It’s time to dust off your old original Xbox and reconnect with some classics as we check out the best original Xbox games of all time!
Maybe you’ve just got into gaming via the Xbox Series X and want to know where the Xbox’s roots lie. I mean, there was a time when Microsoft just made PCs, so the Xbox was a huge deal when it first came out!
Even though the PS2 remains the best selling console of all time, the Xbox tried to give it a run for its money. Nintendo fans like me didn’t want another person trying to steal a piece of the gaming pie, but they managed it alright.
In fact, they ate the whole pie and peppered the tray with bullets afterwards to make sure no one else could bake another!
So, let’s cut the chit-chat and get right to it with the first title in our list!
Table of Contents
1. Fable (2004)
Some of you might think that having Fable at the top of the list is a controversial choice, but not me. I loved this game so freakin’ much and played it over and over again so many times.
I know we’ve talked about the morality pathway element in a couple of the previous games, but this was the first game that I ever played where it really seemed to work and was visually apparent as you worked your way through Albion.
The fact that you could specialise in certain abilities and that you could choose to be bad or good meant that there were so many different ways to play, giving you tonnes of value for money.
The original Fable, and indeed the entire series, was a cross between the Sims and Black and White, the game where you’re a god to loads of little minions. It had the fighting and adventure elements of Zelda titles mixed in with the force powers of Star Wars and games like Holy Magic Century.
The story was compelling, the moves were cool, and customising your character with new and upgraded weaponry and armour added to the overall enjoyment factor.
The optional quests kept hardy gamers occupied from beginning till end, and there was always something that I missed every time I replayed it. It’s a worthy contender for the top spot in our list and a truly awesome adventure RPG.
2. Halo 2 (2004)
Halo: Combat Evolved might have been the game that changed shooting titles forever, but Halo 2 was the one that drove the brand to insane heights. It brought about books, clothes, lunch boxes, costumes, and tonnes of other merchandise that helped to sell this incredible title. Halo 2 was more than just a game; it was an XBOX institution.
This sequel sees upgraded weapons, maps, and new vehicles. XBOX live multiplayer on those incredible maps was something else – it was like Metroid Prime on steroids!
Once again, players control the Master Chief as he destroys The Flood while romping around the Halo, which turns out was an ancient weapon all along. Who would have thought it?
Why do I like Halo 2 more than the first offering in the series? It just works; it’s as though the games developers ironed out their technique with the first game and used Halo 2 to really show the world what they were made of.
The online multiplayer undoubtedly made XBOX live one of the most popular gaming platforms on the market too, with gamers everywhere rushing to get a piece of the action. It’s the best selling original XBOX game of all time, pushing 8-million units and keeping the accolade of ‘best XBOX live title’ for two years in a row.
Super smooth gameplay, BOTW-style maps a decade before the switch even came out, and some of the most memorable bad guys from any game series. It’s a classic, which is why it’s taken the number two spot in our list.
3. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002)
If you’re a self-confessed fantasy nerd who knows every house sigil in Game of Thrones but still gets confused as to whether their partner’s birthday is the third of the fourth or a fourth of the third (my girlfriend is a long-suffering hero), then The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is probably already one of your all-time favourite games.
Bethesda are the masters of open-world gameplay, and this is the kind of RPG that the kids in Stranger Things would have dreamt about playing every night (if they were alive in the 80s…or real people).
I say that because it’s strongly based on the D&D franchise and features some epic quests that will leave you begging your friends to come round dressed in capes to watch you play.
The game sees the main character being brought to Morrowind for a pardon; it’s a theme that you’ll recognise from other titles in the series and a nod to the fact that things are probably going to get worse for you from here on out.
Like many games on this list, the player can choose a class and develop certain skill attributes while travelling through the different levels while you prepare to battle an evil god.
The plot is like Lord Of The Rings on turbo mode and is so complicated that It would take me another hour to explain it in terms that were easy to understand, but that’s what makes RPG games so exciting – role play is supposed to be nerdy, after all!
Once again, the XBOXs graphics look incredible considering the output and the game itself was so immersive I could lose myself in it for hours.
