Top 10 Xbox 360 Games Of All Time

Top 10 Xbox 360 Games

With the passing of another gaming generation I thought I would reminisce and pay tribute to what is, in my opinion, the greatest console of all time. Remember this is MY list, not yours, so there will probably be different opinions on display to your own, please keep that in mind before embarrassing yourself in the comments. Here are a few honorable mentions that just missed out:

Minecraft: It's a brilliant game, just a lot better on the PC
Mass Effect: Amazing story and vivid universe, but the visuals and gameplay were definitely not up to the standard they should've been, after all it did start my favorite gaming franchise of all time. But if you play the story through as the good guy, then prepare for the best climax of any game, ever.
Assassin's Creed 2: The best of a great series but it just feels a bit arcadey and repetitive, definitely saved by the historical storyline rather than the tiresome modern one.
Skyrim: It's great, no doubt about that. Just needs a difficulty level as it's far too easy, especially when you kill a dragon in about three shots without it landing a single hit on you. It also needs the protagonist to actually speak, I just don't connect to my character and in the end just sort of stop caring, and the soul cairn can fuck off. 

#10- Mortal Kombat (2011)

GET OVER HERE! Okay maybe this is a personal preference but there is no doubt that this is a great game. The reboot to the classic franchise was definitely a lot better than most peoples expectations and as a lifelong fan of the series I was amazed at how the 3D effects and brilliant combat system combined to make a gory yet incredibly enjoyable fighter. Unlike most games that fans avidly wait for, this one actually delivered with classic elements such as over the top gore and classic characters being combined with new innovative features such as a new combat system, that works an absolute treat, with all characters well balanced making character selection a strategy in itself.

The story is enjoyable, if predictable, especially if you're familiar with the original trilogy, but even lifelong fans will still enjoy seeing the more modern characters integrated into the story. The game is definitely suited for the PS3 controller which is why it's low on this list, but pick up an arcade stick and you will be pulling out people's spines in no time, worth every penny. FATALITY

#9- GTA V (2013)

The majority of you will be wondering why this is a lot lower than usual and that is in no small part to the PR disaster and the constant breaking of promises from what used to be my favorite company, Rockstar. However, there is no argument that GTA V is a technically brilliant game, brilliant mechanics, very good graphics, an excellent level of detail and a superb engine that really make use of everything the Xbox 360 has to offer, you get the feeling when playing it that you are playing with the very limits of the 360's technical capacity and every inch of power has been squeezed out in order to make the game. The new features work brilliantly, the three characters, if stereotypical, work in tandem and switching between them is a treat. The heist missions are also brilliant and my only complaint would be that there isn't enough of them and the story does tend to lag behind in the filler between them.

My main issue with the story is that I feel it plays it safe, the ending is entirely predictable and doesn't feel special, especially when compared to other GTA games. It definitely frustrates me that a game as forward thinking as this has such a basic plot that only really does enough to get buy. Still, it is a brilliant gaming experience and definitely a fitting finale for one of the all time great consoles.

#8- Far Cry 3 (2012)

Far Cry over GTA, you must think I'm insane, but did I ever tell you the definition of insanity? Insanity is doing the exact same fucking thing over and over again expecting shit to change. That is my reasoning, Far Cry has Vaas, GTA has a stereotypical mobster, haven't seen that one before. Far Cry just excels at what makes open world games great, brilliant side missions, fantastic combat and a brilliant storyline right up until the later half where it starts to become a bit dull. This is my main issue with Far Cry, the first half of the story is absolutely brilliant, Vaas is an amazing antagonist and so of course when he inevitably departs, the story looses its sparkle. The protagonist is also the classic Ubisoft dick and in the end he just becomes insufferable, this could of been one of the best games of all time if they had just cut the campaign in half. Still, the game is brilliant and in my opinion better than GTA by a mile.

#7- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)

So this is where it all began, and the world had never seen anything like it. This is the blueprint of all modern shooters, a Led Zeppelin if you will of the video game industry. The multiplayer mode is just so mindblowingly forward thinking, the leap forward between the previous games is unbelievable. No matter how hard Battlefield tries or their stupid fanbase excretes all over the internet their pretentious bullshit, this will go down as the greatest shooter of all time.

The story is also excellent, even when the pace slows down it still feels solid and then if it does begin to tire it ramps the tempo up at just the right time. It definitely does something that no other COD has done, and that is feel unpredictable, that definitely makes the campaign another brilliant experience, which when combined with brilliantly fun multiplayer creates an excellent game.

#6- GTA IV (2008)

This might turn a few heads but I generally feel that this was a much better title than its successor. This does everything GTA V does, just a bit better, especially considering that this game was released five years before its successor and therefore I feel slightly more influential. Sure the shooting and general mechanics of the game are nowhere near as good as five's, but this game succeeds in a much more compelling story that unlike five's is unpredictable and actually has a good ending with much more dynamic characters and a game that actually works, see it can be done Rockstar. GTA V was nowhere near as influential as this, when this was released there was nothing on the market even remotely like it and for that it deserves to be higher.

