Our top 10 most anticipated Xbox One games for Fall and Holiday 2014

Destiny, Sunset Overdrive and Halo: The Master Chief Collection are just some of our picks.

Microsoft launched the Xbox One console less than 10 months ago, but the launch titles that were offered at that time were something of a mixed bag. That's usually the case for the release of a new console but there's a lot more to look forward to for the fall and holiday season as a flood of new Xbox One games are set for release.

It's not a shock to learn that the fourth quarter of every year is also the biggest sales period for console games in general, which is why we see a ton of new titles released between September and November. Game publishers like to flood the market with new games so that when the holiday shopping season rolls around, there's a variety of new games to purchase.

So which Xbox One games are the ones that we most want to get, either on the day of their release or as holiday gifts? We managed to cut down our selections to our top 10 picks, and put them in order based on their current release date, but as always your personal list will likely differ than ours. Keep in mind that while all these games are scheduled for release before the end of 2014, their publishers could still delay one or more of these titles into 2015. In fact that's already happened with games like Battlefield: Hardline, Evolve and Batman: Arkham Knight.

destiny

Destiny - September 9

Bungie created the Halo franchise for the original Xbox, and it is still the biggest game series in the history of Microsoft's consoles that is exclusive to that platform. However, Bungie decided to ditch both Xbox exclusivity and the Halo series for its latest game, Destiny; in addition to the Xbox One, it will be released for the Xbox 360 and Sony's PS3 and PS4 consoles. That doesn't change the fact that this game is likely to be a huge hit for the Xbox One.

On the surface, Destiny looks like a next-gen Halo game in terms of its graphics and art style. Like Halo, Destiny is a sci-fi first person shooter but in this game the humans are on the verge of extinction several hundred years in the future, as the player controls a character who has to fight to save humanity. Yes, there will also be online multiplayer battles in Destiny as well. Will this game be the next Halo? Only time will tell.

forza horizon 2

Forza Horizon 2 - September 30

Microsoft's first Forza Horizon game, made for the Xbox 360, was an attempt to make an open world racing game with elements of racing sims. The sequel, which will be released for the Xbox One and Xbox 360, takes place in a world located in southern France and northern Italy where street races can happen at any time of the day or night.

Playground Games is developing the Xbox One version, and it will use the same incredible graphics engine as Forza Motorsport 5, and thrown a dynamic weather system to boot Over 200 real world cars will be in the game, and if you want a taste of it Microsoft will release a free demo for the Xbox One version on September 15.

alien isolation

Alien: Isolation - October 7

Games based on the Alien/Aliens movie franchise have been a mixed bag at best, but we are really excited to check out Alien: Isolation as the development team at The Creative Assembly is trying to bring back the horror and scares that gripped us when we first saw the original Ridley Scott-directed 1979 film that started it all.

Alien: Isolation, to be published by Sega, is set in between the events of Alien and Aliens as Ellen Ripley's daughter Amanda has her own encounter with the xenomorph. The gameplay videos suggest this title will have a lot of "jump out of your seat" scares. Pre-orders for the game will even get to relive some of the events in the 1979 Alien film via DLC packs, which will include many of the movie's actors voicing their characters. Nifty.

sunset overdrive

Sunset Overdrive - October 28

This game may be one of the oddest first party Xbox titles Microsoft has ever released, and that could turn out to be a good thing. Developed by Insomniac Games, Sunset Overdrive is an open world third person shooter set in a near future where most of the humans have been turned into mutant monsters, and all thanks to the consumation of an energy drink.

Yes, this is a game that not only looks fun to play but has a satirical message about consumerism, which is something that's rare in a AAA game release. The player character will use parkour like acrobatics to evade enemies and lots of weapons to take out the energy drink-created mutants. Sounds like it is going to be a blast to play.

call of duty

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare - November 4

Yes, 2013's entry in the first person shooter series, Call of Duty: Ghosts, was a bit dull but we have much higher hopes for this new installment. Developed by Sledgehammer Games, this game takes place a few decades in the future, where the fictional private military contractor Atlas has lots of cool high tech weapons to take out enemies all over the world.

Publisher Activision says this game, unlike previous games in the series, took three years to develop instead of the usual two, which hopefully means a better quality game right out of the gate. The single player trailers look cool, and actor Kevin Spacey both voicing and handling motion capture as the head of Atlas doesn't hurt either. The multiplayer portion looks like a cross between Call of Duty and Tribes (Jet Packs! Laser guns!)

halo

Halo: The Master Chief Collection - November 11

Halo fans will be able to play Halo 1-4 on the Xbox One for the first time thanks to this collection. In addition to both the original and remastered versions of Halo 1 and 2, made for the original Xbox, it contains Halo 3 and 4, made for the Xbox 360, in full 1080p resolution.

