10 Underrated Xbox 360 Exclusives

The Xbox 360 was released on November 22nd, 2005, changing gaming forever. Yes, that sounds hyperbolic, but the Xbox 360 ushered in the world of online gaming as we know it today.

An expanded Xbox Live, combined with killer apps such as Gears of War and Halo 3, helped make the console feel like a huge improvement over its predecessor.

While the Xbox 360 is filled with plenty of classic games, not every title gets the recognition it deserves. Whether overlooked upon release or taken for granted today, we proudly highlight these eight underrated Xbox 360 exclusives.

8 Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved

Incredibly Addictive

The original Geometry Wars was a fun easter egg inside Project Gotham Racing 2. Based on its popularity, Bizarre Creations developed and released an updated version for the Xbox Live Arcade alongside the Xbox 360 console launch.

For those who remember playing throughout the night, calling Geometry Wars: Revolve Evolved underrated seems silly. As time went on and the quality of Xbox Live Arcade games released, though, Geometry Wars began to feel like an afterthought.

Its simple yet addictive formula was the perfect cure for post-launch blues. Games like Perfect Dark Zero and Kameo: Elements of Power were flops, and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion was months away.

Geometry Wars was there, though, keeping our Xbox 360’s on and running. We’d compare high scores, see how long we could last in our runs, and stay up until 2:00 AM.

Even now, as I write this, I can hear the music in my head. While more popular games today have a similar concept and gameplay, Geometry Wars was a way of life back then.

7 Project Gotham Racing 3

Are You Hoping For A Miracle?

Not every launch title was a failure, though. Project Gotham Racing 3 walked so Forza Horizon could run.

While Forza Motorsport was all the rage in the Xbox racing world, PGR3 delivered the right balance of simulation and arcade gameplay. It was accessible for newcomers while still challenging for genre veterans.

Its visuals were a perfect showcase for the power of the Xbox 360, especially with the line-up of licensed cars. Then, of course, the soundtrack is 100% stuck in my head now.

Project Gotham Racing 3 was the game you played when you wanted to kick back, relax, and unwind after a long day’s work.

It’s a shame Bizzare Creations couldn’t capitalize on the momentum. Their two Xbox 360 launch titles helped the system thrive, and if not for Activision’s acquisition, they could have been a tentpole studio for the Xbox brand.

6 Dead or Alive 4

Remember SPARTAN-458?

I swear I’m not going to list the entire launch line-up for the Xbox 360, but here’s the thing: it was that good. Launch windows are normally filled with average at-best games, but the Xbox 360 had a lot of bonafide hits.

Oblivion stands the test of time, but games like Dead or Alive 4, for one reason or another, get lost over the years. Maybe it’s the franchise’s stigma; maybe it’s the fact that a Japanese-developed fighting game was exclusive to the Xbox 360; who knows?

Consider this: Dead or Alive 4 converted people who never owned an Xbox. I worked at GameStop during the 360’s launch and saw countless people excited for this game.

Some immersive and quirky online features we see in fighting games today were present in Dead or Alive 4, which focused on a community aspect of its online multiplayer.

It wasn’t about sitting and watching for a match. It felt like you were with a group of people watching others fight on incredibly designed and engaging stages.

With its action-oriented gameplay, Dead or Alive 4 is an incredibly underrated fighting game. I will maintain that stance until the day I die.

5 Uno Rush

The ultimate party game experience

Before the days of Jackbox, there was Uno Rush, the perfect way to hang out with friends on Xbox Live and, well, play Uno.

Sure, the concept of playing a card game with friends was anything but novel, but consider this: it’s 2006, and there wasn’t any way to do this with your Xbox Live friends before. Now you can, and I am not ashamed to admit that I spent hours playing Uno Rush online.

If the first three entries on our list showed what was possible with Xbox Live, Uno Rush is the proof in the pudding. Games were simply the admission fee. We were not connecting with people across the globe in ways we haven’t before.

It’s wild to think of Uno as an underrated game today, but again, it wasn’t about the game itself. It was about the barrier being broken, helping to usher in the connected world we know today.

In 2024 and beyond, we can sit in Discord and play games together. In 2006, all we had was Uno, and we loved it.

4 1 vs. 100

Trust the mob

You’ve heard of appointment viewing, but what about appointment gaming?

Uno walked so that 1 vs. 100 could run. The game’s host and contestants were displayed with their Xbox Live Avatars, making this feel like the real deal game show. We could live out our childhood dreams over Xbox Live.

The game, which lasted for two seasons, was extremely popular. It helped expand on a connected online experience.

Even though it required an Xbox Live Gold subscription, players could win Microsoft Points to buy games online. There were real, tangible prizes on the line!

Given the recent popularity of trivia apps and continued focus on online social experiences, it’s a shame that 1 vs. 100 isn’t still happening today. It’s an accessible game that appeals to everybody, no matter their skill level, and allows anyone of all ages to join in on the fun.

3 Crackdown

The free game with Halo 3’s beta

Look, I’m not going to beat around the bush here. Crackdown’s biggest selling point was that it came with access to the Halo 3 multiplayer beta. Surprise, surprise: the game itself was pretty fun, too!

It’s by no means a masterpiece and won’t win any awards for its storytelling, but its gameplay is undeniably enjoyable. There’s something so satisfying about becoming incredibly overpowered and traversing the world easily.

While nowhere near as revolutionary as something like Grand Theft Auto III, Crackdown is an open-world sandbox delight, letting you do almost anything and everything you can. Add in the pick-up-and-play aspect to its online co-op, and it’s a slam dunk game.

The stylish art style has also held up surprisingly well, and its constant reward of player exploration and discovery has rarely been replicated in games today.

2 Saints Row

The Most Successful GTA Clone

Calling Saints Row an underrated game does the franchise a disservice, but it’s the truth. Subsequent entries expanded on the original’s foundation, helping to give it more personality than the original release, which was viewed as a GTA clone.

While far from perfect, Saints Row proved to be the perfect waiting room for Grand Theft Auto IV. It’s nowhere near as deep or impactful as the Rockstar franchise, but it’s not trying to be.

The game focuses on giving players an enjoyable, fun-filled sandbox, and it delivers in that regard. It also addresses some issues fans were frustrated with in Grand Theft Auto, particularly the auto-aim control setup.

While the Saints Row franchise is nowhere near as popular today as it was on Xbox 360, returning to the original title is still an enjoyable experience worth having, especially with the long wait for Grand Theft Auto IV.

1 Lost Odyssey

A true JRPG experience

Hironobu Sakaguchi’s Mistwalker Corporation developed not one but two exclusive JRPGs for the Xbox 360, a console not known for catering to the genre’s demographic. From the opening moments, though, we’re treated to a true blue JRPG experience that should have been a system seller.

Its combination of cinematic presentation and “Aim Ring” combat system helps deliver a modern take on the genre while staying true to its roots. There are a lot of nice quality-of-life features present, too, such as an experience share system that helps boost your lower-level characters.

What wins me over is how well Lost Odyssey captures the essence of the genre. This is a game that stands toe-to-toe with the Final Fantasy franchise, and it’s a shame that we never saw any future installments.

Yes, the load times were lengthy and, at times, frustrating, but Lost Odyssey is one of the best JRPGs of its console generation.