Buying And Playing An Xbox One In 2025: The Must Have Games You Need To Get Right Now!

[@thegamethrifter]

It might be 2025, but I think it's still the perfect time to buy an Xbox One! They are super cheap and the games are the cheapest you can find! What are some of your favorite Xbox One games?

[@patrickmurphy9470]

Don’t forget about backward compatibility for XB360 and OG XB games. The catalog is really impressive.

[@thegamethrifter]

For sure! I was going to add some to this video but it was already getting near 20 minutes!

[@TimelordUK]

Two months ago I was GIVEN an Xbox One S. I only own a PS2 and PS3 so this was a huge upgrade for me. I only like old games so this is just perfect for me because the games I love are now so cheap. I bought Tomb Raider Anniversary, Tomb Raider 1,2,3 remastered, Resident Evil remake, Resident Evil 2 remastered, Psychonauts 1, all really cheap. You Tube is much more responsive on this than my PS3 and the best bit for me is the Xbox One S can play video content from a video player on a web page. I like Kiss Cartoon, and Encore, a UK retro tv compilation page showing so many old TV shows and movies, now I can watch them all on my TV. My PS3 couldn't play video on web pages. I'm very happy with it.

[@doomguy979]

You should try tomb raider 2013 and rise of tomb raider too

[@TimelordUK]

@doomguy979 no. I do not like the way they have developed the game into a shooter. I don't like shooters. And no way should Lara have a bow and arrow. If I want to play Uncharted, I can, on my PS3. My love is for the original Tomb Raiders

[@KobaDigital]

You are right, games on OG Xbox One are so cheap. In early December I bought a PS3, my first console since I left my parents' house, and sold it 3 weeks later as I found a really affordable Xbox One. I've got nothing against the PS3, but I'd rather have just one console.

[@thegamethrifter]

You are set! So many great games to play and they are very cheap!

[@arranleon7874]

The Wolfenstein series of games are really cheap and play real slick on the Xbox one S/X! 😁

[@doomguy979]

İm still using og xbox one its almost 12 years old device but run flawles

[@andriodman1]

Like if you don't use discs right?

[@KobaDigital]

Have you ever opened it to dust inside?

[@thegamethrifter]

That's incredible!

[@GibbsBro]

Titanfall 2 is a masterpiece. Incredible story. Great list bro!

[@thegamethrifter]

Thanks so much! Absolutely love that story!

[@majorgear1021]

TF2 is literally the only good game on the list. Ryse and Sunset are worth a playthrough, but I wouldn’t recommend them. They are more, “if you are bored…” titles

[@thegamethrifter]

I obviously disagree lol

[@Dandoyupeben]

Xbox one X has kept me away from the new gen consoles

[@JacobTurner-m2l]

Me to lol can’t play all the new games but I can cloud play a lot of them. My one x is holding up well enough for me lol think I might skip this xbox next gen. An go for a ps5. I had the series s and I don’t game enough to notice much difference between the last gen and next gen. I know there are obvious ones like load times etc etc but that kinda thing doesn’t bother me

[@Dandoyupeben]

@ Yeah man I’m exactly the same plus soo many games I’ve not played and they release loads all the time. Imma go for the ps5 too I actually prefer being a gen behind feel like you don’t miss out and games are cheap 👌🏽 The Xbox one X still looks awesome

[@JacobTurner-m2l]

@@Dandoyupebenexactly my one x looks just like my series s only difference to me is load times and a little difference in fps but not much enough to care lol. I agree my library was so back logged that the xbox one is able to handle all of the games I play plus more so figured I might as well beat all my games and then when my library is clear or closer I’ll get a ps5

[@Dandoyupeben]

@@JacobTurner-m2l That’s reassuring to know I thought about getting the new Xbox but no games that interest me! Glad I’m not the only one I went from VCR Xbox to the one X and was impressed at the jump! Take me a good few years to get through all the games 😂

[@patrickmurphy9470]

Install an internal SSD and really wake up your One X. Load times are way shorter.

[@internetjunkie5241]

I still have it plugged in under my tv . It’s a great console.

[@thegamethrifter]

Great stuff!

[@LatashaMorra]

Time to relax and enjoy the weekend

[@thegamethrifter]

For sure!

[@malecus7664]

With the launch debacle and no Gears or Halo in site, I picked up a PS4 day 1. A couple of exclusive games I was really looking forward to (Fable Legends and Scalebound) were also canceled. Finally did end up getting a Gears 4 Special Edition in 2017. Did put quite a bit of time into Battle Toads and Killer Instinct with my nephews. Have been getting them a pretty extensive collection on Christmas/birthdays the past 5 years.

