8 Xbox games that will celebrate their 10th anniversary in 2025

summation

• Rise of the Tomb Raider was a 2015 limited edition game with a strong story and polished gameplay.

• Screamride offered a unique experience testing out roller coasters and destroying things on Xbox.

• Ori and the Blind Forest is a great indie that surprises players with captivating visuals and deep storytelling.

At launch, Xbox One did not have a backwards compatibility system. Therefore, the first few years of the system's life were critical in building a strong catalog of games. 2015 was only two years after the launch of the Xbox One, so a lot of responsibility was placed on that year.

That's not to say that 2015 was a breakthrough year for the brand, but there were some solid titles released for Xbox consoles, especially when it came to exclusives. These are some of the most notable examples that will turn 10 years old in 2025.

8

Rise of the Tomb Raider

The Tomb Raider series has been around longer than the Xbox brand. In fact, the first few titles were often PlayStation-related. However, in 2015, Rise of the Tomb Raider was released on Xbox 360 and Xbox One, almost a year before it was released on PS4. So this was a timely product specifically for a green brand, and a very good product at that.

Rise of the Tomb Raider is considered one of the best games in the series due to its excellent story and solid gameplay. The gameplay includes solving puzzles, climbing objects, sneaking around, and shooting people. Each of these elements feels very polished in Rise of the Tomb Raider.

7

Scream Ride

There aren't many games like Screamride. You might see a roller coaster on the cover or in promotional material and think it's a game like RollerCoaster Tycoon. But that's not the case. You do not operate a theme park of any kind. You are testing roller coasters and destroying things.

The actual goal depends on the mode you are playing. One is to develop the coaster by solving puzzles, the other is to survive while riding the coaster, and the last is to destroy as many as possible. These are all unique experiences, and Xbox hasn't released a game like this since.

6

Ori and the Blind Forest

One of Xbox's most surprising hits of 2015 was Ori and the Blind Forest. Not only was it an indie game, it was also the first game released by Moon Studio. So forget about the series release, this game released the studio.

It does so because it's an excellent 2D platform adventure title with an eye-catching visual style and surprisingly deep story. Additionally, the overall platforming and puzzle solving is very enjoyable.

5

Halo 5: Guardians

The most high-profile Xbox exclusive of 2015 was Halo 5: Guardians. This is purely because it is the part of the series that is most synonymous with Xbox. This one is slightly different, as Master Chief shares the protagonist role with a Spartan named Locke. Each protagonist has their own team of Spartans and are trying to deal with the returning Cortana, who has suddenly become a major threat.

It's fair to say that this story is not loved by everyone, and neither are Locke's characters. But the game is still a fundamentally sound first-person shooter with great guns and enjoyable shooting mechanics. It doesn't boast the best campaign in the Halo series, but it's still a fun shooter.

4

Forza Motorsport 6

Although the Forza Horizon series already existed in 2015, Microsoft was still committed to the Forza Motorsport series, as evidenced by the release of Forza Motorsport 6. The game is one of the most critically acclaimed games in the series and has been one of the best racing titles. That year.

It's visually stunning as both the cars and tracks look very realistic. Adding to the realism are realistic sounds and gorgeous weather effects. This game might not rank as one of the most iconic racing games ever, but it was a very polished entry in a powerful series.

3

rare replay

Rare Replay is not just a single game. A collection of games from developer Rare. Even in 2015, this title was not new. Instead, it was classic titles from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s.

The package contains a total of 30, including Battletoads, Banjo-Kazooie, Conker's Bad Fur Day, and Perfect Dark Zero. Many of the games included in the pack are not only fun to play, but some were very influential and iconic at the time of their release. So the collection allows you to experience a little bit of gaming history.

2

#IDARB

Anyone who has looked through the Xbox game catalog in alphabetical order over the past decade has likely heard of #IDARB. This is because '#' is at the top of that list. However, the title doesn't really tell you what the game is about. This is an arcade-style sports title where two teams of goofy characters try to get the ball into the opponent's goal.

This makes for an enjoyable little game that has a lot of customization and doesn't take itself too seriously. But what's most interesting is how it's done. The game's creators tweeted a picture of the little red box and asked the internet what to do, which led to many suggestions and the final product. That's why the game's title means “Draw the Red Box”.

1

Gears Of War: Ultimate Edition

Gears of War has long been one of Xbox's most consistent exclusive franchises. After all, it's a series that hasn't really had a bad entry. The 2015 work is actually a remake of the original.

It also includes a well-written story of humanity dealing with a horde of Locusts. But the cover-based third-person shots feel much smoother, and the visuals are much more impressive. Additionally, the campaign includes additional chapters that were not in the original Xbox 360 version. So this game definitely lives up to its title as it is the ultimate version of the game.