5 Best Xbox One Games of 2016 (So Far)

We’re at about the midpoint way through 2016, so we thought it would be fitting to take a look at the highest rated games of the year on Metacritic, starting with the best Xbox One games.

5. Rocket League

Rocket League went from a small-time indie project to one of the most beloved releases of the year. The physics-based vehicular sports game throws players into an arena to play a game of car-soccer (for lack of a better description), but with rocket-powered abilities, of course. Rocket League revealed itself to be a captivating, entertaining and addictive experience, instantly showing Xbox One gamers why it was so successful on other platforms.

4. Dark Souls III

The Dark Souls series has generated a cult-like following of punishment-loving players, and the third instalment is arguably the best to date, giving players the most well-rounded and definitive Dark Souls experience in the franchise. The monsters are bigger, the creatures are more grotesque, and the difficulty curve is as steep as ever, but it’s also one the most rewarding and satisfying experiences gamers will have in 2016.

3. Ori and the Blind Forest Definitive Edition

Ori and the Blind Forest – Definitive Edition shows us that good story telling, a beautifully mesmerising world, emotionally on-point music, as well as meticulous design and thought to gameplay mechanics, are vital ingredients in the creation of an outstanding experience. Moon Studios’ brilliant re-release of the Xbox 360 game is a sign that gamers are itchy for some great 2D platforming adventures, and Ori is the bar that all future releases in the genre this year will be measured by.

2. Doom

In today’s gaming landscape, where most shooters hold your hand along the way to the finish line, Doom harkens back to a time where health was scarce, bullets were aplenty, and enemies pushed you to the limit. Doom isn’t a revolutionary entry into the franchise, but rather a love-letter to old-school Doom fans to remind them of a video game generation gone by, albeit with a new lick of paint. Doom brings the feeling of classic first-person shooters into 2016 without sacrificing what made the series great in the first place.

1. Overwatch

Blizzard’s shot at the multiplayer shooter genre has gone down with a bang on Microsoft’s console. The reason for this shooter’s immediate success is that at its core, Overwatch is a mix of many other very successful things, blended together into a cohesive, glossy, and tight competitive game that looks as gorgeous as it plays.

What Xbox One game from 2016 do you think deserves to be on the list? Let us know by tweeting @MenStuffZA and commenting below.

More gaming news to keep you busy:

9 Video Games With Time Manipulation You Need to Play

5 Video Game Sequels We Desperately Want

5 Game Franchises That Jump Through Time

4 Violent Superhero Video Games You Should Play

5 Most Anticipated First-Person Shooters in 2016