Xbox One

I was a huge fan of the Ninja Turtles when I was younger, and I grew up on Konami’s stellar TMNT games. The Turtles were somehow able to maintain their relevancy throughout the years, but the arcade scene has lost most of its shine and beat ’em ups have been on life support since the PS1 era. Against all odds, Tribute Games decided to pick up where Konami left off nearly three decades prior. Shredder’s Revenge is heavily inspired by Konami’s offerings, and it improves upon them in meaningful ways. The pixel art is amazing, and it captures the look and feel of the 1987 animated series. I was blown away by how much personality each character had, and the levels are alive with color. There are familiar faces around every corner, and the developers were kind enough to include three bonus characters (Splinter, Casey Jones, and April) to fight alongside the four Turtles. The entire project was obviously a labor of love, and it plays just as good as it looks! In most beat ’em ups, waves of mindless enemies casually walk into frame and start throwing fists. The classic TMNT games took a more inventive approach, and this creativity is alive and well in Shredder’s Revenge. Enemy Foot Soldiers will jump out of manholes, knock down billboards, and smash through shop windows. You’ll also find them working in office cubicles, carnival kiosks, and everywhere in between. Although Shredder’s Revenge makes for a great single-player experience, it’s more fun when you play it with others. On that note, the game supports drop-in multiplayer for up to six players. Couch co-op is obviously my preferred option, but the online component is remarkably stable due to its use of rollback netcode. Shredder’s Revenge is one of the best beat ’em ups of all time, and it’s the type of game that’s all-but-guaranteed to stand the test of time. Cowabunga indeed!

I don’t think any company in history has shown more love for Sega IPs than Lizardcube. They did a fantastic job with The Dragon’s Trap remake, and Streets of Rage 4 helped revive the beat ’em up genre. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is their most ambitious effort to date, and it was way better than I was expecting. The game feels like a love letter to the series in many regards, and references to previous Shinobi titles are peppered throughout. This doesn’t mean that the game feels archaic, however, and the stylish, combo-centric gameplay has as much in common with Bayonetta as it does with classic Shinobi. You have a myriad of cool ninja moves at your disposal, and it’s a lot of fun to chain them together. The movement is incredible as well, and you have tremendous control over your character even in mid-air. (I especially loved the grappling hook sections.) The game is mostly built around flashy combat and platforming, but I was caught off guard by how massive the levels were. There is some light puzzle solving and way more backtracking than I was anticipating. It almost feels like a proper Metroidvania at times. The more challenging sections will require you to venture off the beaten path, but it’s well worth the journey. The Xbox One was home to several retro-themed ninja games, but none grabbed me quite like Art of Vengeance. It also happens to be one of the best looking games of its generation, and the hand-drawn graphics are absolutely breathtaking. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound offers a more grounded experience, but I can’t get over how fluid Shinobi feels.

Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is everything I’ve ever wanted from a modern Wonder Boy game. (Although trademark issues prevented the use of the Wonder Boy name, the game was developed in collaboration with the creator of the Wonder Boy series, it featured arranged music from past Wonder Boy titles, and the entire adventure is filled with references to the Wonder Boy franchise.) The game uses a familiar “Metroidvania” layout, and the transformation gimmick was lifted straight out of Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap. As you progress through the game, you’ll take the form of six different animals that each have their own abilities. (The pig can sniff out hidden clues, the snake can fit into narrow passageways, the frog can use his tongue to swing across gaps, the lion can charge through obstacles, and the dragon can take to the skies and breathe fire.) Your new abilities will obviously help you reach new areas, and it’s a lot of fun to backtrack through the game after you’ve learned a new transformation. The Dragon’s Trap has been recognized elsewhere on this site as the greatest Sega Master System game of all time, and Monster Boy feels like a direct sequel. Although the game isn’t as taxing as some of the other entries on this list, the hand-drawn graphics are gorgeous and it has one of the catchiest soundtracks of the generation. It’s also a longer game than any of its predecessors, and it has the best level designs in the series. Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom didn’t have a AAA budget, but it’s going to stand the test of time better than almost any other game on the system.

