#3- Ori and the Blind Forest

While Ori is considered more of a console exclusive instead of a true exclusive because of the fact that it also comes out on PC.  It still counts as an exclusive because of the fact that they are a first party studio for Microsoft. While this game has only been out for a little over a week that is all the time it needed for people to find out how amazing it is. From the very beginning it sets a precedent of the emotional roller coaster ride that you will be taken on.

The gameplay is like that of a  metroidvania  style game where you learn new abilities that you will need to help you get through the entirety of the game. The game is constantly changing and you must adapt with it to survive to save the blind forest. While such a beautiful game to look at, it can also be very punishing and difficult at times. In the end it is well worth it and is such a great and surprising game especially coming from Microsoft who is known more for its shooting games.

#2 Super Smash Bros for WiiU

The original Super Smash Bros will always hold a certain place in my heart. It was the first game that really gave way to my love of video games. When I was a young kid my daycare had a Nintendo 64 and one game Super Smash Bros. If you were the best at the game you were the king of the kids. That is what every Super Smash Bros has done perfectly over the years making it such a competition between you and your friends that in your mind you have to be on top.

Super Smash Bros for WiiU is no different with amazing levels and gameplay that expands on previous installments. It does all this without losing any of the fun game mechanics that have made the series such a success. The biggest change from previous versions of the game is the addition of 8 player matches. This turns the excitement level up even more with all the different characters running around. The additional mode has caused some of the most entertaining moments I have had while playing the series and is a welcome mix up from the normal 4 player mode. While I would still say Super Smash Bros. Melee was the best of the series this is more than a worthy successor of the franchise.

#1- Halo Master Chief Collection

When I was a young kid I owned the NES, SNES, Nintendo 64 and a Gamecube. I was as much of a Nintendo fanboy as it got. That all changed after the first time I played Halo: Combat Evolved at a friend’s house. The next week I bought a Xbox and since then have owned Xbox 360 and an Xbox One. Halo is my favorite gaming franchise of all time and when this collection was announced I lost my mind with excitement. The Xbox team could have went a different route and just remastered Halo 2 for the games 10 year anniversary. But they went above and beyond and gave us all 4 halos starring master chief. The amount of content in this game is ridiculous when compared to other game collections. Not only does it have all 4 halo campaigns in 1080p 60 frames per second and every multiplayer map from the 4 games. They are all running on their own separate game engines on one disc.

This is a feat in its own right plus you get the TV mini series Halo Nightfall. This show explores the story of agent Locke and how he will come into his own in Halo 5: Guardians. While this game did have a rocky launch with matchmaking bugs they have been fixed for the most part to create a great experience. To make up for the bad launch 343 is giving away the entire Halo 3: ODST campaign for free for those who bought the game within a few months of release. I have not seen a great fan service come from one game in all my years in gaming. Which is why this is easily my number one game of the 8^th generation of consoles.

Now I know every gamer has different tastes so my list maybe different from yours. That in itself is why I love video games in the first place because of the variety they all bring. No two games are exactly the same (except the Call of Duty series) and are each enjoyed in their own right. I would like to know what your top 5 favorite games are for this generation of consoles. Please tell me in the comments below.