Viva Pinata
Acquired in the deal with Rare, how can you not include Viva Pinata in this list? Cultivating a garden in order to feed pi?atas with the hopes of getting them to mate just screams best-seller, and the colorful motif is perfect to show off the Xbox One’s capabilities. Plus, with Microsoft boasting about the number of dedicated servers they have, players could benefit with gardens that exist online indefinitely. That level of multiplayer interaction hasn’t yet been tested on Xbox One.Kung Fu Chaos
Microsoft seems to be invested in Killer Instinct as their fighting game of choice, but Kung Fu Chaos has a more relaxed, welcoming feel to it. The characters look more silly than intimidating, but it was more inviting for multiple players and has an almost “party game” feel to it. The combat would need a revamp and would have to include more than just, “punch the enemies, throw them out of the ring,” flow, but the Xbox One can allow for some Royal Rumble-esque gameplay. Eight-person party games revolving around Kung Fu fighting, co-op and versus, sounds like a fantastic Xbox Live title.Brute Force
Released 11 years ago, Brute Force was an action-fan’s best friend. Its futuristic setting allowed for interstellar travel where your objective was to collect new members of your squad. Then you shoot things. A lot of things. The fact that it’s a squad-based shooter lends itself to co-op and competitive multiplayer mode, it’s a wonder why Microsoft hasn’t taken another shot at it. Instead of building it around recent and upcoming squad-based shooters, Rainbow Six Siege for instance, it would instead benefit from some tongue-in-cheek writing and hails of bullets.Battletoads
You can’t have a “Games to Bring Back” list without Battletoads. Sure, maybe the green fighters have taken a back seat to those damned Turtles over the last few years, but the combat, bug eating, and platforming made this a classic. We held our collective breath when the an Arkham-like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game was rumored, but what if we simply had the wrong green heroes? With the trio coming to Shovel Knight on Xbox One, this one is a distinct possibility. But please, no floating speeder bikes.Nightcaster
This third-person fantasy game from 2002, the story was unique, even though it was a little too linear. The world of Nightcaster was dark and ominous, though the NPCs would need more personality. The combat was interesting, as it wasn’t just a hack-n-slash game, but instead relied on magic, with melee as a back-up option. Though it didn’t score particularly well, by implementing a loot system akin to the Diablo series and expanding on the multiplayer that appeared in the 2002 sequel, Nightcaster has real potential to be a surprise hit.Kameo: Elements of Power
If you bought an Xbox 360 at launch, odds are you've at least heard of Kameo. It had elements of action, adventure, beat-em-up, and platforming, but the visuals outweighed the gameplay. Nonetheless, the level design was solid and could be expanded to work with the current cast of characters or implement new ones. Instead of rather linear level design, regardless of how well it works, the Xbox One would allow for more verticality and multiple paths.Conker
Microsoft teased an appearance of Conker at E3 2014, but when it ended up being a promo for Project Spark, most took it as a giant, digital middle finger. The deafening cry when Conker waltzed onto the screen was heard throughout the gaming community. We loved his immaturity and violent nature and now, 15 years after his debut, the writing could get even more obscene and lewd. It could even implement some of Project Spark’s framework to help with the design. There’s only one rational response: #BringBackConker.RC Pro Am
Another classic that Microsoft has Rare to thank for, it turns 16 years old this year. And although Forza is Microsoft’s marquee racing game, even an Xbox Live release with updated graphics would draw attention from those of us looking for a new-ish arcade racer. This time around online multiplayer would be a big draw thanks to the “battle element” that was developed into the game. With car customization using the Kinect to scan pictures, players could even create unique cars and trucks to show off online.True Fantasy Live Online
A game that never saw the light of day, unfortunately. 10 years ago, the game was cancelled after all accounts showed that it was near completion. With MMOs finally starting to emerge as legitimate options on consoles, Microsoft should revisit this option, particularly if they want to establish even a minor footprint in Japan, where the game was originally supposed to release. We don’t truly know how the game would have played, but the more attention console MMOs get, the better. Neverwinter is already released in China, with an expectation for the rest of the world soon, but competition is good for players and franchises overall.Shadowrun
Based on the tabletop RPG, Shadowrun had a small, but hardcore community. The first-person combat was a good mixture of fantasy and shooter, and the upgrade system is reminiscent of today’s popular MOBAs. Ask anybody who’s played it if they want a remake and you’ll hear a resounding, “YES!” And because it steps away from the typical military shooters that have flooded the market, while also having potential for an eSports title, Microsoft could have a winner on their hands.Wizards and Warriors
Another classic from the '80s, also developed by Rare, Wizards and Warriors was a platformer that had you, a Knight, saving the “Damsel in Distress” while dodging birds, floating fire, snakes, and other nasties. You spent a lot of time trying to collect magical items and, of course, treasure, which each level ending with a boss fight that was, at the time, pretty epic. It’s primed for an action/adventure or RPG upgrade. Fans of the classic will call for it to be a side-scrolling platformer, but that would be a waste of the Xbox One’s potential. Instead, third person akin to Dragon Age would re-introduce the game to today’s market.So that's our list, but how do you all feel? What Microsoft franchise would you love to see revisited on the Xbox One?
Josh Smith is a freelance tech and video game writer/podcaster, as well as an olympic medal-winning hugger. He can be found on Twitter at @Sm1ttySm1t.