Pure Xbox's Scores

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For 631 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 41% higher than the average critic
  • 6% same as the average critic
  • 53% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 3.5 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 71
Highest review score: 100 Death's Door
Lowest review score: 10 Rugby World Cup 2015
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 308 out of 631
  2. Mixed: 277 out of 631
  3. Negative: 46 out of 631
635 game reviews
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per page
    • 74 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok
    Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarök easily eclipses both The Siege of Paris and Wrath of the Druids, serving up a good 40 hours-worth of top-notch action, exploration and challenges across a huge new world map. Combat here is enlivened by Eivor's new Hugr-Rip abilities, skills which also freshen up the game's puzzles and traversal, and the fantastical nature of the story leads to some of the biggest and best boss face-offs we've seen in the series to date. Newcomers may feel a little lost to begin with, there's a lot to get your head around here, but fans of Valhalla should be delighted with this deliciously fantastical new addition to the base game.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    SUPERHOT
    Absolutely essential.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
    Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is an epic RPG in every sense. This is a big, brutal world that works according to deep rules and mechanics that it's never shy about enforcing. Combat is tough, there's a heft and realism to everything, and you'll need to work hard for the things you achieve, but if you're up to the challenge, if you can spare a whole lot of time, this almost obtusely tough RPG will reward your persistence in spades. With top-notch writing and voice acting, one of the most convincingly real worlds we've ever roleplayed in, and an absolutely filthy line in humour, violence (and foul language), this is every bit the sequel fans of Henry's first outing will have been hoping for.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Assassin's Creed Valhalla
    Assassin's Creed Valhalla sees the long-running franchise at an absolute high point. A much tighter, more refined and narrative-focused experience, it learns lessons from other recent open world efforts, removing much of the series' tedious open-world busywork and channelling its players through a genuinely excellent and intriguing adventure. There's still plenty of exploring, looting and collecting to be done here but it's so much more engaging, full of fun puzzles and atmospheric treasure hunts that make the downtime between story arcs all the more rewarding. This is Assassin's Creed looking and feeling better than ever.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is a lovingly crafted and supremely entertaining return to the glory days of early 1990s Turtles action. With a look and feel that painstakingly recreates classics such as Turtles in Time, whilst adding in a ton more detail, refining combat and giving you six player online/local co-op to boot, this is a fantastic slice of arcade beat 'em up nostalgia that old hands, diehard fans and newcomers alike can enjoy in equal measure. It is, in short, one shell of a good time.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    South of Midnight
    For me, South of Midnight is a bit of a triumph, and exactly the sort of thing I want to see more of from Xbox Game Studios. It's not perfect, and its combat mechanics are a bit lacking, but the game has so much soul, personality and charm that it's hard not to fall in love with it. I was engrossed with the storybook visuals, the well-delivered narrative and the satisfying traversal from start to finish, and I really can't recommend this one enough on Xbox Game Pass. Those of you that are more combat-first may not take a shining to this game quite as much as I have, but if you're looking for an engaging adventure that delivers soulful stories in spades, South of Midnight shouldn't be missed.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Insurgency: Sandstorm
    Insurgency: Sandstorm is a unique Xbox shooter, and an absolute blast to play when you really get to grips with its core mechanics. While the shooting on offer here perhaps most resembles something like Rainbow Six: Siege or PUBG on console, Sandstorm carves out its own niche by offering authentic gunplay across a wide array of game modes, including plenty of co-op action for those who prefer some PvE gameplay. Its unforgiving shooting mechanics won't be for everyone, but Insurgency: Sandstorm rewards those who really learn how to play it, resulting in one of the most satisfying first-person shooters on Xbox today.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Riders Republic
    Riders Republic is a fantastic open world sports game that delivers big on massively multiplayer arcade mayhem whilst also giving solo players a ton of content to dig into. There's an enormous, breathtakingly beautiful world to explore here that delivers carefully curated tracks and events for each every one of its sports disciplines, whilst also giving you free reign to head on out and cut your own path through its seven national parks' worth of wonderful wilderness. Yes there's some painful dialogue here and there, as well some issues with bugs and crashes during this launch period, but none of that is enough to put us off getting stuck in and just enjoying the smorgasbord of arcade sports action that Ubisoft Annecy has served up.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Rare Replay
    Even though it costs actual money, Rare Replay feels like a heartfelt gift from Rare to its fans, and it deserves your time, money, and appreciation.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Mortal Kombat 1
    Mortal Kombat 1 might not necessarily be the evolution some were hoping for, but it's still an incredibly polished production. The 'Kombat' is perhaps the most refined it’s ever been in the series' history, Kameo Fighters add a new level of strategy, and reuniting with classic characters in Liu Kang’s reborn universe is an absolute blast. It’s a promising refresh for this legendary series that’s arrived at the perfect time. Here’s to another 30 years of blood, guts and Fatalities.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
    Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a fantastically clever return to the franchise that serves up slick 2.5D action wrapped up in a delightful art style and satisfying story. There's a smart balance here between old-school levels of action and challenge, moreish combat and neat puzzles, mixed with accessibility options and fine-tuning that open this traditionally tough genre up to newcomers. We knew Ubisoft Montpellier was a pair of safe hands, and it's not let us down here, serving up the first must-play of 2024, and we're only just getting started.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Judgment
    If you've never played Judgment before, what are you waiting for? The remaster is one of the best next-gen exclusives to play right now and has never looked better. If you've already played it, it may be hard to justify the price tag at this point, but the substantial upgrades ensure it's the best the game has ever been. There's nothing in the way of new content outside of all previously released DLC, but Yagami's adventure is just as compelling and original as it once was.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    OlliOlli World
    Simply put, OlliOlli World's newest entry is god-tier, and puts it up there with the best skateboarding games on the market.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Metal: Hellsinger
    Metal Hellsinger is a slick and addictive rhythm FPS with style and attitude to spare. With shooter action that's heavily reminiscent of Bethesda's 2016 DOOM reboot mashed together with superbly well-realised rhythm game aspects that enhance the core combat experience, this is a fiendishly satisfying arcade game that sucks you right into its twisted hellscapes and refuses to let you go. Get ready for some super-sweaty Heavy Metal vengeance.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Hogwarts Legacy
    It felt like Hogwarts Legacy was always going to struggle to live up to the hype, but somehow Avalanche Software has managed to deliver an absolutely fantastic open world adventure that will surely go down as comfortably the best game based on the Harry Potter franchise so far. If you've been following its progress for a while and were keeping your fingers crossed for good reviews, we're pleased to report that it's definitely been worth the wait.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Split Fiction
    Split Fiction raises the bar for co-op adventure games and will surely be in the 'Game of the Year' conversation come the end of 2025. Its increased difficulty will put some players off, but those who relish the challenge will discover a magnificently varied, inventive and ambitious gameplay journey that's bound to stick long in the memory. My wife's already asking when the next one's coming out.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
    Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is an excellent modernization of a decades-old franchise that was beginning to really show its age. This is a thoroughly entertaining, slick and addictive addition to the series that funnels players through a meaty campaign packed to bursting point with inventive set-pieces and devilishly devious level design. There's a ton of content to keep fans busy here with time trials, collectible skins, N-Verted mode and side missions galore in a generous package that sees Crash blast and bound his way through what is easily his greatest adventure to date.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    System Shock
    System Shock Remake is another sublime piece of work from Nightdive Studios. This is a return to a seminal classic that studiously retains everything that's so beloved about the 1994 original whilst giving modern gamers an experience they can comfortably play and enjoy. It nails the remit of making this space survival masterclass vital once more, and it's a must-play all day long when it's looking and playing as beautifully as it does on Xbox. If it wasn't for some braindead enemies we'd be looking at a perfect score, but hey, this'll do nicely too.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
    Xbox might not necessarily be the go-to system for fighting game fans, but it’s great to see Capcom showing its support for Microsoft’s platform with this amazing tribute to the Marvel series. It’s not only a history lesson in Capcom’s fighting game spin-offs, but also a hell of a collection (or should we say ride) bundling games that many fans feared might not ever see the light of day again due to licensing. In all honesty, just having Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes return is already a massive win, and the rest is a bonus – even if there are some oversights. Now, if you don’t mind, we’re going to get back to reliving the arcade glory days.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
    It’s been an incredibly long wait, but this series is arguably more super than ever on the current generation of hardware. Goku’s 3D battles with his friends (and enemies) look stunning, the roster is stacked with an updated cast, there are seemingly limitless match-ups, and the combat feels great, even if it might be a bit simple for some players. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero may just be the ‘ultra instinct’ entry fans have always wished for.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    FIFA 22
    We're pleasantly surprised by FIFA 22 on Xbox Series X. The franchise had a good first outing on next-gen consoles last year, but the gameplay has really been taken up a notch this time around, seemingly proving that "Hypermotion Technology" isn't just another throwaway buzzword. It's not perfect, and there are certain areas off the pitch that we wish could have received even more attention, but this is the best FIFA has been in quite a few years, and we just hope it isn't ruined by unnecessary gameplay patches down the line.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    JUJU
    Juju is a great purchase for kids and families that like to play together. It's one of the season's biggest downloadable surprises.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Ironcast
    Ironcast is the very definition of the saying "easy to pick up, difficult to master".
