On February 21, 2024, Microsoft announced four Xbox exclusive titles would arrive on the Switch and Sony platforms. The gaming industry was quite surprised to witness and embrace such a movement when the so-called “console wars” circled the community. Console exclusives seem to be a thing of the past, with other companies pushing to expand their properties onto other platforms.
Now that Grounded, Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and Sea of Thieves will no longer be Xbox-exclusive titles, we wonder which other games can join the multiplatform hype train. The possibilities are endless in a cloud-friendly era of technology. As a result, we picked out 20 titles we’d like to see on Nintendo and Sony platforms.
Halo
The Halo series is undoubtedly one of the most influential franchises in video gaming. The Master Chief is Xbox’s baby, a mascot staple in the 20-plus years it has been under Microsoft’s umbrella. Can you imagine the enhanced crossplay capabilities of including Sony and Nintendo into the mix? It would put Halo back into the spotlight, and online gaming would find another darling juggernaut in a world consumed by multiplayer games.
Whether it’s the classic Halo: Combat Evolved, which introduced audiences to the UNSC and the Covenant, or one of the recent 343 Industries entries, a Halo entry in the Switch and Sony worlds would be a bombastic game-changer.
Starfield
Bethesda Softworks’s newest intellectual property in years, Starfield, is a role-playing experience similar to The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Very similar. The former appears on Switch and Sony consoles, though Fallout hasn’t completely left the vault yet.
Regardless, playing Starfield on other systems sounds rudimentary, given the usage of the Creation Engine. Perhaps Bethesda and Microsoft will see things differently as Starfield (and other products) evolve.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
We know the 2020 Microsoft Flight Simulator is an incredibly detailed game. You pilot an aircraft to soar through the skies while exploring all corners of the world, something that might not be translated well for the Switch, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to try. Nintendo already tried their hand with Mortal Kombat 1, but we all deserve a second chance, right?
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a pretty straightforward gaming experience in which players can take in some magnificent views. Many players admire this, and countless others are waiting to jump into a plane and fly away in a world generated by Bing Maps.
Gears of War Trilogy
The Gears of War franchise’s first three entries are among the best in Xbox Game Studios’ video game storytelling ventures. Released between 2006 and 2011, the Gears of War original trilogy chainsawed its way onto the gaming scene while helping the Xbox 360 console make a name for itself in the seventh generation of video game consoles.
In short, it’s something everyone should experience at once. Folks are already busy with Fortnite and its never-ending stream of seasons; it wouldn’t be a bother to give players additional access to the Coalition of Ordered Governments and its efforts to eradicate the Locust.
Ori and the Blind Forest
Ori and the Blind Forest is available to play on the Switch, yet Sony folks are left behind while everyone gets to dive into Moon Studios’ award-winning Metroidvania game. The game is renowned for its vibrant art style, musical composition, platforming gameplay elements, and many other aspects.
It’s one of those charming tales set in a magical world that many have adored since its initial release in 2015. Of course, the 2020 sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, is just as cherished by its fans as the original.
Sunset Overdrive
Before Insomniac Games began crafting the Spider-Man games for Sony’s PlayStation consoles, it released Sunset Overdrive, an Xbox/PC exclusive, in 2014 and 2018, respectively. It was one of the first exclusives for the Xbox One platform, and it’s a bit of an underrated game. Despite its sales, it was overshadowed by other games released in October/November of 2014. Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, The Wolf Among Us, and many others might have caught players’ interests more than Sunset Overdrive.
However, given its colorful and zany presentation, it seems pretty fitting to explore other platforms in the gaming industry, not only for Insomniac Games fans but anyone intrigued by the game’s approach to fast-paced combat.
Psychonauts 1 + 2
Developer Double Fine dabbles deep into the human psyche with Psychonauts and its 2021 sequel. Released primarily as Xbox exclusive games, the Psychonauts duology presents a bombastic platforming trek into surreal worlds and captivating challenges. With its wild attention to mindblowing graphics, we can see this title on Switch platforms one day. It’s already available to play on PC and PlayStation 4, so it could only be a matter of time before it appears on one more console.
