Behind every great gamer, typically rests a pretty great backlog of titles that have either never been played or never been finished. It’s easy to put a game down when something else releases in rapid succession. It happens to me all the time. I always say that I’ll come back to it in due course but never quite get around to diving back in. If that’s you, we’ve listed ten of the best backlog games that you should really pick back up if any of these are sat gathering dust in your collection. This wasn’t an easy list of titles to group up. Believe me.
Alien Isolation – Trailer
Alien Isolation is hands down one of the scariest survival horror games of the gen. The game takes place fifteen years after the events of the original Alien film and stars Amanda Ripley, the daughter of the iconic Ellen Ripley. In the hopes of tracking her missing mother, Amanda soon finds herself at the mercy of a deviously smart Xenomorph. What follows on from that is a non-stop game of cat and mouse that’s well paced, well written and excellently voiced. Seriously, if you’re a horror fan and you’ve yet to start this up or finish it, dive right in.
DOOM – Trailer
I’ll admit I was a little skeptical when DOOM was announced. Not only was I burnt out with first-person shooters, but the last Doom I had played just wasn’t that good. DOOM, on the other hand, completely restored my lust for FPS. The game is brutal, graphic, well developed and comes with a challenge like no other. It helps, of course, that the game comes tethered to a decent plot that grips you and never lets go. Bethesda recently announced a sequel. So if you’ve yet to polish this off, now is as good a time as any to see it through to the end.
Final Fantasy XV – Trailer
Bromance at its finest. Many took issues with the all-male cast of characters and the seemingly empty open-world, but I thoroughly enjoyed Final Fantasy XV right up to the end. Square Enix continue to support this game and have dedicated themselves to support it for another year through additional content and refinements. Sure, this may not be the next Final Fantasy VII (it’s the best in the series, let’s not argue), but it’s still a decent RPG that was well worth the wait nevertheless. Jump back into Altissia as soon as you can, people.
Cuphead – Trailer
Cuphead made some solid impressions when it was first revealed at E3. Then, everything went quiet. Fans caught the occasional glimpse here and there as the years went by, but nothing truly substantial, until finally, the game released. Cuphead is a distinct looking game that handles well and plays well throughout its entirety. Challenging it may indeed be, but it went on to sell extraordinarily well, so much so we’re soon due to see some new content added. If the game’s harsh difficulty chased you away, I encourage you to dive back in, soon.
Halo: Master Chief Collection – Trailer
How the hell did this make the list? Well, I’m feeling generous, that’s how. I’ve made no secret of the fact that this game was a massive mess at launch (and long after), so much so that I use it as a verbal punching bag, time and time again. Though to the game’s credit, it’s a much smoother experience now, which makes the prospect of picking up this bundle all that more appealing. If you, like me, put this down a few years back due to its several technical problems, I recommend giving it a second chance. Caution: large install size.
Ori and the Blind Forest – Trailer
Ori and the Blind Forest is still often refereed to as one of the best platformers on Xbox One. It tells the stunning heart warming story of Ori, a white guardian spirit that’s adopted by a creature named Naru, after falling from the Spirit Tree following a storm. Sadly Naru dies of starvation, leaving Ori in the heart of a dying forest to fend for himself. What follows on from this is a constant string of outstanding platforming-gameplay mechanics, wildly interesting encounters and a beautiful yet emotional conclusion to the story. It’s incredible.
Tomb Raider – Trailer
Following Tomb Raider Underworld, I was more than ready to throw Lara Croft to the side and never look at her again. That was until Square Enix unveiled the Tomb Raider reboot. Lara was coming back, bigger and better than ever before. Tomb Raider remains as one of the best games in the entire series thanks to its brilliantly altered gameplay mechanics, its well written and paced story, and its mature theme. With Shadow of the Tomb Raider soon to release, now is the best time to dive in and finish the game and its immediate sequel.
Monster Hunter World – Trailer
Monster Hunter World just so happens to be the highest rated game on our site, scoring a perfect ten out of ten, something we don’t hand out lightly. Now, I’m not a gamer that particularly enjoys the “grind” so to speak. Though, Monster Hunter World gets a free pass for me. Why? Because it makes the grind fun. The game houses some gorgeously detailed and diverse locations, grouped with heaps of pulse-pounding monsters that players need to battle and farm to better themselves in the long run. Rinse, repeat and hit that Teostra.
Far Cry 5 – Trailer
Ubisoft knows how to make great games. I don’t love Ubisoft because of that, I love them because they’re daring and they’re not afraid to try new things. When it came to Far Cry, on the other hand, I was expecting Ubisoft to play it safe due to the popularity of the series. Well, how wrong was I. Far Cry 5 isn’t just the best game in the franchise, it’s arguably one of the best shooters of the year. There’s just so many things Far Cry 5 gets right; its story, its gameplay, its diverse locations, its depth and just about everything else in between.
Sea of Thieves – Trailer
Let’s get something straight. Sea of Thieves is a bare game. The lack of content at launch, and arguably even now, is one of the game’s biggest criticisms. Though, with that being said, there’s just nothing else like it on the market. Players dive into the game after customizing their very own pirate and sail off on endless voyages with or against other players. It’s a stunning experience that really consists of making your own story. Plus, there’s heaps of content coming to the game in the near and distant future. This is well worth your time.
So, there’s our top ten games that you should clear from your backlog if, like us, you have a bundle of titles that are screaming for some more attention. We’ve tried to make the whole list as diverse as possible. Let’s face it, there’s absolutely no shortage of excellent games that could easily make the cut. Some honorable mentions; Resident Evil 7, Assassin’s Creed: Origins, Call of Duty: WWII and L.A. Noire. If you have a few titles that you have every intention to come back to, be sure to hit the comment section below and list what they are.
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