The Tool Desk
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Which Xbox 360 games are worth starting with?
This is a curated shortlist, not an official Xbox ranking or a claim based on critic scores, sales, or player polling. Choose by genre and by whether you want a title Xbox has specifically identified as receiving FPS Boost.
| Game | Why consider it | What Xbox documents |
|---|---|---|
| Skate 3 | A sports-and-action option for players who want a skating game. | Xbox lists it among backward-compatible titles. The cited material does not establish a specific performance enhancement for this game. |
| Gears of War 3 | A third-person action choice in the Gears of War series. | Xbox lists it among backward-compatible titles and says the Gears of War franchise is among FPS Boost titles. Confirm the specific title’s current compatibility and settings. |
| Red Dead Redemption | A prominent story-and-action option. | Xbox lists it among backward-compatible titles. The cited material does not establish a specific Series X|S enhancement for this game. |
| Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas | Two role-playing options for exploring the Fallout setting. | Xbox specifically names both as FPS Boost titles. |
| Dragon Age: Origins | A role-playing pick. | Xbox specifically names it as an FPS Boost title. |
| Dead Space 2 and Dead Space 3 | Horror-action choices. | Xbox specifically names both as FPS Boost titles. |
| Alan Wake | A story-driven action option. | Xbox specifically names it as an FPS Boost title. |
The backward-compatibility examples above come from Xbox’s 2016 title material. The FPS Boost examples come from Xbox’s November 2021 announcement.
How to check whether a game will run on your Series X|S
Backward compatibility covers selected Xbox 360 games, not every Xbox 360 disc or digital title. Xbox’s backward compatibility page describes the feature as a free way to play select Xbox 360, original Xbox, and Xbox One games you already own. Search the current catalog for the exact game before relying on a list or a secondhand listing.
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- This product contains a download code inside the box — no disc is included. Customer shipments will begin arriving November 12 for pre-load; game is playable starting November 19.
- Pre-order to receive the Vintage Vice City Pack.
- Grand Theft Auto VI is a single-player experience.
- Open Xbox’s backward compatibility catalog and search for the exact title.
- Check the result against your console and the copy you own or plan to buy. A game’s appearance in a historical list does not establish current regional sales availability.
- If you already own a digital copy, sign in with the account that owns it and check your library. If you have a disc, confirm that your Series X model has a disc drive; Series S is digital-only.
- After installation, check the game’s management options for any available enhancement settings.
What enhancements might a compatible game receive?
Xbox identifies FPS Boost and Auto HDR as Series X|S enhancements, and says many backward-compatible games receive resolution enhancement. These are not a bundle that applies to every game: availability varies by title. In its November 15, 2021 announcement, Xbox specifically named the Gears of War franchise, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Dragon Age: Origins, Dead Space 2, Dead Space 3, Alan Wake, and Sonic Generations as FPS Boost examples. The announcement described more than 70 Xbox 360 and original Xbox games in that final addition to the backward-compatibility program; that figure is not the size of the total catalog.
Xbox said FPS Boost and Auto HDR could be toggled in a title’s Manage Game settings. Because that information is from a 2021 announcement, check the current options for the specific game on your console rather than assuming a setting is available. Xbox’s current catalog page says more than 500,000 hours of testing went into testing and meeting quality standards for Series X|S gameplay; that figure describes Xbox’s testing effort, not a guarantee of identical enhancements or performance for every title.
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Does the Xbox 360 Store closure affect games you already own?
The Xbox 360 Store closed on July 29, 2024. Xbox’s store-closure FAQ says previously purchased games and DLC remain playable and can be re-downloaded. It also says the closure did not affect purchases of backward-compatible games offered through Xbox One, Series X|S, and Xbox.com. That policy does not guarantee that every title is currently for sale in every region, so check its current store listing and price.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to know about discs and digital copies
Disc-based play applies to a Series X with a disc drive; Series S is digital-only. A compatible disc does not make an unsupported title playable, so verify compatibility before buying a used copy. For Series S, look for a current digital listing in your region. The Xbox catalog is the appropriate check for whether the game is supported; the store listing is the check for whether a digital purchase is currently offered to you.
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