[@thegamethrifter]

You can't go wrong because now is the perfect time to collect!

[@nelsonpereira8450]

Lol thanks for your video .I'm just watching now .and you are right. I'm a playstaion all my life .except I started with atari .that's how old I am lol .but you got me 100% right with racing forza 6 and dang your right this is the only racing game o got addicted to .I can't seem to put this one down .I just bought a 66 chevy 2 nova SS .lol I LOVE IT

[@thegamethrifter]

Absolutely! And thanks for watching!

[@dilemma404]

I got the series s but the xbox one is still a great console, any xbox one model is good from day one to xbox one x, i have an xbox one fat i used to play on before getting my series s and is really good, now if ya can get a used xbox series s is really cheap maybe ya can get one for like 150$ or less used is way better and super smooth gameplay, xbox one x would be good too for the 4k quality on games but depends on everyones preference.

[@thegamethrifter]

Love the One X, but I have a Series S and Series X as well. All are awesome, but if someone was just looking to catch up on the past decade of games and bought a cheap Xbox One, they would be set!

[@Pittypatmatt]

Excellent video

[@thegamethrifter]

Thanks for watching!

[@AkiraYanky]

Good video ! Tho I do feel like you undersold the reason why ppl actual hated Xbox one during the first half of its lifespan , ppl didn’t hate the Xbox one cuz it was “cool to hate on “, it deserved to be hated on for all its bs Microsoft tried to pull.

[@thegamethrifter]

And years later almost everything is digital or a service with DRM. It is what it is. I can 100% say that it was cool to hate on Microsoft though. Same with Sony and the PS3. In fact, I'd say there's still people hating on Xbox due to the Xbox One stuff.

[@AkiraYanky]

@@thegamethrifter yea don mattrick really did a number on Xbox’s reputation. They definitely learned their lesson tho

[@thegamethrifter]

Yea, they certainly instituted some good things after Don left .

[@turismofoegaming8806]

I just picked up a Near Mint Condition White & Black Xbox One X(mainly just to have another one and because my black one I got in late 2016-2017 needs thermal paste and cleaning) and I couldn't be happier as it works perfectly, has zero dust built-up in it from the family. I got it from never used it!! And I got it for $110?!?!? Steal of a Deal

[@Immortal_Mezziah]

Got my one x gold rush edition for 160$ last year cane with the original controller for the special edition too

[@turismofoegaming8806]

@ Hell yeah!! people always talk so much crap about this generation mainly where the Xbox one is concerned, but if you ask me, the Xbox one was the better console the entire generation! Early on they adopted features that Sony came out with, but dropped because they didn't increase their sales numbers.. features like the "communities" tab.. and the controller of the Xbox one S/X is in my opinion, the best controller ever because it works great and is comfortable for long sessions for every single type of game, including fighting games because that D pad is amazing!!!

[@thegamethrifter]

Good stuff for sure!

[@ThatReplicant]

Just got a one x and put an ssd in it for halo and gears. I do wish there were a bit more exclusives to play on it, though

[@thegamethrifter]

Yeah, there's not really true exclusives, but there's tons of really cool console exclusives and solid games IMO! Dead Rising 3, Ori 1-2, Forza Horizon 2, 3, 4 and 5, Killer Instinct and more!

[@PeterSkaOi]

900p 8th gen games are brutal to look at

[@thegamethrifter]

I'm playing Xbox One games in this video and I think they look fine. No TV outputs at 900p anyway.

[@suntannedduck2388]

