If you owned an original Xbox at any time during your life, then it's safe to say there were probably a few shooter games in your collection. With so many great options to choose from, there was never a shortage of games to play for fans of the genre. Since some games were much better than others, we've decided to rank the best Xbox shooter games of all time.
This list features the most popular and best-selling shooter games that were released for the original Xbox. While many of these games were console exclusive, we're allowing non-exclusives to be a part of the list as well. Everything from Halo: Combat Evolved to Doom 3 is included. Vote for your favorite video games below.
- 31Nov 19 2002
Embrace the Force in Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, an exciting third-person action-adventure that lets you experience life as a Jedi. Engage in fast-paced lightsaber duels and wield powerful Force abilities while unraveling a dark conspiracy. Jedi Outcast left a lasting impact on fans, earning its spot among the best Star Wars games ever made.
- #15 of 256 onThe Best Third-person Shooter Games Ever Made, Ranked
- #52 of 549 onList of All GameCube Games
- #445 of 842 onThe 100+ Best Video Games Of All Time, Ranked By Fans
- 32Jan 11 2005
Jump into the boots of a freelance gun-for-hire in Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction – an explosive open-world action game full of carnage and chaos. Watch the world crumble around you as you tear through hostile environments, completing contracts, and causing untold destruction. Mercenaries' excessively destructible world left players craving more, cementing its place as a fan favorite.
- #67 of 256 onThe Best Third-person Shooter Games Ever Made, Ranked
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- #34 of 37 onThe Best PlayStation 2 Stealth Games
- 33Apr 30 2003
Join the rebellion and cause chaos in Red Faction II, a thrilling shooter with groundbreaking destructible environments and memorable weapons. Combat enemies across diverse locales while reshaping the battlefield to your advantage, making every playthrough unique. Red Faction II's innovative Geo-Mod technology left its mark on the gaming landscape, inspiring developers to create more interactive worlds.
- 34Sep 26 2003
Take up arms in a dystopian alternate-reality New York City in Freedom Fighters, an underappreciated third-person shooter gem. Recruit your own group of rebels as you battle against an oppressive regime with responsive squad mechanics, intense firefights, and a compelling narrative. Freedom Fighters' unique blend of tactical gameplay and political undertones offered a fresh spin on the genre that still resonates today.
- 35Nov 18 2002
Step into the shoes of the world's most iconic spy in James Bond 007: Nightfire – a first-person shooter filled with high-stakes action and thrilling espionage. Featuring exotic locations, dangerous missions, and an alluring narrative, Nightfire captured the essence of what makes James Bond so enduringly appealing. This suave shooter left players shaken, not stirred, and is still fondly remembered today.
- #74 of 549 onList of All GameCube Games
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- #28 of 76 onThe Best GameCube Adventure Games
- 36Jul 25 2006
Say hello to your little friend in Scarface: The World Is Yours – a game that lets you rewrite the film's ending and create your own criminal empire. With a fantastic voice cast, deep character progression, and an open world ripe for exploration, Scarface left its mark on the hearts of fans and the gaming industry alike. The successful fusion of film lore and gaming innovation made for an unforgettable experience.
- 37Jun 01 2004
Experience the intense tactical gameplay of Full Spectrum Warrior, a military simulator that puts you in command of a squad of soldiers navigating realistic combat scenarios. Utilize strategic planning, precise teamwork, and intelligent decision-making to accomplish your missions in this innovative title. Full Spectrum Warrior left players yearning for more, inspiring the development of tactical shooters for years to come.
- 38May 19 2006
Bring order to a city on the brink of destruction in Urban Chaos: Riot Response, where you'll don the helmet of a tough-as-nails cop fighting against brutal gangs. Experience the thrill of first-person shooter combat merged with strategic decision-making and a gritty narrative, making this title stand out among its peers. Urban Chaos left players wanting more of its unique combination of action and strategy.
- 39Mar 09 2006
Take tactical shooting to the next level with Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, boasting refined squad mechanics, jaw-dropping graphics, and a gripping storyline. Immerse yourself in the role of a high-tech soldier battling insidious threats in real-world locations, pushing the boundaries of military technology. Advanced Warfighter left an indelible mark on fans, paving the way for future entries in the Ghost Recon series.
