6. Project Spark
At Microsoft's E3 presentation, they showed a little game called Project Spark that several people seem to have forgotten about. To me, Project Spark looks like one of the most interesting titles coming, not just to the Xbox One, but to the whole next generation. The game is promoting player creativity and imagination, putting it at the forefront of its design which is really refreshing to see. In a games market that so often falls back on gameplay based on familiarity, it is exciting to see a game that just give a player a sandbox and a toolbox before encouraging them to go wild. And what makes it weirder is that it is coming from Microsoft. Microsoft have a history of publishing games that are 'safe bets' such as established franchises or games based on popular trends. They usually produce excellent games within these constraints but it is exciting to see them spread their wings a little and back a game that could turn into a bit of a sleeper hit. It reminds me of the exciting possibilities that surrounded Little Big Planet when it first came out, celebrating the players as collaborators towards development. Except Project Spark seems to be taking that idea and running with it further than anyone has before, being able to create worlds and scenarios with ease and simplicity. Count me in.