamfall Chapters, and Viktor Vran. I really enjoyed Rime, if you like Abzu or need a chill game check it out.

[Cerysnetics]

Stop adding more damn you

[anon98342452]

@Cerysnetics

Stop adding more damn you

Catch up slow poke!

[Cerysnetics]

OK so since I missed like a decade…

So some background so 2013 I was mostly on PC. The Secret world was out. Defiance, as I recall it was a pretty good year. that stretched out to 2014 as well. and to be frank Xbox had nothing for me until much later, and by then I was playing destiny and Divisions 1 and 2 with my friends so I rarely gamed there.

Compared to prior years 2013 to 2015 were pretty “meh” all around for me.

OCT 2011 - Orcs must die!

Amazing fun

NOV 2011 - MGS HD

        *Guilty Pleasure*

DEC 2011 - Saints row III

        *Not as Good as II but fun.*

JAN 2012 - Soul Calibur V

        *For old time's sake*

FEB 2012 - Kingdoms of Amalur

        *As a lover of MMO's a Singler player one, yip!*

MAR 2012 - Mass Effect 3

        *Little did I know how much it would be ruined :P*

APR 2012 - Fez

        *Dropped off it pretty quick but was a great little game.*

MAY 2012 - Nowt!

JUN 2012 - Spec ops the line

        *A game with something to actually say, and say it appropriately in the medium.*

JUL 2012 - Nowt!

AUG 2012 - Sleeping dogs

        *Better than GTA*

SEP 2012 - Borderlands 2

        *Sheer amount of time played in co-op*

OCT 2012 - XCOM

        *Amazing game!*

NOV 2012 - Meh, More XCOM

DEC 2012 - Far Cry 3

        *Last good Far Cry game.*

JAN 2013 - Meh, More XCOM

FEB 2013 - Nowt!

MAR 2013 - Tomb Raider

        *I enjoyed the return, even if it didn't have enough raiding*

APR 2013 - I dunno… Defiance was on console too and I like a MMO, that maybe? Nahhhhh.

MAY 2013 - Monaco: Whats yours is mine.

        *Fun and colourful stealth em up.*

JUN 2013 - State of decay.

        *Only since I put a few hours into it and thought it would make an excellent sequel... Meh.*

JUL 2013 - Nowt!

AUG 2013 - Brothers

SEP 2013 - Rayman Legends

        *Great looking and great playing*

OCT 2013 - Assasins Creed IV Black flag

        *Boring AC, great ship stuff and exploring.*

NOV 2013 - XCOM Enemy Within

        *Great game gets even better.*

DEC 2013 - I mean… wow! Nowt.

JAN 2014 - The Banner Saga

        *Fabulous game*

FEB 2014 - Nowt

MAR 2014 - MGS v Ground Zeroes

APR 2014 - Nowt

MAY 2014 - Nowt

JUN 2014 - Another World.

JUL 2014 - The Wolf Among us.

        *Since this is when Chapter 5 was released.*

AUG 2014 - Diablo 3

        *The console version was a great port, and I played much more on console than PC.*

SEP 2014 - Destiny

        *God help me*

OCT 2014 - Sunset Overdrive.

        *Not great, but colourful and fun to play.*

NOV 2014 - GTA 5

        *A boring campaign which is not as clever as it thinks, and a grindy MP aspect.  However it was a lot of fun for me and my friends to play together, especially when heists appeared.*

DEC 2014 - Oh dear god… Nothing squared

I didnt really consider how little these years had for me, Its clear thats why I spent so much time on PC. Guild Wars 2 etc.

Still only 2 more years to catch up, sorry for dreadful formatting I have zero time to make it look pretty.

