This year, we’re putting together a list of all our favourite games. We’re going to be doing two sets of lists: a couple of 2013-only Best Ofs and a couple of generational ones.
We’re going to start with a generational one today. With the help of John, Brent, and Erika, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite Xbox 360 games since the console’s inception in 2005. This list includes only titles exclusive to the console, as we’ll be doing a list of multi-platform bests soon.
10 ) Dance Central 2 – The game that proved Kinect as a viable accessory and tool for new games with new play styles and revolutionary controls, Dance Central 2 just expanded on the success of its predecessor, earning it a spot on this list.
9 ) Crackdown – Offers some of the most brilliant concepts in Xbox history, giving you both superpowers and government jurisdiction, then letting you tear the world apart!
8 ) Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 – Relentless arcade shoot ’em up action at its finest, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 is an Xbox Live Arcade addiction that never lets up!
7 ) Forza Motorsport 3 & 4 – Microsoft has redefined the racing genre twice, first with Project Gotham Racing on the original Xbox, and now with Forza Motorsport 3 and 4, they’ve perfected the series.
6 ) Alan Wake – A dark, brooding, mentally-engaging adventure, Alan Wake laid the groundwork for an incredible franchise, though it looks like it’ll be one we’re waiting on for a little while.
5 ) Gears of War 3 – An intense and emotional resolution to the war for Sera, Gears of War 3 takes the series’ gameplay sensibilities and maxes out their appeal in every respect!
4 ) Halo: Reach – Bungie’s farewell effort is the ultimate experience for Halo fans, telling one of the most compelling and tragic stories that the saga has seen to date.
3 ) Shadow Complex – Like Super Metroid in a modern setting, powered by modern technology. Does more need to be said?
2 ) Halo 3: ODST – We love shooters with heart and story, and Halo 3: ODST delivered the quintessential filmmakers’ version of the Halo story, wrapped up in a mysterious, film noire aesthetic that is entirely new but still entirely Halo.
1 ) Halo 4 – When a franchise is taken in an entirely new direction but manages to retain every tiny detail that made it great, and it’s all done by a studio that has never made a game before, that’s magic. When it happens to Halo, it’s beautiful, too.