Old video games are often criticized for having long, drawn-out tutorials. Many games don’t let you truly start playing the way you want until several hours and multiple levels have passed.
Tutorials helped players learn how to play, particularly those who skipped the manuals, but they often delayed the enjoyable parts of a game and could make replaying it feel repetitive.
Many older games didn’t hold your hand with long tutorials. Instead, they were immediately enjoyable once you navigated the menus and started a level or played with friends.
The original Xbox had a fantastic library of games that were immediately enjoyable. These games didn’t waste time with lengthy tutorials – they just let you jump right into the action and have fun.
10. Fuzion Frenzy
Xbox’s Go-To Party Game
Looking back, the original Xbox felt like the most interesting time for the console. It had so many different kinds of exclusive games, and one that really sticks out to me is Fuzion Frenzy. It was a blast!
If you owned an original Xbox and loved party games, Fuzion Fenzy was a must-have. Similar to Mario Party, it let up to four players compete locally in a wide variety of 45 different mini-games.
Before starting each mini-game, FF quickly shows a screen with the rules. However, all of these mini-games share the same objective: players compete to earn the most orbs and points each round to achieve victory.
Fuzion Frenzy definitely earns its name! Playing against friends or the computer quickly turns into a wild, fast-paced competition to master each mini-game. It’s a really fun, but also quite intense, party game.
9. Jade Empire
BioWare’s Most Underrated RPG
BioWare created two highly praised role-playing games for the original Xbox. While both Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire are excellent, I think Jade Empire gets to the core gameplay more quickly than Knights of the Old Republic.
Jade Empire is a unique RPG created by BioWare, drawing strong inspiration from Chinese history, mythology, and a touch of steampunk. Players take on the role of the final Spirit Monk, tasked with rescuing their master using a combination of martial arts and magical abilities.
Unlike KOTOR, Jade Empire features a more fluid combat system similar to the Dragon Age games, moving away from turn-based battles.
Unlike KOTOR, which has a lengthy tutorial on Taris that can take hours, Jade Empire quickly introduces players to its main gameplay features. Plus, Taris is immediately attacked after you finish the tutorial, making the time spent there feel somewhat pointless.
8. Destroy All Humans! 2
Crypto’s Global Adventure
The original Destroy All Humans! was a standout sandbox game from the early Xbox days, created by Pandemic Studios and playfully inspired by 1950s sci-fi movies. However, Destroy All Humans! 2 took everything that was good about the first game and made it even better.
Following a quick recap of Crypto’s activities after seizing the White House – including downtime between missions and blowing up the Furon mothership – Destroy All Humans! 2 jumps straight into the story. Crypto immediately begins planning his revenge against the Soviet Union.
Just like a good sequel, DAH2 lets you play as Crypto with all the powers he had in the original game, plus new abilities he learns on his mission. He travels the world – and even to the moon – to stop the Soviets and their alien partners, the Blisk.
I have to say, one of the coolest things about jumping into DAH2 right away is the co-op mode! It’s awesome being able to team up with a friend and play as two different Cryptos, causing all sorts of trouble around the world back in the 1960s. It just adds so much to the experience!
7. Jet Set Radio Future
A True Cult Classic
The original Xbox shared a lot of similarities with the Sega Dreamcast. In fact, many games that were popular on the Dreamcast, like Jet Set Radio Future, were also released on Microsoft’s first gaming console.
Jet Set Radio Future, the only sequel to the popular Dreamcast game Jet Set Radio, takes place in a futuristic Tokyo. The game follows a group of teenage skaters known as the GGs who use graffiti as a way to rebel against the powerful Rokkaku Group corporation.
Although Jet Set Radio Future has a great story, what really makes the game special is its unique cel-shaded graphics, memorable early 2000s music, and incredibly enjoyable gameplay. Many players found themselves simply skating around Tokyo and having fun, even without focusing on the game’s story.
Okay, so Jet Set Radio Future didn’t exactly fly off the shelves like Sega or Xbox probably wanted, but it’s still totally loved by us fans! A lot of us are really hoping Microsoft will add backwards compatibility so we can play it on the newer Xbox consoles soon.
6. Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse
Creating a Zombie Apocalypse
The Blam Engine, originally known for powering the hit game Halo: Combat Evolved on the original Xbox, also brought another fun title to the console: Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse. While many remember Halo, fewer people realize the same engine was used for Stubbs.
Similar to the game Destroy All Humans!, Stubbs the Zombie is set in a quirky, retro-futuristic 1950s. The story follows Edward Stubblefield, a recently deceased salesman who comes back to life as a zombie and causes trouble in the high-tech city of Punchbowl.
