Xbox 360 Games Critics Were Completely Wrong About

The Xbox 360 was one of the brightest spots in Microsoft's console history, standing toe-to-toe with the PlayStation 3. The game had a robust library, with many of the best Xbox 360 games continuing to stand the test of time. But for every widely acclaimed title, there are countless games that received a more tepid critical response. Fortunately, audiences have found these games, while rough around the edges, much more enjoyable than the reviews would lead you to believe.

With that in mind, we're looking at 360 games that are still worth your time, even if contemporary reviews suggest otherwise. We're not necessarily talking about hidden gems for the Xbox 360, but titles that received a lukewarm critical reception. For the purposes of this list, we're looking at 360 games that received a Metacritic aggregate score of less than 70%, indicating mixed reviews at best, but have bright spots worth mentioning. 

Silicon Knights, the development studio behind GameCube hits "Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem" and "Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes," pivoted to the Xbox 360 with "Too Human." The 2008 console-exclusive took classic elements of Norse mythology and transposed them to a futuristic sci-fi setting, with many of the lore's familiar warriors cybernetically enhanced. The game's protagonist is Baldur, a demigod criticized for being too human by his peers for lacking the same amount of cybernetic enhancements. However, this ultimately makes Baldur the hero best suited to stop Loki and his army of machines from attacking the last remnants of humanity.

Despite the hype, "Too Human" became a complete flop, largely squandering the goodwill Silicon Knights had earned during the GameCube era. Game Informer observed that the game was not worth its 14-year development cycle, criticizing it for "aggravating gameplay and irreparable plot" in its review. Despite this, the overall presentation is relatively engaging, though the combat mechanics do admittedly take some getting used to. The penultimate game developed directly by Silicon Knights, "Too Human" didn't do the company's legacy any favors but is not nearly as bad as its reputation suggests.

While movie tie-in video games have a regrettable track record, the James Bond series have fared much better as a whole. One forgotten title in the franchise, at least as far as games go, is 2008's "007: Quantum of Solace." The game adapts both "Quantum of Solace" and Daniel Craig's first Bond movie, 2006's "Casino Royale," which hadn't received its own tie-in game. It sees Bond dismantling a shadowy syndicate that has infiltrated governments around the world while recalling his first adventures as an MI6 operative.

In its review, Planet Xbox 360 remarked that gamers would "be wondering where all the fun is" from the lackluster first-person experience. Though not quite enough to be placed among the best James Bond video games, it uses the movie license well in delivering explosive action. The game also features Craig himself voicing his iconic character, joined by several other actors from the movies, including Judi Dench, Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green, and Olga Kurylenko. A cut above the usual movie tie-in title, "007: Quantum of Solace" is one of the better Bond games on the 360.

As far as underrated cyberpunk RPGs go, "Alpha Protocol" is an overlooked gem in the Xbox 360's library. Developed by "The Outer Wilds" studio Obsidian Entertainment and published by Sega, the game is named for a clandestine agency carrying out secret missions worldwide. Protagonist Michael Thornton goes rogue when he uncovers a conspiracy poised to trigger a new global cold war. The gameplay unfolds as a third-person action RPG, with players choosing between different classes emphasizing gunplay, gadget-centric expertise, or stealth.

"Alpha Protocol" essentially plays out like a blend of "Mass Effect" and "Metal Gear Solid," complete with tactical espionage action and a decision-driven narrative. Its execution of these mixed gameplay elements drew several vocally harsh critics upon its launch, feeling the overall product lacked the necessary polish. In its review, Destructoid bluntly observed that it was "absolutely dreadful and it should not have been released in the state it's in." Fortunately, "Alpha Protocol" is something of a cult classic nowadays, re-released for PCs in 2024 and giving a new generation the chance to enjoy the 2010 game.

Another movie tie-in game that doesn't get enough credit is 2011's "Captain America: Super Soldier," based on the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie "Captain America: The First Avenger." Published by Sega, the game has Captain America battle Hydra across Europe during World War II, freeing his best friend Bucky Barnes and their comrades-in-arms. This pits the hearty ensemble against classic comic book characters not in the movie, including Madame Hydra and Baron Wolfgang von Strucker as Hydra seeks to recreate the Super-Soldier serum. Gameplay features a mix of the freeflow combat of the "Batman: Arkham" games with Captain America using his signature shield not just while fighting but for platforming and puzzle-solving.

While appreciating the fast-paced, shield-centric combat mechanics of "Captain America: Super Soldier," GameSpot lambasted its "bland storytelling, drab visual design, and a dearth of thrilling moments." That said, it remains a solid movie tie-in and arguably among the best of the handful of games starring the Star-Spangled Avenger. Like "007: Quantum of Solace," the game also boasts most of the movie's main cast reprising their roles, including Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, and Hayley Atwell. The perfect superhero game to blast through over a long weekend, "Captain America: Super Soldier" is a no-frills enjoyable time.

The "Silent Hill" franchise has endured a rise and fall arc, followed by a resurgence led by 2024's "Silent Hill 2" remake. But before the series' modern rebirth, it released the more divisively received "Silent Hill: Downpour" for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2012. The game centers on convict Murphy Pendleton, whose prison transfer crashes near the otherworldly town of Silent Hill. As Pendleton makes his escape, the town reorients itself to reflect his guilt and trauma as outward extensions of his inner demons.

"Downpour" marked the last mainline "Silent Hill" entry for over a decade, until the franchise's 2024 revival. In its review, IGN dismissed the game as being replete with "lousy combat, dull exploration, and even the technical gaffes." But for all of its flaws, "Downpour" is a considerable improvement over its direct predecessor, 2008's "Silent Hill: Homecoming." An underrated installment that shouldn't have put the series on ice for 12 years, "Silent Hill: Downpour" was a quiet step in the right direction.