Verified answer

Though the wikipedia list above is accurate, many on the list are repeats or reprints of other issues. Also, many side stories have no bearing on the actual x-men storyline at all. For example 2099 takes place entirely outside of continuity. Other stories quickly became irrelevant or unimportant to the overall goings on of the X-men. Finally, there are books, especially character titles, that did not involve the overall x-men plot line and simply fleshed out the character, without really ever being referenced again.

For your reading pleasure, to save you time and effort. I recommend you stick solely to the following titles which are the main ones you will want to read if you wish to understand the x-men.

Uncanny X-men

X-men

X-force (the first incarnation is more important than the other two)

Excalibur (all 3 series)

New Mutants (both series)

New X-men (both series)

X-Factor (all 3 series)

X-treme X-Men

Astonishing X-men

Generation X

Wolverine (original Claremont/Miller Mini, and both series)

Cable (you can drop it when it gets to solider X)

X-men Annuals (starting with Giant size #1)

Weapon X

These are the major series that you should read.

The followin are other series that you can read, that are good, interesting, or have some point, but not essential to understanding the X-men history.

Gambit

Rouge

Nightcrawler

X-men Unlimited (vol. 1 was more relevent than vol. 2)

Emma Frost

X-men the Hidden Years

X-force (vol. 2)/X-Statix

Solider X (was actually terrible, only read if you really come to like Cable)

Mutant X

Mystique

Deadpool/Agent X

Cable Deadpool

Dazzler

Bishop

Magneto

Wolverine Origin

Exiles is not important really to the 616 Universe (the main Marvel world) but shows intersting takes on different X-men characters.

If you read all that, come back and ask for more when you finish, which should be over a year from now. There are other mini series out there and some one shots. But that should suit you.

There are some one shots that do matter a great deal, such as the AoA Alpha and Omega stuff. And I think there were some special Onslaught issues. Also figuring out the read order is difficut when multiple titles become involved. Pay attention to the dates on the cover and try to keep them in order as your read, which becomes important for crossovers. Also you can pick up big Marvel events, such as Secret Wars, Civil Wars, Blood Ties and other such stuff. Good luck!

X-men (and other mutant) titles:

01) Astonishing X-Men

02) Uncanny X-Men

03) Ultimate X-Men

04) X-Men

05) New X-Men

06) Wolverine

07) District X

08) X-Statix

09) Mystique

10) Emma Frost

11) The Exiles

12) X-Factor

13) CABLE & DEADPOOL

14) Storm

15) Civil War

16) Excalibur

and more

Series names:

Uncanny

X-Force

X-Factor

The X-Men

Excalibur

Wolverine

Gamibt

Magneto

The New Mutants

Age of Apocalpyse Series

Giant Size X-men (annuals)

There are a ton more of Miniseries involving Characters. There are way more. Check out that Wikipedia link for more details. Or try downloading the X-Men comment torrents off a BitTorrent server. Each batch is around 4 gigs and there are around 15 batches. Which is well over 2000 issues in .CBZ format for your computer.

Too many to list. I'd recommend reading the Ultimate X-Men series. Not as much history, more recognizable characters, and fairly new.

Pick up the "Civil War" issues too.

This is the place for you

I know about unncanny, Xfactor, enlarged, new , the original one, xtreme .... and the list goes on my friend.

List of series and limited series

2099: World of Tomorrow (September 1996-April 1997) (8 issues), featured the entire cast of 2099 including the X-Men 2099 and X-Nation 2099.

