This is a list of Xbox games that were noted by Gamespot and IGN as having unique gameplay, and/or providing more polished gameplay overall, and/or represent an underrepresented genre. This list is not comparable to the other game lists on this site because Usenet participation in the selection of these titles did not happen, so the selection is based solely on the reviews.

These scores were attained by averaging the scores from Gamespot and IGN, so they represent an average between two different review sites. These percentages are not representative of a "grade" as one would receive in school. A '50%' score should be viewed as completely average, anything above that should be viewed as above average.

E-mail me with suggestions or comments.

Sort by: Release / Exclusive / Ratings / Explanations /

There are 102 games on this list.

Use your browser's find function to jump to the game title.

Scores are organized as IGN // Gamespot

Alter Echo 8/19/2003 Morphing Armor that affects moves in combos, morph on the fly for more powerful combos 6.8 7.5

Apex 2/17/2003 Pros: Race a new manufacturers concept car against similarly powered street cars. Cons: AI and gameplay are nothing new or above average. 7.8 7.2

Arx Fatalis 11/14/2003 Well made traditional PC RPG, first person view, customizable aspects, lots detail and features. 8.3

Balder's Gate: Dark Alliance 10/22/2002 Pros: Well made dungeon crawler/RPG Cons: came out on PS2 a full year before 8.5 8.5

Battle Engine Aquila 1/20/2003 Pros: Fight as only a small part in massive battles, mech can transform into a jet Cons: Gameplay isn't better or new 8.0 6.7

Big Motha Truckers 6/20/2003 Pros: Truck racing, shipment planning and minigames Cons: Truck racing, and available on PS2 and Gamecube identically. 6.2 6.3

Blinx: The Time Sweeper 10/7/2002 Pros: 3D platformer with unique ideas but standard gameplay and character design Cons: 3D platformer with little storyline and standard gameplay. 8.8 6.3

Blood Omen 2: LOK 3/19/2002 Pros: Unique for a beat-em up, with lots of weapons and powers to choose from, an involved storyline, and energy management in the blood sucking area. Cons: Also available on PS2, though the Xbox version is graphically superior. 7.6 7.7

Blood Wake 12/25/2001 Pros: Vehicular combat in a boat, complete with great graphics and good water physics Cons: Vehicular combat, again. 8.4 7.9

Brute Force 5/27/2003 Pros: Well made Team based FPS with tons of multiplayer options Cons: Poor teamate AI, nothing original about the gameplay 8.1 7.6

Buffy the Vampire Slayer 8/18/2002 Excellent beat-em up, hack-n-slash adventure game with great fighting, story, dialog, AI and environment usage. 8.2 8.3

Capcom Vs SNK 2 EO 2/11/2003 2D fighter with 3D backgrounds, as well made as they come and an underrepresented genre. 8.6 8.7

Chase: Hollywood Stunt Driver 9/25/2002 Pros: Mission based stunt driving game with good controls and physics Cons: Bland level design and short overall play time. 4.9 6.5

Circus Maximus 2/24/2002 Pros: Chariot racing game, control a chariot and fight with other drivers at the same time Cons: Poorly implemented controls make driving and fighting a chore. 3.8 6.2

Commandos 2 9/16/2002 3/4th overhead view strategy game, control commandos in World War II scenarios, better resolution and framerate than the PS2 version, contributing to better gameplay. 7.0 7.8

Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex 4/15/2002 Pros and Cons: Identical to the PS2 game in every way. 6.7 6.4

Crimson Sea 12/16/2002 Very well made mission based run and gun and hack n slash game with tons of RPG elements and a detailed story 8.1 7.5

Crimson Skies 10/21/2003 Extremely well made flight action game with online play 9.1 8.9

Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 11/20/2003 Very well made dancing game, tons of features, all around well made game. 8.7 8.2

Dead or Alive 3 11/14/2001 Extremely well done graphics pasted over a slightly tweaked DOA2, worked for GT3 on PS2…. 9.4 7.9

Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball 1/22/2003 Pros: Under represented, dating sim genre, fairly well done as that, highly polished graphics Cons: Not a particularly great volleyball game. 9.2 6.0

Dead to Rights 8/19/2002 Pros: Challenging 3rd person shooter with tons of moves Cons: Too difficult for some, later ported to PS2 as well 8.5 7.6

Death Row 10/22/2002 Unique semi-sport game with tons of violence, part sports, part fighting, part FPS game. 9.3 8.7

Dungeons and Dragons Heroes 9/17/2003 Well made Gauntlet style hack-n-slash game with extra gameplay aspects, like slow time. 8.3 6.6

Dynasty Warriors 3 9/24/2002 Pros: Diverse and well made 3D hack-n-slash/rpg/strategy game Cons: Out on PS2 10 months earlier 6.8 7.3

Dynasty Warriors 4 9/5/2003 Pros: Diverse and well made 3D hack-n-slash/rpg/strategy game Cons: Out on PS2 6 months earlier 8.5 7.2

