00:00Whittling our pick of the best Xbox 360 games down to just 7 is no small feat, given how
00:15many memorable and enjoyable titles found a home on the Xbox 360 since its launch back
00:20in 2005.
00:22From Bioshock to Halo Reach and The Witcher 2, the 360 generation saw so many fantastic
00:27games released, and happily, thanks to Microsoft's push for backwards compatibility and recent
00:32remasters, there are still many in this selection you can enjoy on the current Xbox Series S
00:37consoles.
00:38So join us as we fondly look back and celebrate the best the Xbox 360 had to offer.
00:57Lara's Greatest Game only exists because Crystal Dynamics were clearly copying off
01:01Naughty Dog in class, but hey, if you're going to be a Nathan Drake wannabe, why not
01:05be the greatest Uncharted copycat that's ever been made?
01:08And that's exactly what Rise of the Tomb Raider is, the best Uncharted game Naughty
01:12Dog ever made.
01:13In some respects, the second entry of this rebooted cross trilogy is actually better
01:17than Nate at his best in places.
01:19Not only is Rise's shooting sharper than Uncharted 4, but its sandbox-like hub area
01:25and optional but intriguing challenge tunes actually give you more agency than any of
01:29Nathan Drake's adventures.
01:41Geralt of Rivia isn't a guy you want to mess with.
01:43He's a genetically altered super mutant who has the skills of a master swordsman, magic
01:48powers, and can take down dangerous mythical beasties single-handedly.
01:52The Witcher 2's plot revolves around Geralt embarking on a mission to prove his innocence
01:56for the crime of regicide, and as you progress through the story, every major plot twist
02:01is under your control.
02:02Should you help the downtrodden elves and dwarves overthrow their human oppressors,
02:06or leave them to their fate and focus on your quest?
02:09With a challengingly deep combat system, an enchanting world to explore, and an unforgettable
02:14tale, The Witcher 2 was an unmissable action RPG on the 360.
02:22Gears of War 2 was a bigger, better, and all-round goofier package than its predecessor,
02:32which resulted in a game that was a blast to play cooperatively or alone.
02:36While Gears of War 3 made significant improvements to the multiplayer modes, Gears 2 holds a
02:40special place in our hearts because it was our first introduction to Horde mode, now
02:44a defining classic for the series.
02:46The story focus also saw a more emotional play, switching to Dominic Santiago as he
02:51desperately searches for his wife Maria, and for a game that centres around big, beefy
02:57men shooting things, the tragic ending really upped the emotional stakes of otherwise loud
03:01and shouty action-adventure.
03:13Arguably the best Xbox Live Arcade game ever made, Braid is a masterpiece in digital storytelling
03:19that manages to conceal its genius behind a Mario-esque facade.
03:23On the surface, you're little suited heroes fiddling with physics and messing with the
03:27space-time continuum, as he freezes and rewinds time in order to save a girl.
03:31Reach the finale though, and you'll soon realise nothing is as it seems.
03:35What is at first presented as a simple, the princess is in another castle, rescue mission,
03:40actually reveals itself to be a tale of stalking and obsession, which honestly has thematic
03:45ties to the creation of the A-bomb.
03:52Bungie's last Halo game is also by far the best in terms of single-player campaigns.
03:57While little can beat a good 6-player team deathmatch on Halo 3's Guardian, no other
04:02Bungie game before or since touches the quality of Reach's story.
04:06With perfect pacing, an ensemble of Spartans who are treated to more of an emotional journey
04:11in 10 hours than Master Chief has seen in a decade, and a weirdly brilliant dogfighting
04:15mission involving spaceships, Reach is the boldest and best Halo.
04:19It also benefits from being the most focused, removing the irritating parts of Halo 2 and
04:233.
04:24We're looking at you, Flood levels.
04:25Reach is all about joyous shooting versus the Covenant, plus there are power-ups that
04:30perfectly add to the purity of Halo's combat.
04:32Damn, that jetpack is so good.
04:34And there's no question this is the best single-player Halo ever.
04:48You probably have more of a connection with every member of Commander Shepard's crew
04:52than most people you know in real life.
04:54That's because the Mass Effect trilogy tells an incredible story in a universe where morality,
04:59politics and love between lifeforms is all part of a much grander picture.
05:03Mass Effect 2 is the Empire Strikes Back of the series, giving you more of everything
05:07you loved from the first game, with none of the tonal changes of the third.
05:12This is a game of ethical choices and amazing shootouts, where bullets, lasers and orbs
05:16of biotic energy zip everywhere.
05:19But the crown jewel here is the unforgettable characters, all of whom have their own personal
05:23journey of absolution and self-discovery.
05:25Regardless of how you feel about the way the story ends, Mass Effect 2 is the indisputable
05:30high point in one of the greatest action RPGs of all time.
05:52Is there a more captivating setting in video game history than Bioshock's Rapture?
05:57Ben Levine's generation-defining shooter is so beloved precisely because that submerged
06:02city is once-in-a-lifetime memorable.
06:04Every sudden step you take through its once-decadent, now-dilapidated halls is testament to the
06:09hubris and danger of unchecked human ambition.
06:12Oh, and it's also one hell of a first-person shooter, while that would-you-kindly third-act
06:17shocker is one of the great video game twists of all time.
06:20On top of that, the amazing set pieces, characters and inventive combat only add to everything
06:26to make Bioshock great.
06:27Electrify a big daddy with your lightning hands, shoot a bunch of unhinged splicers
06:32with a shotgun, then stare at awe at this sinking city skyline in front of you.
06:36Not a single second of your time or attention is wasted.
06:38It's one of the 360's, and that gaming era's, most defining games.
06:54So that's our top 7 360 games, now obviously we can't cover all the incredible things
06:59that came out on Microsoft's beige child, so head to the comments to make a case for
07:03your platform-defining classic.
07:05And stay with GamesRadar for all things Xbox, video games and more.
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