Xbox and PlayStation were clearly on the same page when designing their ninth generation home consoles, as both companies released digital editions of their latest systems. The Xbox Series S andPlayStation 5 Digital Editionare both capable of playing the same games as their more expensive counterparts but lack a disk drive. This modern approach came as little surprise to gamers, as digital purchases are convenient for players, and Sony and Microsoft benefit from a reduction in the second-hand selling of physical copies.
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The Xbox 360 is largely responsible for the rise in digital purchases due to the console’s Xbox Live Marketplace. The online marketplace did so well, in fact, that some games were released on the console as digital-only products. These are just some examples of great Xbox 360 games that experienced digital-only releases on the green brand.
7Braid
Braidis the perfect game to start this list off with as it was hugely influential in promoting the Arcade section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, which wasfundamental in the rise of indie gaming.
Braidisa puzzle-platformerthat was designed by Jonathan Blow and tasks players with using time manipulation mechanics to reach the end of stages and collect puzzle pieces. Although the gameplay mechanics were excellent, it wasBraid’s story that turned heads. The 2008 release challenged gaming stereotypes with its narrative that ended with an incredibly well-constructed plot twist.
6Super Meat Boy
Super Meat Boyis another one of indie gaming’s most important releases. The game continuedBraid’s momentum by further reinforcing the idea that indie games could be just as enjoyable as AAA releases, at a time when many mainstream audiences still perceived indie games to be little more than fan games.
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The platformer is best-known for its high challenge level, though it’s also beloved among the platforming community for its brilliant level design, and for being influential in the eradication of lives in favor of quick and infinite restarts.Super MeatBoyhad a limited run of physical releases on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PS Vita, though it was not released on Xbox consoles.
5Peggle
Peggleis acasual puzzle gamethat was developed by PopCap Games and first released on PC in February 2007 before arriving on a plethora of other systems, including PlayStation 3, iOS, Nintendo DS, and, of course, Xbox 360.
Peggle’s core gameplay is simple, as players just need to clear a handful of orange pegs with a set amount of balls. However, the game is deceivingly addictive, as along with featuring numerous wonderfully designed stages, the game also implements a variety of characters with special abilities that add a layer of strategy to the game.
4Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
It’s fair to say that theGeometry Warshad one of the strangest starts to life in gaming history. The firstGeometry Warstitle wasn’t a standalone game, nor part of a collection, it was a mini-game that could be accessed via an arcade machine within the player’s garage in the racing gameProject Gotham Racing 2.
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AlthoughProject Gotham Racing 2was one of the original Xbox’s best racing games, many people found themselves ignoring the racing aspect of the game to just focus onGeometry Wars.Unsurprisingly, Microsoft Game Studios (now known as Xbox Game Studios) capitalized on this and releasedGeometry Wars: Retro Evolvedon Xbox 360 in 2005.
3Castle Crashers
Castle Crasherswas developed by The Behemoth - the same company that developedAlien Hominid- and was first released exclusively on Xbox 360 in August 2008 before making its way to other systems in the years that followed, including PlayStation 3, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
The side-scrolling action RPG was predominantly popular for its cooperative play, as taking down enemies together with the game’ssimple but enjoyablehack and slash mechanics was tremendous fun. The game’s art style also makes it pop.
2BattleBlock Theater
From one game developed by The Behemoth to another,BattleBlock Theaterwas released in April 2013 and, much likeCastle Crashers,was predominantly popular for how fun it was to play with friends.
The game didn’t try to reinvent the wheel, keeping its platforming gameplay simple with standard traps to avoid and platforms to jump on. However, the platformerstood out for its charisma and comedy, as the game is bursting with life, color, and humorous animations that helped players create some of their fondest memories from the seventh generation of home consoles.
1Spelunky
Spelunkywas first released on PC in December 2008 before arriving on Xbox 360 four years later. The game was fundamental in popularizingthe roguelike genre, as the platformer grabbed players' attention with its excellent level design that engrossed gamers and had them playing the procedurally generated levels for hours on end.
LikeSuper Meat Boy,Spelunkyreceived a limited run of physical releases on PlayStation 4 and PS Vita, but never on the green brand of consoles.