[anon98342452]

June 2017

Tekken 7

I want to be clear here…I am pretty terrible at fighting games in general, and I’m not keen to all the nuisances of each franchise, entry, etc. I also don’t play online so I can’t speak to things like “net code” or frames or whatever. I like fighting games for local play with friends, just something to pass the time while enjoying a drink. Or in Tekken’s case, it’s all about the bowling and wild characters. I know there’s some controversy around the 720p display of Tekken 7, but as someone who’s dabbled in every Tekken game I think it looks and plays well. It’s not my favorite - that’s Tekken Tag Tournament - but I enjoyed my time playing Tekken 7 in both story, local MP, and bowling. Did I mention that I like the bowling? Tekken 7 features a huge cast of characters from the franchise and they’re all as varied and awesome as ever. I love the design, the ridiculous self-serious story, and world that this game exists within. Environments/stages are great, fun to look at and beat down in. I think Tekken is about as “technical” as I can get in a fighter, the combo system is really intense and requires a lot of input memorization which I don’t have brain power for anymore. It still allows a bit of button mashing, which is more in line with my style given my skill. It was GamePass at one point and is often on sale. Buy the ultimate edition if you do so you get the DLC and mainly, the bowling…

Shoutouts to Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind expansion, Dirt 4, Ghost of a Tale, Get Even, Superbeat Xonic, and Broken Age. I really enjoyed Get Even for what it is. Ghost of a Tale is neat and cute, but I hate the lack of guidance so I’m constantly lost! Fun, low key month.

[anon98342452]

July 2017

What Remains of Edith Finch

Edith Finch is a truly special game and I almost hate to write much about it. A narrative experience, I it’s something that you should experience yourself free from some dumb-dumb like me coloring your opinion or spoiling anything. I’ll just say that the game’s story is focused around a family of strange folk, mystery, and discovery. This is a “walking sim”, but I wouldn’t use that as a pejorative as many do. It aids the experience, removing all barriers that would otherwise prevent players from seeing the story through, from experiencing it. It’s a beautiful game narratively, graphically, and aesthetically. The voice acting ends to the experience. Edith Finch is just so well done and can be completed in an evening or two. Do yourself a favor and pour a warm drink, get some cookies, and sit back and enjoy this game. It’s one of the best of the year.

Shoutouts to Minecraft Story Mode, Runbow, Moon Hunters, Infinite Minigolf, and Aven Colony. I like Minecraft Story mode but wow what a different narrative experience when compared to Edith Finch!

[CallMeCraig]

Edith Finch is really a special “walking sim”. It has many sub stories with totally different kind of experiences so it doesn’t fall into the trap of other walking sims (looking at you not so Dear Esther) where you do the same stuff for 5-10 hours. Edith Finch is always interesting and has something to say. Exploration was also good because you were rewarded every time.

[anon98342452]

August 2017

Sonic Mania

Wow, I cannot believe I’m actually putting a Sonic game on this list, and even more so that it might even deserve its place! Clearly, I’m not the biggest Sonic fan. I grew up a “Nintendo kid”, and never had a deep fondness for the janky controlling hedgehog and his quirky band of friendos. It was always a “lesser than” series to Mario, never quite matching the excellence of those titles. And to be fair, since the Genesis/Mega Drive days, Sonic has essentially fallen off a cliff. The games are mostly terrible - yes, even Adventure. The return of old school Sonic in Generations was interesting, but Mania is a whole different level for the blue guy. This is a great game, truly, and the best part is it’s not even really a Sega internal studio thing. I believe it was made by an indie group of fans, or at least originated that way. So the game…it’s bright and colorful and joyous in the way a Sonic game should be. He’s edgy, but not an edgelord. The level design is frantic and lends itself for both speed and exploration. Sonic still kind of controls like he’s drunk, but there’s something more polished here that feels less offensive to my old hands. I have no idea if this game ties in to any Sonic lore or whatnot, nor even if there was a story. This is pure oldschool 2D platforming at its best (for Sonic anyway), and is a pretty darn good time. It’s worth a try, for fans and otherwise. Maybe you’ll be a convert like me!

