TA Team Picks (January 21st)

The TrueAchievements news team is once again offering you their top picks from this week’s sales on the Xbox Store, which have seen Microsoft slash prices from games on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC.

Each week, we like to have a good look through the Xbox sales to find the games we think are worthy of your collection based on our own personal preferences, and which come as a good bargain in the process. Just like every week, Microsoft has applied discounts to a host of games across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC, but if you’d rather save some cash, why not check out some of the best free Xbox games?

While we usually start this paragraph by inviting you on an adventure of sorts, this week really is all about going on fantastic adventures. We’re oiling our gears in preparation for a deadly encounter with un-feeling mechanical foes as we carve our way through a mad king’s burning city, before travelling to a galaxy far, far, away to fight an oppressive force. If some far-afield galaxy seems like too much of a journey for you, why not look inward and travel to the centre of our own space rock? Who knows what you’ll find in there? Tighten up your laces, pack some provisions, and let’s see where the road takes us…

Bargains from the Xbox sales

Heidi — Immortals Fenyx Rising

80% off seems like an ideal sale for Immortals Fenyx Rising. There’s been a lot of discussion around Ubisoft’s open-world formula, and the massive extent of these worlds can seem extra uninviting when paired with an equally bloated price point. Immortals Fenyx Rising seemed to fly a little under the radar when it launched; it was very enjoyable, and one that I was excited to get as soon as it came out, but 80% off at just under £12 feels like a much safer bet for those who weren’t as sure. Immortals does have a big world, true, and there is a lot to collect throughout that world, but I still think it stands up as a fun, enjoyable game experience which will have you hooked surprisingly quickly. Immortals sees you working to save the Greek gods from an ancient enemy, using godlike powers yourself to battle mythical creatures and solve puzzles. Visually, Immortals is just lovely; the Breath of the Wild influence here is clear with the picturesque landscapes and the gorgeously-colourful world, and also shows up in mechanics like the stamina bar as you climb and glide around. The cosmetics are just as glitzy and enjoyable to collect, and there’s a good variety in puzzles too. It’s also kind of refreshing to play a big game where it’s clear when there’s something for you to find — instead of agonising over making sure you’ve checked every nook and cranny, it’s quite nice to see all the stuff you’re meant to get shining, sparkling, or glowing brightly, refusing to let you miss it. The story is classic good vs evil and while the game is pretty aggressive with the cheesy humour, it manages to be so in an endearing way. Immortals offers up a good chunk of content to keep you going and while it is available in Xbox Game Pass, it’s also currently on offer for the lowest price we’ve seen it on TrueAchievements for yet, meaning you can grab it at as a bargain and not have to worry about when it’ll drop out of the service.

Immortals Fenyx Rising™

Immortals Fenyx Rising brings grand mythological adventure to life. Play as Fenyx, on a quest to save the Greek gods from a dark curse.

Wield the powers of the gods to battle powerful mythological beasts in the air or on the ground, and solve ancient puzzles.

The fate of the world is at stake – you are the gods’ last hope.

Luke — Steelrising

I struggled to make up my mind whether I actually liked Steelrising or not, but the coin landed on heads in the end. It’s precisely the Eurojank take on the Souls format you likely think it is, but its hyper-French world-building and aesthetic are wonderful, so it’s well worth considering if you’re in a post-Elden Ring lull and need a fix. It’s not every day you get to play as a mechanical dancer turned revolutionary agent, and while Steelrising’s human characters might look stiff and weird, the automatons are beautifully realised, from playable character Aegis to the enemies and bosses. Is it amazing? No. Is it among the better Souls-style games from other developers? Probably, yes. I think I like Steelrising, so you might like it too.

Steelrising – Standard Edition

Paris, 1789. The French Revolution has been suppressed with bloodshed by Louis XVI and his merciless mechanical army. Aegis, a mysterious automaton masterpiece, must confront the king’s army alone to save history in this challenging action-RPG.

Sean — Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Deluxe Edition

It’s not long before Star Wars Jedi: Survivor launches on Xbox Series X|S, and if you haven’t played the first game, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, now is the time to pick up the Deluxe Edition, which currently only costs $7.49/£8.24/€8.99. Set five years after the Revenge of the Sith, in Fallen Order, you play as Cal Kestis, a Jedi apprentice who is on the run from the Empire and its Imperial Inquisitors. I won’t go into too much detail about the story, as it’s pretty decent as far as Star Wars storylines go, and it’s worth going in with your eyes closed. Aside from the story, the gameplay is where Fallen Order really shines. Being able to live out the fantasy of a Jedi in that rich Star Wars universe with some excellent and sometimes quite punishing combat is a real treat. It will never get old taking out Stormtroopers with a lightsaber or force powers, and Jedi Fallen Order gives you so much of that. The only downside is the Metroidvania elements, where backtracking becomes quite a chore — and you will have to do a lot of that if you want to unlock all the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order achievements. Still, aside from the backtracking, for less than ten bucks/quid/euro, you can’t go wrong here at all.

STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™ Deluxe Edition

Optimized for Xbox Series X|S. STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order Deluxe Edition includes:

• The Crimson BD-1 skin
• The Crimson Mantis skin
• Digital Art Book
• “Director’s Cut” behind-the-scenes videos, featuring over 90 minutes of footage from the making of the game

Tom — Little Orpheus

It’s probably about time I gave Little Orpheus the shoutout it well and truly deserves — at least, I don’t think I’ve picked it before. Nevertheless, any discount on it is a bargain because it’s well worth the usual ten quid price tag. It follows the story of Comrade Ivan Ivanovich, a Soviet scientist that travels to the centre of the earth and embarks on a wild adventure through prehistoric jungles, a mine-covered seabed, lost civilisations, and even space! From the centre of the earth? That sounds a little unrealistic, doesn’t it? Well, that’s what the story attempts to piece together as you work your way through the side-scrolling, platforming levels, which are separated by some fairly entertaining and humorous cutscenes that see the scientist being interrogated by a Soviet General who needs to determine if Ivanovich is lying or telling the truth about his rather special adventure.

I highly recommend you pick up Little Orpheus and see whether Ivanovich is telling the truth or not because no matter how crazy it all seems; it leads to a fantastic gaming experience. No two levels are the same, both in terms of gameplay and aesthetics, and have you exploring vibrant worlds. It’s a relaxing game that you can literally play with one hand for the majority of your playthrough. It’s the storytelling that gives this game its charm, and while you will have to play each level twice to earn all of the Little Orpheus achievements, it’s a super simple completion. Now stop reading, you have an adventure to pursue!

Little Orpheus

This definitive edition of the multiple-award-winning hit by master storytellers The Chinese Room is remastered and includes all bonus content of the original. A HERO WILL EMERGE!

Will you be picking up any of these mighty offerings, or do you have a bargain of your own to recommend? Drop a comment below and let us know!