# what are the most essential xbox games? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 1, 2006, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995 "2006-06-01T09:52:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/1 "2006-06-01T09:52:58Z")
I’m looking into the XBOX library, especially now witht he prices dropping since 360’s arrival. What are the must-haves? ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/2 "2006-06-01T10:25:35Z")
I’ll offer up Halo 1+ 2, but I don’t have an XBOX so i’m afraid I can’t think of any more. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/3 "2006-06-01T11:06:13Z")
What kind of games do you like? FPS? Racing games? RPGs? ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/4 "2006-06-01T11:21:36Z")
I admit, the _Halo_ games have never done much for me, but I still own and occasionally play the first. Another strong exclusive title was _Fable_, which had its moments, but was ultimately another “find Molyneux’s formula for the ‘right’ way to play” game. Also in the RPG column, _Jade Empire_ and the two _KOTOR_ titles are all the same company, and all exquisite linear RPGs. But I find that what I tend to come back to the most are multiplatform ports that just LOOK best with the XBox’s stronger hardware. _Burnout 4_ (and 3), various incarnations of _Madden_ and _NCAA_ football. _Soul Calibur_ series and the _Dead Or Alive Ultimate_ box (which, come to think of it, in that packaging with the graphic overhaul, gameplay tweaks, and general improvement, may technically be an XBox exclusive title). One game that I got at the same time I bought the system, which was eclipsed by a later PS2 port/improvement, was _Top Spin Tennis_. Fun, pretty little game, but not much depth. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/5 "2006-06-01T12:42:27Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > What kind of games do you like? FPS? Racing games? RPGs? I like creative games. I adored Katamari Damacy for the PS2 and I frequently play Tetris and games like Super Metroid and Monkey Island. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/6 "2006-06-01T16:43:59Z")
Another must have title would be Morrowind, Game of the Year Edition if you do the whole RPG thing. I would say skip the second KOTOR game though. The first one is golden, but the second is rather disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![larsenmtl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d78d45/32.png) [@larsenmtl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/larsenmtl)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/7 "2006-06-01T17:34:53Z")
Not your cup of tea but it’s all I play, Shooters: - Halo 1 & 2 - Rainbow Six: Black Arrow - If your computer is from the mid-90s like mine and you can’t play the PC version, I’ll recommend Half-life 2. - PsychOps ---
**Author:** ![scott62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@scott62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott62)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/8 "2006-06-01T17:36:00Z")
The project Gotham series is very good for realism and excitement ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/9 "2006-06-01T17:47:23Z")
I had an absolute blast playing _Psychonauts_. Very visually creative, with first-rate writing and voice-acting. ---
**Author:** ![Orbifold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orbifold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orbifold)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/10 "2006-06-01T17:56:26Z")
> [@cactus waltz](#): > > I like creative games. I adored Katamari Damacy for the PS2 and I frequently play Tetris and games like Super Metroid and Monkey Island. If by “creative” you mean “wow, I’ve never seen a game remotely like that before” then you’ll be hard-pressed to find an equivalent to Katamari Damacy on the XBox. If, on the other hand, by “creative” you just mean “a high-quality game with original characters and good writing and a non-derivative setting” then check out Psychonauts (if you can find it). ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/11 "2006-06-01T20:17:03Z")
I don’t play RPGs, so I can’t suggest any of those that might be good, but I’ve always liked: Buffy, the Vampire Slayer Buffy, the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds Halo (Haven’t played the sequel.) Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Prince of Persia: Warrior Within (There’s one more game in the series, but I haven’t played it. Sounds like fun, though.) Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb The original Buffy game was, in fact, why I purchased my Xbox, but I’m not an avid video game player, so my selection is small. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/12 "2006-06-01T21:03:46Z")