#5- Forza Motorsport 4 (2011)

Turn 10 must be the only game studio that can churn out brilliant game after brilliant game without it becoming tiring, I don't think there has ever been an underwhelming Forza, which certainly made this decision hard. I certainly loved Forza Horizon, it took the series into new directions and as something a little bit different it was quite simply brilliant, However, I look for more realism in a driving game, I feel the open world aspects of racing games is stacked with other excellent titles where as when it comes to realistic racers there are really only two, Forza and GT. Gran Turismo certainly used to be a better title, but now the ultimate racer has to go to Forza.

This racer simply has everything, 500 customizable cars to choose from, stunning graphics, brilliant audio and to top it off Jeremy Clarkson talking through your favorite cars. It definitely isn't just looks though as this is without the doubt the ultimate simulator, the physics are so beautifully worked that it does make you feel like you are actually driving the car and with so many events to choose from you will never get bored. Quite simply the greatest driving game of all time.

#4- LA Noire (2011)

I like it when game companies take a risk, because when they work they really hit the mark. This game can be summed up in word, stunning. The game is also incredibly unique with nothing else that fits into this genre, it's definitely different, and I appreciate that. The main draw of this game for me is the visuals, I have never seen a game look this good, some of the visuals are stunning and the facial recognition system works an absolute treat, maybe even too well as sometimes the tells are a bit obvious during interrogation scenes.

The plot is also brilliant, to people who say video games can't contain a good storyline then fuck them, the plot in this game is five thousand times better than the majority of films and almost plays out like a novel creating a very enjoyable, gripping and engaging experience, something that Heavy Rain has since tried to emulate. While this game certainly isn't for everyone, especially for the usual Rockstar fanbase who would probably get bored after 5 minutes due to the lack of combat, but screw them. This brilliant game tells a brilliantly scripted dark tale that actually forces the player to use their brain, and when you do it creates an epic and totally unique experience

#3- Mass Effect 2 & Mass Effect 3 (2010, 2012)

The very best gaming series from the king of RPGs, I simply love the Mass Effect universe. I love it so much that I really cannot decide between two and three, they are both amazing but both have some annoying faults, I couldn't split them hence my decision. Two was a massive improvement to the already excellent first installment. The core gameplay was completely overhauled with a new, very impressive engine that creates outstanding action sequences and lush visuals. The RPG elements to this game are the best of any I've ever played, the decisions that you make directly affect the narrative which makes the experience more engaging and puts real pressure on the player to make the correct choice. My only real criticism for this game is the linear storyline, which only really is a prequel to the third installment meaning it definitely doesn't feel as epic as the first game.

Contrary to popular opinions, I loved the third installment just as much as the second. I stand by my opinion that the combat system in this game is the best of all time with brilliantly balanced guns and customization, there is even a difficulty level that makes the game incredibly easy if you just want to follow the narrative, great idea, I wish more games would use that, or at least include a difficulty level, Skyrim. The visuals are as good as ever and the plethora of varied characters returns to create a brilliant gaming experience. I also highly recommend the first set of DLC that is absolutely amazing, definitely the best DLC of all time. The plot is definitely improved from the second game, this time it feels a lot more risky and the dark undertone creates an emotional and engaging experience right up to the end, that is my only criticism. The ending, although dramatically epic, wasn't really explained and in the end the fantastic decision making from the previous games felt rather pointless as all the outcomes were more or less the same. However, this is a small price to pay for two amazing games. I can't wait to see what Bioware does with the series next. 

#2- Call of Duty 6: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)

How do you follow up the greatest shooter of all time, like this of course. Anyone who hates Call of Duty clearly hasn't played this. Firstly the story is vintage Call of Duty narrative crossed with some excellent missions and a brilliant twist that, like the fourth game made the plot feel unpredictable and exciting. Controversial, yes, but ask Eric Bischoff and he will tell you that controversy creates cash, and boy did it. However, the main reason I love this game so much is the almost perfect multiplayer. For the first, and only time, Call of Duty featured a variety of well balanced guns, brilliant action packed maps, a balanced perk system and the signature ranking system that has truly made Call of Duty a staple of the gaming community. Arguably the fourth game did have these features, but I find that Modern Warfare 2 took these as a basis and then improved on them, with great effect. I find with the newer versions of this franchise that the developers have tried to force players to adopt a playing style that the developers want, but in Modern Warfare 2 you weren't punished for a different playing style and so I feel any fan of the genre can still have a good time. Sure, it might not be a technical masterpiece, and spec ops side missions are nowhere near as fun as zombies, but who cares. It's just so much fun.


#1- Red Dead Redemption (2010)

It couldn't really be anything else, the gaming equivalent of perfection, I regularly run out of superlatives to describe this game. This masterpiece is just the culmination of everything I love about gaming, vast, dynamic worlds, an amazing narrative with brilliantly portrayed characters and some of the best visuals there are to offer, this game has it all. There really isn't anything wrong with this game, whether you're riding off into the sunset to meet your long lost family while being chased by bears or playing a great game of poker, this game never fails to put a smile on your face. Just brilliant, an ode to the Xbox 360 and a fitting tribute.