The original Xbox was Microsoft's first video game console. Releasing in 2001 in the U.S., and 2002 internationally, the Xbox introduced audiences to Halo, Morrowind, and Knights of the Old Republic. In the years since, Microsoft has released multiple consoles, with the Xbox Series X being the latest arrival in November of 2020. So, which console is actually the best?

To find the answer, we'll have to consider a bit of Xbox's history first. Although Xbox hasn't been as popular in countries like Japan, the console has done very well in the U.S. and Europe. Xbox Game Pass, which continues to release popular titles, has also been very successful. Despite having various versions of the same platform (like the Xbox Series X and all-digital Series S, for instance), there have really only been four flagship consoles for Microsoft: Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

Related: All Sony PlayStation Consoles, Ranked Worst To Best

Microsoft's Xbox consoles have been hit or miss over the last two decades. Some consoles have definitely been better than others. Here's every Xbox console, ranked worst to best.

#4 Worst Xbox - Xbox One

The Xbox One X with its controller

The Xbox One is easily the worst of Microsoft's consoles. The third generation of Xbox consoles got off to a rocky launch in 2013, with a limited library and almost no exclusives. In its first few years, the Xbox One struggled to find an audience due to its lack of titles. Even an upgrade to the Xbox One X in 2017 couldn't completely save the console, although Xbox Game Pass certainly tried. The Xbox One isn't a terrible system; it's just an unnecessary one.

#3 - Xbox Series X

Xbox Series X Production Phil Spencer January 2021

The Xbox Series X has only been out for two months, so it's difficult to know exactly where it ranks. The console appears to be very reliable and impressive, and new updates continue making it even better. Only time will tell if it's a better console than its predecessors from the 2000s.

For now, though, the Xbox Series X is facing some of the same problems of the Xbox One: there aren't any exclusives, there's no new Halo game at launch, and it's relying heavily on Xbox Game Pass to facilitate sales. The biggest strength of the Xbox Series X is also its greatest weakness: the only real reason to use one right now is getting to play older games through backwards compatibly and Xbox Game Pass.

#2 - The Original Xbox

The original Xbox was great. It had a number of exciting exclusives at the time, including groundbreaking titles like Halo: Combat Evolved and The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Some of the best games of the entire era were found on the Xbox, which is why it's still remembered so fondly today.

Related: All Nintendo Home Consoles, Ranked Worst To Best

It also introduced users to Xbox Live in 2002, arguably the first successful attempt at online console gaming. Xbox Live allowed players to download new content directly to their consoles and play online games with other people around the globe, opening the doors for similar services from its competitors, like Sony's PSN, in 2006.

#1 Best Xbox - Xbox 360

Halo Xbox 360 343 Industries Sunsetting

Releasing in 2005, the Xbox 360 had its problems, including the dreaded "Red Ring of Death" that indicated a complete hardware failure, but it went on to be the best-selling Xbox console of all time. It still has Xbox's biggest library of exclusives to date, and launch titles that still hold up even today. It was also innovative: the now-defunct Kinect devices cashed in on the Wii's popular motion-sensing technology to create hands-free games the whole family could enjoy. Fifteen years later, the Xbox 360 is still one of the most fondly-remember consoles ever.

Only time will tell if the Xbox Series X can go on to rank as the best, or if the Xbox 360 will hold on to the title for a while longer. Each of Microsoft's consoles have offered something new, but some Xbox consoles have definitely been better than others.

Next: Every Xbox-Exclusive Game Coming In 2021