Now before I get attacked by Xbox fans and PS3 fans come in for the attack, this is my serious look at the 360 exclusives and whether the 360 has really set itself apart as a console a gamer must have. I already did the PS3 and generated a little heat over it, so I went quickly to this to balance it out. Also keep in mind, I have a 360 and have about 80 odd games for it.

Having had my 360 for quite a while now, I was thinking about what sets it apart from the PS3. Most of the games available are available on both consoles, so unless one or the other (or both) have enough great (a personal perspective) games not available anywhere else, then one could easily survive on a single console, rather than both (I could never be satisfied with one).

When I am looking around for games to add to my collection, I really find it difficult to get excited about the 360 library - I bought it originally for the JRPG out at that time and things are different now. I might add that the PS3 is my choice of console for multiplatform games, unless there is a decent price difference. It is also my choice for games that require the 360 to go with multiple discs, such as Final Fantasy XIII. In respect to the exclusives, I really struggle to get interested in much that Microsoft has exclusive rights to. Consequently I thought I would list those games that I wouldn't want to miss out on this generation by not having a 360:

1. Banjo Kazooie Nuts & Bolts
2. Blue Dragon
3. Fable
4. Forza
5. Lost Odyssey
6. Project Gotham Racing
7. Viva Pinata

That's it. Not exactly a plethora of titles is it? Hardly worth owning a 360 for in my case (I have Gears of War and Halo and I don't like them). Yet I wouldn't want to have missed out on the 7 of those I have and thoroughly enjoyed. Mind you, obviously some of those have multiple titles available, but any of the 3 Forzas would do the job in all honesty. So I throw the question open in the form of:

Can you name 10 exclusive 360 titles worth owning the 360 for?

I couldn't.

Be honest, just go for the games you just have to play, not the ones you kind of like. This isn't about which is a better console based on games either, it is just about the 360 and you and its exclusives.

much fewer than ps3.

Yup, that Blue Dragon. Sure is a must-play.

Lost Odyssey, Fable 2, the Halo series, Gears of War series, Dead or Alive 4, Ninja Gaiden 2 (sans Sigma) and uh...um...Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad?

Wow, this topic really got depressing. I'm going to go lie down now...

I'd have said Mass Effect 1 and 2, but not only did they come out on PC but they also broke 360 exclusivity by releasing 2 on PS3. So there's that.

'Only on Xbox' is a joke or something because it isn't the first time a game has came out with that plastered on the box only for the game to show up elsewhere. Actually they've said that for games that released with a PC version alongside the Xbox version. It's weird and quite misleading when you think about it.

Edit: Oooer. ME2 doesn't have 'only on Xbox' written on it. First game does though.

thank god you made this thread. this has never been discussed on any forum i've been to over the last 6 years and its about time it was.

Speaking as a PS3 owner, Banjo Kazooie Nuts and Bolts and Lost Odyssey are the games that I want on my system. That list used to include Mass Effect, Dead Rising and Bioshock. 

The ones I enjoyed before my 360s died last year were:

• Gears series
• Halo 3
• Lost Odyssey
• Fable 2
• Mass Effect 1

I never owned many games for the 360 other then those. Most of the other stuff I owned was early multi-platform games like Oblivion and sports titles prior to the PS3.

noone is saying Gears of war?

Do you count XBLA and Indie titles? There's literally dozens of those that are worth playing and will probably never be on ps3.

Lost Odyssey and one of the Forza games.

Fable isn't exclusive to the Xbox.

Fable isn't exclusive to the Xbox.

I think Fable 2 is 360 only and definitely the best of the series.

@pepsimaxofborg said:

Fable isn't exclusive to the Xbox.

Fable 2 never came to PC as far as I know.

@Contrarian: Couldn't you just made a single thread about it?

Name me 10 Xbox 360 and PS3 exclusives worth owning them for.

See!

