Microsoft has been heavily criticized for a lack of Xbox One exclusives recently. The cancellation of Scalebound left a void in an already sparse schedule of titles that aren't available on other consoles. Fans continue to demand that Microsoft ramp up its first-party efforts.

Players aren't exactly spoiled for choice, but that doesn't mean that there aren't some exciting Xbox One exclusives on the horizon. Microsoft's console is still getting a handful of brilliant-looking titles during 2018 and these games are listed below.

Sea of Thieves

sea of thieves art

"Yo ho! Yo ho! A pirate's life for me!" is what everyone will be singing when Sea of Thieves lands on Xbox One on March 20. Developed by Banzo-Kazooie developer Rare, this open-world action adventure game promises all of the pirate hijinks that fans might expect (minus the scurvy).

In Sea of Thieves, crews will work together as their vessels move swiftly over the high seas. Some players will be in charge of the sails, others will be in charge of steering, and a few will fire cannons.

Players will also find themselves going out on quests to find buried treasure, fighting skeleton enemies who want their treasure back, and eating bananas. Whether on land or on the water, Sea of Thieves looks like a ridiculous amount of fun to play with friends.

Sea of Thieves releases March 20, 2018.

Crackdown 3

Destiny writer Crackdown 3

As chaotic as they come, Crackdown 3 will let players level buildings and use the city as their destructible, open-world playground. The new game will make proper use of the Xbox One's technology (it also offers 4K support on Xbox One X) making every exploding rocket or smashed up vehicle look better than ever.

Crackdown 3 is also big on verticality and the Agent (the player character) can jump around and explore the city or dole out devastating ground slam attacks. The 'big bad' of this game is a gang called Terra Nova and from the looks of it, players will have a diverse arsenal of weapons and ways to take its members out.

Crackdown 3 currently has no release date.

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds

player unknowns battlegrounds update spawn items island

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is the hit battle royale game that took players by storm in 2017 and in December it was released on Xbox One as part of the Xbox Game Preview program. The multiplayer title pits 100 players against one another and is already proving to be a huge hit on the console even in its early access state.

But in 2018, the Bluehole-developed game launches on Xbox One in full, giving console players many of the features currently available on PC, like the desert map.

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is available now through Xbox Game Preview but the full release is slated for 2018.

The Last Night

The Last Night Xbox One exclusive

When The Last Night was announced at E3 2017, it was instantly compared to Blade Runner. The promising indie title and debut game from developer Odd Tales Games leans into its cyberpunk setting with cities that feature a distinct look.

But The Last Night isn't just style and no substance. Its gameplay includes stealth and action, which revolves around hacking and flying drones in order to infiltrate certain areas.

The Last Night has no release date.

State of Decay 2

State of Decay 2 News Coming at E3 2017 - State of Decay 2 zombies

There are plenty of games in the zombie apocalypse genre but none quite like Undead Labs' State of Decay, which was first released in 2013. This year, State of Decay 2 will once again follow players as they try to survive in a world full of zombie hordes. The game offers 4-player co-op wherein gamers work together to defeat zombies, build and customize their bases, and make game-changing decisions.

State of Decay 2 has no release date.

Xbox One VR headset Kinect

The line-up of Xbox One exclusives may not be strong in number but judging by the five games on this list, the line-up is at least strong in terms of quality. There is a lot riding on these games, both in terms of keeping Xbox players happy and giving Xbox One X owners a reason to justify the expense.