Top 24 Overlooked Xbox 360 Games You Need to Play
- Xbox 360 marketplace closure on July 29, 2024.
- Many games will be harder to play due to licensing issues.
- Players can still redownload games and DLC.
- Some games are available on PC, many are not.
- 24 favorite games from the Xbox 360 era listed.
The Best Reveals From The Game Awards 2023
Discover the latest news, tips, guides, entertainment, reviews, and games on Streamers Visuals.
Explore our other sites: jalopnik, quartz, theroot, theinventory.
2024 GO Media Retro
24 of our favorite forgotten games trapped on the Xbox 360.
The Simpsons, Transformers, and more aren't backwards compatible or available on PC.
By Ethan Gach and Zack Zwiezen
Published Thursday 2:30 PM
The Xbox 360 is one of the all-time great consoles.
It spearheaded the ecosystem for indie games and digital downloads.
The closure of the Xbox 360 marketplace at the end of July is bittersweet.
The console's storefront will permanently go offline, closing the book on one of the most eclectic game libraries ever.
Despite Microsoft's investment in backwards compatibility, many treasures will be harder to play due to licensing issues and technical difficulties.
While some games are available on PC, lots aren't or have been delisted.
Players can still redownload games and DLC from their existing Xbox 360 libraries.
They won't be able to add anything new after the July 29, 2024 shutdown date.
Here are 24 weird favorites and forever classics from the red-ring years:
BangaiO HD Missile Fury
Missiles explode in a bullet hell sky.
Sidescrolling bullet hell with over 100 levels.
Developed by Treasure, known for classics like Ikaruga.
Blisteringly difficult with a cornucopia of on-screen hazards.
Status: Delisted in 2021, free demo available.
Spectral Force 3 Innocent Rage
Sprites fight on a square grid.
Tactical RPG with novel systems like faction friendships and team attack gauges.
Over 40 characters to recruit.
Status: Physical only.
Project Sylpheed
An anime character sits in a spaceship cockpit.
3D space sim shooter with distant space colonies and political cover-ups.
Status: Free demo only.
N3 Ninety-Nine Nights & Ninety-Nine Nights II
A warrior fights a giant frog and its army.
Kill guys, get orbs, kill even more guys.
Status: Free demo only for N3, Nights II is $7.50 to buy.
The Dishwasher Dead Samurai
A cartoon character shoots guys.
2D brawler with finishing moves and a guitar minigame.
Status: Free demo available, $10 to buy.
Culdcept Saga
An elephant card is displayed in front of a colorful game board.
Strategy game about occupying squares on a game board with magical creatures.
Status: Free demo only.
Wet
A woman shoots at cars while on top of another car.
Third-person acrobatic shooter inspired by low-budget retro exploitation films.
Status: Free demo only.
DBZ Budokai HD Collection
Piccolo blasts Raditz in the face.
Contains Budokai 1 and 3, two of the best fighting games in DBZ history.
Status: Delisted in 2021.
Fuse
Soldiers shoot a robot.
Third-person squad shooter with a focus on co-op.
Status: Delisted in 2021.
MagnaCarta 2
Fantasy characters fight a dragon.
Action-RPG with seamless third-person battles.
Status: Physical only.
Armored Core IV, For Answer, V, Verdict Day
Robots fight each other in a future without hope.
Mech shooting games with customization and multiplayer elements.
Status: Verdict Day is $20 to buy, the rest are physical only.
Eternal Sonata
A kid in fancy robes fights a turn-based battle.
RPG revolving around the Polish composer Frédéric Chopin.
Status: $15 to buy.
Spider-Man Web of Shadows
Venom picks up Spider-Man by the head.
Open-world game with upgraded combat and a choice system.
Status: Delisted in 2014.
Forza Motorsport 2, 3, 4
A black car races down the track.
Racing games with a selection of courses and cars.
Status: Forza 3 and 4 were delisted in 2013 and 2015 respectively.
Blur
Colorful cars race down a busy crumbling road.
Racing game with neon power-ups.
Status: Delisted in 2013.
Splatterhouse
A weird muscle guy punches a monster.
Brawler with snappy and bloody gameplay.
Status: Delisted.
Ninja Blade
A Ninja fights a helicopter on a hoverboard.
Action game with quick-time events.
Status: Free demo only.
The Chronicles of Riddick Assault on Dark Athena
Vin Diesel fires a shotgun.
Includes Escape from Butcher Bay and continues the journey.
Status: $15 to buy.
Full Auto
Cars fight with each other with guns on the street.
Vehicular combat racer.
Status: Free demo only.
Project Gotham Racing 3 & 4
A red sports car races at night.
Racing exclusives with thrilling gameplay.
Status: Physical only.
Chromehounds
Robots fire at each other out in the desert.
Wartime mech game with online multiplayer.
Status: Delisted in 2010.
X-Men Origins Wolverine
Wolverine fights soldiers in an alley.
Action game with gory kills and repetitive gameplay.
Status: Delisted in 2014.
The Simpsons Game
The donut statue chases Homer.
Mixes the world of Springfield with video game parodies.
Status: Delisted.
Transformers War for Cybertron
Optimus fights Megatron on Cybertron.
Sci-fi third-person shooter with vehicular mayhem.
Status: Delisted in 2017.
We may earn a commission from links on this page.