I'll give you one

Alan Wake

@xguile said:

Do you count XBLA and Indie titles? There's literally dozens of those that are worth playing and will probably never be on ps3.

This can be said for both consoles, and I think you're (not you specifically) discounting a big portion of titles by asking only for full-retail games.

Well, if PC doesn't count I think the first Mass Effect deserves a place on the list. It's the main reason I bought this console to begin with, and I wouldn't want to miss it for the world. Metro 2033 and Alan Wake (I have a thing for spooky silliness*) are also must-haves for me. Lost Odyssey and Forza x, too. I also enjoyed a lot playing the GOWs co-op with friends, so, I guess I'll be the one to mention them (edit: apparently, someone has already mentioned them. So, there you go, tunaburn). Hardly a console-selling series, though, if I'm being really honest.

*I mean AW, of course, not Metro.

• Crackdown (I'd mention Crackdown 2, but that wasn't a good game)
• Banjo-Kazooie: N&B
• Fable 2
• Gears of War 2, 3
• Halo 3, ODST, Reach (and I guess anniversary)
• Lost Odyssey
• Dead Rising
• Beautiful Katamari (but play one Katamari, play them all)
• Alan Wake (now has a PC release, but used to be exclusive)

And then there's the exclusive XBLA games:

• Shadow Complex
• Fez (yet to release, but currently exclusive)
• Iron Brigade
• Ilomilo (though technically also out on WP7)
• Trials HD.

I'd say there's quite a few exclusives worth having a 360 for. (edit: the formatting on my posts is messed up)

1. Amped 3
2. Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise
3. Any of the Gears of War games (so really, 3-5)
4. Infinite Undiscovery
5. As with Gears, any of the Halo games, except for Halo Wars, or ODST.  So, Halo Reach, Halo 3, or Halo CE.  6-9
6. Crackdown 1
7. Banjo Kazooie N&B
8. Geometry Wars 2
9. Alan Wake: American Nightmare
10. Ms. Splosion man
11. Iron Brigade
12. Forza 3 and 4
13. Trials HD
14. Toy Soldiers: Cold War
15. Uno Rush
    

@tunaburn said:

noone is saying Gears of war?

right?

@Shun_Akiyama said:

@pepsimaxofborg said:

Fable isn't exclusive to the Xbox.

PC does not count

@Rebel_Scum said:

I'll give you one

Alan Wake

@nintendoeats said:

Yup, that Blue Dragon. Sure is a must-play.

This is the best I could do. I was considering your question, but then I just started laughing and quoting everyone. TA-DA!

wait ok, fine. If you want an Xbox - go buy one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw-YjVp_ibQ

Alan Wake

Deadly Premonition is exclusively on the xbox in North America and Europe. wowowowow

@VoshiNova: I was being sarcastic myself.

Halo series

Gears series

Fable

Forza

Alan Wake

Banjo-Kazooie N&B

Shadow complex

Geometry wars

Iron brigade

Viva pinata

'Splosion Man

The Maw

And so on.

Halo is more important to me than anything that will ever come out on the PS3, it and Gears alone are worth owning a 360.

• Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts
• Fable 2
• Forza Motorsport 3
• Forza Motorsport 4
• Gears of War 2
• Gears of War 3
• Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
• Halo 3
• Halo: Reach
• Shadow Complex
• Trenched Iron Brigade
• Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise

I buy multi-platform games games on 360 primarily because they often run/look better but also for playing with friends via Live. Exclusives I've enjoyed but far from complete list:

Alan Wake

Gears of War Series

Saints Row

Halo Series

Lost Odyssey

Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts

Dance Central Series

The Gunstringer

Fable 2

Forza Series

Chrome Hounds

Dead or Alive 4

Culdcept Saga

Earth Defense Force 2017

Crackdown

Deathsmiles II

Operation Darkness

Raiden IV

-------- XBLA ---------

Shadow Complex

Assault Heroes Series

Bomberman Live

Explosion Man Series

Bangaioh HD: Missile Fury

Guardian Heroes

Soulcalibur

Radiant Silvergun

Omega 5

Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram

R-Type: Dimensions

-------- If PC doesn't count --------

Mass Effect Series

Condemned: Criminal Origins

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet

Bastion

Monday Night Combat

Star Ocean: The Last Hope!

