If you're an Xbox 360 owner and haven't downloaded a game from Xbox Live, you're missing out on some of the best gaming experiences the Xbox has to offer. They might be relatively lean on price, but that doesn't mean they're lean on gameplay or fun. Join us as we talk about some of our favorite Xbox 360 games on this edition of The Obsessable Ten.

All the games listed have trial editions, so you can try before plunking down the Xbox points it takes to purchase the games. Xbox points are about 1.2 cents per point in US currency, which should give you an idea of the dollar value of each game.

 

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Uno

It might seem odd to download a card game, but Uno is one of our favorite Xbox Arcade games to play with friends. It's little more than the traditional card game shoved onto a 3D gaming platform, but the experience is pretty enjoyable. If you have friends who are on Xbox Live, playing Uno is a pretty social experience, despite being separated by hundreds of miles and playing in a room by yourself. Never under estimate the power of a draw four on a friendship. The game costs 400 points, and has numerous add-on decks which add in additional rules, extras, and other twists for additional points.

 

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Super Street Fighter Turbo HD Remix

Street Fighter is one of those gaming franchises that'll be next to Cher and cockroaches after Armageddon. The series has made its presence known on virtually every major gaming platform since 1992, and the Xbox 360 is no exception. While there are two separate versions on Xbox Live, we'd encourage buyers to skip the original and head straight for the new HD hotness. Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD (say that 10 times fast) sports all the characters from Super Street Fighter 2 and adds in Akuma from Street Fighter Alpha. The gameplay hasn't changed much from Street Fighters in days gone by, so expect the 2D beat-em-up that you've come to love. Luckily, though, all the characters, backgrounds and music have been faithfully recreated in much better quality that feels natural on the Xbox 360. Street Fighter fans should definitely download this game, which costs 1200 points.

 

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Bomberman LIVE

Another ancient franchise being remastered on Xbox Live is Bomberman. Supporting up to 4 players locally and 8 players on Xbox LIVE, Bomberman LIVE at its core is the same 2D bomb placing mayhem we've come to expect in an updated, Xbox LIVE enabled 3D package. The game is a great multiplayer party game for all ages and all levels of skill, and we'd recommend the 800 point download for a good time with friends.

 

 

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Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader?

Another game that's perfect for parties is based on the Fox TV show of the same name, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? While it isn't exactly a deep or compelling experience, fans of the show and party gamers alike will enjoy the trivia game. Just like the TV show, the game features Jeff Foxworthy as the host with a rotating cast of 5th graders as your potential teammates. The game is a bit pricey at 1200 points, but if you're into trivia games or like to watch the show, its a robust game that'll scratch your trivia itch.

 

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Braid

Most of the games we've talked about are either re-imagined older games, or otherwise based on some sort of related franchise. Not all Xbox 360 arcade games are that way, however. Braid, for instance, takes an extremely simple concept like Mario-esque platform adventuring, and flips it on its side. The game has extremely beautiful, detailed graphics, and follows an extremely existential story about a tie-clad schoolboy off to save a princess. The game, however, adds in some unique gameplay elements — like the ability to control time — to produce one of the most rewarding gameplay experiences we've ever had. It's definitely a mind trip, and there's an extremely impossible to follow story attached, but that being said it's one of the most memorable and interesting games we've played to date. We'd heartily recommend this 1200 point download.

 

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Geometry Wars Evolved 2

In the same vein of fun and interesting gameplay experiences is Geometry Wars 2. The pre-Xbox 360 original Geometry Wars game was actually an easter egg hidden inside of Project Gotham Racing. After fans started to gravitate toward the hidden game, Bizarre Creations decided to revamp the game for release on the Xbox 360. Essentially, the game plays like the classic Asteroids game on Crystal Meth. Players contol a ship with the left control stick, and shoot at approaching shapes with the right control stick.  The latest installment takes all of the fun of the original Geometry Wars and adds in a variety of different gameplay modes which deepen the game. The experience is extremely addictive and fun, and is one of the best on the console. Expect to spend 800 points on the game.

 

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Ikaruga

Another shooter game that feels like the old is made new is Ikaruga. Taking a page from the 80s ship-based-shooter arcade genre, players control a tiny space ship which shoots some sort of beam from the ship. The goal is to destroy the enemies flying in front, and progress through each level, which is no easy task. Ikaruga's real genius is the simple gameplay mechanic of light and dark ships. Enemies will fire either light beams or dark beams. If your ship is switched to the same color as the beams fired, you absorb the power. If you're opposite of the beams, it's sayonara as your ship is destroyed. The game costs 800 points and supports 2 players at a time. We'd recommend playing with a friend, as this game is incredibly difficult.

 

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Lumines Live

Puzzle aficionados will find many a puzzle game on display at the Xbox Arcade, but one of our favorites mixes music with puzzles: Lumines Live. The game is simple, like most puzzle games, but is extremely addictive and attention grabbing. The basic premise revolves around a series of falling blocks. Players have control over a square, divided into four smaller parts. Match up four like-colored blocks in a square, and they disappear. The game cycles through differing backdrops and music, and as the squares are placed and removed, instrumental effects give the game a fun and interesting vibe. The initial game is 800 points, with numerous bonus packs to add on functionality to the game available at extra cost.

 

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Rez HD

Take a mid 90's cyberpunk movie and put it in a blender with a synthesizer and you'd have an approximation of Rez. Players control a "cyber person" who aims a gun of sorts at enemies who fly by, and "passwords" which can be cracked by shooting them with enough bullets. The game's highlight isn't the story or the fancy graphics, but rather how music can be created in such a unique way. Each shot can be queued up, with the shot actually being fired on a beat. Shots can have differing sounds, which is an extremely fun and interesting way to create music. Originally released as a Playstation game, the updated Xbox Arcade version adds in HD graphics and support for Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. The game costs 800 points.

 

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Portal

Arguably one of the best games on any platform, Portal is our favorite Xbox Arcade pick of this Obsessable ten. While we've been enjoying the game as part of the larger Half Life Orange Box set, Portal is now available as a standalone downloadable game.

For the uninitiated, Portal is a first person puzzle game. Rather than solve puzzles like matching like colored blocks, Portal instead forces players to figure out how to get from the entrance to a puzzle's exit. Of course, it's not as easy as simply walking. Through the game, players are given control over a blue portal and an orange portal. Players can create an orange portal on most surfaces, including the floor, wall or ceiling, and then shoot a blue portal on another surface, and walk into the orange portal and out the blue portal, or vice versa.

It might sound a bit complex, but download the demo and give it a shot. It's extremely fun and one of the most innovative games we've seen in a while. Out of all the items on our list, if we had to pick one game to recommend, this would be it. The gameplay value is worth well over the 1200 points it'll take to download the game.

 

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Got a game we left off the list? Be sure to sound off in the comments and let us know what your favorite Xbox Arcade games are.