Console wars have been a common occurrence in video game history. Spanning across different consoles, nowadays, it is mainly between Xbox and PlayStation, and has been the case for a bit of time. After the original Xbox came theXbox 360, locked against the PlayStation 3 for the console war of the late 2000s and early 2010s.
To sway players over to their side, both consoles offered exclusive games, and still continue to do so. While PlayStation might be the more known console to indulge in exclusives nowadays, the Xbox 360 had its share of unique titles. Ranging from shooters to racing games, the 360 was hugely popular, with many of its exclusives proving a good reason to buy the console.
Saints Rowmight not carry the badge of honor it once did, but once stood againstGrand Theft Autoas a rival. As a crime game, the firstSaints Rowsaw the player join the 3rd Street Saints and rise up through the gang to become one of the top dogs.
The game is played from a third-person perspective, with different weapons to use against enemies. Mainly a shooter, there are other melee and explosive armaments. Players can explore the open-world and can engage in missions, visit stores to customize their character, or do activities to earn respect.
TheNinja Gaidenseries has always gone a bit under the radar of mainstream gaming. Often cited as one of the most difficult video game franchises,Ninja Gaiden 2has different versions of it, namely the release for the Xbox 360, andNinja Gaiden Sigma 2, a version with changes that released for the PlayStation 3.
Ninja Gaiden 2is a hack and slash game, where players fight numerous enemies at once using combos in fast-paced action. Combat is done via various weapons, either melee, projectiles, or ninpo; being elemental-like attacks.
2025-07-07
Genre
FPS, Stealth
Perfect Darkwas originally a game launched on the Nintendo 64 in 2000.A spiritual successor ofGoldeneye 007, Perfect Darkbecame a beloved classic,spawning a remaster that came out exclusively on the Xbox 360 in 2010.
As a first-person shooter, there are numerous guns to wield, varying from ranged to melee.Perfect Darkhas different modes, including a campaign mode that takes place across various levels. The campaign can be played in co-op, with a multiplayer mode also available. The multiplayer has different gamemodes, such as deathmatch or capture the flag, in which players will face off against each other.
The Xbox 360 had numerous RPGs as a part of its lifespan; some JRPGs, some western RPGs. TheFableseries belongs to the latter, mainly dedicated to Xbox as an exclusive game. Critically successful, many rememberFable 2fondly as a ‘must play’ RPG.
As an RPG, the decisions players make can influence the game, with a morality system present that can sway the appearance of the player. While not an open-world game, it is bigger than the first game, with property that can be bought and used to accumulate income and unlock quests. Combat is done via different weapons, some ranged while others are melee. Spells are also present, as is the dog companion, which can be used in combat, as well as in the world, such as finding treasure and guiding players toward quest objectives.
WhileForza Horizonmight have become more known as the Xbox exclusive franchise,Forza Motorsportwas the series that came before. TheMotorsportgames aim to be more realistic than the Horizon series, taking place on racetracks, with the fourth game regularly cited as a favorite out of the titles.
Featuring an expansive list of cars,Forza Motorsport 4added a new feature that allows a car to be inspected to view details about it. These cars can race on numerous maps, many based on real locations. There are different types of races to compete in, which can be done against bots or other players, although there might not be anyone around to drive against. The sound design is also a highlight ofForza Motorsport 4, with emphasis placed on it to further the experience of driving the vast amount of cars.
Gears of War 3was the last mainline game in the series to be released on the Xbox 360, continuing fromGears of War 2.Although it wasn’t the final game released for the 360, as that would beGears of War: Judgment.
The gameplay remains much the same as the previous games; being a third-person shooter with a focus on taking cover. With returning characters, players must once again take tofighting the Locust, along with the Lambent. Multiplayer was also present, once again bringing back some gamemodes from the prior games, and the introduction of new ones, such as Beast Mode. A mainstay of the previousGears of Wargames, the third installment kept an emphasis on co-op, allowing local and online co-op.
Forza Motorsporthad already existed for some time beforeForza Horizoncame along. Changing things up a bit compared toMotorsport, Horizonwas a more casual and high-octane game set in Colorado as an open-world title.
There are different types of races to compete in, all with a vast number of cars to drive. These cars can be upgraded, customized, and sold. Some additional features outside of racing also exist, such as barn finds, where new cars can be acquired in the open-world, speed traps where players attempt to reach the highest speed they can, and destructible sign boards beneficial to the player.
ThesecondGears of Warcontinued the gameplay of the first installment, with players fighting against the Locust once more. The campaign furthered the story, withMarcus and Domreturning, fighting with some new weaponry and gameplay features, all available in a co-op mode.
Multiplayer is present once again inGears of War 2,fighting on different maps in various gamemodes. Some gamemodes are new, while others were also found in the first game. These can be against other players, butGears of War 2featured a gamemode where players face enemy waves cooperatively.
While theHaloXbox 360 games later ended up on different platforms, it would be unjust not to mention these games due to how well-received and beloved they are.Halo: Reachis a game that has a strong affinity with its console, being an icon of the Xbox 360.
Differing a bit from the priorHalogames,Halo: Reachhad some new features, such as bloom when firing guns, armor abilities, and the inclusion of health, not shields, like inCombat Evolved.The campaign explored the darker side of the Human-Covenant war, showing the pure terror and destruction of the Covenant, showing what happened just before the events of the first game. The multiplayer was another success, with players fighting on fresh maps, with different weapons and vehicles, across new and old gamemodes.
Perhaps no game was, or has been, as identified with Xbox as theHaloseries. While it has lost some steam over the years, in the 2000sHalowas one of the most dominant game franchises, withHalo 3being a main reason to own an Xbox 360 alone.
Finishing the originalHalotrilogy,Halo 3kept its gameplay similar to what made the series so popular in the first place, while adding new features - the hallmark of a good sequel. It completed the campaign as a satisfying and well-received finale, and continued its multiplayer. With new maps, vehicles, weapons, and equipment, the multiplayer further ensured its popularity beyond the campaign.