In an era where seemingly every action RPG draws comparrison to either Dark Souls or Breath of the Wild, Elden Ring truly feels like a marriage between the two games. Anyone who’s ever played a FromSoftware game will be familiar with the core mechanics, and it feels like a more refined version of Dark Souls III in many ways. You can’t make meaningful progress by mashing buttons, and you’re forced to learn the limitations of each weapon and special ability. You’ll die (a lot), but the sense of frustration never outweights the level of satisfaction. With enough patience, you’ll eventually be able to attack, block, or parry as though it were second nature. I could talk at length about the fluid combat system or the sublime hitboxes, but the real draw of Elden Ring is its vast open world. You are free to explore the Lands Between in any way that you see fit, and you’ll find something fascinating regardless of which direction you take. There’s very little hand-holding, but if you hit an impasse, you can simply change your trajectory and find something else of interest. Innocuous ravines will lead to sprawling networks of underground catacombs, fantastic beasts will emerge out of nowhere, and denizens of charismatic NPCs are waiting around every corner to provide context to the esoteric lore. Elden Ring is a game of endless discovery that emphasizes environmental storytelling and trial-and-error gameplay. Although it’s not for everyone, it’s the perfect antidote to cinematic walking simulators that employ a “push A to win” design philosophy. It’s difficult to write a concise synopsis for Elden Ring that covers everything, as the game is so expansive. (I haven’t even mentioned the character-building aspects, the multiplayer component, or the fact that your horse can double jump!) Rest assured, it’s one of those rare games that actually lives up to the hype.

No Metal Gear Solid game gives players more freedom than The Phantom Pain. Its predecessors were built around the premise of “tactical espionage action,” but the new open-world setting gives players more options than ever before. You can still sneak around bases and try to get the drop on your enemies, but you can also jump on a horse and ride head-on into danger. If that doesn’t work you can distract your opponent with an inflatable decoy, call for a supply drop, or crash a Jeep into an enemy stronghold. You’ll have to adopt new strategies depending on what time of day it is, and environmental conditions like rain and sandstorms also have a meaningful impact on how the game is played. Fighting from the shadows is a perfectly valid strategy, but you can also act like Rambo if you’re so inclined. You enemies will change their behavior in accordance to how you play the game, however. If you tend to land a lot of headshots, your enemies will start wearing helmets. Likewise, they’ll equip themselves with night-vision goggles if you start seeing success after sunset. The game lets you recruit allies to accompany you on missions – including a wolf cub and a half-naked sniper – and you can also enlist help from enemy soldiers and prisoners. There are even things to do when you’re not on the battlefield, and it can be a lot of fun to develop new gadgets and upgrade your weaponry at Mother Base. The story isn’t as important in The Phantom Pain as it was in previous Metal Gear games, but it’s arguably the most ambitious entry in the series.

Shin Megami Tensei is one of gaming’s most atmospheric franchises. Everything from the music to the character design has an otherworldly quality, and I love how the series intertwines elements of philosophy, religion, and science fiction together. The games are standard turn-based RPGs for the most part, but the ability to recruit demons makes the series stand out. You can’t simply throw Pokéballs at them and hope for the best, however, so you’ll have to do a little convincing. Some demons are open to cash bribes while others will ask you ideological questions before deciding whether or not to join you. In either regard, it’s a lot of fun to bargain with your potential allies. You’ll also have the option of fusing demons together in an effort to create more powerful beings. Shin Megami Tensei V follows the same formula as its predecessors, but it improves upon the foundation in many ways. The world designs are considerably more complex than they were in previous entries, and you’ll spend a lot of time scouring the apocalyptic landscapes for secrets and alternate pathways. Even though the game featured an intriguing setting and a compelling protagonist, some of the story elements weren’t as fleshed out as they could have been. Your choices didn’t seem to carry a lot of weight, and the supporting cast was underdeveloped. Fortunately, the enhanced Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance addresses these issues with the inclusion of a new route that effectively doubles the length of the game! The upgraded version also includes 40 additional demons, a refined battle system, and numerous quality of life improvements. On a related note, the game runs great on the Xbox One, and it doesn’t have any of the performance issues that plagued the original Nintendo Switch version. Xbox fans initially missed out on Shin Megami Tensei V, but it worked out for the best.

Dragon Quest XI S was the first Dragon Quest game to be released on a Microsoft console, and it’s arguably the best game in the series. Unlike Final Fantasy, which is constantly reinventing itself, Dragon Quest has retained the same basic themes since the very beginning. The eleventh entry in the series still uses a turn-based battles system, for example, and the story relies heavily on common tropes. The game will likely feel familiar even if you’ve never played a Dragon Quest game before, and there’s an undeniable timelessness to Akira Toriyama’s character designs. The plot centers around a silent protagonist who’s discovering his destiny as the chosen hero, but there’s more to the story than you’d think. There’s always something exciting going on, and the world is filled with quirky characters. During your adventure, you’ll befriend mermaids, compete in a wrestling tournament, and eventually get married to the love of your life. Although the story is defined by heroic sacrifices and stunning revelations, it never takes itself too seriously. (There’s one memorable moment where a geriatric party member delivers a motivational pep talk to his friends before immediately dropping a nudie magazine.) Dragon Quest XI provides a perfect mix of drama and comedy, and it’s a charming experience from beginning to end. I’ll take familiar archetypes over subversive storytelling any day of the week.

