Best games
Best Xbox 360 games of 2008
The 60 best Xbox 360 games released in 2008, ranked from 22,600 critic and player ratings.
The best Xbox 360 game of 2008 is The Orange Box, with a critic score of 94/100 — updated September 2026.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 2008.
- 50 games are listed on this page, carrying 22,600 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 29 September 2026.
Top 50
01
The Orange Box
94
/100
02
Burnout Paradise
Evolve or die. For Paradise, we knew we had to change everything. Burnout was a killer arcade driving game, but for a new generation of hardware and connected player Burnout had to become something more ambitious. Closed tracks made way for an expansive, open city, and we seamlessly synced your friends into the action and let you loose on a heap of cool challenges that unsurprisingly rewarded you for driving like a lunatic. Hey, it’s us after all.
93
/100
03
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is the sequel to the 2007 musical simulation game Rock Band and offers similar gameplay. Directly competing with Guitar Hero: World Tour, the game allows different people to play together as in a band, with the same peripherals as the first game: lead guitar, bass guitar, microphone and a drum set. The new drum and guitar controllers for this version, bundled or sold separately, have been revised and older controllers are also supported. The guitar controller, modelled after the Fender Stratocaster, has five additional fret buttons near the neck, for fast fingertapping sessions. There is also an effect switch to toggle between five different effects. Players use the instruments to match notes on the screen, divided in different portions for different instruments, along with the lyrics for the singer who need to match the pitch.
93
/100
The Orange Box
94
/100
02
Burnout Paradise
Evolve or die. For Paradise, we knew we had to change everything. Burnout was a killer arcade driving game, but for a new generation of hardware and connected player Burnout had to become something more ambitious. Closed tracks made way for an expansive, open city, and we seamlessly synced your friends into the action and let you loose on a heap of cool challenges that unsurprisingly rewarded you for driving like a lunatic. Hey, it’s us after all.
93
/100
03
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is the sequel to the 2007 musical simulation game Rock Band and offers similar gameplay. Directly competing with Guitar Hero: World Tour, the game allows different people to play together as in a band, with the same peripherals as the first game: lead guitar, bass guitar, microphone and a drum set. The new drum and guitar controllers for this version, bundled or sold separately, have been revised and older controllers are also supported. The guitar controller, modelled after the Fender Stratocaster, has five additional fret buttons near the neck, for fast fingertapping sessions. There is also an effect switch to toggle between five different effects. Players use the instruments to match notes on the screen, divided in different portions for different instruments, along with the lyrics for the singer who need to match the pitch.
93
/100
04
Gears of War 2
In Gears of War 2, The COG continues its fight against the Locust horde, who are attempting to sink all of the cities on the planet Sera by using a big riftworm to eat the ground beneath them. Sergeant Marcus Fenix leads Delta Squad into the depths of the planet to try to stop the worm from eating but instead they discover the true intent of the Locust actions.
90
/100
05
Portal: Still Alive
Portal: Still Alive is a retooled version of the original smash hit first-person puzzle game, with additional levels and challenges. As unwilling test subjects in a sinister laboratory, players must break the laws of physics using 'portal' technology to solve puzzles and survive. Featuring a darkly comic story that weaves adventure with brain-bending puzzles; 'Portal: Still Alive' also introduces 14 brand new bonus puzzles to challenge even the most skilled test subjects. Players can also get a glimpse into the making of 'Portal: Still Alive' with commentary from the developers.
90
/100
06
Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (often shortened to PES 2009, or simply PES 09) is an association football video game in Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer series. It is the sequel to Pro Evolution Soccer 2008. Before the game was released, it was revealed that creator Shingo Takatsuka had given the game a complete overhaul following the serious criticism of the previous title. The game supports network play with a reduction in lag compared to PES 2008. Lionel Messi is featured as the cover star, although Andrés Guardado features on some versions. A new game mode called Become a Legend was introduced, which involves creating a player and taking him through a career. The Master League mode saw the introduction of two-tier negotiations, which involve negotiating with the club first and then the player separately. The Edit Mode was also improved. The game was followed by PES 2010.
