Few things in gaming are as enjoyable as a good adventure title. The adventure genre is loosely defined and emphasizes narrative and exploration over action, which might include the use of basic puzzle mechanics. It also guarantees a sense of discovery, thrill, and having a long journey, and oftentimes includes befriending or confronting people. Whether it’s exploring an all-new world or solving a complex puzzle, something about these games keeps us coming back for more. If you’re looking for some of the best adventure games available on Xbox, look no further. This list includes both classics and newer releases, so there’s something for everyone.
1. Sea of Thieves
Sea of Thieves is a shared-world adventure game from an acclaimed developer that offers the ultimate pirate experience. Set sail on your vessel, command a crew of friends or AI allies, and explore the vast ocean to discover treasure. Come face-to-face with skeletons, battle against other pirates, and test your wit in challenging riddles. Sea of Thieves is filled with piracy and plundering. To become a successful pirate, players need to learn how to sail their ship, fire their cannons, and fight hand-to-hand. They’ll also need to find treasure maps and dig up buried loot. The more players’ evil deeds grow, the more reputation they’ll earn with one of the three major pirate factions.
2. Shadow of The Tomb Raider
In this game, Lara Croft, the main character, is faced with her most personal quest yet as she ventures into the treacherous jungles of Mexico and South America to uncover the secrets of a forgotten Mayan civilization. As she races to save the world from a Maya apocalypse, Lara will be forged into the ultimate survivor: tough, resourceful, and brave.
This game is her defining moment. It is also one of the finest games in the franchise’s long and illustrious history. The setting sun bounces off the water as you swim towards the shore; the dense, green jungle foliage as you clamber through it; the ancient ruins that you explore are drop-dead gorgeous and evocative.
3. A Way Out
A Way Out is an exclusive co-op adventure where you play the role of one of two prisoners making your escape from jail. Breaking out is only the beginning, and you must work together to overcome all obstacles in your path if you want to make it out alive. This game comes from the creators of Brothers – A Tale of Two Sons.
Much like that one, it’s a two-player collaboration title. Each player controls one of the main characters, Leo or Vincent, in a reluctant alliance to break out of prison and gain their freedom. This game is not only an adventure/action Xbox game but also a couch co-op where you and a friend can play from start to finish.
4. Rush
Rush, a young turtle from the Caribbean, sets off on an incredible journey to New York City. Along the way, he meets up with his friends, including Coco (a spirited and independent toucan), Goldie (the adventurous goldfish), and Marina (a shy but caring sea lion). Together they will explore iconic landmarks such as Times Square, Central Park, and The Statue of Liberty. With your help, these animal pals will work together to solve puzzles that lead them closer to their destination. It’s time for this group of friends to have fun in the Big Apple.
5. Fallout 4
Fallout 4 is an action role-playing open-world video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game’s main story follows the Sole Survivor of Vault 111 as they search for their missing son in the wasteland of a post-apocalyptic America. The game is set within an open world post-apocalyptic environment that encompasses the city of Boston and the surrounding Massachusetts region known as “Commonwealth”. This Commonwealth is what is left of the pre-War American state of Massachusetts. The game’s story takes place in 2287, ten years after the events of Fallout 3 and 210 years after “The Great War”, a nuclear apocalypse that devastated the United States.
6. Mad Max
Become Mad Max, the lone warrior in a savage post-apocalyptic world where cars are the key to survival. In this action-packed, open-world, third-person action game, you must fight to stay alive in The Wasteland, using brutal on-ground and vehicular against vicious gangs of bandits. He’s a reluctant hero with a survival instinct.
Thus, Max wants nothing more than to leave The Wasteland behind him and find solace in the solitude of the desert. But when he’s captured by a warlord known as Immortan Joe, Max is thrust into a deadly battle to escape. With the help of Imperator Furiosa, a hardened warrior driving a massive war rig loaded with supplies, they must battle their way through the treacherous canyon to freedom.
7. Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion
The first thing anyone notices about this game is its striking resemblance to classic 16-bit era video games. This isn’t just some stylistic choice either — it’s an intentional throwback to video gaming history that we love seeing more developers explore nowadays! It’s not just the graphics, though; everything from boss fights to puzzles to the overall structure and flow of the game feels very reminiscent of those golden years.
That’s not to say that Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion is a simple nostalgia trip. The game features an all-new story where Finn and Jake must set sail on a high-seas adventure to stop a group of pirates from plundering the Candy Kingdom. They’ll recruit a rag-tag crew, upgrade their ship, and explore various islands, each with its challenges and puzzles to solve.
8. Call of Cthulhu
Call of Cthulhu is a horror game based on the work of H. P. Lovecraft, which prominently features a mixture of action, adventure, stealth, and exploration. The game is set in the 1920s when private detective Edward Pierce visits his old friend Charles Dexter Ward at his mansion in Arkham, Massachusetts, to investigate some ritualistic murders. As Pierce explores the estate, he comes across many strange events that lead him deeper into an otherworldly dimension known as “The Dark Waters”. All this eventually culminates in an epic battle with the ancient god Cthulu himself.
9. MX vs ATV All Out
The MX vs ATV All Out game is an off-road racing title featuring motocross and quad bikes. The player can choose to race as either a motocross or quad bike rider and compete in various events such as Supercross, Nationals, Opencross, Endurocross, and Supermoto. There are a variety of tracks to select from, each with different weather conditions and terrain. There is also a career mode in which the player must complete specific objectives to progress. In addition to building a career, there is also a multiplayer mode players can employ to compete against others online.
10. Marvel’s Avengers
The highly anticipated Marvel’s Avengers game is the ultimate battle of good vs evil. It features Earth’s mightiest heroes taking on Marvel super villains in an epic, action-packed game for Xbox One and Xbox 360! Unlock some of your favorite characters from the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and more to face off with Loki, Ultron, and other foes. If you want to save the world like a true hero, start with Marvel’s Avengers. It has everything you could want in a blockbuster game: huge set pieces, exciting action, and plenty of humor. With multiple playable characters, each with unique abilities and style, you can play the game your way.