Can't believe no one mentioned The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai and The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile! Great games if you want a fairly challenging experience and are available on XBLA for $10 a piece.

Gears

Gears 2

Gears 3

Halo 3

Halo Reach

Mass Effect

Iron Brigade

Fable 2

Viva Motherfucking Pinata

Crackdown

Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts

Stop making these goddamn threads. This generation is almost 7 years old. All of the consoles have a good amount of incredible exclusives. Jesus Christ.

I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Zombies!!!1

90% of the XBLA store is exclusive. And multiplatform games usually run and play better on it.

it's a lot harder here without resorting to XBLA games. as soon as I think one, I realize it also has a PC version...

though you could make the argument here for all the third party titles that are undeniably better on the 360.

I can only come up with:

1. Halo 3 or ODST or Reach
2. Gears of War 1, 2 or 3
3. Crackdown
4. Banjo Kazooie Nuts & Bolts
5. Fable 2
6. Condemned: Criminal Origins
7. Dead Rising
8. Viva Pinata
9. Lost Odyssey
10. Forza 3 or 4

okay there are 10 ... although I had to include three I know nothing about towards the end ...

again, only strict 360 exclusives, no remakes, no also-on-PC titles, no XBLA/indie games

lost odyssey is not a great game

In my collection I have

Banjo Kazoie Nuts and Bolts

Mass Effect

Lost Odyssy

Viva Pinata

Viva Pinata: Trouble In Paradice

Fable 2

Forza 4

Tales of Vesperia totally counts too, since the PS3 version never reached anywhere outside Japan.

@Swoxx said:

Star Ocean: The Last Hope!

That eventually became available to PS3 owners worldwide though.

-Shadow Complex

-Tales of Vesperia

-Fable 2

-Viva Pinata

-'Splosion Man

-Iron Brigade

Off the top of my head.

I swear I've seen something very similar to this... somewhere....hmm possibly on giantbomb.com

@nintendoeats said:

Yup, that Blue Dragon. Sure is a must-play.

For me it was, and I have no regrets. Just because you and many others don't like it doesn't really matter. I don't consider Halo a must play for me, but understand that many enjoy it for reasons of their own. Do you really need to crap on other people's taste in games?

@Shun_Akiyama said:

@pepsimaxofborg said:

Fable isn't exclusive to the Xbox.

PC does not count

Tha's a bit of a tough one really. In a way it does count, but I am really thinking console rather than PC. I understand the confusion.

@Mordukai said:

@Contrarian: Couldn't you just made a single thread about it?

Name me 10 Xbox 360 and PS3 exclusives worth owning them for.

See!

No. They are two different discussions. It isn't about which is better, but rather each seperate and distinctly different matters. Why do you care? Why even post if it doesn't matter to you? I own both and enjoy both and are discussing both - separate. I am taking a backstep to look at what I have done and seeing if I can justify the purchase and opening the discussion. I regret nothing.

@PK_Koopa said:

Tales of Vesperia totally counts too, since the PS3 version never reached anywhere outside Japan.

Actually had forgotten that, it was probably one of the main reasons I purchased a 360.

Geeez some people get snarky over things. It isn't like I am asking anyone to compare consoles or justify themselves, just what games made a console a must own for them. I think Giantbomb members have synced their menstrual cycle sometimes. Chill and just discuss what you like - there are no right or wrong answers. It is only competitive if you make it so. I hope to discover something I didn't know every time I enter a thread, by people educating me about a game I wasn't overtly aware of. Why can't people discuss without a testosterone overdose?

