The Xbox One you just got has a ton of competitive games available for it - some free to play, some that will cost you a bit (nothing that those old gift cards you still haven’t used from Christmas can’t fix!) You’ve no doubt heard of some of these, (including a certain battle royale shooter that’s taking the gaming world by storm) but maybe not all of them. No matter what genre of game you prefer, these games will be sure to sate your hunger for competition.
Halo 5
The traditional Xbox mainstay is back with Halo 5, and this iteration is an absolutely beautiful addition to the series. The Halo World Championships have been renewed for the 2018 season and the competitive scene outside of that is still booming, even though the game has been out since 2015. R/Halo moderator Vorked tells new players the key to success lies in spacial awareness. "Halo 5's multiplayer combat is usually staged within arena-styled environments," they said. "Be aware of your entrances, possible escape routes, and cover. Any wall or piece of cover can also be an obstacle that can win you the scuffle, or leave you completely vulnerable to attack." Do yourself a favor and snag the latest edition of the ultimate Xbox game series as a start to your Xbox One game collection.
Gears of War 4
The Xbox’s other mainstay, Gears of War, returns with a new protagonist, new story, and a new focus on competitive multiplayer. Gears, like Halo, has a professional gaming circuit and a great scene to compete in online and offline. Longtime Gears player Lakan E. praises the series' third-person shooting gameplay, "As a 3rd person shooter which focuses a large amount of gameplay on close quarters confrontation," he said, "fights can get nervewrecking while still feeling intimate." If third-person shooters are more your deal, Gears is a perfect addition to your Xbox One game catalogue.
Forza Motorsport 7
We’ve talked at length about Forza’s competitive circuit in the past, but it bears repeating when looking for Xbox One games. Forza has become the racing simulator in gaming. Reddit user jgodin03's tip is to remember the story of the Tortoise and the Hare. "Basic tip for racing. Go slower to be faster," they said. "Don't rush into corners. Take a speed you are confortable with and go into the corner. Rushing a corner will result in a mistake almost every time. If you lose a position because you take your corner slower it's fine - you'll take it back later." If racing is your deal, you absolutely have to grab the best racing game on the market.
PUBG
Since December 12, the gaming phenomenon that has taken Twitch by storm has been playable on your XBox One, and boy are people playing! The king of the so-called “battle royale” type games, PUBG adds a level of chaos and unpredictability that no other game can replicate. Plus, at only $29.99, it’s not as steep of an investment as a $60 AAA title, and new content is always being added. PUBG player larrykins offers some advice to new players who might think they're seeing something in the distance. Work on your awareness, head on a swivel," they said. "Learn how to spot abnormalities on ridges, next to landmarks, buildings, trees, rocks etc. because those abnormalities are enemies."
Paladins: Champions of the Realm
From the team that brought you SMITE (another great competitive game you can download for free on your Xbox One) and Tribes: Ascend comes Paladins: Champions of the Realm, an objective-based hero shooter for a free-to-play crowd. Paladins differs from Overwatch in a few ways, but primarily feels like you get what you paid for (which, unless buy the Founder’s Pack, is $0.) That being said, it’s still a free-to-play game and doesn’t require an investment like the money you’ll have to pump into Overwatch. All in all, Paladins is a strong alternative that requires no monetary investment to enjoy. Fighting game hot dog Jon Nitti also dabbles in Paladins, and offered me his feelings about the game. "Paladins is much more open ended than Overwatch is," he said. "Loadouts allow for characters to work in multiple roles, and building items helps you deal with your opponent's counter picks a little so you don't get blown out."
World of Tanks
Another free-to-play endeavor, World of Tanks pits the finest tanks throughout history against one another in a number of game modes, like a traditional deathmatch mode, a king-of-the-hill style mode, and a mode called assault - where the attacking team must destroy every opposing tank or capture the opposing base - or lose. The game is a bit addictive once you start playing, and it’s easy to get hooked for quite some time. The best part is, WoT items can be purchased with an in-game currency as well as through dollars and cents, depending on the player’s purchasing habits. This means you don’t have to spend anything but your time to unlock tanks and upgrades, a nice change of pace from always paying to win. Four-year WoT expert Matt O. tells me that patience is the key to tank warfare. "Don't rush in, let the battle come to you," he said. "Learn the role your tank plays on the battlefirld and understand the difference in ammo types. Remember - this is chess, not checkers."
Killer Instinct
Did you really think we would do an entire list and not include a fighting game? Come on now. Killer Instinct was the primary reason I bought my first Xbox One, and it still remains a go-to. This game has a huge roster, with some nice guest stars from past Microsoft and Rare titles, and still has a booming community that is open to help new players jump into the game. It has a free-to-play option, but the various seasons of the game are almost always on sale, and Microsoft even gave away Season 2’s characters for free as a Games for Gold a year or so ago. A personal reccommendation, Killer Instinct was reason enough to get an Xbox One at launch, and now it's even better!
Find yourself missing the sports games from this list? Twin Galaxies still has your back - we kept the jocks out of this list so they wouldn't stuff you in a locker! Here's our list of the top sports games you need to check out (and yes, they're all available on Xbox One).