The game starts immediately with the transformed Stubblefield running around and turning people into zombies in Punchbowl. Players, as Stubbs, can control these zombies to attack the police and other citizens.
Throughout the game, Stubbs gains increasingly bizarre attack options. He can drive the Sod-O-Mobile, release powerful flatulence, throw his own internal organs as explosives, and even detach his head to use as a projectile against his enemies.
5. Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
Highway to the Danger Zone
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge is a truly exciting and memorable game that originally launched with the first Xbox, delivering non-stop action from beginning to end.
The game High Road to Revenge is the second and final installment in the Crimson Skies series. It’s set in an alternate version of the 20th century where the United States broke apart after the Great Depression, leading to a country divided by warring factions. Airplanes and zeppelins became the main ways people and goods traveled.
Despite its somewhat sensational storyline, High Road to Revenge is consistently enjoyable to play. The game focuses on exciting third-person aerial combat against pirates and military forces, with occasional moments switching to first-person turret sections.
While the story mode in High Road to Revenge is excellent, the game’s multiplayer dogfights are also incredibly fun. Up to 16 players can battle each other in the skies over oceans, cities, and mountains, either locally with a system link or online through Xbox Live.
4. Star Wars: Battlefront II
Star Wars Multiplayer At Its Best
The original Xbox had several excellent Star Wars games, but Star Wars: Battlefront II by Pandemic Studios was likely the best when it came to multiplayer gameplay.
The original Xbox version of Battlefront II included an optional tutorial that was set during the Battle of Geonosis, a key event shown at the conclusion of Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones.
You can skip the tutorial in Battlefront II and jump right into the game’s story campaign or its many exciting multiplayer modes. These modes let you battle on land and in space, recreating famous scenes from all six original Star Wars movies.
Whether you enjoy playing as a foot soldier or piloting vehicles, Battlefront II delivers a truly amazing combat experience. Plus, it’s incredibly fun to take control of iconic Star Wars heroes and villains – from Darth Vader aboard the Tantive IV to Jedi Master Yoda on Kashyyyk – and join the battle.
3. The Simpsons: Hit & Run
The Perfect GTA Substitute
The original Xbox was many gamers’ first console in the early 2000s. While they were often too young to play games like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, they could still have a lot of fun with excellent alternatives like The Simpsons: Hit & Run.
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Inspired by the popular animated TV show, The Simpsons: Hit & Run lets players experience a new story in Springfield. You can play as Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and even Apu as they uncover strange events happening around town.
The humor in Hit & Run is on par with the TV show, but the game is best known for its driving. It took inspiration from Grand Theft Auto, letting players drive any vehicle around town however they please – and as wildly as they want!
Many players found driving around Springfield in The Simpsons: Hit & Run so enjoyable that they often spent more time exploring the city than actually playing the story missions. This has made it a fan favorite and one of the most well-regarded games based on a licensed property.
2. LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
A Perfect Game For All Ages
While Star Wars: Battlefront II offered a fantastic multiplayer experience on the original Xbox, LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game was the best choice for players of all ages wanting a complete and well-rounded Star Wars game to play through from beginning to end.
Developed by Traveller’s Tales, LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game was the first LEGO game ever made. It’s a funny, third-person take on the Star Wars prequel trilogy, presented with the playful, slapstick humor of LEGOs.
The first level of the Trade Federation Lucrehulk battleship acts as a gentle introduction to the game, but it doesn’t feel overly restrictive – players are free to explore. Every level after that is a lighthearted and funny LEGO adventure, which can be played alone or with a friend.
While some levels, like the podracing and gunship sections, can be a little tricky, they’re still enjoyable to experience with friends. The game’s combat and puzzles are straightforward and easy to pick up, making it fun to play even now, despite being relatively simple compared to modern games.
1. Halo 2
Flying Pretty Good
The original Halo: Combat Evolved was incredibly successful, but Halo 2 took everything that made the first game great and made it even better. It’s now considered one of the best first-person shooter games ever made.
Picking up about a month after the conclusion of Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 quickly throws you into the action. You play as the Master Chief, now with new armor, as he defends Earth and Cairo Station from a massive Covenant invasion. The game introduces new abilities, like hijacking enemy vehicles and wielding two weapons at once, giving you a wider range of combat options.
The thrilling action of Halo 2 continues with the introduction of a new playable character: the Arbiter, an alien warrior. This adds a new layer of complexity to the war between humans and the Covenant, and features fantastic battles alongside other alien races like Elites, Grunts, and Hunters.
Beyond its compelling story, Halo 2 truly shines with its multiplayer. The improved controls make every battle exciting and balanced, and players can enjoy both new and familiar maps and game types, including favorites like Capture the Flag and Infection.
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2026-03-31 17:42