Bulletwitch.

@PK_Koopa said:

Tales of Vesperia totally counts too, since the PS3 version never reached anywhere outside Japan.

@Swoxx said:

Star Ocean: The Last Hope!

That eventually became available to PS3 owners worldwide though.

I did not know that.

Here is a better question. Why do exclusives matter? Looking at the past generation the only real news to come out of exclusives is how meaningless they have become. They don't sell consoles anymore (because the games that people actually purchase in mass quantities are all multi-platform), they are generally bad for the developer (just look at insomniac as a good example) because you are essentially selling to half of your potential customers, and they are becoming rarer and rarer as the years go on. Hell, I bet come next generation the exclusive is pretty much dead (except for first party titles).

List of Worthwhile Exclusives I have Played on 360

1. Ace Combat 6
2. Blue Dragon
3. Forza 4
4. Dance Central 2
5. Kinect Disneyland Adventures
6. Gunstringer
7. Alan Wake
8. Lost Odyssey
9. Halo
10. Banjo
11. DOA 4
12. Deathsmiles
13. EDF 2017
14. Naruto: Rise of a ninja
15. Otomedius
16. Viva Pinata
17. Fable

@MonetaryDread said:

Here is a better question. Why do exclusives matter?

The problem with that for me is we would only need a single console and that would only breed stagnation. I don't see that as a good thing. Without the Wii w wouldn't have Kinect and Move ............ where was I going with this.

Kinect Sports.

That is all

Can all of my answers be Deadly Premonition?

Thanks for making this. I bought a 360 to play Bully. Then I got Bio Shock and didn't like it. I still have a copy of Bio Shock 2 unopened. Only games on my radar now are Alan Wake, Tony Hawks American Wasteland, Gunstringer, and Halo 4.

I'll check back in here in a few days to see what other things people say.

• Fable 2
• Lost Odyssey
• Shadow Complex
• Alan Wake: American Nightmare

Gears of War 2 and 3. Yeah I've never really owned a 360 for exclusives myself, always for the better versions of multiplats that don't come to pc or have crappy pc ports and the various conveniences and whatnot of Live.

Now my ps3 on the other hand, mother effer does nothing but play exclusives for the most part, and blu-rays lol.

Lost Odyssey

Halo Reach

Halo 3

Gears 1-3

Fable 2 and 3

Blue Dragon

Beautiful Katamari

Amped 3 (Play this game)

Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts

Crackdown

Dead Rising

Too Human

Left 4 Dead 1 and 2

Metro 2033

Condemned 1

Splinter Cell Conviction

Mass Effect

The Witcher 2

Tropico 3 and 4

Shadowrun

Not to mention an absolutely unbelievable amount of great XBLA games, and even a few indie titles worth owning at this point

Yep, some of those are on PC but since you seem to be instigating a console war I think they are fair inclusions. To be honest, I don't even prefer my 360 for its exclusives, despite being an absolutely huge Gears and Halo fan, the console's biggest selling points to my mind are its ease of use (the XMB is an ugly, cluttered mess and always will be, especially compared to the dashboard), its reliability (Had my first xbox for 4 years with no problems, upgraded to a Slim and it works wonderfully, my PS3 freezes regularly), and, the obvious, Xbox Live, easily the most reliable, functional and well-equipped online service in the history of consoles. You say you buy multiplat games for PS3 but that is something I would never dream of doing when I can buy the 360 version and have the pleasure of (i) not waiting hours to install it, (ii) play online with my friends since my xbl friend list is more than double that of my PSN (iii) talk to friends in party chat while I play.

The fact is it's pretty clear to anyone at this point that the 360 has solidly trounced the PS3 this generation, in terms of sales, support, profit, userbase, Microsoft have won on every count. I love my PS3 and have enjoyed some good games on it here and there but will always turn to my Xbox first. It is undoubtedly the console of choice for the gamer with a brain.