Egg Mania 9/14/2002 Unique Tetris style puzzler blended with Dig Dug, with structural integrity as the most unique gameplay aspect 5.3 6.4

Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind 6/6/2002 Huge and well done First Person RPG 9.4 8.5

Enclave 7/29/2002 Extremely difficult story driven hack-n-slash 7.2 6.8

Fatal Frame 11/22/2002 Pros: Unique survival horror game, involving taking pictures rather than fighting Cons: Out on PS2 8 months earlier 7.7 7.7

Freedom Fighters 10/1/2003 Pros: Well done squad based FPS Cons: Just as well done on every platform, best on PC 8.4 9.3

Fuzion Frenzy 11/14/2001 Pros: Unique twist on the party game, well made Cons: We don't like party games anymore 8.3 6.7

Gauntlet Dark Legacy 4/15/2002 Pros: Improved over the PS2 version, released last year Cons: It was "fun" enough to be on the PS2 list, but now it's too repetative, go figure 4.9 5.1

Genma Onimusha 1/28/2002 Refined version of the PS2 game from 4/2001. 8.3 8.7

Gladius 10/28/2003 Well made traditional RPG 8.4 8.3

Goblin Commander 11/11/2003 Well made PC style Real Time Strategy game 8.0 6.7

Grabbed By the Ghoulies 10/21/2003 Pros: Somewhat unique and good looking beat-em up adventure Cons: Messy camera and lock on feature, and very difficult at times. 7.0 6.5

Grand Theft Auto Double Pack 11/4/2003 Completely refined version of the first two PS2 games with better graphics and extras 9.4 9.6

Gunvalkyrie 3/18/2002 Very unique and well made game that focuses on jet pack flying/dashing similar to Virtual On's jumps 9.0 6.2

Halo 11/14/2002 Very well made single player and cooperative modes with a good story and excellent level design, super advanced AI on Legendary Mode 9.7 9.7

The Haunted Mansion 10/14/2003 Excellent puzzle/shooter, not based on the movie of the same name, good solid gameplay 7.0 7.0

The House of the Dead III 10/24/2002 Well made rail based light gun game 8.1 6.4

Hunter: The Reckoning 5/21/2002 Well made, but short, hack-n-slash beat em up 8.7 8.0

Hunter: The Reckoning Redeemer 10/28/2003 Well made, but short, hack-n-slash beat em up 8.2 7.0

Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast 11/8/2002 Well made Star Wars FPS, unique light saber controls, great story and characters 8.8 8.3

Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy 11/18/2003 Sequel to Jedi Outcast, just as good if not better FPS and a good continuation 8.0 8.3

Jet Set Radio Future 2/25/2002 Sequel to the Dreamcast game Jet Grind Radio, excellent and unique stunt/skating gameplay 9.1 8.7

Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer 9/16/2002 Overall well made and diverse surfing game 8.9 8.0

kill.switch 10/28/2003 Pros: Unique and well done shooter gameplay that forces you to find cover, Used later in James Bond:EoNCons: Very short and low production value 8.0 6.9

Kung Fu Chaos 2/24/2003 Pros: Similar to Powerstone, multiplayer fighting chaos, underrepresented genre Cons: Short and not very fun without a group. 6.3 6.5

Lord of the Rings: Two Towers 12/30/2002 Well made 3D hacknslash game with storyline that accurately follows the movies and great graphics 7.6 8.0

Mad Dash Racing 11/14/2001 Pros: Niche genre, foot racing cartoon characters, 4 player Cons: No significant gameplay advancements and dull single player 7.7 7.0

Magic: The Gathering - Battlegrounds 11/18/2003 Xbox Live strategy game based on the Magic card games 7.9 7.2

Marvel Vs Capcom 2 3/27/2003 Pros: Still a great 2D Figther with 3D backgrounds, originally released on Dreamcast Cons: No online play 3.9 6.3

Max Payne 12/12/2001 Excellent Film Noir 1st/3rd person shooter, best version multiplatform 8.9 9.2

Max Payne 2 11/8/2003 Excellent Film Noir 1st/3rd person shooter, best version on console 9.0 8.4

Mech Assault 11/11/2002 Excellent Xbox Live Mech game 9.2 9.0

Medal of Honor: Frontline 11/10/2002 Pros: Best Console version, Very well done art design WWII military FPS gameplay, Cons: just a graphical update on the old games 8.5 7.9

Metal Arms: Glitch in the System 11/18/2003 Best version of a unique and well made 3rd person shooter 8.3 8.3

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance 11/4/2002 Pros: Best version of the updated version of MGS2 Cons: Done before, in every respect, and better 9.0 8.7

Midnight Club 2 6/3/2003 Pros: Online Racing game, sequel to the popular original Cons: There are better racers out there in the same vein 8.8 7.9

Midtown Madness 3 6/17/2003 Well made online racing game with average level design and gameplay 8.7 8.0

Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance 11/18/2002 Best version multiplatform, distinctive character design and gameplay, and a good revival of the MK gameplay in 3D 8.6 8.1

