Microsoft’s Xbox series of systems has made an indelible mark on the gaming world. Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One established themselves as titans of the FPS genre, with the likes of the iconic Halo series cementing their places in gaming history.

The Xbox Series X/S is set to arrive next month, but before it does, let’s spare a thought for the system that pathed the way for it: the original Xbox. Microsoft’s first home console offered a variety of excellent games, as well as some that were sorely underappreciated. Whether because they sold poorly, were underrated, or didn’t live up to their potential, here are some Xbox games that really deserved to perform better.

10 Psychonauts

Double Fine Productions’ Psychonauts remains a platformer like no other. The game revolves around a young boy named Razputin, who boasts psychic powers and wants to be a Psychonaut (a member of an elite group of agents with abilities like Raz’s own).

The game is set in the Psychonauts’ training facility, with Raz diving into and through various characters’ minds to unlock the secrets within. Along the way, he must learn the truth about the conspiracy that’s plaguing the institute. It’s creative, unique, and more than a little bizarre, and it’s a crying shame that it didn’t garner the sales it deserved. A sequel is in the works, but it’s been plagued by repeated delays.

9 Drake Of The 99 Dragons

If there’s one thing that can be said for Drake of the 99 Dragons, it’s that it had a neat concept. Who could resist the idea of playing as a zombified dual-wielding powerhouse (Drake), seeking to retrieve a hallowed artefact from the villain before they can unleash a devastating army of robotic zombies?

It sounded like a fun time all around and it certainly should have been. Sadly, Drake Of The 99 Dragons has become infamous as one of the worst titles in the original Xbox’s library. From the controls (the camera and aiming were tied to the same analog stick) to the questionable presentation, it was a real mess. It should’ve been a winner, and maybe it could have if it had been given the care and attention the wacky premise deserved. With all the brilliant shooters this era had to offer, there was no reason to give this one the time of day.

8 Blinx: The Time Sweeper

While the Xbox brand has always had a generous supply of shooters to offer, Microsoft’s systems have traditionally been a little lacking when it comes to other genres. 3D platformers in particular have been rather thin on the ground, but the original Xbox did have one solid genre entry on offer: Blinx: The Time Sweeper.

The adorable cat Blinx was on a mission to save a whole dimension (Dimension B1Q64 to be precise) from the Tom-Tom Gang, using his TS-1000, a vacuum cleaner with settings that allow Blinx to control and manipulate time (speeding it up or temporarily stopping it, for instance). While it performed well enough to warrant a sequel on the system in 2004 (Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space), these innovative titles didn’t make much of a splash and have largely been forgotten today. As has their hero.

7 XIII

A common complaint leveled at FPS titles is that many of them are just so similar in aesthetics. That gritty, grim vibe can become a little wearing, after all. Way back when, Doom defined many of the characteristics that still shape the genre today, so it makes sense that players want to see something new.

The cel-shaded XIII was certainly that. This Ubisoft effort is based on a graphic novel, inspiration that is clearly reflected in its art style. The level design itself wasn’t so creative, alas, and the game’s overall impact was muted. It may have a second chance next month, however, when the remake launches on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One (the Nintendo Switch edition is sadly delayed into 2021).

6 Gun

When it comes to Xbox systems, Gun represents a unique case. Like many titles on this list, it’s a multiplatform title, one that launched for PC, GameCube, PS2, and Xbox in 2005. There’s nothing unusual about that, except for the timing of the game: it arrived in November of this year for most systems/regions, meaning that it was also released as an Xbox 360 launch title.

Inevitably, then, many Xbox fans wanted to move on straight away and make the leap to the new system. Gun would surely have performed better on Xbox had it not been available for the 360 as well. Not a complaint by any means, but an inevitability from the original Xbox’s point of view. Besides which, this thrilling Western adventure has largely been forgotten in the wake of Red Dead Redemption and the like.

5 Dino Crisis 3

There are few survival horror franchises quite as egregiously underappreciated as Dino Crisis. At their best, these titles felt incredibly Resident Evil-esque, throwing in dinosaurs that only added to the awesomeness. At their worst, however, they were… well, they were Dino Crisis 3.

In this futuristic adventure, players do battle against mutated dinosaurs while riding a jetpack. That sounds super cool, but the game is rendered tough to play by the controls and camera system (the constant perspective switches were very disorientating). Had this title knocked it out of the park, the series may still have been a force to be reckoned with today, but it disappointed on the Xbox and the PS2 port was canned entirely.

4 NightCaster: Defeat The Darkness

Another lesser-known title for the Xbox, NightCaster: Defeat the Darkness is an adventure title that casts the player as an inexperienced wizard on a quest to… well, defeat the darkness, in the form of the malevolent Nightcaster.

While NightCaster is quite short and simple in terms of level design and gameplay mechanics, hero Arran develops a huge selection of spells as his confidence and powers grow. This one had a lot of potential, and it’s a shame that it just didn’t stand out. Even worse, it received a sequel, NightCaster 2: Equinox, which got a very negative reception and all but snuffed out the series.

3 SpyHunter

SpyHunter is a tough one to call. While it didn’t technically flop in terms of sales, it was simply a middle-of-the-road release that lacked the immediate appeal needed for true mainstream success.

SpyHunter is a remake of the 1983 arcade original, a James Bond-aping high-octane adventure that revolves around car combat, high-speed chases, and perilous missions. The remake, which arrived on a variety of platforms, was chock full of that classic retro vibe, but this also held it (and its sequel) back. Much more than the sum of its parts.

2 Otogi: Myth of Demons

Even veteran Dark Souls fans may be unaware of this rather obscure FromSoftware-developed project. Otogi: Myth of Demons and 2003 sequel Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors are very reminiscent of the iconic series. The combat may be a little simpler, but the storytelling, atmosphere, and visuals of these system exclusives are top-notch.

Taking the role of a warrior who inadvertently let loose a torrent of demons on the world and rectifying that mistake in stylish, blade-waving fashion is a blast. What a pity the game’s so underrated (as is the sequel that directly followed the original’s story).

1 Spyro: Enter The Dragonfly

To finish off this rundown of Xbox titles that just didn’t make it big for one reason or another, here’s one that absolutely should have. With the pedigree of the Spyro the Dragon series, coupled with all the hype that was generated prior to Spyro: Enter The Dragonfly’s release in 2002, the game seemed sure to be a success.

There’s an interesting caveat here: Enter the Dragonfly didn’t actually release on Xbox at all, with the proposed port being canceled. Nevertheless, all the negative reception could have been avoided if the title had done the Spyro name justice, and Xbox owners could have been given the title they deserved. With its technical issues and insistence on tentatively sticking to the Spyro script, the game did nothing to make itself stand out.

NEXT: 10 Differences Only True Fans Noticed Between The Old Spyro Games And The Reignited Trilogy