Split/Second (Xbox 360)
The Xbox 360 era was chocked full of big, bombastic arcade racers - and Split/Second has rightfully earned its place amongst them. Playable via backwards compatibility and saved from the licensing graveyard by its lack of real-life motors (yep, it's still available digitally), this over-the-top racer combined with reality TV show is a joy to play to this day.
In fact, we've even hopped online recently and we still see folks loading this one up and playing multiplayer in 2025. Alright, sure, you probably wouldn't call it well-populated - but hop online at the right time and you just might get the chance to experience some of the best arcade racing action available on modern Xbox consoles.
- Xbox Game Pass: No
Skate 3 (Xbox 360)
This list wouldn't be complete without EA's third and final Skate game of the Xbox 360 era. Skate 3 is genuinely still played and talked about as if it's only a few years old - and pale imitations like Skater XL and Session: Skate Sim just haven't managed to capture the magic of this 2010 classic, even all these years later.
While EA continues to work on its big Skate reboot, it's more than worth your time to keep enjoying Skate 3 via Xbox backwards compatibility. A dedicated community still surrounds this game 15 years later, and its inclusion in the EA Play library makes this an even easier recommendation.
- Xbox Game Pass: Yes
The Orange Box (Xbox 360)
Okay, look, this one is cheating a little bit because it actually contains three games, but Valve's The Orange Box feels like an essential addition to the backwards compatible library. With the Steam owner being so quiet in the world of console development since this era, access to Half Life 2: Episode Two, Portal and Team Fortress 2 is more than welcome over on Xbox.
These titles never got any sort of modern console enhancements so we're playing them pretty much as they were from 2007, but don't let that put you off these delicious oranges. Just make sure you have a disc drive on-hand because this is no longer accessible on the Xbox Store!
- Xbox Game Pass: No
BLACK (Xbox)
Our first original Xbox entry here is BLACK; EA's infamous FPS that felt like a real cutting edge effort wau back when. We've played this one since it was added to the backwards compatible library, and it genuinely still feels great to play almost 20 years later - which is rare to say for a shooter of this era.
We're talking strictly single-player with this one — which isn't much of an issue nowadays anyway — but a solid special agent-inspired story campaign keeps this one worth playing in 2025. You'll be amazed at how modern and visceral this game still feels - it's an absolutely technical marvel for the OG Xbox!
- Xbox Game Pass: Yes
Far Cry 3 (Xbox 360)
So far on this list, we've avoided any titles that have been remastered since the 360 days (trust us, it's been hard skipping BioShock), but we're going to make an exception for Far Cry 3. Ubisoft's breakout Far Cry title has been the platform for all future entries for over a decade, and the Rook Islands are still a fantastic open world FPS playground to this day.
The reason we're throwing this on here and not taking into account 2018's Far Cry 3 Classic Edition is because, well, the 360 version is just better - especially if you're playing on Xbox Series X|S. FPS Boost remains the only way to play FC3 on console at 60 frames per second, and the Xbox 360 version also includes co-op and PvP modes, if you can find anyone left playing. If you like your open world shooters, Far Cry 3 is a must.
- Xbox Game Pass: No
Fable 2 (Xbox 360)
Ahh, Fable. While we're all chomping at the bit to see Playground Games' modern reboot spring into life, why not go back and enjoy what's arguably the best entry in the series? Sure, Fable Anniversary is stiff competition here, but we still think Fable 2 is the one to play if you're going to go back and experience one Fable title.
An Albion built for the HD era and supporting two-player co-op, Fable 2 blew us away back in 2008, and it's actually aged pretty well more than a decade later. This charming adventure is definitely still worth heading out on, and with it being available on Xbox Game Pass, why not give this classic a whirl and see what you think!
- Xbox Game Pass: Yes
Red Dead Redemption (Xbox 360)
Red Dead Redemption has rooted and tooted its way onto this list because, well, how could it not? Recent ports to other systems have made this version less of an essential backwards compatible experience - but as for the game itself? That's still a stone cold classic and one of Rockstar's finest moments to date.
The first RDR has a super-engaging storyline, a grand-old open world to mess around in and some of Rockstar's most satisfying combat mechanics so far - all paired with a fantastic soundtrack and an incredible Wild West atmosphere. If you haven't played this epic Western yet, it's probably about time you corrected that - or we'll get the lasso out!
- Xbox Game Pass: No
TimeSplitters 2 (Xbox)
Being one of the very last OG Xbox games to be made backwards compatible, TimeSplitters 2 is an absolute classic of the era, and is one of our favourite additions to the admittedly-slim Original Xbox back compat library.
Free Radical's fast-paced FPS may not be as technically advanced as the other OG Xbox shooter to make this list, but gameplay is king, and the now-defunct studio delivered that in spades. All Original Xbox games in this program get a big resolution bump anyway, so this is definitely the best way to play TimeSplitters 2 on Xbox.
- Xbox Game Pass: No
Mirror's Edge (Xbox 360)
Mirror's Edge is an absolutely gorgeous video game, and it still looks remarkably good all these years later. Developer DICE is hardly no slouch when it comes to gaming technology, but this is a fantastic example of art style elevating a game's visual presentation to the next level.
It's not all-show and no trousers though, Mirror's Edge features some smooth and silky parkour mechanics that make it fun to play as well. It's not perfect, and the game's combat is certainly no match for the developer's Battlefield series, but Mirror's Edge is one of those Xbox 360 era titles that still stands out from the pack.
- Xbox Game Pass: Yes
Burnout Revenge (Xbox 360)
EA's last mainline entry before the series went open world with Burnout Paradise, Burnout Revenge might not be the best in the series, but it is a proper Burnout game - and for that alone it makes this list. Fun-as-heck driving mechanics, fast-paced gameplay and an incredibly good soundtrack, Burnout Revenge is worth a rippin' blast for any arcade racing fan out there.
As we close out this list here, we're noticing a trend - EA Play really comes in handy for accessing these older Xbox 360 titles on modern consoles. As long as it's not licensed it's probably still available on the EA service - and the fantastically-fun Burnout Revenge is no exception.
- Xbox Game Pass: Yes
And, there you have it! That's our list of backwards compatible titles that we reckon are pretty much essential, but to be honest, there are loads of games we've missed here - especially from the Xbox 360 library.