Best games
Best Xbox games of 2003
The 29 best Xbox games released in 2003, ranked from 8,548 critic and player ratings.
The best Xbox game of 2003 is Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, 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: 2003.
- 29 games are listed on this page, carrying 8,548 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 29
01
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Choose Your Path! Set 4,000 years before the Galactic Empire, you are the last hope for the Jedi Order and the Republic - can you master the ways of the Force to become their savior? Or will you fall to the dark side and achieve ultimate power? Hero, villain, peacekeeper, or chaos-bringer... you and your party will determine the fate of the galaxy! Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a role-playing video game. Players will be able to create their own characters and be able to choose what gender, appearance, class, skills, attributes, and feats they have throughout the game - no two characters will be the same!
94
/100
02
Beyond Good & Evil
Beyond Good & Evil is an action-adventure game with elements of puzzle-solving and stealth-based games. The player controls the protagonist, Jade, from a third-person perspective. Jade can run, move stealthily, jump over obstacles and pits, climb ladders, push or bash doors and objects, and flatten herself against walls. As Jade, the player investigates a number of installations in search of the truth about a war with an alien threat.
91
/100
03
Tony Hawk's Underground
Get ready for a major new step for the Tony Hawk series. Tony Hawk's Underground tweaks the gameplay of previous installments to include a plot-twisting story, customizable tricks and decks, online play, and the ability to include your own mug shot on your custom player. Of course, you can also play as any one of pro skating's biggest stars including Tony Hawk, Bob Burnquist, and Elissa Steamer. Ride, walk, or drive through nine expansive levels then test your skills against other gamers online. Become a star of the Underground.
90
/100
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Choose Your Path! Set 4,000 years before the Galactic Empire, you are the last hope for the Jedi Order and the Republic - can you master the ways of the Force to become their savior? Or will you fall to the dark side and achieve ultimate power? Hero, villain, peacekeeper, or chaos-bringer... you and your party will determine the fate of the galaxy! Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a role-playing video game. Players will be able to create their own characters and be able to choose what gender, appearance, class, skills, attributes, and feats they have throughout the game - no two characters will be the same!
94
/100
02
Beyond Good & Evil
Beyond Good & Evil is an action-adventure game with elements of puzzle-solving and stealth-based games. The player controls the protagonist, Jade, from a third-person perspective. Jade can run, move stealthily, jump over obstacles and pits, climb ladders, push or bash doors and objects, and flatten herself against walls. As Jade, the player investigates a number of installations in search of the truth about a war with an alien threat.
91
/100
03
Tony Hawk's Underground
Get ready for a major new step for the Tony Hawk series. Tony Hawk's Underground tweaks the gameplay of previous installments to include a plot-twisting story, customizable tricks and decks, online play, and the ability to include your own mug shot on your custom player. Of course, you can also play as any one of pro skating's biggest stars including Tony Hawk, Bob Burnquist, and Elissa Steamer. Ride, walk, or drive through nine expansive levels then test your skills against other gamers online. Become a star of the Underground.
90
/100
04
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Max Payne 2 is a third-person shooter, in which the player assumes the role of Max Payne, but also plays as Mona Sax in a few levels. Initially, the player's weapon is a 9mm pistol. As they progress, players access other weapons including other handguns, shotguns, submachine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, and hand-thrown weapons. To move the game along, the player is told what the next objective is through Max's internal monologue, in which Max iterates what his next steps should be.
84
/100
05
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Deceived by the treacherous Vizier, I was led to unleash the Sands of Time curse upon the Sultan's kingdom. With little but an ancient dagger and a devious princess to aid me, I must undo my fatal mistake. Mine is a fight for survival… not glory. • Reverse, accelerate, and slow time itself with the almighty Sands of Time. • Master the Prince's speed, agility, and ferocious fighting skills. • Explore and survive the vast kingdoms of medieval Persia.
84
/100
06
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The video game adaption of the acclaimed film of the same name. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a follow up the well received adaption of the first two films in the trilogy. The game expands on what The Two Towers accomplished, with the action and adventure sequel introducing three separate story lines from the movie: one following Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, as The Two Towers did, another following Gandalf, and a third following Frodo and Sam, with Merry, Pippin, and Faramir serving as unlockable characters. Gameplay features were also expanded upon, including multiplayer.
82
/100
07
Broken Sword 3 - The Sleeping Dragon
82
/100
08
Midnight Club 2
Midnight Club II is a racing video game developed and published by Rockstar San Diego (formerly Angel Studios). It is the first sequel to Midnight Club: Street Racing, published for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Microsoft Windows. Players can race through cities based on Los Angeles, Paris, and Tokyo. The game also features an online multiplayer component. It is the second game in Midnight Club franchise, followed by Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition.