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- #17 of 31 onThe Best 4 Player Co-op Games
- 40May 03 2005Pariah is a first-person shooter computer game developed by Brainbox Games, HIP Games and Digital Extremes, co-developers of the Unreal franchise. It was released on May 3, 2005 for Windows and Xbox. It uses a modified version of the Unreal engine and the Havok physics engine. A demo featuring the multiplayer portion of the game was released half a month before the game. Pariah received mixed reviews from critics.
- 41Apr 18 2005
Step into the world of Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict, where you'll engage in fast-paced first-person and third-person multiplayer battles in high-octane arenas. The game's unique blend of shooting mechanics, melee combat, and acrobatic movement made for a thrilling experience that broke new ground in the competitive gaming scene. Unreal Championship 2's innovative take on the multiplayer shooter genre inspired future titles to push the boundaries even further.
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is an open world action-adventure video game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It was released on 26 October 2004 for the PlayStation 2 console, and on 7 June 2005 for Microsoft Windows and Xbox. It is the seventh title in the Grand Theft Auto series, and the first main entry since 2002's Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. It was released on the same day as the handheld game Grand Theft Auto Advance. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is played from a third-person perspective in an open world environment, allowing the player to interact with the game world at their leisure. The game is set within the fictional US state of San Andreas, which is heavily based on California and Nevada. The state of San Andreas consists of three metropolitan cities: Los Santos, based on Los Angeles; San Fierro, based on San Francisco; and Las Venturas, based on Las Vegas. The single-player story follows Carl "CJ" Johnson, who returns home to Los Santos after learning of his mother's murder.
- #19 of 596 onSony PlayStation 2 Games: List of PS2 Console Games
- #12 of 842 onThe 100+ Best Video Games Of All Time, Ranked By Fans
- #55 of 209 onThe Best Video Game Soundtracks of All Time
- 43Oct 09 2002TimeSplitters 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Free Radical Design and published by Eidos Interactive. It was released for the PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox game consoles in October 2002 in North America, Europe and Japan. It is the second game in the TimeSplitters series, and a sequel to the original TimeSplitters. The game features a single-player mode consisting of ten levels in which the player assumes the role of one of two space marines as they attempt to stop the alien race of TimeSplitters from ruining history by collecting the time crystals in various time periods, ranging from the Wild West to the 25th century. It has several multiplayer modes. A sequel, TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, was released in 2005, developed by Free Radical and published by EA Games. In June 2007, another sequel was announced to be in development, titled TimeSplitters 4.More TimeSplitters 2
- #49 of 549 onList of All GameCube Games
- #510 of 842 onThe 100+ Best Video Games Of All Time, Ranked By Fans
- #7 of 37 onThe Best PlayStation 2 Shooter Games
- 44Mar 21 2005TimeSplitters: Future Perfect is a first-person shooter video game developed by Free Radical Design and published by EA Games for the PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox video game consoles. It is the third game in the TimeSplitters series, after TimeSplitters 2, which was released in 2002. The game features a single-player mode consisting of levels where the player assumes the role of Sergeant Cortez, a time-traveling marine from the 25th century, as he attempts to go to the past to save the future. The game also includes a range of multiplayer options including cooperative mode. Online play was included in both the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions. In June 2007, a sequel was announced to be in development, titled TimeSplitters 4, however has since been shelved due to difficulties selling the idea to potential publishers based on Future Perfect's sales performance.
- #75 of 549 onList of All GameCube Games
- #790 of 842 onThe 100+ Best Video Games Of All Time, Ranked By Fans
- #13 of 31 onThe Best 4 Player Co-op Games
- 45Nov 21 2002Steel Battalion is a video game created by Capcom for the Xbox console where the player controls a "Vertical Tank"—a bipedal, heavily armed mecha. To control the tank and play the game requires the use of a large controller made specially for Steel Battalion. The controller has two control sticks and around 40 buttons. The game, bundled with the controller included, launched at a retail price of around ¥19,800, £130, or $200. Only limited quantities were made available. These quickly sold out, making the game a collector's piece. It has since been re-released in limited quantities worldwide, with blue controller buttons distinguishing it from the first edition with green buttons.
