The original Xbox celebrated its 20th anniversary, marking two decades since its U.S. launch in November 2001. With 8 GB of internal storage and 64 MB of RAM, the console ran games at 640×480 resolution and helped Microsoft establish itself in the video game industry. Before the end of 2001 it had sold more than 1.5 million units and its library grew to over 7,000 titles, several of which remain playable today through backward compatibility on Xbox One and Xbox Series S|X.
Ranking methodology and standout legacy
This list compiles the ten highest-rated original Xbox games according to Metacritic scores. It highlights flagship franchises, exclusive hits and influential multiplatform releases that defined the console’s early years and, in some cases, continued to reach players through later ports, remasters and compilations.
1 – Halo: Combat Evolved (Score: 97)
Release date: November 14, 2001
Released alongside the console, Halo: Combat Evolved became the Xbox’s signature franchise. The game introduced players to the Master Chief and combined a compelling protagonist, tight gameplay and memorable weapons and vehicles. Halo later received PC and Mac OS ports, a digital release on Xbox 360, and a remake included in Halo: The Master Chief Collection for Xbox One.
2 – Grand Theft Auto Double Pack (Score: 96)
Release date: October 31, 2003
Packaged for Xbox and PlayStation 2, the Grand Theft Auto Double Pack brought together Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. GTA III marked the franchise’s move from 2D to 3D, while Vice City offered an 1980s-inspired setting and a highly praised soundtrack.
3 – Halo 2 (Score: 95)
Release date: November 9, 2004
Following the original’s success, Halo 2 expanded the series with new weapons, vehicles and environments, introduced dual-wielding, and shifted the multiplayer focus toward online play over broadband connections while retaining local multiplayer options.
4 – Ninja Gaiden Black (Score: 94)
Release date: September 20, 2005
Team Ninja’s Xbox-exclusive take on the long-running Ninja Gaiden franchise delivered a more graphic, uncensored experience compared with the 2004 Ninja Gaiden release. Ninja Gaiden Black is remembered for its challenging action and visceral combat.
5 – Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (Score: 94)
Release date: March 28, 2005
Chaos Theory, the third Splinter Cell entry, presented a darker, more mature tone for Sam Fisher. The title shipped on multiple platforms, including PlayStation 2, GameCube, Windows, Nintendo DS and Nokia’s N-Gage, broadening its reach beyond Xbox players.
6 – Burnout 3: Takedown (Score: 94)
Release date: September 7, 2004
Considered one of the best arcade-style racing games, Burnout 3: Takedown delivered high-speed thrills with over 100 events, 40 tracks and competitive multiplayer modes, emphasizing aggressive driving and spectacular crashes.
7 – Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Score: 94)
Release date: July 17, 2003
Often cited as one of the finest Star Wars games, Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) is a role-playing title set more than four thousand years before the films. KOTOR inspired a comic-book continuation and was later re-released on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and mobile platforms including iOS and Android.
8 – Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow (Score: 93)
Release date: March 23, 2004
The second Splinter Cell game, Pandora Tomorrow, was developed in part by Ubisoft teams in Shanghai and Milan while the Montreal group worked on Chaos Theory. The release added new gadgets for Sam Fisher and introduced an online multiplayer mode.
9 – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (Score: 93)
Release date: March 4, 2002
The Xbox version of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 is a port of the title originally launched for PlayStation 2 in 2001. The game helped cement the skateboarding franchise’s reputation and remained one of the highest-rated sports titles of its era.
10 – Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell (Score: 93)
Release date: November 17, 2002
The original Splinter Cell introduced Sam Fisher and established a stealth-action framework inspired in part by Metal Gear. The title was also released for Windows, Mac OS, PlayStation 2, GameCube and Game Boy Advance, laying the groundwork for the series’ subsequent entries.
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