It’s a true gem and, unsurprisingly, another winner of ‘game of the year’. This console is like a portable awards ceremony!
4. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2005)
There are very few shocking titles out there in the world than the GTA series, and Number 4 on our list was one of the loudest, crudest, and exciting of them all – Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas!
Based on real-life street gangs and their turf wars in 90s LA, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas revolves around the made-up state of San Andreas. You’ll find guns, fast cars, drugs, tonnes of money, crime, and sex in this game – basically all of the good stuff.
These games are designed to push boundaries and let players go a little wild, prompting concerned mothers all over the world to have ongoing battles with their children about how inappropriate they are.
And judging by the incredibly odd ‘Hot Coffee Mod’, I reckon they might be right! (Look it up if you’re unfamiliar with it – it’s NSFW stuff). Still, that’s why we love San Andreas, and we wouldn’t change a thing.
San Andreas follows the same pattern for using incredible acting talent providing the character voices as the rest of the GTA series, with appearances from David Cross, Samuel L. Jackson, Ice T, and Young Maylay as the main man himself.
The game itself is pretty much a ‘free for all’ no-holds-barred title, with money being earnt through burglary, defeating rival gangs, or killing someone with more of it than you.
Gamble, ride souped-up cars, and generally be a bad-ass gangster. Whoever said that the XBOX didn’t provide you with original experiences!
5. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow (2004)
The next title on our list is one that made me curse and shout in anger so many times. Stealth games were always something that I wished I was good at, and while I loved Tom Clancey’ Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, I was totally terrible at it.
Sneaking around with a gun in the shadows was awesome though, and like Burnout 3 with the cool cars, this is the closest that I will ever come to being a spy.
If you liked Mission Impossible and Goldeneye (let’s face it – who didn’t), then this will have you jumping behind the sofa to shoot your cat with a banana in no time.
Pandora tomorrow is the sequel to the first Splinter Cell game and sees the return of Sam Fisher as the main protagonist. If I could walk around in black-ops-style uniform with night vision goggles without getting funny looks, I totally would.
Then again, if anyone looks at Sam wrong, he can just shoot them. Slow and steady wins the race in this game; gung-ho attitudes will get you killed in a matter of minutes!
Shoot while hanging upside down, SWAT turn past doorways, lug bodies around, take out enemies with laser-sight precision; this is all the stuff that kids dream of doing for a living!
6. Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic (2003)
Star Wars titles are always a winner in my book, and the next game in our list was one of the very best. A new spellbinding story, interesting characters, and lightsabers – what’s not to love!
This game has a similar style to Jade Empire and the worlds are just as stunning and richly created. It’s set 4,000 years before the formation of the Galactic Empire. the Sith are still trying to kill off the Jedi and visa-versa.
Characters can either turn towards the Light Side or Dark Side of the force as they progress through the game. It all depends on your actions and the people that you interact with.
Let’s be honest though; turning to the Dark Side has gotta’ be way cooler, right?
Gamers play as a Jedi and can choose from either a scout, a soldier, or a scoundrel (I’m guessing the last one is more of your Han Solo type).
Other characters can join in the fight in true RPG action, and you can even make use of force powers later on through the game, undoubtedly the best move in any sci-fi series.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic contains over three-hundred different characters that you can come into contact with and fifteen thousand lines of speech – now that definitely sounds like a Lucas Arts production.
If you’re looking for a game that you can truly get lost in, then Knights Of The Old Republic should be high up on your wish list.
7. Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)
Shooting games were never the same after Halo: Combat Evolved crashed into our lives. The Master Chief was, and still is one of the coolest super soldiers alive. this game definitely paved the way for other titles like Borderlands further down the line.
It’s one of the first shooting games that I can remember with such an open map. The landscapes were huge, the vehicles were huge; everything was huge!
I still remember the first time that I climbed into a truck and mowed down enemies while ploughing through the jungle. Ah; memories!
The Master Chief is a super-enhanced soldier from the 26th Century. He has an artificial intelligence unit called Cortana (which would go on to become the XBOX’s answer to Siri).
