The Xbox 360 is often referred to as the PlayStation 2 of this generation, which is an incredible compliment that speaks to its massive and diverse game library. As we near the end of this console generation and come ever closer to putting a period at the end of Microsoft's second gaming console, we can't help but look back on the last seven years with so many fond memories. As such, the GR staff decided to put their heads together to compose a list that highlights our top 25 games that have come to the console.
Note: This list reflects the opinions of the GR staff at large. So if you're looking to pick a fight, you better be ready to take on all of us. But be warned, Mr. Bischoff packs a mean punch.
25. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Konami's gothic vampire-heavy franchise has thrived as a 2D sidescroller for many, many years, but has struggled to gain traction in the 3D space—I'm looking at you Castlevania 64. That all changed with the release of Mercurysteam's Lords of Shadow, a game that manages to capture the dark and haunting atmosphere key to the series while injecting fast and fluid gameplay that takes advantage of the current technology. Not only that, but it has a killer story and a jaw-dropping ending that has us waiting on pins and needles for the sequel.
Ever wished you could play a modernized version of Metal Gear Solid in first-person perspective? Look no further, as Deus Ex: Human Revolution is the game you so desperately crave. Stealth action has never felt so immersive and fun; however, the real draw comes from role-playing elements that have been embedded within the experience. Set in a future riddled with biomechanical augmentations, the game's protagonist Adam Jensen is able to enhance his abilities through an RPG-like progression system. It's incredibly rewarding and—more importantly—an absolute blast to play.
23. Dark Souls
While Xbox-exclusive gamers missed out on FromSoftware's brutally punishing Demon's Souls, its spiritual successor brought the painfully difficult experience to the Xbox 360. This sword-slinging action game certainly isn't for everyone, but if you appreciate the tough-as-nails difficulty that defined the retro gaming era, you'll feel right at home with Dark Souls. You'll die a lot, retread the same path for hours at a time, and find the sudden urge to smash your controller on the floor—but hey, that's all part of the fun, right?
22. Fallout 3
When we first heard that Bethesda was redefining the way we play Fallout by turning the franchise into a first-person open world RPG, nearly every gamer on the planet was extremely skeptical. Could Fallout 3 truly serve up a compelling post-apocalyptic world that players would feel inclined to explore? How could a radioactive wasteland not get redundant and boring? Somehow, the dev team managed to pull it off, taking what many love about The Elder Scrolls series and embedding it within the Fallout universe. Oh yeah and the V.A.T.S. system is downright incredible.
21. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings – Enhanced Edition
CD Projekt's sequel to The Witcher was a graphical showpiece for the PC, so when it was announced for the Xbox 360, there was an understandable level of concern regarding how the game might run. Fortunately the dev team is a crafty bunch of guys, as The Witcher 2 looks absolutely stunning on Microsoft's gaming machine. But visuals aside, this game is easily one of the deepest, most thought-provoking RPGs to come along in years. If you're looking for a deep mature story, full of political intrigue that is coupled nicely with incredible (and challenging) gameplay, you'll find one of the most epic experiences in The Witcher 2.
20. The Orange Box
Valve created one of the greatest compilations of all time with The Orange Box. Not only did the package bring Half-LIfe 2, its episodic expansions and Team Fortress 2 to consoles, it also introduced the gaming world to Portal, one of the most innovative and mind-bending experiences this generation. Based on sheer value alone, The Orange Box demands a spot in your game library. If you haven't played Half-Life 2, which is easily one of the best first-person shooters of the last ten years, you can't go wrong with this incredible collection.
19. Halo 4
After a two game hiatus and the departure of Bungie, the Master Chief made a triumphant return in 343 Industries' Halo 4. With a new developer at the helm, an unlimited budget and a massive loyal fan base, the fourth proper installment was bound to be huge. To everyone's delight, the game turned out to be not only a worthy sequel to Halo 3, but a wonderful step forward for the franchise. With new enemies, weapons, gameplay tweaks and jaw-dropping visuals, Halo 4 is truly a love letter to fans of the series and should absolutely not be missed.
