On December 2, 2005, the Xbox 360 was released in Europe – and became the most successful Xbox of all time with around 86 million units sold. That was no coincidence: the mix of exclusive titles, blockbusters and genre diversity was right at launch.
But how good was the launch line-up really? We look at all 13 games that were on the shelves in Europe on day one – and rank which of them have remained relevant to this day. Spoiler: There are more than you might think. And with Project Helix, Microsoft has already announced the next Xbox generation – can it build on the strength of the 360?
Amped 3
Amped 3 was the snowboarding game at launch – and a pretty crazy one at that. Instead of focusing on pure realism, the game relied on crazy missions and a story that didn’t take itself too seriously. Not a system seller, but a solid source of fun for in between.
Still relevant today? Rather not. The Amped series never made a comeback after part 3.
Call of Duty 2
If there was one title that sold the Xbox 360 at launch, it was Call of Duty 2. Infinity Ward’s World War II shooter impressively showed what the new hardware could do – and laid the foundation for one of the biggest gaming franchises ever. Without CoD 2 on the 360, the series might not be the billion-dollar phenomenon it has become today.
Still relevant today? Absolutely. CoD 2 was the starting signal for the series’ dominance on consoles. And the franchise isn’t just limited to the screen: a Call of Duty film is officially in the works. If you want to delve even deeper into the series, you will find 15 exciting facts and Easter eggs here that will surprise even veterans.
Condemned: Criminal Origins
Condemned was the insider tip in the launch line-up: a dark horror shooter from Sega in which you, as FBI agent Ethan Thomas, are on the trail of a serial killer. The oppressive atmosphere and the focus on close combat made the game something special – even if it was a bit lost next to the big names.
Still relevant today? Cult Classic. Anyone who played it back then still raves about it today.
FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup
No console launch without FIFA – that was no different in 2005 than it is today. The special “Road to FIFA World Cup” edition used the approaching 2006 World Cup as a hook and offered revised gameplay that felt more realistic than on the previous generation.
Still relevant today? Not as a game anymore, but as proof that EA has been there at every launch for over 20 years.
Cameo: Elements of Power
Kameo had a long journey behind it: Originally planned for the GameCube, the action-adventure landed Rare finally on the shelf as an Xbox 360 exclusive. You control the elf Kameo, who can control ten element warriors to save her family. Colorful, creative – and unfortunately forgotten a little too quickly.
Still relevant today? No, but a charming contemporary document of Rare’s work after Nintendo’s departure. Fun Fact: Both Kameo and Perfect Dark Zero are still playable today via Xbox Game Pass – if you want to immerse yourself in the 360 era again.
Need For Speed Most Wanted: The Xbox 360 launch titles
NFS Most Wanted was a real highlight in 2005 – not just for the launch of the Xbox 360, but in general. The mix of illegal street racing, police chases and a wonderfully over-the-top story with the infamous Blacklist hit a nerve. To this day, many fans consider this part to be one of the best in the entire series.
Still relevant today? Absolutely. Most Wanted has cult status and is regularly considered the best NFS of all time.
Perfect Dark Zero
The second Rare title in the launch line-up and unfortunately the much weaker one. Perfect Dark Zero was supposed to be a system seller as an exclusive shooter, but it couldn’t meet the high expectations after the N64 classic. The campaign was solid, the multiplayer had its moments, but PDZ just looked pale against CoD 2.
Still relevant today? More as a reminder of how difficult it is to build on a classic.
Peter Jackson’s King Kong
The game based on the film – and one of the better of its kind. King Kong let you play both as Jack Driscoll in first person perspective and as the giant ape himself. The Kong passages in particular felt impressive at the time. Developer Ubisoft Montpellier (under Michel Ancel) proved that film licenses don’t automatically have to be bad.
Still relevant today? Not as a game, but as proof that film adaptations can work.
Project Gotham Racing 3
Along with CoD 2, PGR 3 was the strongest title at launch. Bizarre Creations’ racing game looked stunning for 2005 and offered a unique gameplay principle with the Kudos system: it wasn’t just about winning, it was about style. Those who drove elegantly were rewarded. There were also photo-realistic city backdrops that made jaws drop at the time.
Still relevant today? The PGR series is sadly dead (Bizarre Creations closed in 2011), but its spirit lives on in Forza Motorsport.
Quake 4
Quake 4 brought the classic arena shooter to the new generation of consoles. In the campaign you fight as part of the Rhino Squad against the Strogg – an alien race that wants to convert people into cyborgs. Of course there was also the obligatory multiplayer. Technically solid, but no longer the star in a world with CoD 2 and Condemned.
Still relevant today? Quake as a franchise recently attempted a comeback with Quake Champions – with moderate success.
Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland
American Wasteland was the last big hit in the Tony Hawk series before the series went into steep decline. The Los Angeles-style open game world, the opportunity to ride BMX for the first time and the seamless level design made the title a worthy launch companion.
Still relevant today? The series itself is virtually dead after the disaster of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 – but the remakes of the first parts have awakened the nostalgia again.
NBA Live 06, Madden NFL 06 & Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06
Three EA Sports titles in one go – all primarily tailored to the US market. Basketball, football and golf: These titles were less relevant to European gamers, but they showed how seriously EA took the Xbox 360 launch. Madden in particular was a real selling point in North America.
Still relevant today? NBA Live has since been discontinued, Madden and the PGA Tour series continue – but the days of sports games being launch titles are over.
GUN
The finale is GUN – an open-world western from Activision that appeared long before Red Dead Redemption. As cowboy Colton White, you explore the Wild West, complete jobs and avenge your father’s murder. The game wasn’t a masterpiece, but for 2005 it was an ambitious attempt to bring the Western genre into gaming.
Still relevant today? GUN was basically the prototype for what Rockstar later perfected with Red Dead Redemption. In this respect: historically quite interesting.
13 games, a clear message
5 out of 13 games have left a lasting mark – that’s a strong quota for a launch line-up. For comparison: The Xbox One launched in 2013 with 22 titles, hardly any of which are remembered. And the Xbox Series X|S? In 2020, they relied entirely on backwards compatibility and Game Pass instead of a real launch line-up.
Microsoft has already announced the next Xbox generation with Project Helix – dev kits will go to developers from 2027. The first pictures and details are already available. The big question: After more than 20 years, can Microsoft once again put together a launch line-up that is as convincing as that of the Xbox 360? History shows: It is high time.