Oh, did we mention that this game lets users access the upcoming digital live action feature film Halo: Nightfall? Oh, and the game will be the only place players will be able to access the upcoming multilplayer beta for Halo 5: Guardians, which will begun on December 29th. Add it all up, and this is a must have for any Halo or Xbox One owners.

assassins creed unity

Assassin's Creed: Unity - November 11

Ubisoft's latest game in its long running action/stealth series has been developed specifically with current gen consoles like the Xbox One in mind. This time the setting is the French Revolution with the player taking on the Templar assassin role of Arno as he gets caught up in the middle of the fight for France.

The game will also have a separate four player co-op experience, where players must take up missions and team up in order to ensure their completion, while also performing some cool parkour moves. We can't wait to see how this game looks on our big screen.

dragon age

Dragon Age: Inquisition - November 18

BioWare knows how to make great role playing games and the release of the third game in their critically Dragon Age fantasy series, via publisher Electronic Arts, is certainly something to look forward to. Players will be able to choose from one of four difference races to portray in the game ( human, dwarf, elf or Qunari).

Besides larger environments to explore and improved graphics, Dragon Age: Inquisition will let the player choose how it wishes to engage in combat. Characters can fight in typical action-RPG fashion, or they can switch to the good old fashioned tactical RPG viewpoint, where players can pause the action, give orders to their characters and then watch the battle commence. It sounds like old school RPG combined with action gaming, and that works for us.

far cry 4

Far Cry 4 - November 18

Ubisoft brings one of the best open first person shooter series back in this new installment, which takes place in the fictional Himalayan region of Kyrat. The player, a native to the region, soon gets involved in a civil war. Of course, that means guns are used. A lot.

Beyond the shooting, Far Cry 4 promises to offer the player things like experiencing a Shangri-La fantasy world to explore, tigers to control and elephants that can attack. All of this happens in a beautiful but deadly setting that we can't wait to explore.

gtva

Grand Theft Auto V - Fall 2014

Yes, this is a port of a game that came out a year ago for the Xbox 360 but we can't help but be excited about the fact that we will soon be able to explore the sights and sounds of Los Santos with higher resolution graphics, more content and hopefully some surprises.

Rockstar Games is scheduled to bring GTA V to the Xbox One, along with the PS4 and PC, sometime later this fall and thankfully the Grand Theft Auto Online multiplayer portion of the game will not only be included, but Xbox 360 owners of the game will be able to transfer their characters and progression to the Xbox One port. Add it all up and it equals a game we have to own, even if we still have our Xbox 360 version.

What are the Xbox One games due out this fall that you are most looking forward to playing? Let us know in the comments and we may post a future article based on your selections.