Good video. Impulse triggers are good, no one or very few groups that enjoy them talks about, people may need to turn the feature off or most third parties don't even use it but some 1st/3rd parties do, it's good for Gears reload minigame, racing games it's a great brake guide or other assists. Was I think a good feature but people were too ecosystem/DRM focused. Ah PC DRM like Windows live or EA/Ubi and more with their disk DEM so they annoyed PC gamers with 1 user activate, can't sell. Made it for console then returned on them. Yeah cloud, Gamepads, etc are there. Infinite I guess make sense. Master Chief Collection for old stuff and it's benefits, 5 is ok. But Infinite is the latest and probably doing fine. Too much control focus at each end by companies as we all follow their next moves and uses of software over time. I have used Xbox One since or a bit of months after launch so I don't know enough of VCR and One X models not a One S but still I played and followed enough of what happened that gen for sure and the dashboards/service changes and so on to go oh DRM when yeah a lot has changed, I followed it. Psychonauts 2 is great. Sea of Theives is probably fine don't know enough about. Quantum Break has its moments but still good. Battletoads seems a s fair of Battletoads to modernise it I guess. As well as Rare Replay for more games from their past. Ryse is fine. To me it was the precursor to God of War 2018/Hellblsde, fair what they are offering but I can't stand them. Ryse has the more thematic approach and make sense and has its 360/Xbox One era qualities even besides being a launch title it's good but I still don't care for it or the other 2 mentioned. Hellblsde is good for its concepts though. Camera and controls or worlds, neither of them interested me with any of them. Especially how they handled them. Prefer different spectacle or excution of the core design then they offer but still good at what they do. Skipped Forza as no interest in Horizon or modern open world design. Motorsport was my thing and even then 5-7 were hmm, fine. For newcomers, those that don't care for cars and want a world and things to do sure, or casuals Horizon makes sense. But the modes and focus the circuit one offers is my thing. Even arcade or anti grav racers sure but Motorsport type racing even as no interest in the sport, teams or anything if I find the right entries in WRC/F1/MotoGP which so far I have if some for content then sure but most are pretty eh. So GT/Forza, Project Cars and more yeah more my thing. Or Gravel, OnRush and such as well. Underated arcade racers. Gamepads yes to trial, don't like/like sure. Then a disk/digital and refund effort but eh I prefer physical and research on the internet besides genre trying out and finding out what works for me as shooters, racing, platformers, action adventure and RPGs got very eh directions by many Devs so besides retro I explored other genres on 8th gen. So I got very open minded buying, understanding other genres and it was worth it for me especially 2022 with hack n slashes or tactics RPGs both real time and turned based genres on odd spectrums to get into. XD Quantum Break felt like Defiance game and YV show and they kind of worked but well and MMO doesn't last and Quantum Break still kind of worked the time powers and such were ok not as good as other games. But yeah the tv show scenes make the game massive and it's very you watch an episode or skip and play the gameplay. Or watch them online.... No idea if you can watch them from a menu, not when you want to play the game and be halted between chapters. Sunset Overdrive and Gravity Rush are like the last of a mix of challenges and missions I prefer in open worlds. Infamous Second Son too. Spiderman was too much not fun for me and Sunset Overdrive with its Ratchet like weapons, good platformer challenges, fair side missions of the typical sort but the tower defence, give me that over generic outposts any day. Nowadays I find open worlds or maybe many 2007+ ones from other ILs just seemed so thematic and very boring. The few gameplay interesting ones I prefer. It's like racing, you get less modes, sure it da lot of effort but objectives, recycling tracks as they do and not a lot fers repetitive and boring, they already hones this stuff it's not fun. Thematic is boring to me I already know what old gens offered I'm collecting and prefering the game design in them. XD To compare to modern gen design differences. The tone is also very different, like Journey to the Savage Planet or Outer Worlds, different tone then serious tones. Very few that do it and are great Ryse being short was never my issue. I'd play Black 2006 for it being short, many good details where it counted but fun to replay. Ryse upgrades and story are fair, gameplay was hmm. The Order 1886 same things, fair ideas, length I was fine with. I hate filler, people apparently want filler, infatted length games I want quality, short and quality. Not length and bored out of my mind at basic tasks to do then experimental or variety done well as too long consistency is boring, consistency with a mix up and short length I prefer. But some people don't appreciate that. They go 100 hours, apparently expect good visuals and unrealistic expectations. I pay attention to how games are made too, the tricks, even glitching to see how and going ok my perspective and expectations are different. Crackdown 3 I got cheap it's fine for what it is. I can tell 1&2 are different. I don't mind Crackdown 3 it's no Sunset Overdrive but it's fair of what it does of an open world in some areas. Titanfall 2 is best if a modern shooter design, not can ever play, of the minimal good modern design paced and content ones yes Titanfall 2 is a good one. I am buying up many or every PS3/360 shooter and whatever others on other consoles. I know their mechanics and qualities and their mechanics drew me to them. But level design wise the 2 good levels in Titanfall 2 are excellent and what many games lack of set pieces of ideas. Devs needed to take note of. But sigh singleplayer shooters these days more MP ones instead, hence older ones or PC or Boomer shooters then modern shooters or rail shooters seven which I have gotten into as well. Not nostalgia if games never played or even eras never did. But understanding them and the better or even bad but still good enough ideas. The left behind good toom I miss the multi app/game support Windows 8 offered that Xbox One cut in 2017. As well as Kinect besides games that use it if course but app support nah. Hardware wise and game wise many PS3/360 like IPs continued (too much any why I care less for 8th gen gaming) but the services and features of 8th gen Xbox One/PS4 are still useable I use them both and have no problems at all with them. Nothing PS5/Series X appeals to me the game design isn't, done enough research. Power sure, gameplay is emptier and other factors focused so not for me. Quick resume and more are cool but I can pass. I'd the games aren't fun and the OS navigation don't impress either. I know in Xbox One it's the same but differences due to hardware, still hate it looks or navigation. I pretend it doesn't exist and use the console for the intended use. I want to like using an OS not to ignore it. But PS3/360 definitive editions, or many gen games are fine, not my go to but good still, besides yes Blu ray, apps like a CD app cough PS4/5 don't and well more app support. Don't use Spotify, get any apps that do the same I listen to SoundCloud on my Xbox and local or phone app during a PlayStation, Nintendo or older systems unless like local with my PS3, while USB to my 360. But phone works better local files or app. Tons of apps for a console. That variety. PC eh for windows store, (sometimes for specific things but most times ignore the store) but Xbox I prefer the app selection on the store, as PC you can do more with the web browser and software there or websites while no idea the limits Edge is fine on Xbox but still limited. A closed ecosystem like Xbox and a closed store but still a lot there it makes sense of what access is there. For games fair selection you chose, I think some others could be offered of first party still that was that era not just 2020+ ones but the highlights of games on there are good. Can tell what your going for there. I think a bit more for audiences not just services either. Like sure Lucky's Take isn't ideal on Xbox One anymore. But ReCore, State of Decay series, some others. Depends what people have played or heard though. For a guy looking at the console sure. If a family console then depends. But you know your audience or perspective with the console so nothing wrong with that. But Titanfall yeah is good. Battlefront 2 is ok prefer older one. Just that execution then the modern era design. Not nostalgia just design preferences of modes and content. The rest are fair Xbox One era games though. The updates/offline is fair if used right as well. Back compat is a big deal of course and works well enough, IP support is fair, lacking in some areas but the common games are there for the most part. The further licenses lack but can't be helped obviously.

