50 Best Xbox One Games Right Now

Best Xbox One Games #38 – The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth

Developer: Nicalis

Synopsis: The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth is an add-on to the second title in the series, simply sub-titled Rebirth. It expands upon the original’s odd sensibilities using a number of additions and changes to the story. This pixel-art dungeon crawler features scrolling rooms, a ton more powerups, items, secrets and boss battles to expand upon the difficult, but rewarding gameplay. Daily challenges bring a new infinite replayability and let players compete with the world at large. The ability to share seeds and explore the dungeons together provides a community effect, where everyone can give something their best shot, share experiences and try again the next day.

Why it’s one of the 50 best Xbox One games: The stylized movement and combat flows in a floaty way that makes the roguelike-like genre unique in its own right. You’re pushed out of your comfort zone, forced to adapt to the mechanics that are tight once you learn how to smooth things out. You have to be very calculated in your approach to clearing out rooms, just as much as you have to enforce the checks and balances of the upgrades available to your player. Afterbirth dives deeper into the complexity of the gameplay options players have while offering dozens of new items, trinkets, characters, secrets and endings. Why try to fix what isn’t broken?

Next: #37 - Sunset Overdrive