Which Xbox 360 Emulator Games Are Available for PC?

Everyone has their favorite video game from an older console. The problem is, as technology advances and improves, those older gaming systems get phased out. Along with them goes your old favorite video game.

Even though the graphics improve and new games are more complex, it is still hard to beat the old classics you grew up playing and enjoying. Perhaps no console in history is beloved by an entire generation of gamers like the Xbox 360.

What if there was a way to rekindle the magic from games that are years or even decades old? Xbox 360 emulator games can make that dream a reality. There is a new process that can mimic the Xbox console and can be done with most PCs.

Continue reading for everything you need to know on how to be able to go back and play those classic games, including a complete breakdown of which games are available to play.

Why An Emulator Instead of Xbox 360?

Originating in 2005, the Xbox 360 introduced an immersive circular-surround gameplay and took online gaming to a whole new level. Most importantly, there are thousands of memorable titles that were released on the Xbox 360.

From first-player shooting games to sports video games, there was something for everyone to enjoy. By the time the last games were put out for the console in 2018, the Xbox 360 was so memorable that many didn’t want to move on to the next generation.

There are some people still out there with working Xbox 360’s, but many have been left without a console to play on. That is because Xbox 360’s, or any gaming system for that matter, are not built to last decades.

From general wear and tear over time to the red ring of death, many have a story of being stuck with physical copies of their favorite games but without a working Xbox 360.

Bring On the Emulators

Unless you have the ability to find a still-working Xbox 360, or you purchase the newer Xbox One, you need a new way to play your favorite classic games. Even the Xbox One only has backwards compatibility with a handful of 360 games.

Enter stage right: the Xbox 360 retro game emulator. With this incredible technological breakthrough, older 360 games are being brought back from the dead. But how does it work?

You can access the emulator by downloading links off of the internet. Be careful though, some are not as trustworthy as others. The most popular Xbox 360 emulator is the Xenia project, a system built by former Xbox employees themselves.

The emulator is essentially just a computer program that can run games on your PC. Xenia can currently play over 600 Xbox 360 titles, and nearly 100 can be fully run and execute all features of the game.

Not all computers are able to access the program Xenia. You will need hardware and software requirements comparable to that of the Xbox 360 to run and play your game discs on Xenia’s emulator.

Complete Breakdown: Xbox 360 Emulator Games

Now that you know you can play old games, I am sure you are wondering- what is Xbox 360 emulator games list? This resource has the complete list. There are some memorable classics on the list, like multiple Grand Theft Auto titles (San Andreas and Vice City) and Halo: Combat Evolved.

The hits just keep on coming with Halo: 2, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, and Fable: The Lost Chapters. Some others that are beloved include Assassin’s Creed original trilogy (with more editions of Assassin’s Creed on the way), and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (both 1 and 2).

Major projects in the works include Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. It is unclear whether online gaming between two users will be possible and many are skeptic. Other projects include a better selection of sports video games like some Madden titles and NBA2K games as well. 

Keep in mind, some of these games and titles are only available only in part. Meaning that some aspects and features within the original game are not yet accessible. But teams like Xenia are working on it, and breakthroughs could come in the future.

How to Download An Emulator

There are the four main things to check before downloading Xenia or one of their slightly-riskier competitors (that also have fewer Xbox 360 games for PC than Xenia). Your PC will need to match the CPU that Xbox 360’s used or be even better. Computers with a GhZ of 2 or better will get the job done.

As far the processor within your hardware goes, emulators will require the space of 64-bit XB6. Another space requirement is at least 250 GB HD space for the disc, although it could be higher if you are playing a particularly complicated game.

Finally, your RAM will have to at least 4 GB. To download, simply just go to the Xenia website and click on “latest release available here.” Once you have the file downloaded, you can either play the games you have as a disc, or select from their list of games to play.

Don’t forget, you could try to see if your Xbox 360 game is on the Microsoft marketplace, but many niche and cult titles are not. Also, newer VR’s have the capability to act as an emulator as well. VR Xbox 360 emulator games are rising in popularity.

Relive the Glory Days

Once you can download some files and figure a few things out, the Xbox 360 emulator games are a dream come true. Nothing can beat going back to the classic games you played years ago and reliving them.

Retro games are rising in popularity, and many have the nostalgia to go back and play old video games. Not only is it nostalgia, but they are just darn good games in any era!

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