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Halo 5: Guardians
    While the multiplayer components are the best since Halo 3, the campaign disappoints in a few key areas. It's still enjoyable and exciting on the whole, but it lacks the narrative concentration and the memorable gameplay scenarios to stand neck and neck with the best entries in the series. Halo 5: Guardians still gets a massive recommendation from us for many reasons, though there's certainly room for 343 Industries to improve and evolve the campaign formula next time around.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sonic Superstars
    Sonic Superstars may not keep up with certain other Sonic side-scrollers of the past, and level design and boss battles can be frustrating at times, but it’s arguably the best 3D take on the 2D Sonic series to date. Even if some of the new ideas could use extra polish, it's still a fun adventure for Sonic and friends from start to finish.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sonic Colors: Ultimate
    Sonic Colors: Ultimate is a fantastic remaster of a much-loved title in the series. There are a few hiccups in the road with awful cutscenes and lacklustre unlocks. It's classic Sonic in a 3D setting and your enjoyment will stem from your love of the series. If you're looking for a reinvention of the formula, this probably isn't for you, but if you want to experience the iconic series with refined gameplay, beautiful visuals and tons of replayability, this is the best 3D Sonic game to grace Xbox since Sonic Generations.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Assassin's Creed Mirage
    Assassin's Creed Mirage is a successfully stripped back return to the roots of this long-running franchise that ditches the bloat and enormous scale of Odyssey and Valhalla in favour of a very manageable romp that doesn't waste any of your time. Baghdad makes for a fantastic setting, Basim is a likeable protagonist, and the pure stealth gameplay has been tweaked and refined to provide the slickest sneaking experience this series has seen to date. There are a few niggling issues regarding repetition and some sticky parkour controls, but overall this is a fine adventure that more or less gives us the game we'd hoped for when we took our first leap of faith back in 2007.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sonic Frontiers
    Sonic Frontiers is a triumph for the series. Sure, it might be a little prickly around the edges, but overall this is a great experience from start to finish. Director Morio Kishimoto and Sonic Team should be proud of what they’ve accomplished. It’s proof that even after 30 years, the Sonic series can still be taken in new and exciting directions, and SEGA can now build on this new game's foundation. Sonic Frontiers provides one of the most enjoyable 3D Sonic experiences of all time, and we're excited for what the future holds for the blue blur.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sniper Elite: Resistance
    Sniper Elite: Resistance is a super solid return to slo-mo sniping duties. It may lack the overall wow-factor and technical upgrades of its predecessor, and it treads a lot of very familiar ground, but this new entry has still got it where it matters most. A procession of nine outstanding maps provide sandboxes galore for the usual tricks, traps and fancy long-range shots, the new Propaganda missions are a fun diversion, and protagonist Harry Hawker is as close to Sniper Elite: Danny Dyer as we're likely to get. Add in co-op and Axis Invasions and you've got yourself another great big sniper celebration that's hard to resist.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Jackbox Party Pack 2
    This is a well-made and entertaining collection that's sure to put a smile on the face of the most curmudgeonly party guest and become a staple amongst regular gaming buddies.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Arcade Paradise
    We've still got a ways to go until we're finished with Arcade Paradise, but so far we're really impressed. The laundromat part of the game won't suit everyone, but in our opinion it's actually pretty darn engrossing, while building and managing your arcade is consistently enjoyable and the machines themselves are packed with a surprising level of depth. At a very reasonable base price of just $19.99 on the Xbox Store, this one's definitely worth adding to your wishlist.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Terraria
    Whether you're into building giant masterpieces, defeating boss monsters for awesome loot, or exploring the depths of the map, Terraria offers up a variety of experiences and lets you pick and choose how to play based on your mood.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Extreme Exorcism
    The retro-inspired pixel graphics and frenetic pace will ultimately not appeal to everybody but there's enjoyment to be found, even for even novice players.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Fall Guys
    The performance on Xbox Series X seems to be as good as we'd expect, running smoothly at 60 frames per-second, although you'll notice that when you spot other Fall Guys in the distance, they sometimes appear to be running at a slower frame rate. It's not the most graphically intensive game, but it looks great on Series X nonetheless.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Party Animals
