10 great games of 2020 for your new Xbox

Regardless of whether you recently purchased or planned to buy an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S, or continue with your Xbox One console, it is good to have a stack of good games to play. And what better way to do that than to spend almost no money? Individual games, while sometimes worthwhile, can be expensive. Instead, you can get a lot of value with a Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

For $ 14.99 a month ($ 1 for each of the first three months, if you are a new subscriber), the full Game Pass Ultimate subscription offers access to an increasing number of downloadable games and exclusive discounts on popular games. You can also download games on consoles and Android devices.

If you just want to run games on a PC, you can subscribe to the basic Game Pass for $ 9.99 a month ($ 1 for the first month if you are a new subscriber). With that, you can also download an increasing number of games.

With either subscription, you can access EA games that were previously only available with a separate subscription. They also give you the ability to play online multiplayer games with friends (when supported). When you sign up, you’ll have instant access to six of the 10 games below (and we’ve included individual prices, just in case). The others listed here that are not included in a game pass, however, are worth buying for themselves.

We’ve put together our favorite and most used games, apps and entertainment. Check out our app choices for iPhones, Android Phones, Windows PCs, and Macs equipped with M1; our favorite mobile games from Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass; and our best choices for Gaming PCs, a PS5, Xbox One and Series X / S, Nintendo Switch, and VR. We also list our favorite streaming programs on the Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Plus, and Netflix; some great science fiction books; and exciting new podcasts. (Note: the price was correct at the time of publication, but may change.)

Yakuza: like a dragon

Image: Sega

The seventh Yakuza game in the series is a great departure from the rest. It is a turn-based RPG (RPG) game instead of being a real beat-em-up that is mixed with some elements of RPG, as the rest of the games in the franchise were. But Like a dragon it is definitely not an ordinary RPG. You can roam freely in a fictionalized version of Japan’s Yokohama district, meeting peculiar people along the way and participating in memorable missions.

Although not on the Game Pass, the game supports Smart Delivery, so you will get enhanced performance using the Xbox One version of the game on one of the latest Xbox consoles.

Cyberpunk 2077

Image: CD Projekt Red

The long-awaited open-world RPG from CD Projekt Red was worth the wait, according to Adi Robertson’s analysis. If you want to dive into the world of Night City in search of an RPG that is wider and deeper than most other games out there, take a look at this one.

This game is compatible with the Xbox One, as well as the Xbox Series X / S consoles, although an appropriate next generation version of the game is still in the works and will come as a free update for those who purchased the game.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 Remaster

Image: Activision

My colleague Andrew Webster calls the remake THPS 1 and 2 the “perfect remastering”. If you have any affinity with these classic skate titles from the heyday of the original PlayStation, you should buy them. It features almost the same music, and the skate parks and player models have all been remastered to today’s graphic standards.

It is not available on the Game Pass, but the Xbox One version of the game is compatible with the new Xbox consoles.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Image: Moon Studios

The last adventure with Ori it’s even better than the original. It offers equally excellent platforms, but the novelty in the series is surprisingly good hand-to-hand combat. The team responsible for the game created incredible views that will look especially good on a 4K television, and everything looks fantastic in motion.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is available for Xbox One via Game Pass and there is now a version optimized to run on Xbox Series X / S consoles that unlocks the frame rate for smoother gameplay.

Gears Tactics

Image: Splash Damage Xbox Game Studios

There is nothing wrong with the traditional Gears games that have a third-person perspective, like the excellent Gears 5. But if you want to try something new, Gears Tactics takes combat and turns it into a turn-based game, where every move is a roll of the dice. You’ll have to play a little bit smarter, making sure to support each of your characters so they don’t get overwhelmed on the battlefield. As the title indicates, you need to be tactical.

This game is available on Game Pass and owners of Xbox Series X / S consoles can enjoy an updated version with improved performance.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Image: Xbox Game Studios

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Obviously, this list would not be complete without the presence of Halo: The Master Chief Collection. In an alternate universe, Halo Infinite probably be on this list, but unfortunately that game was postponed until the end of 2021. With or without it, the Master Chief Collection is essential for any fan of first-person shooting. Contains the original areola until the fourth iteration, along with Halo: ODST to complete the package.

It is available on the Game Pass and as Gears Tactics and Ori, it has been updated to look even better on the latest Xbox consoles.

Destiny 2

Image: Bungie

Destiny 2 is another semi-permanent accessory on our list of “best” because Bungie keeps updating it. The latest downloadable download, “Beyond the light, ”It was released recently, adding to an already busy list of things to do in the game. If you like first person shooter games and want to take a look at the feeling of playing an MMO game without the monthly cost, take a look Destiny 2.

The basic game and the new Beyond the light expansion are available via Game Pass. Bungie recently corrected Destiny 2 to look and perform better on Xbox Series X / S consoles.

Forza Horizon 4

Image: Xbox Game Studios / Turn 10

This game is not particularly new, but it is unique on this list. Forza Horizon 4 is a racing simulator that lets you get off the road in the UK, without the overly serious tone of games like Gran Turismo or same Forza Motorsport games. Whether or not you have a history of liking racing games in the past, Horizon 4 is a well-designed game in which it is fun to jump for a run or two, or just to drive without thinking.

Forza Horizon 4 is available on the Game Pass for all modern Xbox consoles and has received a patch for the X / S Series consoles to increase performance.

Tetris Effect: Connected

Image: Enhance Games

Tetris effect it’s a zen experience, combining the stacking of Tetris with a rhythm-based game. Having the two together may not seem like much, but it is something you should try. The new, exclusive to Xbox (until the summer of 2021) Connected game version allows local and online multiplayer that was not available in the original Tetris effect.

Tetris Effect: Connected is available on the Game Pass, so your subscription will allow you to sign in immediately. It is compatible with all modern Xbox consoles, including the One and Series X / S.

Apex Legends

Image: EA / Respawn Entertainment

Respawn Entertainment is most famous for Fall of the Titan and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, but it’s free FPS to play Apex Legends It’s indispensable for your new Xbox. Similar in design to other Battle Royale games, such as Fifteen days and PUBG, this game is a competitive shooting game where you have only one chance to rise to the top. But what defines Apex Legends apart from its fluid gameplay, satisfying weapons game, and character classes that you’re sure to have fun experimenting with.

This game recently received a latest generation patch that makes it better on the X / S Series consoles.