Adventures of the X-Men (1996 - 1997), all-new stories continuing the continuity of the Fox Network’s X-Men animated series

Agent X (2002 - 2003), continued from Deadpool

Alpha Flight, vol. 1 (1983 - 1994)

Alpha Flight, vol. 2 (1997 - 1999)

Alpha Flight, vol. 3 (2004 - 2005)

Astonishing X-Men vol. 3 (2004 - present)

Bishop: The Last X-Man (1999 - 2001)

Cable vol. 2 (1993 - 2002), continued in Soldier X

Cable & Deadpool (2004 - present)

Captain Britain vol. 1 (October 1976-July 1977) (39 issues)

Classic X-Men (1986 - 1990), reprinted late 1970s and early 1980s issues of X-Men, vol. 1, retitled X-Men Classic

Dazzler (1981 - 1986)

Deadpool (1997 - 2002), continued in Agent X

District X (2004 - 2005)

Emma Frost (2003 - 2004)

Excalibur, vol. 1 (1988 - 1998)

Excalibur, vol. 3 (2004 - 2005)

Exiles (2001 - present)

Gambit, vol. 2 (1998 - 2001)

Gambit, vol. 3 (2004 - 2005)

Generation X (1994 - 2001)

Maverick (1997 - 1998)

Mutant X (1998 - 2001)

Mystique (2003 - 2005)

New Excalibur, (2005 - present)

New Mutants, vol. 1 (1983 - 1991), continued in X-Force

New Mutants, vol. 2 (2003 - 2004), continued in New X-Men: Academy X

New X-Men (2001 - 2004), previously titled X-Men, vol. 2, has since reclaimed that title

New X-Men (2004 - present), previously titled New X-Men: Academy X, continued from New Mutants, vol. 2

Nightcrawler, (2004 - 2005)

Professor Xavier and the X-Men, (1995 - 1997), retold early 1960s stories from X-Men, vol. 1 with new artwork

Quicksilver, (1997 - 1998)

Sabretooth Classics (1994 - 1995), reprinted various appearances of the popular villain

Sentinel (2003 - 2004)

Soldier X (2002 - 2003), continued from Cable.

Ultimate X-Men (2000 - present), revitalization of the team in the “Ultimate Marvel Universe”

Uncanny X-Men (1981 - present), previously titled X-Men, vol. 1

Warlock (1999 - 2000)

Weapon X (2002 - 2004)

Witchblade & Wolverine 2004 - Present

Wolverine, vol. 2 (1988 - 2003)

Wolverine, vol. 3 (2003 - present)

X-Factor, vol. 1 (1986 - 1998)

X-Factor, vol. 3 (2005-present)

X-Force (1991 - 2002), continued from New Mutants, vol. 1, continued in X-Statix

X-Man (1995 - 2001)

X-Men, vol. 1 (1963 - 1981), retitled Uncanny X-Men

X-Men, vol. 2,(1991 - 2001, 2004 - present), titled New X-Men from 2001 until 2004

X-Men 2099 (1993 - 1996)

X-Men Adventures (1993 - 1996), retold stories from the Fox Network’s X-Men animated series, continued in Adventures of the X-Men

X-Men Classic (1990 - 1995), previously titled Classic X-Men, reprinted issues of Uncanny X-Men from the early to mid 1980s

X-Men: The Early Years (1994 - 1995), reprinted issues of X-Men, vol. 1 from the early 1960s

X-Men: Evolution (2001 - 2002), retold stories from the Warner Brothers Network animated series of the same name

X-Men: The Hidden Years (1999 - 2001)

X-Men: The Manga (1998 - 1999), reprinted a manga-style, Japanese X-Men series, which borrowed stories from the Fox Network’s X-Men animated series

X-Men Unlimited, vol. 1 (1993 - 2003)

X-Men Unlimited, vol. 2 (2004 - present)

X-Nation 2099 (1996)

X-Statix (2002 - 2004), continued from X-Force

X-Treme X-Men (2001 - 2004)

Collections

X-Men volume 1/Uncanny X-Men

Marvel Masterworks

X-Men

1 collects X-Men #1-10

2 collects X-Men #11-21

3 collects X-Men #22-31

4 collects X-Men #32-42

5 collects X-Men #43-53, Avengers #53, Angel stories from Ka-Zar #2, 3, Marvel Tales #30

