8 of the Best Xbox Game Studios Games to Play

Xbox Game Studios is Microsoft’s video game publishing and development department. This Microsoft branch develops and launches games for Windows PC and Xbox gaming platforms. That studio’s first-party developers consistently push the boundaries of video gaming with sci-fi epics, tactical real-time strategy, and realistic simulation games. These are some of the best Microsoft Xbox Game Studios games you can play.

Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)

Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of Microsoft’s longest-running game series, which has been the gold standard for flight simulation since the 1980s. The 2020 Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of the most highly rated games in its series, with stunning global visuals and geographic data streaming for rendering cities, airports, and buildings. It is among the best Xbox Game Studios games because it enables players to sample the thrill of flight exploration by flying anywhere in the world with a wide variety of planes, such as commercial airliners, helicopters, and light aircraft. If you like sightseeing, you’ll love this game in which you can fly over destinations like the Grand Canyon, Pyramids, Mount Fuji, and Swiss Alps.

Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 perfected the open-world racing game genre. This is one of the best Xbox Game Studios Games to play because of its stunning open-world Mexico design that offers players amazing freedom of exploration. Players also love this game because of its huge vehicle variety selection and flawless racing mechanics that few others can match.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

The Halo series is the biggest and best Xbox Game Studios game franchise renowned for its first-person shooter innovation, memorable sci-fi storytelling, and groundbreaking multiplayer. To play some of the best Halo games, check out the Master Chief Collection. The Master Chief Collection is a package that includes Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 4, Halo: Reach, and Halo 3: ODST. Combat Evolved and Halo 2 alone are two of the best sci-fi first-person shooters in gaming history.

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

Age of Empires II is a retro title from the 1990s widely rated as one of the best real-time strategy games in history. This was one of the most cherished Microsoft games because of its simple, intuitive real-time strategy gameplay, considerable tactical depth, and rich historical campaigns. It packed in a huge amount of historical solo content and a large civilization roster selection for enthralling single-player and multiplayer medieval warfare.

Today, you can play the revamped Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, which is a remastered version of the original AoE II game. Definitive Edition enhances the original game with stunning 4K visuals, superior AI, and new gameplay tools. This is one of the best Xbox Studios Games because it still retains the timeless core gameplay of the original Age of Empires II intact.

Minecraft

Minecraft wasn’t an original Microsoft game, but today the big M owns this sandbox gaming phenomenon and its developer, Mojang Studios. This is one of the best Xbox Game Studios games for the unlimited creative freedom it offers. Minecraft’s Creative Mode enables players to build architectural marvels and their own little worlds for gaming frolics. Players also love the high-stakes survival and open-world exploration of Minecraft’s Survival Mode.

Gear 5

Gear 5 is a third-person shooter game that raised the bar for its series with more expansive, semi-open world areas for players to explore. Players love Gear 5 for how it refined the classic cover-based combat of its predecessors without compromising the heavy-duty, tactical gameplay its series is renowned for. Aside from its engrossing campaign, Gear 5 is one of the best Xbox Game Studios games for its robust multiplayer modes, such as Versus, Escape, and Horde.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a Metroidvania and action-platformer masterpiece in which players can explore the connected world of Niwen. The elevated fluid movement, sweeping melancholic orchestral score, design artistry, stunning visuals, and combat variety in Ori and the Will of the Wisps make it one of the great Xbox Game Studios games. It incorporates diverse weaponry and epic boss fights that make the game truly memorable.

Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite delivers the top-tier gunplay its series is renowned for, mixed with a more open-world sandbox design. Players can explore a semi-open Zeta Halo world in this game, which enables greater freedom of approach. The Grappleshot adds a whole new layer of exhilarating movement mechanics and combat physics manipulation in Halo Infinite. With additional free-to-play multiplayer content to boot, Halo Infinite is a terrific continuation of the Master Chief saga.

The best Xbox Games Studios games above show why Microsoft is an American gaming giant. Microsoft’s first-party developers continue to expand its hugely popular Halo, Forza Horizon, Gears of War, Age of Empires, and Flight Simulator franchises with games that push technical innovation to its limits. So, check out those Windows PC and Xbox games to sample Microsoft gaming at its finest.