On sale
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 2015
Why it still holds upOn every road the world offers something to choose or find, from contracts to buried treasure, and that keeps it worth playing today.
Xbox One games that still hold up
First released on the Xbox One
Games
On sale
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 2015
Why it still holds upOn every road the world offers something to choose or find, from contracts to buried treasure, and that keeps it worth playing today.
On sale
Red Dead Redemption 2 2018
Why it still holds upWhat keeps it worth playing now is that the world answers you: the weather, the foliage and the law all respond to what you do.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice 2019
Why it still holds upMastering the parrying is the reward now: the combat is built on it, and getting good at it gives a sense of pride.
On sale
Outer Wilds 2019
Why it still holds upPlanets move on a fixed schedule, so timing and what you have learned solve the mysteries, and that is what makes it worth playing today.
It Takes Two 2021
Why it still holds upWith a partner it is still worth playing now: the ideas change level after level, and every one of them needs both players.
On sale
Dark Souls III 2016
Why it still holds upWith weapons, stats and spells that combine into many ways to fight, it gives you a lot to try now, and its bosses come with orchestral music and haunting choirs.
On sale
Resident Evil 2 2019
Why it still holds upPlayed today it keeps the tension through scarcity: ammunition is short, zombies need their heads destroyed to stay down, and a first run takes about eight hours.
Ori and the Blind Forest 2015
Why it still holds upOri moves nimbly and the story is told through play and not through long cutscenes, so it is still a pleasure to control now.
On sale
Celeste 2018
Why it still holds upEach chapter revolves around a different environmental mechanic and the game keeps adding ideas, so it stays fresh today, with Assist Mode letting anyone set their own difficulty.
Inside 2016
Why it still holds upThe puzzles are why it still plays well: they are natural obstacles that make sense in the context of the game, and the wordless boy is expressive enough to carry it.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps 2020
Why it still holds upThe way the map opens up is still the reason to play: each ability Ori finds sends you back through Niwen by a route that was shut.
On sale
Doom 2016
Why it still holds upIts combat is why it is worth playing now: it never asks you to hide, since health and ammunition come from killing up close, so the game keeps you moving forward.
On sale
Batman: Arkham Knight 2015
Why it still holds upPlayed today, the draw is combat of counters and takedowns in a city you cross by gliding and grappling.
On sale
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain 2015
Why it still holds upWhat it still offers is a big sandbox where you choose how each infiltration goes, and where the base, the soldiers and the weapons you research feed into the next mission.
On sale
Alien: Isolation 2014
Why it still holds upThe Alien is driven by systems rather than scripts, and hiding, noise and scarce resources turn every room into a risk, which is the reason to play it today.
Cuphead 2017
Why it still holds upBoss fights built on learning patterns, in that style, are the reason to play it now.
On sale
Dishonored 2 2016
Why it still holds upLevels with many routes let a stealth run, a lethal run and a power mixing run all work, which keeps it worth replaying today.
On sale
Tales from the Borderlands 2014
Why it still holds upWriting and voice acting that balance comedy against drama in varied scenarios are the reason to play it now.
On sale
Doom Eternal 2020
Why it still holds upThe fights are why it is worth playing now: every arena asks you to keep moving and pick the tool that refills what you are short of.
On sale
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard 2017
Why it still holds upPlay it now for the anxiety that builds in one confined location with limited vision.
On sale
Psychonauts 2 2021
Why it still holds upThe minds are why it is still worth playing: each level is a new place drawn from someone's head, and most end with Raz helping that person.
On sale
Cyberpunk 2077 2020
Why it still holds upPlayed now, in its updated form, Night City is the draw, a dense city full of side jobs to take on in whichever way you built V.
Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag 2013
Why it still holds upThe open sea gives a loop distinct from the city based games, which makes it worth sailing today.
On sale
Resident Evil Village 2021
Why it still holds upPlayed now, the variety carries it: every section brings its own enemies, puzzles and boss.
Life Is Strange 2015
Why it still holds upBecause the rewind lets you test a choice before you commit to it, you can still experiment inside a game of choices and consequences today.
On sale
Control 2019
Why it still holds upEach of its shifting, brutalist rooms leads to a fight, and powers on cooldowns beside a weapon that changes form still keep those fights moving today.
On sale
Monster Hunter: World 2018
Why it still holds upA hunt is a loop of tracking, fighting and crafting in living ecosystems, and that loop still carries the game today.
Titanfall 2 2016
Why it still holds upLevels with several routes, and a Titan you swap into at the push of a button, still give five hours plenty of variety today.
On sale
Metro Exodus 2019
Why it still holds upSandbox areas to tackle at your own pace, between linear stretches, still let you choose how to approach each objective today.
Dragon Age: Inquisition 2014
Why it still holds upHub regions with optional content, and a Tactical View for harder fights, still let you set the pace of each region today.
On sale
Hitman 3 2021
Why it still holds upIts maps are built to be replayed, and every routine and every disguise is another way to the same target, which is why it is worth going back to now.
On sale
Sonic Mania 2017
Why it still holds upMomentum based movement and three characters with different abilities still give each stage different routes today.
On sale
Devil May Cry 5 2019
Why it still holds upA style rating that rewards varied play, and three characters with different mechanics, still keep the same arenas from feeling the same today.
Forza Horizon 3 2016
Why it still holds upEvents that mix road, dirt and water, and racing built on driving precision instead of power ups, still keep the open world worth driving through today.
On sale
Dragon Ball FighterZ 2018
Why it still holds upOne button attacks are part of real combat, basic combos are easy to land and advanced combos take practice, and shared basic inputs across the roster still let new players start without long tutorials today.
The Banner Saga 3 2018
Why it still holds upTwo caravans, with a clock ticking on one of them, make every choice a decision about how to spend your time, and that pressure is still there for a new player.
Child of Light 2014
Why it still holds upA firefly that slows enemies and heals allies, and a surprise strike for whoever reaches an enemy's back first, still give every battle a small tactical choice.
On sale
Mortal Kombat 11 2019
Why it still holds upEven now, slower movement and fixed inputs for every character make each match a matter of careful positioning.
Desperados III 2020
Why it still holds upToday every level is still a puzzle with many answers, because each character's tools combine with the others'.
On sale
Wolfenstein: The New Order 2014
Why it still holds upIf you come to it now, expect to choose between silent takedowns and open fights, which makes each encounter your own call.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker 2018
Why it still holds upEven now, a kingdom you run through advisors, and combat you can pause or play turn by turn, give you two kinds of decisions to make.
Forza Horizon 4 2018
Why it still holds upThe same roads still look different through the year, in a world that turns through four seasons.
On sale
Pathologic 2 2019
Why it still holds upA day that is too short for every task makes each choice a trade, and that pressure is still on you.
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled 2019
Why it still holds upChained boosts from power slides turn each lap into a matter of rhythm, and it races well today.
On sale
Rise of the Tomb Raider 2015
Why it still holds upReasons to explore every corner remain today, from optional tombs with physics puzzles to hubs full of crafting materials.
Assassin's Creed Origins 2017
Why it still holds upA free Discovery Tour mode removes combat for guided historical tours of ancient Egypt, a reason to visit it today even if you skip the story.