Xbox backwards compatible games - availability
Jul 5, 2022 21:32:15 GMT -5
Post by Gilder on Jul 5, 2022 21:32:15 GMT -5
I purchased an Xbox One X last year and have become interested in its backwards compatibility with the original Xbox and Xbox 360 games. I never had an Xbox 360 and wished to dive into the library, and the backwards compatibility program is a nice preview of the library. However, some games I wanted were unavailable in the Xbox store such as Jet Set Radio HD and Final Fight Double Impact. After researching, I noticed that some titles still have purchase options on the Xbox 360 Marketplace, while being "not available separately" on the Xbox store (either in your web browser or via your Xbox). So I went through the list of backward compatible games for Xbox One/Series X on Wikipedia and placed special notes on games that are currently unavailable.
Listed below are games I have done research on. With XBLA games, I noted games unavailable via the Xbox Store currently and whether they are available via the Marketplace or not. The Xbox 360 Disc Only games and original Xbox games listed here are games that are (or were) unavailable via the Xbox Store. For any XBLA game that is not in the list below, they can be purchased via the Xbox Store. For any Xbox 360 Disc Only game that is not in the list below, they are only playable with the disc. For any original Xbox game that is not in the list below, they can be purchased via the Xbox Store. My assumption is that these can change at any moment. Please use the List of backward-compatible games for Xbox One and Series X/S as a reference.
XBLA
XBOX 360 (Disc Only)
Original XBOX
Hopefully this helps anyone who is trying to find a game they previously thought unavailable!
EDIT: Updated the Xbox 360 disc only list.
How I purchased games: On a web browser, log onto your Xbox account via the Xbox Marketplace listing. Click on "Buy Game", confirm payment (I used PayPal). You will then get confirmation that the game is in your account. Once purchased, log into the Xbox Store on your Xbox One or Xbox Series S/X and look up the title you just purchased. You should be able to install from there. NOTE: Trying to purchase through the Xbox Marketplace on your phone does not work; I tried for multiple titles and kept getting an error message.
I can confirm that through this method I used above I have purchased some games including Final Fight Double Impact, Jet Set Radio HD and Prince of Persia (Original Xbox). I did also purchase Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds through this method as it was not available in the Xbox Store at the time; it is now available there. This is why I have placed a "yes" under availability. I placed a "maybe" on availability for games with a purchasable Xbox Marketplace listing, but I have not tested it myself. Purchase with caution as I have not confirmed the maybe availability, but I will update if I purchase anymore.
NOTE: This is only for the USA listings. I am unsure if this will work for other regions.
Listed below are games I have done research on. With XBLA games, I noted games unavailable via the Xbox Store currently and whether they are available via the Marketplace or not. The Xbox 360 Disc Only games and original Xbox games listed here are games that are (or were) unavailable via the Xbox Store. For any XBLA game that is not in the list below, they can be purchased via the Xbox Store. For any Xbox 360 Disc Only game that is not in the list below, they are only playable with the disc. For any original Xbox game that is not in the list below, they can be purchased via the Xbox Store. My assumption is that these can change at any moment. Please use the List of backward-compatible games for Xbox One and Series X/S as a reference.
