5 Original Xbox Games That Still Hold Up Today

Looking back 25 years after its launch, it’s safe to say that the original Xbox was underrated compared to its more celebrated counterparts. As Microsoft’s first foray into the home console market, the Xbox introduced many franchises which are still thriving throughout the industry today. Launched in 2001, the Xbox went head-to-head with the PlayStation 2 and GameCube, carving its own place and fanbase in a competitive market. Many of these titles are still quite fun to play decades later, from its fast-paced first-person shooters to its surprisingly robust selection of RPGs.

We’re highlighting the Xbox games that are still quite a bit of fun to play even all these years later. From hidden gems for the original Xbox to the blockbusters that cemented Microsoft’s console gaming ambitions, there is an extensive library of quality games for the platform. These titles can still be enjoyed thoroughly either solo or with friends, even as more advanced platforms have come and gone. Here are five original Xbox games that still hold up today, each maintaining their individual fun factor.

Halo: Combat Evolved

When it comes to remembering the original Xbox, chances are the first video game that comes to mind is “Halo: Combat Evolved.” A launch title released alongside the console itself, “Combat Evolved” is a video game from 2001 that changed gaming forever. The story campaign introduces Master Chief, an elite soldier and humanity’s best hope against a hostile extraterrestrial coalition known as the Covenant. Arriving with an expedition on a mysterious structure known as a Halo ring, Master Chief investigates its true nature while preventing the Covenant from using it for themselves.

Of course, the real thing that most fans remember “Halo: Combat Evolved” for is its multiplayer modes, with immaculately designed maps and a thrilling variety of weapons. These helped establish the fledgling series as the next standard-bearer for console-based first-person shooters for years. Even as the franchise has revisited and updated the title approximately every 12-13 years, there is still a purity to that original experience. Providing the original Xbox with its first killer app, “Halo: Combat Evolved” is still strongly associated with the console for a good reason.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

There were several “Star Wars” games released for the original Xbox but none were quite as good as 2003’s “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.” Set thousands of years before the prequel trilogy on the “Star Wars” timeline, the game features the Galactic Republic in a losing war against the Sith. The amnesiac protagonist finds themselves targeted by the Sith leader Darth Malak as they discover they possess a strong connection to the Force. As players build their party and develop their Force powers, they can choose to use them for good or embrace the dark side.

Developed by Bioware, “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic” is a fantastic translation of the space opera franchise to an RPG experience. Players build up a party of memorable supporting characters while it remains interesting seeing the galaxy before the events of the movies (even if much of it remains non-canon today). The light side and dark side versions of the story also strongly encourage replayability to see both ways this tale can play out. One of the best “Star Wars” games ever made, “Knights of the Old Republic” is an ambitious classic.

Halo 2

When the “Halo” series made its eagerly anticipated return with 2004’s “Halo 2,” it pushed the original Xbox’s hardware as far as it could go. The game opens with the Covenant attacking Earth as Master Chief receives a hero’s welcome because of his actions during the first game. This is juxtaposed with the campaign’s second protagonist, a former Covenant elite known as the Arbiter, who contends with unrest within the Covenant’s ranks. Naturally, the multiplayer modes make their return, revamped thanks to the launch of the console’s online gaming service Xbox Live.

Just as “Halo: Combat Evolved” made waves in 2001, “Halo 2” is also a video game that changed gaming forever. The game’s technical presentation has visibly improved since the first title, with more detailed character models and environments, along with more fluid action. Like “Combat Evolved,” its sequel was remastered as part of “Halo: The Master Chief Collection” in 2014 for the Xbox One. But the original version retains much of its appeal, with that frenetic multiplayer still offering an enormous amount of fun to be shared.

Jade Empire

Bioware truly had a great run in the 2000s with titles primarily associated with Xbox consoles. This run extends to “Jade Empire,” an epic martial arts RPG released for the original Xbox initially as an exclusive in 2005. Set in a feudal world inspired by Chinese mythology and mysticism, the game has players control a Spirit Monk able to channel the elements through their magical martial arts. Players build up their party as they defend their realm, with combat unfolding in real time as they mix melee and magical attacks.

“Jade Empire” has all the action RPG bonafides that Bioware incorporated into later properties like “Mass Effect” and “Dragon Age.” These elements, along with one of the most distinct mythologies and settings of its generation, make the 2005 game one of Bioware’s most underrated projects. Unfortunately, it seems that “Jade Empire 2” will never see the light of day, making this a one and done title. But with “Jade Empire” currently still <a href="https://comicvibe.com/legend-of-zelda-majoras-mask-digital-cards-now-available-via-nintendo-today-app/” title=”Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask digital cards now available via Nintendo Today! app”>available through Steam, you can revisit this classic on PC as much as you like.

Ninja Gaiden Black

After thriving on the Nintendo Entertainment System as a trilogy of side-scrolling action games, the “Ninja Gaiden” series was revived in 2004 on the Xbox. Expanded into a full-on 3D hack-and-slash title, the game features the return of protagonist Ryu Hayabusa as he battles a rival ninja clan. Ryu is even more acrobatic now than in his side-scrolling days, while boasting a deadly array of techniques and magical attacks. The revival game was revamped the following year with additional content and difficulty settings under the title “Ninja Gaiden Black.”

“Ninja Gaiden Black” is one of the best ninja games ever made and still stands as one of the best titles in the franchise. The difficulty that the franchise is known for is maintained and expertly revamped for fast-paced 3D gameplay. The combat feels smooth but with an emphasis on timing and precision that means players have to approach each skirmish carefully rather than barging in and swinging away. Marking a complete rebirth, “Ninja Gaiden Black” is still the bar against which subsequent entries in the series are judged.