John Callaham
138 Comments
  • ASSASSINS CREED UNITY
  • This. So pumped for Unity. I've also pre-purchased and downloaded Desinty.
  • *** MISSING + The Elder Scrolls Online + The Division + The Crew + Evolve Shocking ommissions in this article ;)  
  • Correct on The Crew. However Evolve is Feb 10 so it misses the Fall & Holiday season this article mentions. The other two are delayed with no confirmed launch date and are therefore also out of scope.
  • Don't mention ESO it is one of the WORST MMOs I have ever played with a expensive subscription. I wouldn't even play it if it was F2P!
  • + Project CARS!
  • No Dance Central Spotlight or Defense Grid 2... I am wounded.
  • I was also disappointed that Dance Central Spotlight didn't get recognition.
  • It is out in a couple of days, one for my kids. Defence Grid 2 is a different story.... Gonna monopolise my evenings. Ori too. Also hoping to see a few free games (please be Worms).
  • Ori looks really good
  • I think because it's a Kinect game, and not everyone has a Kinect now, and not many people play Kinect games (Xbox Fitness is cool though). I'm surprised FIFA 15 didn't get recognition though.
  • No Dance Central or Fantasia. Dumb list. Harmonix is one of the best game developers in the industry. Not everything has to be a violent action game to be a game worth looking forward to.
  • As far as I know forza horizon 2 is not violent game...
  • Until the first corner, when everyone gets T-boned.
  • And not everyone has to look forward to Kinect games... Everyone has their own tastes.
  • True. They really could have dropped Call of Duty from the list. That garbage was played out after Modern Warfare 2. Or more to the point, it pretty much turned to garbage after MW2. Would much rather see the likes of Dance Central Spotlight, Ori and the Dark Forest, Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, The Evil Within, NBA 2K15, The Walking Dead: Game of the Year Edition, The Walking Dead: Season 2, The Crew, or even Fantasia: Music Evolved on that list. I could just name so many awesome games, that I'd anticipate far more than yet another lackluster, 'me too', cookie cutter, annualized COD. Hell, the Metro Redux (Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light remake) which just came out last week, is light years better than the last four CODs combined. Matter of fact, the only reason I think they put COD on the list, was pandering to COD fans. Though for the most part, they are still relatively legion, only COD fans play COD any longer. The shrinking sales numbers of the franchise over the last few iterations, is proof of that. I really feel just by putting that game on the list, is a space that was wasted, that could have gone to another game much more deserving of the impressions (and potential sales) the list is going to generate. Anyway, my $0.02.
  • Actually even though I haven't played the last couple of COD, this year peeks my interest because of the titanfall futuristic style of the game. I pretty much agree with the list up top except for the Dragon Age, but thats because I really couldn't get into it. I was surprised by the omission of even 1 of the annual sports title (NHL FIFA NBA2k15, etc), but opinions are opinions. I would like to know how they compiled there list? If it was an office poll, a couple of the writers, or just this writer? It leaves me wondering. 
  • Looking forward to Master Chief Collection.
  • Halo:MCC and Sunset Overdrive for me on the X1, although I my switch Sunset for CoD if there isn't a good deal on PS4's for black Friday or cyber Monday.
  • Really disappointing not to see Project Spark on this list. It should be headlining it. Also, shout outs to Dance Central Spotlight, Fantasia, and Ori and the Blind Forest would've been nice, as all our games that break the mold.
  • I await MKX the most. Next few weeks will be engrossed in Diablo 3.
  • Coip, you like to dance? :D
  • I think dancing is fun. I'm not very good at it, but that's one nice thing about dancing in your home at a TV screen rather than in a dance club. Plus, I heard Dance Central Spotlight helps you practice the moves and gives you tips, so maybe it'll make me a better dancer. More so, though, I'm excited about Dance Central Spotlight and Fantasia because I think those may be the only two games in the history of the world where I can get my wife to play (well, technically I could get her to bowl and wake race in Kinect Sports Rivals, but she was mostly just humoring me).
  • Nice! :D Hey, I don't know what it is, but what's your gamertag? I don't have it, lol.
  • I think it is out tomorrow too, quite cheap. Considering it as my son loves Happy.
  • Although I think John doesn't seem to be into non-AAA releases, I can hardly blame someone for leaving Project Spark off the list. It has been out (in some form) for months already. Nor has there been much in the way of news and promises to create hype for the official release.
  • COD and GTA are the two I look forward to. The others might interest me at some point. Pretty solid game lineup though.
  • Kingdom hearts
  • Not coming out until next year, but I am super excited for it too!
  • We need a Crysis series remake for next gen consoles.
    Sadly Crytek doesn't seem to have the resources to do that right now.
  • Couldn't have been a more generic list.
  • You know you'll be playing must of 'em.