The original Psychonauts dates back to 2005, and it’s easily seen as one of those games that can be ported onto the Switch. Perhaps Microsoft and Tim Schafer could come to an arrangement sometime in the future?
State of Decay
While fans of Undead Labs’ zombie-killing series eagerly await State of Decay’s 3 arrival, there’s plenty of time to look into the first entry. State of Decay from 2013 is an open-world survival venture into the fictional region of Trumbull Valley. It’s an experience where consequences are real, and the undead are horrifyingly savage. Characters can die in an instant, hordes of enemies can converge from multiple angles, and the world is an unforgiving habitat where some of humanity has turned psycho.
In short, it’s an enjoyable zombie game that requires strategy and sacrifice. Given its scope and execution, the open-world presentation suits the Switch and Sony consoles. Of course, that’s entirely up to the folks who say which games go where in the industry.
Forza Horizon 5
Playground Games’ latest entry in the predominantly Xbox-exclusive Forza Horizon series, which doesn’t include Motorsport in this instance, comes with extravagant views of a fictionalized Mexico and a sky bridge into the Hot Wheels area in Forza Horizon 5. It’s a world that offers so much to explore and drive through, and you can even ride alongside some speedy cronies while you map out your next destination. Whether it’s on the ground for the festivities or in the sky among the famous orange tracks from Hot Wheels, there’s always something to check out.
It’s an ideal game for crossplay possibilities, fueled by driving activities that range from dirt road racing to long treks across mountainous regions. While it may be too powerful to drive on a Switch’s system, there’s always a way to branch out eventually. If not the fifth installment in the Forza Horizon series, then perhaps another title that doesn’t demand too much tank in the engine to run properly.
Fable
The original Fable, released in 2004, was a popular action role-playing game that earned both fame and infamy. Folks might remember it for being widely praised by players and critics for its RPG elements; some recall Peter Molyneux’s overenthusiasm, which helped market the Xbox exclusive title. While it received positive reviews, it was also noted for launching with missing features, which Molyneux had promised.
Perhaps the 2008 sequel is remembered as the best out of the trilogy, yet there’s no denying the original Fable‘s significance in gaming. For a game nearly 20 years old, now’s the time to potentially present this classic title to newer audiences. Unexperienced adventurers of Fable could have the chance to play in the city-states of Albion while current-gen players await the upcoming reboot’s release from developer Playground Games. And if you were wondering, Peter Molyneux isn’t attached to the project.
Conker: Live and Reloaded
It’s cruel, foul, and more than a magazine’s worth of fun when the player takes on the role of the red squirrel drunk called Conker. Regarded as one of those naughty games you wouldn’t want to get caught playing, Conker: Live and Reloaded brings raunchy humor onto the original Xbox console. Moreover, it’s a remastered version of Conker’s Bad Fur Day, originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 2001.
This Xbox exclusive is for the books, notably due to its mature content and a famous defecated monstrosity. We should also mention that it’s garnered a cult following over the years, which essentially means that Conker lives on to drink more alcohol and fight more battles. While it would be great to see the Rare Replay package come to other consoles, playing as Conker is a must for any gamer who wants to get a little filthy with their combat.
As Dusk Falls
Switch users are left out of playing through Interior Night’s adventure game, As Dusk Falls. With a fascinating approach to visual storytelling, players dive into a generational drama surrounding two families in Arizona. It’s here where players must make decisions that will impact the overall narrative.
It is a playable title we could only imagine seeing on the Switch. The interactiveness goes hand-in-hand with the Switch’s controls. Still, it was only released in 2022, so there’s a chance we could see it appear on Nintendo’s platform.
The Ascent
The Ascent from developer Neon Giant is a cyberpunk-based title that brings the action into an isometric view. That alone gives us the impression that it can run on a Switch. PlayStation, PC, and Xbox folks have already embraced the vile world of Veles.
In addition to teaming up with friends for the ride, The Ascent is an engaging twin-stick title that offers hours of replayability. It’s a great game for any fans of the cyberpunk genre, with its neon-lit attention to detail to the world of Veles to life.
