Ah, the Kinect. Microsoft's ambitious and unreliable motion control device. First released in 2010 for the Xbox 360, the Kinect was Mircosoft's attempt at crafting a piece of hardware that could revolutionize motion-sensory gaming. Unfortunately, between the price tag and inconsistent motion sensors, the Kinect never truly realized its potential.
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While most of the titles released for both the Xbox 360 and Xbox One versions of the Kinect were mediocre at best, a select few games actually managed to take advantage of the Kinect's hardware. From launch titles to spin-offs, these games are worth playing on Microsoft's now-defunct creation.
10 Rise of Nightmares
Kinect's First Rated M Title
A majority of Kinect games adhered to a similar style or tone. When they weren't Xbox avatar games, they were musical games. When they weren't musical games, they were games with a competition angle. Rise of Nightmares is an exception to the norm.
Developed and published by Sega, Rise of Nightmares was a first-person horror game and the first M-rated game released on Kinect. Rise of Nightmares is not without its issues, but among the sea of similar titles, Rise of Nightmares stands out as something unique.
9 Fruit Ninja Kinect
The Moblie Device Classic With Motion Control Flair
Tons of mobile games have been ported to consoles. However, since consoles generally offer much more variety than phones, most of these ports are hardly worth your time. The Kinect served as the perfect platform for new iterations of popular phone games.
Fruit Ninja Kinect is simple, easy to understand, and an absolute blast. The transition from swiping on a phone to swiping through the air is done flawlessly. Fruit Ninja Kinect is by no means a deep game, but it's definitely fun.
8 Fable: The Journey
The Spin-off Of The Fantastically Weird Series
Of all the popular fantasy video game franchises, the Fable series is among the most unorthodox. With its whimsical fairy-tale aspects, satirical humor, and world built on British history, Lionhead Studios' long-running fantasy series has been one of Mircosoft's trademark exclusive IPs.
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Fable: The Journey tells a brand new story filled with all the quintessential elements that made the series so beloved. The controls aren't always reliable, but the storytelling, writing, and characters are all crafted with superb care and expert execution.
7 Kinect Star Wars
Motion Control In A Galaxy Far Far Away...
The Star Wars franchise has seen some truly meteoric highs and abysmal lows in terms of its video games. We've seen great games like Jedi Fallen Order and Knights of the Old Republic, as well as terrible games like Star Wars: Jedi Arena and 2015's Battlefront reboot.
In the grand scheme of the Star Wars universe. Star Wars Kinect is far from perfect. But when the controls are responsive, the experience can be quite entertaining. It's not without some issues, but if you can look past them, you're certain to enjoy yourself.
6 Kinect Sports 1 & 2
Wii Sports Xbox-Style
Even though it was released alongside every early Wii console, Wii Sports is still fondly remembered and holds a respectable place on the leaderboard of best-selling video games of all time. With the Kinect, Microsoft sought to have its own Wii Sports sensation.
Both Kinect Sports games might not have had the same impact as their Nintendo ancestor, but they still worked extremely well. The motion controls were mostly accessible, and the mix of distinctive sporting events provided a good variety of gameplay.
5 Fantasia: Music Evolved
A Freeflowing Musical Experience
It's hard to remember a time before Disney became the entertainment media juggernaut that prioritized content production over artistic quality. Yet such a period existed, and the 1940 animated film Fantasia is a perfect representation of the old Disney magic.
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2014's Fantasia: Music Evolved, developed by Harmonix, is the spiritual successor to the 1940 classic but with an interactive twist. Because of the Kinect, you are the conductor behind the music. Generally, musical rhythm games are hit-and-miss, but Fantasia: Music Evolved is a home run.
4 Kinect Adventures!
Pure Xbox 360 Avatar Fun
When the Kinect first launched, it was released alongside some launch titles that utilized the hardware's motion sensory technology. Much like the Xbox 360, the Kinect was also packaged with some games, so you'd be able to use it as soon as possible.
Kinect Adventures! was one of the launch titles for the Kinect and was one of the best-selling games from the 360 era. The collection of game modes took full advantage of the Kinect's technology and served as quality entertainment for friends and family.
3 Dance Central 3
The Third Entry Of The Musical Movement Franchise
Due to the Kinect's at best lukewarm reception, there aren't many games that had one sequel, let alone two. After all, most Kinect titles didn't garner the critical or commercial success necessary to earn a follow-up. In spite of the numerous underwhelming releases, there's Dance Central.
The first three Dance Central games are all quality games; it's Dance Central 3, which is the peak entry of the series. Featuring plenty of iconic songs and a solid presentation, Dance Central 3 offers a great dance experience for any Kinect owner.
2 Child of Eden
An Underrated Artistic Gem
A reason why the Kinect never became the rounding success that Microsoft was probably hoping for is because most of the games released for Kinect were average at best and unplayable at worst. Few titles managed to stand out as something special.
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Child of Eden is easily one of the most imaginative and creative games ever released for the Kinect. A hybrid rail-shooter with musical elements, it disappointed in the sales department but was met with critical acclaim, with many labeling it as the best Kinect game ever made.
1 The Gunstringer
Stylized Wild West Gunslinging
Because most Kinect titles were constrained to certain genres, it stood out whenever a game took a different approach. Shooters, whether they be first or third, weren't popular on the Kinect. But that didn't stop Twisted Pixel Games from taking a chance.
The Gunstringer is an on-rail third-person shooter with a one-of-a-kind aesthetic. The story of the titular undead sheriff on paper shouldn't work as well as it does with Kinect's shoddy motion control, but by some miracle, Twisted Pixel crafted a visually striking shooter full of memorable charm.
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