You must defeat aliens while discovering the circular world of ‘The Halo’. Of course, the single-player mode was unreal, but it was the multiplayer that really shone through.
Putting such an amazing game as a launch title was an incredibly clever move. Plus with the Master Chief at the helm, the XBOX was always destined for greatness (I know I should have seen it at the time – I was one of those people that thought Link would beat Master Chief in a fight…I bet he still would).
8. Beyond Good & Evil (2003)
I first played Beyond Good & Evil on the GameCube and got hold of a copy for the original XBOX a few years later.
It’s one of these games that never leaves you and is kind of a cross between Prince of Persia, Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy, and Starfox Adventures. It stars Jade, a photo-snapping adventurer with a bad-ass stick and a whole heap of martial arts skills.
If you like solving puzzles and sneaking around, then this is one of the best XBOX games that should be in your collection. Along with a pig called Pey’j, you must fight your way through an exciting world in the year 2435. Cue robot warriors and evil overlords!
Ubisoft certainly know how to make a good adventure game, and Jade is a powerful protagonist that means business. She’s on a mission to save some captured orphans and can use her camera to get currency that can be spent throughout the game.
Use other characters for gnarly combo moves and wield your combat staff like a boss. Jade can run, climb, push, pull, sidle, sneak, and fight her way through each of the levels, and there are tonnes of problems to solve along the way.
9. Project Gotham Racing 2 (2003)
If we had a dollar for every time we’ve raced around one of the tracks on Project Gotham Racing 2, then we’d probably be able to buy the car on the cover. What… a… GAME!
Sure, the original ran smoothly and was well made, but PGR2 was where it was at. Better graphics, improved levels, and car handling that was silky smooth. Just look at the attention to detail on that Barcelona cityscape – the XBOX shouldn’t be able to make games look that good!
Unlike your Mario Kart’s and your Forza Racing games, the way to progress up the ranks differs greatly in PGR. It’s not just enough to come first in a race; you gotta’ drive fast and score tonnes of kudos points by overtaking other drivers and power sliding like Jeremy Clarkson on his morning coffee run.
With over 110+ cars to unlock and a whole host of memorable courses, PGR2 is one game that you simply have to slot into your collection. Multiple difficulty modes and extra features such as Time Attack, Quick Battles, and Online Play will turn you and your mates into speed freaks before you know it.
10. Counter Strike (2003)
Counter Strike was one of my favourite original Xbox games to play on the Xbox back when the console had its online gameplay feature still up and running.
Sadly, those days are a thing of the past, and this game has become somewhat defunct thanks to games like PUBG.
Still, with the release of GoldenEye 007 on Xbox and Switch, more and more people are heading back to check out the multiplayer marvel from 2003, and we couldn’t be happier about it.
In case you were wondering; yes, this is a Half-Life mod. It comes with 20 levels, 7 of them brand new to the Xbox.
Rescue hostages, diffuse bombs, and pump other players full of lead.
If you want a game where you can lose yourself in a story, then keep going till you hit Number 24. If, however, you want to pass a few hours while you destress after that important budget meeting, then this is the game for you!
11. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon (2002)
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon was a massive hit when it dropped back in the day. Communists trying to rebel against the Russian government and bringing back the old regime, a covert team of operatives named simply ‘The Ghosts’, and a mission to take down the rebels.
It’s not hard to see why we all liked it, is it?
If you’re used to flitting between multiple characters in games, then the main game mode will feel pretty easy to grasp. There’s a whole squadron of soldiers for players to swap between as you move towards the end goal.
It’s a tactical title, one where one slip up or lapse in concentration could cost you the whole mission.
Demolish buildings, fire rifles, snipe enemies, or gather information about the enemy to help your group.
Yeah, stuff is about to get very real very fast!
12. Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee (2001)
Moving Oddworld into the 3D realm might have felt like a big step for some, but it worked… to a fashion. All the greats have had to do it at some time, with Mario, Sonic, Donkey Kong, and Kirby making the plunge.