Perfect Dark
If you played GoldenEye 007 for the Nintendo 64 or any of its 2023 rereleases for the Xbox Game Pass and Nintendo Switch Online, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of developer Rare’s spiritual successor, Perfect Dark. It’s another addition to the developer’s Rare Replay compilation, though it was initially released for the Nintendo 64. Furthermore, it’s responsible for spawning the Perfect Dark Zero sequel for the Xbox 360.
The Initiative is currently developing a remake of the original Perfect Dark. While The Initiative doesn’t have any other games under its belt, it is an in-house studio under Xbox Game Studios, made up of a number of game development veterans (such as those from Naughty Dog, Rockstar Games, Santa Monica Studio, and more); Crystal Dynamics is also developing the remake. This gives Xbox Game Studios all the more reason to share this game with the world.
Battletoads
Since we’ve mentioned two properties from the Rare Replay compilation, we’ll pick a third and final for this list with a classic: Battletoads. Battletoads from 1991 and the 1994 Battletoads Arcade are considered here, though other playable versions exist. Regardless, it’s a nostalgic IP that can easily bring forth some splendid hours of cooperative gameplay best played with a few friends.
The Battletoads formula spells ideal gameplay for the Switch and Sony platforms. We’ve seen some sequel titles appear on the Nintendo Switch Online Service, but it’s limited. Perhaps, with the 2020 reboot, some discussions might come into play for a multiplatform push.
Sable
It was a surprise that developer Shedworks’ Sable wasn’t a playable title for the Switch platform. PC, Sony, and Microsoft players all have access to the open-world exploration game published under the umbrella of Raw Fury. The publisher has a line of multiplatform games released from the late 2010s to early 2020s, such as Backbone, Star Renegades, and West of Dead.
So, where can Sable possibly fit in? It’s praised as one of those notable indie games birthed from a small creative team, so sharing this title with the world makes sense. Sable is a must-play for any digital adventurer exploring a vivid and fantastic world.
Palworld
Developer Pocketpair’s creative approach to Palworld can easily be replicated for the Sony and Switch systems, especially the latter considering the game’s presentation. The graphics aren’t complex, and the action doesn’t demand too much power from a console to showcase clean gameplay.
Releasing Palworld onto the platforms in question would be a huge move. It would boost the controversial game’s popularity once more and allow players to team up on other platforms instead of the PC and Xbox circles.
Valheim
We see Valheim making its way to Switch and Sony platforms sometime in the near future; it has the crafting/survival appeal many players adore and then some. And while it’s still in early access development, some shifts in publishing could transpire along the way. Xbox users were given access two years into Valheim‘s development cycle, so could that potentially include Sony and Switch players to join in on Iron Gate Studios’ sandbox title?
As of this writing, Iron Gate Studios doesn’t have plans to bring Valheim to other consoles. It could be due to the immense player count and necessary updates that must be administered to keep the game afloat, so only time will tell.
Crackdown
Sure, Crackdown is an older game often overlooked by two critically disappointing sequels. Nevertheless, it’s an absolute blast to play. The 2007 Xbox 360 exclusive invited Xbox users to fight alongside each other via Xbox Live and served as a possible gateway to trying out the much-discussed Halo 3 Beta.
After checking out Crackdown‘s gameplay, the possibilities begin to spill out if this game becomes part of the multiplatform experience. One can only dream, yet Microsoft will probably ignore this franchise for all the better.
Killer Instinct
It’s hard to forget about the botched release of the Mortal Kombat 1 title for the Nintendo Switch. Players shared endless videos of the downgraded graphics they experienced, so why not give Nintendo another shot with Killer Instinct? This is in reference to the 2013 reboot, which initially launched as an Xbox One exclusive. It’s a fighting game that would give Switch users another avenue to explore.
However, Killer Instinct is a franchise that isn’t discussed much today. Other fighting games like Mortal Kombat 1, Tekken 8, and Street Fighter 6are taking over the spotlight. Because of this, it’s difficult to place Killer Instinct on a pedestal. Nevertheless, seeing it pop up on Switch and Sony consoles would be cool.
Do you know of other Xbox-exclusive titles we might’ve missed on this list? What about age-old Xbox IPs that remain untouched, such as Amped, Fuzion Frenzy, and Project Gotham Racing? Let us know what you think!