  • Yeah, ZERO sport games on the list. Really? :-/
  • I don't think that word means what you think it means.
  • Do you think any of the games on the list are brave choices?
  • I will be getting farcry and borderlands, but deffinately not on console. :P
  • Well there's two games gamers probably wont be able to get in Canada on day one @ retail
  • So you're playing a Templar or an assassin? Hate to nitpick.
  • Haha, yeah. Should just be Assassin.
  • Why is GTA online being removed?
  • You read the sentence wrong.
    Don't worry its still there.
  • Halo: Master Chief Collection, AC: Unity and Far Cry 4
  • Destiny was amazing in the beta. Really looking forward to it this September.
  • Likewise! I preordered the other day, have it downloaded and ready to go.
  • "Templar Assassin" Isn't this an oxymoron?
  • Yep. You don't play a Templar this time anyway. Arno's lover is a Templar, however.
  • For the GTA one, you guys said "Xbox 360 players can..." Even though everyone can transfer Current Gen online characters to PC and Next Gen, not just Xbox 360's.
  • True, but this is an xbox-focused article.
  • It is, but he could've mentioned that PS3 saves could transfer to the X1 as well. :)
  • Fair enough, kem, I won't argue with that!
  • I'm glad Rockstar did that, so if someone switched from last Gen to current Gen (it is NOT CALLED next Gen anymore) or PC, they could get their saves. :)
  • I'm in that boat myself, so does the main game save transfer over, or just the GTA online stuff?
  • I think just online.
  • Must. Gather. Funds.
  • I think dragon age has been pushed back to Feb. 2015
  • If true that's a relief in a way, one I'm looking forward to but so much coming out in a short space of time I need a time machine...Destiny will eat time and Sunset, Halo and that LoTR thing all strike my fancy
  • When did you hear that. It wad pushed back a few weeks to the new dare in November. It really wouldn't make sense pushing it back to February putting it in direct competition with Witcher 3
  • Maybe I'm confusing wither 3 and dragon age.
  • Destiny preorder, check. MMC preorder, still waiting. COD- AW, still waiting.
  • Perfect time to buy a Xbox one now. Gonna be a awesome fall/winter for me
  • Welcome aboard.
  • and an awesome spring, summer, next fall, next winter, and so on!
  • Shadow of Mordor? Ori?
  • Ori!
  • FIFA 15!!!!
  • FIFA 15, and maybe GTA-V since I didn't phuck with it last Gen.
  • Yeah, I MIGHT get GTA. Might!
  • same here
  • :)
  • Does Minecraft count as a fall game? Anyway, that is easily my most anticipated xb1 game. But yeah, also ac:u, far cry 4, gta5, cod, halo collection.
  • If Destiny is in this article, and that's a summer game, then Minecraft should be included as well.
  • If you like Minecraft that much be sure to check out Project Spark. It's a very ambitious game creation game.
  • I am super excited for Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Sunset Overdrive, Forza Horizon 2, Destiny (already got it on pre-load digitally), Dance Central Spotlight and of course GTA V on Xbox One. I've probably left out something but it's a going to be a great fall and holiday for gamers! :D
  • Dance Central. For non-Kinect games there is the PC.
  • You got the Xbox One JUST for Kinect games?
  • Almost. Based on my experience with the 360 which I also got when Kinect was released I will play the single player of Halo + like 3 hours of multiplayer and I may buy and play some exclusives. On the 360 I played L.A. Noire and Mortal Kombat. On the other hand my 360 fight stick will not work on Xbox One so I guess I will have to buy new Street Fighter and MK games on PC. I bought Xbox One just last week because Dance Central is coming out next week and Kinect Sports Rivals is quite new too. MS made the absurd decision to bundle the Kinect with the console and then not release any quality games. This put Kinect fans like me in the stupid situation of having to replace Kinect with software with Kinect without software and people who had not tried Kinect thought it was useless because frankly on the Xbox One it was.
  • I love Kinect games. Xbox Fitness is great. I also really enjoy Kinect Sports Rivals. In addition to Dance Central Spotlight (less than 24 hours away!), keep your eye out for Fantasia, Fru, and Fruit Ninja Kinect 2.
  • I think the Kinect games are great, just not my type. Plus, I don't have much space for it, lol.
  • Yeah, space is somewhat of a problem with Kinect. My point is that everything non-Kinect is or would be better on PC if it was developed and released on PC. Maybe fighting games are an exception but not much of a difference there. Mouse and keyboard are superior to a controller.
  • I game on PC and console and I much prefer console controllers, especially the Xbox One's. WASD+mouse clicking is not as smooth and natural of an experience as analog joysticks and analog triggers.
  • I can't wait for Destiny, Halo, CoD and Alien: Isolation! This fall and winter holiday season are going to be great.
  • For now I'm sticking with 360 and PC. Maybe when some RPGs I care about come along
  • Minecraft yes much anticipated much delayed
