When thinking about consoles, one of the foremost names that comes to mind is the OG Xbox 360. Launched in 2005, Xbox 360 became a landmark in the gaming world. With a robust lineup of games, Xbox 360 has been able to gain a considerable reputation among gaming enthusiasts. The company’s willingness to listen to feedback and constant improvement of the console gave it immense popularity. Below, we will take a look at some of the most talked-about Xbox 360 exclusive titles.
How did Xbox 360 Exclusive Titles Make it Stand Out?
Keeping certain titles exclusive to a console is part of the promotion efforts by a console manufacturer. The idea here is that while it can restrict game title sales, such a practice can help boost console sales.
A majority of regular gamers could care less about their game manufacturers. A new game releases, they play – that’s it! However, when they hear that a game has been released on only one platform, they know that it is momentous.
So, it becomes a hot topic, the console establishes itself as something substantial, and more gamers start gravitating towards it. That is what Microsoft does with all its consoles, but the Xbox 360 was the major one to hit it out of the park. Mostly due to the amazing collection of exclusive titles that Microsoft managed to bag. Games like Halo 4 and Gears of War 3 saw massive traction from the gamer community back in the day.
Xbox’s Community also Played a Major Part in 360’s Success
Robust community support and active modding have contributed to the longevity of Xbox 360 gaming titles. They have also brought out creativity.
Xbox encourages gamers to find like-minded people and connect with them. The Xbox community is diverse, but the fact that it is still active shows how big a deal the 360 was back in the day. Thus, regardless of your playing style and preferences, you can connect, join multiplayer sessions, engage in discussions regarding your favorite titles, and so on. The community is also quite supportive. So, you can get game-related assistance in times of need.
Also, the console allows a ton of mods. On console, Xbox 360 allows mods offered in-game or by game developers. Gamers with some hint of the game’s codes can modify the game according to their wish and also share it with other gamers from the community. Such a vigorous modding scene enhances the gaming experience and makes playing games more fun.
Now, let’s take a trip down memory lane and check out some of the top Xbox 360 exclusives that have left their indelible mark on the gaming industry.
Forza Motorsport 3
The Forza series has been the premium racing simulator on multiple consoles for quite a few years now. However, with Forza Motorsport 3 for the Xbox 360, Microsoft had an excellent game on their hands, thanks to the exclusivity.
It was developed by Turn 10 Studios and featured over 400 cars which could be customized for the player’s benefit. Moreover, with 100 tracks to race through, the competition and your career as a professional racer are boundless!
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Forza Motorsport 3 - Xbox 360 | $3.34 | Buy on Amazon |
And, if you’ve been a long-time fan of the series, you know that Forza brings the goods in the graphics and immersion departments. The case is no different with Forza Motorsport 3, as it pushes the limits of the Xbox 360 to their absolutes. As far as Xbox 360 racing games go, this is a must-play!
Developers: Turn 10 Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Release Date: October 27, 2009
Fable II
If you love RPGs and fantasy games, you must have heard of the Fable series. Ever since the release of Fable III in 2010, the series has failed to reach the heights it previously achieved. However, there’s a sequel on the horizon, and things could be looking good for the series once again.
Coming back to Fable II, it’s an RPG set in the fictional land of Albion. The story takes place 500 years after the events of the first game, and the player character must stop the king-turned-madman from destroying life as we know it.
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Fable II - Xbox 360 / Xbox One Digital Code | Buy on Amazon |
As for the gameplay, Fable II features the usual thoroughfare of open-world RPGs. There are plenty of locations to explore, secrets to unravel, and side quests to complete. You’ll also find multiple endings in the game, which are based on your actions throughout the game world and the story.
Basically, it’s one of the best Xbox 360 RPGs of all time. As an exclusive, this is a game that you can’t afford to miss out on!
Developers: Lionhead Studios
Publishers: Microsoft Game Studios
Release Date: October 21, 2008
Assassins Creed Brotherhood
Play as Ezio, the legendary Master Assassin, and dive into a trip to Rome to combat corrupt oppressors – that is what Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood is about.
As Ezio, players have to display their leadership skills and command a brotherhood of assassins to defeat their mortal enemies – the notorious Templar Order.
Brotherhood is the first title in the Assassin’s Creed franchise that allows multiplayer gaming. Therefore, you can compete against other assassins worldwide and hone your skills.
The game offers a huge arsenal of cool weapons, such as poison darts, double hidden blades, concealed guns, and more to maximize the fun.
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Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood |
$20.98 |
Buy on Amazon |
Packed with fantastic graphics and a detailed map, this action-adventure title has lots of things to do and keeps the players on the edge at all times.
