The Xbox 360 embodied the golden age of online play and HD, driven by Xbox Live and major franchises: Halo 3, Gears of War, Mass Effect, Forza. This Top 100 gathers the console's best, re-tested and re-ranked by RomWize, each title with its re-evaluated score, its versions, their rarity and their collector value.
"Origins is one of the finest modern Western RPGs, with its origin prologues, political dilemmas and mature writing echoing Baldur's Gate. The tactical system breathes and the cast earns a top spot in BioWare's pantheon."
"Telltale write a devastating five-episode season in which Lee Everett protects young Clementine during the zombie apocalypse. The moral choice writing hits dead centre, companions stay unforgettable, and the 360 receives here probably the most emotional narrative adventure Telltale ever penned."
"Modern Warfare 3 closes the Soap trilogy with a non-stop military opera and a multiplayer that keeps the frenzy going. The campaign rolls huge set pieces back to back and, even if the formula is tiring, the finale still lands an emotional punch."
"Bethesda graft the Oblivion formula onto the Capital Wasteland and the spell works straight away, even with stiff combat. Meeting Three Dog stays a major highlight and the atmospheric score has marked a generation of players for good."
"Arcade Edition adds Yun, Yang, Evil Ryu and Oni to an already solid balance. The system reaches a particularly fine competitive equilibrium, online multi turns seriously competitive, and this is probably the best Street Fighter IV to own on 360 without any hesitation."
"Gearbox invent the looter shooter on dusty Pandora with cheeky frat-house humour. The first Borderlands feels rough at times but lays down a devilish formula, and farming the perfect rocket launcher with four pals is era-defining bliss."
"Sledgehammer juice Call of Duty back up with the exo-suit and boosted jumps. The Kevin Spacey led campaign owns its blockbuster instincts, multiplayer gains real verticality, and the whole thing is a great unapologetic action ride."
"Treyarch send the series back to 1945 with a brutal Pacific and an uncompromising Eastern Front. The campaign embraces darkness, Kiefer Sutherland roars as the sergeant, and Zombies takes its now mythical first steps here."
"Forza Motorsport 2 plants Turn 10's sim racing on 360 with a colossal career mode and a dynamic Auction House. The driving asks for finesse, weather is still missing, but the technical bedrock is gorgeous for its era."
"Bayonetta blows the doors off the action genre with a jaw-dropping heroine, ridiculously fluid combat and direction that goes for broke. Kamiya delivers an absolute peak of the genre that still feels insultingly fresh."
"Fable II keeps its tender fairy-tale formula with a loyal dog, real estate trading and moral choices that genuinely matter. Albion gains depth and the British writing remains one of the warmest in Western gaming."
"FromSoftware build one of the medium's most beautiful cathedrals, where every death teaches, every bonfire soothes and every boss tells a silent tragedy. Lordran remains a world of staggering elegance and coherence."
"Forza Motorsport 3 finally democratises sim racing with generous driving aids and a dizzying car count. Tires and weight transfer come through beautifully, and the livery editor sparks a lasting creative community."
"Epic Games port Unreal Tournament III to 360 with a snappy arena FPS and a promising vehicle mode. The community stays less active than on PC but pad shooting works well, and it is a rare chance for console players to experience Unreal multiplayer in a living-room setting with a few friends."
"Team Bondi pen a wildly elegant 40s detective tale with MotionScan that revolutionises interrogations. Vintage Los Angeles glows, investigation trumps action, and the noir writing remains one of the most memorable in modern gaming."
"Prepare to Die folds Artorias of the Abyss into the base game, the finest FromSoftware DLC of the 360 era. Dueling Artorias and Manus remains a peak of knightly combat, absolutely worth meeting inside the main campaign."
"Arkane craft one of the finest stealth games ever made with a hypnotic steampunk Dunwall and a toolset that begs for creativity. Every mission opens a thousand ways to act, and picking your path is sheer delight."
"Ultimate Collection bundles Forza Motorsport 3 with all expansions, the most generous package to discover Turn 10's track work on 360. The smart pick for anyone who wants a massive garage and an active livery community."
"Team Bondi pen a wildly elegant 40s detective tale with MotionScan that revolutionises interrogations. Vintage Los Angeles glows, investigation trumps action, and the noir writing remains one of the most memorable in modern gaming."
"Borderlands 2 perfects the recipe to near mythical heights with Handsome Jack, one of gaming's finest villains. The loot is addictive, the writing crackles, and four-player co-op still produces legendary nights today."