Shoutouts to Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun, The Long Dark, Slime Rancher, Tacoma, Mr. Shifty, Telltale Batman The Enemy Within, Sine Mora EX, Pillars of the Earth, Observer, Agents of Mayhem, Thumper, The Escapists 2, Path of Exile, Bleed, Mages of Mystralia, Killing Floor 2, Resident Evil Revelations, ARK, Redoubt, and Life is Strange Before the Storm. If your wallet could take that assault, let’s swap shoes.

[anon98342452]

September 2017

Ruiner

This pick is another one where it may not be the true “best” game of the month, but I wanted to highlight something a little different (the best game is Dishonored Death of the Outsider imo). Ruiner is an action game through-and-through, with an overhead viewpoint and twin-stick shooter controls. The setting is cyberpunk, steeped in ruined environments and red everywhere. This might be the reddest game I’ve played. Ruiner is another one where I don’t really care about the story, I’m here for the killing of wave after wave of baddies. And Ruiner does that fairly well, ramping up in difficulty, presenting new challenges, and weapons for the player to engage their foes. The only downside? It doesn’t change much throughout the 10 or so hours it runs. That said, nobody needs to see it through to the end, this is one that might be a good time for 5 hours and that’s perfectly fine. It’s gritty and dirty and violent, and if that’s something you’re interested in it’s a good time.

Shoutouts to Death of the Outsider, Forza Motorsport 7, Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite, Destiny 2, Super Hydorah, Project Cars 2, Lego Ninjago, and Pinball FX3. That Destiny 2 snub!

[anon98342452]

October 2017

Assassin’s Creed: Origins

AC: Origins is proof that taking a break can be refreshing and revitalizing for a long running series (take notes COD…). Origins was the result of Ubisoft giving its developers an extra year to rethink and retool the formula and for the most part it works. The game focuses less on stealth kills compared to prior entries, instead introducing a weighty combat system clearly inspired by other popular games. It also adds an RPG-like feel, with loot, gear, and levels which creates a loop that’s easier to invest in compared to collecting 500 feathers or some other doodad. ACO is beautiful, the setting of Egypt captured in a way I’ve never seen before. The sand is stunning, reminding me of Journey. It shines and is mesmerizing. Couple that with the busy towns, giant pyramids, and life-giving oases, and you’re left with a stunning testament to the talent of the folks behind the game. Origins is a huge game, but never felt overwhelming in the way that its progeny Odyssey and Valhalla felt. The main character Bayek is my series’ favorite since Ezio. He feels likable, he means well, and is someone you root for. This was an exciting game at the time, showing that it’s ok to change things and take risks with something that’s well-loved.

Big month for fun titles, including Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, The Evil Within 2, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, The Mummy: Demastered, Jydge, N++, Elex, Nightmare Boy, Battle Chasers: Nightwar, and Southpark: The Fractured But Whole. Hard choice, I could have went with about 3-4 as the best and wouldn’t blink.

[anon98342452]

November 2017

Assault Android Cactus

Assault Android Cactus (AAC from this point forward) is an oddly titled twin-stick shooter that’s a blast to play. While the art style - particularly the character design - isn’t my cup of joe, the game here is just so darn polished and fun that it’s impossible to deny its placement on the list. Nothing about AAC is particularly unique for the genre, we’ve all seen and played similar games many times. AAC stands apart though, mainly due to the frenetic gameplay, high score rush, and perfectly balanced ramp in difficult as you make your way through the very replayable campaign. The game feels tight, lean in the way an arcade game should. Controls are spot on. Graphics and sound pop. You feel amazing when you survive a tough section or level, sometimes it’s so intense you perspire. This is a throwback to games of old, where gameplay and mechanics were tops. It doesn’t try to do anything other than be the best “one of those” that it can be( and you know what? It succeeds.

This month’s releases were obviously impacted by COD World War II, but of note are Super Lucky’s Tale, Wuppo, 911 Operator, Lego Marvel Superheroes 2, and Outcast Second contact (a pure nostalgia pick for me).

