I've had an xbox 360 for a long long time, well a few of them actually. However I have never used it enough to really dip into the xbox arcade. My only experience was the first year or two of the xbox 360's life when the live arcade was a bit lacking. Years past and I don't know whats what. Surely I could sift through threads and articles on the internet, but I want people who play games consistently (well, why else would you be here), I want your opinions. The only must-haves I can think of is Doom, Doom II, and of course Duke Nukem.

Preferably staying away from multiplayer games, I would rather have the game and my console out live the need of a player base to enjoy it.

Shadow Complex is really cool little Metroidvania-type game, with lots of upgrades, secrets and other stuff to find. Some people will tell you to avoid it because of Orson Scott Card's involvement and while I think his opinions are abhorrent, you won't see any of that in the game.

@svenzon: I'll check it out, though I really must know whats up with what you've mentioned.

I have 1 recommendation. Spelunky. Who knew that after spending so much money on retail games a $15 arcade title would end up being one of my favorites. I would describe it as a platformer with perma death.

Bastion: People praise the story and narration (and with good reason), but I found the combat to be the best part of the game. Weapons allow for a variety of combat tactics and the arenas were a great challenge when playing with all idols on.

Pac-Man Championship Edition - DX: It's Pac-Man on LSD.

The Misadventures of PB Winterbottom: Fun time-and-space bending platform puzzler. It's Braid without having its own head up its ass.

Trials Evolution

Minecraft Xbox 360 Edition (If your into that)

Pac Man Championship Edition DX

Dust An Elysian Tail

Alan Wake American Nightmare

Dead Rising Case Zero (Cheap $5 and Good)

Super Meat Boy is a must own for ANY gamer.

Trials Evolution

Dust: An Elysian Tale

Mark of the Ninja

Shadow Complex

Bastion

Toy Soldiers: Cold War

Thanks duders, though while I have some of these games already on the PC, I'll make sure to fill some of them onto my xbox to give it some loving.

Appreciate all the input.

Orson Scott Card is a crazy homophobic conspiracy theorist. It's pretty terrible and creepy.

No love for Castle Crashers yet? Y'all crazy.

For ones not mentioned yet:

Marvel vs. Capcom 2

N+

The Dishwasher

Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection

Perfect Dark

Pinball Arcade

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Risk Factions is pretty good you guys...

Buy Pacman CE DX and never need to buy another video game ever again

Bastion was one of my favorite games of 2011. Absolutely loved it.

Shadow Complex is a damn fine Metroid-vania style game.

Pacman CE DX is quite the addicting little game.

Pretty much everything mentioned above + The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile. That game is fucking excellent in every way possible.

I believe he is talking about how Orson Scott Card made comments around the time that Shadow Complex was released that he is very anti-homosexual. I can't remember the exact comments because I was too busy enjoying the fuck out of Shadow Complex, but it was something very much where people seemed to judge a game based on comments made by someone involved rather than judging the game for the game itself.

With that said, I should also recommend Fez. Despite the hatred that people have for Phil Fish, that game is one in a million.

Yeah that Phil Fish guy really seems like a douche, but if his game is good, his game is good right?

I've got 1200 points and I'm torn between dust and shadow complex, which are seemingly the last XBLA games that you can't get on PC. If only microsoft did a fire sale on XBLA games like they're doing on on demand games this week...

@historyinrust: Alien Hominid HD is better IMO. can't go wrong with either of them though.

Alien Hominid HD

Castle Crashers

Trials EVO

Shank 2

@ogred: That's a blindspot for me. But I'll check it out per your recommendation!

Guardians of Middle Earth
Minecraft
The Walking Dead

Battlefield 1943

Still going strong

Peggle is a great casual game to play as well, its often my go to game when its time to listen to the new bombcasts.

I heard there's a bunch of stuff on sale right now. Anything good?

I would like Bastion but I have a fracture in my hand so I can only play less intensive games.