The original Xbox came at just the right time to carve out it’s own piece of the console market. Sega had just retired their Dreamcast system, and while Sony was set for complete domination Nintendo was experimenting with their major franchises in some very unpopular ways. This gave MS the opening they needed, and they took advantage of it the best that they could. They funded a ton of original titles, and courted many of the biggest developers. All said the console amassed a large library. The problem was that it was mostly known as ‘the Halo machine.’ That’s not too far off because this franchise was by far the console’s biggest seller. Clearly there are some hidden gems to be found here, and I’ve decided to pick them out today. These are the top 15 best original Xbox hidden gems!
Before we start let’s go over some rules I’ve established for myself when drafting this list.
- I’m not going to cover import games on this list (not that the original Xbox has these in abundance anyway). We’ll do an article covering these overseas releases later on.
- I’ve decided to ignore how popular these titles were at their original time of release. The Xbox in particular had a lot of software with a lot of hype that were completely forgotten just a few years later. These are the games that are hidden gems now.
- These are hidden gems in my opinion, and mine alone. To make the list the game has to be at least decent, and relatively unknown. Of course the former point is subjective so not everyone is going to agree. That’s why I’m pointing out that these are my opinions.
With that out of the way let’s jump right in to the list. Here are what I consider to be the best original Xbox hidden gems in alphabetical order.
Bloody Roar Extreme
The Bloody Roar franchise was pretty popular on the PS1 and even PS2. Even the Gamecube port of the third installment got a fair amount of exposure (that platform was very thirsty for fighting games though). With that said does anyone even remember that the Xbox it’s own release of Bloody Roar 3? You wouldn’t know it from the title considering it was renamed ‘Extreme.’ With that said this is a very competent port. Blood Roar Extreme looks better than it did on the Gamecube, and plays just as well. At heart this is still the third game but with some pretty minor tweaks and enhancements. Bloody Roar Extreme is a one-on-one 3D fighter where you chain together strikes and combos. The twist here is that the fighters can each transform into a different animal thus increasing their offensive capabilities.
Breakdown
First person shooters weren’t exactly rare on the original Xbox. Halo overshadowed just about everything else in this genre on the platform. This brings me to Breakdown. It’s a first person shooter from Namco (of all companies) that tried something unique. It has an unusual focus on story, and honestly the narrative is pretty interesting. The gunplay is pretty standard to be honest with decent but unremarkable mechanics. What sets Breakdown apart is it’s focus on melee combat. You have a ton of options in regards to punches and kicks, and you’ll need to hit enemies fast and hard. It’s downright rewarding to pull off some of the more complicated techniques. It’s interesting and fairly unique. Breakdown is definitely one of the best original Xbox hidden gems.
Brute Force
I’ll admit that at the time of release this one wasn’t a hidden gem. Microsoft advertised the heck out of it, and Brute Force sold pretty well. So why then am I including it on this list? It’s simply because almost no one talks about it anymore. Brute Force never had a sequel, nor does Microsoft (and most gamers) even acknowledge it these days. This is a third person squad based shooter with four different characters each having their own unique ability. One can dual wield guns for extra firepower, another can use ‘predator vision’ to see enemies easier, there’s also a female character that can cloak herself, and one more with enhanced sniper abilities. You basically work together as a team and it’s kind of neat with the differences between members of the squad. Brute Force isn’t amazing, but it’s a fun diversion.
Cold Fear
Resident Evil 4 was the biggest survival horror game of the sixth generation. Capcom hit the drawing board and completely changed what the franchise was. What began as a Gamecube exclusive also came out for the PS2. Unfortunately the original Xbox was left out in the cold. Ubisoft had them covered however with the multiplatform title Cold Fear. It used a similar behind the back third person perspective with fully 3D environments. This survival horror title took place entirely on a dilapidated ship. This is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand it establishes unique atmosphere not seen in many other similar titles. Unfortunately the occasional rocking of the ship can cause aiming issues. Cold Fear unfortunately sold very little, and almost no one remembers it. If you get a chance check it out, and the Xbox version is the best one.
Crazy Taxi III: High Roller
Crazy Taxi was a pretty big hit in the arcades, and a moderate success on the Sega Dreamcast. Almost no one knows that there was actually a third installment, and that it was an Xbox exclusive. Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller includes all of the drivers and stages from the first two titles with an all new area based on Las Vegas called Glitter Oasis. Gameplay is almost as fun as in the originals but a few things are off. For starters you now have the ability to jump and it messes with the balancing a bit. When it’s not making the game easier it makes things more awkward to be honest. The new area is obviously worse than the first two, and the high point is the original level which you could already play on the older console.
Crimson Sea
It’s no secret that the number of Japanese style games were lacking on the original Xbox. Koei tried to correct this with Crimson Sea, and they did a fairly decent job of it. This is a third person shooter hybrid hack em up with some Dynasty Warrior vibes. You wander the world shooting and slashing armies of enemies throwing in the occasional dodge. It’s a fairly decent game with a fair difficulty level and good level design. My only big complaint is the use of tank controls. For a third person action game (that isn’t survival horror) this feels a little strange. This holds especially true when you throw in the dodge ability. I found myself getting disoriented fair frequently. The auto aim makes up for this a fair bit but basically makes locking on to foes useless as well as manually aiming too. Regardless it’s a pretty fun experience.
Gunvalkyrie
Sega’s developer Smilebit was one of the biggest early Xbox supporters. One of the most hyped of these was Gunvalkyrie. This title was originally in development for the Sega Dreamcast but when the house of hedgehog went third party they moved it to Microsoft’s console. This third person sci-fi shooter has you exploring various planets and gunning down armies of insect like enemies. The controls take some getting used to, but the game does a great job of letting you learn them before throwing crazy situations at you. You have a jet pack which most of the platforming revolves around. This allows for several different moves including aerial rolling and boosting. It’s an action heavy title that has a high learning curve. Once you get used to it the game is pretty entertaining.
