Summary
Xboxis one of the current “Big 3” gaming brands in the world,alongside PlayStation and Nintendo, which is quite fascinating when considering that it’s the youngest of the trio. After all, Microsoft’s signature hardware and software brand has made huge strides in the industry since its inception in the early 2000s.
This was all possible due to not only its revolutionary high-quality consoles, but also thanks to its excellent exclusive titles. Everybody knows that the Xbox family of systems has been home to some of the best and most innovative video games ever made, but only the following examples are consideredthe most importantXbox gamesin the history of this iconic brand.
Every console manufacturer has one or two huge exclusive franchises that people always associate with them. Sega hasSonic the Hedgehog, Nintendo hasMarioandThe Legend of Zelda, Sony hasRatchet & ClankandGod of War, and so forth. So, when Microsoft decided to enter the console race in the late 90s, it knew that it needed a high-quality exclusive that would put its new system on the map,and that was exactly whatHalo: Combat Evolvedachieved.
While it may not look all that impressive today, the originalHalowas revolutionary for its time, with its incredible combat, unique setting, memorable characters, interesting storyline, and extremely addictive offline multiplayer mode. Microsoft’s plan ultimately succeeded; this exclusive was a huge critical and commercial success that inspired people to buy an Xbox, and its iconic protagonist, Master Chief, would eventually become the brand’s unofficial mascot. It’s safe to say that the Xbox brand wouldn’t even exist today if it weren’t for the impactHalo: Combat Evolvedhad on the industry.
Halo 2is the sequel to 2001’sHalo: Combat Evolved, and it successfully surpassed its predecessor in almost every way. The story is even more engaging, the graphics are even more detailed, and the gameplay is much more complex and addictive. The single-player campaign certainly contributed to this game’s success, but there’s one huge reason it’s such an important piece of Xbox’s history: its online multiplayer.
Halo 2was released just a few days before the launch of Xbox Live, and as a result, it was compatible with Microsoft’s new and innovative (at the time) online service. For many years, this game was synonymous with online gaming, and many people still play it to this day, whether via theMaster Chief Collectionor fan-made servers. Xbox is widely known for being the first major gaming brand to support and popularize online play, andHalo 2was the flagship title that made it possible.
At first glance,Gears of Warappears to be yet another violent shooter with a popular online multiplayer mode. In reality, it features a dark and emotionally charged single-player campaign about a group of brave soldiers fighting against a deadly alien invasion. This unexpectedly engaging story, and the complex characters that star in it, helped cementGears of Waras one of the absolute best Xbox 360 exclusives ever made.
Needless to say, this game was also a huge success due to its high-quality gameplay, as its third-person combat, inspired by the likes ofResident Evil 4,felt intuitive and satisfying, which led toGears of Warbecoming one of the most frequently played multiplayer experiences on Xbox Live. It also rebranded the third-person shooter genre into something that could stand toe-to-toe with its first-person cousins, something that was relatively uncommon when it launched. While Xbox doesn’t have as many beloved exclusive franchises as its competition, it does have a fair share of solid examples that are popular around the world, andGears of Waris one of the most remarkable examples.
Most people associate the Xbox brand with dark and gritty shooters, such asHaloorGears of War, but it also has many other interesting and unique IPs under its wing. One of the most noteworthy is Lionhead Studios’Fableseries. The original game was one of the absolute best original Xbox exclusives, but its Xbox 360 sequel was even better in almost every conceivable way.
Fable 2is not only a solid action RPG but also a revolutionary life simulatorwith a lot of freedom of choice, filled to the brim with stuff to do around every single corner. While subsequent sequels were nowhere near as good as this one,Fable 2is still considered one of the absolute best and most impressive video games ever made, while also proving that the Xbox brand could be the home to a large variety of genres.
There’s no denying thatMinecraftis one of the most important, revolutionary, and popular indie video games in the entire world. However, it’s also worth pointing out that this was not originally an Xbox game, technically speaking. Microsoft bought the IP back in 2014 for $2.5 billion USD, and when this happened, many fans were initially worried that the company would tarnishMinecraft’s legacy, but everything worked out quite well in the end.
