The Best Xbox 360 Games of All Time – Console Exclusives
Xbox 360 Essentials Best Xbox 360 XBLA Games
Welcome back to my series on the best Xbox 360 games ever made, and how to best play them today. Last time I covered multiplatform games. This time, I will focus on the top games you could only play on Xbox.
Unlike other lists, this guide tells you which games to skip because better versions exist elsewhere.
The focus is on the best games released for the console that still hold up well today. If a newer version of a game is clearly better than the Xbox 360 release, I leave out the original and mention the improved version at the end, so you can enjoy the best experience today.
To make my list a game needs to demonstrate at least two of the following: genre-defining innovation, outstanding technical excellence, enduring cultural impact, or universal acclaim.
Where are the Halo games?? The 360 Halo games are all better played on the The Master Chief Collection for the Xbox One/Series X/PC. TMCC represents completely superior versions of Halo 1-4, ODST, and Reach today. Buy that version unless you only own the 360.
Finally, heads up—I earn a small commission if you buy anything through my links. I only link to games I genuinely recommend. If a remaster or remake is better I tell you, even if it means losing a game sale.Let’s explore the best console-exclusive games:
2005
Dead or Alive 4 (Team Ninja)
Dead or Alive 4 is the definitive early Xbox 360 fighter, a blisteringly fast 3D brawler where Helena Douglas hosts a fourth tournament as cover for a violent reckoning between the Mugen Tenshin ninja clan and the corrupt DOATEC corporation. Its trademark triangle system of strikes, throws, and holds is at its best here, with tight counter windows and environmental danger zones that reward reads and reactions over memorization.
As an Xbox 360 exclusive DOA4 delivered 720p60 visuals that won Famitsu’s Super Visual Award and multiple E3 presentation accolades. It also pioneered avatar‑based 16‑player Xbox Live lobbies where you wandered virtual lounges and queued for matches, a blueprint modern hub fighters still follow. Critics called it the most complete entry in the series, and today it remains backward compatible and fiercely playable.
2006
Burnout Revenge (Criterion Games)
Burnout Revenge transformed arcade racing with one brilliant mechanic: traffic checking. Slamming same-direction traffic into opponents without crashing turned gridlock into a tactical weapon, fundamentally changing how players approached races. The revenge rivals system added strategic depth: get taken down and that car gets marked with a red arrow, making their next takedown worth double boost. Aggression became strategy, not just chaos.
The Xbox 360 version ran at 60fps with massive visual upgrades over the original PS2/Xbox release, while Burnout Clips let players capture and share crash montages via Xbox Live. Revenge proved arcade racers could have mechanical depth beyond pure speed, making aggression a legitimate racing line. It’s one of the best racers on the platform, and the 360 is the only seventh-gen console that had it, making this version essential.
2008
Fable II (Lionhead Studios)
Fable II is Albion’s best fairy tale: after Lucien Fairfax murders your sister Rose and throws you from his tower, you return as an adult Hero to stop him from completing the Spire—a magical tower that will grant him one limitless wish. Fable II became the Xbox 360’s best-selling RPG by making the genre accessible: one-button combat, a helpful breadcrumb trail, and no death penalty welcomed newcomers while moral choices affected your appearance, relationships, and entire towns.
Your loyal dog companion finds treasures and creates genuine emotional bonds, while property ownership and jobs turn Albion into a living world. Fable II proved RPGs could be mainstream without sacrificing depth, showing that accessibility and meaningful choice could coexist. Fable II still hit emotionally today, making it essential for anyone who wants an RPG that respects their time without holding their hand.
Gears of War 2 (Epic Games)
Gears of War 2 is the Xbox 360’s blueprint-setting cover shooter: a brutal war epic that sends Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad into Sera’s underground to stop the Locust from literally sinking human civilization. GoW2’s refined design improves the original’s tactical cover system and added chainsaw duels, meat shields, and destructible environments that turn firefights into cinematic chaos. Every setpiece feels bigger and more desperate than the last.
The revolutionary Horde mode, which has five players surviving endless Locust waves, set the standard every co-op shooter still chases. Dom’s search for Maria gives the campaign real emotional weight, while creative level variety—from riding a giant worm to underwater fights—keeps the pacing tight. Horde mode remains addictive today, and the campaign holds up better than most modern cover shooters that drag on too long. It’s essential Xbox 360 gaming that still plays like a dream.
