25 Original Xbox Games Now Playable on Windows PCs

Microsoft, the US technology company behind the Xbox console, has made 25 original Xbox games playable on Windows PCs to mark the brand's 25th anniversary. Players need to own digital copies or be willing to buy them. The move is part of Microsoft's paid effort to preserve older games on newer hardware.

The programme began in July with only four games, so the list has grown by 21 titles. Microsoft says all of the games can be played with a keyboard and mouse. Backward compatibility appears to run on an emulator.

Achievements for old games

For the first time, Microsoft is adding achievements to original Xbox games, starting with four: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, its sequel, Blinx: The Time Sweeper and Conker: Live and Reloaded. After a system update, they can also be unlocked on Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles. The company says more games should receive them later.

What is on the list

The lineup includes Armed and Dangerous, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Red Faction II, TimeSplitters 2 and TimeSplitters: Future Perfect. A large share are Star Wars games, most of which already have PC versions, and few were exclusive to Xbox at the time.

Original Xbox discs cannot be used to play them. Discs for the original Xbox and Xbox 360 are not part of Microsoft's disc-to-digital programme, because they predate the unique serial number the company embedded in Xbox One discs.

According to Microsoft, only six of the games are currently included in the Xbox Game Pass subscription: Blinx, Conker, Crimson Skies, Fusion Frenzy, Morrowind and Grabbed by the Ghoulies.

What comes next

Leaked Microsoft documents previously indicated that October 2026 would be the full launch of original Xbox games on PC, while Xbox 360 games would arrive gradually on next-generation consoles between 2027 and 2028.