Xbox turns 25 on 15 November 2026. To mark it, here’s my favourite game and the one I think is the best from each Xbox era, from the original Xbox to Xbox Series X|S.
At a glance
- Original Xbox: favourite, the Pro Evolution Soccer series; best, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell
- Xbox 360: favourite, Enchanted Arms; best, BioShock
- Xbox One: favourite and best, Forza Horizon 4; honourable mention, Ryse: Son of Rome
- Xbox Series X|S: probably Forza Horizon 5
Everything announced for Xbox’s 25th anniversary
Original Xbox
Favourite: the Pro Evolution Soccer series
My favourite on the original Xbox is Pro Evo. Playing it online over Xbox Live on the original Xbox is what started the itch to get back into gaming properly.
Pro Evolution Soccer is Konami’s football series. The original Xbox entries aren’t on the Xbox backward compatibility list, so they can’t be played on current Xbox consoles.
Best: Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell
The best game on the original Xbox, for me, is Splinter Cell.
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell was developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft, and it came out on the original Xbox in November 2002. It has been playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S through backward compatibility since June 2019. The Xbox Store still lists it but doesn’t currently sell it, so you’ll need the original disc or an earlier digital purchase.
Xbox 360
Favourite: Enchanted Arms
For an out-there choice, my favourite on the 360 is Enchanted Arms. It was the first proper game I got 1000G in, and it got me playing JRPGs again.
Enchanted Arms is a role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Ubisoft. It came out on Xbox 360 in 2006. It has been backward compatible on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S since June 2019, but it isn’t currently for sale on the Xbox Store, so you’ll need the disc or an earlier digital purchase.
Best: BioShock
I love BioShock, and I think it’s the best game on the 360.
BioShock was developed by 2K Boston and 2K Australia and published by 2K Games. It came out on Xbox 360 in August 2007. The Xbox 360 version is backward compatible on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S and is on sale on the Xbox Store. A remastered version is also part of BioShock: The Collection.
Xbox One
Favourite and best: Forza Horizon 4
On Xbox One, Forza Horizon 4 is both my favourite and the best, because I played it at 60fps after getting the Xbox One X.
Forza Horizon 4 was developed by Playground Games and published by Microsoft Studios, and it came out in October 2018. It was removed from sale on the Xbox Store, and left Game Pass, on 15 December 2024. Anyone who already owns it can still download and play it on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, and disc copies still work.
Honourable mention: Ryse: Son of Rome
Ryse is there too, despite the stick it gets.
Ryse: Son of Rome was developed by Crytek and published by Microsoft Studios, and it was an Xbox One launch game on 22 November 2013. It plays on Xbox Series X|S through backward compatibility. It’s sold on the Xbox Store as Ryse: Legendary Edition, and it’s included with Game Pass Premium and Ultimate.
Xbox Series X|S
My pick: Forza Horizon 5
For Series X, it’s probably Forza Horizon 5.
Forza Horizon 5 was developed by Playground Games and published by Xbox Game Studios, and it came out on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One in November 2021. It’s on sale on the Xbox Store and included with Game Pass.
What are your picks for each Xbox era? Tell us on X or Facebook.
