Blasting onto the console scene in 2001, the original Xbox was home to iconic titles and flops alike. And with a lineage like the one we know Xbox went on to have, it is unsurprising that the console family’s back catalogue has its fair share of terribly disappointing games. But today, we are discussing the best Xbox exclusives of all time – from the O.G., all the way through to the Series X | S. For some, the Xbox was the first console they got their hands on, for others, merely a stepping stone in a long gaming journey. Whichever side you fall down on, one thing is for sure: you never forget your first Xbox game.
1. Lost Odyssey
Originally released in 2007, Xbox pitched Lost Odyssey as its answer to Final Fantasy, leveraging talents such as creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and composer Nobuo Uematsu, both Final Fantasy alumni. Development of Lost Odyssey began to address concerns about Final Fantasy 13 not being available cross-platform. These concerns were swiftly dispelled with the announcement of FF13’s availability on both Xbox and Playstation.
Lost Odyssey is one of the best RPG’s on the market, that even now, manages to hit lists such as this. Correctly. Lost Odyssey, being much more of an old school RPG, lacks many of the quality of life features found in similar games from the same time period. However, this absence does not diminish the prestige that this game rightly earns. Lost Odyssey surpasses many RPGs typical of the time and even some released since then. It is puzzling, therefore, that Lost Odyssey is not available on Xbox Gamespass, especially considering it was published by Xbox Game Studios. At present, the only way to play Lost Odyssey is to fire-up your Xbox and use the physical disc. This remains a shame, as many are missing out on one of the best experiences available to Xbox users.
A special mention to the only Japanese RPG that has ever kept my interest long enough to see the finale, and what a finale it is!
2. Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath
Possibly the weirdest game on this list, but one of the best. The Oddworld series is probably best known for the iconic Abe and his moronic mudokon species as they fart, burp and slump their way through puzzle-platforming on the Playstation, why then was this particular installment only available on Xbox?
The answer is a lengthy one but essentially comes down to rights, studio shut-downs and exclusivity deals.
Getting back to the game itself, what exactly is Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath?
Oddworld, is what you would get if you combined Sergio Leone’s spaghetti-western and an Outer World-type RPG. Also with a generous splash of Ratchet & Clank. It’s an interesting twist on a puzzle-platform series, which has never dipped its toes into first-person gaming. This first foray however, is absolutely tremendous and has since received a HD upgrade and 2 sequels.
Oddworld is a weird, wonderful and wacky first-person shooter experience , even if we discount the talking gun…
3. Elder Scrolls: Morrowind
Long before Oblivion and Skyrim, Morrowind was the poster child for Bethesda.
Morrowind slashed its way onto the console market with a eye-widening and expansive RPG experience that many will not soon forget.
This open world had never been seen before on consoles and would go on to birth the delightful Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and the genre-defining Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Morrowind is full of brilliant dialogue lines, rewarding quest-lines and fascinating stories that stand the test of time, even today.
If one can get through the navigation of the – often confusing – open-world, the experience waiting for you, will be a conversational delight which you will not soon forget. Guaranteed to be the talk of your friend-group, because Morrowind is something of an icon, and if you call yourself an RPG fan, you really do need to check out Morrowind.
4. Halo 2
Halo sold 3 million copies worldwide by July 2003 and 4 million by January 2004. It became the second-best selling Xbox game, only beaten by Halo 2. With a legacy like this, a sequel was a certainty.
Halo 2, takes everything that Halo: Combat Evolved did and builds upon it. The combat system is refined, but not over-hauled, the AI is smarter, but not too smart. And lastly, the environments are significantly more expansive and allow a wider-scope for mission strategy. Halo: Combat Evolved maintains a focus on aggressive and rushed playing whereas, from the moment you are given control – in that iconic tutorial sequence – you can tackle scenarios in almost any way which your weapons allow.
The biggest improvement to the Halo series, came in Halo 2, and this was in the form of multiplayer. Still very much in its infancy, Xbox Live hosted Halo 2 and it’s fantastic multiplayer to millions of different players everyday, and managed to build on the existing foundation which Halo: Combat Evolved set.
The whole skull-bashing Halo experience can be jumped into now, with the release of the Halo: Master Chief Collection. Go grab yourself a copy and witness the birth of a legend.