81
/100
09
Deus Ex 2: Invisible War
80
/100
10
Deus Ex: Invisible War
Several religious and political factions see an opportunity to re-shape a worldwide government to their agendas. In this techno-nightmare, take part in the dark struggle to raise the world from its own ashes. This dynamic and innovative 1st person-action/adventure brings a level of reality unprecedented in a videogame. Biotech modifications allow players to see through walls, leap 40 feet into the air, regenerate critical body damage or render yourself radar invisible. Globe-hop to real world locations such as Seattle, Antarctica, and Cairo.
80
/100
11
Zuma
78
/100
12
Need for Speed: Underground
76
/100
13
Manhunt
75
/100
14
Unreal 2: The Awakening
75
/100
15
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
73
/100
16
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
73
/100
17
XIII
72
/100
18
Neighbours from Hell
72
/100
19
Worms 3D
72
/100
20
True Crime: Streets of LA
72
/100
21
Legacy of Kain: Defiance
70
/100
22
Freedom Fighters
70
/100
23
Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy
69
/100
24
Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
68
/100
25
Sonic Heroes
67
/100
26
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
65
/100
27
Enter the Matrix
60
/100
28
Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon
60
/100
29
Pirates of the Caribbean
49
/100
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Max Payne 2 is a third-person shooter, in which the player assumes the role of Max Payne, but also plays as Mona Sax in a few levels. Initially, the player's weapon is a 9mm pistol. As they progress, players access other weapons including other handguns, shotguns, submachine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, and hand-thrown weapons. To move the game along, the player is told what the next objective is through Max's internal monologue, in which Max iterates what his next steps should be.
84
/100
05
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Deceived by the treacherous Vizier, I was led to unleash the Sands of Time curse upon the Sultan's kingdom. With little but an ancient dagger and a devious princess to aid me, I must undo my fatal mistake. Mine is a fight for survival… not glory. • Reverse, accelerate, and slow time itself with the almighty Sands of Time. • Master the Prince's speed, agility, and ferocious fighting skills. • Explore and survive the vast kingdoms of medieval Persia.
84
/100
06
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The video game adaption of the acclaimed film of the same name. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a follow up the well received adaption of the first two films in the trilogy. The game expands on what The Two Towers accomplished, with the action and adventure sequel introducing three separate story lines from the movie: one following Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, as The Two Towers did, another following Gandalf, and a third following Frodo and Sam, with Merry, Pippin, and Faramir serving as unlockable characters. Gameplay features were also expanded upon, including multiplayer.
82
/100
07
Broken Sword 3 - The Sleeping Dragon
82
/100
08
Midnight Club 2
Midnight Club II is a racing video game developed and published by Rockstar San Diego (formerly Angel Studios). It is the first sequel to Midnight Club: Street Racing, published for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Microsoft Windows. Players can race through cities based on Los Angeles, Paris, and Tokyo. The game also features an online multiplayer component. It is the second game in Midnight Club franchise, followed by Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition.
81
/100
09
Deus Ex 2: Invisible War
80
/100
10
Deus Ex: Invisible War
Several religious and political factions see an opportunity to re-shape a worldwide government to their agendas. In this techno-nightmare, take part in the dark struggle to raise the world from its own ashes. This dynamic and innovative 1st person-action/adventure brings a level of reality unprecedented in a videogame. Biotech modifications allow players to see through walls, leap 40 feet into the air, regenerate critical body damage or render yourself radar invisible. Globe-hop to real world locations such as Seattle, Antarctica, and Cairo.
80
/100
11
Zuma
78
/100
12
Need for Speed: Underground
76
/100
13
Manhunt
75
/100
14
Unreal 2: The Awakening
75
/100
15
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
73
/100
16
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
73
/100
17
XIII
72
/100
18
Neighbours from Hell
72
/100
19
Worms 3D
72
/100
20
True Crime: Streets of LA
72
/100
21
Legacy of Kain: Defiance
70
/100
22
Freedom Fighters
70
/100
23
Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy
69
/100
24
Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
68
/100
25
Sonic Heroes
67
/100
26
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
65
/100
27
Enter the Matrix
60
/100
28
Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon
60
/100
29
Pirates of the Caribbean
49
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Xbox game of 2003?
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic currently tops the ranking with a score of 94/100 across 1,438 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.