[@thegamethrifter]

This is a huge comment, and I appreciate your take on everything from the video. I wish I could respond in such a way, but just know it's appreciated!

[@KrisTheBatSpider21]

I was going to get me a PS5 last year but somebody told me not to and plus everything was heading into digital and I'm not going to get that so instead I got a Xbox One S on my birthday of july of 2024 and I love my purchase and I got some of the games I haven't played like Halo Gears of War the first Saints Row and so on I love my purchase and now I got all three systems so I should be good in gaming

[@thegamethrifter]

You are perfectly set!

[@arranleon7874]

For the sake of great expense, I cannot see how the difference in performance between the Xbox one X and the Series X is worth it? I got my Xbox one X for around $125 (paid £100 in the UK 😉)! Saying that, my PS3 still takes care of business 😎

[@thegamethrifter]

Well the Series X is incredible and plays some current gen games that the Xbox One X cannot, like Starfield, Hellblade 2, Indiana Jones, Forza Motorsport and all the upcoming games like Fable, Doom The Dark Ages, Outer Worlds 2 ECT The One X is highly powerful, but the CPU is pretty bad, so most games still run 30fps on it.

[@chianteandersonbabii_love]

I’ve never owned an Xbox 360, the original Xbox One, Xbox One S, or Xbox One X, so what’s the big deal?

[@thegamethrifter]

I mean Xbox One is backwards compatible, so you can play many games from all the generations on it.

[@turismofoegaming8806]

The irony is that everything plays and handles better on Xbox in my experience! Unless we're talking exclusive, all the third-party games played better on Xbox- This extends to the PS five with games like the Witcher three ... god I wish I had never bought the PS five... and just went with the console where I have the most games... Xbox. Now I still need a series X but I'm happy that I got another one X... having close to 500 games on the Xbox ecosystem and some of those same games I have on PS3 and PS4 and PS five and every single time they've been better on Xbox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For all of you out there didn't know I've been a lifelong PlayStation fan, but this is just the damn truth

[@thegamethrifter]

I think it depends because early on with the Xbox One most games ran worse due to the esram it had, but when the Xbox One X came out everything changed.