Oorah!
5. Fable 2
Fast-forwarding 500 years into the future of Albion, Fable 2 gives the proceedings a more 16th-century feel. The world is larger and the game-world bursts at the seams with optional side-quests. Further to this, you are able to purchase properties and rent them out to residents, this leads to an interesting side-game of property management and tenant satisfaction simulator. Fable 2 takes us through the entire life of the hero, this results in a game unlike any others available to play at the time.
Sequels are often seen as inferior to their originals in many mediums, however in Fable 2, we see a huge contradiction to this. Fable 2 did everything that Fable did and built on it beautifully. It was always going to be difficult to repeat the success of the original Fable however Fable 2 managed this with next-to-no effort.
Fable 2 delivers a mind-blowing, memorable experience which is filled with passion, love and manages to evoke a sense of child-like wonder which is yet to be repeated.
6. Microsoft Flight Simulator
Imagine if you could see what the world looks like from the seat of a Boeing-747, or maybe something more manoeuvrable like a Cessna? The flight simulator allows this kind of fantasy fulfilment with ridiculous accuracy. Producing almost a 1-1 scale version of Earth, you are able to jump into the pilot’s seat and travel wherever your heart takes you.
The game is massive in scale, and even larger in detail. Unlike other simulator games, where you may use the occasional button, toggle or switch. Microsoft Flight Simulator affords you the task of using the entire cockpit. Every button, switch and toggle that is visible in the cockpit can be used and the experience can be furthered even more, by adding real-world peripherals to really nail that “mile-high” experience.
If you can get through the dizzying tutorial and the initial urge to skip all the tips, you will be a first-class pilot before you know it. Not to mention, being able to see the intricate workings of every aircraft you are able to fly. Surely I can’t be serious, can I?
I am serious, and don’t call me Shirley!
7. Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon is a series with a tumultuous past. Not hitting the mark with every instalment, Horizon has been a contentious point for many. However with the sixth instalment, Forza Horizon 5, this image shattered. The series is the best racing series around at the moment, and is friendly to amateurs and pros alike. Horizon 5 takes the series to sun scorched locale of Mexico and hosts plenty of locations to zip, drift and smash your way through.
In addition to the locales looking amazing, the car models themselves all mirror their real-world counterparts and look absolutely gorgeous with the lighting for which the series has come to be known.
As you play through, you are able to gather a fleet of cars, that range from sluggish and boring to rip-roaringly fast. If you have ever imagined jumping into the front seat of a car and drifting around the bottom of an active volcano, or ripping a 4X4 through a bog-ridden swamp, this game is for you.
8. Halo Wars
When you first think of Halo, the last thing that comes to mind is strategy. While each instalment allows the player to utilise a certain amount of strategy when dispatching the Covenant menace, it has never been the focus of the series, until now.
Halo Wars allows you to build a base, upgrade buildings and gather a legion of combat-hardened soldiers. Iconic vehicles like the Pelican and the Warthog make an appearance as do series favourites, the Arbiter and John Forge.
Avoiding the predictable ‘bogging down’ with numbers and arbitrary statistics, Halo Wars maintains a focus and manages to highlight ‘high-risk-high-reward’ wonderful strategic gameplay.
It may pale in comparison to its PC counterparts in the UI and QOL department, but with regards to the actual gameplay and the ability to play a non-Command and Conquer game on consoles. Halo Wars ticks this box perfectly, doing so well at market, that it birthed a sequel. The sequel delivers more of the same, however is worth a look if you enjoy Halo Wars.
9. Starfield
It is hard to believe that this game finally exists. It is even more difficult to believe that a company such as Bethesda has not tackled a space-age RPG.
Until now…
The long awaited epic space RPG is finally in our hands, and has managed to smash its way to the tops of many ‘best ever’ lists, this is largely due to the anticipation and eventual rewarding result.
Starfield is a game which rewards players who know nothing as the experience speaks for itself. It is currently the only way that you can experience an expansive, narratively-rich world. Also to become a space pirate, space-trucker or just explore the cosmos at your leisure.
Whatever you decide to do in Starfield, your ship is your greatest asset. A pilot is only as good as their ship, with that being said, check out our list of the best ships in Starfield.
