2024 was a year of metamorphosis for Xbox . The long - gestatingacquisition of Activision Blizzardfinally complete toward the end of last yr , and in 2024 , we saw the fallout of the bounteous gambling ship’s company acquisition of all meter . A yr of high peak and low vale for Microsoft ’s gambling sword followed .
Microsoft lay off thousandsof biz developer at different points this year . Itshut down studios like Arkane Austin , Mighty Dog , and Roundhouse Studios , andsold offHi - Fi Rushand its developer , Tango Gameworks , after attempting to shut them down . Xbox Game Pass confusingly split into several tiers , arrive more expensive for those who desire to play new games on the servicing twenty-four hours one . Xbox Game Studios Publishing’sAra : History UntoldandTowerbornewere microcomputer exclusives at launch this year , which allude to a significant shift in Xbox ’s strategy .
Microsoft also made the divisive conclusion to bosom the idea that any equipment could potentially be an Xbox if its games are playable on it through unconstipated mean value or cloud gaming . It ’s exculpated that Microsoft ’s view of what Xbox is now has gone far beyond the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S , and that whim has disturbed some of the most hardcore Xbox fans . While all of that is worth considering , do n’t lease it dissuade you from the fact that Xbox Game Pass had a fantastic year when it issue forth to actual games .
Microsoft consistently delivered several high - quality first - party deed on the service this twelvemonth from all three branches of Microsoft Gaming . Ninja Theory of Xbox Game Studios deliveredSenua ’s Saga : Hellblade 2 , ZeniMax subsidiary MachineGames launchedIndiana Jones and the Great Circle , and Activision broughtCall of Duty : Black Ops 6to Xbox Game Pass the daylight it follow out . tote up in all of the third - party developers who delivered high - quality Game Pass titles , and we have no shortage of Xbox games to recommend this year , even if some of them are n’t on console just yet .
Age of Mythology: Retold
Ara: History Untold
Xbox bring out a contender to Sid Meier ’s Civilization series this yr , giving Firaxis ’ dealership a run for its money . Ara : chronicle Untoldis a 4X scheme plot where histrion control a civilisation for world history and regulate how they evolve throughout history by exploring , gather and handle resources , trading with other civilizations , or outright go to war with them . While it ’s a spate to take in at first , Ara : History Untoldfeatures immense profoundness and gives player raft of dominance over how they want to deal the piddling minutiae of each part of their civilization . Ara : History UntoldandAge of Mythology : Retoldare reminders that Microsoft is still a force to be reckon with in the PC strategy plot outer space , as two of the year ’s best in that literary genre were published by Xbox .
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
The first Call of Duty secret plan to come to Xbox Game Pass the day it released also happens to be the best Call of Duty game in geezerhood . From its bombastic exclusive - player campaign to itstense zombies modeto its tried - and - true multiplayer oblation , Call of Duty : Black Ops 6is firing on all cylinders . It ’s super impressive from a pure production value , but Treyarch and all of the other Activision studios who worked on this plot show a deep understanding of why this series continues to resonate with so many people . Omnimovement feels like a real gameplay instauration for this typically risk of exposure - averse series , while new modes like Kill Order and other minor gameplay pinch find wise path to contextualize and push the serial publication frontward without really shaking up the creation . Hopefully , future Call of Duty titles live up to the standardBlack Ops 6set .
Dungeons of Hinterberg
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
MachineGames has a history of making great games about fighting Nazis , andIndiana Jones and the Great Circlecontinued that style . While it ’s still a big - budget AAA action - risky venture game , Indiana Jones and the Great Circleisn’t afraid to give players quieter second to figure out mystifier and explore . It also does a grand problem of capturing the scrappy flavour of films in its combat by tend a bit into immersive sim elements . ZeniMax has had a rough year under Microsoft , shutting down developers and releasingdivisive expansion for games likeStarfield . Indiana Jones and the Great Circleserved as a undimmed bit for this part of Xbox at the end of the yr , exhibit why companies like Microsoft should allow the studio they own to go after bold creative visions , even if they ’re work with a well - cognise IP .
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024is an vastly detail , highly hard-core simulator . Of all the game on this listing , it ’s in all probability the hard to pick up , play , and get inst use from . For those who adore this mode of sim plot , though , Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024is the most comprehensive and robust flight sim to ever be released . It build up on the warm foundation garment of 2020’sMicrosoft Flight Simulatorto make an experience that feels more grand while still containing the wow constituent of being able to fly over fairly much any part of the world . It ’s the form of niche secret plan that thrives on Xbox Game Pass . I in all likelihood would n’t have act it ordinarily , but I booted it up so I could fly over places where I ’ve live and see the globe from a perspective I ’ll never be able to .
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Ninja Theory ’s long - awaited follow - up toHellblade : Senua ’s Sacrificearrived this yr and did not disappoint . Senua ’s Saga : Hellblade 2is the most sensational Unreal Engine 5 game to release on cabinet yet , with utterly beautiful visuals and industry - leading motion capture . It ’s a shortsighted , cinematic experience meant to be watched just as much as it is mean to be played , delivering one of the most splanchnic depiction of psychosis that we ’ve catch in media . At the same time , Hellblade 2feels a little more optimistic than its precursor , as it ’s more about Senua instruct to live with her mental unwellness rather than constantly feel tormented by it . Senua ’s Saga : Hellblade 2cements the serial of one of Xbox ’s hallmark franchises , and I ca n’t waitress to see where Senua ’s journey go next .
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
While it have from a buggy launch that made it unmanageable to love on day one , S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 : core of Chornobylis a desirable replacement to a cult classical microcomputer survival shooter that cheer series like Metro . S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2is a difficult RPG shooter about fight down to live in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone , which is overrun in the game ’s universe with deadly supernatural occurrence . The shooter does a great caper of ratchet down up the level of saturation as you explore a desolated nuclear geographical zone with limited ammo and the expectation that anything you encounter might kill you . If theFalloutTV show has gotten you back into that series of games this twelvemonth and you ’re now looking for something more hard-core , S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 : substance of Chornobylis worth hold in out , specially as GSC Game World fixes more bug and keeps improving the secret plan with update .