6 collects X-Men #54-66

Uncanny X-Men

1 collects Uncanny X-Men #94-100, Giant-Size #1

2 collects Uncanny X-Men #101-110

3 collects Uncanny X-Men #111-121

4 collects Uncanny X-Men #122-131, Annual #3

5 collects Uncanny X-Men #132-140, Annual #4, Phoenix: The Untold Story #1, Bizarre Adventures #27

Omnibus

Uncanny X-Men Omnibus, Vol.1 (ISBN 0785121013) - Collects Uncanny X-Men #94-131, Giant-Size X-Men #1 and Annual #3

Essential

Essential Uncanny X-Men #1 - Collects Uncanny X-Men #1-24

Essential X-Men, Vol. 1 (ISBN 0785102566) - Collects Uncanny X-Men #94-119 and Giant Size X-Men #1

Essential X-Men, Vol. 2 (ISBN 0785120076) - Collects Uncanny X-Men #120-144 and Annual #3-4

Essential X-Men, Vol. 3 (ISBN 0785106618) - Collects Uncanny X-Men #145-161 and Annual #3-5

Essential X-Men, Vol. 4 (ISBN 0785107754) - Collects Uncanny X-Men #162-179 and Annual #6

Essential X-Men, Vol. 5 (ISBN 0785113665) - Collects Uncanny X-Men #180-198 and Annual #7-8

Essential X-Men, Vol. 6 (ISBN 078511727X) - Collects Uncanny X-Men #199-213, New Mutants Special Edition #1, X-Men Annual #9, X-Factor #9-10, New Mutants #46, Thor #373-374 and Power Pack #27

Essential X-Men, Vol. 7 (ISBN 0785120556) - Collects Uncanny X-Men #214-228; Annuals #10-11; Fantastic Four Vs. The X-Men #1-4

Other

X-Men: Danger Room Battle Archives - Collects Uncanny X-Men Annual #3, #10, #17, New Mutants #2 and Hulk #7

X-Men: Dark Phoenix Saga - Collects Uncanny X-Men #129-137

X-Men: Road Trippin'! - Collects Uncanny X-Men #138, #244, #245, #323, Generation X #5, Wolverine #78, X-Force #71, #75 and Marvel Treasury Edition #26

X-Men: Days Of Future Past (ISBN 0785115609)- Collects Uncanny X-Men #138-143 and Uncanny X-Men Annual #4

X-Men: Days Of Future Present - Collects Uncanny X-Men Annual #14, X-Factor Annual #5, New Mutants Annual #6, Fantastic Four Annual #23

X-Men: From The Ashes - Collects Uncanny X-#Men 168-176

X-Men: Mutant Massacre - Collects Uncanny X-Men #210-213, X-Factor #9-11, New Mutants #46, Thor #373-374, Power Pack #27

X-Men: The Fall Of The Mutants - Collects Uncanny X-Men #224-226, X-Factor #24-26, New Mutants #59-61

X-Men: Inferno - Collects Uncanny X-Men #239-243, New Mutants #71-73, X-Factor #36-39

X-Men: Mutations - Collects Uncanny X-Men #256-258, X-Factor #15, #24-25 and Amazing Adventures #11

X-Men: X-Tinction Agenda - Collects Uncanny X-Men #270-272, X-Factor #60-62, New Mutants #95-97

X-Men: Crossroads - Collects Uncanny X-Men #273-277

X-Men: The Coming Of Bishop - Collects Uncanny X-Men #282-287

X-Men: X-Cutioner's Song - Collects Uncanny X-Men #294-296, New X-Men #14-16, X-Factor #84-86, X-Force #16-18

X-Men: Fatal Attractions - Collects Uncanny X-Men #304, X-Factor #92, X-Force #25, New X-Men #25, Wolverine #75, Excalibur #71

Uncanny X-Men: Poptopia - Collects Uncanny X-Men #394-399

Uncanny X-Men Vol 1: Hope (ISBN 0785111344) - Collects Uncanny X-Men #410-415

Uncanny X-Men Vol 2: Dominant Species (ISBN 0785111328) - Collects Uncanny X-Men #416-420

