Two decades have passed since the Xbox 360 first arrived in the UK on 2 December 2005, marking a pivotal moment in console gaming history. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, we look back at the 15 most influential and memorable titles that defined its generation, showcasing a mix of exclusive hits and games that found their first home on Microsoft's powerhouse console.
The Pioneers of Digital and Open Worlds
The console's digital marketplace, Xbox Live Arcade, was revolutionised by Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (2005). This frenetic twin-stick shooter, rebuilt from a Project Gotham Racing mini-game, became a standalone sensation with its stylish vector visuals, proving the immense potential of digital downloads.
Meanwhile, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006) set a new standard for open-world RPGs. Players lost countless hours exploring the vast province of Cyrodiil, prioritising unexpected adventures and scenic horseback rides over the main quest to close hellish gates, in a world that felt truly boundless.
In a surprise hit, Uno (2006) became a cultural phenomenon. It introduced many to webcam gaming and was a pioneering downloadable multiplayer title, its addictive gameplay and iconic sound effects often derailing plans to play more traditional blockbusters.
Exclusive Mastery and Genre Innovation
Microsoft's first-party studios delivered unforgettable exclusives. The deceptively charming Viva Piñata (2006) hid Darwinian garden management beneath its colourful surface. Fable II (2008) offered a perfectly British, heartwarming fantasy RPG, complete with a beloved canine companion. The trilogy-concluding Halo 3 (2007) provided an epic scale shooter with legendary multiplayer and the revolutionary Forge map editor.
The console also became a home for bold new IP. BioShock (2007) blended dystopian adventure with philosophical depth in the underwater city of Rapture. Gears of War 2 (2008) perfected the cover shooter and introduced the trend-setting Horde mode. Mass Effect (2007) launched a seminal sci-fi saga, mixing RPG depth with a compelling narrative about a galactic existential threat.
A Platform for Diverse Experiences
The Xbox 360's library was remarkably diverse. Microsoft's push for Japanese support yielded the poignant, Final Fantasy-esque RPG Lost Odyssey (2008). For challenge-seekers, Ninja Gaiden II (2008) offered brutally satisfying combat long before Dark Souls.
It was the ultimate party machine, with Rock Band 2 (2008) providing the definitive plastic-instrument music experience. For quieter moments, the haunting art-house platformer Limbo (2010) showed Xbox Live Arcade as a venue for experimental, mass-appeal indie games.
Driving games were reimagined with the open-world festival joy of Forza Horizon (2012), while Trials Evolution (2012) hooked players with its fiendishly tricky physics-based motorbike puzzles and superb level editor.
These 15 titles represent just a fraction of the experiences that made the Xbox 360 a cornerstone of modern gaming. Its legacy lives on not just in backwards compatibility, but in the design philosophies, online infrastructures, and genre trends it helped to establish and popularise for a global audience.
