The Xbox Live Arcade has been a great place for smaller and inexpensive (yet just as excellent) games to flourish and reach out to a larger audience. I decided I would put together a list of my 10 favorite XBLA titles that I own. They aren't in any particular order, and feel free to discuss what you think! It's quite possible that I haven't played some of the great games that are available out there.
2009's flagship Summer of Arcade title raised the bar for what an XBLA game could be. This "Metroidvania"-style game has an excellent single player component that begs to be played multiple times - attempting things like obtaining all items, obtaining the minimum number of items, sequence breaking, and speed runs.
The art style and humor of this 4 player co-op sidescrolling hack-n-slash makes for an extremely charming game that is a blast to play, especially with friends! Personally, I've sunk a lot of time into it, playing over and over to unlock new characters and weapons.
This pinnacle of dual-stick shooters continues to add onto the greatness of the original. With six distinct modes this time around, it provides a diverse set of ways to play. Its addicting score-based gameplay and leaderboards will keep you coming back to play for just a few minutes or maybe a few hours at a time! (I know I've spent a LOT of time trying to get those Sequence-based achievements! :P)
Before MNC, I had never really gotten into a multiplayer game all that much. I didn't really understand how people could play such popular MP games like Call of Duty or Team Fortress 2 over and over and still enjoy it. For some reason, this game hooked me, and keeps me coming back again and again. It does a good job of being very accessible while providing depth and strategy at the same time, all in a good-looking package.
This is a very quirky side-scrolling platformer that you will remember for quite a while. Between the wacky main character exploding off walls to get through some extremely tough platforming, the Donut Song, and the completely insane ending/credits sequence, this is a game that sticks with you! There is also a completely separate co-op multiplayer mode with even tougher puzzles, which is a nice addition.
This is a game in the Tower Defense genre that also allows you to personally command units as well. What really stuck out about this game to me was how each level really feels like quite a hectic battlefield while at the same time, making it seem like you are playing in a child's toybox with actual miniatures.
A physics based, side-scrolling, motorcycle platformer that simultaneously makes you want to pull your hair out while making you want to come back for more. This game is tough and not afraid to show it. You definitely have to master some of the more minor nuances of the game to beat the later levels. The package is rounded out with a set of 12 crazy minigames that are a lot of fun.
The style and atmosphere of this indie platformer continues to astound. An excellent, albeit short, experience from start to finish.
This whimsical tale of a geriatric man on a quest for pie is presented in a striking black and white old-timey Victorian style filled with mind-bending platforming-based, time puzzles. There isn't a lot of replay value once you've figured them all out, but many of them are head-scratchers that will leave you stumped for a while. Very charming puzzle game.
The change in direction that developer Crystal Dynamics took with this game turned out to be a good one; this dual-stick shooter set in an isometric perspective is very satisfying to play. Lots of clever puzzles, tons of artifacts to find, extra challenges to beat - all these things make this game worth playing over and over again.
