8 Great Xbox Games That Will Turn 20 In 2025

Going into 2005, Xbox was still a growing brand. The company had only released one console by that point, which was much less popular than the PS2. Yet, 2005 ended up being a big year for Xbox and the gaming industry as a whole because the Xbox 360 launched that November. This was the console that ultimately elevated Xbox and made them true competitors with PlayStation.

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2005 wasn’t just about new consoles, though. There were also a bunch of really good games released on Xbox systems. Not many of Xbox’s biggest series had a release, but there were still plenty of notable titles that year. Here are some examples.

8

Condemned: Criminal Origins

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Condemned: Criminal Origins

Systems

Released

November 22, 2005

Developer(s)

Monolith Productions

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language

The Xbox 360 didn’t have the most impressive collection of launch titles, especially when it came to exclusive games. Yet, it did have a first-person survival horror game titled Condemned: Criminal Origins. The game isn’t the most polished title of all time, but it succeeds in one vital area: it’s very scary.

Walking through very dark areas with little-to-no ammo remains a frightening experience in Condemned. These days, the graphics don’t look as impressive as they used to, but the scary atmosphere the game creates is evergreen. As such, it was one of the best horror titles ever released on the Xbox 360.

7

Forza Motorsport

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Forza Motorsport

Systems

Released

May 3, 2005

Developer(s)

Turn 10 Studios

Publisher(s)

Microsoft Game Studios

ESRB

e

2005’s Forza Motorsport was an important game for the Xbox brand, even if it may not have felt like it back then. This is because it was the first-ever Forza game, which would go on to become one of Xbox’s most successful exclusive series.

These days, you likely wouldn’t say that the 2005 game is Forza at its best, but it did a great job at establishing Forza as a premier simulation racing series that combines enjoyable driving mechanics with eye-catching visuals.

6

Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath

Oddworld isn’t traditionally an Xbox series, as most of the games are released on plenty of systems. In 2005, though, Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath was released as an Xbox exclusive and remained that way for many years.

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This was lucky for Xbox fans because the game was a significant critical success for many reasons. The exciting combat and interesting main character played a large role in the greatness of the game. Plus, the visuals and animations for the time were really nice, too.

5

Star Wars: Republic Commando

The world has seen all sorts of Star Wars games over the years. One of the most underrated, though, is Republic Commando. Its lack of Jedis or major Star Wars characters is perhaps why it went under the radar a little.

However, it’s a very good tactical first-person shooter in which you control a small squad of clones that go on some important missions. More specifically, you control the leader and are able to order around your teammates, which is where the tactical side of the games comes into play. Giving people orders and shooting enemies is a lot of fun in this title, and the story isn’t bad, either. This is why it has garnered such a cult following.

4

Stubbs The Zombie In Rebel Without A Pulse

Since 2005, there has been a litany of zombie games on Xbox consoles, from Left 4 Dead to State of Decay. It would be hard to name many that are reminiscent of Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse.

This is because, in this game, you don’t fight zombies; you are a zombie. You shuffle around the place, eating brains and building up your undead horde. It’s a very creative and unusual premise that works fairly well. It’s also the reason why people remember the game all these years later.

3

Jade Empire

Jade Empire is often considered one of the best exclusives for the original Xbox. Unfortunately, though, it wasn’t a commercial success, so the world was never treated to a full series. Still, though, it’s an excellent action RPG.

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What sets it apart from other Bioware role-playing games is that it’s inspired by Chinese mythology. As such, you play as a spirit monk and have to face all sorts of mythical spirits and demons alongside regular humans. The battles with them are action-packed. And when you’re not fighting, you’re typically having conversations and making moral choices. So, it isn’t too different from the games Bioware makes today.

2

Ninja Gaiden Black

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Ninja Gaiden Black

Systems

Released

September 20, 2005

Publisher(s)

Tecmo

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence

Before Dark Souls came on the scene, the Ninja Gaiden titles were often used as an example of very challenging video games. Ninja Gaiden Black was perhaps the most famous of the series.

It’s a reworked version of the 2004 Ninja Gaiden title. In it, you play as a master ninja who has to fight a lot of very skilled opponents. Fights are stylish, gory, and punishing hard. It was a highly regarded game that was first experienced on Xbox.

1

Psychonauts

Psychonauts wasn’t an instant success upon its launch in 2005. Yet, in the years preceding its release, it began to build a cult following, and those fans really pushed for a sequel, which it eventually received in 2021.

People really wanted another Psychonauts because the original is such a unique and creative platformer. Besides the second game, there hasn’t really been another title like it. Many aspects of the game deserve praise, but the level design, in particular, stands out because the levels are based on different characters’ consciousnesses, making them very varied and original.

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