Introduction
The New Xbox Experience update for Xbox One has turned Microsoft's console into something almost entirely different to the original console that launched in 2013.
While it may be tempting to toss out your Xbox 360 now that its successor can work with your game library, the catch is that the list of compatible games isn't without a few notable omissions.
Thankfully, Xbox plans to roll out additions on a regular basis, with titles like Halo Reach, Call of Duty: Black Ops, and the entire BioShock series (including the criminally-overlooked BioShock 2) making their way to the One in December.
Since publishers get a say in what games can work with the Xbox One, several games that have recently been remastered for new consoles, such as Dishonored, DmC: Devil May Cry and Saints Row IV are unlikely to make a comeback.
However, we've found a list of games that, barring some unknown legal hassle, should join the ranks of backwards compatible titles on Xbox One as soon as possible. Most if not all will likely make it to the One at some point, but we just can't bear to wait that long.
Red Dead Redemption
Why it should be on Xbox One Rockstar's open-world Western blew us away when it debuted in 2010, and ever since, news on the series' return has been as elusive and mysterious as protagonist John Marston himself. While it may be a while before we can get back in the saddle, our memories of our first ride into Mexico, as José Gonazalez's Far Away kept us company, will remain a defining moment of the past generation of consoles.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Why it should be on Xbox One Because it's Skyrim! Bethesda's fantasy adventure stole the acclaim, awards and free time of millions of players when it debuted in 2011, and, thanks to a vibrant modding community on PC and a steady release of expansions, stayed in public consciousness well past the lifespan of your average video game. Heck, Skyrim's popularity managed to even outlast its own silly meme about knees and arrows.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Why it should be on Xbox One Let's face it, Call of Duty is a cultural force of nature. The latest release, Black Ops III, made near-Dethlokian amounts of money last week, for cryin' out loud. While it seems redundant to demand more Call of Duty make its way to the Xbox One, there's a reason Treyarch's own Black Ops series sticks around: the public demands it!
Xbox's own polls for what games should become backwards compatible show 'BlOps 2' as the crowd favorite, pulling ahead of Red Dead Redemption AND Skyrim by a good 10,000 votes as of this writing.
Ninja Gaiden II
Why it should be on Xbox One 2008 was a different time for video games. Ninja Gaiden II was a direct representation of this, bringing ridiculous amounts of blood, dismemberment, tight leather outfits, and every other ninja action trope you could want. It was also tough as nails, requiring actual skill and old-fashioned trial and error to get past even the earlier levels. It made 'hard' games cool well before Bloodborne or even Demon's Souls.
Alan Wake
Why it should be on Xbox One To this day, Alan Wake remains an enigma that should be played more than talked about. It's pretty much if Max Payne (a series created by the same developer) was set in Twin Peaks (or Gravity Falls, for the millennials in the audience) and was structured like a television show featuring paranormal activity, oddball characters, and demonic creatures with an aversion to light. The shooting was pretty awesome, too.
Batman: Arkham City
Why it should be on Xbox One As much as we loved Batman: Arkham Origins in 2009, the follow-up in 2011 opened up a giant world for the Dark Knight to explore, filled with criminal scum to stop, classic villains to tangle with and ample secrets to collect. Considering the success of the sequels (even the somewhat disappointing Arkham Origins), it's curious how Arkham City didn't make its way onto Xbox's list of backwards-compatible g... oh, that's why.
Left 4 Dead 2
Why it should be on Xbox One Left 4 Dead 2, simply put, is about cooperating under pressure. It's just you, three trusted friends, and a mad dash to the safe house amidst a 28 Days Later-style zombie apocalypse. The game's 'Director' system, which throws you a bone when your team's hurting but will just as easily throw a wrench in the works if you're doing too well, makes sure every game is tense, and impossible to complete without teamwork.
Burnout Paradise
Why it should be on Xbox One Before moving on to work on the Need for Speed franchise, Criterion Games was the developer behind the 'racing-meets-demolition-derby' Burnout series. The arcade-style racer went open-world in 2008, enabling players to rip across an entire city to race, crash, and break speed laws to their heart's content. Honestly, we forget if this game had a button for the brake - if it ever did, we certainly never used it.
Crackdown
Why it should be on Xbox One Also known as 'That Game That Had The Halo 3 Beta', Crackdown's brand of over-the-top comic book justice had us jumping over buildings, blowing up gang members by the dozens, and picking up entire cars in the name of showing criminals that 'The Agency' meant business. With a new entry in the series making its way to Xbox One soon, now would be a perfect time to revisit the original.
Blue Dragon
Why it should be on Xbox One A throwback to classic role-playing games, Blue Dragon brought Final Fantasy's own Hironobu Sakaguchi and Nobuo Uematsu together with Dragon Quest artist Akira Toriyama (also of Chrono Trigger and Dragon Ball fame). It was an old-school game with modern production values. While RPGs of all makes and models were found on the Xbox 360, Blue Dragon had a unique charm of its own that we think should make a comeback on the Xbox One.