If you've ever wished you could step into the shoes of the Dark Knight, you're not going to find an experience that captures that quite as well as Rocksteady's Arkham City. With a massive world chock-full of iconic Batman villains, there's so much content crammed into the open-world city of Arkham. The story is great, the gameplay is better and visuals are top notch. Seriously, if you are a fan of comic book superheroes even in the slightest, this is an absolute must play.
17. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
The launch of Infinity Ward's sequel to Call of Duty 4 was massive. It elevated the franchise to new heights and made Modern Warfare an instantly recognizable brand. The game took the intensity of its predecessor and cranked it up to eleven. Most importantly though, the multiplayer was more robust, offering a feature-filled competitive experience that put every other shooter to shame. In many ways, Modern Warfare 2 has done for Call of Duty what Halo 2 did for Microsoft's sci-fi shooter franchise.
16. Halo 3: ODST
ODST is inarguably the black sheep of the Halo franchise. No Master Chief, a darker tone, and a more serious approach makes this one of the most interesting games Bungie has ever created. Getting the chance to play as an ODST not only provided a bit of diversity to the franchise, it fleshed out a new unexplored facet of the intriguing universe Bungie created. Let's also not forget that the game brought with it the brand-new mode Firefight, which is adored by many. If you consider yourself a fan of the franchise, you would be doing yourself disservice by passing on this game.
After a whopping three games with Ezio, the Assassin's Creed franchise was starting to lose some of its allure. Fortunately, Ubisoft managed to turn things around with the third proper installment by taking players to the time of the American Revolution. Not only was the setting a nice breath of fresh air, but getting the chance to play as a brand-new hatchet wielding protagonist was downright awesome. From the inclusion of naval battles to hunting and tree traversal, Assassin's Creed III took the franchise in bold new directions while managing to wrap up the story of Desmond. Ubisoft spent boatloads of time, money and effort into making this the most incredible Assassin's Creed experience yet, and they undoubtedly succeeded. If you told me last year that come 2013 I'd be ready for yet another AC, I wouldn't have believed you, but as we approach the new year, my mouth is already watering.
14. Halo 3
Master Chief's triumphant debut on the Xbox 360 was nothing short of epic. The jump to HD made Bungie's sci-fi world easier on the eyes, and the advancements in Xbox Live made it the ultimate community-driven online shooter at the time. Halo 3 also brought with it two new modes: Forge and Theater, which have gone on to become staples within the series. There was a lot of expectation and hype behind this title and when it launched, it solidified its place as Microsoft's flagship franchise.
Rockstar's first post-PS2 era Grand Theft Auto title has proven to be one of the most polarizing entires in the franchise. With a much more serious and realistic approach to storytelling and game design, GTA IV mixed things up for the franchise in a plethora of ways. Even if you prefer the craziness of San Andreas or Vice City, you have to commend Rockstar for what they achieved with this game. Exploring Liberty City's open world for the first time was downright breathtaking and causing mayhem continues to be a fun time waster. And let's not forget about the stellar cast of characters thanks to some incredible writing and voice acting. Honestly, will you ever be able to forget characters like Roman and Brucie?
12. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
If you have even the slightest affinity toward fantasy role-playing games, you'd be a fool for passing on Bethesda's fifth proper entry in The Elder Scrolls franchise. With a vast open world that will take you over a hundred hours to explore, there's so much content crammed into every inch of Skyrim. Sure, it may destroy your social life, but it's a small price to pay when considering all the wonderful role-playing goodness that this game offers. Seriously, it has dragons. DRAGONS!
11. Halo: Reach
Bungie's final Halo game didn't make it this high on this list because of its multiplayer alone—the campaign of Halo: Reach was not just a beautifully told prequel, it was a serious and dire take on the events that lead up to the epic beginning of the series that started with Combat Evolved. In the game you play as Nobel Six, a strong, silent hero who's accompanied by a group of fellow Spartans tasked with the impossible mission of saving the planet Reach from a Covenant invasion. Despite the fact that we all know the crew is doomed from the start, there are plenty of surprises along the way, many of which are downright heart-wrenching. And then there's that ending. Don't even get me started on that ending.
10. Braid
Jonathan Blow's puzzle platformer will go down in history as one of the greatest indie games of this generation. Not only are the puzzles incredibly deep and complex, they are seamlessly woven into the game's platforming elements. Better yet, the game boasts an intriguing narrative that is extremely clever. In an industry where visuals are so important, Braid proves that a game doesn't need to be graphical showpiece to be engaging.
