The 50 Best Xbox One Games Right Now

Best Xbox One Games List – #19 Valiant Hearts: The Great War

Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier

Publisher: Ubisoft

Xbox One Release Date: June 24, 2014

Released shortly after its announcement at Ubisoft’s E3 2014 Media Event, Valiant Hearts: The Great War reminds players that war is hell. Especially the Great War, where Ubisoft takes the 100th Anniversary of the global conflict’s first year and looks at it, on a human level, through multiple lenses. Emile is drafted into the French army and its thrown headfirst into the battle at the Marne. His German son-in-law, Karl, serves under Baron Von Dorf in the German army. Freddie is an American soldier who volunteered for the French army after a German bombing raid from Von Dorf killed his beloved. Finally, Anna is a Belgian student who performs service as a battlefield nurse.

The trio of friends across several party lines are held together by Walt, a dog from the German army who assists characters with his fetching commands. So much of Valiant Hearts’ gameplay lies in figuring out the puzzles that bestow upon the party members, with certain objectives required to shift perspectives. Each character brings unique abilities to the table, including the likes of bringing shovels, shears and a steady medical hand to the combat area.

So much has been made about Ubisoft’s acceptance of releasing products on a small budget without executive approval, and Valiant Hearts showed the company and the gaming public at large why that is such a cool, brave idea for a mega publisher such as themselves. The ability to craft a narrative out of one of the most publicized wars in human history and still provide something new and believable is a great accomplishment, and it’s safe to say that Montpellier accomplished this for Ubisoft.

Next: #18 Far Cry 4