Developers: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: November 16, 2010
BioShock 2
Set in Rapture – a fictional underwater city, BioShock 2 is an FPS game where players take the role of Big Daddy and fight numerous deadly creatures.
The game returns to the city of Rapture, ten years after the events of the original Bioshock, where the Big Sister is the most dangerous being.
BioShock 2 has both online and offline multiplayer modes. These include Free-For-All, Team Death Match, etc. Interestingly, the game lets you play flashback missions that explain how you became the Big Daddy.
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Bioshock 2 - Xbox 360 |
$17.98 |
Buy on Amazon |
With intuitive control, an immersive storyline, good graphics, advanced weapons, and more, BioShock 2 manages to capture the essence of the original title yet introduce its own special flavor.
While sequels rarely meet gamers’ expectations, BioShock 2 is worthy of being called an exception.
Developers: 2K Marin
Publisher: 2K Games
Release Date: February 9, 2010
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
A massive name from the popular Call of Duty franchise, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 takes players on a voyage in a war-ridden globe.
This time, Captain Price and Task Force 141 have to defeat the threatening enemy, Vladimir Makarov. The ultranationalist war criminal is gaining more global control and has some really evil intentions. Captain Soap, Captain Price, and co. are the only ones standing in his way and hellbent on saving the world.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 with DLC Collection 1 - Xbox 360 | $24.30 | Buy on Amazon |
Interestingly, this popular title has seen a remaster from the developers, and you can enjoy the game with the latest features, such as multiplayer and other interesting game modes like Kill Confirmed, Team Defender, etc.
Developers: Infinity Ward
Publisher: Activision
Release Date: November 8, 2011
Dead Space 2
Armed with the iconic Plasma Cutter, players go on to play as Isaac Clarke and combat an alien invasion that has all the elements of a nightmare. A sequel to the original, Dead Space 2 is a third-person horror survival game that requires you to survive by all means necessary.
After walking up from a comatose state, the player finds themselves in a huge space city called ‘The Sprawl,’ infested with terrifying alien creatures. As if that was not enough, Issac has dementia, dreams of his deceased girlfriend, and the government is after him.
The graphics are eye-catching, the game is atmospheric, and the multiplayer nourishes your competitive spirit. The weaponry and skillset are vast and include javelin, telekinesis, trip mines, and more.
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Dead Space 2 | $39.60 | Buy on Amazon |
Fight off Necromorphs – noxious adversaries that an alien has made come to life, solve puzzles, and most importantly, stay alive. Essentially, Dead Space 2 is one of the best Xbox 360 zombie games, especially if you’re counting the nature of the Necromorphs!
Developers: Visceral Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: January 25, 2011
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
In Deus Ex: Human Revolution, you get to play Adam Jensen – a retired SWAT specialist hired to supervise the defense of one of the most experimental biotech companies in the United States.
Now, while your original responsibility was to guard the firm’s secrets, things change when a black ops team barges in and mercilessly slaughters all the scientists. Soon, you get mechanical enhancements and embark on a mission to track down leads worldwide.
In a world where scientific progress is slowly derailing human evolution, you have the power to reverse all the wrongs and bring about human revolution. This acclaimed action RPG has everything – combat, stealth, social gameplay, and more.
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Deus Ex: Human Revolution | $18.94 | Buy on Amazon |
Besides twenty advanced customizable weapons, the game offers over fifty different enhancements to suit your playing style and needs. The touch of both near-future and renaissance makes the open world of Deus Ex: Human Revolution an adventurous and memorable journey. When you’re thinking of the best sci-fi RPGs, this game definitely comes to mind!
Developers: Eidos-Montréal
Publisher: Square Enix Europe
Release Date: August 23, 2011
Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition
Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition combines the third installment of the Diablo series – Diablo III and its expansion pack Diablo III: Reaper of Souls. This makes it a definitive experience that includes all its five acts, bounties, as well as the Crusader class.
Play as the last guardians of the civilization, obtain mythical loot, gain new powers, and master destructive abilities. As a player, you can choose between solo and multiplayer modes according to your mood.
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Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition |
$45.09 |
Buy on Amazon |
Also, besides going to an all-out war with the evil in the Diablo III story mode, you can explore the vast open world in the Adventure mode and hunt bounties on the elder evils. Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition provides gamers with 4K Ultra HD graphics that are stunning, to say the least.
Developers: Blizzard Team 3
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Gears of War 3
If you are a fan of the Gears of War series, you must check out Gears of War 3 – the fabulous ending to the famed saga. Playing as Marcus Michael Fenix – the central character, you must assemble the now-disorganized Delta Squad and revitalize it.
