Rumors of Xbox 360 games coming to PC have been making the rounds for a while, but a recent report feels far more real after Microsoft made a few classic Xbox titles playable on PC Game Pass in July. A leaked roadmap suggests Xbox 360 games could be coming in 2027 and 2028, specifically citing “XBOX 360 catalog gradual rollout across next-gen XBOX devices.” That means PC-only players could finally get to play Gears of War 2 and 3, Fable 2, and the original Ninja Gaiden 2 through (legal) emulation.
Just to be clear, Microsoft hasn’t officially confirmed anything.
As great as it would be to revisit all those heavyweights on modern PCs, I would be far more excited if the rollout emphasized forgotten Xbox 360 games that are close to impossible to find and play nowadays. They might not necessarily be masterpieces, but they nevertheless deserve to be preserved and made available to a much wider and younger audience. Come on, Microsoft, make this dream a reality, and emulate this X360 classic on PC.
The Darkness Needs To Join Its Sequel On PC
A Game That Should Have Never Been A Console Exclusive
- Released only on Xbox 360 and PS3
- Backward compatible with Xbox One and Series X/S
- Likelihood of a PC release: We aren’t talking about an Xbox-owned license, which reduces the likelihood of PC emulation. That said, The Darkness is still sold on the Xbox 360 store and is backward compatible with modern Xbox systems.
A sequel coming to a platform that never received its predecessor always seems like a misstep, especially for a series as character-driven as The Darkness. While 2K ported the second entry to PC, where it remains available on Steam, the first game remained exclusive to consoles, meaning that certain players never got to experience the good part of Jackie Estacado’s story. Don’t get me wrong, The Darkness 2 is fantastic, but that’s because of the gameplay rather than the messy story.
Although far rougher around the edges, The Darkness tells a gripping tragedy about a mafioso who turns to demonic forces after being betrayed by his own. The game handles Jackie’s journey into, well, darkness incredibly well, giving players time to get to know Jackie and his loved one before pulling the rug out from under their feet. The combat would also benefit from a keyboard and mouse setup, hopefully making it more enjoyable to play.
Condemned 2 Needs To Escape Its Xbox 360 Trap
The First Game Was Ported To PC, So Let’s Complete The Set Through Emulation
- Released only on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
- Not backward compatible with Xbox One and Series X/S
- Likelihood of a PC release: One of the more realistic candidates since it doesn’t have music or car licenses, nor does it use the Kinect, unlike something like Rise of Nightmares. However, Condemned 2 wasn’t even made backward compatible with the Xbox One and Series X/S, so this seems like a fairly long shot.
You know what feels weirder than a sequel coming to a platform without its predecessor? A sequel skipping over a system with its predecessor. While it was delisted last year, Condemned: Criminal Origins was available on PC for roughly two decades, which helped establish its cult hit status as one of the most visceral horror games of the 2000s. In comparison, its console-exclusive sequel barely has a legacy, despite being pretty good in its own right.
Horror games aren’t typically too reliant on framerates, but Condemned 2‘s melee combat would greatly benefit from a higher and more stable FPS than the Xbox 360 could afford. Because it mostly offered more of the same, the sequel didn’t earn the same admiration as its predecessor; however, it plays just as well as the first game and completes Ethan’s story. It would get a lot of love from PC players.
Click on the game with the higher OpenCritic rating.
Lost Odyssey & Blue Dragon Would Fit Nicely Into The PC JRPG Scene
Remember When The Xbox 360 Tried To Tempt Japan?
- Released only on Xbox 360
- Backward compatible with Xbox One and Series X/S
- Likelihood of a PC release: Microsoft Game Studios published both JRPGs, so the odds should be pretty good.
If you love JRPGs, you definitely recognize Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey, Microsoft’s attempt to get a foothold in that genre (and Japan) during the Xbox 360 era. As far as Xbox exclusives are concerned, both games stand out as unique examples, even if they didn’t perform well enough to warrant further attempts by Microsoft. Compared to the scene in the 2000s, JRPGS are nowadays far more widespread and commonplace on PC, which could allow these two cult classics to enjoy a resurgence.
To be honest, I feel a need to temper expectations just a bit, as Blue Dragon and especially Lost Odyssey have garnered a somewhat mythical stature due to coming out at a time when players were starved for decent JRPGs. Although good, they aren’t necessarily incredible or groundbreaking, and expecting something like that would only breed disappointment. In fact, Lost Odyssey‘s short stories tend to get the most love, and they are a fairly tiny part of the campaign.
Naruto: Rise of a Ninja & The Broken Bond Need To Be Saved From Purgatory
Two Of The Greatest Naruto Games Are Weirdly Locked On The Xbox 360
- Released only on Xbox 360
- Not backward compatible with Xbox One and Series X/S
- Likelihood of a PC release: Very, very low. Ubisoft’s Naruto license expired a long time ago, locking these two games in digital purgatory for seemingly ever.
We are getting into pure fantasy at this point, but we can dream. Before CyberConnect 2’s Ultimate Ninja Storm became the standard-bearer for Naruto games, Ubisoft randomly dropped two open-world efforts on the Xbox 360. Roughly 18 years later, Rise of a Ninja and The Broken Bond stand their ground as two of the most ambitious and quality entries in the franchise, and their cel-shaded visuals ensured they aged beautifully.
Rather than another 3D arena fighter, Ubisoft actually put together a proper action-adventure that lets you freely roam the Hidden Leaf Village. The games combine exploration, platforming, puzzles, and combat to create a well-rounded and delightful campaign that captures the magic of the source material. Will these two ever be referenced again by any company involved in their production? Frankly, I don’t think that will ever happen, but they really should be preserved.
Splatterhouse Exists, And Somebody Must Remember That
Am I Asking Too Much?
- Released only on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
- Not backward compatible with Xbox One and Series X/S
- Likelihood of a PC release: Almost zero, but not completely impossible. Bandai Namco still owns the rights for Splatterhouse, but the game’s soundtrack would need to be patched out to remove the licensed music.
Admittedly, this one is just for me.
I’m a big hack-and-slash fan, and Splatterhouse is one of my holy grails that I would love to experience on PC. Nowadays, the only (legal) way to play this forgotten 2010 gem is to pick up an expensive physical copy for the PS3 or Xbox 360, both of which don’t run particularly well and come with excruciating load times. A halfway decent PC emulated version should improve both of those elements, along with just reminding the world that Splatterhouse exists.
I just want to revisit a few Xbox 360 gems without dropping $100 on a copy that will chug along at 20 FPS.