[anon98342452]

December 2017

A Hat in Time

A big part of my gaming youth revolved around character platformers. While I’m old and lean towards 2D for my gaming comfort food, I’ve always had a soft spot for the move to 3D within this genre. Mario 64 was revolutionary and from there, we saw a million good and bad games that ape this classic. A Hat in Time falls into the former grouping. I believe this game was the result of a successful Kickstarter and as such, hype followed and for good reason. A Hat in Time was easy on the eyes, featured a bright eyed likable looking main character, and looked to have stellar gameplay all set in a colorful and imaginative world. What released was all those things, polished to a shine. It reminds one of the best platforming games of old, but without the need for rose tinted glasses. The gameplay is tight, precise, and has that feel that you can’t capture with words. The sound effects and music evoke the cheeriness that’s appropriate for a game of this ilk. And there’s a hat full (ok I’ll see myself out!) of thingies to collect which are additive to your home base and progress. The move set is excellent and allows freedom and exploration within the clever levels. It’s a gem of a game, a sign that even tired genres and mechanics can still be done well and proof that love of a thing can result in something beautiful.

It’s December so not a lot of releases, but notably the month saw Okami HD, Soma, Hand of Fate 2, Night in the Woods, and Skyforce Reloaded. That right there is a diverse and frankly exceptional lineup!

[anon98342452]

January 2018

Monster Hunter World

Monster Hunter World was a big deal for a number of reasons, but mainly because it represented the first true mainline game in the series to appear on an Xbox console. And yes, this is a mainline game despite some silly fans saying it doesn’t count because it’s not numbered. MHW is a game of epic scope and scale, maintaining almost all of the DNA of prior titles while managing to make the game accessible to series newcomers. You can still spend hour upon hour grinding hunts for the best gear. You can still tackle all the side missions and toughest hunts alone. You can still choose to master the absolutely huge roster of weapons. Or, you can specialize in a “noob” weapon/build such as the sword and shield, team up with friends, and make your way through the main campaign without too much fuss. It’s flexibility in a way that many hardcore games should take note of. It still provides the depth, challenge, and difficulty for old timers but enables those who don’t have the skill, time, or desire to “get good” to enjoy it fully. And did I mention that the game is beautiful, with stunning, varied environments, monsters ranging from cutesy to grotesque, and of course some amazing looking food you can have cooked up by a crew of cute kitties. The combat is weighty and has impact, it feels meaningful to take down any hunt. Collecting items within each environment is actually beneficial as it directly leads to benefits such as health potions or traps that the player can craft. I love this game, it’s amazing in just about every aspect and deserves the highest praise.

I really, really wanted to pick Celeste. Like really wanted to. But I think that even though I adore that game, Monster Hunter World brought me more hours of quality fun. So special shout to Celeste. Also, Full Metal Furies, Wulverblade, Dragonball FighterZ, and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter are all interesting games worth checking out for those inclined.

[anon98342452]

February 2018

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

This was a tough month simply because I’m not overly fond of any of the games released. Out of the options, I’m most familiar and comfortable with Kingdom Come: Deliverance. This game was developed by a studio I’d never heard of, Warhorse, and published by Deep Silver. Deep Silver always gives me pause due to the general lack of polish in the games it publishes, but the premise of this action-RPG was intriguing. You played as a character that seemed to be an “Everyman”. You weren’t the chosen one. You weren’t a super hero. You didn’t have special powers. You were just a peasant type fellow, and some bad stuff happens and your “quest” goes from there. The game never strays away from this logic. You’ll never gain magic spells, fly, wield a super sword, or anything not realistic. Instead, you’re forced to learn a challenging combat system. You’re weak and can die easily, so you have to be thoughtful and tactical. You’re slow. Combat isn’t always the best route. It’s just a different approach, equal parts fresh and frustrating. The game launched buggy but looked great. It’s the Deep Silver published template to a T, but for some reason there’s something more here. I’m curious as to why we haven’t seen a sequel, I believe it performed fairly well given the scope and budget. I wouldn’t mind seeing Warhorse get another crack at it!