The 2019 Resident Evil 2 remake takes the setting from the original 1998 version and combines it with the play mechanics from Resident Evil 4. Put simply, it’s everything I’ve ever wanted from a Resident Evil game. Like its predecessor, the remake is set against the backdrop of Raccoon City during a full-on zombie outbreak. Players can choose from two protagonists, and they each have multiple scenarios to play through. An over-the-shoulder perspective is used instead of static camera angles, however, so Capcom had to find creative new ways to scare players. The lighting differs from one area to the next, and environmental effects like smoke help conceal enemies from your view. The layouts of the rooms also help in this regard, and you can never be sure what’s lurking around the twisting corridors. The remake looks and plays like a modern game, but it’s paced like a game from 1998 and has the same spooky atmosphere. The Raccoon City police station is still my favorite Resident Evil setting, and the game is filled with memorable characters and scenarios. Although the remake feels like a new experience, it hits all the same notes as the original version. You’ll still fight a giant alligator in the sewers, run from a mutant who pursues you like the Terminator, and meet a sexy Asian lady in a slinky dress. I was happy to see Capcom return to their roots with the Resident Evil 2 remake. Resident Evil 5 and 6 were disappointing while Resident Evil VII felt like a completely different franchise. The Resident Evil 2 remake was the Resident Evil 4 follow-up that I’d been waiting for for 14 years.

It Takes Two is an innovative platforming adventure game from Hazelight Studios with creative environmental puzzles and an imaginative story. The game centers around a married couple who suddenly find themselves trapped inside the bodies of hand-made dolls. In order to return to their human bodies, the estranged husband and wife are forced to work together. The game was designed to be a two-player experience, and cooperation is essential if you want to make any meaningful progress. Each character has their own unique abilities that are tied to their personalities, and the objectives vary widely from one area to the next. The asymmetric play mechanics force both players to take on an active role, and you can never be sure what to expect next. In one area, the husband has to throw nails into wooden walls to create makeshift ladders and platforms for his wife to launch herself off of. In another stage, the wife gains the ability to clone herself while her hubby is able to change the flow of time. The mechanics vary drastically depending on which character you’re playing as, but you’re never stuck doing one thing for very long. Each area offers an assortment of new ideas, and the game borrows heavily from a wide variety of genres. Throughout the adventure, you’ll see everything from Mario-inspired platforming challenges to Diablo-esque dungeon-crawling sections. Whether you’re exploring the inside of a snow globe or riding around on the back of a frog, the game never fails to surprise. There are also dozens of minigames, just in case you need a change of pace. It Takes Two is arguably the best couch co-op game ever, but you can also play online if the situation calls for it. The game’s “Friend’s Pass” feature even lets you play online with people who don’t own the game! I don’t say this often, but Electronic Arts deserves tremendous credit for being so consumer-friendly in this regard.

NieR:Automata is an action-RPG with a vast open world and genre-bending play mechanics. During the game, players assume the role of various battle androids that were designed to fight alien machines on Earth following an apocalyptic event. The androids in question show remarkable grace, and the combo-centric combat has the intensity and responsiveness that you’d expect from PlatinumGames. It’s still an RPG at the end of the day, of course, so you can expect a greater level of customization than you’d see in a typical action game. The androids can be modified and upgraded as you progress through the game, for example, and you can also make adjustments to your fighting companions. NieR:Automata is the type of game that never stops surprising you. It usually plays like a third-person action game, but some sections are more akin to side-scrolling platformers or bullet curtain shoot ’em ups. You’ll even find yourself on a rollercoaster at one point, which is allegory to the entire adventure. There’s more to NieR:Automata than meets the eye. It’s a beautiful game despite being set in a desolate wasteland, and it has an emotional narrative that’s somehow driven by emotionless characters. You’ll need to play through the game multiple times if you want to see the entire story unfold, but it’s worth the journey. I’ll have to eventually stop talking about the game, but I’d be remiss not to mention the fantastic sound design. If there’s a better soundtrack on the Xbox One, I haven’t heard it.