We’ve brought you today a list of the 12 best original Xbox games. In our honest opinion, these offerings are the most suited when it comes to extracting maximum gaming pleasures from the Microsoft-made console. First released in 2001, it managed to easily carve a niche for itself in a market also occupied by biggies like the PS2, the GameCube and the Dreamcast. But we all know, at the end of the day it’s the games that matter and this system had plenty of awesome ones back in the day. Let’s take a stroll through those times and look at the finest titles which have made their way the original Xbox.
1 – The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Bethesda’s iconic action-RPG series received this amazing entry in 2002 and it took the world by storm immediately. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind contains true open-ended gameplay which is given a boost by its open worlds nature. Equipped with amazing graphics for its time, this game managed to woo everyone who played it thanks to its well crafted atmosphere that made it hard to resist. It later even received two great expansion packs in the form of Tribunal and Bloodmoon.
2 – Jet Set Radio Future
Setting new standards for video game art, Jet Set Radio Future captured the hearts of critics as well as gamers in absolutely no time. This action-based offering has you play as in-line skating graffiti artists who need to skate around town to cover up rival gangs’ graffiti, while dodging the police and also performing tricks. Jet Set Radio Future is even appreciated for its stellar soundtrack.
3 – Half Life 2
One of the finest first-person shooters of all time, Half Life 2 is pure narrative brilliance. It’s a game filled to the brim with exciting scenarios which are complemented brilliantly by its excellent physics, sound and AI. Half Life 2 is a masterpiece from Valve which deserves a play from every gamer no matter what their taste.
4 – Forza Motorsport
Sony had Gran Turismo, and Microsoft had to do something very phenomenal to be able to compete against it. Forza Motorsport was its answer and it was a pretty amazing one at that. This simulation racer grabbed particular significance because it addressed grievances of fans of Gran Turismo games. These include damage mechanics, an intelligent learning system, online implementation and tremendous customization options.
5 – GTA: San Andreas
A year after its PS2 debut, GTA: San Andreas made its way to the Xbox, complete with its truly amazing open world offerings. Allowing you to freely drive all kinds of land, sea and air vehicles, it provides incredible amounts of freedom. Its story takes place in a fictional version of California and Nevada, and explores distinct themes like police corruption, crack epidemics and more. GTA: San Andreas is a true piece of art and is a must-play for owners of the Xbox.
6 – Psychonauts
Psychonauts is a 3D platformer made by Tim Schafer and his Double Fine Productions team. This enchanting game is filled with spectacular experiences that make it hard for you to put your controllers down. It features a superb story as well. Psychonauts was first released for the Xbox in 2005 and is now available on a verity of platforms.
7 – Panzer Dragoon Orta
Panzer Dragoon Orta is a rail shooter developed by the folks over at Smilebit exclusively for the original Xbox. This utterly engrossing game allows you to play as a young girl named Orta, who has been held as a prisoner her entire life. Upon being rescued by a mysterious dragon, she must ride on its back and make her way through a post-apocalyptic world, while defending herself from opposing forces.
8 – Beyond Good and Evil
Few games have come close to generating the kind of popularity which Beyond Good & Evil has enjoyed till date. It’s an action-adventure offering which combines elements from the said genre with those from stealth and puzzle games. The resulting amalgam is a truly magnificent offering featuring unforgettable gameplay. Moreover, its developers have blessed this title with some amazing visuals as well.
9 – Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Ubisoft Montreal’s 2005 entry to the famed series, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is a classic in every sense of the term. It introduced many new elements to the stealth genre, while keeping the charm of its predecessors alive. With all the advanced gadgets, and sneaky activities, this game will keep you hooked on to your systems for hours on the trot. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory also impresses with its story as well as its competitive and cooperative multiplayer competent.
10 – Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Undoubtedly one of the greatest video games of all time, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a role-playing game par excellence. It features a story set 4,000 years before the rise of the Galactic Empire, and kicks in stellar role-playing mechanics based on the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons (DnD) rules. Moreover, this game contains a unique combat system which is a hybrid between action and turn-based styles.
11 – Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3
Some remarkable team-based tactical shooter gameplay has been infused into Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3 by developed Ubisoft. This game is a treat to play alone, but the fun doubles up when it’s played along with someone, either offline or online via Xbox Live. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3 is one incredible game that needs to be played by fans of the genre.
12 – Halo: Combat Evolved
A game no Xbox owner can afford to miss, Halo: Combat Evolved has you playing the role of Master Chief, a cybernetically enhanced super-soldier who is needed to stop the menace of various aliens out for discovering the secrets behind a ring-shaped artificial world named Halo. This first-person shooter gave the genre plenty of new benchmarks to scale and this combined with other attributes helped the game become one of the most successful titles of all time.
Conclusion:
That’s our list of the best original Xbox games. Do let us know which ones you’d pick for this compilation.