Best Xbox One Games For Christmas Gifts 2019
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Between Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Live, and Microsoft's push make the Xbox ecosystem more accessible to anyone who wants to access the Xbox store online (especially on Windows), Xbox is having a surprising year going into the holiday season. It's got quite the selection of games, too, with plenty to fill up a few spots under any gamer's Christmas tree with a couple of Xbox gifts. However, we know how hard it can be to choose the perfect gift for the Xbox game fan in your house, especially with how quickly all the latest games hit. It's always difficult telling which ones will make a great gift, and which ones will go well with the Xbox Live game card and extra controller you've already bought for your loved ones. That's why we've put together this handy guide of all of this year's big releases to help you find the best games for every type of person who owns an Xbox One.
Need more great gift ideas beyond Xbox gifts? Check out more of our 2019 holiday gift guides below for the best ideas across gaming, entertainment, and tech. If you're looking for more gaming gifts, check out some of the best gaming headsets of 2019, as well as the best gaming mice, best gaming keyboards, and best Nintendo Switch accessories of 2019.
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Note that prices are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change without notice.
Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order
Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order combines the iconic Lucasfilm universe, developer Respawn Entertainment (Titanfall, Apex Legends)'s approach to fluid mobility, and rewarding Dark Souls-style exploration into one great package. Taking place between five years after Revenge of the Sith, Jedi Fallen Order explores the repercussions of Order 66 and follows Cal Kestis (played by Cameron Monaghan) on his adventure across the galaxy.
See our Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order review.
The Outer Worlds
If that special gamer in your life longs for a first-person RPG in the vein of Fallout, then The Outer Worlds from Fallout: New Vegas developer Obsidian has what they want. Players choose who they want to be in a galaxy ruled by corporations, arming themselves with an arsenal of unique weapons or talking their way through every encounter. It trades a sprawling, post-apocalyptic open world for several smaller intergalactic sandboxes, but everything else feels a lot like an old Bethesda RPG. The game has no online component, so you don't need to get an Xbox Live card with this one, either--all you need is one controller.
See our The Outer Worlds review.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
One major reason you'll want to pick up an Xbox Live subscription card, though, is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. This reboot brings us a brand new campaign with the iconic Captain Price front and center, in addition to some new multiplayer options and Realism mode. Gunfight sees two players go up against two others in a last-man-standing battle, while Night Vision features night-time maps where every player is equipped with those green-tinted goggles.
Check out our Call of Duty: Modern Warfare review.
Control
Control is one of the stranger games released this year, but that is absolutely a good thing--"strange" has always been developer Remedy Entertainment's calling card, after all. Set in a mysterious building that's always shifting and changing, you control the mysterious Jesse Faden as you shoot and utilize supernatural powers to defeat a menacing enemy force.
See our Control review.
Gears 5
Gears 5 continues the Gears of War story, with Kait Diaz exploring her connection to the Swarm. It's a lengthy, action-packed campaign, coupled with several excellent multiplayer modes: Versus, Horde, and the brand new Escape mode.
See our Gears 5 review.
Mortal Kombat 11
Mortal Kombat 11 closes out the series' latest trilogy and delivers a fighting experience that's hard to beat. If you're okay with the ultraviolent fatalities, you'll find that Mortal Kombat 11 is one of the best fighting games this year. While many fighting game players tend to pick up arcade sticks for their genre favorites, Mortal Kombat 11 is designed with a controller in mind, which means you don't have to buy any accessories to go with it outside of an Xbox Live subscription.
See our Mortal Kombat 11 review.
Metro Exodus
Set in post-apocalyptic Russia, Metro Exodus is a first-person shooter with several open areas to explore and a cast of characters to fall in love with. Don't expect any multiplayer modes, but if the person you're shopping for loves immersive, story-based games, then they'll probably love Metro Exodus.
See our Metro Exodus review.
The Division 2
The Division 2 continues the series' loot grind and multiplayer shooting with great success. The sequel to The Division is set in Washington, DC, where gangs have taken over--your job is to rip the capital out of the bad guys' hands and save its citizens.
