The Xbox 360, the most successful video game console from Microsoft, turns 20 years old on November 22. Over its lifespan, the console saw over 2,000 games released including some of the industries greatest games of all time. While the original Xbox was Microsoft’s first attempt at a mainstream video game console, the Xbox 360 was the one that put the industry on notice. It sold nearly three-and-a-half times more systems than the first Xbox (~85.73 million(M)), and, according to the latest known numbers, has even outsold the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S combined.
But what games from the 2nd-generation Xbox went on to become major hits? These are the best-selling Xbox 360 games of all time.
Best-Selling Xbox 360 Games Ever
The global data you’ll find below comes from custom data firm Data40, where the provide numbers for the best-selling Xbox 360 games since the system’s launch in 2005. The company says that it’s “high-load parsers scrape the web and marketing analysts process the data to provide up-to-date information for business.” That said, some of the information might not be 100% accurate. Should any discrepancies be found or more accurate information arise, this article will be updated and noted.
10. Grand Theft Auto 4
GTA 4 took players back to Liberty City during one of the most memorable eras in the series. Instead of focusing on wild chaos like earlier games, this one leaned into a more grounded story about Niko Bellic trying to start fresh while getting pulled into one bad situation after another. It felt gritty, personal, and completely different from anything the franchise had done before, which is why so many fans still talk about it today.
Estimated Xbox 360 Sales: 11.1M
9. Halo 3
Halo 3 was the Xbox Live game everyone seemed to be playing. The campaign delivered huge set pieces and emotional moments, while multiplayer kept people up late night after night. Forge mode and Theater mode were ahead of their time and gave players tools no other shooter offered. For a lot of fans, Halo 3 represents the peak of the franchise.
Estimated Xbox 360 Sales: 12.13M
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 arrived with incredible hype and somehow still lived up to it. The campaign had several moments that stuck with players for years, but it was the multiplayer that kept people coming back. Quick scoping battles, chaotic lobbies, and broken loadouts became part of gaming culture. Everyone who played during that era has at least one Modern Warfare 2 story. And most of them, unsurprisingly, involve the most controversial and infamous mission in franchise history.
Estimated Xbox 360 Sales: 13.49M
7. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Skyrim was one of those games you picked up for a quick session and suddenly realized hours had gone by. With dragons flying overhead and a world full of caves, towns, and secrets, every playthrough felt different. Even on Xbox 360, players found creative ways to explore, break, or completely reinvent the game. Almost everyone who touched Skyrim has a unique tale about their time in it.
Estimated Xbox 360 Sales: 13.7M
6. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 changed things up by jumping into a near future setting and giving players choices that affected the campaign. It also delivered some of the most memorable multiplayer the series has ever had. The maps were tight, the pacing was fast, and the competitive scene was extremely active. Zombies mode continued to grow here and became a nightly ritual for many groups of friends.
Estimated Xbox 360 Sales: 13.7M
5. Call of Duty: Black Ops
The original Call of Duty: Black Ops put players into a Cold War spy thriller with a style that set it apart from other entries in the series. The campaign introduced characters that fans still quote and reference today. Multiplayer became a massive hit thanks to iconic maps and a progression system that kept players hooked. Zombies mode became a lasting obsession for entire friend groups.
Estimated Xbox 360 Sales: 14.55M
4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 wrapped up the original Modern Warfare storyline with nonstop action and a campaign that kept the pressure high from beginning to end. Multiplayer continued to dominate Xbox Live with fast matches and an enormous amount of customization. Whether players preferred MW2 or MW3, almost everyone spent time in this one when it launched.
Estimated Xbox 360 Sales: 14.72M
3. Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition
Minecraft on Xbox 360 brought the world of crafting and block building to console players in the best way possible. It quickly became a favorite for families and groups of friends thanks to its simple controls and endless possibilities. To add to it, it allowed friends to play online together in an easier way than the original PC version. Many players who grew up during the 360 era still think of this version as their first real introduction to Minecraft. Fast-forward years later, and Minecraft is the most successful video game of all time with over 350 million copies sold across all platforms.
Estimated Xbox 360 Sales: 21M
2. Grand Theft Auto 5
GTA 5 launched on the Xbox 360 in September 2013 and immediately became one a top-selling game. The three-character structure felt fresh, and the world of Los Santos was filled with detail and personality. Even after finishing the story, players kept coming back to explore, find secrets, and try new things. The early days of GTA Online also started here, giving the game a long life on the console. As of October 2025, global sales of the game have hit 220M, putting it behind only Minecraft.
Estimated Xbox 360 Sales: 22.95M
1. Kinect Adventures
Kinect Adventures was bundled with the Kinect, which meant almost every Kinect owner tried it at some point. It offered simple but energetic minigames that got people moving and laughing, and it was one of the few games that actually showed what the Kinect could do. It worked well for families and parties and became a surprisingly memorable part of the Xbox 360 era.
Estimated Xbox 360 Sales: 24M
Do any of the games on this list surprise you? Leave your thoughts down in the comments below and join the official Insider Gaming Discord server. For more Insider Gaming, sign up for our weekly newsletter.
Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
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