I don’t know about you, but I really loved the Xbox 360. It felt like the first console generation where the technology was finally catching up to the scope of what game developers wanted to accomplish.
From huge sprawling fantasy worlds to tightly-designed first-person shooters, the variety of experiences to be had on the Xbox 360 meant there was always something for everyone. It gave birth to many series that we still hold in high regard today, and was home to the massive boom in online gaming.
It’s pretty difficult to narrow it down to just ten games that defined the Xbox 360, but we felt that these ten games are probably the ones that were most enjoyed by users across the console’s generation which lasted from 2005 until 2013.
BioShock
It’s difficult to see this nowadays considering how many modern games have been inspired by it, but at the time in 2007, BioShock was doing something that no other game was doing. It had a compelling story done in a rather unique way, delivering a lot to you via environmental details and audio logs rather than cutscenes.
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Its story actually felt like it was about something too, delivering a plot twist that subverted expectations and made for a rather memorable finale that few other games managed to pull off.
Combine that with the unique retro-futuristic 1950s-inspired art direction, and it quickly became one of the most defining titles of the Xbox 360 era.
Assassin’s Creed II
Although Ubisoft was already onto a winner with the rather excellent Assassin’s Creed in 2007, it wasn’t until Assassin’s Creed II two years later that the formula felt like it was perfected. Assassin’s Creed II dropped some of the weirder sci-fi elements of its predecessor, and featured a story that was a bit more digestible to audiences.
Following Ezio’s story throughout his early life became something that fans would later recognise as the high point of the series, and the wider expansion of Assassin’s Creed’s open world and side activities made it the blueprint for a formula Ubisoft would repeat time and time again.
Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead’s rather simple co-op premise allowed it to become one of the most popular shooters on the Xbox 360.
No abilities, no unlocks, and no level progression meant there was no grind or commitment needed, it was simply all about you and the amount of fun you had. There’s a low skill floor but a high skill ceiling, making it really fun to get into, while also giving you a reason to stick around and try to improve.
Once you’ve become good enough, you can take those skills into the versus multiplayer which has this really great sense of replayability through the various infected you can play as.
Mirror’s Edge
Mirror’s Edge is one of the most beautiful games on the Xbox 360, and its rather intuitive first-person parkour gameplay is something that hasn’t been matched by any other game (including its own sequel).
It’s pretty awesome to perform some of the different stunts in this game, from wall running to slide kicks, and each level has a rather seamless flow to them that makes it feel great to move throughout the playable spaces.
There’s nothing more thrilling than being chased by a bunch of enemies, and flawlessly pulling off a master escape without getting caught.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
By 2007, the Call of Duty series had already proved itself to be a rather popular alternative to other WW2 shooters like Medal of Honor or Battlefield.
However, by bringing it into a 21st century setting and delivering a story that was based more in Hollywood pastiche, the series was able to reinvent itself. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was no longer about putting you in the shoes of real historical battles, and more about making a shooter that felt inventive, exciting, and brand new.
With this came some much needed improvements to the series’ multiplayer too, with many of these aspects being retained in modern Call of Duty games to this very day.
Halo 3
If you were an Xbox gamer in the 2000s, there’s a good chance that you played a lot of Halo. And while my favourite of the series might be the first one from the previous generation, Halo: Combat Evolved, there’s no doubt that Halo 3 quickly became the game to play with your friends.
It had a fantastic campaign that wasn’t too long, yet had a lot of replayability, especially when you factored in the various skulls and co-op features.
On the multiplayer side, its maps were pretty solid and guns were well-balanced, but it’s the Forge mode allowing for custom experiences that gave it longevity. I would still recommend playing Halo 3 in 2025, if you have access to it.
Fable II
Fable was one of the most iconic action RPGs on the original Xbox, and its sequel increased the scope so dramatically that it became a crucial exclusive for the 360.
Upping the amount of features the game had to offer, particularly with its life simulation efforts, meant that the game became incredibly popular for players who wanted to feel like they belonged to a believable universe.
The improvements that streamlined combat and spellcasting also made it incredibly accessible for new players, and we won’t pretend the addition of the dog companion also didn’t have a huge impact on Fable II's popularity.
Grand Theft Auto IV
GTA V may be Rockstar Games’ golden goose, but Grand Theft Auto IV was a huge deal when it came towards the middle of the Xbox 360’s lifespan.
From that first scene where Niko Bellic steps off the boat, the generational leap from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas to this becomes incredibly apparent. GTA IV also has the advantage of featuring a darker tone, using subject matter like immigration and war to ground itself in a mature story that rivals the zany quality of its predecessors and successor.
Gears of War
Gears of War may not have invented the cover-based shooter genre, but it certainly perfected it. The cover system used in this game, as well as its many sequels, has been a large contributor to the series’ success.
The controls are tight and refined, and it’s incredible that Epic Games was basically able to release something this polished so early on in the Xbox 360’s lifecycle.
I’d even go so far as to say it has one of the most fun multiplayer modes of that entire generation, offering an enjoyable third-person alternative to the large variety in FPS games that were going at the time.
Mass Effect
Mass Effect is probably the defining RPG of the Xbox 360 generation. With the 360’s tech boasting such a massive leap in graphics compared to the previous generation, a space RPG that emphasised highly detailed environments and well-rounded characters was the best thing to demonstrate that.
Mass Effect had a story and universe that reeled you in, but it wasn’t until you got to know the characters that you realised just how special it is. Once you become attached to these lovable misfits, you start to overthink every choice you make as you strive to keep them alive until the end. Even nearly 20 years after playing it, I can still remember all the intricate details of the story, all the characters, and most importantly, how I felt by the time the credits rolled.
Topics: Assassins Creed, Bioshock, Call Of Duty, Fable, GTA, Games, Gears Of War, Grand Theft Auto, Halo, Mass Effect, Microsoft, Xbox