Everybody knows that when it comes to getting consoles, bundles are better. (Ha! You thought I was going to say “bigger is better!”) You want to get as much bang for your buck as possible. After all, what’s the good in getting a new system if it doesn’t also come with something you can enjoy with it. Well, there are four Xbox One S bundles to go for in North America at the moment, and we’re going to rank them. After all, when you have so many choices available, you want to be sure you’re getting the best one!
Top Pick: Xbox One S Ultimate Halo Bundle
We’re starting off strong with the Xbox One S Ultimate Halo Bundle. This is probably the best value at the moment. Why? Well, you get Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Halo 5: Guardians to play on your new Xbox One S with 500GB hard drive. It has 14 days of Xbox Live Gold and 30 days of Xbox Game Pass. The only downside is, the $279 bundle is only at Walmart. Oh well! All of the problems are pretty much ironed out in Halo: The Master Chief Collection by now. Also, Halo 5 is one of the strongest exclusives on the systems. You can’t lose with those two great games.
Most Likely to Inspire a Splurge: Xbox One S Assassin’s Creed: Origins Bundle
If this Assassin’s Creed: Origins bundle hadn’t been so expensive, I’d have called it a top pick. But in a world of $279 bundles, a $349 one is going to stand out in a bad way. Not that the bundle itself is actually bad. It is really rather great! You’re getting a 1TB Xbox One S, which is definitely needed in this era of games that can end up ballooning past 50GB each. And it comes with Assassin’s Creed: Origins , one of the hottest and most highly anticipated entries in the series. You even get Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege , a game that still enjoys a rather active community. Then, there’s the requisite 14 days of Xbox Live Gold and 30 days of Xbox Game Pass access. If someone really wants a Xbox One S and has the extra money to spend, this is the way to go!
Most Family-Friendly: Xbox One S Minecraft Complete Adventure Bundle
Sometimes, you need an Xbox One for everybody. The Xbox One S Minecraft Complete Adventure Bundle is exactly that. Minecraft has become synonymous with “family-friendly fare.” Minecraft and its Explorer’s Pack could keep someone busy for 100-hours alone. Not to mention the eight-episode Minecraft: Story Mode Season 1 is rather critically acclaimed. You’ve got two genres from one series with this 500GB Xbox One S, all for $279 again! Plus, you have three months of Xbox Live Gold, so you could play Minecraft with friends online, and a one month Xbox Game Pass subscription.
So-so: Xbox One S Madden NFL 18 Bundle
You have to feel bad for a bundle in a list that only offers people one game. That’s the position the Xbox One S Madden NFL 18 Bundle is in. It isn’t a bad box. Really, it does try. For $279, you are at least getting a copy of Madden NFL 18 with your new 500GB Xbox One S. That’s something! And it does have whole one month of Xbox Game Pass access and 14-day Xbox Live Gold subscription. It’s just that so many other, similar bundles offer two games! And this one trying to also say its 20% off NFLshop.com coupon code is a selling point is so sad. We love Madden NFL 18 , we do. We just don’t love you, Xbox One S Madden NFL 18 Bundle.
Worst: Xbox One S Starter Bundle
I’m going to go ahead and say don’t buy the Xbox One S Starter Bundle. Really, just don’t. It’s $279, just like many of the other bundles here, but it is really like you’re just paying for a 500GB console. The only bonuses are three months of Xbox Live Gold, something the earlier Minecraft bundle already included, and three months of Xbox Game Pass access. You could do so much better, folks. So much better. Take the money you were going to spend on this and get any of the other bundles. Trust me.
Honorable Mention: Xbox One X
I know we’re talking about the Xbox One S, but we’ve got to salute the Xbox One X too. After all, it is going to be the new hotness. There are no bundles planned, so what people see is what they get for $499. That’s a 1TB system and controller. It will probably be a year before any bundles comparable to the Xbox One S ones above appear. But hey, if someone was fortunate enough to get a Xbox One X Project Scorpio Edition, at least their system will look different and include a vertical stand!