Uncanny X-Men Vol 3: Holy War (ISBN 0785111336) - Collects Uncanny X-Men #421-427

Uncanny X-Men Volume 4: The Draco (ISBN 0785111344) - Collects Uncanny X-Men #428-436

Uncanny X-Men Vol 5: She Lies With Angels (ISBN 0785111964) - Collects Uncanny X-Men #437-441

Uncanny X-Men Volume 6: Bright New Mourning (ISBN 0785114068) - Collects Uncanny X-Men #435-443 and X-Men (volume 2) #155-156

Uncanny X-Men - The New Age Vol. 1: The End Of History (ISBN 0785115358) - Collects Uncanny X-Men #444-449

Uncanny X-Men - The New Age Vol. 2: The Cruelest Cut (ISBN 0785116451) - Collects Uncanny X-Men #450-454

Uncanny X-Men - The New Age Vol. 3: On Ice - Collects Uncanny X-Men #455-461

House of M - Uncanny X-Men: Collects Uncanny X-Men #462-465 and selections from Secrets of the House of M

Uncanny X-Men - The New Age Vol. 4: End of Greys - Collects Uncanny X-Men #466-471

Uncanny X-Men - The New Age Vol. 5: First Foursaken - Collects Uncanny X-Men #472-472 and Uncanny X-Men Annual #1

X-Men volume 2

Paperback

X-Men Legends Vol. 1: Mutant Genesis (ISBN 0785108955) - Collects X-Men #1-7

X-Men: Fatal Attractions (ISBN 0785100652) - Collects X-Men #25, X-Factor #92, X-Force #25, Uncanny X-Men #304, Wolverine #75, and Excalibur #71

Astonishing X-Men: Deathwish - Collects X-Men #92, X-Men #95, Astonishing X-Men #1-3 and Uncanny X-Men #375

X-Men: Dream's End (ISBN 078511551X) - Collects X-Men #108-110, Uncanny X-Men #388-390, Cable #87 and Bishop #16

X-Men: Eve of Destruction (ISBN 0785115528) - Collects X-Men #111-113 and Uncanny X-Men #391-393

New X-Men Vol. 1: E is for Extinction (ISBN 0785108114) - Collects X-Men #114-117

New X-Men Vol. 2: Imperial (ISBN 0785108874) - Collects X-men #118-#126

New X-Men Vol. 3: New Worlds (ISBN 0785109765) - Collects #127-133

New X-Men Vol. 4: Riot at Xaviers - Collects X-Men #134-138

New X-Men Vol. 5: Assault on Weapon Plus (ISBN 0785111190) - Collects X-Men #139-145

New X-Men Vol. 6: Planet X (ISBN 0785112014) - Collects X-Men #146-150

New X-Men Vol. 7: Here Comes Tomorrow (ISBN 0785113452) - Collects X-Men #151-154

Uncanny X-Men Volume 6: Bright New Mourning (ISBN 0785114068) - Collects X-Men #155-156 and Uncanny X-Men #435-436 and #442-443

X-Men: Day of the Atom (ISBN 078511534X) - Collects #157-165

X-Men: Golgotha (ISBN 0785116508) - Collects X-Men #166-170

X-Men: Bizarre Love Triangle - Collects X-Men #171-174

X-Men/Black Panther: Wild Kingdom - Collects X-Men #175-176 and Black Panther #8-9

Decimation: X-Men - The Day After - Collects X-Men #177-181 and House of M: Decimation - The Day After

X-Men: Blood of Apocalypse - Collects X-Men #182-187 and Cable/Deadpool #26-27

Hardcover

New X-Men Vol. 1 - Collects X-Men #114-126 and New X-Men Annual 2001

New X-Men Vol. 2 - Collects X-Men #127-141

New X-Men Vol. 3 - Collects X-Men #142-154

Here's a good start.

ya that chick with the long a$$ answer wins.