It's time for another round of Pick One! This week, given that Xbox has been heavily promoting "six headliners" coming to Xbox Game Pass later in 2021, we thought we'd highlight each of them and find out your favourite.
Keep in mind that Age of Empires IV in this list is not coming to Xbox consoles as far as we know, but is still being promoted as an Xbox game due to being part of the Xbox ecosystem and published via Xbox Game Studios.
Let's take a look at what we're working with:
Microsoft Flight Simulator (July 27)
Microsoft Flight Simulator is the next generation of one of the most beloved simulation franchises. From light planes to wide-body jets, fly highly detailed and stunning aircraft in an incredibly realistic world.
Psychonauts 2 (Aug 25)
Combining quirky missions and mysterious conspiracies, Psychonauts 2 is a platform-adventure game with cinematic style and tons of customizable psychic powers.
Back 4 Blood (Oct 12)
Back 4 Blood is a thrilling cooperative first-person shooter from the creators of the critically acclaimed Left 4 Dead franchise. Experience the intense 4 player co-op narrative campaign, competitive multiplayer as human or Ridden, and frenetic gameplay that keeps you in the action.
Age Of Empires IV (Oct 28)
One of the most beloved real-time strategy games returns to glory with Age of Empires IV, putting you at the center of epic historical battles that shaped the world. Featuring both familiar and innovative new ways to expand your empire in vast landscapes with stunning 4K visual fidelity, Age of Empires IV brings an evolved real-time strategy game to a new generation.
Forza Horizon 5 (Nov 9)
Your Ultimate Horizon Adventure awaits! Explore the vibrant and ever-evolving open world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world’s greatest cars.
Halo Infinite (Holiday 2021)
When all hope is lost and humanity’s fate hangs in the balance, the Master Chief is ready to confront the most ruthless foe he’s ever faced. The legendary Halo series returns with the most expansive Master Chief story yet.
Let us know which of these upcoming Xbox games you're most excited for below.
Comments 52
Forza Horizon 5 but will definitely get my laptop out to play Age of Empires 4 though.
Well all 6 are going to be amazing
Forza all day.
Back 4 Blood and Halo have my ears firmly perked. Psychonauts 2 is already pre-downloaded and as for Forza, I'm mostly keen to see some true next gen graphics. oh, and Flight simulator only so I can experience the blood pumping thrill of crashing into random fields of Britain
Halo for sure. Been a long wait since the delay!
Up to E3 it would have been Flight Sim but Forza 5 is now right alongside it for me I guess
I have voted for Psychonauts 2 because that game is so underrated and has so much potential. But of course Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 will be the only 2 absolute bangers for rest of this year.
I also want to thank the site admins for not including the “none” option which gets abused by the usual trolls.
That’s tough. Really looking forward to Flight sim and Forza Horizon 5. Psychonauts 2 as well.
Also hoping Halo Infinite’s campaign is a return to form
Psychonauts 2
This was TOUGH! But I chose Halo Infinite over Psychonauts 2 and Forza because I really want to see what’s happening with Master Chief.
Very tough but I've gone for Halo Infinite just because that has had longer to build hype whereas FH5 came out of no where!
I like the fact that I didn't know if Halo or Forza would win.
I just don't get the appeal of flight simulator, yeah graphics are good but I just don't find the idea of flying around aimlessly fun.
So for me I'm looking forward to Back 4 Blood and after fully understanding what forza horizon is and that's its not a racer plus its amazing graphics, forza horizon 5 is now a game I can't wait to play.
Finally psychonauts is a game id usually play but don't know if I should as I haven't played the first, unless I don't need to?
Far and away Psychonauts 2. I’ve wanted a proper sequel to it for over half of my life at this point.
@UltimateOtaku91 Psychonauts is one of the few 3D platformers that has an involved story and the sequel will be picking up on a lot of lingering plot threads both from the original game and the VR game. If possible I’d say play the original, it’s aged pretty well imo.
Forza Horizon 5 without question, though I'm going to play all of them as it's basically this lineup that convinced me to jump on board with Series X
I gotta be honest Age of empires no questions asked xD
For me it's Halo Infinite, but Psychonauts 2 is a very close second. But I'll play the heck out of all those games (with the exception of AoE 4, since it won't make it to consoles). Can't wait to full around in Mexico with Forza... and in the whole world with Flight Sim.
Back 4 Blood is coming in under the radar, have been asking for a Left 4 Dead reboot or sequel to the trilogy for years now, excited for that to hit Gamepass!!! Obviously number 1 is Halo Infinite but we all win and don't really have to choose or budget like on Switch or PS.
