Xbox and PlayStation were clearly on the same page when designing their ninth generation home consoles, as both companies released digital editions of their latest systems. The Xbox Series S and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition are both capable of playing the same games as their more expensive counterparts but lack a disk drive. This modern approach came as little surprise to gamers, as digital purchases are convenient for players, and Sony and Microsoft benefit from a reduction in the second-hand selling of physical copies.
The Xbox 360 is largely responsible for the rise in digital purchases due to the console's Xbox Live Marketplace. The online marketplace did so well, in fact, that some games were released on the console as digital-only products. These are just some examples of great Xbox 360 games that experienced digital-only releases on the green brand.
7 Braid
Braid is the perfect game to start this list off with as it was hugely influential in promoting the Arcade section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, which was fundamental in the rise of indie gaming.
Braid is a puzzle-platformer that was designed by Jonathan Blow and tasks players with using time manipulation mechanics to reach the end of stages and collect puzzle pieces. Although the gameplay mechanics were excellent, it was Braid's story that turned heads. The 2008 release challenged gaming stereotypes with its narrative that ended with an incredibly well-constructed plot twist.
6 Super Meat Boy
Super Meat Boy is another one of indie gaming's most important releases. The game continued Braid's momentum by further reinforcing the idea that indie games could be just as enjoyable as AAA releases, at a time when many mainstream audiences still perceived indie games to be little more than fan games.
The platformer is best-known for its high challenge level, though it's also beloved among the platforming community for its brilliant level design, and for being influential in the eradication of lives in favor of quick and infinite restarts. Super Meat Boy had a limited run of physical releases on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PS Vita, though it was not released on Xbox consoles.
5 Peggle
Peggle is a casual puzzle game that was developed by PopCap Games and first released on PC in February 2007 before arriving on a plethora of other systems, including PlayStation 3, iOS, Nintendo DS, and, of course, Xbox 360.
Peggle's core gameplay is simple, as players just need to clear a handful of orange pegs with a set amount of balls. However, the game is deceivingly addictive, as along with featuring numerous wonderfully designed stages, the game also implements a variety of characters with special abilities that add a layer of strategy to the game.
4 Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
It's fair to say that the Geometry Wars had one of the strangest starts to life in gaming history. The first Geometry Wars title wasn't a standalone game, nor part of a collection, it was a mini-game that could be accessed via an arcade machine within the player's garage in the racing game Project Gotham Racing 2.
Although Project Gotham Racing 2 was one of the original Xbox's best racing games, many people found themselves ignoring the racing aspect of the game to just focus on Geometry Wars. Unsurprisingly, Microsoft Game Studios (now known as Xbox Game Studios) capitalized on this and released Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved on Xbox 360 in 2005.
3 Castle Crashers
Castle Crashers was developed by The Behemoth - the same company that developed Alien Hominid - and was first released exclusively on Xbox 360 in August 2008 before making its way to other systems in the years that followed, including PlayStation 3, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
The side-scrolling action RPG was predominantly popular for its cooperative play, as taking down enemies together with the game's simple but enjoyable hack and slash mechanics was tremendous fun. The game's art style also makes it pop.
2 BattleBlock Theater
From one game developed by The Behemoth to another, BattleBlock Theater was released in April 2013 and, much like Castle Crashers, was predominantly popular for how fun it was to play with friends.
The game didn't try to reinvent the wheel, keeping its platforming gameplay simple with standard traps to avoid and platforms to jump on. However, the platformer stood out for its charisma and comedy, as the game is bursting with life, color, and humorous animations that helped players create some of their fondest memories from the seventh generation of home consoles.
1 Spelunky
Spelunky was first released on PC in December 2008 before arriving on Xbox 360 four years later. The game was fundamental in popularizing the roguelike genre, as the platformer grabbed players' attention with its excellent level design that engrossed gamers and had them playing the procedurally generated levels for hours on end.
Like Super Meat Boy, Spelunky received a limited run of physical releases on PlayStation 4 and PS Vita, but never on the green brand of consoles.