Xbox 360 Review: Microsoft's Finest Hour, Red Rings and All
8/10 — Microsoft Xbox 360
Pros
- Superb library, from Gears of War to Mass Effect
- Xbox Live and achievements set the template for modern consoles
- Brilliant controller
- Many games playable on Xbox One and Series X|S
Cons
- Early models notorious for the Red Ring of Death
- Digital store closed in July 2024
- Low-resolution output looks rough on modern TVs
- Original models are loud
For many players, the Xbox 360 is the high point of Microsoft’s console history. Launched in late 2005, a year ahead of the PS3, it brought HD gaming into the mainstream, made Xbox Live an essential part of console gaming, and enjoyed a run of games that still hold up today. It also suffered one of the worst hardware failures in gaming history.
Design and reliability
The original white Xbox 360 has a slightly concave, curved design and a large external power brick. It’s also loud, especially with a disc spinning. The real problem was reliability. Early consoles were prone to overheating failures known as the “Red Ring of Death”, and Microsoft extended its warranty at a cost of over $1 billion. Later models, the slimmer 360 S (2010) and 360 E (2013), are quieter and far more reliable. If you’re buying today, get one of those.
Games
The 360’s library is its legacy. Gears of War, Halo 3, Mass Effect, Forza Motorsport, Fable II and Alan Wake sit alongside classic multiplatform games such as BioShock, Red Dead Redemption, Skyrim and Portal 2. Xbox Live Arcade gave a home to indie gems like Braid, Limbo and Castle Crashers long before the big digital stores. And the 360 controller is still regarded as one of the best ever made.
Xbox Live and achievements
The 360 also shaped how consoles work today. Gamertags, achievements, voice chat, party systems and digital downloads all became standard here. Kinect, added in 2010, was a huge seller, though its games haven’t aged well.
Buying one today
The Xbox 360 Store closed on 29 July 2024, so you can no longer buy digital games, although previously purchased games can still be downloaded. Physical games are plentiful and cheap. On a modern 4K TV, its 720p games look soft, and a good HDMI-equipped later model makes a big difference.
It’s also worth knowing that hundreds of the best Xbox 360 games are playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, often with better performance. If you already own a modern Xbox, that may be the better way to play them.
Verdict
The Xbox 360 is one of the great consoles, with a superb library, a brilliant controller and a lasting influence on the industry. Its early reliability problems were a real stain, and the store closure limits it to physical games now. For retro collectors and fans of that era, a later 360 S or 360 E is still well worth owning.
