Whittling our pick of the best Xbox 360 games down to just 7 is no small feat, given how many memorable and enjoyable titles found a home on the Xbox 360 since it's launch back in 2005. From BioShock to Halo Reach and The Witcher 2, the 360 generation saw so many fantastic games released and happily, thanks to Microsoft's push for backwards compatibility and recent remasters, there are still many in this selection you can enjoy on the current-gen Xbox Series S consoles.
Category
🎮️
GamingTranscript
00:00Whittling our pick of the best Xbox 360 games down to just 7 is no small feat, given how
00:15many memorable and enjoyable titles found a home on the Xbox 360 since its launch back
00:20in 2005.
00:22From Bioshock to Halo Reach and The Witcher 2, the 360 generation saw so many fantastic
00:27games released, and happily, thanks to Microsoft's push for backwards compatibility and recent
00:32remasters, there are still many in this selection you can enjoy on the current Xbox Series S
00:37consoles.
00:38So join us as we fondly look back and celebrate the best the Xbox 360 had to offer.
00:57Lara's Greatest Game only exists because Crystal Dynamics were clearly copying off
01:01Naughty Dog in class, but hey, if you're going to be a Nathan Drake wannabe, why not
01:05be the greatest Uncharted copycat that's ever been made?
01:08And that's exactly what Rise of the Tomb Raider is, the best Uncharted game Naughty
01:12Dog ever made.
01:13In some respects, the second entry of this rebooted cross trilogy is actually better
01:17than Nate at his best in places.
01:19Not only is Rise's shooting sharper than Uncharted 4, but its sandbox-like hub area
01:25and optional but intriguing challenge tunes actually give you more agency than any of
01:29Nathan Drake's adventures.
01:41Geralt of Rivia isn't a guy you want to mess with.
01:43He's a genetically altered super mutant who has the skills of a master swordsman, magic
01:48powers, and can take down dangerous mythical beasties single-handedly.
01:52The Witcher 2's plot revolves around Geralt embarking on a mission to prove his innocence
01:56for the crime of regicide, and as you progress through the story, every major plot twist
02:01is under your control.
02:02Should you help the downtrodden elves and dwarves overthrow their human oppressors,
02:06or leave them to their fate and focus on your quest?
02:09With a challengingly deep combat system, an enchanting world to explore, and an unforgettable
02:14tale, The Witcher 2 was an unmissable action RPG on the 360.
02:22Gears of War 2 was a bigger, better, and all-round goofier package than its predecessor,
02:32which resulted in a game that was a blast to play cooperatively or alone.
02:36While Gears of War 3 made significant improvements to the multiplayer modes, Gears 2 holds a
02:40special place in our hearts because it was our first introduction to Horde mode, now
02:44a defining classic for the series.
02:46The story focus also saw a more emotional play, switching to Dominic Santiago as he
02:51desperately searches for his wife Maria, and for a game that centres around big, beefy
02:57men shooting things, the tragic ending really upped the emotional stakes of otherwise loud
03:01and shouty action-adventure.
03:13Arguably the best Xbox Live Arcade game ever made, Braid is a masterpiece in digital storytelling
03:19that manages to conceal its genius behind a Mario-esque facade.
03:23On the surface, you're little suited heroes fiddling with physics and messing with the
03:27space-time continuum, as he freezes and rewinds time in order to save a girl.
03:31Reach the finale though, and you'll soon realise nothing is as it seems.
03:35What is at first presented as a simple, the princess is in another castle, rescue mission,
03:40actually reveals itself to be a tale of stalking and obsession, which honestly has thematic
03:45ties to the creation of the A-bomb.
03:52Bungie's last Halo game is also by far the best in terms of single-player campaigns.
03:57While little can beat a good 6-player team deathmatch on Halo 3's Guardian, no other
04:02Bungie game before or since touches the quality of Reach's story.
04:06With perfect pacing, an ensemble of Spartans who are treated to more of an emotional journey
04:11in 10 hours than Master Chief has seen in a decade, and a weirdly brilliant dogfighting
04:15mission involving spaceships, Reach is the boldest and best Halo.
04:19It also benefits from being the most focused, removing the irritating parts of Halo 2 and
04:233.
04:24We're looking at you, Flood levels.
04:25Reach is all about joyous shooting versus the Covenant, plus there are power-ups that
04:30perfectly add to the purity of Halo's combat.
04:32Damn, that jetpack is so good.
04:34And there's no question this is the best single-player Halo ever.
04:48You probably have more of a connection with every member of Commander Shepard's crew
04:52than most people you know in real life.
04:54That's because the Mass Effect trilogy tells an incredible story in a universe where morality,
04:59politics and love between lifeforms is all part of a much grander picture.
05:03Mass Effect 2 is the Empire Strikes Back of the series, giving you more of everything
05:07you loved from the first game, with none of the tonal changes of the third.
05:12This is a game of ethical choices and amazing shootouts, where bullets, lasers and orbs
05:16of biotic energy zip everywhere.
05:19But the crown jewel here is the unforgettable characters, all of whom have their own personal
05:23journey of absolution and self-discovery.
05:25Regardless of how you feel about the way the story ends, Mass Effect 2 is the indisputable
05:30high point in one of the greatest action RPGs of all time.
05:52Is there a more captivating setting in video game history than Bioshock's Rapture?
05:57Ben Levine's generation-defining shooter is so beloved precisely because that submerged
06:02city is once-in-a-lifetime memorable.
06:04Every sudden step you take through its once-decadent, now-dilapidated halls is testament to the
06:09hubris and danger of unchecked human ambition.
06:12Oh, and it's also one hell of a first-person shooter, while that would-you-kindly third-act
06:17shocker is one of the great video game twists of all time.
06:20On top of that, the amazing set pieces, characters and inventive combat only add to everything
06:26to make Bioshock great.
06:27Electrify a big daddy with your lightning hands, shoot a bunch of unhinged splicers
06:32with a shotgun, then stare at awe at this sinking city skyline in front of you.
06:36Not a single second of your time or attention is wasted.
06:38It's one of the 360's, and that gaming era's, most defining games.
06:54So that's our top 7 360 games, now obviously we can't cover all the incredible things
06:59that came out on Microsoft's beige child, so head to the comments to make a case for
07:03your platform-defining classic.
07:05And stay with GamesRadar for all things Xbox, video games and more.