Game compatibility is one of the most important metrics for any emulator — and for Xenia, it’s a constantly evolving achievement. As a work-in-progress emulator for the Xbox 360, Xenia aims to faithfully reproduce the console’s behavior across a wide range of games. That means replicating the hardware, APIs, and timing quirks that developers used to build hundreds of Xbox 360 titles.
Because the Xbox 360 featured custom hardware and a unique software stack, emulating it on a modern PC is a monumental technical challenge. Despite this, Xenia has made tremendous progress, and many popular Xbox 360 games are now fully playable with stable performance and graphics.
This page explains what game compatibility means, how Xenia handles different game formats, what to expect when launching a title, and how you can contribute to improving compatibility across the platform.
Game compatibility refers to how well a particular Xbox 360 game performs when emulated through Xenia. Some titles run flawlessly from start to finish, while others might only boot to the intro screen — or not launch at all.
Compatibility depends on several technical factors, including:
The completeness of CPU and GPU emulation
The accuracy of memory and I/O handling
Support for Xbox 360 kernel functions
Proper timing and synchronization between subsystems
Because Xbox 360 games were built to run on a specific set of hardware and APIs, Xenia must reproduce those conditions faithfully to ensure the game behaves as expected.
Xenia is designed to support official retail versions of Xbox 360 games, which come in two primary formats:
These contain the game files in an unpacked directory, including the critical default.xex executable. You can load these directly by navigating to the folder and opening the .xex file through Xenia.
These are raw dumps of Xbox 360 discs, preserved in ISO format. Xenia can launch ISOs directly without the need for physical discs or mounting software.
Once a game is loaded, Xenia attempts to emulate the necessary hardware environment and execute the game code in real time. Whether or not the game runs depends on how complete and compatible the emulator is with the features used by that particular title.
The Xenia community organizes game compatibility into the following tiers:
The game runs at or near full speed with stable graphics and sound
No major glitches or crashes during gameplay
Some minor bugs may exist, but they do not hinder progress
Examples: Halo Reach, Nier, Red Dead Redemption
The game loads and can be played, but has significant graphical issues, audio bugs, or stability problems
May crash during certain sections or exhibit broken cutscenes
Not suitable for a full playthrough in current form
The game starts and shows the menu or intro video but crashes before gameplay begins
Often caused by missing GPU features or unimplemented kernel functions
The game fails to launch or crashes immediately
Usually due to unsupported instructions, encryption, or game-specific protections
These categories help users set realistic expectations and allow developers to focus their efforts on improving problematic titles.
To track progress and help users identify which games work best, Xenia maintains an open compatibility database where players can report their results.
The database includes:
Game titles and region info
Compatibility status (Playable, In-Game, etc.)
Screenshots and gameplay videos
Emulator logs and system specifications
You can explore the community’s reports or contribute your own findings here:
🔗 View the Xenia Compatibility List
Several key factors influence whether a game runs well in Xenia:
Some games rely on advanced shader effects, memory synchronization, or low-level CPU instructions. If these aren’t fully supported, the game may glitch, crash, or fail to boot.
The Xbox 360’s operating system exposes many system calls (APIs) to games. If a title uses undocumented or partially implemented functions, it may not run properly.
Many games depend on precise timing between CPU, GPU, and input/output. Xenia must emulate these systems in harmony. Timing issues can lead to crackling audio, input lag, or game crashes.
Even if a game is technically compatible, poor performance on low-end PCs can result in stutters, freezing, or slowdowns. A modern quad-core CPU and dedicated GPU are recommended.
Some games may only run in experimental builds of Xenia (such as Xenia Canary) which include unofficial patches or compatibility tweaks.
To avoid confusion, here’s what Xenia does not currently support:
❌ Original Xbox (OG Xbox) games – Xenia only emulates Xbox 360 titles
❌ Xbox Live or Online Multiplayer – Network play is not available, though Xenia Netplay is being developed
❌ Backward Compatibility Titles – Xbox 360 games that run OG Xbox emulators won’t work
Xenia is under active development, and the game compatibility list is growing every month. Key improvements include:
More accurate CPU and GPU instruction handling
Improved kernel function coverage
Better synchronization across threads and audio/video systems
Experimental support for patches and mods via Xenia Canary and Xenia Patcher
The emulator’s open-source nature means contributors from around the world are helping to test and fix games. If you’re encountering an issue, chances are someone else has too — and fixes may be on the way.
Want to get the most out of Xenia? Here are a few tips:
Use the latest Xenia Canary build — it often includes the newest compatibility patches
Join the Xenia Discord to get real-time support from the community
Check the compatibility list before trying new games
Don’t forget to configure your graphics backend (Vulkan or D3D12) for the best results
Use Xenia Patcher to apply game-specific compatibility patches when needed
Q: How can I know if a game is compatible with Xenia?
A: Check the Xenia Compatibility List, which includes community-submitted reports, logs, and screenshots for hundreds of games.
Q: Can I play multiplayer games?
A: Xenia does not currently support Xbox Live or online multiplayer. Local multiplayer may work, and the Netplay feature is in early development.
Q: Why does a game crash after launching?
A: Crashes can be caused by missing kernel functions, broken graphics calls, or unsupported DRM. Try using Xenia Canary or apply a community patch if available.
Q: Is the compatibility the same on Linux?
A: Xenia’s Linux build is still experimental. Compatibility is better on Windows due to more mature backend support (Direct3D 12 vs Vulkan).
Game compatibility is one of the most exciting aspects of the Xenia emulator — and also one of the most rapidly evolving. With each new update, more Xbox 360 games become playable on PC, bringing the dream of a fully emulated console closer to reality.
Whether you’re a casual gamer or a developer helping improve support, the community-driven compatibility list is a great place to explore, contribute, and track progress. While some titles remain challenging, the growing list of fully playable games makes Xenia a top choice for Xbox 360 emulation in 2025 and beyond.
