So you’ve got your Xbox Series X all set to go, and can’t wait to dive in to some new game experiences. Well, with Halo Infinite delayed until next year, you likely won’t be getting those experiences right away.
Still, there’s more than enough to play out there, as Microsoft has optimized a handful of Xbox One favorites for players to enjoy again in a whole new way. Let’s run down five games that you should play through again, this time in all their Xbox Series X glory!
Forza Horizon 4
While we’ll have to wait a bit to see what Forza Motorsport has in store for the console, players can put Forza Horizon 4 into their Xbox Series X and see what a beautiful racer looks like. Packing highly optimized 4K visuals running at 60 frames per second and featuring strong connectivity with other players in-game, it’s a racing tour-de-force that really packs a punch.
Not only that, but the loading times have been, ahem, sped up dramatically, so you don’t have to wait so long to hit the road. Now the real question is whether Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios will optimize other Forza Horizon experiences for the system. There are those that do want to give Forza Horizon 3 another runthrough…
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
When Ori and the Will of the Wisps launched for Xbox One earlier this year from Moon Studios, it brought a visually fantastic side scrolling adventure that became one of the most notable games out there. But now, on Xbox Series X, it’s getting even better, thanks to improved input commands, faster loading times and even more gorgeous high fidelity visuals than ever before.
And here we thought we’d seen everything that Ori was capable of. We can’t wait to run through this one again.
Gears 5
After a somewhat mixed reaction to Gears of War 4, fans flocked back for its follow-up, which delivered with a more robust story – featuring a lot more to do – and some great multiplayer options. But now that the game is on Xbox Series X, there’s a good chance that even more players will discover what’s in store. Along with a beautiful frame rate and stronger performance all around, the game also introduces a “dream” character – Dave Bautista. The former WWE wrestler turned actor was originally supposed to appear in a Gears of War film, but that didn’t quite pan out. But now, players can see what that might have become with his addition to the game, an exclusive to the Xbox Series X version. It’d probably be fun to watch him Bautista bomb a Terminator into oblivion, so give it a try!
Grounded
Sure, to some, it might be Honey I Shrunk the Kids: The Video Game. But Obsidian Entertainment’s Grounded offers so much more, a fantastic open experience in which pint-sized players take on all sorts of enemies, in stunning 4K that really brings all the small elements of the world to life. What’s more, with Smart Delivery, you won’t have to wait too long to jump into this small world, so you can see what’s in store without taking a, ahem, small nap.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Even though we don’t have Halo Infinite in our precious game library, there’s still more than enough Master Chief to go around. Halo: The Master Chief Collection features full optimization for Xbox Series X, running at a gorgeous 120 frames per second. Even new games, like Halo Reach, look better than ever on the system. And performance improvements are abound as well, as you’ll feel every kill you accomplish without breaking a sweat. Throw in addictive multiplayer options and some great visuals, and you have a handful of games worth checking out again – and better than ever, we might add.
