Backward compatibility has been a big demand from gamers for current-gen consoles, and Microsoft has answered this demand with 76 new titles added to their backward compatible series for the 20th anniversary of Xbox. With such a huge number of Xbox and Xbox 360 games now being playable on current and last-gen consoles, there's potential for a huge number of gamers to engage in some nostalgia-driven fun. However, Microsoft has also announced no further plans to make more games backward compatible, so fans shouldn't expect any further additions beyond those listed below.
Microsoft promises players can expect enhancements on these games, with Auto HDR (when supported), higher resolutions, and a select number of games will have Xbox's FPS Boost. A number of highly sought-after and fan-favorite games are included in the list, and Xbox is making some concrete efforts to show they are listening to fans. One of the biggest benefits of this list is the variety in genre and playstyle throughout, meaning this list will have something for almost every gamer.
The Full List
Here is every game included in this backward compatibility update:
- 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand
- Aces of the Galaxy
- Advent Rising
- Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom
- Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Make the Grade
- Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Burning Earth
- Bankshot Billiards 2
- Beautiful Katamari
- Binary Domain
- Black College Football Xperience: Doug Williams Edition
- Cloning Clyde
- Conan
- Darwinia+
- Dead or Alive Ultimate
- Dead or Alive 3
- Dead or Alive 4
- Death by Cube
- Disney Universe
- Disney’s Chicken Little
- Elements of Destruction
- Fear
- Fear 2: Project Origin
- Fear 3
- Fear Files
- The First Templar
- Gladius
- Gunvalkyrie
- Islands of Wakfu
- Lego The Lord of the Rings
- Manhunt
- Max Payne
- Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
- Max Payne 3
- Mini Ninjas
- Mortal Kombat
- Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
- MX vs. ATV Alive
- MX vs. ATV Untamed
- Nier
- Novadrome
- Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee
- Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad
- Otogi: Myth of Demons
- Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors
- The Outfit
- Outpost Kaloki X
- Quake Arena Arcade
- R.A.W. - Realms of Ancient War
- Red Dead Revolver
- Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
- Ridge Racer 6
- Rio
- Risen
- Risen 2: Dark Waters
- Rock of Ages
- Sacred 2: Fallen Angel
- Scramble
- Screwjumper!
- Secret Weapons Over Normandy
- Skate 2
- SpongeBob SquarePants Underpants Slam!
- SpongeBob’s Truth or Square
- Star Wars Starfighter: Special Edition
- Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars
- Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
- Switchball
- Thrillville
- Thrillville: Off the Rails
- Time Pilot
- TimeSplitters 2
- TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
- Toy Story Mania!
- Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment
- Viva Piñata: Party Animals
- Warlords
Highlights and Omissions
As mentioned, this list includes games that a lot of fans will be very happy to see. While Rockstar fans may have been disappointed by Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edtion, they'll now have a chance to play some classic Rockstar games other than GTA remasters. The entire Max Payne series is included for one, which many fans have been calling for a remake of, and the controversial Manhunt is also included. Finally, the original Red Dead Revolver, which sets the scene for Red Dead Redemption but follows Red in a quest to avenge his father, is included.
For horror fans, the list includes the F.E.A.R. series, which has been long praised for its horror experience. There's also Resident Evil: Operation Racoon City, which unlike other Resident Evil games is a squad-based third-person shooter. For Star Wars fans, there's a number of Star Wars games too, including the very well-received Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast.
Skate 2 was a particularly highly requested game for backward compatibility, while the infamous 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand is a fun addition. The TimeSplitters and Dead or Alive titles included in the list will certainly see a lot of fans returning nostalgically to these games. The Oddworld series has proved its enduring popularity over the years, and now gamers have the chance to play the third game in the series, Oddworld: Munch's Odysee, on the Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One. This was also the first 3D game of the series, making it a great choice for backward compatibility. Similarly, Beautiful Katamari offers some stress-free, whacky gaming, especially for fans of the Katamari series.
Some omissions to the list, largely due to licensing issues, including Spider-Man and other Marvel properties games. However, Spongebob games and Lego The Lord of the Rings were possible to include in the list. Since Xbox has no plans to add to this list anytime soon, it's a safe bet that anything not yet backward compatible will not become so. There are many classic Xbox and Xbox 360 games that are available to play through different means, but this massive backward compatibility update has made a lot of titles much more accessible.
Xbox has made sure to credit the fans for the selection of games on this list, making it likely that omissions were unavoidable. In direct acknowledgment of this, Microsoft has announced that:
"This latest and final addition of 70+ titles to the backward compatibility program was only possible through the passion and feedback from the community. Your constant requests for specific titles and enhancements encouraged the Backwards Compatibility team to partner with the original creators to preserve thousands of games from over four generations of Xbox. While we continue to stay focused on preserving and enhancing the art form of games, we have reached the limit of our ability to bring new games to the catalog from the past due to licensing, legal and technical constraints. Thank you for being part of this journey with us."
This huge Xbox update is not only exciting for the games now available, but also as a big move by a gaming giant to acknowledge the fans/their customers and answer their requests. While there's still a big desire for new IPs in the gaming industry, these Xbox and Xbox 360 games are sure to satiate gamers for now.
Source: Microsoft