Our Video Producer Rob knows his Oddworld games and has so many versions of the same title on different consoles. We had a big chat about about the turbulent nature of the production schedule and methods for this game, and how it felt like it was made to a ticking clock rather than with love and care.
It’s a little all over the place, but then again, Oddworld doesn’t exactly lend itself to things going normally, I suppose.
Munch is an amazing character, but the game itself is a little slapstick compared to the other titles. Still, as Oddworld fans, everyone at Retro Dodo has played it and loved every second of it.
The initial entry into the game and Munch as a character save this title, and as I said, the whole team love Oddworld, so it was always going to feature in our list!
13. TimeSplitters 2 (2002)
Before the likes of Destiny and Overwatch, Timesplitters 2 brought multiplayer-madness into the homes of thousands of Xbox owners. It was seriously ahead of its time and brought weapons to the fold that made Turok’s cerebral bore look like a cuddly toy.
Come to think of it, this game was also behind its time too, though that is an occupational hazard if you’re a time travelling space marine.
It’s fair to say that while the N64 took the multiplayer crown with Goldeneye, the Xbox wrenched it off Ninty when TimeSplitters 2 dropped. The dual guns, the camera angles, and even some of the weapons have a very Bond-esque theme about them.
Gamers control one of two space marines while stopping the Timesplitters from messing around with time.
The game itself includes ten levels spreading back as far as the Wild Wild West and shooting forward into future. And with more firepower than War Machine at a Playground of Destruction multiplayer party, it more than deserves a place in this list.
14. Burnout 3: Takedown (2004)
Burnout 3: Takedown is one of my all-time favourite racing games, purely because it had lots of other elements to it that separated it from other titles of its kind. Apart from being an integral part of the game, the Takedowns were so cool, filling up that boost meter for that all-important speed-shove to get in front of your opponent or to beat your previous high score.
It was critically acclaimed on release, with gaming bigwigs calling it the greatest racing game ever made. That’s pretty high praise when Need for Speed was tearing up the streets at the same time!
Burnout 3 had just over 170 levels spread across three continents, each one with stunning scenes and memorable corners that got you every single damn time! For me, one of the most exciting parts was unlocking new cars.
With 67 sweet rides to choose from, you were always bound to unlock a favourite sooner or later, and playing this game was the only chance that I’d ever have to ride some of those sweet vehicles! Give it a go, and I promise that you won’t be disappointed.
15. SSX 3 (2003)
EA Sports games always come aim big, and SSX 3 is a true snowboarding tour-de-force!
1080 Avalanche fans need this entry in our list in their lives immediately. Unlike Avalanche which concentrates solely on racing, players earn points from tricks, collectables. and the successful completion of certain Tony Hawk’s-style events.
Racing plays a big part too, and cash earned by winning races may be traded for new gear, boards, or other extras.
The original Xbox graphics never fail to surprise me; take a look at that background scenery and tell me this game doesn’t look amazing!
Watch the all-important adrenaline gauge on the right of the screen as points rack up. A full meter means access to fancier tricks and speed boosts. There is no better feeling than successfully pulling off an ‘über’ without lading face down in the snow.
While the servers now lie in the tombs of time, this game once allowed users to play online. Maybe Blinx could get his vacuum out and sort tha tout!
16. Oddworld: Strangers Wrath (2004)
Few games look as richly textured as Oddworld: Strangers Wrath, and few bounty hunters, with the possible exception of Django, are as ruthless as Stranger.
Stranger takes down bountys for money. I don’t mean the coconut chocolate bar that I hate so much; I’m talking about killing people for money. He’s saving up for a life-changing operation and needs the cash, and he won’t rest until he’s found his prey.
This is an Oddworld game, so expect centaurs, creatures called Grubbs, and a town called Buzzarton. Nothing about this game feels remotely normal, and that’s why I love it so much.
One of the cooler features is the way that Stranger uses live creatures to turn into ammunition for his weapons. It adds a BOTW-style collection element to the game, or maybe Stranger added an Oddworld-style collection element to BOTW…?
