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00:10 Whittling our pick of the best Xbox 360 games down to just 7 is no small feat, given how
00:15 many memorable and enjoyable titles found a home on the Xbox 360 since its launch back
00:20 in 2005.
00:22 From Bioshock to Halo Reach and The Witcher 2, the 360 generation saw so many fantastic
00:27 games released and happily, thanks to Microsoft's push for backwards compatibility and recent
00:32 remasters, there are still many in this selection you can enjoy on the current Xbox Series S
00:37 consoles.
00:38 So join us as we fondly look back and celebrate the best the Xbox 360 had to offer.
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00:49 My dearest Lara.
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00:57 Lara's greatest game only exists because Crystal Dynamics were clearly copying off
01:01 Naughty Dog in class.
01:02 But hey, if you're going to be a Nathan Drake wannabe, why not be the greatest uncharted
01:06 copycat that's ever been made?
01:08 And that's exactly what Rise of the Tomb Raider is, the best uncharted game Naughty
01:12 Dog ever made.
01:13 In some respects, the second entry of this rebooted Crofts trilogy is actually better
01:17 than Nate at his best in places.
01:19 Not only is Rise's shooting sharper than Uncharted 4, but its sandbox-like hub area
01:25 and optional but intriguing challenge tombs actually give you more agency than any of
01:29 Nathan Drake's adventures.
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01:41 Geralt of Rivia isn't a guy you want to mess with.
01:43 He's a genetically altered super mutant who has the skills of a master swordsman, magic
01:48 powers and can take down dangerous mythical beasties single-handedly.
01:52 The Witcher 2's plot revolves around Geralt embarking on a mission to prove his innocence
01:56 for the crime of regicide.
01:58 And as you progress through the story, every major plot twist is under your control.
02:02 Should you help the downtrodden elves and dwarves overthrow their human oppressors or
02:06 leave them to their fate and focus on your quest?
02:09 With a challengingly deep combat system, an enchanting world to explore and an unforgettable
02:13 tale, The Witcher 2 was an unmissable action RPG on the 360.
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02:27 Gears of War 2 was a bigger, better and all-round goofier package than its predecessor, which
02:32 resulted in a game that was a blast to play cooperatively or alone.
02:36 While Gears of War 3 made significant improvements to the multiplayer modes, Gears 2 holds a
02:40 special place in our hearts because it was our first introduction to Horde mode, now
02:44 a defining classic for the series.
02:46 The story focus also saw a more emotional play, switching to Dominic Santiago as he
02:51 desperately searches for his wife Maria.
02:54 And for a game that centres around big, beefy men shooting things, the tragic ending really
02:59 upped the emotional stakes of otherwise loud and shouty action adventures.
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03:13 Arguably the best Xbox Live Arcade game ever made, Braid is a masterpiece in digital storytelling
03:19 that manages to conceal its genius behind a Mario-esque facade.
03:23 On the surface, your little suited hero is fiddling with physics and messing with the
03:27 space-time continuum as he freezes and rewinds time in order to save a girl.
03:31 Reach the finale though and you'll soon realise nothing is as it seems.
03:35 What is at first presented as a simple "the princess is in another castle" rescue mission
03:40 actually reveals itself to be a tale of stalking and obsession, which honestly has thematic
03:45 ties to the creation of the A-bomb.
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03:52 Bungie's last Halo game is also by far the best in terms of single-player campaigns.
03:57 While little can beat a good 6-player team deathmatch on Halo 3's Guardian, no other
04:02 Bungie game before or since touches the quality of Reach's story.
04:06 With perfect pacing, an ensemble of Spartans who are treated to more of an emotional journey
04:11 in 10 hours than Master Chief has seen in a decade and a weirdly brilliant dogfighting
04:15 mission involving spaceships, Reach is the boldest and best Halo.
04:19 It also benefits from being the most focused, removing the irritating parts of Halo 2 and
04:23 3.
04:24 We're looking at you Flood levels.
04:25 Reach is all about joyous shooting versus the Covenant, plus there are power-ups that
04:30 perfectly add to the purity of Halo's combat.
04:32 Damn that jetpack is so good.
04:34 And there's no question this is the best single-player Halo ever.
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04:48 You probably have more of a connection with every member of Commander Shepard's crew
04:52 than most people you know in real life.
04:54 That's because the Mass Effect trilogy tells an incredible story in a universe where morality,
04:59 politics and love between lifeforms is all part of a much grander picture.
05:03 And Mass Effect 2 is the Empire Strikes Back of the series, giving you more of everything
05:08 you loved from the first game with none of the tonal changes of the third.
05:12 This is a game of ethical choices and amazing shootouts, where bullets, lasers and orbs
05:16 of biotic energy zip everywhere.
05:19 But the crown jewel here is the unforgettable characters, all of whom have their own personal
05:23 journey of absolution and self-discovery.
05:25 Regardless of how you feel about the way the story ends, Mass Effect 2 is the indisputable
05:30 high point in one of the greatest action RPGs of all time.
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05:52 Is there a more captivating setting in video game history than Bioshock's Rapture?
05:57 Ken Levine's generation-defining shooter is so beloved precisely because that submerged
06:02 city is once in a lifetime memorable.
06:04 Every sudden step you take through its once decadent, now dilapidated halls is testament
06:09 to the hubris and danger of unchecked human ambition.
06:12 Oh, and it's also one hell of a first-person shooter, while that would-you-kindly third
06:17 act shocker is one of the great video game twists of all time.
06:20 On top of that, the amazing set pieces, characters and inventive combat only add to everything
06:26 to make Bioshock great.
06:27 Electrify a big daddy with your lightning hands, shoot a bunch of unhinged splicers
06:32 with a shotgun, then stare at awe at this sinking city skyline in front of you.
06:36 Not a single second of your time or attention is wasted.
06:38 It's one of the 360's and that gaming era's most defining games.
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06:54 So that's our top 7 360 games.
06:57 Now obviously we can't cover all the incredible things that came out on Microsoft's beige
07:01 child so head to the comments to make a case for your platform-defining classic.
07:05 And stay with GamesRadar for all things Xbox, video games and more.
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