Top 10 Best Xbox Live Games

1. Halo 2

Halo 2 is THE game to play on Xbox Live and is a best seller for a reason. The online play is smooth and fairly painless (occasionally you’ll find people who want to “de-level” by killing themselves and/or teammates) but overall it is quite fun. It requires a fun mix of individual skill and teamwork to be successful that simply works incredibly well.

2. Street Fighter Anniversary Collection

Of the online fighting games available, SFAC seems to perform the best online. 90% of the matches I have played in Hyper Street Fighter II and Street Fighter III have been lag free so it is very easy to enjoy these incredible games. There isn’t usually a ton of people playing, so finding an opponent of similar skill can be an issue, but part of the beauty of fighting games is that you learn a lot when you lose which means you’ll be getting better and having more fun.

3. Dead or Alive Ultimate

DOAU isn’t as smooth as Street Fighter, but once you get used to the lag it is still very fun. It replicates the arcade feel by having groups of people all playing together and “waiting in line” to play while still being able to watch the match currently going on. You get to hang out with fellow fighting game fanatics and learn how to play better at the same time. This game is flat out fun.

4. Burnout Revenge

Burnout Revenge trumps the incredible Burnout 3 in pretty much every way and thanks to a better implemented online mode than B3 you can actually connect and find games easily this time around. The racing is smooth and fast and pretty much lag free and the wealth of modes and options available make this game a ton of fun to play online.

5. Ghost Recon 2: Summit Strike

Summit Strike and Ghost Recon 2 are both great games to play online. They are solid shooters all around and have plenty of modes and maps and options to keep fans of realistic military shooters happy. The online experience is pretty smooth and it is simply a lot of fun overall.

6. Forza Motorsport

Forza Motorsport is an incredible game, but taking your game online makes it even better. You can race in an online career mode complete with class and performance restrictions except, or course, the other cars are controlled by human drivers. In my experience, everyone races pretty clean and you shouldn’t expect to be spun out or wrecked too much because there is a lot of respect between players online.

7. Star Wars Battlefront II

Star Wars Battlefront is the biggest selling Star Wars game of all time, so it should be no surprise we’re getting a sequel. What is surprising, though, is just how much better Battlefront II is than the original. Every single aspect of the game has been improved and new features such as space combat and the ability to use Jedi and other hero characters just seal the deal. More planets, more vehicles, more characters, more weapons – it all adds up to be more fun.

8. Battlefield 2: Modern Combat

Battlefield 2: Modern Combat is a solid first-person-shooter that delivers a fun single player experience and some of the best Xbox Live play around. It isn’t as big or as polished as the PC Battlefield games, but there is a lot to like here which makes Battlefield 2 worth owning for shooter fans. Multiple classes, huge maps, vehicles –Battlefield 2 has is all covered and more.

9. Mechassault 2: Lone Wolf

Giant robots rock, and being able to take those giant robots online and battle with other giant robots rocks even harder. There are lots of game types and mech types (along with tanks and planes) and the game plays runs pretty smoothly.

10. Madden 06 / ESPN NFL 2k5

All sports games are fun online, but nothing can quite match the fun and intensity of online football. Both NFL 2k5 and Madden 06 play wonderfully on Xbox Live and finding a game is always easy. Good times.