I’ve confused myself now!
17. Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition (2005)
Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition got everything right when it came to tense driving, believable physics, and amazing graphics. An open world racing game should pull you in, make you feel as though you’re right there in the thick of the action, and MC3 does not disappoint.
Any fans of tinkering with cars in garages will no doubt know how much fun it is to customise vehicles in this game too. My dad would spend hours and hours just changing parts, deciding what went were and how before even racing… which made multiplayer pretty tedious.
And with 100 licensed vehicles to choose from, you’ll be tinkering for days.
The courses on offer are unbelievable too; play through Atlanta, Detroit, and San Diego in the base version, with Tokyo appearing in the ‘Remix’ title.
Rockstar lived up to their moniker with the tracks on this game too. There’s nothing like drifting around a corner in an illegal street race while listening to Nine Inch Nails, though there are 124 other tracks to choose from too with the likes of 50 Cent lending his dulcet tones to the game.
18. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (2001)
The difference from Tony Hawks 2 to 3 was incredibly noticeable, with tonnes more exciting skaters for players to take out and pull some epic tricks.
I mean, we played THPS2 to death, so we deserved a bit of a treat with a new upgrade.
Who are the players involved in this game then?
Well, we’ve got Bam Margera, Doomguy, Darth Maul, Andrew Reynolds, and of course Mr Hawk himself.
You can even create a skater from scratch, hitch a lift from the back of cars, and make some of the biggest jumps known to skateboarding kind!
19. Psychonauts (2005)
You might recognise the voice of our next protagonist from his previous work as Alpha 5 in Power Rangers, the Zoni in Ratchet and Clank, and Kaos in Skylanders. Richard Horvitz delivers the character of Raz in Psychonauts perfectly, adding an extra depth to this superbly addictive and vibrant game.
Psychonauts follows a boy with psychic powers who wants to become a super spy – a Psychonaut. It’s a third-person platform game that sees you trying to uncover and stop a terrible plot at the Psychonaut training camp, travelling through psychedelic levels and interacting with cool characters from trippy worlds.
This brain-bending title from the mind of Tim Schafer didn’t do incredibly well at launch despite highly positive reviews. In recent years, however, it has garnered a loyal cult following of gamers who have finally realised this games potential.
Raz must travel through a host of real and ‘mental’ levels collecting figments of imagination and emotional baggage (honest!). There are big bosses to defeat and lots of exciting adventures to be had along the way, all in a game with a unique design that makes the N64 title 40 Winks look like a pleasant dream.
20. Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2005)
I am one of those people that has never needed much persuasion to buy a Star Wars game. I’m a huge sucker for any game with a blaster or a Tie-Fighter, especially ones where I can play as Darth Vader!
Star Wars Battlefront 2 improved on the success of the first Battlefront game with an in-game narrative worthy of the Star Wars movie series. Rather than playing as Luke or Han, gamers control an Imperial Stormtrooper while reliving parts of the famous canon through his eyes.
Gamers have the choice of playing as Sith or Jedi as they move through two different eras; the Clone Wars, and the Galactic Civil War. Control everything from Droideka to Wookies in multiple modes.
As well as the classic campaign mode, other battle modes such as capture the flag and team death-match feature in Battlefront 2. The graphics are crisp and clean, and all of the iconic sounds and effects from the movies can be heard throughout the game’s many levels.
Star Wars fans need this game; it’s a must-have for any collection and a true ‘force’ to be reckoned with.
21. Half-Life 2 (2005)
I first came across the Half-Life series when my neighbour bought a copy for his PC. When Half-Life 2 was pinned as one of the upcoming best XBOX games to have ever graced the world of gaming, I knew that I had to give it a try.
Many critics say that Half-Life 2 was a pivotal game in the first-person-shooter genre. It’s hailed as being the title that sparked ideas for games like Destiny and went on to have multiple sequels and a very illustrious sales record.
If you’re a fan of FPS, brain-boggling puzzle gameplay with aliens, futuristic weapons, and vehicles that defy the laws of physics, then Half-Life 2 will be your new best friend. Fans of the Metroid Prime series will notice some similarities in the game design, which can only ever be a good thing.
Players control Gordon Freeman, the games glasses-wearing gun-wielding protagonist. You have to pick up weapons and items as you go along, upgrading your arsenal as the game progresses. The games graphics are what sets it apart from other titles in the genre, with critics praising Valve’s Source engine for creating what many still consider to be one of the greatest titles ever made.
22. Dead or Alive 3 (2001)
Dead or Alive 3 released with the original Xbox back in 2001 and is considered one of the finest fighting titles ever made.
DOA3 sees many previous characters returning for a slice of glory and largely uses the same mechanics as the first two titles. The one thing that has changed is that the developers have removed more clothes off the female fighters; not sure whether that was a conscious choice or not!
Fans of Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat will feel right at home in this button-mashing fighting title. This is actually one of the easiest fighting games to pick up too, making it more accessible for newbies to the genre.
That’s probably why it’s one of the best selling Xbox games of all time!
23. SoulCalibur 2 (2003)
SoulCalibur 2 is one of those games that never gets old. I spent HOURS battling my mates on this game on both the Game Cube and the XBOX and couldn’t get enough of it. Playing as Spawn was so cool, and the music and levels are still stuck in my head today!
What did I like the most about Soulcalibur? I think getting the Soul Edge weapons for each character has to be it, the cool blades with the BOTW style Ganon-veins and eye design. The fact that you could also change your fighter’s clothing and appearance was cool too – everyone likes a custom character.
For those of you that have never played this game (why have you not played it!), Soulcalibur 2 is a fighting game similair to Street Fighter but with weapons. There are lots of different characters to choose from, some human, some down-right monstrous.
Each character has different weapons that can be unlocked as you progress, keeping you coming back for more. It’s one of my favourite games of all time, and the extra modes including Team and Mission really helped to mix things up and keep it addictive. Buy this game – you need it in your life.
24. Ninja Gaiden Black (2005)
The next title on our list of the best original Xbox games was an online sensation! Not only is Ninja Gaiden Black a game about a vengeful ninja, but it’s also developed by a company called ‘Team Ninja’ too! Talk about having the cool factor!
Ninja Gaiden Black was one of the hardest games on the console. Think Dark Souls level of brain-melting difficulty, and you’ll get the idea. It was one of the first titles to host online competitions between players all over the world. Another cool fact for fans of Dead or Alive is that Ninja Gaiden Black is set in the same universe.
Now you can impress all of your mates at online parties!
Ninja Gaiden Black sees the player controlling a bad-ass ninja named Ryu Habasa. He’s a Master Ninja, which I suppose is a bit like being a master carpenter, except you’re wielding Katanas instead of handsaws.
In true ninja style, Ryu can perform some incredible moves as you go about your mission to recover a stolen sword and avenge his slaughtered clan. Run up walls, do backflips, stealth kill your enemies; there’s nothing Ryu can’t do. You’ll find lots of Legend Of Zelda style puzzles in NGB, and the killer enemies in this title will stop you from ever turning off your XBOX again.
25. Jade Empire (2005)
Jade Empire is a stunning action RPG with an epic plotline and some tasty graphics to say that the XBOX could only throw out 480p. Taking inspiration from ancient Chinese tales and folklore, this game even had its own language – that’s some J.R.R. Tolkien stuff right there!
There is a morality element to the game, with certain actions revealing a certain path that the player may unwillingly find themselves wandering down. Every action has a purpose and a meaning, and it’s up to you how your character changes throughout the game.
Players take control of a Spirit Monk whose gender is chosen at the start of the game. You must chat with dragons, defeat Lotus Assassins, accomplish death-defying feats and unlock hidden mysteries along the way.
Skill points can be collected to harness and upgrade different abilities, and there are other elements to consider such as falling in love with other characters at certain stages of the game.
It’s very much like Fable, but in Ancient Asia, and the original score and storyline are what made this game so incredible. The world is rich and full of exciting adventure, and Jade Empire is a game that you won’t ever want to put down.