House of the Dead 3
It’s no secret that lightgun shooters were all but forgotten by the time this generation began. Fortunately they were still fairly popular in Japanese arcades, and that’s where Sega released House of the Dead 3 originally. The Xbox may have been a weird choice for a home port (it didn’t really have any other light gun games, and Mad Catz had to release the light gun peripheral specifically for this title) but it’s a decent game regardless. House of the Dead 3 takes the action out of the dilapidated mansions from the first two titles and now takes primarily in research labs. The graphics have been kicked up several notches and there’s even more on-screen carnage than before. While it falls shy of the first two titles in the franchise House of the Dead 3 is still plenty good, and worth a play even today.
Jet Set Radio Future
Jet Grind Radio was a sleeper hit on the Sega Dreamcast. It’s commendable that Smilebit decided to release a sequel, and this was (and still is) an Xbox exclusive. The original got accolades for it’s unique gameplay and graphical style. It was one of the early titles to use cel shading for absolutely everything in-game. It was also very unique in that it’s about spray painting graffiti on buildings. This may sounds strange, but it’s well done. Jet Set Radio Future is less of a sequel, and more of a remake of the original title. It has a bigger area to explore and more to do with better graphics and a changed soundtrack. While this is best classified as an action game it has firm platforming roots and a concept rooted in extreme sports. This is easily one of the best original Xbox hidden gems.
Kung Fu Chaos
The original Xbox lacked a Smash Bros style party fighting game. Kung Fu Chaos tried to rectify this issue, but it wasn’t met with the best fanfare. The game actually sold very poorly and got almost no coverage in the media. The game has four fighters duking it out in 3D arenas in a style somewhat reminiscent of Power Stone. Basically you hack and slash at over the top characters who try to reduce the other players life bars to zero. The high point here is the stage design. You have some absolutely crazy scenarios here with flying saucers, riding rafts being chased by dinosaurs, and much more. It’s politically incorrect but oh so fun. If you’re looking for a good multiplayer game on the original Xbox that isn’t a first person shooter then this is your best bet.
Phantom Dust
Here’s a true hidden gem and forgotten classic. Phantom Dust is unlike any other games of its era. You play as a soldier in a post apocalyptic Earth using a distinctly Japanese anime style. First and foremost it has a very interesting storyline based on philosphy and makes use of some pretty unique concepts. Phantom Dust is best considered a 3D arena based action game with a focus on card battle mechanics. This may sound strange, and it is, but it all just works. The best part of it is the online multiplayer. Unfortunately you won’t find an active base for matchmaking but Phantom Dust has a very loyal and dedicated fanbase so you can find other players if you try hard enough. The best part of this one is the fact that it’s free on modern Xbox consoles.
Psychonauts
The most important thing the original Xbox was lacking was a defining 3D platformer for the console. Psychonauts was one of the many that tried to fill the void, While it was ported to the PS2 this one is still distinctly remembered for the Xbox because that’s where the pre-launch hype was. The game gives you a number of different abilities all of which you’ll need to put to good use. In Psychonauts you enter people’s dreams to solve puzzles, explore, and fight basic enemies. The game uses a distinct Tim Burton style of graphics. It’s crazy, colorful, and downright whimsical. The levels are incredibly well designed and sometimes vast in scope. They all have separate mechanics which keeps gameplay fresh from start to finish. Psychonauts may not be an exclusive, but it’s clearly one of the best original Xbox hidden gems.
Sudeki
It’s no secret that the original Xbox was severely lacking in Japanese style role playing games. Microsoft just wasn’t able to secure any of these titles which were quite popular at the time. Western developer Climax Studios attemped to fill the void using an anime style aesthetic. Unfortunately the userbase just wasn’t receptive and this one was left as a hidden gem. I actually rented this one at the time of release and fell in love with it. This action RPG uses a variety of different mechanics for play. One character is good with swordplay, another with magic, and a third puts you into a first person viewpoint to shoot guns. It’s pretty interesting actually. The combat system is a bit awkward even toward the end of the adventure, but I’ll be darned if the ride isn’t a fun one. Sudeki is very underrated.
The Thing
This was an early release for the Xbox and PS2. It’s also the only licensed game you’ll find on this list. The Thing serves as a sequel of sorts to the original as far as storyline is concerned. After the events from the film a team of US Special Forces are sent in to find out what happened at the Antarctic outpost. You play as the leader of this team, and they soon find out that an alien force has killed almost everyone there. The game plays on the mechanics of the film in some really brilliant ways. Anyone in your force can become ‘the thing.’ You have to regularly test them or else they’ll spring up at random times and grow tentacles. At this point you’re going to have a bad time. It’s a very interesting take on the survival horror genre.
Voodoo Vince
Among the Xbox exclusive platforming games Voodoo Vince really struck a chord with me. This is also the only title I’ve ever seen where you play as a voodoo doll. You hop and bop your way through a series of levels with the ability to jump and punch. It makes use of a pleasant style which is reminiscent of New Orleans, and the soundtrack in particular really hits this home. The main mechanic which differentiates itself from the pack is related to the voodoo doll mechanics themself. By intentionally harming Vince you can inflict substantial damage on foes. It’s a really interesting idea that feels downright inspired at times. Aside from this the game is your basic platformer, but one with really good level design. Voodoo Vince was eventually remastered but to this day remains an original Xbox hidden gem.