90
/100
07
C
Fallout 3
Fallout 3 from the creators of the award-winning Oblivion, featuring one of the most realized game worlds ever created. Create any kind of character you want and explore the open wastes of post-apocalyptic Washington D.C. Every minute is a fight for survival as you encounter Super Mutants, Ghouls, Raiders and other dangers of the Wasteland. Prepare for the future. The third game in the Fallout series, Fallout 3 is a singleplayer action role-playing game (RPG) set in a post-apocalyptic Washington DC. Combining the horrific insanity of the Cold War era theory of mutually assured destruction gone terribly wrong, with the kitschy naivety of American 1950s nuclear propaganda, Fallout 3 will satisfy both players familiar with the popular first two games in its series as well as those coming to the franchise for the first time.
89
/100
08
Left 4 Dead
From Valve (the creators of Counter-Strike, Half-Life and more) comes Left 4 Dead, a co-op action horror game for the PC and Xbox 360 that casts up to four players in an epic struggle for survival against swarming zombie hordes and terrifying mutant monsters.
89
/100
09
Fable II
Fable 2 is the second game in the fable series by Lionhead Studios, it is an open world role-playing game. It has a simple story line where the hero needs to save Albion from the evil Lord Lucian by collecting together the other three heroes to defeat him. Interactive cut-scenes are a large part of the game however the main character never speaks and all dialogue is uncontrolled. The game features a large variety of game play and freedom, allowing a player to shape the world around and the characters appearance and moral standing based on decisions throughout the game. The player can also get married both same and opposite sex and bring up children to childhood but no farther, expressions are a lot more interactive with NPC's than before
89
/100
10
S
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV is an action-adventure video game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the eleventh title in the Grand Theft Auto series, and the first main entry since 2004's Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The game is played from a third-person perspective and its world is navigated on-foot or by vehicle. Throughout the single-player mode, players play as Niko Bellic. An online multiplayer mode is included with the game, allowing up to 32 players to engage in both co-operative and competitive gameplay in a recreation of the single-player setting. Two expansion packs were later released for the game, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, which both feature new plots that are interconnected with the main Grand Theft Auto IV storyline, and follow new protagonists.
88
/100
11
GRID (2008)
87
/100
12
Braid
87
/100
13
B
Dead Space (2008)
86
/100
14
Bionic Commando: Rearmed
86
/100
15
Far Cry 2
85
/100
16
Soul Calibur IV
85
/100
17
Prince of Persia
84
/100
18
Battlefield: Bad Company
84
/100
19
S
Call of Duty: World at War
83
/100
20
Pure
83
/100
21
FIFA 09
83
/100
22
Guitar Hero World Tour
82
/100
23
Midnight Club: Los Angeles
82
/100
24
Devil May Cry 4
81
/100
25
Saints Row 2
81
/100
26
Mirror's Edge
81
/100
27
Defense Grid: The Awakening
81
/100
28
Condemned 2: Bloodshot
81
/100
29
LEGO Batman
80
/100
30
Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
79
/100
31
Banjo Kazooie: N n B
79
/100
32
A
Castle Crashers
79
/100
33
Race Driver: Grid
78
/100
34
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2
78
/100
35
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm
76
/100
36
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3
75
/100
37
Ninja Gaiden II
75
/100
38
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
74
/100
39
Kung Fu Panda
73
/100
40
Tomb Raider: Underworld
72
/100
41
Bully: Scholarship Edition
72
/100
42
Overlord: Raising Hell
72
/100
43
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
71
/100
44
Army of Two
71
/100
45
LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
69
/100
46
Crash Time 2
69
/100
47
Quantum of Solace
67
/100
48
Turok (2008)
67
/100
49
Silent Hill: Homecoming
67
/100
50
Dark Sector
66
/100
Gears of War 2
In Gears of War 2, The COG continues its fight against the Locust horde, who are attempting to sink all of the cities on the planet Sera by using a big riftworm to eat the ground beneath them. Sergeant Marcus Fenix leads Delta Squad into the depths of the planet to try to stop the worm from eating but instead they discover the true intent of the Locust actions.
90
/100
05
Portal: Still Alive
Portal: Still Alive is a retooled version of the original smash hit first-person puzzle game, with additional levels and challenges. As unwilling test subjects in a sinister laboratory, players must break the laws of physics using 'portal' technology to solve puzzles and survive. Featuring a darkly comic story that weaves adventure with brain-bending puzzles; 'Portal: Still Alive' also introduces 14 brand new bonus puzzles to challenge even the most skilled test subjects. Players can also get a glimpse into the making of 'Portal: Still Alive' with commentary from the developers.