9. Lost Odyssey
Traditional JRPGs are few and far between this generation, and Mistwalker's Lost Odyssey is undoubtedly the cream of the crop. With a cast of memorable characters, an epic quest that spans multiple discs and a fun spin on the tried and true turn-based battle system, there's plenty to love about this game. The fact that a Japanese role-playing title of this caliber is exclusive to the Xbox 360, really elevates it as one of the few treasures exclusive to Microsoft's platform.
While BioWare's trilogy capper will forever be marred by its controversial ending, there's no denying the fact that this is one heck of an amazing role-playing experience. Seeing how all of your choices affect not only the slew of characters you come in contact with, but also crucial plot points that change the flow of the game, is downright astounding. BioWare was given the impossible task of creating a satisfying conclusion that had to live up to the lofty expectations of so many gamers, and in many respects, they succeeded with Mass Effect 3.
7. Portal 2
I hardly consider myself a fan of puzzle games, but Valve's Portal 2 managed to win me over like few games have. Not only are the puzzles absolutely brilliant, the game bleeds charm thanks to its excellent writing. The original Portal felt a lot like a tech demo, but the sequel takes that foundation and transforms it into one of the most engaging and memorable experiences you'll have this generation. And don't even get me started on the co-op…
6. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
For the longest time, World War II shooters dominated the gaming market—and then came Call of Duty 4, which brought the military FPS genre to the modern era. With production values that were unrivaled at the time and a roller coaster campaign that played like a summer blockbuster, there is much to love about Modern Warfare's linear but super cinematic approach to game design. Since its launch we've seen the franchise soar to ridiculous levels of popularity, and it's all thanks to Infinity Ward's incredible work on this game. Plus, I'm sure that ghillie suit mission will forever be etched in your mind like it is in mine.
There aren't many games that sport a cast quite as massive as Mass Effect 2. BioWare's sci-fi sequel provided an incredible character-driven experience that refined its predecessor's gameplay mechanics, making it not only a joy to experience, but also an absolute blast to play. It was also the first time players got a chance to see how the decisions they made in the prior title carry over from their save file and influence the overall story. If you own an Xbox 360 and haven't experienced the Mass Effect series, you're missing on a saga that is truly great.
The trilogy-capper to Marcus Fenix's battle against the Locust ended with an intense and emotional conclusion that will forever be remembered as the high point of the franchise. But it wasn't just the campaign that saw major improvements, the multiplayer was bigger and more ambitious than ever. From the suite of beloved competitive gametypes to the more unique Horde and Beast modes, there's so much content packed into this glorious game. The fact that this is easily one of the most gorgeous Xbox 360 games doesn't hurt either.
3. Mass Effect
Sure, the gameplay mechanics may be a bit flawed, and yes, the Mako is a headache and a half to control, but man did the original Mass Effect tell one heck of an incredible story. Gamers who really appreciate a quality role-playing experience hold ME1 above its sequels because it offered the player an experience that didn't solely focus on action. Let's also not forget that it introduced the dialogue wheel, which made the game feel much more like an interactive drama; something that was unheard of at the time.
Who would have thought that a sandbox western could possibly be so amazing? When the makers of Grand Theft Auto took over the Red Dead franchise, many doubted whether or not they could pull it off—but to everyone's delight, they totally did. As with any Rockstar game, there are plenty of memorable characters to be found in Redemption. Plus, the world is great and there's just so much to do—from playing poker to taming horses. And then there's that ending. Oh man, that ending.
1. BioShock
Irrational Games' BioShock tells the story of a stranded individual trapped within a freakishly twisted underwater city. It's completely horrifying, yet eerily intriguing at the same time. The level of detail around every corner is downright astonishing and speaks volumes about the team's developing prowess. The various Big Daddies that stomp through the halls and the creepily adorable Little Sisters that hang by their side perfectly meld within the universe and add a nice wrinkle to the gameplay. If that weren't enough, the astounding plot twist that precedes the game's conclusion is one of the most memorable moments in gaming.
What do you think of our picks? Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments below.