Again, not my favorite month but some decent games released including The Fall Part 2, Bleed 2, Pinstripe, Fe, Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, Immortal Redneck, Puyo Puyo Tetris, and Bridge Contructor: Portal. Not a terrible month, but good for my backlog.

[anon98342452]

March 2018

A Way Out

A Way Out is one of the best examples off co-op gaming done right. It’s the result of honing in on an idea and theme and really going for it. Like Hazelight’s prior effort (Brothers), you’re getting a game that’s centered around multiple main characters who must cooperate and work together to achieve your goal. While Brothers goal was more pure in nature, A Way Out takes an old story and puts a new look on it. Yes, it’s a game about a prison break, but there’s more to it that makes it feel more meaningful as I engaged. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the game made me feel things and that ending! I played the whole things through in a few sittings with my wife. She’s not much of a gamer anymore, but the beauty of the game is that she didn’t need to be. I could do a lot of the heavy lifting in the action sequences and she could still enjoy the puzzles and narrative with me. It’s an experience I’ll always be fond of, and it makes me excited she wants to play It Takes Two with me. If you have a chance and a willing friend (partner, family member, etc) to play with, I highly recommend A Way Out.

Almost too many good games this month, here goes…Mulaka, Turok 1 & 2 Remasters, Pit People, The Council, DMC HD Collection, QUBE 2, Surviving Mars, Tesla vs. Lovecraft, Burnout Paradise Remastered, Sea of Thieves, Attack on Titan 2, Titan Quest, Octahedron, and Far Cry 5.

[anon98342452]

April 2018

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

Hellblade is a prime example of a good game that’s not particularly fun to play. It’s not a glowing endorsement, but I really can’t give it one. A lot of the other games listed below have better gameplay and are games I probably enjoyed more. Hellblade is a difficult game to recommend in many ways. It’s slow and plodding. The puzzles break the momentum the game tries to establish and quite frankly, they’re terribly designed. The content is tough, dealing with mental health in a way that makes the player feel uncomfortable. The combat is fine, but not something that stands out. But for all its faults, there’s a good game here and one that bears mention. It’s absolutely gorgeous, the dark, dirty world is stunning to behold at times. It feels oppressive, in a way that few games do. The sound design is top notch. This is a game you play with headphones, trust me as it enhances the experience. The story is deep and meaningful, with Senua’s descent into darkness becoming more and more challenging as you guide her down the path ahead. Hellblade succeeds because it’s memorable, because it’s odd, because it’s comfortable making the player uncomfortable. This is

Adventure Pals, Owlboy, Ys Origin, Regalia: Of Men & Monarchs, and The Invisible Hours.

[anon98342452]

May 2018

Yoku’s Island Express

Yoku’s Island Express is a heck of a lot of fun. Prior to release, I would have laughed if you told me that this was going to be one of the better and more unique games to come out this month. Yoku can be described as a “pinballvania “. Uh, say what? Yeah, it’s a Metroid/Castlevania-like game that uses a pinball mechanic to play. It’s not just a simple pinball table though. You’re getting a fully designed and realized world to explore with your beetle guy character, but instead of the typical run/dash/jump/fight design often seen in the genre, you move axle with pinball flippers built into each area. It’s all so well designed that it’s truly amazing to see it all fit together. This isn’t a tough game, making it accessible to gamers of all skill levels and ages. It’s bright and colorful with a cheery overall vibe, the type of feel good game I love to play. The game respects your time, coming in at under 10 hours of very high quality gameplay. It can be had for a song, so please check it out if you can swing it.

This was a nice month for indies with a few larger games sprinkled in, including Battlezone Gold Edition, Super Mega Baseball 2, City of Brass, Deathroad to Canada, Laser League, Wizard of Legend, Forgotton Anne, Descenders, State of Decay 2, Gorogoa, Dark Souls Remastered, Sega Genesis Classics Collection, and Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection.

