Released in 2005, the Xbox 360 was a major competitor with other well-performing consoles like the Nintendo Wii and Playstation 3. It reached 13.81 million units sold a decade ago, and total sales for the console are estimated at 85.8 million units. 

It was one of the most popular gaming consoles during its heyday, which many people still have today. Yet Microsoft is no longer manufacturing the console, and has since released newer models, such as the Xbox One and Xbox Series X. 

However, though the gaming industry continues to innovate, some believe that the Xbox 360 left a legacy that changed gaming for the better. For example, it was the first console to allow players to stream Netflix and was the first console to feature HD gaming. 

As a nod to its achievements, let’s go over some of the best Xbox 360 games to date and what makes them so unique.

1. Gears of War

The original Gears of War is a third-person shooter game that is playable in a single or cooperative gameplay setting. While moving toward enemy forces, your goal is to take ample cover and use weapons against the toughest of competitors. 

There are several weapons to choose from, but one of the more common, popular weapons used is the Lancer Assault Rifle. You can carry up to two primary weapons during gameplay, as well as grenades and a smaller hand weapon. Your mission, as war hero Marcus Fenix, is to fend off the Locust Horde, a group of nightmarish creatures that come from the depths of the earth.

2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

This game was highly anticipated before its release, and it certainly met, if not exceeded, gamer expectations. It has a superior multiplayer experience so you could challenge your friends and also supports single-player gameplay. It picks up right where you left off if you played its predecessor, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. 

During your campaign, you take on the role of Sergeant Sanderson or Private James Ramirez to prevent a Russian invasion from occurring on U.S. soil. There are also special gameplay modes — for example, players need to defuse bombs in a matter of minutes.

3. Red Dead Redemption

Released in 2010, Red Dead Redemption is the second game in the Red Dead series. It brings players back to 1911 and follows John Marston, a former outlaw whose family is taken hostage by the government. Marston’s goal is to bring his former gang members to justice and free his family.

Players experience the game from the third-person point of view, and you’re able to freely interact with the open-world setting. It takes place in a fictionalized version of the Western U.S. and Northern Mexico region, where the primary mode of transportation is the horse. It’s a fun, action-packed game that has won awards and various accolades from the gaming community.

Since its release in the gaming world, Minecraft has been a dominant force. The 3D sandbox game offers players free range in how they want to play. It’s a first-person perspective game where players use rough 3D objects representing common materials, like dirt, stone, trees, ore, water and lava. 

4. Minecraft

Players can build unique structures by mining blocks, crafting, and arranging them in whatever order they want. Players can build entire communities or worlds during gameplay, making it attractive to those interested in engineering and architecture. With its massive popularity across many platforms, it certainly earns its place as one of the best Xbox 360 games of all time.

5. Grand Theft Auto V

The Grand Theft Auto franchise installment is jam-packed with layers of new detail. It allows players to engage in an open-world setting. It’s filled with adult content, so it’s better for older, more mature gamers. 

Gamers go around and can pretty much do whatever they want, playing as one of three characters. They can steal, drive and kill CPUs around the fictionalized San Andreas area. Players can pull off significant crimes with their friends or find new ways to create the most chaos.

6. Halo 3

The Halo franchise is one of the more popular franchises to meet the Xbox 360, and it only builds on its predecessors. The third game in the Halo trilogy is a first-person shooter game, designed to pick up where Halo 2 left off. 

Players take on the role of the Master Chief, who’s in charge of battling the Covenant and the Flood, which are alien races participating in an interstellar war. Most combat takes place on foot, but players can also participate in some vehicular battles. Weapons, grenades and melee attacks are the primary combat modes players can engage in.

7. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

One of the best of the Elder Scroll franchise is Skyrim, which takes place after Oblivion. Players have to face off with the great dragon Alduin the World-Eater, which is a significant threat that could wipe off the entire existence of Tamriel. 

It’s an action-packed, open-world role-playing game where the player assumes the Dragonborn character. You can complete quests and missions in the first or third person and speak to multiple NPCs in the world of Skyrim. You can ride horses to explore the various locations, and players can choose whether or not they want to follow the main storyline. 

8. Batman: Arkham City

A follow-up to Batman: Arkham Asylum, Arkham City really allows players to take on the role of the famous crime-fighting bat hero who jumps into action to save victims from evil villains. Solomon Grundy, Mr. Freeze and even the Mad Hatter are some of the villains in the game worth noting. 

Batman’s detective skills and combat skills combined with his awesome gadgets are perfectly nailed in this game. The main storyline has to do with Batman’s imprisonment, and his goal is to prevent chaos from occurring, which is mainly caused by his nemesis, the Joker. There are plenty of side missions players can choose from to take up all hours of the day.

There are still many Xbox 360 games that would entertain even the most experienced gamer. While Microsoft has released newer versions of the console, there’s a feeling of nostalgia that comes with playing on the original Xbox 360, and these eight games are the best ones to bring you back.

Xbox 360’s Legacy Continues

While newer Xbox models have hit the market, the original model is still a popular console for video game lovers. The console sold well in its earlier days and helped Microsoft become a significant force in the gaming industry.