Despite all of the action packed online multi-players that are filling up the Xbox 360 library, there is still nothing more satisfying than inviting a few guys and gals over for take-aways, drinks and video games! If you are struggling to come up with a few fantastic ideas, here are a couple of suggestions that should keep things interesting.

Rayman: Origins

Not only is this possibly the most entertaining and charming game to come out of 2011, but the fact that it is a 4-player co-op game makes it a perfect choice for a night in with your friends. Melee each other to death and race to collect the most yellow lums before the level is over. Alternatively, you can work as a team to save The Glade of Dreams. Either way, the end result is that you will no doubt have hours of fun with this game!

Street Fighter IV

This game is fantastic for super fast, winner stays on action! Matches generally only last around 60 seconds and those eagerly waiting for their turn can have a quick drink or two before rushing back into combat. Street Fighter games are perhaps the most entertaining in their genre since they require a keen eye and lots of skill. Of course, those of you who are not so fond of Capcom’s ever so popular franchise could always fight it out on a Mortal Kombat or Soul Calibur game – just as fun but with less co-ordination involved. Probably a good thing if you have been drinking!

Scene It: Box Office Smash

Let’s admit it, there’s always that one guy or girl that doesn’t seem to ever partake in any of the intense, survival games. Thankfully, there is a game dedicated to just them! Scene It: Box Office Smash will see you competing to answer movie based questions before your rivals. It’s fun, easy and there are plenty of puzzling games to take part in. You don’t have to be an avid gamer to be entertained by such a party favourite!

Monopoly Streets

Much like the Scene It games, Monopoly Streets is something suitable for anyone. The game plays out like you would expect from Monopoly, the only difference is that it’s brought to life in some very entertaining 3D madness! The great thing about Monopoly Streets is that it can literally last for hours.

Guitar Hero: World Tour

You and your friends are given the opportunity to mimic some of the most legendary music artists to date using Microsoft’s very own assortment of instruments – what can be more entertaining than that?! There’s a reason this game has become almost a pre-requisite for any successful party.

Of course, if it’s just a quiet night in with your roommate, why not venture through Halo 3 co-operatively, or pull together and download one of the many brilliant Xbox Live Arcade games that thrive on 2-player action. Video games are great alone, but when they’re played with your friends they become so much more fun!

With all the blistering bullet action and post-apocalyptic stories that the games of today seem to fall in line with, sometimes it’s great to just kick back, relax and spend 200MSP on a good old retro game from yesteryear!

Addictive, charming and oozing with nostalgia, it’s easy to still hold a place in your heart for the video games you grew up with. Join me as I countdown the top 10 retro games you must purchase from the Xbox Live Marketplace!

#10 Banjo-Kazooie

Banjo-Kazooie lost all respect from me after the appalling 2008 release of Nuts and Bolts. Thankfully, the original 1998 N64 release has stationed itself nicely within the Xbox Live Marketplace for everyone to rekindle that long lost love! Step back in time and re-live the all-famous platform game before you had to repetitively customize a God-awful car to get from A to B.

#9 Perfect Dark

Can you believe it? It’s been a whole 12 years since the slick, stealth first person shooter found its way onto the Nintendo 64. Anyone who’s anyone knows just how much of a must-have this game really is! 800MSP might seem quite steep, but taking a walk down memory lane with such a defining game really is worth it.

#8 Gunstar Heroes

Anyone who grew up religiously playing on Sega consoles will agree that Gunstar Heroes is one of the most dynamic and innovative games of the early 90’s. One minute you’re performing hand to hand combat with a soldier, the next you’re choosing from one of 14 weapons to take down a giant morphing robot. You constantly have to plough your way through new and exciting areas whilst encountering some of the most challenging boss fights since Mega Man. Needless to say, if you want action, choose this game!

#7 Altered Beast

It’s a given that such a classic deserves a mention. Whether it’s for nostalgic reasons or you simply want to finally complete what was almost impossible as a child, Altered Beast deserves to be on your hard drive.

#6 Streets of Rage 2

On the Xbox Live Marketplace you have a choice between this or Golden Axe. It seems like an obvious decision to me. Whilst Golden Axe does have the whole “ye olde” thing going on, there’s no denying just how awesome the Streets of Rage games are. Known for their catchy soundtracks and memorable boss fights, if you’re a 90’s kid then you owe it to yourself to buy this game!

#5 Street Fighter II

Sure, it’s not quite on par with 3^rd Strike, nor will you be pulling off any fancy EX combos or the raging demon, but Street Fighter II is definitely one of the best fighting games to date. Ah, I remember it like it was yesterday. Heading over to the arcade machines only to lose all your money to the kid who always picks Dhalsim! I hate that guy.

#4 TMNT 1989

As a kid, if you didn’t wake up early every Saturday morning to catch the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on TV then you weren’t human! These four green warriors dominated the world as we know it, so it’s only right that if you missed out on the NES action that you purchase such a brilliant game!

#3 Phantasy Star II

Believe it or not, Phantasy Star was once a good game! Although RPG’s aren’t to everyone’s taste, if you do happen to be partial to a little storyline every now and then, perhaps Phantasy Star II deserves a place on your Xbox?

#2 Contra

Before there was Call of Duty, there was Contra! A sidescroller so difficult that it makes today’s generic games look like a walk in the park. Yeah, I’m talking about you Modern Warfare 3! Contra will provide you with manly, edge of your seat experience that most present day games fail to deliver.

#1 Sonic CD

This game arrived just in time for Christmas 2011 and not a moment too soon! Not only does it boast one of the greatest video game soundtracks of all time, but it allows you to time travel in the game and open up an even bigger experience! Beware, it’s not the easiest of classic Sonic games and obtaining all chaos emeralds will prove to be a challenge.