The Best Xbox Prequel Games, Ranked

While many Xbox games with a single release can be good enough to become an instant classic without needing further entries, some others really benefit from a prequel that explains a franchise’s story in greater depth and lets players resonate better with their favorite characters.

Unfortunately, the prequel business is either hit or miss, so developers making games set before the original’s main events can either be a horrible mistake that players wish they could remove from canon or a welcome addition that complements the universe’s story. In any case, it’s undeniable that, while there are a few great Xbox exclusive prequels, many more came to the platform that were also shared with other systems, and not including them would be doing them a disservice. Here are the best Xbox prequel games.

6 Batman: Arkham Origins

Fight With A Younger, More Inexperienced Batman

• Set during the early years of Batman’s vigilante career
• Fun multiplayer mode with up to 8-player online support

Batman: Arkham Origins, while part of the Arkham game universe, is set years before Arkham City and Arkham Asylum. This game focuses on a much younger Batman, possibly in the earlier years of his career as a nocturnal vigilante. When the infamous kingpin, Black Mask, puts a bounty on Batman’s head on Christmas Eve, eight vicious contract killers will compete to claim the millionaire prize and crown themselves as Batman’s killer.

This title shares a lot of similarities with its sequels, including the beat ’em up combat game mechanics, the boss fights, and entertaining world exploration. Batman: Arkham Origins also features two neat multiplayer modes that support up to 8 players while online.

5 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky

A Survival Horror Game With Factions At War

• Publisher(s): GSC Game World, Plaion, Deep Silver
• Released: August 22, 2008
• Developer: GSC Game World
• Genre: FPS, Survival Horror
• Realistic survival mechanics
• Immersive atmosphere that adds to the suspense
• The game was a little buggy at launch

Serving as the prequel to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky is set in an alternate reality where the Chornobyl area, including the nuclear power plant, is ridden with bloodthirsty mutated creatures and other horrors. Players will take control of Scar, a veteran mercenary who will have to survive the horrors of Chornobyl, as well as the ongoing fight between different factions trying to gain control over the radioactive area.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky introduces new weapons and allows for armor customization. The game also has realistic survival mechanics, fast-paced territory warfare elements, and an immersive atmosphere that works incredibly well with the overall theme of the game. This title was very famous for being extremely buggy upon release, but luckily, many of them were patched soon after.

4 Gears of War: Judgment

An Interesting Look Into The COG, And The Early Days Of The Locust War

• New multiplayer modes
• A deep look into Cole and Baird’s stories before they joined Delta

Set before the events of Gears of War 1, Gears of War: Judgment follows the story of the Kilo Squad, led by no other than the famous Damon Baird and his trusted companion, Augustus Cole, AKA The Cole Train. Long before this beloved duo met Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, their own squad was tried for stealing COG experimental technology.

This game introduces new enemies, weapons, and an interesting take on Baird and Cole’s story before they became members of the Delta squad. Including new multiplayer modes, such as OverRun and Free-for-All, Gears of War: Judgment might not be the most popular entry in the franchise, but it’s very fun to play, and getting a peek into the COG’s bureaucratic processes is also very enticing.

Not to mention that it explains why it was often poorly organized, as high-ranking officials seemed more concerned with trying war heroes than ensuring humankind’s survival.

3 Perfect Dark Zero

A Vibrant-Looking Game With An Interesting Futuristic Design

• Weapon customization
• Various local and online multiplayer modes
• A great prequel to Perfect Dark

Focusing on the main character, bounty hunter Joanna Dark, Perfect Dark Zero follows her story as she joins the Carrington Institute Agency to stop a rival corporation from obtaining an ancient artifact that can grant superhuman power to regular people. Throughout the game’s various missions, players will have to bypass several layers of security, shoot their way across different platforms, and survive the relentless attacks coming from the numerous enemies on each level.

This title combines stealth, gadgets, and first-person shooting to deliver an immersive, action-packed experience with fast-paced combat. Perfect Dark Zero is set in the year 2020, and since it was developed in the early 2000s, it has a futuristic aesthetic, which, while not being anywhere close to how the world looked in that year, depicts an interesting concept of “what could have been” in a different world.

The music is also great, as it complements the fast-paced combat and action movements perfectly, adding to the sense of urgency and danger. Multiplayer modes are varied, offering both local and online possibilities, and the option to customize weapons gives the game an additional layer of control for players to enjoy.

2 Resident Evil 0

A Dark Story That Reveals The Umbrella Corporation’s Sick Actions

• Flawless character-switching features between Rebecca and her companion Billy
• The game explores the secrets of the Umbrella Corporation and uncovers many truths that explain the events of the sequels

Following the story of Officer Rebecca Chambers and set before the events of the original Resident Evil, Resident Evil 0 focuses on a series of murders that lead to a grim truth involving the origins of the T-Virus. As the game progresses, Rebecca and her companions will uncover increasingly concerning truths about the Umbrella Corporation as they fight their way through dark areas, claustrophobic hallways, and other zombie-ridden places.

The game allows players to switch back and forth between Rebecca and one of her companions Billy. This adds another layer of fun and possibilities to a game that’s already interesting and packed with spine-chilling action.

1 Halo: Reach

An Amazing, Action-Packed Addition To The Halo Universe

• Executions and improved game mechanics
• Amazing soundtrack
• Enticing story with a tragic ending
• Great multiplayer with new game modes

It could be argued that the Halo franchise made Xbox what it is today. After all, would the company have grown so much so quickly during the early 2000s without such a massive hit that keeps spawning new releases to this day? Hard to say for sure, but it’s rather unlikely. One of the greatest things about the Halo universe is how vast it is. With various creatures, planets, and UNSC factions, there never seems to be a shortage of possibilities when it comes to developing new games for the franchise, and Halo Reach is a great example of this argument.

Set in 2552, mere months before the events of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo Reach follows the story of Noble Team, comprised of six members; one Spartan-II, and five Spartans-III. When tasked to defend the human colony world of Reach, players will be responsible for ensuring the victory of these six Spartans to save the lives of the innocent colonizers, and prevent further advancement of The Covenant and their quest to activate the Forerunner rings.

Halo Reach has everything players need to have a blast while enjoying an action-packed story with a sad ending. The game has an amazing soundtrack, emotional cinematics, improved game mechanics and executions, and new multiplayer modes that leave nothing to be desired. It’s undeniable that the game became an instant classic the moment it was released, as it’s still a fan-favorite, even 14 years after its initial release.

More

5 Best Stealth Games That Are Prequels

The best stealth games quickly become franchises, and occasionally, those franchises have taken the opportunity to go back in time with a prequel.