We are locked and loaded for the best Xbox 360 FPS games. That’s first person shooter for those who don’t know.
We’ve been doing a deep dive on Xbox 360 games lately and it has me wanting to pick one up soon. It might be a good time to revisit some of these incredible games we are writing about!
And holy cow, what a selection we have!
The Xbox 360 is home to some of the most important entries in the history of the FPS genre. Heck, this list has some of the most important video games of all time.
For the sake of adding more titles to my 360 todo list, here are the best Xbox 360 FPS games.
Table of Contents
10. Fallout 3 (2008)
Fallout 3 is the first person shooter classic from Bethesda Game Studios.
This was the first Fallout title to be developed by Bethesda after acquiring the rights from its original creators Interplay Entertainment.
And it was this iteration of the series that really took things to the next level.
First, the game was now a 3d first-person experience rather than the Diablo style isometric view.
This was also the first introduction of a feature that would be key to a Fallout title: The Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S.).
V.A.T.S. is a function that allows the player to slow time to a near stop and choose their targets for a precise sequence of shots.
This feature alone makes combat in Fallout 3 a joy and quite unique for a first-person shooter.
And, of course, another feature well known in the Fallout series is the massive amount of player choice, possible outcomes, and freedom in the game.
You can literally kill some of the most important characters right at the beginning of your quest, if you choose. I did.
Players really appreciate the realism and amount of control they have over their experience in the wasteland.
Bugs and wonky game play aside, this is still considered one of the absolute best video games ever created.
And it’s a great way to start our list of best FPS on the Xbox 360. It only gets better from here, people!
9. Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare (2010)
Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare didn’t actually start out as a full game, it began as DLC content for the original Red Dead Redemption game.
‘Undead Nightmare’ was such a hit that Rockstar Games had to give it it’s own dedicated release.
As you probably guess by the name, John Marston wakes up to a world full of zombies and thus begins his epic journey to save his family from the undead.
The zombie storyline and new mechanics are on top of what was already a really incredible video game, and all of the original mechanics and style of Red Dead Redemption are still present.
Zombies and first-person shooters go together like french fries and milk shakes, and Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare is one of the best zombie experiences you’ll get anywhere.
We ranked this one on our list of the Best Zombie Games For Xbox 360, and it also takes a big bite out of our list of best Xbox 360 FPS games.
8. Left 4 Dead 2 (2009)
Did you think we were done with zombie games? Well you’d be wrong, because the number one zombie game for Xbox 360 is Left 4 Dead 2.
(It’s also one of the most satisfying game titles to type!)
Following the success of the first Left 4 Dead entry, Valve delivered yet another co-op FPS classic.
You play as one of four team members making your way through hordes of horrifying zombies.
Each of the four team members not controlled by a human player will be taken over by the game’s advanced AI. So the feeling of co-operative play is never lost, even when you play alone.
L4D2 uses an advanced AI system that learns your play style and adjusts the difficulty accordingly.
You can also play the game in Realism mode, where the HUD and visual assists go away, and you’d have to get a headshot to put a zombie down.
Left 4 Dead 2 also introduced a bunch of new infected types, making game play that much more diverse and challenging. And fun too!
Left 4 Dead 2 combines a classic arcade visual style with some of the most exciting first-person shooting for the Xbox 360. It’s a heck of a lot of fun for solo players or with friends.
7. The Orange Box (2007)
The next game on our list is quite the bonus, as it is actually a collection of five incredible games from Valve: The Orange Box.
I mean, what can you even say about this collection of absolute must-play titles? Maybe exactly that: “MUST PLAY”.
Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Portal, and Team Fortress 2.
That’s a ton of awesome gaming all in one convenient package.
Half-Life 2 is one of the highest rated video game titles of all time, with a Metacritic score of 96.
It also makes an appearance on our list of the 10 Best PC Games From 2000’s.
And the inclusion of “Episode One” and “Episode Two” are icing on the cake. But like… a ton of icing.
And as if Half-Life 2 and it’s expansions were not enough to get you excited, we also get Portal and Team Fortress 2.
More icing on our would be cake?!
Portal is one of my personal favorite game series’ of all time with it’s clever puzzle mechanics and top-level storytelling.
And for the multiplayer fans, we also have Team Fortress 2, a spinoff of the ever so popular Quake.
It would be hard to not count this as an important FPS game on the Xbox 360. So I won’t.
Plus, I freakin’ love cake.
6. Battlefield 3 (2011)
DICE are responsible for some of the most incredible first-person shooter games of all time and Battlefield 3 is an example of them at their best.
There are some great FPS games for the Xbox 360 as we are seeing in today’s list, but none play as perfect as Battlefield 3.
And that’s what I’d say DICE are good at; really polished game play mechanics. The gunplay always feels incredibly smooth.
DICE are always able to throw in a ton of variety in mechanics in their games as well, from the usual first person shooting to vehicles, helicopters, drones, boats, tanks, mounted weapons.
Besides all of the controls feeling perfect, you’ve also got some incredible graphics and a pretty good single player campaign as well.
It’s kind of crazy that this game came out over eleven years ago, cause the graphics really hold up. That’s just a testament to the quality of game that DICE delivered.
I think Battlefield is a perfect example of a modern combat FPS game for the Xbox 360, and I am happy to include it on this list.
5. Dishonored (2012)
While Dishonored is not necessarily a game focused on the shooting, it’s certainly one of the most unique and engaging first-person video games ever created.
And lucky for us today, it’s also a game that was available on the Xbox 360!
Dishonored is a really beautiful blend of first-person combat, stealth mechanics, multi-path environments, and some really awesome ability progression.
Missions can be played in many different ways based on player style.
The various equipment and abilities you unlock throughout the journey create even more possibilities.
You can run in like a madman shooting everything in sight, or you can sneak in the window and go completely undetected.
Dishonored is the definition of “player choice” and maximizing freedom. And it’s a ton of fun trying new approaches with the many tools available to you.
Dishonored makes an appearance on the Wikipedia list of greatest video games ever made, won several best of the year awards in 2012, sold a ton of copies, and now has one of the highest honors of all: a spot on a Retro Dodo list.
4. BioShock (2007)
Bioshock is one of those games that perfectly represents an era where video games transitioned into true art and masterful storytelling.
The thematic art direction is incredible. And the mix of steampunk, the jazz age, and subaquatic elements were a match made in heaven.
I dunno if there were many gamers praying for an underwater jazz fest with guns. But when we got it, it just made sense.
It made sense because of smart writing based on a very unique concept.
Bioshock features one of the most impactful stories of any game title.
But don’t get it twisted; nothing in Bioshock is done in any pretentious way.
It’s still packed full of exciting action, enjoyable video game motifs, engaging game play, meaningful progression, a world drenched in atmosphere, and a clear identity through and through.
Bioshock is a true must-play, if there ever were one.
We included it on our list of the 25 Best Xbox 360 Games Of All Time, and it’s an easy entry on today’s list of best FPS for the Xbox 360.
3. Borderlands 2 (2012)
There was a time that I considered Borderlands 2 my number one game of all time. I loved it that much.
So let me tell you what makes this one so special…
First of all, something that the Borderlands franchise is known for is personality and character.
There’s a ton of humor in the game and the voice acting is some of the best in any gaming franchise.
And all of the clever storytelling and jokes wouldn’t work if it weren’t paired with some of the best game play in a first-person shooter.
The gun play is clean, dynamic, each weapon feels different. Oh, and speaking of those weapons…
GUNS GUNS GUNS. It’s a gimmick that has made Borderlands a standout.
They advertise nearly 18 million possible guns with the randomized variations of classes, modifiers, brands, and stats.
With a massive amount of content in the original game, as well as several DLC packs offered; you could play this one for over 100 hours and still have plenty of reasons to play it again.
I have put a massive amount of time in the world of Pandora throughout the years, owning the game on several consoles.
And when I saw that it was also an Xbox 360 title, I had no doubt I’d rank it high.
2. Halo 3 (2007)
Next up on our list is one of those games that needs little introduction. It’s the classic Xbox 360 exclusive: Halo 3.
Halo 3 is the epic conclusion to the story of Master Chief, the alien blasting supersoldier we all know and love.
This entry in the franchise was treated as an opportunity to fully realize the Halo vision with massive improvements in graphics, audio, AI behavior, and complete storytelling.
Halo 3 delivered everything that critics and longtime fans of the series were hoping for, and so much more.
Truly the pinnacle of sci-fi first-person shooters.
And as you would expect from a Halo title, this entry has a strong multiplayer mode for up to sixteen player deathmatches.
At the time of its release, it was the fastest selling game in the first 24 hours. and pretty much everybody and your mama were talking about the game in 2007.
Halo 3 took a surprisingly low spot on the list of Best Selling Xbox 360 Games. But the 12 million units sold surely would not be a failure by any means.
There’s no doubt at all that Halo is Microsoft’s star FPS franchise, and certainly one of the absolute best FPS titles available on the Xbox 360.
1. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
What can I even say about Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2?
Besides that I absolutely adore this game?
It was also my re-introduction to gaming when I picked it up after a hiatus from gaming. I was quite blown away by the progress gaming had made while I accumulated unnecessary debt in art school.
‘Modern Warfare 2’ was the perfect ambassador for my return to gaming, as it had all of the key elements to a perfect video game:
Incredible graphics, incredible sound design, great storytelling, smart enemy AI, an entertaining single player campaign, exhilarating multiplayer, a ton of content. Did they miss anything?
Infinity Ward created their magnum opus in Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and the series has been chasing that high ever since.
Not to say the Call of Duty franchise hasn’t had some absolute bangers since then, but MW2 is surely the best first person shooting that the Xbox 360 has to offer. And my own favorite Call of Duty game.
I love this game so much, I even gave it the number one spot on our list of the Best Call of Duty Games Of All Time.
There was some truly tough competition on this list, but Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is my top pick for the best Xbox 360 FPS games.
