With the Xbox Series X casting its backwards compatible light on the horizon, many Xbox owners are giddy at the thought of playing their favorite games on the next incarnation of Microsoft's green machines. And with good reason; its specs are nothing to be blown off, and it would seem that Microsoft is planning to release a console that would give all but the most up-to-date PC's a run for their money.

It's at these nostalgic points in any console's life where the gaming community sits back, relaxes and enjoys some of the greatest hits of the last cycle. Let's take a peek at the five must-play games you should take with you into the next generation.

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Gears of War: Ultimate Edition

While the people of modern-day may giggle at the next filter placed over their social media feeds, there are quite a few who remember what it was like to be introduced to the world of sepia tones via the modern classic, Gears of War. Blazing the trail for many cover-based, blind-firing third-person shooters that would follow in its wake, Gears succeeded in a realm where few sci-fi shooters did—its story.

Gears' story follows protagonist Marcus Fenix and a band of military criminals as they struggled to keep a depleted planet from annihilating its inhabitants with an underground race of aliens. If that doesn't quite fall in line with your definition of "harrowing," then the cutscenes will change your mind. Experience the loss, tragedy and, of course, bone-crushing gore of this trilogy and its extra content in the remastered Ultimate Edition, which includes digital touch-ups and remastered cinematics.

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Sea of Thieves

When legendary Banjo-Kazooie and Goldeneye developers Rare released this fantasy high seas simulator, it felt rushed, buggy and somewhat repetitive. Fortunately for anyone with a copy, now is a great time to blow the dust off and update the title to see it played as it was originally meant to be. Graphical overhauls are everywhere, bugs have been patched, and yes, there is much more to do than stare at a blue ocean underneath a blue sky.

The game excels at co-op play, whether it's while traveling between islands with a trusty crew to keep your ship in order, puzzle-solving or when you get to pillage that sweet, sweet pirate booty.

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State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition

With gameplay somewhere between The Sims and Walking Dead, State of Decay 2 seemed too ambitious for its own good when it first released, launching with several significant issues, such as graphical hiccups and bugs. Fast forward to 2020, and the recently released Juggernaut Edition is a much more refined gaming experience. It provides players with a new map, overhauled visuals, more weapons and more base building and customization to enjoy.

Today, State of Decay 2 continues to trend upwards, adding more and more quality of life and gameplay upgrades with each update. The surprisingly affable and approachable developer team has taken much to heart from their community, and it shows. They've listened to fans for feedback and have plans to implement requests from their community.

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Cuphead

If you fancy yourself an expert in the 'Bullet Hell' subgenre of video games and enjoy your fair share of 2D platforming, Cuphead is for you. With its hand-drawn style, smooth graphics and insane levels of difficulty, you'll undoubtedly spend as much time ogling the visuals as you will slamming your controller into the floor.

Players follow the titular character as they make a deal with the devil in this '30s inspired romp through boss fight after boss fight in a seemingly endless hail of enemy fire. This game is challenging but fair, and those who take pride in their status as hardcore gamers simply cannot ignore this title.

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Halo: Master Chief Collection

Not only does Halo: The Master Chief Collection carry six titles, ranging from the original Halo through Halo 4, ODST and Reach, but does so in a seamless experience and also includes visual upgrades, including 4K and 60 FPS, for today's modern televisions.

If you've never played Halo, this is the way to do it. There are few modern icons of gaming that have lasted this long, let alone garnered this much praise over their lifetimes. Immensely customizable, players will find multiplayer games suited to their exact needs. With the ability to jump between old and newer versions of competitive maps and custom rules to match their exact specifications, this game far exceeds the amount of matchmaking prowess held in nearly any other title on the market. With its legendary single-player campaign, pioneering competitive and co-op multiplayer, and instantly recognizable soundtrack, The Master Chief Collection needs to be in your library.

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