XBLA
| Title | Availability | Notes |
| AirMech Arena | No | Xbox One version also unavailable |
| Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? | No | |
| Assassin's Creed Liberation HD | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | |
| Axel & Pixel | No | No Xbox Marketplace listing |
| Babel Rising | No | |
| Blood of the Werewolf | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | |
| BloodRayne: Betrayal | No | Remaster/Release available via Xbox Store |
| Castle Crashers | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | Remaster available via Xbox Store |
| The Cave | No | No Xbox Marketplace listing |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | |
| Daytona USA | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | |
| Defense Grid: The Awakening | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | |
| Earthworm Jim HD | No | No Xbox Marketplace listing |
| Final Fight: Double Impact | Yes; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | Listed name as "Final Fight: DblImpact" |
| Golden Axe | No | Release available as an XBLA backwards compatible compilation SEGA Vintage Collection: Golden Axe |
| Halo: Spartan Assault | No | Xbox One version available via Xbox Store |
| Iron Brigade | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | |
| Jeremy McGrath's Offroad | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | |
| Jet Set Radio HD | Yes; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | Listed as "Jet Set Radio" |
| Limbo | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | Xbox One version also available via Xbox Store |
| Mad Tracks | No | No Xbox Marketplace listing |
| Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers | No | Listed as "Magic: The Gathering" |
| Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 | No | Listed as "Magic 2012" |
| Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 | No | Listed as "Magic 2013" |
| Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014 | No | Listed as "Magic 2014 - Duels of the Planeswalkers" |
| Monopoly Deal | Maybe; buy option available on Xbox Marketplace | Xbox One version available via Xbox Store |
| Motocross Madness | No | |
| Mr. Driller Online | No | |
| Ms. Pac-Man | No | Xbox One release version available via Xbox Store |
| Mutant Blobs Attack | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | |
| N+ | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | Remaster titled N++ available via Xbox Store |
| NBA Jam: On Fire Edition | No | |
| New Rally-X | No | |
| Pac-Man Museum | No | |
| Peggle 2 | Maybe; buy option available via Xbox Marketplace | Xbox One version available via Xbox Store |
| Pinball FX | No | |
| Runner2 | No | |
| Sonic CD | No | Included in the Sonic Origins compilation via Xbox Store |
| Sonic the Hedgehog | No | Included in the Sonic Origins compilation via Xbox Store |
| Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | No | Included in the Sonic Origins compilation via Xbox Store |
| Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | No | Included in the Sonic Origins compilation via Xbox Store |
| Soulcalibur | No | |
| SoulCalibur II HD Online | No | |
| Spelunky | Maybe; buy option available via Xbox Marketplace | |
| Syberia | No | No Xbox Marketplace listing |
| Toy Soldiers | No | Remaster available via Xbox Store |
| Toy Soldiers: Cold War | No | |
| Toybox Turbos | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | |
| Trine 2 | No |
XBOX 360 (Disc Only)
| Title | Availability | Notes |
| Assassin's Creed III | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | Remastered version available via Xbox Store |
| Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | Xbox One version available via Xbox Store |
| Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | |
| Black College Football: BCFX: The Xperience | Yes, available via the Xbox Store and Xbox Marketplace | Wikipedia list outdated as this title is available to purchase. |
| Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | Xbox One version available via Xbox Store. Wikipedia list outdated as this title is disc only. |
| Darksiders II | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | Remaster available via Xbox Store |
| Dark Souls | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | Remaster available via Xbox Store |
| F1 2014 | No | Wikipedia list outdated; game is currently disc only |
| F.E.A.R. 3 | Yes, available via the Xbox Store and Xbox Marketplace | Wikipedia list outdated as this title is available to purchase. |
| Left 4 Dead | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | Wikipedia list outdated; game is currently disc only |
| Left 4 Dead 2 | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | Wikipedia list outdated; game is currently disc only |
| The Orange Box | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | Wikipedia list outdated; game is currently disc only |
| Prince of Persia | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | |
| R.U.S.E. | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | |
| Skate 2 | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | Wikipedia list outdated; game is currently disc only |
| South Park: The Stick of Truth | Maybe; buy option via Xbox Marketplace | Wikipedia list outdated; game is currently disc only. Xbox One version also available via Xbox Store |
Original XBOX
| Title | Availability | Notes |
| Battlefield 2: Modern Combat | No | No Xbox Marketplace or Xbox Store listing for the original Xbox version. Apparently, placing the Xbox disc version of Battlefield 2: Modern Combat downloads the 360 version. |
| Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | No | Xbox Marketplace listing. Apparently, placing the Xbox disc version of GTA: San Andreas downloads the 360 version. |
| Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time | Yes; buy option via Xbox Marketplace |
Hopefully this helps anyone who is trying to find a game they previously thought unavailable!
EDIT: Updated the Xbox 360 disc only list.