[anon98342452]

June 2018

Nier: Automata

A follow up to the cult classic Nier Gestalt seemed so unlikely yet here we were, years later with another chapter to dig into again and again. And again. And again. Released months after the PlayStation version, Xbox gamers were finally able to partake in Square Enix’s quirky gem and the wait was worth it. Nier Automata shares much with the original, with slightly higher highs and lower lows. Automata is a heartfelt, beautiful story told through fairly boring moment-to-moment action RPG gameplay. It’s a unique and wonderful world to explore, but done via some boring chore-like quests. And yes, in order to truly experience the game it must be played multiple times. You’d be right to think that doesn’t describe a masterpiece, but I’m not sure that’s the point. The game is brilliant in spite of its flaws. I loved the sparsely populated landscape, the hauntingly subtle soundtrack, the bizarre cast of characters. I loved the dark tone of the story, one that felt in many ways hopeful as it did hopeless. And most of all, I loved that super fans were able to have something that was there’s. I’m not quite sure how to describe why this game is so special, but it really is. I suppose it’s also 2:00 in the morning so that probably isn’t helping matters

Lovely month for gaming…and sunshine if you’re one of those weird people who likes the outdoors like me,Aragami, ESO Summerset expansion, Onrush, Vampyr, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon, Unravel Two, Prey Mooncrash DLC, Jurassic World Evolution, Super Bomberman R, Omega Strike, Lego: The Incredibles, Slime-San, Lumines Remastered, The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, and Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy.

[anon98342452]

July 2018

Warhammer: Vermintide II

Warhammer might be the most used IP in gaming. It’s also one with some of the best licensed games. And some of the worst…Luckily, Vermintide II belongs to the former. This wasn’t unexpected, being the sequel to a solid first entry in the series, but it many ways Vermintide II feels like it could have been an expansion or added DLC. Look, I’m old school and have always enjoyed a clean break, with true sequels or large expansion packs providing new content for a franchise. That said, I recognize we’re in an era of live service games and Vermintide could’ve probably went that route and might be better off for it. The sequel checks all the right boxes, it’s bigger and better but largely more of the same. If I sound down on it, I’m not. It’s great, probably one of the best Left 4 Dead type games to release since, we’ll, Left 4 Dead 2. We’re seeing a number of this style of game releases, and for the money Vermintide II is tough to beat. It’s been well supported, runs and looks great, and is darn fun.

Another big month, with Shining Resonance Refrain, 20XX, Mugsters, Tempest 4000, Mothergunship, Nidhogg 3, Mega Man X Legacy Collection I+II, No Man’s Sky, Candle, and Banner Saga 3.

[anon98342452]

August 2018

Dead Cells

Dead Cells is one of my favorite games released in the previous gen. It’s so darn good in just about every way. The game plays as smooth as butter, with silky smooth movement and impactful combat. Traversal is a joy, the player never feels out of control which is exactly what a game like this should provide. The graphics are beautiful, featuring a chunky colorful pixel art style that looks lovely on any screen. The difficulty curve is perfectly balanced, as is the rogue-lite nature of progress. You’re almost always unlocking something to aid you on your ultimate quest, so a run never feels wasted. The bosses are memorable, tough, and you feel a sense of accomplishment when you drop one dead in its tracks. The biomes are different and provide unique challenges. I love the builds in this game, which allow each player to tailor the experience to their playstyle. When you manage to finish a run, you’ll immediately want to jump back in and make another go at it. It’s everything a video game should be. It’s fun and you should play it.

Ok, so Divinity: Original Sin 2 released at the tail end of the month and it’s a heck of a game. If you told me I chose the wrong game with Dead Cells and that OS2 is the truth, I couldn’t argue with you. So definitely, highest shout to that game. Also, Overcooked! 2, Flipping Death, We Happy Few, The Walking Dead: The Final Season, State of Mind, Graveyard Keeper, Strange Brigade, and of course the legendary (but honestly pretty bad) Shenmue I+II.