7 Good Xbox One Games From 2018 So Far

Sea of Thieves

Good Xbox One Games From 2018 so Far

There are certain things that just seem like they were meant for co-op gameplay, and roleplaying as pirates on a shared online sea is certainly up there. Go and complete one of the different quests, or just be a complete nuisance to other players as they go about their grind. Sea of Thieves truly is at its best when you make your own fun in it, and that’s only amplified even further when playing with some friends.

Though its rather limited number of quest types can make the game feel a bit of a drag, Sea of Thieves is still an Xbox One exclusive well worth checking out if you’ve got a good group of friends you can play with.

Monster Hunter: World

Good Xbox One Games From 2018 so Far

For quite some time now, the Monster Hunter series has remained fairly niche. Its fans are vocal and love the games, but its never quite managed to branch out into mainstream appeal. That is, until Monster Hunter: World showed up on Xbox One and PS4.

With a larger open world environment than has ever been seen before in the series, an absolute ton of content and armor to grind your way through, and co-op multiplayer to make the whole thing way more enjoyable, Monster Hunter: World is a great Xbox One game if you’re after some longevity out of your purchase. Plus, Capcom has continued to support the game post-launch with events and updates, so there’s always something new and exciting to look forward to.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

Good Xbox One Games From 2018 so Far

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice occupied a strange middle-ground in the video games industry. Between the blockbuster AAA titles and indies was developer Ninja Theory and Senua’s tale as she ventures into the depths of Hell to save the soul of her now-deceased lover. That might sound like the perfect backstory for a game filled with gruesome action and violent finishing moves, but that’s not actually what Hellblade’s about.

Instead, the title focuses on Senua’s mental health issues as she plunges herself further into the depths of Hell. Voices in her head  torment her at every corner, question her every move, and beg her to just give up at every roadblock. Its environmental puzzles may not be all that inspired and its combat is basic, but if you’re looking for a narrative-driven experience and some fantastic sound design, Hellblade’s the Xbox One game for you. Plus, it’s Xbox One X compatible, meaning you can expect plenty of jaw-dropping panoramic views on your adventure.

Surviving Mars

Good Xbox One Games From 2018 so Far

Surviving Mars is the latest strategy management sim from Haemimont Games, the team behind the Tropico series. This time, rather than trying your hand at managing a tropical country, you’re tasked with establishing and developing a thriving city on the surface of Mars. Because, y’know, that’s obviously the next logical step from tropical country.

Though Surviving Mars certainly lends itself better to being played on keyboard and mouse, the Xbox One version still holds up well. It can be pretty easy to feel lost at the start, as its tutorial is basic and simply offers you a few ideas of what to do, rather than holding your hand and leading you to success. Once you sit back and watch your city expanding and thriving, though, there’s no better feeling. The perfect Xbox One game from 2018 for anyone wanting to test their strategy and management skills.

Minit

Good Xbox One Games From 2018 so Far

Minit‘s visuals may not push your Xbox One X to its limits, but it does offer up an incredibly unique gameplay loop. You’ll have a minute to go about helping people, uncovering secrets, and beating enemies before the day ends and you start over again. The entire game is played in these minute-long chunks, making it perfect for a quick blast if you’ve got a spare five minutes, or for marathoning hours at a time to try and piece together what you need to do.

We loved Minit when we reviewed it last month, praising its exceptional design and endearing characters and world, though we did find that the very same time-limit mechanics that makes it so unique took the spotlight away from all the charm to be found in the game. Minit’s a short experience, but it’s well worth checking out if you haven’t picked it up already.

Far Cry 5

Good Xbox One Games From 2018 so Far

Far Cry has long offered some of the most satisfying bow and arrow combat in games. Perching on a cliff undetected right next to an enemy outpost, silently headshotting one enemy after another fills you with an unparalleled sense that you are, in fact, a badass. Far Cry 5 moves its explosive action closer to home, whisking players away to Hope County, Montana to stop the Eden’s Gate cult from trying to take over the entire area with its oppressive regime.

Taking down Joseph Seed and his lieutenants is certainly your priority in Far Cry 5, but as expected, there are plenty of other side quests and activities to divert your attention. Want to just fly around and blow up a bunch of the cult’s property in a helicopter? Go for it. How about a stop of fishing? Head to a body of water and be our guest. Want to just go around killing cultists with a friend in tow the entire time? Yep, Far Cry 5 lets you do this, too. This is the definitive open-world shooter of 2018 on Xbox One right now.

A Way Out

Good Xbox One Games From 2018 so Far

A Way Out isn’t a game you can play on your own. That isn’t us over-exaggerating due to some punishing difficulty or anything. The game literally just requires two people to control protagonists Vincent and Leo as they escape prison and embark on a quest for revenge together. Chin up, though, you only need one copy of the game to play with a friend (even if you’re playing online), so that’s something.

What makes A Way Out so special, though, is its focus on storytelling and the cinematic manner in which director Josef Fares has delivered this. The dynamic split-screen ensures that no matter which character you choose, you never miss what’s going on with the other. Plus, the ultimate payoff of A Way Out feels that much more powerful thanks to playing the game in this way.

A Way Out’s gameplay is really deep, instead offering players quick bitesize chunks of tons of different genres. One minute you’re rhythmically pressing buttons to ensure you don’t drop to your death, the next your mashing the X button to hurl a lamp at an enemies head, and then next minute you could be trying to keep your balance on a wheelchair.