Moto GP 2 5/21/2003 Very well rounded motorcycle racing game 8.8 8.9

Namco Museum 10/9/2002 Arcade Compilation, good mix 3.9 6.5

Nightcaster 1/21/2002 Adventure game with unique color-coded magic gameplay that uses every button on the controller 7.3 6.8

Oddworld: Munches Oddysee 11/6/2001 Well made and quirky 3D puzzle game, previously a tech demo for PS2, exclusively released on Xbox 7.9 7.4

Otogi: Myth of Demons 8/27/2003 Well made action adventure game 8.3 8.4

Panzer Dragoon Orta 1/12/2003 Extremely well made and unique rails shooter, best in the series as well 9.2 9.0

Phantasy Star Online Ep 1&2 4/15/2003 Well done port of the original online console RPG from the Dreamcast, with new stuff added. 8.5 7.9

Phantom Crash 11/4/2002 Well done Mech gameplay with tons of customizations, that needs more levels and mechs to have been great 7.5 7.5

Pirates of the Caribbean 7/1/2003 Reasonably well done Action RPG with multiple forms of gameplay, ship sailing, swashbuckling, ship combat 7.6 7.5

Pirates: The Legend of Black Cat 3/24/2002 Pros: Action/Adventure with a large world and lots of exploration combined with unique ship cannon battles while at sea, Cons: Somewhat limited fighting engine both on land and at sea 7.8 6.0

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time 11/12/2003 Best version of a very well done action adventure game with unique time gameplay aspects 9.6 9.0

Prisoner of War 8/26/2002 Unique action game that requires you to escape from Germans in World War II 6.9 6.8

Pro Race Driver 4/16/2003 Racing game with physics and AI that are advanced enough to finally be compared to F355 Challenge 8.9 7.7

Project Gotham Racing 11/14/2001 Psuedo sequel to the excellent Dreamcast racer Metropolis Street Racer, with everything upgraded 8.8 8.1

Project Gotham Racing 2 11/17/2003 Full fledged Sequel to PGR and MSR, with loads of features and modes 9.5 8.7

Rallisport Challenge 3/4/2002 Very well done ralli racing game 9.2 9.1

Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc 3/18/2003 Pros: Well made 3D platformer that differentiates itself from prequels Cons: On all platforms and best on Gamecube 8.4 8.1

Return to Castle Wolfenstein 5/6/2003 Well done port of the excellent PC FPS, best console version 9.3 8.2

Robotech Battlecry 9/22/2002 An actually well made 3D Robotech game that gives you reasons and benifits for transforming your Valkyrie 8.0 6.8

Rollercoaster Tycoon 3/15/2003 Well made strategy game based on theme park rollercoasters 6.0 7.0

Sega GT 2002 9/2/2002 Excellent sequel to the original Dreamcast racing Sim 8.8 8.2

Serious Sam 11/10/2002 Well done FPS with over the top antics and jokes 7.7 8.5

Shenmue II 10/28/2002 Enhanced version of the excellent Dreamcast sequel - Bring on Shenmue III 8.3 7.3

Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams 12/20/2001 Well done survival horror game with features added over the PS2 version. 8.2 7.9

The Simpsons Hit and Run 9/16/2003 Best version of an open ended and well done Simpsons game in the style of GTAIII 8.0 8.3

Soul Calibur 2 8/27/2003 Best version of a very good sequel to the Dreamcast launch game, with the same weak AI, but even more modes to play 9.2 8.5

Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy 11/10/2003 Very well done action adventure game that's best on the Gamecube version 8.5 8.2

Spy Hunter 3/10/2002 Barely better than the PS2 game from 6 months earlier, but still a well made game 7.0 6.7

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 7/17/2003 Excellent RPG with real time fighting elements, branching path storyline and multiple endings 9.5 9.1

State of Emergency 3/26/2003 Bargain priced and best version of this frantic beat-em up 6.6 7.8

Steel Battalion 11/21/2002 Hard-core mech game with a necessary $200 controller 8.3 7.3

Syberia 7/23/2003 Well made adventure game with a good story and unique world design made out of 2D still shots 6.1 8.1

Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus 3/18/2003 Decent 3D fighter created by John Tobias with gameplay physics that both display and affect body damage 8.7 6.4

The Thing 9/9/2002 Very unique survival horror that allows you to lead a team that actually gets scared, to the point of soiling themselves, and you have to make them work for you 8.3 8.4

Toejam & Earl III 10/22/2002 Excellent 3D sequel to the original Genesis games, plenty of humor and character, and 2-player 6.3 5.0

UFC: Tap Out 2/17/2002 Excellent ring fighting game with complex gameplay, originally on Dreamcast 8.3 8.6

Unreal Championship 9/24/2002 Well done online FPS, sequel to the excellent and online Unreal Tournament on PC and Dreamcast 9.2 8.5

Voodoo Vince 9/23/2003 Well done 3D platformer with a heavy lean on puzzles, but kind of short 7.6 7.8

Wreckless The Yakuza Missions 2/4/2002 Short but well done mission based mission game with great graphics and effects 9.0 6.8