Best Local Co-Op Games to Play on Xbox Game Pass

Rise of the Ronin is an open-world action RPG from the developers of Wo Long and the Nioh series. It is set in 1853 during the final years of the Bakumatsu period in Japan. The setting and swordplay will appeal to fans of the Yakuza prequel, Like a Dragon: Ishin . The combat is challenging with a focus on deflections and landing counter stri

What was possible for open-world RPGs in 2004 versus what can be achieved now is drastically different. There are some exceptions, Morrowind managed to bring a well-realized open world to the Xbox, but Fable, visually, was a far superior game, obviously leading to restrictions in other areas. The core elements of RPGs have remained the same, but morality systems are an exception. For the past few decades, what gamers want out of a morality system has shifted dramatically, and with it, the way that gamers think about a narrative as a wh

When it comes to local co-op, it’s hard to beat Halo: The Master Chief Collection . Once players manage to get this massive game downloaded, they can play through the first four Halo games, plus Reach and ODST , entirely in split-screen co-op. Few games are as iconic as the Halo series, and while there are certain aspects of Halo 1 ‘s campaign that haven’t aged all that well, the games are still some of the absolute best first-person shooters on the mar

Nintendo’s surprise Smash Bros. Ultimate reveal was the addition of Banjo-Kazooie as a DLC fighter , something that seems incredible considering that Microsoft owns the license to the franchise. But many fans were hoping for more than just a cameo in a fighting game, they wanted a full-fledged Banjo-Kazooie title – something that apparently just isn’t in the cards right

Despite the lacking features the developers promised, Fable managed to carve its own fanbase thanks to its unique sense of style and humor. Combat was engaging, letting players choose between a mage, fighter, or ranged playstyle. If this series got a second chance and had the ability to implement all of its promised features, it would be one of the most highly praised RPGs of this decade.

However, perhaps the most interesting portrayal of morality – one that Fable should take notes from – is that found in The Witcher 3. Choices in The Witcher 3 have real weight, in part thanks to how well the game portrays its world as being “lived-in.” That manifests itself in many different ways, and on a surface level may not even look like a morality system. Geralt is, after all, a hero, but with his decisions determining who lives, who dies, and, in some cases, the well-being of entire cities, it’s hard to deny the state of the world at the end of the game as a sort of morality system for Ger

Originally scheduled for a March 2020 release, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is an action RPG with enough elements of horror to fit the description. Set in the fictional World of Darkness, a group of rogue vampires has broken the masquerade and begun killing and turning humans throughout Seattle. Players take on the role of a newly turned vampire and must learn to control their new powers before joining one of the cities’ vampire groups. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is coming to PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X sometime in 2

Ghost of Tsushima is a stunning samurai Adventure game story guide that utilizes incredible swordplay and stealth-based combat. It puts players in the shoes of Jin Sakai as he fights to defend the islands of Kiki and Tsushima against a Mongol invasion. Like Rise of the Ronin, the samurai setting will appeal to fans of Like a Dragon: Ishin with its respect for Japanese culture, lore, and the beautiful sett

Today, several games were shown during Microsoft’s Inside Xbox event, the first of a series of events that are being planned over the next few months. With a first-party event planned for July, the focus was on third-party games coming to Xbox Series X, and while the Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla “gameplay” reveal was the star attraction, there was a surprising number of next-gen horror games featured in the showc

Martha is Dead is a psychological thriller in development from the creators of The Town of Light , LKA. Set during World War II, Martha is Dead follows a young woman who must uncover the truth of how her twin sister Martha was killed, all while dealing with superstition surrounding mysterious folklore, and coping with the extreme horrors of war. Martha is Dead has been confirmed for both PC and PlayStation 5 and will be released sometime in 2

A third title was created as recent as 2017, but that title pulled away from the massive battles of the first and the tactical gameplay of the second, resulting in no fans being satisfied. As far as most are concerned, the last true Dawn of War title was the second game, with its last expansion releasing in 2011. Few RTS titles could combine epic spectacle with casual RTS gameplay the way Relic did with Dawn of War .