Thread: Xboxfriends Top 20 Xbox Live Arcade games.

On the 360 you have alot of Must Play games, Halo, Gears of War, Forza.. While not to everyones taste, everyone you should play at some point.

But with well over 200 XBLA titles available, and more released week after week, it's not always as easy to find out what you should have, or be playing.

First We'll start with a few that sadly didnt make it,

Bionic Comando Rearmed
Catan
Rocket Riot
space invaders extreme
puzzle quest: challenge of the warlords
Assault Heroes 1 / 2
3D ultra Mini Golf
Zeno Clash

What can I say,,, ermm, well you should be better.. and Zeno Clash, you should have been out earlier, so I could get a propper opinion,, Damn you!


So Here's my top 20 XBLA games.
(Links, to Metacritic, If you want to know more)

20
UNO - Uno (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

Uno is a card, game, and I almost feel bad for including it in the top 20, But as a XBLA game it's perfect, fun, especially online. Achievement whores will find an Easy, (if time consuming 200g too).


19
Marvel vs CApcom 2 - Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

Certainly one of the best Fighting games ever, accurately represented on Xbox Live, one of the more expensive games @ 1200 points, but well worth every penny, Sadly, just not the graphical overhaul it could have been


18
Secret of Monkey Island: The Special Edition - Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition, The (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

Possibly one of the greatest Adventure games of all time (though I'll always prefer Maniac Mansion, XBLA is thin on the ground though for Point and Click adventure Geeks, So this fits nicely in the top 20.


17
Castlevania Symphony of the night - Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

Another Retro Revisit, for many people this game should rank alot higher, but being honest, I think it sucks, O.k, not Paris Hilton Sucks, But "It could have been alot better" For fans of the original franchise, you'll love this, but don't expect the modern day touch we're used to.


16
Ikaruga - Ikaruga (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

The re-re-make of the Dreamcast Title, is one of the best Scrolling shooters you'll find, It could have been top 10, but it's difficulty could be enough to put many people off.


15
The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom - Misadventures of P. B. Winterbottom, The (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

In all Honesty, this game didn't interest me at first, but after giving the trial a go, it's a delicate puzzle / platformer that deserves to be top 20 even though it's one of the newest additions to many peoples collections, at 800 points, it's a well thought platform puzzler to compete with the best of them.


14
Battlefield 1943 - Battlefield 1943 (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

In this day and age, everyone loves online shooters, Well BF1943 is XBLA's dose, and it's among the best, It could have more maps, more classes, more weapons, but for what it is "A top Notch Arcade Online Shooter" it's earned a deserved place in the top 15, even though it's the higher 1200 price tag, it's still worth it.

13
Bomberman Live - Bomberman Live (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

After the Bomberman series went from bad to worse across the more recent generations, many people only had the early SNES and then PS1 games to remember, all everyone wanted was "Good old fashioned gameplay"
Fortunately with Bomberman Live they got it, and forgot about the so called wonders of 3D, Bomberman Live is, as always used to be the case, one of the best games you can look to when playing with a bunch of friends, especially for 800 points..


12
Pac-Man Championship edition - Pac-Man Championship Edition (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

Another Trip down memory lane, this time it's a remake of the remake of the good'old Pacman, the slightly new gameplay of appear as you go, might not please the purists, but it's among the best common day Arcade games available for 800 points (even if I did get the same for ?1.19 on my iPhone)


11
Splosion man - Splosion Man (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

While many had complained about original games on XBLA, Splosion man is a Platform Puzzler using a unique "Explosive Idea" with fast, taxing gameplay, and a neat 800 point price tag, it's one of those games you should already have

10
Portal : Still Alive - Portal: Still Alive (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

Portal is a game Everyone should have experienced at some point, For most it was via The Orange box, or on P.C.
Portal : Still Alive, is a "stand-alone expansion in a way. Which is a shame, because people would jump at Portal for 800, or 400 for the add-on, But the 1200 pack is a little too much for the extra challenge levels, meaning there's not ALOT for returning portal fans, anyone who hasnt got it though, should place Portal Still alive at the top of there most wanted lists.


9
Defense Grid : the awakening - Defense Grid: The Awakening (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

not the only Tower Defense game on XBLA but certainly the best, Deep engrossing gameplay, plenty of towers, and little competition mean tower defense fans shouldnt miss this one, at 800 points, it's on eof the best value for money packages you could find.


8
Shadow Complex - Shadow Complex (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

One of the best single player experiences, on XBLA, a 2D shooter on a 3D plane, Fresh, Inviting, interesting, and for 800 points (I think) ahh heck, even if it's 1200 it's worth every penny


7
Castle Crashers - Castle Crashers (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

Funny, Repetitive, 4-player co-op, not the type of game you'll enjoy for hours on end alone, but with friends online it's fantastic fun, and challenging in parts, with plenty of gameplay to keep you busy, some people knock the 1200 point price-tag, but for a 4 player experience, only Bomberman comes close.


6
Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix - Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

Simply one of the best Fighting games ever, not only is it the revisit to Super Street Fighter 2, but it's perfectly tuned to the modern day with sharp HD graphics, The game looks better than most XBLA Titles, and is a must for fighting fans. The Price is 1200 msp, But considering it was close to releasing at 1600 points, and would have been equally as impressive at that. so at 1200 it's a must.


5
N+ - N+ (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

this is a truly classic title, with tons of levels, and a fast, amusing pace, that while only a collection of pixels presents a intriguing and deep game that makes you feel as impressive as the acrobatics. among the best 800 point titles, and a slightly underated game deserves a look from anyone.


4
Peggle / Peggle nights - Peggle Nights (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

Regardless of whether you look at it as one game, or the original plus DLC
, Peggle is the best Puzzle game available on XBLA and at only 800 points, you can pick up the Peggle Nights DLC (400 points) meaning you're getting a massive game, which will appeal to fans of Pachinko, wanting a modern day overhaul of the traditional game.


3
Braid - Braid (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

For many people this would be number one, a Genious Puzzle, platform style mixed with time control elements, Braid is amazing, for me it didnt quite capture my imagination, but this fantastic game still sits in the top 3.

2
Geometry Wars : Retro Evolved 2 - Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

Some may argue about the presence of GW in the top 2-3, but It's one game that had me hooked for many hows, more of a single player experience, but one that really pulls you into the whole leaderboard chase, as you "Try to beat that score, 1 more time!"
The first Geometry wars was great, and while the second is more of an update and has far easier achievement s(minus 1 or 2), it's extra modes and options make it a must buy for Twin-Stick Shooter fanatics.


1
Trials HD - Trials HD (xbox360) reviews at Metacritic.com

This will come as a shock to many, But I'm happy to have Trials HD as my number one game, usually a top 5 title anyway, But Trials HD marked my return to the 360 after time on the Dark Side (PS3) Trials HD alone showed how much quality there was on XBLA compared to the PSN Store of then, and it's leaderboard chasing addictive style keeps you playing, especially when you can see you're friends scores as you play, so those times you had a great start, but slipped up later, you WILL replay, because in your heart you'll know you can beat it,, jus tone more game,,, just one more,, one more hour,, ok,, i'll play it again tomorrow..



So, there it is..
My Top 20, Love it or hate it...