90
/100
06
Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (often shortened to PES 2009, or simply PES 09) is an association football video game in Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer series. It is the sequel to Pro Evolution Soccer 2008. Before the game was released, it was revealed that creator Shingo Takatsuka had given the game a complete overhaul following the serious criticism of the previous title. The game supports network play with a reduction in lag compared to PES 2008. Lionel Messi is featured as the cover star, although Andrés Guardado features on some versions. A new game mode called Become a Legend was introduced, which involves creating a player and taking him through a career. The Master League mode saw the introduction of two-tier negotiations, which involve negotiating with the club first and then the player separately. The Edit Mode was also improved. The game was followed by PES 2010.
90
/100
07
C
Fallout 3
Fallout 3 from the creators of the award-winning Oblivion, featuring one of the most realized game worlds ever created. Create any kind of character you want and explore the open wastes of post-apocalyptic Washington D.C. Every minute is a fight for survival as you encounter Super Mutants, Ghouls, Raiders and other dangers of the Wasteland. Prepare for the future. The third game in the Fallout series, Fallout 3 is a singleplayer action role-playing game (RPG) set in a post-apocalyptic Washington DC. Combining the horrific insanity of the Cold War era theory of mutually assured destruction gone terribly wrong, with the kitschy naivety of American 1950s nuclear propaganda, Fallout 3 will satisfy both players familiar with the popular first two games in its series as well as those coming to the franchise for the first time.
89
/100
08
Left 4 Dead
From Valve (the creators of Counter-Strike, Half-Life and more) comes Left 4 Dead, a co-op action horror game for the PC and Xbox 360 that casts up to four players in an epic struggle for survival against swarming zombie hordes and terrifying mutant monsters.
89
/100
09
Fable II
Fable 2 is the second game in the fable series by Lionhead Studios, it is an open world role-playing game. It has a simple story line where the hero needs to save Albion from the evil Lord Lucian by collecting together the other three heroes to defeat him. Interactive cut-scenes are a large part of the game however the main character never speaks and all dialogue is uncontrolled. The game features a large variety of game play and freedom, allowing a player to shape the world around and the characters appearance and moral standing based on decisions throughout the game. The player can also get married both same and opposite sex and bring up children to childhood but no farther, expressions are a lot more interactive with NPC's than before
89
/100
10
S
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV is an action-adventure video game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the eleventh title in the Grand Theft Auto series, and the first main entry since 2004's Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The game is played from a third-person perspective and its world is navigated on-foot or by vehicle. Throughout the single-player mode, players play as Niko Bellic. An online multiplayer mode is included with the game, allowing up to 32 players to engage in both co-operative and competitive gameplay in a recreation of the single-player setting. Two expansion packs were later released for the game, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, which both feature new plots that are interconnected with the main Grand Theft Auto IV storyline, and follow new protagonists.
88
/100
11
GRID (2008)
87
/100
12
Braid
87
/100
13
B
Dead Space (2008)
86
/100
14
Bionic Commando: Rearmed
86
/100
15
Far Cry 2
85
/100
16
Soul Calibur IV
85
/100
17
Prince of Persia
84
/100
18
Battlefield: Bad Company
84
/100
19
S
Call of Duty: World at War
83
/100
20
Pure
83
/100
21
FIFA 09
83
/100
22
Guitar Hero World Tour
82
/100
23
Midnight Club: Los Angeles
82
/100
24
Devil May Cry 4
81
/100
25
Saints Row 2
81
/100
26
Mirror's Edge
81
/100
27
Defense Grid: The Awakening
81
/100
28
Condemned 2: Bloodshot
81
/100
29
LEGO Batman
80
/100
30
Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
79
/100
31
Banjo Kazooie: N n B
79
/100
32
A
Castle Crashers
79
/100
33
Race Driver: Grid
78
/100
34
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2
78
/100
35
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm
76
/100
36
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3
75
/100
37
Ninja Gaiden II
75
/100
38
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
74
/100
39
Kung Fu Panda
73
/100
40
Tomb Raider: Underworld
72
/100
41
Bully: Scholarship Edition
72
/100
42
Overlord: Raising Hell
72
/100
43
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
71
/100
44
Army of Two
71
/100
45
LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
69
/100
46
Crash Time 2
69
/100
47
Quantum of Solace
67
/100
48
Turok (2008)
67
/100
49
Silent Hill: Homecoming
67
/100
50
Dark Sector
66
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Xbox 360 game of 2008?
The Orange Box currently tops the ranking with a score of 94/100 across 328 ratings. Ranking updated September 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.