The Best New Xbox One Games of 2014

If you happen to be one of the lucky ones who got their hands on an Xbox One, then you surely want to have the best video games as a part of your overall gaming setup. This next-generation console features a great slate of titles that span a bunch of varying genres. As the months of 2014 wind down, we’ll list the best offering of Xbox One games once they’re available. These are the top best new Xbox One games that came out in 2014!

Note – this post will be updated monthly as more and more quality Xbox One games are released.

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January 2014

1. Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition

One of 2013’s finest action/adventure games got a visual upgrade and packed-in DLC for a next-generation console re-debut. The young Miss Croft has never looked better.

February 2014

1. Rayman Legends

Here’s another top-notch last-generation game that got to make the move to next-gen consoles. Ubisoft’s beautifully animated and insanely fun action platformer is still worth a extended playthrough. And with this game’s move over to next-gen consoles, you have all the reason in the world to hop into Rayman’s zany world.

2. Strider

Capcom’s coolest ninja got a new lease on life as he made his return on next-gen gaming machines. This side-scrolling adventure is chock full of high-stakes action, platforming and incredible boss battles.

3. Thief

Master thief Garrett has descended from the shadows for a brand new rebooted adventure. This return to the stealth-focused games of yesteryear is a fun and rewarding adventure that’s built for gamers of every ilk.

March 2014

1. Titanfall

Respawn Entertainment’s debut first-person shooter is an amazing experience that offers brutal gunplay, fast-paced parkour and megaton Titan robots. Every Xbox One owner should prepare for Titanfall and get into the fray. This is the ultimate first-person shooter that’s perfect for casual and hardcore gamers alike.

2. Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes

The brief but totally fulfilling precursor to Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain features a great preview into the next offering of MGS series. Big Boss offers players multiple missions that should tide them over until the next installment of MGS 5.

April 2014

1. LEGO The Hobbit

Love LEGO games? Can’t get enough Lord of the Rings action? Chances are you’ve probably played this LEGO/The Hobbit combination already and you know just how awesome it is. For everyone else out there who haven’t given this game a run yet, shame on you! LEGO The Hobbit is a great LEGO romp through several distinct locations from The Hobbit’s two introductory tales of adventure. Building objects and smashing them with Bilbo Baggins and his crew of travelers is always a good time.

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May 2014

1. Watch Dogs

Watch Dogs was actually worth the wait! As an open-world action/adventure game, Ubisoft’s new IP gave gamers a solid journey that was strengthened by its focus on taking over technology. Aiden Pearce is a mysterious individual with a dark past and even darker future. Heading into such a interconnected world with so much power makes this game a fresh and fun experience to behold.

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June 2014

1. EA Sports UFC

We miss THQ and their collection of UFC Undisputed games. They may be gone from the gaming world, but EA has made sure to keep the UFC’s video game legacy alive and well. The graphics just look amazing as you and a fellow MMA fan punch, kick and slam each other down in the Octagon. Hopping online and dominating the competition with your favorite UFC star is quite the experience, plus taking your custom made fighter into the life of an MMA fighter kicks all types of ass.

July 2014

1. Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition

It’s pretty clear that the devs behind this update have kept up with all the Street Fighter upgrades gamers have seen. This refreshing action platformer stand out due to its move away from dark and dreary visuals. It’s also notable for featuring some of the most fun level exploration since those old Castlevania games. The presence of a co-op mode just sweetens this lucha libre deal.

2. Sniper Elite 3

The summer time is pretty slow for major games, which is why lesser known titles such as this sniper shooter stick out a lot more. Sniper Elite 3 transports players into Africa for a different portion of the WWII conflict. There’s an amazing amount of joy that comes from properly setting up your kill shots and watching them via the epic kill cam. 3rd-person and 1st-person shooter fans have a lot to love here.

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August 2014

1. Madden NFL 15

EA Tiburon made sure to offer up another quality addition to their long line of Madden NFL games. Madden NFL 15 comes with the expected visual upgrades and better emphasis on strategic gameplay. The on-field gameplay comes with much deeper mechanics, such as altering the flow of the game and slowing down/speeding up each quarter of play. Madden NFL 15 will hold up well up until Madden NFL 16 inevitably hits next year.

