Gears Of War 2
Release: 2008
Platforms: Xbox 360 (compatible with Xbox One)
No connoisseur’s collection is complete without at least one entry in the much-vaunted Gears of War franchise, and if I had to pick one, I’d go for number 2. For $5 – yes, $5 – you can jump into the thick of the action as Marcus Fenix and his crew go head to head against the Locust alien invasion.
The best games get pacing right, and the Gears of War 2 campaign is nigh-on perfect. From the early forest trek against fearsome Brumaks to a memorable excursion through the innards of a Riftworm and the final, show-stopping showdown, this is an unmissable single player experience. And hey, the multiplayer’s not bad either.
Better yet, Gears still looks surprisingly beautiful today. Sure, its color palate never strays too far from its trademark “gray,” but for tight, focused shooting, it doesn’t get much better than this.