In this epic third-person shooter, Marcus and his teammates have to battle pitiless killing machines known as Lambents and save humankind from its doom. Gears of War 3 offers players several modes like Single Player, Horde Mode, Beast Mode, Team Deathmatch, and so on.
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Gears of War 3 |
$29.55 |
Buy on Amazon |
The game utilizes Modified Unreal Engine 3, delivering immense augmentations in terms of graphics, immersion, lighting, SFX, and so on. New cool weapons like Digger, Silverback, etc., have taken the gaming experience to newer heights.
Also, with the addition of new combat vehicles like Squad Exoskeletons, the gameplay has become truly unparalleled.
Developers: Epic Games
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Release Date: September 20, 2011
Grand Theft Auto IV
A thunderous addition to the GTA franchise, Grand Theft Auto IV puts you in the shoes of Niko Bellic – a man of East European descent in his expedition to escape his past. His cousin Roman tells him that they can find fortune in Liberty City together, as it is the “land of opportunity.”
What makes GTA IV different than its predecessors is its focus less on cinematic aspects and more on realism. Utilizing the RAGE engine, the enormous open world of GTA IV lets players roam the streets of the iconic Liberty City and the neighboring state of Alderney.
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Grand Theft Auto IV | $4.00 | Buy on Amazon |
The game consists of 91 story missions and lots of side missions. Also, Grand Theft Auto IV has a multiplayer mode. This mode allows players to either cooperate with or compete against a maximum of 32 players.
Developers: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Release Date: April 29, 2008
Halo 4
Halo 4 marks the return of the Master Chief in his battle against a powerful, ancient evil hellbent to exact revenge on humanity and destroy everything in his path.
The game takes you to an unknown world where you, as Master Chief, have to fight off enemies and save humanity.
The game offers both solo and multiplayer options and ensures your thorough entertainment. Nonetheless, for your info, you will need an Xbox Live Gold Membership to access the online multiplayer mode and Spartan Ops missions.
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Halo 4 - Xbox 360 (Standard Game) |
$28.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
The atmospheric graphics combined with futuristic weapons, vehicles, deadly enemies, and a Spartan-IV player progression system make Halo 4 gameplay a one-of-a-kind affair. In short, Halo 4 is a worthy entry to the illustrious realm of Halo.
Developers: 343 Industries
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Release Date: November 6, 2012
Left 4 Dead 2
If you are a zombie survival enthusiast, Left 4 Dead 2 is a notable name in the game. A sequel to the highly popular co-op game Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2 is a way larger title and introduces many new things. These include more Versus campaigns, more co-op campaigns, and an entirely new game mode, namely Scavenge.
This action horror takes you through multiple locations and puts your survival skills to the test. There are a large number of weapons, including firearms, baseball bats, axes, frying pans, and so on, to lay waste to your foes.
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Left 4 Dead 2 | 1,793 Reviews | $75.97 | Buy on Amazon |
The multiplayer mode lets you compete against other players and hone your gaming abilities. The game also provides support for split-screen play.
Thanks to AI Director 2.0, L4D2 adjusts world objects, weather effects, enemy population, sound, and more to match a player’s performance.
Developers: Valve
Publisher: Valve
Release Date: November 17, 2009
Burnout Revenge
Burnout Revenge is about one single mantra: either destroy your targets or get destroyed yourself. The game offers cars belonging to three classes – race, muscle, and crash. All three classes of cars cater to different playing styles and powerups.
Interestingly enough, as you progress, your cars will upgrade as well and become increasingly powerful. Unleash your anarchy and terminate your competition by playing dirty. Tear your opponents apart using nasty combos across tracks stretched along three different continents. Race through busy traffic, show no mercy, and wreak complete havoc.
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Burnout Revenge - Xbox 360 | 371 Reviews |
$36.44 |
Buy on Amazon |
Players can choose from Traffic Attack mode and Crash mode and turn their automobile into a WMD. You don’t want to miss this one, as it’s one of the best Xbox 360 racing games you can play today!
Developers: Criterion Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: March 7, 2006
Final Words
The Xbox 360 console saw success because of its continuous improvements, helpful community, and active modding scene. But apart from those, there was one big reason behind the console becoming a household name – exclusive titles. These console exclusives attracted more run-of-the-mill gamers to the platform and made Xbox 360 what it is today.
The titles mentioned in this article not only played a crucial role in building Xbox 360’s status but also gave users something to keep playing even after years. If you have not played these titles, you have yet to discover an elixir of unfiltered entertainment. To make up for it, download them today and start playing. Happy gaming!
If you want something slightly different, why not check out the best Xbox 360 Lego games for your kids?