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September 2014

1. Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate

Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate is jam packed with the type of content Dynasty Warriors/Samurai Warriors are accustomed to. This Xbox One edition of the game cleans up the graphical sheen and throws in a ton of extra content to make sure veteran players have something new to get tied to. New characters, new missions, new weapons, new items…NEW EVERYTHING! Pick up this “Ultimate” version and spend countless hours killing hundreds of soldiers before you kill of the dreaded Hydra.

2. Destiny

The next-gen 1st-person shooter that ruled the month of September was this one. Destiny sends players into space with their chosen Guardian as they shoot aliens in the face and keep the human race thriving. The abundance of loot to find and the addictive gameplay that pushed you to finish just one more mission makes Destiny great. Never mind the extreme hype and hooplah that accompanied this release. Just enjoy the simple pleasures of this adventure and do with two of your friends.

3. FIFA 15

As far as next-gen sports game go, FIFA 15 continues the quality gameplay set forth bu past series incarnations. This new annual installment adds to the game’s great visuals by featuring a top-notch TV presentation, which would fool anyone into thinking they’re watching a real game. The soccer game itself gets even better with refined controls, more complex plays and the attention to detail that hardcore soccer fans will pick up on. FIFA 15 is the ultimate soccer game for 2014.

4. Forza Horizon 2

You may not have the cash flow needed to vacation over in southern Europe. Luckily, this Xbox One exclusive racer gives you the chance to do just that in a luxurious sports car. This much improved sequel to the spinoff Forza series offers a refined progression system, tons of new goals to achieve, plenty of rides to collect and a seriously high replayability factor. Do yourself a favor and head back into the world of Forza Horizon with this sequel.

5. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor

This dark horse contender is a game we never expected to be so engaging. This open-world game places us into the undead shoes of Talion, a vengeful Wraith who kills with reckless abandon. Luckily, he carries out his stealthy kills against those evil Orcs. The wealth of abilities that Talion holds provided players with a fresh battle/stealth sequence for hours. Do yourself a favor and play one of the the rarest releases of a quality Lord of the Rings.

October 2014

1. Skylanders: Trap Team

This brand new Skylanders adventure gives players the options to go into battle with Trap Masters. These powerful rivals turned out allies get added to your huge roster of Skylanders’ heroes through the use of the new Traptanium Portal. The coolest part of all this? Hearing your defeated enemy yell out via those lil’ crystal shards that are outside of the game. Trap Team will increase your addiction to saving Spyro’s colorful world.

2. The Evil Within

We’re happy to play a game that actually scares the hell out of us and doesn’t give us a whole ton of huge guns/ammo to run around with. A lack of ammo and health regeneration items on this game’s Survivor difficulty brings back that classic survival horror feel we missed. The Evil Within is filled with intense scares, mind-bending puzzles, disgusting creatures and some of the scariest moments seen in gaming for 2014.

3. NBA 2K15

Visual Concepts always does a bang up job with its line of basketball sims. NBA 2K15 arrives on the Xbox One with cleaner visuals, stronger gameplay, a new MyLEAGUE mode, face scanning technology and so much more. This year’s cover star Kevin Durant represents this annual iteration quite well. His name and image can be compared quite simply to NBA 2K15 in just two simple words – professional excellence.

4. Alien: Isolation

Here’s another horrifying, survival-horror game that will test your wits and patience. Instead of moving around a space station while mowing down aliens with a M41A Pulse Rifle, you’ll have to sneak around and avoid one nasty Xenomorph. There’s also some haywire android you’ll need to steer clear of and other humans who may or may not have it out for you. Step into the boots of Amanda Ripley and dodge the most dangerous alien of them all in Alien: Isolation.

5. Sunset Overdrive

Insomniac Games has knocked it out of the park once again. Sunset Overdrive is an imaginative open-world, 3rd-person shooter that’s full of hilarity and fun. That damned energy drink has turned everyone into mindless mutants. You and your arsenal of out there weaponry (shooting down your enemies with explosive teddy bears is awesome!) do huge damage to those relentless baddies. And the parkour elements within this game makes navigating the city a joy every time.

