5 Xbox Games Microsoft Should Bring to Smartphones

Gears of War

We know what you’re thinking. Gears of War in its traditional form moved onto a smaller, less powerful platform just isn’t going to work. And you’d be right, but that doesn’t mean that Marcus and co. couldn’t make their way over to smartphones in a different, more suitable form.

Imagine a top-down view of a rubble-filled battlefield. You tap on Marcus, currently taking cover behind a large chunk of fallen pillar from incoming Locust fire. You drag out a quick path across the battlefield with your finger and confirm the movement, and command the rest of Delta squad to lay down suppressing fire as Marcus makes his move. Mixing Gears of War’s gritty battle to keep humanity alive, with the tactical, turn-based strategic gameplay of something like XCOM would make for a perfect experience to take with you on the go. Even better, it eliminates the problem that often comes from the lack of physical buttons on the handheld platform.

1 vs. 100

1 vs. 100 may have been canceled for good as part of the Xbox 360 Primetime initiative back in 2010, but that doesn’t mean that the game itself was a failure. In fact, it was actually pretty darn good, putting players into the famous American TV show. One player is chosen to take on the mob of 100 as they are given a question and three possible answers. Selecting the correct answer sees them move onto the next question and closer to receiving a prize, getting it wrong means game over. Mob members also have to answer questions correctly to stay in the game, hoping to outlive the ‘one’. It even offered successful mob members, or the one, the chance to win some pretty neat real-life prizes like Microsoft Points and Arcade games.

Considering smartphones are home to many casual games, something like 1 vs. 100 would be perfect as Microsoft’s first step into the mobile market. It’d work just as it did on the Xbox 360, albeit perhaps on a smaller scale. Heck, you could even do away with the real-life prizes and let us just compete for virtual trophies. And with the ability to frequently update the bank of questions, this could be a mobile game you never tire of.

Halo Wars

With the likes of Clash of Clans, Battle Royale, and Game of War showing that tactical strategy games can work well on smartphones, it only seems right that Microsoft’s major strategy IP gets a shot at the small screen, too. Of course, it’d likely need some trimming down if it’s going to fit and run well on the platform.

Imagine it, though. You’re sat on the train for your morning commute to work, all the while you’re demolishing a Covenant base with a squad of Spartans you just called in from orbit. Online matches might not be possible for everyone due to data plan limitations, but even skirmishes against the AI would be the perfect way to scratch that tactical itch when out and about.

Forza Motorsport

It’s no secret that smartphone games have been getting prettier and prettier in recent years. One genre in particular that’s been excelling in the visuals department is motorsport racing. Now, take a moment to imagine what the incredibly talented people at Turn10, with their impeccable eye for detail, could do if they released a small, downloadable Forza game for smartphones.

Considering the control limitations, it’d probably be best that it opted for a more arcade feel and an extra degree of forgiveness when coming into a tight corner. We wouldn’t be getting the extensive number of courses, or the painstakingly detailed car models that you get on the Xbox One, but with the talent that the folks at Turn10 have, we’re confident a mobile title from them would be nothing short of wonderful.

Ori and the Blind Forest

When Ori and the Blind Forest released almost out of nowhere on the Xbox One back in 2014, many players were taken aback by its challenging platforming. Its vibrant, charming visuals had fooled many into thinking it would be a leisurely stroll through the forest to save the day. They couldn’t have been any further from the truth.

Considered one of the best indies that Microsoft has snagged, it’s another one of those titles that lends itself well as an experience for smartphones. Though it may be difficult to work out a control scheme that allows players to have all of Ori’s abilities at their fingertips, the visuals and general sidescrolling gameplay would be a neat fit onto our phones.

The game is also a pretty good fit for the whole pick up and play concept, too, considering there are frequent save points dotted around the world. Even better, a manual save feature would completely oust the problem of losing progress when you’re in a rush. Ori and the Blind Forest’s heavy emphasis on exploring different parts of its environment also means you don’t feel compelled to sit down and make serious progress every time you boot it up. You could just check out that dead-end on your mini map you’ve yet to explore, just in case something valuable lies in wait.

What Xbox titles would you want to see come to smartphones, in one way or another? Let us know in the comments below.