Reviewing the Xbox 360 in 2024

Near the end of 2023, a friend of mine told me that he had a spare Xbox 360 lying around, and he didn’t want it anymore. I offered to pay him for it, but he insisted on giving it away. In his own words, “I just love seeing people enjoy collecting games.” Yeah, I too had a hard time not crying at his generosity. And so, in 2024 I find myself in possession of an Xbox 360, a console I’d only played at my high school girlfriend’s house twice in 2007. Let’s see how well this console holds up!

My first impression of the Xbox 360 was just how massive it was. The angular black box towered over any other console I own, like a New York skyscraper in a rural town. The height difference between my 360 and my Nintendo Wii was so different, they looked like they were about to star in a buddy comedy. My friend gave me the Slim model, and according to the internet, that’s the best one to get. Despite Microsoft’s best efforts, the original 2005 model has a high failure rate with its cooling system, resulting in the infamous “Red Ring of Death.” I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that.

My next step was to get a hard drive, create a new user, and update the software. It ended up becoming a laborious production because I bought a used hard drive that needed a factory reset. But before I could reset it, I had to bypass the previous owner’s family password. And in order to do that, I had to take a 30-minute call with Microsoft Customer Support. To a Millenial like myself, each minute on a phone call equates to about a minute standing in lava. One excruciating evening later, I finally got the console working as it should.

Despite being 18 years old (yes, it really is that old), I’m impressed by how modern the Xbox 360 feels. The Wii is quirky and charming, and I love its channel-based UI, but it definitely feels like an older system with its low resolution output and defunct online support. The Xbox 360, on the other hand, displays in HD and has a fully-functional digital store (at least, until July 2024). My biggest complaint is the UI. I play mostly on Steam and on Nintendo consoles, where my library is the first thing I see. But on the 360, I have to sift through a clunky square-based menu first and ignore the loud Call of Duty advertisement. Furthermore, I don’t care about the achievement system or my gamerscore, though I admit it’s cool to unlock new profile pics and avatar costumes. I won’t go out of my way to get these achievements, but I’ll use these bonuses if Microsoft is offering them. Supposedly, the Xbox 360 used to sport a unique UI called the Blades Dashboard. Looking at videos online, it looks 5,000% cooler than what we have now. For some reason, Microsoft got rid of it in 2009. Overall, the 360’s current UI lacks the Wii’s charm and practicality, but it’s serviceable, once you get used to it.

The 360 controller is not much better than the UI. In fact, it’s the most mediocre gamepad I’ve ever used. On the positive side, the grip fits comfortably in my hands. The analog sticks are responsive, and the triggers have a satisfying spring when you pull and release them. But pushing the face buttons feels like I’m pressing down on a stale jellybean. Moving the D-Pad is about as precise as nudging an ice cube on a table with your thumb. Luckily you can use the analog stick for most 2D games, but still, analog sticks rarely feel as responsive as a D-Pad. Finally, as a Nintendo fan who is used to their button layout, it breaks my brain a little to have the A and B buttons in opposite places. I have to not look at the controller and imagine it as an offset PlayStation Dualshock in order for me to use it properly. It seems like Microsoft designed the controller for shooting and racing games, and everything else is an afterthought. Overall, the 360 controller isn’t nearly as good as my 8bitdo, and even the Switch’s Joy-con feel better to use.

Of course no console is complete without a library of games. Luckily some of the digital games I’d bought from the PC Microsoft store were actually available to download on the 360. It’s not much, but I appreciate the gesture. After researching the library for a few weeks, I’ve discovered an extensive list of 360 exclusive games (or at least, exclusive to the 7th Console Generation), that I’m very interested in playing. First and foremost, I’m drawn to the unique line of JRPGs, such as Hironobu Sakaguchi’s Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey. I also have my eye on gems such as Infinite Undiscovery and Eternal Sonata. The Xbox 360 was a treasure trove for Western RPGs as well, like Fallout: New Vegas, the Mass Effect trilogy, and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. These Western RPGs are also available on the PC and PlayStation 3, but the Xbox 360 versions usually perform better than the PS3, and I don’t usually like playing RPGs with a mouse and keyboard.

Outside of RPGs, my next priority is to acquire games made by Rare. The last time I played Banjo-Kazooie, I was 9 years old, and I played it on my friend’s old N64. We never owned the game ourselves, so it’s high time I actually beat it. I’m also looking forward to playing the oft-maligned sequel Nuts & Bolts, as well as their other titles like Viva Piñata and Perfect Dark Zero. I’m highly interested in the strategy games on the system, such as Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, Halo Wars, and XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Of course, I can’t ignore Platinum’s intense Action games such as Vanquish and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Finally, one of my friends swears by Dishonored, and insists that I try it out, so that game goes on the wishlist, too. I’ll probably try Gears of War and Forza Motorsport, since both series were featured so prominently on the console, but they’re not as important to me as those previously-listed games.

The Xbox 360 is thankfully backwards compatible with many original Xbox games. This feature isn’t as robust as the Wii’s, though. The 360 is actually emulating its predecessor on the hard drive, which is quite an impressive technical feat for a late-2000s console. Several games are playable with enhancements like widescreen and an HD upscale, but it also means that not every game is compatible. I’m excited to finally play Sega games released on the original Xbox like Panzer Dragoon Orta, but I’m disappointed that TimeSplitters 2 isn’t supported (though you can play it on the Xbox One, oddly enough).

By far the best thing about collecting original Xbox and Xbox 360 games is the price. I got a little stack of starter games for only $40, which is a price I often pay for just a single Nintendo 3DS, GameCube, or Switch game. And I haven’t seen a PS Vita game that cheap in years. Many iconic 360 games sell for under $10; and online, you can get several of them in affordable bundles. People can’t get rid of these games fast enough, meaning it’s the perfect time to buy them. I’ve also noticed a quirk about used Xbox games in the Seattle area: many of them feature a large “Microsoft Employee” sticker on the front. I understand that some people would hate how it blocks out the cover art, but to me, it gives the game some character. It reminds me that someone else owned it. The game has its own story to tell, if only it could speak. However, despite the digital Xbox 360 Marketplace shutting down in July 2024, I don’t feel much urgency to collect for the console. Why is that? Well, I can still buy many of these games on the PC, and often the PC versions come with DLC and enhancements included. It’s probably for the best that I don’t feel any urgency. I barely have the time to play on my 3DS, PS Vita, and Nintendo Switch already — so I want to stick with only the 360 games that truly interest me. Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean I should get it.

Overall, the Xbox 360 has aged remarkably well and has an excellent library of games, but I wish the controller and UI were better. I’ve played a few games from the 7th console generation on my Nintendo Switch, including Skyrim and Dark Souls, but getting an Xbox 360 is like finding a secret door in my local library that leads to a room full of long-lost games. It’s such an exciting discovery. Of course, you bet that once the online store shuts down, I’m going to mod the 360 like I did with the Wii, 3DS, and Vita. I gotta preserve this library somehow. Unfortunately, it’s more complicated to mod the 360. You need to know how to solder, which I have no experience with, so I might pay someone to do it for me. With the Xbox 360 in tow, I now have a collection that truly represents the Big Three: Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft. Of course, if I missed any games that you think are essential, then feel free to recommend them.