Minecraftcontinued receiving regular updates that were received very positively by fans. It sold even more copies than ever before, and it was even ported over to the competition’s consoles, like the PlayStation 4 and the Nintendo Switch.Minecraft’s late-2000s success is undeniable proof that Microsoft acquisitions can end up benefiting both the Xbox brand and its users if handled appropriately.
Whenever people think of high-quality, realistic racing simulators,Forza Horizonis one of the first series that comes to mind. Xbox’s signature racing franchise has become one of the modern mainstays of the genre. Curiously enough, and unbeknownst to most players, theForza Horizonseries is actually a spin-off of the less-knownForza Motorsportfranchise.
The originalForza Horizonwas well-received due to its realism, controls, progression system, and fast-paced gameplay; however, what set it apart from its predecessor was its ambitious open-world map. The critical and commercial success of this game was a significant moment for Microsoft, as it not only gave the Xbox brand a solid exclusive IP during a time when it really needed one, but also allowed the console to compete with Sony’sGran Turismoseries.
2015’sOri and the Blind Forestis an excellent indie 2D Metroidvaniawith a colorful art style, a beautiful soundtrack, and incredibly engaging gameplay. However, people are always surprised to find out that this is technically an Xbox game, since it was published by Microsoft Studios, which also owns theOriIP. That’s right: the Xbox brand has been championing quality indie games since the mid-2010s.
It’s important to point outOri and the Blind Forestis still technically an independent video game, since it was developed in its entirety by Moon Studios. However, Microsoft Studios was responsible for publishing and marketing, which certainly helped put this great game on the map. Most players only see Xbox as the home of massive AAA experiences, but the brand also has a place for less expansive (but equally good) indie titles. Furthermore,Ori and the Blind Forestwas not only ported to Nintendo Switch, but it also received a direct sequel that was even better:Ori and the Will of the Wisps.
Developed by Rare (the studio behindBanjo-KazooieandPerfect Dark),Sea of Thievesis an open-world pirate game that got a mixed reception on release, but eventually managed to accumulate a sizable player base thanks to constant updates that added a lot more content.Sea of Thievesis a solid video game in its own right, but the reason its existence is so important to the Xbox brand is due to its connection to Xbox Game Pass.
Nowadays, this subscription service is hugely profitable for Microsoft, and, curiously enough,Sea of Thieveswas the original first-party game made free-to-play on Xbox Game Pass on its release date. While many gamers have legitimate criticisms of this business model, it’s primarily responsible for the success of Xbox Game Pass, as it allows gamers to try out new games the moment they are released. Interestingly, this all began withSea of Thievesin 2018.
As one of the largest companies in the world, Microsoft actually developed PC software before the Xbox brand existed. One of the most noteworthy and important examples of this is itsMicrosoft Flight Simulatorseries. After an almost fourteen-year hiatus, this revolutionary series returned right when Xbox fans needed it the most, with a 2020 reboot simply titledMicrosoft Flight Simulator, the first entry to be playable on both Xbox systems and PC.
This flight simulation video game was widely praised for its hyperrealistic environments and lifelike plane mechanics, allowing players to fly around beautiful real-life locations. It’s worth noting thatMicrosoft Flight Simulatorwas released in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when people were barely able to leave their homes, let alone travel by plane. At the very least, this simulation experience provided them with a much-needed sense of connection to the outside world for a few months. The unexpected success of this reboot led to the creation of a sequel,Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, which was also very well received.
Microsoft’s newest strategy for the Xbox brand has been quite polarizing, to say the least, as the corporation has repeatedly acquired multiple third-party IPs and studios, with varying levels of success. When it was all said and done, gamers were wondering if this strategy would work out for the best.One recent game that finally put those worries to rest:Indiana Jones and The Great Circle.
Developed by MachineGames (a subsidiary of Bethesda, which was purchased by Microsoft in 2021), this is not only an excellent action-adventure video game in its own right, but it was also the best and most successful piece of content starring Indiana Jones since the original movie trilogy.Additionally,Indiana Jones and The Great Circlewas the first Xbox-exclusive title in years that made PlayStation and Nintendo fans actually want to buy an Xbox console or PC to play it, which is what Microsoft was hopingStarfieldwould do back in 2023. Fortunately, since Microsoft now has a much healthier relationship with its competition, this game was ported over to PS5 in April 2025.