**Max Payne 2** This is a great, great game. People complain that it’s too short, and that’s why it’s good on the xbox; you can rent it or buy it used. I really should go play through both games again. **Dreamfall** This one really depends on your taste. It’s an adventure game like Indigo Prophecy (a game that began brilliantly but turned into utter crap about 2/3 of the way in) only better. Some people don’t like it though. **Halo** People have differing opinions on this series. I didn’t like the first one when I played it alone, but it’s a total blast in co-op. With Halo 2 it’s better to play on your own first because they don’t have all the cutscenes in co-op, plus it’s better than the first with single player. **Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas** If the content doesn’t bother you, this is a very fun game to play. You explore a city, steal cars, run over innocent people, fight with the cops, start gang wars, and do lots of other crazy things. **The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay** An awesome game adapted from a movie that is by all accounts mediocre at best. **Beyond Good and Evil** One of the games that did things differently. I don’t remember it much, except that I really liked it. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/13 "2006-06-01T21:26:41Z")
I’ll chuck in _Ninja Gaiden_ and _Thief III_. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/14 "2006-06-01T22:06:05Z")
**The Simpsons: Hit And Run** is a must for Simpsons fans - a _very_ silly driving/exploring game with great character voices and dialogue: drive the Homer! the Malibu Stacey convertible! Willy’s tractor! For serious drivers, **Forza Motorsport** is probably the best racing game on any platform - a huge selection of cars {fully upgradeable} and tracks, smart AI, a realistic damage engine, online play… Not quite as pretty as **GT 4** for the PS2, but not as nerfed {_ie_ a damage engine} and endless depth of play. For RPGers and Star Wars fans, the original **KoTOR** is a must: the sequel was rushed out before it was finished, so while technically better in many ways {_ie_ the combat mechanics}, is not so gripping, and the unfinished storylines are frustrating. Me, I’m hanging out for Lego Star Wars - the original Star Wars, that is, which I think releases in September. That looks _so_ cool. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2006, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/15 "2006-06-02T05:21:09Z")
Games I like a lot, though note that a big part of gaming for me is offline multi-player. (2, 3 or 4 people sitting in a room together.) The **X-Men** series **Rallysport Racing 2** (Way better than Project Gotham.) The **Hitman** series (I _love_ these games, though they aren’t popular.) **Topspin** (Which you already have.) The **Fight Night** series (Very satisfying punches.) **Hunter: The Reckoning** ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2006, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/16 "2006-06-02T06:19:01Z")
NHL 2K6 (minigames are great, and the gameplay is solid) ESPN NFL 2K5, if you can find a copy. Possibly the best football video game ever. It’s more realistic and faster than Madden, and the ESPN presentation puts it over the top, even with the old rosters. You can find new rosters online, but you’ll need an Action Replay MAX to use them. Sonic Mega Collection Plus - Every Sonic game from the Genesis. Finally, Sonic 2 plays without all the slowdown (or at least without most of it.) ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2006, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/17 "2006-06-02T13:21:30Z")
> [@Talon Karrde](#): > > **Max Payne 2** > This is a great, great game. People complain that it’s too short, and that’s why it’s good on the xbox; you can rent it or buy it used. I really should go play through both games again. I thought about adding this one, but the Max Payne franchise has a major design flaw that lets you save whenever you feel like it, so you can save before going into a new room, charge in and get wasted, know where all the baddies are, and then come back and whomp right through. It only takes maybe 3 or 4 hours of gameplay to make it all the way to the end of the game. This pissed me off royally when I blew a Christmas present on it and the trade in value fell through the floor in about a week. So in it’s stead, I recommend Dead to Rights. The hand to hand sequences get old after a minute, but this game can be seriously hard at points and it’s a great shoot ‘em up. Having an attack German Shepard at your disposal is also pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2006, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/18 "2006-06-02T17:38:53Z")
Halo 1 & 2 (again) The Splinter Cell series, even the Ghost Recons Munche’s Oddessy is good, gorgeous fun. My kids loved Fable. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-essential-xbox-games/358995/19 "2006-06-02T20:20:23Z")
You’ve gotta have Halos 1 and 2. You need yourself some Madden. If you don’t want such realism, the NBA/NFL “Street” games are fun. I’m low maintenance when it comes to video games these days. For some reason, they don’t make Romance of the Three Kingdoms anymore… ☹