Xbox 360 Hidden Gems and Underrated Games

Xbox 360 hidden gems - Speed Gaming News

The Xbox 360 was one of the most popular consoles of its generation. It had a huge library of games that keeps us entertained for hours on end.

While there were plenty of big-name titles that garnered attention and critical acclaim, there were also many hidden gems. These games completely flew under the radar for many of us.

So in this post, we’ll take a look at underrated Xbox 360 games that are often considered hidden gems.

Awesome Xbox 360 Hidden Gems:

Vanquish
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
Lost Odyssey
Deadly Premonition
Blue Dragon

Vanquish

Vanquish is a fast-paced, action-packed shooter developed by PlatinumGames. It combines elements of Japanese mecha anime with western sci-fi sensibilities. All of this creates a unique and thrilling experience.

Players take on the role of Sam Gideon, a DARPA agent. Sam is equipped with an advanced suit that grants him enhanced speed and agility. And when we mention agility, we mean it.

The movement in this game feels great. You can roll like Link in Ocarina of Time, quickly take cover behind walls, and slide like Mega Man. It also features some bullet-time action, known in-game as AR mode. It’s awesome!

The game features intense gunplay, slick visuals, and a memorable soundtrack. You’ll definitely want to check this one out.

Pros

Fast-paced, high-octane gameplay
Beautiful graphics and special effects
Memorable characters and storyline
Plenty of replay value

Cons

Short campaign
No multiplayer
Some players may find the gameplay too difficult

Wrap Up

The difficulty is a pro for many of us! If that’s the case for you, check out our guide for getting all S ranks in Streets of Rage 4!

That said, it’s a 3rd person shooter, which we know some gamers take issue with. It suits the game well, and we have no complaints personally.

This may be our favorite hidden gem on the Xbox 360. Even if it is highly rated, it somehow went without recognition from many gamers.

If game reviews are your thing, Vanquish has a 9.6 User Score as of the time of this writing, and an 84 Metascore based on 70 Critic Reviews.

Resident Evil and Vanquish: Vanquish was directed by Shinji Mikami. Mikami was the creator of the Resident Evil series, and it’s considered one of his best works!

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

Enslaved is an action-adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic world inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.

It tells the story of Monkey, a former slave, and Trip, a tech-savvy girl, as they journey across a desolate landscape. Featuring stunning visuals, memorable characters, and a unique story, Enslaved was well-received by critics but didn’t get the attention it deserved.

Any video you can find online of this game will have comments about how criminally underrated it really is. IGN also had some most-kind words to say about this underrated game. So, you don’t have to take just Speed Gaming News’ word for it!

Pros

Beautifully rendered environments and characters
Engaging storyline and characters
Fun, fluid combat mechanics
Features a hard mode for replayability

Cons

Relatively short playtime
Some players may find the gameplay too simplistic
The game’s ending is somewhat abrupt

Wrap Up

This game is just a really pretty adventure that will leave you with memories for years to come. The acting and character connections feel authentic.

This game is worth playing for its colorful, stunning environments alone, but we promise it offers far more in the actual gameplay!

Enslaved: Odyssey and Hellblade Senua’s Sacrifice: Enslaved: Odyssey to the West was developed by Ninja Theory, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice.

Lost Odyssey

Lost Odyssey is a classic Japanese RPG that is sometimes considered the best Final Fantasy game that isn’t Final Fantasy.

In your playthrough, you will learn the story of Kaim, an immortal warrior searching for his lost memories.

Lost Odyssey provides an engaging story, deep characters, and a turn-based battle system. Lost Odyssey is a must-play for fans of the genre.

Pros

Deep, engaging storyline
Well-developed characters
Gorgeous visuals and sound design

Cons

Some players may find the game’s pacing slow
The game’s random battle encounters can become repetitive
The battle system may feel outdated to some players

Wrap Up

Some players say that Lost Odyssey features some of the best character interactions you’ll ever find in an RPG. While many RPGs can grow monotonous, every encounter in this game is enticing and exciting.

Something I personally like (even though it doesn’t make or break a game) is the character design. Maybe this is an unusual take, but most of the characters look like people I can imagine in real life. It somehow adds a level of relatability for me.

*shrug*

I know, it’s weird.

There is backward compatibility on newer Xbox consoles — and they improve the load times! Just in case it helps to share.

Final Fantasy and Lost Odyssey: Lost Odyssey features music composed by Nobuo Uematsu, the legendary composer behind many of the Final Fantasy series’ iconic soundtracks.

Deadly Premonition

Deadly Premonition is a cult classic survival horror game that’s been compared to the TV show Twin Peaks.

Despite the scary trailer and survival horror tag, it’s actually pretty mellow. It can be described as being a comedy or adventure as well. But one thing is for sure, it’s unusual!

The game follows FBI agent Francis York Morgan as he investigates a murder in the sleepy town of Greenvale.

Featuring a bizarre, quirky story and characters, Deadly Premonition is a game that’s full of charm, but it’s not for everyone. Those who like it, tend to say it’s either one of the best, or the single best game ever made.

Pros

Unique, engaging storyline
Memorable characters
Quirky sense of humor
Borderline surreal adventure

Cons

The game’s graphics and animations are dated
The gameplay can be clunky and frustrating (get ready for tank controls)
The game’s odd sense of humor may not be for everyone

Wrap Up

We wanted to include this trailer because it shows the Xbox 360 graphics and gameplay.

However, this game was remade for the PS3. The remake improves the tanky controls and makes some other various updates. If you’d like to hear more about Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut, you can check out the following quick and excellent review.

Swery and Deadly Premonition: Deadly Premonition was directed by Hidetaka Suehiro, better known as “Swery,” who is known for his unique and unconventional approach to game design.

Blue Dragon

Blue Dragon is another Japanese RPG, developed by the creators of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest.

Like other games on the list, Blue Dragon has a beautiful visual design, a catchy soundtrack, and a fun battle system.

Players control a group of heroes on a quest to save their world from an evil empire. The story is pretty straightforward, but it’s fun from start to finish.

Pros

Beautiful visuals and art style
Engaging battle system
Well-written characters and storyline
Unbelievably cute

Cons

Some players may find the game’s pacing slow
The game’s storyline can be predictable
The game’s exploration elements can feel tedious at times

Wrap Up

Blue Dragon Ball: Blue Dragon was created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of the Final Fantasy series, and features character designs by Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball.