Since its debut in 2001, Xbox has released four major consoles, the Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and the Xbox Series X/S. The time between these console generations varies, and some have had improved versions released before the next big console, such as the Xbox One S and One X. Even though improved versions of a console can be game changers, they don’t stand out as a new console generation and, instead, help contribute to the quality of its respective generation. However, console generations aren’t defined by hardware alone; incredible games make a console successful.

4 Xbox One

Unfortunately, The Xbox One generation comes up short compared to Xbox’s other consoles, but there were still plenty of games to be excited about in this era. This generation saw the beginning of Xbox Game , a brilliant service that offers access to a plethora of games at a low price point. The Xbox One also had great exclusives like Cuphead and Titanfall.

Overall, the Xbox One generation had fewer exclusives than other Xbox consoles. Still, multi-platform games sometimes were better experiences on the One consoles, especially when the One X was launched. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a notable example that performed better on the Xbox One X compared to other consoles. Fallout 4 is another game that was best experienced on Xbox One, as the ability to install mods here outperformed its PlayStation counterpart (though the PS4 did eventually get Bethesda's Creation Club).

Related: How You Can Play Xbox Series X Games On Xbox One

The Xbox One also ed the release of some massively popular titles that still go strong today. Of course, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is a huge draw that compiles all the Master Chief Halo games, as well as Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach. This one is a big deal for Halo fans, and it makes these games much easier to access for players who haven’t yet experienced them. Another big Xbox One exclusive is Sea of Thieves, which still has a dedicated player base and receives new updates, such as the Monkey Island crossover announced at the Xbox Showcase 2023.

3 Xbox Series X/S

The Xbox Series X/S represents the current console generation, which launched in the holiday of 2020. Despite being very early in its lifespan, the Series X/S has shown exciting promise that it will be a good generation of games for Xbox. One of the most significant prospects for Xbox in this console generation is the acquisition of Bethesda, the publisher behind IPs such as Fallout and The Elder Scrolls.

Bethesda’s next title, Starfield, has been generating hype for a long time and will finally be released in September 2023. Starfield will be a massive experience that has the potential to rival Xbox’s other exclusives like Halo. This exclusivity deal was a big win for Xbox and its gaming ecosystem. However, Starfield only plays a part in what makes the Series X/S generation so promising.

The biggest draw for Xbox and its current consoles is Game . It offers players an enormous catalog of games for a monthly subscription price. The service is constantly growing, regularly adding the best new and old AAA and indie titles. Game helped make games like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush possible, and both have thrived on the service. New titles like Starfield will also be available on Game when they launch, making the service a must-have for Xbox Series X/S players.

2 Original Xbox

The Original Xbox was released in 2001 and forever changed the console gaming landscape. It was one of the most powerful consoles of its time, and its success was boosted by the immense popularity of Halo: Combat Evolved. The Original Xbox also revolutionized online gaming with Xbox Live, which launched a year after the console release. Online multiplayer was a huge draw for this console, especially when Halo 2 launched.

Halo wasn’t the only successful series exclusive to the Original Xbox. The Fable series debuted on the console, and the relationship between the IP and Xbox continues today with the announcement of the next Fable game coming to the Series X/S. The Original Xbox is also notable for being the only console players could experience the Star Wars games like Knights of the Old Republic and Republic Commando.

1 Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 era was the best console generation for Xbox. This console had eight years in the spotlight until the Xbox One launched, and in that time, some of the best games ever were released. The Halo series, of course, enjoyed a massive era of success on the Xbox 360 with Halo 3 and Halo: Reach. More impressively, however, was the launch of one of Xbox’s core exclusive IPs, Gears of War.

Just one year after the Xbox 360’s launch, the first Gears of War was released, which was an instant success and one of the most-played Xbox Live games of the era. It spawned a trilogy and a spin-off that was contained all on the Xbox 360, and the series continues into the current console generation. The Gears of War trilogy was a huge deal for the Xbox 360, providing a compelling experience that enticed players to get their hands on the console.

The Xbox 360 also helped launch some of the most famous video game franchises ever. IPs such as Mass Effect, Alan Wake, and BioShock all started on the Xbox 360 and continue to be relevant in the current generation, receiving sequels or film and television adaptations. These titles eventually found their way to other platforms, but their timed exclusivity on the Xbox 360 boosted the console’s reputation and appeal. The length of the Xbox 360 generation may have had a small hand in how great it was. Even still, a vast portion of this console’s best games were released in its early years, so it seems the 360 was marked for success from the start.

Xbox hasn’t been around as long as its competitors, but it has undoubtedly had a massive impact on the industry and continues to do so with the Xbox Series X/S generation. It’s still early, but Xbox has been making progress to cover the ground lost with the Xbox One generation. This can be seen in games like Starfield, and now that Microsoft's acquisition of Activision-Blizzard appears to be going ahead, it stands to reason that even more cool things are on the way for Xbox. However, the Xbox 360 generation set a tremendously high bar that will be challenging for Xbox to beat.

Source: Bethesda Softworks/YouTube