2009
Bayonetta (Platinum Games)
Bayonetta set the gold standard for character‑action combat with a third‑person hack‑and‑slash that makes stylish execution feel like becoming untouchable. It’s built in the Devil May Cry lineage, and breaks Chapters into arena fights called Verses and grades every run on combo score, clear time, and damage taken. Combat fundamentals click fast and go deep: last‑second dodges trigger Witch Time for slow‑mo counterattacks, long strings cash out as Wicked Weaves, and filling up your magic gauge unleashes Torture Attacks that wipe out even the toughest foes.
This is crowd‑control choreography with an infinite skill ceiling, learnable systems where mastery feels godlike. Bayonetta isn’t an exclusive title but it is a showcase: on the 360 it hits 60fps and runs way smoother than the PS3’s almost unplayable version, which is why high‑rank runs feel so crisp here. If you want a deep toolkit that rewards getting better forever, Bayonetta is the best there is.
Left 4 Dead 2 (Valve)
Left 4 Dead 2 is the Xbox 360’s greatest co-op thriller: Coach, Ellis, Nick, and Rochelle fight through the Green Flu pandemic from Savannah to New Orleans while Valve spontaneously reshapes zombie hordes, item spawns, weather, and pacing to keep every campaign unpredictable. New melee weapons transform crowd control into rhythm-based carnage, while new Special Infected demand real teamwork under pressure.
Left 4 Dead 2 improved everything: more weapons, melee variety, better Special Infected, and campaigns that change every playthrough. Versus, Scavenge, and Realism modes extend replayability infinitely, while split-screen and drop-in multiplayer make it the console’s most social shooter. Backward compatible and still thriving today, few games blend accessible chaos with deep mastery as elegantly.
2010
Alan Wake (Remedy Entertainment)
Alan Wake is the Xbox 360’s most atmospheric psychological thriller: bestselling author Alan Wake travels to the town of Bright Falls to cure his writer’s block, only to discover his wife has vanished and his unpublished manuscript is manifesting as terrifying reality. Remedy’s masterpiece uses light as both weapon and salvation: flashlights weaken the shadowy Taken while flares and streetlights become tactical lifelines in unsettling encounters.
With its episodic TV-show structure, Twin Peaks influences, and Stephen King-worthy small-town dread, it was Time magazine’s #1 video game of 2010. AW proves that narrative-driven experiences can rival any blockbuster. Enhanced for backward compatibility, Alan Wake remains the console’s most compelling fusion of literary horror and interactive storytelling—a cult classic that still haunts players today.
2011
Forza Motorsport 4 (Turn 10 Studios)
Forza Motorsport 4 is the finest Xbox 360 racing sim, and probably the best overall racing game of its generation. Building on Forza 3’s foundation, FM4 perfected the formula with Pirelli tire data creating authentic physics and Jeremy Clarkson narrating Autovista mode’s dream cars. The locked 60fps performance never drops a frame, while Kinect head-tracking lets players look into corners mid-race. Every car feels distinct and alive.
Car clubs with shared garages and 16-player online races built entire communities around the driving. Winning D.I.C.E.’s Award for Racing Game of the Year, Forza 4 proved console racing could match PC simulation depth while remaining accessible. The physics model still holds up brilliantly today, and the car roster remains unmatched on the 360—essential for anyone seeking the perfect balance between simulation and pick-up-and-play accessibility.
Gears of War 3 (Epic Games)
Gears of War 3 is the Xbox 360’s cover-shooter pinnacle: Delta Squad fights the Locust Horde and the new Lambent threat as humanity’s dwindling survivors search for salvation and answers. This trilogy finale perfects the formula with Horde 2.0’s strategic fortifications and tower-defense economy, while Beast Mode flips perspectives by letting players control the monsters for the first time. Four-player campaign co-op makes every setpiece feel epic.