  • Destiny ordered and pre-installed on my Xbox one....and Forza Horizon 2 is pre-ordered from the Microsoft store (free $10 xbox live credit with it if you pre-order from there for most games). Really looking forward to these two. COD will be pre-ordered at some point, plus others I might grab on release day or wait a week or 2 after release depending on what I am playing. Sunset Overdrive looks line a blast but, I might hold back till I read some reviews on it... GTA5 is like the Last of US on the PS4, It's a game that I played through really strong (tried to find most things in the game), so not sure if I am willing to spend $60 on a game I already played through on the 360/PS3... If GTA 5 comes out for the PC with Xbox live, I will buy it and replay it on the PC (with some PC upgrades, hope to hit 4K with it)
  • I can't wait for Forza Horizon 2 and Sunset Overdrive.
  • Far Cry 4, Destiny, and Halo:MCC. Then quickly after 2014 rolls by then I will be getting The Witcher 3 and The Division. And whenever it is ready Mirrors Edge 2!
  • All I'm waiting for is Forza Horizon & MKX. Halo is old been out since I was in high school. Sunset Overdrive I may give it a shot. GTA V, I will.play since I ran out of room on my 360. Dont care about anything else, maybe COD but it looks Halo-ish. What I truly want is a Left 4 Dead 3. Why can't I get that!!!!!!!
  • Sorry, valve doesn't know the number 3. Posted via the Windows Phone Central App for Android
  • Forza Horizon 2, Halo Master Chief Collection, the division, state of decay, Mortal combat X,
  • I have destiny and DA:I (admittedly on PS4 for multiplayer with friends) and Forza horizon and Halo on order
  • GTA V is possibly delayed to be early 2015 I have read in a few places very recently
  • That will suck, but gives me more time with FIFA 15 & to finish up with Watchdogs.
  • Tomb Raider?????
  • Next year.
  • GTA 5 has been delayed to 2015
  • What about Shadows over Mordor?
  • November is looking good and finally some good games for the "new generation". GTA, sunset, ac: Unity, HALO, Destiny and far cry 4. Will defintely be picking them all up.
  • Meh
  • Dying Light?
  • Great list will be getting kst of those titles. My day 1 games will be Dragon Age, Sunset Overdrive, MCC and Destiny.
  • Forza Horizon 2 is what I'm looking forward to.
  • Assassin's creed unity Yo!!!
  • Battlefield: Hard line should've made this list.
  • That's coming out next year. It got delayed.
  • Two remakes and no Shadows of Mordor? 
  • Still not seeing anything worth buying an xbone for. Uninspiring lineup.
  • There's a lot more coming out than this list. There is every genre of game coming out this Fall. Dont be jaded
  • What kinds of games are you looking for because the Xbox One lineup so far has solid games in almost every genre imaginable.
  • I would say I am super excited for Tom Clancy's: The Division, but I recently found out it is released December 2015, not 2014...
  • Old news friend. :'(
  • Fable Legends
  • The Evil Within
  • 2 out 10 games i would buy hense why i font have a xbox
  • I can't be the only person who doesn't give a flying phuck about Destiny? I probably am the only person who wants a next Gen just cause though. Most looking forward to Halo:MCC, FarCry, AC and Crackdown
  • Nope.... I too am not taken by Destiny.
  • I wasn't impressed with the Destiny Beta, but I'll see how it fares in the final reviews.
  • Crackdown...seriously can't wait for more orb collecting!
  • Keep an eye on lord of the rings too
  • I would only part twenty dollars for gtav...... Can't wait for Far Cry
  • Lords of the Fallen is missing. Definately excited for that one. Need more Dark Souls type games.
  • Only 3 games that I'll get for Xbox One this year, and 2 for Xbox 360. One: Destiny (Ghost Edition for about $250 USD), Minecraft (sent in for certification on Aug 29th if I remember correctly) and Forza Horizon 2. And for 360: Destiny and Borderlands the Pre Sequel. Oh, and that's TWO copies of Borderlands, one for me and one for my fiancee so we can play together.
  • Personally I want Halo: MCC, Sunset Overdrive, Dragon Age Inquisition and Lords of the Fallen. Already have Destiny digitally preordered and preloaded :-) Playing Diablo 3 right now. Add me if you'll be playing some of the same games: dragunrising
  • Thr white Xbox
  • Final Fantasy XV
  • FarCry 4 and AC:unity
  • FH2 Sunset Overdrive and Halo MCC
  • Just Dance 19
  • I have been waiting for a Halo themed X-one announcement.
  • My top anticipated games:
      Destiny NHL 15 Assassin's Creed Unity Halo MCC Dragon Age Inquisition Minecraft Xbox One Edition Far Cry 4 Sunset Overdrive GTAV (only for new story DLC)
  • Solid list, but just curious why you like Minecraft so much but not Project Spark.
  • I think some folks missed the point of a subjective article... "Our (WPC) top ten" might not be the same as what you put I have in mind... Great list, getting MCc, but kinda want AW too..sigh..choices...
  • Forza horizon 2 for me. Can't wait. I will most likely get the halo collection too.
  • EVOLVE
  • Waiting to play GTAV again, this time in XO. FH2 is also worth playing in it. But, FM5 was and still is above all of the titles.
  • FH2, DA: Inquisition, Halo MCC... Dance Central Spotlight... WHAT? No love for Kinect Games WPC? :D
  • Looks like the xbox one is finally worth buying with these next gen games
  • I still want a new Alan Wake.
  • Definite buys Destiny Forza Horizon 2 Halo MCC   Probable buys but not 100% Sunset Overdrive Call of Duty Advanced Warsomething FarCry 4 Ori and the Blind Forest   Definite future buys of 2015 and beyond Halo 5 Rise of the Tomb Raider The Devision Gears of War Crackdown