The Xbox 360 was an enormous success, especially when compared to the original Xbox. Microsoft’s second console generation had incredible exclusives and even ran most multiplatform titles better than the PS3.

In the console’s later years the string of exclusives slowed down, but it was still a great console to own right until the end. The games below prove it was still great to be an Xbox 360 owner in 2011, although it is hard to believe these games came out ten years ago. For some of us, it feels like yesterday. Luckily many of these are also still playable on the Xbox Series X due to backward compatibility.

10 Gears of War 3

It is not every day you see a trilogy of games completed within a single console generation. The first Gears of War came out at the beginning of the console’s life and the third game came out in 2011.

A prequel came out on the 360 afterward, Gears of War: Judgment, but it did not receive the same critical praise as the three mainline games. The series set the standard for third-person shooters of the generation.

9 Dead Island

Dead Island had a lot of technical issues, but it made up for it with the unique zombie survival horror experience. It is like a mix of Resident Evil and Borderlands. The world is open and separated by several distinct areas where you can either do side quests or engage with the main story.

The online co-op also makes the experience ten times better. You start out using mostly melee weapons and eventually gain access to firearms and explosives.

8 Forza Motorsport 4

Though two Forza Horizon games came out on the 360 afterward, Forza Motorsport 4 was the last in the mainline series to come out on the console. It was the best in the series at the time and was seen as a vast improvement over its predecessors. There was also a partnership with the Top Gear television series.

Where the Horizon series has more arcade sensibilities, Motorsport is all about the simulation and making you really feel like you are behind the wheel.

7 Shadows Of The Damned

Shadows of the Damned is a collaboration between Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami and Goichi Suda, or Suda51. Even though the two have voiced displeasure with the finished product, Shadows of the Damned is still a fine game.

It plays like Resident Evil 4 and has a wild sense of humor. Your weapon is sentient and can transform into different types of guns. This is a must-play for anyone who likes Resident Evil 4 or The Evil Within.

6 Deus Ex: Human Revolution

The original Deus Ex is an influential classic. 2011’s Deus Ex: Human Revolution does its best to recreate the original’s immersive environments and non-linear game design. It pulls it off for the most part, except for the lackluster boss fights.

The sequel, Mankind Divided, did not receive quite as positive a reception but is still worth playing for fans. It is hard to say if a third game will ever come to fruition, unfortunately.

5 Dead Space 2

The original Dead Space is finally getting a remake. It is still a little while away, though, so you have plenty of time to play the original trilogy.

Some even prefer Dead Space 2’s bigger scope and location to the original. It retains the extreme terror of the first game while having more varied environments and a more involved plot. The protagonist finally talks this time, too. We wonder if Dead Space 2 will eventually get a remake too.

4 Fight Night Champion

Fight Night had a special crossover appeal. Even those who were not a fan of boxing find the game fun. Fight Night Champion is the fifth and, so far, final entry in the franchise. It is notably more violent than the prior entries too, aiming to showcase the sport’s violence.

We really wish the series would come back in the modern age. Until then, fans will have to boot up their 360 or PS3 to enjoy the latest Fight Night release.

3 Driver: San Francisco

Driver: San Francisco’s hook had the protagonist in a coma, putting him in a special dreamlike state where he could jump from car to car within the world. This solved the problem of the often lackluster on-foot segments in the series’ later entries.

Unfortunately, the game did not sell well and ended up becoming a cult classic. Developer Ubisoft Reflections would go on to make The Crew, which has similar ideas but adds in-depth multiplayer functionality.

2 Halo Anniversary

It is hard to tell whether Halo Anniversary is a remake or a remaster. It has entirely new graphics but is ultimately the same game that was released as a launch title on the original Xbox.

You can even activate the old graphics with the push of a button. While this is great, it also means fans knew exactly what to expect from it upon release. All the same, it is great to have this timeless classic preserved for generations to come.

1 Bastion

Bastion has since come out on countless consoles, but it started on the Xbox Live Arcade. This action RPG draws in players with both smooth gameplay and a vibrant world. The omniscient narrator helps make the game feel more alive and engaging by simply having a voice constantly accompanying you.

Supergiant Games’ most recent title, Hades, is a sensation. If you like that game and have yet to play Bastion, we recommend remedying that immediately.