New weapons like the Digger and Retro Lancer expand your tactical options, while the strongest map selection in the series keeps multiplayer going. Dom’s emotional arc delivers genuine weight, proving Gears could balance explosive action with real heart. The campaign’s pacing is the series’ best, and Horde still sets the standard for co-op wave defense. Gears 3 is how everyone wanted the GoW series to end, simple as that
The Gunstringer (Twisted Pixel Games)
We need some Kinect representation! The Gunstringer is Kinect’s theatrical masterpiece: an undead marionette sheriff rises from his grave seeking revenge against his backstabbing posse in this rail shooter. Control the skeletal cowboy like a puppeteer: left hand guides movement, right hand paints up to six targets before snapping your wrist to unleash lead. The Wavy Tube Man Chronicles DLC adds a Mad Dog McCree parody that’s utterly ridiculous.
Twisted Pixel totally commits to the marionette show theme: live-action theater audiences react to your actions, a gravelly-voiced narrator gives commentary, and every stage uses cardboard Old West sets to sell the puppet theme. Winner of IGN’s Editor’s Choice, The Gunstringer proves motion controls work when developers design around the hardware instead of against it. It’s the Kinect’s most creative game—a silly, charming shooter that makes the camera feel essential rather than tacked on.
2012
Dance Central 3 (Harmonix/Backbone Entertainment)
Dance Central 3 is the ultimate Kinect party game and the best reason to own Microsoft’s motion sensor. Harmonix sends players through a time-traveling story from the 70s to the 2010s, mastering each era’s signature moves across 40+ tracks. The Kinect tracks full-body movement with precision, while flashcards and difficulty scaling make routines accessible for beginners and challenging for high-score chasers.
Crew Throwdown supports 2-8 players in relay competitions, while local co-op and Showdown battles deliver party-perfect moments. Reviewers called it “the definitive Kinect experience,” and Dance Central 3 proved motion controls could deliver authentic dance instruction and genuine fitness benefits. If you have a Kinect setup, this is the best dancing game on any console—fun whether you’re learning actual choreography or just goofing around with friends.
Forza Horizon (Playground Games)
Forza Horizon is the Xbox 360’s open-world racing revelation: FH transforms Colorado into a massive festival where street racing meets automotive celebration. Unlike the clinical tracks of Forza Motorsport, Horizon celebrates pure driving joy: threading mountain passes, discovering barn finds, and chaining drifts for popularity points that unlock helicopter races and stunt challenges. The festival vibe makes every event feel like a celebration rather than a chore.
The skill system encourages bold driving instead of perfect laps, rewarding style over precision. Colorado’s landscape ranges from desert highways to mountain roads, all with beautiful lighting that makes each sunset drive memorable. With speed traps, rival races, and multiplayer, there’s always something new. The original Horizon still nails the balance between arcade fun and simulation handling better than most modern racers. This is where the series found its soul.
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (CD Projekt Red)
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings drops Geralt into a web of political assassination and conspiracy as he’s framed for regicide and hunts the mysterious Letho. W2 delivers tactical combat with swordplay, signs, bombs, and preparation, while branching storylines diverge into radically different Act 2 experiences based on your choices. The Enhanced Edition adds four hours of quests, new areas, Arena Mode, a tutorial, added cinematics, and over 100 improvements, making it the definitive version.
The Witcher 2 proved console audiences craved morally ambiguous RPGs beyond BioWare’s morality, paving the way for Dragon Age: Inquisition’s complexity and establishing the foundation for The Witcher 3’s industry dominance. Great writing, genuine consequence systems, and respect for player intelligence set a new bar for mature storytelling. Witcher 2 remains one of the Xbox 360’s most sophisticated RPGs, a masterclass in grey morality and branching narrative design.
These are the best Xbox-exclusive titles, and best showed what the 360 brought that was unique to console gaming during its era. But we’re not done! In addition to multiplatform games and exclusive games, there was the Xbox Live Arcade titles, which are the subject of my next post.
Games Not Included
Dead Rising (2006). The 2024 Deluxe Remaster with rebuilt assets, improved AI, and full voice acting is a superior version that makes the original obsolete.
Gears of War (2006). The Ultimate Edition completely rebuilt every asset from scratch while adding five new campaign chapters and enhanced multiplayer modes. That’s the version to play now.
Tales of Vesperia (2008). The Definitive Edition adds two new party members, full voice acting throughout, new story segments, and expanded post-game content.