6. Fantasia: Music Evolved

Harmonix Games and Disney Interactive Studios have done a fine job using the Kinect to bring music and motion technology together. Fantasia: Music Evolved is the interactive successor to Disney’s Fantasia animated films and it lets you use your hands to create wonderful music. Songs by artists such as Lady Gaga, Missy Elliot, Lorde and Imagine Dragons make up the eccentric soundtrack that encompasses this incredible musical experience.

7. Lords of the Fallen

This Dark Souls inspired action/adventure is darker and its warriors look a bit more bulkier than normal. You wield the formidable power of Harkyn, a man who’s out to murder demons and fend off the many behemoths coming from Rhogar. The name of the game here is simple – survive as much as possible, keep your defenses up and venture through the dark world of Lords of the Fallen.

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November 2014

1. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

2014’s installment of Call of Duty is heading into some future territory. Advanced Warfare changes up the annual FPS formula for the blockbuster series with new exoskeleton suits and the same fast and fluid gameplay we’ve all loved for years. The always addictive multiplayer comes with added mobility, even faster movement and a explosive campaign that features a struggle between terrorists and Private Military Corporations.

2. Halo: The Master Chief Collection

How can you go wrong with the incredible package of remastered Halo games? Halo: The Master Chief Collection comes packaged with Halo 1 Anniversary, Halo 2 Anniversary, Halo 3 and Halo 4. Each game comes with updated visuals, multiplayer co-op and a bevy of options that multiplayer fans will enjoy. This is the definitive way to experience Master Chief’s main numbered entries in the Halo universe.

3. Assassin’s Creed: Unity

Ubisoft takes player on another open-world adventure within the Assassin’s Creed timeline. The French Revolution is also a huge part of the ongoing brutal Assassin vs. Templar conflict, but the option to take on your opposition with three fellow Assassins gives you the edge you need. Assassin’s Creed Unity looks amazing on the Xbox One and offers the same incredible stealth mechanics this series is highly regarded for.

3. Dragon Age: Inquisition

Dragon Age: Inquisition is near perfection. The battle gameplay adopts the best elements of the 1st DA and its more action-oriented sequel, the army building is awesome and the world of Thedas has something for you to do around every corner. Taking on the massive dragons of its world and saving your world from demons falling out the sky gives you pleny of reasons to get sucked into this incredible RPG.

4. Far Cry 4

Ubisoft’s 4th Far Cry adventure transports you into the fictional location of Kyrat, which is based on the real-world location of the Himalayas. You play your part in the middle of a brewing civil war between a rebel group and an evil yet charismatic dictator. The gunplay, expansive open-world and excellent co-op/multiplayer options fill out this amazing experience. Far Cry 4 builds upon the great gameplay that was introduced in Far Cry 3.

5. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham

These LEGO games improve each and every year they release. Traveller’s Tales went back to Gotham City this time around, but they’ve expanded their playable settings by sending DC’s best heroes into space. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham features a more focused campaign style that features linear but fun stages. A ton of playable DC good guys and villains are available as you run around solving puzzles and collecting plenty of LEGO stubs. The fun factor here is incredibly high with this one.

6. Grand Theft Auto V

Rockstar Games didn’t just want to spruce up the visuals for the next-gen edition of GTA V. They added an awesome 1st-person viewpoint that dynamically changes the gameplay, even more music and added original tunes and a bigger population of non-playable citizens. The Xbox One version of GTA V is miles ahead of the Xbox 360 release, which means you need to hop back into the definitive edition of Los Santos.

7. Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions

This twin-stick shooter assaults every gamer’s senses in the best way possible. The fun displayed in the last two games in the series are magnified here with an adventure mode, classic mode and the same brightly colored explosions you’ve come to appreciate. The series has reached an evolution point with this downloadable shooter that’s great in all areas. Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions must be in your digital game collection.

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December 2014

Nothing to see here, folks…

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