With the dawn of the new console generation, gamers everywhere are reflecting on the past several years. From epic solo quests to zany online party games, there were a ton of hits. Though all three major consoles had their fair share of awesome experiences, Microsoft’s dedicated game machine was a great place to play.
Despite there being many genres and settings in video games throughout the past several years, the Xbox One had a few awesome (and a few not so awesome) fantasy titles that stood out from the crowd.
10 Best: Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
The Dragon Quest franchise has been beloved around the world for decades. With the eleventh mainline entry in the series, gamers were treated to an expansive and heart-warming story with charming visuals and incredibly deep mechanics. Though the original release had a few flaws (a notably subpar soundtrack mix among them), the polish and attention to detail is second-to-none. Furthermore, an updated version that fixes many of the original complaints recently released on Xbox One. There has never been a better time to jump into the world of this instant classic.
9 Worst: Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
When it originally released on the Xbox 360, Kingdoms of Amalur was met with a somewhat positive reception. It didn’t break any new ground, but provided a fun and silly world to explore. With its recent re-release, however, the flaws of this game have been thrust into the spotlight.
A relic of its time, the gameplay mechanics feel very dated. Furthermore, the visuals haven’t really been overhauled at all, and at times the game can be outright ugly to look at. Unfortunately, it might be better to leave this one on the shelf.
8 Best: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
No one can deny the impact that The Witcher 3 had on the video game industry. Though its developer CD Projekt Red is currently in hot water because of the bungled release of Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher series was their original claim to fame.
With a gigantic, fantastical world to explore and a seemingly endless array of side quests, The Witcher 3 immediately cemented its place as one of the all-time greatest RPGs in video game history. The high fantasy setting only serves to further invest players in a truly thrilling journey.
7 Worst: Elex
Created by the developers of the cult-favorite Riven series, Elex is an ambitious but ultimately mediocre experience. An open-world RPG, it thrusts players into a post-apocalyptic fantastical setting. Though it has some interesting ideas, it was met with middling reception upon release. The game world itself is interesting and can genuinely surprise the player (like with fighting raptors, a choice system, and using guns), and there is some genuine fun to be had here. However, the stale gameplay and generic design drag the game down from its true potential.
6 Best: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition
Yes, technically Skyrim was released during the Xbox 360 console generation. However, an updated version was released for the Xbox One in 2016 and proved to be the definitive way to play Bethesda’s best RPG. The world of Tamriel has never before been brought to such vivid life with humongous dragons, warring factions, and magic spells to learn. Including the bevy of post-launch expansions, there are hundreds upon hundreds of hours awaiting players in Skyrim. You don’t even need to take an arrow to the knee to enjoy it.
5 Worst: Greedfall
Greedfall is a game that makes the player want to like it. Modeled after classic BioWare RPGs, players assume the role of a noble sent to a mysterious island. The game contains some interesting commentary on colonization, and the art design is often quite beautiful (if not particularly impressive on a technical level). However, a general lack of polish and a decidedly “budget” feel prevent this game from being more enjoyable. Though it is difficult to recommend Greedfall, it could be worth giving a chance for those with an insatiable itch for role-playing games.
4 Best: Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Any true gamer fan of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy has already checked out this game. But for those who have yet to experience it, Shadow of Mordor offers the chance to explore one of the most famous fantasy worlds of all time. Released at the very beginning of the console generation, the game took advantage of the Xbox One’s hardware to create its defining feature: the Nemesis system. Unlike other RPGs with random enemies that don’t matter, Shadow of Mordor is unique in that enemies fought will remember the player. This creates unique encounters for everyone and keeps players invested all the way to the end. Not to mention the fact that with current mods, the experience has never been better.
3 Worst: Lords of the Fallen
Many games in recent years have attempted to cash-in on the success of the From Software and their Dark Souls formula. Lords of the Fallen did have some admirers when it released, but although the game shines in its ambition and presentation it had a litany of technical problems. Aside from these, the boss design simply was not anywhere close to as exciting as the encounters in games like Bloodborne or Sekiro. It may be worth giving a shot, but know that it most likely will not live up to the expectations set by games made at studios like From Software.
2 Best: Dragon Age: Inquisition
Though Dragon Age developer BioWare has had some tumbles as of late, there is no denying that they created some of the most lauded RPG series of the past several years. Chief among these is Dragon Age. With Inquisition, the Dragon Age universe expanded into a truly massive journey. As the player explores Thedas, they come across awe-inspiring locales and terrifying beasts. With Dragon Age 4 on the horizon, now is the perfect time for anyone with even a passing interest in fantasy to dive into this series. Choice-driven stories and compelling characters await.
1 Worst: Outward
Outward is one of the more unique titles on this list in that it attempts to branch out from its role-playing trappings and add survival elements to the gameplay. Unlike many games, the player character is basically a nobody. They are not some chosen hero or an exiled prince, but an average person thrust into the middle of a fight between different factions. Perhaps with a bigger budget or a longer development time, Outward could have been something special. As it is, the flaws are just too ingrained in the DNA of the game to ignore.