See our The Division 2 review.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Sekiro is the latest game by From Software, the masters of intense and challenging combat. This time, the Dark Souls studio takes you to a fictional, Feudal-era Japan where monsters and deadly warriors roam the land. You're the Wolf and you must use your sword and prosthetic arm--outfitted with multiple different tools--to make your way through the dangerous world.
See our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice review.
Devil May Cry 5
The latest entry in the Devil May Cry series brings together three playable characters: Nero, Dante, and newcomer V. Devil May Cry 5 keeps the action at the fast pace and intensity that fans love and received a score of 9/10 in GameSpot's review.
See our Devil May Cry 5 review.
Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 2 remakes the classic 1998 original with new gameplay mechanics, story beats, and locations. The Raccoon City Police Department has received a renovation, which both long-time fans and newcomers will have to learn through and through if they want to avoid the impending, booming footsteps--and devastating punch--of the intimidating Mr. X.
See our Resident Evil 2 review.
Kingdom Hearts 3
Kingdom Hearts 3 is the long-awaited sequel that finally continues the story so many people love. GameSpot's review praised its beautifully realized Disney worlds, exciting combat, and engaging and memorable stories.
See our Kingdom Hearts 3 review.
Jump Force
The latest Shonen Jump crossover game lets you create your own character and join forces with the likes of Goku, Naruto, and Monkey D Luffy. GameSpot's review called its tag-team fighting action "an enjoyable test of strategy."
See our Jump Force review.
A Plague Tale: Innocence
A Plague Tale is the dark and somber story of a young woman named Amicia, who is on a quest to save herself and her brother Hugo from hordes of plague-ridden rats. They are also on the run from the evil Inquisition, which are hunting Hugo for the secrets that lie in his blood. You'll solve puzzles, sneak past enemies, and even fight your way out of dangerous situations.
See our A Plague Tale: Innocence review.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
The spiritual successor to Castlevanias of old, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a callback to the likes of Symphony of the Night. Produced by Castlevania stalwart Koji Igarashi, Bloodstained puts you in the shoes of the Shardbinder, Miriam, as you explore a castle, gain new powers, and fight off demons of all shapes and sizes in an attempt to stop your old friend Gebel's newfound evil ways.
Borderlands 3
Shoot, loot, shoot, loot, shoot, loot, shoot. That's Borderlands 3 in a nutshell. A seemingly endless flow of baddies and guns makes for exciting combat that you need to be on your toes for.
See our Borderlands 3 review.
Madden NFL 20
Madden NFL 20 introduces the new QB1 career mode, which puts you in the shoes of an up-and-coming quarterback trying to make a name for themselves in the NFL. The football action is excellent, with new X-Factor and Superstar abilities changing things up for longtime Madden players
See our Madden NFL 20 review.
FIFA 20
FIFA 20 continues EA's annual soccer series with another great entry. It features everything fans have to come to expect from the franchise, yet it also introduces a new mode that's reminiscent of the much-loved FIFA Street. Volta Football introduces street soccer to the mainline FIFA series, making for a more chaotic and shorter experience than your standard match.
See our FIFA 20 review.
NHL 20
NHL 20 has so many modes it can be hard to choose which one to play. Thankfully, almost every mode in the game is worth your time, whether you're customizing your own skater and taking to the ice in The World of Chel, building your roster in HUT, or taking your favorite team to the Stanley Cup in Franchise mode.
See our NHL 20 review.
NBA 2K20
NBA 2K20 is this year's entry in the beloved basketball series, and while it had a rocky launch with bugs and glitches, it's still a great game once you hit the court. With generally favorable reviews and an average of 80/100 from GameSpot sister site Metacritic, any NBA fan can get a lot out of this year's game.
See our NBA 2K20 campaign impressions.
Still have some names left on your shopping list? Check out our sister sites for tech gift ideas, foodie gift ideas, entertainment gift ideas, and fashion and beauty gift ideas this holiday season.