The best Xbox 360 games show just how amazing the HD era was for Microsoft. After countless hours of playing, we’ve put together a list of what we think are the top Xbox 360 games, highlighting the best in RPG, FPS, open-world adventures, and more. After spending several hours on 360 games, we concluded that the list of the best 360 games should include the best RPG games, the best FPS games, and many other types of games. Only gamers know that.
Fortunately, a number of these games are still available to be played on Xbox One and Xbox Series X because of decent backward compatibility. Whether you want to rediscover some iconic games from the past or simply get back to them, our list of the 26 best Xbox 360 games will do the trick.
The Xbox 360 created a generation of players and even introduced the best Xbox One games. Great franchises such as GTA, Far Cry, the Borderlands, Halo, Mass Effect, and Bi Shock made the Xbox 360 unforgettable. That is why, below, we present the list of the best games on Xbox 360 so that you can focus on old favorites, search for new ones, or just know where to start if you are a beginner.
What is the Xbox 360?
Microsoft Xbox 360 is a gaming console that was launched in 2005. It is known for popularizing HD gaming and offering a staggering choice of excellent games. Offering the best in action/adventure, first-person shooter, Sandbox, and everything in between, the Xbox 360 was all there. It also integrated Xbox Live, which allows the players to interact, challenge, and even play with friends online. Xbox 360 has been on the market for nearly two decades but is still beloved by gamers, and many of its best games can still be played on today’s systems.
List of the Best Xbox 360 Games
Dark Souls
Dark Souls is one of those gaming titles that can be considered unique and significant in terms of its challenging gameplay and complex environment. It is an action-adventure game set in a mysterious, dark world of magic to encourage the players to engage in the extensive brushing land with hidden mysteries and tough oppositions.
The game is challenging, but that is something that players of this type of game want and expect from it. For all those players who enjoy intensive combat systems, a multifaceted background, and a quite nontraditional approach to the game narration, “Dark Souls” is an inimitable attraction. Its impact on the definition of the action RPG formula cannot be questioned, and it is highly recommended for fans of the intensified gaming experience.
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 is one of the best representatives of the sci-fi RPG subgenre here for its exciting plot and memorable characters. In this game, you find yourself entering the big universe as Commander Shepard in a galaxy that is on the edge of extinction.
The game has received a lot of positive feedback for tackling serious and intense topics, the dialogue, and the characters. It is an open-world sandbox game that allows the players to make various choices that will shape the events in the game and how they interact with the crew members. As for the plot and playing, “Mass Effect 2” is still a game that many game lovers cannot forget.
BioShock
BioShock is a game where a player assumes a first-person shooting role and enjoys a good story. It’s based in Rapture, an underwater city, which provides an interesting mix of shooting and narrative. The whole game has a rather dark and intriguing mood, with a strong focus on ethically questionable choices and heavy philosophy.
However, setting the game in an alternate 1960s with fantastic and memorable characters, excellent gameplay mechanics, and a great story, ‘BioShock’ proved to be one of the more creative shooters out there.
Portal
Portal is a platformer/puzzle game that is as well thought out as it is enjoyable. This game teaches players that a portal gun is a gun that can be used in problem-solving and to pass through a sequence of test chambers that are more complicated and challenging.
That is why “Portal” can be called an outstanding game with its laconic main characters, bloody humor, and non-trivial puzzles. The game has a lot of verbal jokes and many puzzles, which makes it one of the most intelligent games that would be interesting to play at the same time.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an open-world RPG game that is set in a fantasy world where players can explore freely. A large territory, numerous tasks, and an intricate and exciting story make it possible to spend tens of hours playing. Fighting dragons, becoming part of guilds, or just walking around in the stunning landscapes of “Skyrim” is a true journey.
Because of its freedom from time constraints and the depth given to its characters and settings, it continues to be popular among RPG gamers and is considered among the greats in the category.
Grand Theft Auto V
One of the most recognizable titles in the gaming industry, Grand Theft Auto V, is famous for its open-world and nonlinear gameplay. The whole story is based in the fictional city of Los Santos in Grand Theft Auto V and allows the player to play as three characters, each having his or her own story and mission.
One of the things that makes the game very enjoyable is the enhancement of gameplay with numerous activities that include high-speed chases and side quest missions. A detailed world, an interesting storyline, and versatile gameplay distinguish the “GTA V” game, which is still popular among players.
Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption recreates the Wild West landscape with realistic aesthetics for the game environment and its plot. John Marston, a man working for the cause of redemption after spending years as an outlaw, will satisfy your needs in exploring a vast open-world environment inhabited by interesting characters and suggested by profound missions.
The game is also accredited for its fantastic setting, engaging story, and a good number of activities. While you are trying to catch outlaws or just travelling across open ranges, “Red Dead Redemption” can provide a good ride back into the Wild West era.
Halo Reach
Halo Reach is a much-loved game in the Halo series, mainly due to its involving plot and gameplay. The game ‘Halo Reach’ can be seen as one of the most successful chapters in the Halo series, mainly due to the more elaborate combat system, good multiplayer possibilities, and a touching storyline. All in all, it is impossible to not have a fun time playing this game, no matter if the player is a hardcore fan of the series or is just starting his adventure.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Most gamers and critics agree that Call of Duty 4 changed the face of this gaming category by taking it to a modern-day setting and giving it an epic movie-like feel. Its campaign was intense, and its multiplayer modes brought in a lot of variation, making it a classic game of its generation.
Players are directly involved in fast and furious battle sequences that are as dramatic as they can get. Thanks to its action-packed gameplay and a great storyline, “Modern Warfare” is still revered today as a game that has left its indelible mark on the Call of Duty series and the entire FPS subgenre.
Batman: Arkham City
Batman: Arkham City is an award-winning game of the action-adventure genre, which allows one to become the Dark Knight. It is set in a large, non-linear world of Gotham City where players have to use stealth, fighting and exploration to accomplish their missions in the best way possible resembling Batman.
It does so by having an exciting story, a rich system of battles, and a great set of villains that make ‘Arkham City’ one of the best superhero games ever released. The game gives an interactive experience that followers of Batman and novels of action will appreciate.
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Continuing the journey of Lara Croft, Rise of the Tomb Raider is an action game with a focus on traversing and surviving. In the game, players go around the world as Lara solves mysteries and fights the villains.
The motion graphics, narrative, and well-defined gameplay make “Rise of the Tomb Raider” an exciting game to play. Lovers of Tomb Raider will have a reason to play this game on the Xbox 360 since it focuses on exploration.
BioShock Infinite
BioShock Infinite, set in the airborne city of Columbia, takes players to new lands in the BioShock franchise. Altogether, the game offers a memorable and specific experience due to the bright and active atmosphere, the encouraged idea, and the nontraditional gameplay.
Profiles Booker DeWitt is an individual who is tasked with rescuing a mysterious woman and discovering the hidden truth behind Columbia. This game has received very good feedback in aspects such as characters, story, and visuals, making it one of the best games fans of BioShock Infinite and BioShock in general should get into.
Dead Space 2
Dead Space 2 is one of the best and most exciting survival horror video games that describes the further adventures of Isaac Clarke. Necromorph is the enemy, which makes its home in a space station where the game’s prey is located, making things more interesting. The game is full of intense atmosphere and sudden alarms.
These games are all about moving through a dark, creepy setting, fighting horrifying monsters, and completing puzzles. As for the improved mechanics, engaging storyline, and genuinely scary atmosphere of the game, “Dead Space 2” can be rightfully classified as one of the best representatives of the survival horror genre.
Telltale’s The Walking Dead
Telltale’s The Walking Dead is a game based on a plot that features the player in a zombie-infested world. Because the game is a drama of choice, it concentrates on the feelings of the protagonist, the options selected by the player, and the resulting consequences.
When choosing Clementine throughout the game in the world, which is full of danger and hardships, you are to meet a sorrowful yet memorable story. Adopting a strong story and character aspect makes the game stand out as one of the most popular adventure games.
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Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag
In Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, gamers get a chance to play the roles of Edward Kenway, a pirate and an assassin. It is a pirate-themed action-adventure game set in the timeframe of the Golden Age of Piracy, which adds a new gameplay twist to the usual Assassin’s Creed formula by including naval battles and exploration.
All in all, the freedom of the world, the diverse and interesting plot, and the dynamic gameplay make “Black Flag” one of the best games in the series. It is a historical action game enriched with an impressive story and all the diverse aspects related to piracy.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a turn-based strategy game where the player directs a team that has to fight against invading alien forces on Earth. Becoming a rather complex and turn-based game that focuses largely on strategy, supply gathering, and different missions, it provides an engaging experience for people attracted to the genre.
Making decisions, planning the next move, and managing resources on the field become major challenges for the players. Its blend of strategy and customization gives “XCOM: the perks of naming their product “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” to the fans of tactical games.
