Best games
Best Xbox 360 games of 2006
The 31 best Xbox 360 games released in 2006, ranked from 10,669 critic and player ratings.
The best Xbox 360 game of 2006 is Half-Life 2: Episode One, with a critic score of 87/100 — updated August 2026.
01
Half-Life 2: Episode One
Half-Life 2: Episode One is the first of a planned trilogy of expansion packs/episodes for the 2004 first-person shooter game, Half-Life 2. The episode takes place immediately after the end of Half-Life 2, in the war-torn setting of City 17. The player is forced to deal with the effects of their actions during the main game. The episode is a stand-alone game; while a continuation of Half-Life 2, it does not require the original game to be installed or registered to a user's Steam account to play. It takes advantage of several major upgrades to the Source engine since the release of Half-Life 2, primarily its high dynamic range rendering capabilities and the upgraded facial animation system. Episode One was released together with Half-Life Deathmatch: Source, a port of the original Half-Life's multiplayer, which doubles as Episode One's multiplayer component. The retail copies of Episode One also come with Half-Life 2 Deathmatch for those who have not previously purchased the later title.
87
/100
02
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
85
/100
03
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter
85
/100
Half-Life 2: Episode One
Half-Life 2: Episode One is the first of a planned trilogy of expansion packs/episodes for the 2004 first-person shooter game, Half-Life 2. The episode takes place immediately after the end of Half-Life 2, in the war-torn setting of City 17. The player is forced to deal with the effects of their actions during the main game. The episode is a stand-alone game; while a continuation of Half-Life 2, it does not require the original game to be installed or registered to a user's Steam account to play. It takes advantage of several major upgrades to the Source engine since the release of Half-Life 2, primarily its high dynamic range rendering capabilities and the upgraded facial animation system. Episode One was released together with Half-Life Deathmatch: Source, a port of the original Half-Life's multiplayer, which doubles as Episode One's multiplayer component. The retail copies of Episode One also come with Half-Life 2 Deathmatch for those who have not previously purchased the later title.
87
/100
02
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
85
/100
03
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter
85
/100
04
Gears of War
A third-person tactical shooter from Epic, running on the Unreal Engine 3. Gears of War thrusts gamers into a deep and harrowing story of humankind's epic battle for survival against the Locust Horde, a nightmarish race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet. Unlike other shooters, Gears of War is all about teamwork in a big way. All game modes, levels and scenarios are designed specifically to encourage co-operative play, whether it be with A.I. partners or human players (with A.I. teammates designed with specific strengths, weaknesses and personalities.) On top of that, voice recognition will be available for players, and obviously voice chat to discuss strategy with your friends. In addition to voice chat, gamers will be able to experience individualized matchmaking, view player statistics, earn player achievements, customize their games, and build and personalize their gamer profiles over Xbox Live.
84
/100
05
Prey (2006)
83
/100
06
Dead Rising
Frank West, a freelance photojournalist on the hunt for the scoop of a lifetime, pursues a juicy lead to a small suburban town only to find that it is being overrun by zombies! He escapes to the local shopping mall thinking it will be a bastion of safety, but it turns out to be anything but. It's a true struggle to survive the endless stream of enemies, but with full reign over an entire shopping center, Frank can utilize anything to fight off the flesh-hungry mob and search for the truth behind the horrendous epidemic.
82
/100
07
Call of Duty 3
81
/100
08
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
81
/100
09
Saints Row
81
/100
10
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the fourth game in the Elder Scrolls story, is set within the province of Cyrodiil, the heartland and Imperial capital of Tamriel. Emperor Uriel Septim VII is assassinated in flight from his own palace, but just before he dies he passes on to you the mystic Amulet of Kings. The adventure proper begins with the quest to find Uriel's lost and illegitimate son who is the only heir to the throne. In a world where the forces of darkness seek their ultimate dominion over the ranks of man and mer alike, you alone stand between the future of Tamriel and the gates of Oblivion.
81
/100
11
Hitman: Blood Money
80
/100
12
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent
80
/100
13
WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2007
80
/100
14
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent
79
/100
15
Test Drive Unlimited
79
/100
16
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening Special Edition
76
/100
17
Tony Hawk's Project 8
75
/100
18
Viva Piñata
75
/100
19
The Godfather: The Game
74
/100
20
Disney•Pixar Cars
73
/100
21
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
72
/100
22
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic
72
/100
23
Call of Juarez
72
/100
24
Need for Speed: Carbon
70
/100
25
Rayman Raving Rabbids
70
/100
26
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition
66
/100
27
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
62
/100
28
Tomb Raider: Legend
60
/100
29
Just Cause
60
/100
30
Eragon
50
/100
31
Sonic The Hedgehog (2006)
44
/100
Gears of War
A third-person tactical shooter from Epic, running on the Unreal Engine 3. Gears of War thrusts gamers into a deep and harrowing story of humankind's epic battle for survival against the Locust Horde, a nightmarish race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet. Unlike other shooters, Gears of War is all about teamwork in a big way. All game modes, levels and scenarios are designed specifically to encourage co-operative play, whether it be with A.I. partners or human players (with A.I. teammates designed with specific strengths, weaknesses and personalities.) On top of that, voice recognition will be available for players, and obviously voice chat to discuss strategy with your friends. In addition to voice chat, gamers will be able to experience individualized matchmaking, view player statistics, earn player achievements, customize their games, and build and personalize their gamer profiles over Xbox Live.
84
/100
05
Prey (2006)
83
/100
06
Dead Rising
Frank West, a freelance photojournalist on the hunt for the scoop of a lifetime, pursues a juicy lead to a small suburban town only to find that it is being overrun by zombies! He escapes to the local shopping mall thinking it will be a bastion of safety, but it turns out to be anything but. It's a true struggle to survive the endless stream of enemies, but with full reign over an entire shopping center, Frank can utilize anything to fight off the flesh-hungry mob and search for the truth behind the horrendous epidemic.
82
/100
07
Call of Duty 3
81
/100
08
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
81
/100
09
Saints Row
81
/100
10
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the fourth game in the Elder Scrolls story, is set within the province of Cyrodiil, the heartland and Imperial capital of Tamriel. Emperor Uriel Septim VII is assassinated in flight from his own palace, but just before he dies he passes on to you the mystic Amulet of Kings. The adventure proper begins with the quest to find Uriel's lost and illegitimate son who is the only heir to the throne. In a world where the forces of darkness seek their ultimate dominion over the ranks of man and mer alike, you alone stand between the future of Tamriel and the gates of Oblivion.
81
/100
11
Hitman: Blood Money
80
/100
12
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent
80
/100
13
WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2007
80
/100
14
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent
79
/100
15
Test Drive Unlimited
79
/100
16
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening Special Edition
76
/100
17
Tony Hawk's Project 8
75
/100
18
Viva Piñata
75
/100
19
The Godfather: The Game
74
/100
20
Disney•Pixar Cars
73
/100
21
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
72
/100
22
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic
72
/100
23
Call of Juarez
72
/100
24
Need for Speed: Carbon
70
/100
25
Rayman Raving Rabbids
70
/100
26
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition
66
/100
27
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
62
/100
28
Tomb Raider: Legend
60
/100
29
Just Cause
60
/100
30
Eragon
50
/100
31
Sonic The Hedgehog (2006)
44
/100
FAQ
What is the best Xbox 360 game of 2006?
Half-Life 2: Episode One currently tops the ranking with a score of 87/100 across 2,070 ratings. Ranking updated August 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.