Welcome to the next part of our slightly early holiday gaming guide. Today, we’re looking at the exclusive releases for Microsoft’s Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles.
Those two don’t have as many games coming between now and the end of year as the PlayStation 4 and PS3 had, but Microsoft has some heavy hitters in the pipeline, including a particular space-warring chief. Enjoy the guide, and you can find our schedule for the rest of the week below:
Part 1: PlayStation 4, PS3, and Vita
Part 2: Xbox One and 360
Part 3: Wii U and Nintendo 3DS
Part 4: PC
Part 5: Multiplatform
Forza Horizon 2
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Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox 360
Release date: Sept. 30
Forza Horizon is a spin-off series of Forza Motorsport, the racing simulator franchise that focuses on realism. Like the earlier entries, Forza Horizon 2 also features digital versions of real-world cars, but its action takes place in an open world instead of across multiple, contained racetracks. If you’re not sure about that free-roaming business, a demo is coming out for the Xbox One on Sept. 16, so you can try before you buy.
Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox 360
Release date: Oct. 21
From the studio that brought you Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and Dance Central, Fantasia: Music Evolved is the latest rhythm game from developer Harmonix. It uses the Kinect camera to capture your movements, which you need to time to musical cues. The title features modern pop hits, but it also includes some classical music from the animated classic film that inspired it.
Sunset Overdrive
Platform: Xbox One
Release date: Oct. 28
Sunset Overdrive is an open-world third-person shooter from Insomniac Games, the developer known for the Ratchet & Clank and Resistance series. While those previous franchises were PlayStation exclusives, this one is only coming out on the Xbox One. And because it’s an Insomniac title, Sunset features plenty of over-the-top weapons like the TnTeddy, a gun that lobs stuffed bears that explode on impact. It also has a colorful, vibrant art-style that looks like a piece of street graffiti come to life.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Platform: Xbox One
Release date: Nov. 11
This anthology collects every Halo game to feature the iconic, supersoldier. You get Halo: Combat Evolved (the anniversary edition released on the Xbox 360), Halo 2 (updated with new graphics for this release), Halo 3, and Halo 4. It also features a multiplayer mode that lets you battle on every map from all four games.