[@КириллКузьминых-ъ6э]

The optimization for so weak console like this is insane. Gears 5, Forza Horizon 5 or Grid Legends has amazing performance on Xbox One S. The Equivalent GPU for OG Xbox One it’s AMD Radeon HD 7770 or Nvidia GTX 750 (1 GB)

[@thegamethrifter]

Crazy what they were able to do!

[@viratkohli-ym7ux]

Should I buy Xbox One and sell Xbox 360 in Pakistan But one issue Xbox One has very low storage like I also want to play Xbox 360 games Xbox One games take a lot space

[@joeneri150]

I will just keep them both because the Xbox One also has only a limited Xbox 360 backwards compatibility list.

[@thegamethrifter]

I'd keep both, but you can use an external hard drive to play 360 and Xbox One games.

[@viratkohli-ym7ux]

@@thegamethrifter I don't have much money if I sell Xbox 360 than I can get one I will maybe by one cuz 1080 p gaming

[@Layx12]

I use an all digital xbox one s

[@thegamethrifter]

The digital One S is cool too!

[@patrickmurphy9470]

Those are kinda rare. Not many were sold. SSDs work well in that model too. You can install up to 2TB.

[@Layx12]

@ I have a one tb hhd in it that’s what it came with

[@Layx12]

@ I also don’t feel like taking it apart but thanks for the info

[@Nathan-ui2ih]

I really enjoy my Xbox one!!! And I’m still playing 😊 perfect to play Xbox original games, 360 games and of course all this game of this video 😊

[@thegamethrifter]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@turismofoegaming8806]

I find it so funny that everybody acts like Xbox is some piece of junk when every single third-party game I have played on the machine plays Night And Day difference, better than it does on PlayStation!!! Every single time and I have quite a few games that I have on both systems now some games come very close like the resident evil games .. But for the most part, Xbox plays all the best games the best !!! Even playing red dead redemption two on a one X looks and plays better than playing the same game on the PS5! And that's because on the PS5, you're simply playing the PS4 pro version which is a blurry choppy mess... It's still almost as choppy on the one X, but it is so much clearer! Higher resolution

[@thegamethrifter]

Quality console!

[@turismofoegaming8806]

In my opinion, there are some great things about Forza horizon three but it is the worst one out of the series for a few reasons! All of the skill point and drift zone areas might as well not even exist being as you got to continue with the traffic as well as the " DrivaTARDS" moving through them at the same time you are and if you're trying to put up a good number, then traffic and activity is meant to populate and generate around the player and so you'll constantly be having cars in these zones, which eventually leads to the dumbest point out of any game ever and that is traffic jams in the drift zones absolutely ridiculous!!! Forza horizon four is better in every way and five is better also !! I would even go as far as saying, Forza horizon two where the car physics and drifting is concerned is really good also but for the horizon three is a good game and I was playing it the other day as that's part of the reason I got another Xbox one X because my disc drive stopped working on my other one because of the laserbeam dirty I imagine ? I just can't believe how many people say Forza horizon three is the best one and it really really really is not in my opinion.. Not to mention things like in Forza horizon three when it started raining mysteriously your grip level would increase ?!?!? so if you were trying to drift, you would have to wait till it got sunny again and dry?? Making absolutely no sense?! Another thing is the set ups... no drift suspension and so you have to basically get the car there yourself whereas it was so nice and for the horizon four to be able to have the drift suspension set up that already made those changes for you? Some people might think this isn't his hard-core but really there is so many garbage things about Forza horizon three and I love the game also it's just I think it's the weakest one in the entire series.

[@thegamethrifter]

I can understand your opinion, but Forza Horizon 3 put the series and Xbox One on the map because of the HotWheels DLC, which is amazing.

[@vasanthkumar-rd3vq]

Just buy pc

[@thegamethrifter]

Ewww, no thanks.

[@nattila7713]

xbox one was bad because x360 won the prevgen and MS is a looser/evil corp.... bad sw, bad hw, bad subsciption, more expensive than the far superior ps4 of the then goodguy sony. xbox is rated what its worth - almost nothing. well deserved. I wish people punish sony similarly these day... and nintendo.... :(

[@thegamethrifter]

These are all just corporations that want our money at the end of the day.

[@nattila7713]

@@thegamethrifter sure but live gold invented by ms and next step was the murdering of physical media + full surveillance mode ..... there is evil corp and evil corp lvl20 :(