I was going to pick psychonauts because I enjoyed the first game and the second looks really good, but I picked Halo Infinite because that multiplayer trailer was impressive.
The answer for me is Hellblade 2, no contest there!!!
Went FH5, could change to Halo but not enough is known or been shown, definitely campaign wise.
So for now FH5.
Halo. As a die hard fan of the series I absolutely cannot wait. It looks like 343 have nailed it which makes its arrival even more exciting 😁
@Dezzy70
Well at least you're definitely not me, despite nicking my name! I went straight for Halo.
Really looking forward to age of empires
@Dezzy
Good choice Halo, but I had to pick only one and went with the Forza Horizon series and with the best developer Xbox has so far.
It's gotta be Halo right? Can't wait to see Mastercheif in action again..
Lost Judgment is my most-anticipated upcoming Xbox game.
I picked Back 4 Blood because
1 - I loved L4D
2 - Halo and Forza were just too obvious of picks.
Microsoft Flight Simulator. I've never played Halo (gasp) so Infinite will be my first experience with the series, my excitement for Psychonauts 2 has died down a bit, but I'm still very eager to try it out. Forza Horizon 5 looks cool but it isn't Cruis'n Blast so it's not my pick. Back 4 Blood will be that game that I may buy for sale in like three years, like it, and never play it again. I just don't care about AOE4.
Forza for sure it looks incredible. Flight simulator might be cool for a bit just to see the detail on the ground.
To literally quote @GamingFan4Lyf. Thanks for making my life easier....
I picked Back 4 Blood because
1 - I loved L4D
2 - Halo and Forza were just too obvious of picks.
all of those are meh
Pumped for all of them but Flight Sim got my vote. That's going to be amazing.
Just noticed my local store has the new Xbox games up for preorder in shop.
HALO £54.99
FH5 £49.99
That’s good price for release day.
So why has the other side gone £70?
Well, having Halo in the list makes it a no-brainer for me but apart from Halo I am also really looking forward to Psychonauts 2.
Looking forward to the Halo Infinite singleplayer/ online coop campaign. There will be one, right? Less so towards the online multiplayer part.
Forza Horizon 5 may be the game I'll play the longest... but let's not underestimate Back 4 Blood here with a couple of friends...
I’m really looking forward to Flight Simulator. To finally have a great flight sim on a console is gonna be amazing. I’m also looking forward to FH5, but have some reservations. Obviously it will look great, but I was disappointed in the single player campaign in FH4 (FH3 SP was much better). Also it’s not out till November which is still ages away so am keeping any excitement in check!
As I don't own a gaming PC it's flight sim all day long. If I did it would be Forza 5
Forza Horizon 5 - its the only one of these that would be bought day 1 and if I only had enough money to purchase 1, Forza would take my money.
That being said, I don't have to choose which 'one' to buy as I have Game Pass Ultimate and can play all of these Day 1 if I want to - as well as games like Ascent, Scorn, the Gunk etc too
I understand that this is probably impossible, but wouldn't it be cool if Age of Empires could be streamed via xCloud?
I will be looking to play all of them.
Assuming that DLC won't be included in the GamesPass, I will likely buy Forza Horizon 5 Ultimate Edition as I am really looking forward to playing that one.
However, as I am likely to only play Halo for it's campaign (and seems as they only ever release multiplayer DLC) I will happily play that on the GamesPass, even though it is the game that I am most looking forward to from that particular list...
Hard to choose, so many great titles, but went Flight Sim, just choose it's so different to pretty much anything that's came before, let alone the other 5.
Gotta love Psychonauts 2 though!
Forza undoubtedly. What a killer lineup fro the rest of the year!
Hoping the delay means a good Halo game but Forza will be there if not. Hard to choose.
I'm not sure halo will be out this year
Psychonauts 2
Back 4 blood
Forza 5
Hades for me. But from the list I'd go with Back 4 Blood as the only one I'm excited for, however will give Halo and Forza a go because, why not!
Probably Forza and Halo tied for me but giving HALO the nod cuz so long since I’ve played as Master Chief.
If I had to pick only one (and I do) I say flight simulator. I have always loved flight games and open world games…. This is the pinnacle of both.
Because of Halo's mediocre initial reveal my hype for the game was practically dead.
But the last showing had such great improvements that I cant wait to jump back in.
Although the best might be Forza Horizon 5, the most anticipated is Halo Infinite because it's the most ambitious in the iconic series, almost a reboot, and many people are working on it including people that were asked to return to Halo to improve the development of Infinite. Special mention goes to Flight Simulator, the most ambitious and most new-generation game on any console.
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