Left 4 Dead 2
Left 4 Dead 2 can be described as a cooperative first-person shooter where four survivors fight against zombie threats in a world after the epidemic. The level design that combines fast movement and diverse gameplay, as well as different modes, makes the game very engaging for zombie game enthusiasts.
Due to the nature of the game being a team effort and a game that is based on strategy, the sessions are not repetitive and are quite enjoyable. “Left 4 Dead 2” can be regarded as an example of a highly entertaining cooperative game that stresses the group’s ability to cooperate in the face of numerous voracious zombies.
Diablo 3
“Diablo 3” is the next installment of the well-known action RPG series that comes to the Xbox 360 with great graphics, a dark atmosphere, and addictive character progression. There are different possibilities for players depending on which character class they want to play, and they can explore a story with demons, dungeons, and heroic fights.
Given the features of an active combat system, multiplayer mode, and a vast array of items, Diablo 3 is worth playing for those who enjoy action RPGs. In terms of gameplay, it is an enjoyable title that offers a lot of content for the player to go through, which sets it apart from many similar games.
Dishonored
‘Dishonored’ is an action game with a focus on stealth mechanics that is set in a beautiful, dark, steampunk-inspired city. The main characters or roles are those of Corvo Attano, a fearless bodyguard who aims to rise up and avenge, as well as expose a coup.
Dishonored provides a unique gaming experience combined with non-linear gameplay, a branching narrative, and an environment that encourages players to think outside the box. Combining stealth, action, and narrative, it is one of the most notable games on the Xbox 360.
Far Cry 3
This is a first-person shooter game developed in an open environment, and the setting is an idyllic island. Playing as Jason Brody, you have the opportunity to go through a beautiful island that is, nevertheless, rather unsafe.
It is a game that boasts a great setting, narrative, and play mechanics. In terms of gameplay, villains, missions, and crafting system, Far Cry 3 is one of the most enthralling and enjoyable games of the open-world genre.
Grand Theft Auto IV
The game Grand Theft Auto IV is a third-person action game with an open environment in the fictional city of Liberty City, which is represented in current-day New York City. The characters take on the role of Niko Bellic, a foreigner who comes to America for the American dream but ends up in a world full of criminals.
GTA IV is quite immersive due to the unique and involving storyline, as well as the well-developed setting and versatile gameplay. It also makes this game unique for the franchise, providing depth of narrative alongside its sandbox gameplay.
Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood
In “Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood,” the focus remains on Ezio Auditore, who has to fight the Templars against the backdrop of Renaissance Rome. The game provides new concepts that impact the flow of the game, such as coordinating and training assassins.
The game presents an enriched and adventurous form of play with a proper storyline, enhanced fights, and an enormous map. Thus, it can be considered one of the most successful games in the Assassin’s Creed franchise due to its combination of the action and stealth genres.
Rayman Origins
Rayman Origins is an excellent example of a platforming game that introduces the character and his world with eye-pleasing graphics and non-linear-level design. They did guide Rayman through the bright succession of light and fancy worlds inhabited with several puzzles and mysteries.
Overall, if you are a fan of platforms and like the playful style, multiplayer, and unique gameplay of Rayman Origins, you will have a good time. For creativity and humour, the game stands as one of the most unique titles for the Xbox 360.
Skate
Skate is a skateboarding game in which graphics, physics, and controls are very special and natural. The gameplay involves both tricks and trick combinations that can be done by the player in a complex urban setting.
Having no goals and focusing on real skateboarding and freedom of choice, “Skate” is quite different from other games. Because of its focus on creativity and skills, the game is a perfect fit for those who enjoy skateboarding and sports games.
Battlefield 3
Battlefield 3 is an FPS that is comprised of large-scale fights and destructible environments in the game. Featuring a high level of graphic detail, realistic fight scenes, and a full palette of multiplayer options, the game would not disappoint an action gaming enthusiast.
They can attack, defend, and do it all across the map, using numerous types of vehicles and weapons. That is why Battlefield 3 could be considered one of the most outstanding representatives of the FPS genre due to the combination of its highly intense actions and playing strategy.
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Is the Xbox 360 Store closing?
Beginning with the Xbox 360 On July 29, 2024, all shops in the Xbox 360 Store and Xbox 360 Marketplace (marketplace.xbox.com) will be unable to purchase new games, DLCs, or other contents. The Xbox 360 Store will shut down in July, but this does not affect your ability to play your games on the console.