    Party Animals takes the Gang Beasts formula and turns the cuteness up to 11, and its well-designed maps encourage plenty of strategy, fun and hysterical laughter. In our opinion, it's one of the best party games available on Xbox Game Pass in 2023, especially if you've got a bunch of friends to enjoy it with in local or online multiplayer, and its pick-up-and-play nature means its accessible to gamers of all ages and skill levels. We've been waiting for this game for years now, and we're glad to report Party Animals lives up to the hype.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Nobody Saves the World
    Drinkbox Studios has served up another great time here with a colourful and clever dungeon-crawling adventure that gives you a ton of options as to how you approach its challenges. Switching up forms, mixing and matching skills and hoovering up an absolute ton of loot is addictive stuff here and, although it can be a tad repetitive, this is one of the slickest indie RPGs we've played in quite some time.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Skylanders Trap Team
    However, the game itself can be more-or-less completed without additional purchases and is such a wonderfully-crafted and enjoyable experience that even without spending extra cash, it will keep kids (and adults…this reviewer is 33 and has about 25 hours logged so far with a lot more to come) busy for a good long time.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    FIFA 23
    FIFA 23 marks the end of a thirty year era for EA and, thankfully, it does so by sending this long-running series off on something of a high note. FUT has seen some excellent changes in its chemistry mechanics and the addition of single player Moments, whilst on the pitch this is the best the game's felt to play in quite some time. Women's club footie finally arrives on the scene, set-pieces have seen a slick revamp, power shots are a fantastically arcadey addition to the action and overall this is just a hugely engaging and generous package that's stuffed full of ways to play on and offline.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mortal Kombat X
    Even though Mortal Kombat X has a few surface wounds that could use patching up, it's a superb fighting game that lives up to its hype and meets the lofty expectations set by its predecessor.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Plague Inc: Evolved
    The gameplay is complex and interesting, with a range of difficulties which range from easily accessible to completely unreasonable and it's startling how effectively the simple presentation can evoke a whole range of emotions.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    SAND LAND
    Sand Land for Xbox Series X|S not only does a great job bringing one of Akira Toriyama’s arguably lesser-known works to life, but is also a lovely way to say goodbye to a man who has had an incredibly huge impact on Japan’s manga and anime industry as well as the world of video games. Although it’s not necessarily an evolutionary experience on the action RPG front, it should still be a fun ride from start to finish for fans of the genre and source material.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Keeper
    Keeper is a tough game to score, and I think certain aspects deserve a 7/10 and others deserve an 8/10. I'm going with the latter because, taken as a whole, Keeper is a very charming, well-designed and memorable game with stunning visuals, and it's clearly had a lot of love poured into it by the development team. Some people will inevitibly be turned off by its slow and subtle story, as well as its overall lack of challenge and a first half that isn't as good as the second half, but I still think it deserves to be classed as a "Great" game, and it's well worth a download on Xbox Game Pass for sure.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Monster Hunter Rise
    Monster Hunter Rise is another amazing mainline release in Capcom’s ever-expanding action-RPG series. It brings enough new ideas and mechanics to keep the hunt feeling fresh, and is even better with friends. The setback here is for original players, with no cross-progression features to carry over existing save files from the likes of Switch and Steam. As mentioned, there's also limited cross-play, meaning you can’t team up with your friends on rival platforms. Still, what’s here is a great game, and if you have ever wondered what all the fuss is about, Rise is a great entry point into the Monster Hunter franchise.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Resident Evil 0: HD Remaster
    Resident Evil 0 is a worthy entry in the Resident Evil franchise even though it lacks the scares and originality. It's often overshadowed by the first game, but not giving it a spin would be a grave mistake.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Threes!
    It's light entertainment, it works, and it's something you can go back to without getting tired of.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Like a Dragon: Ishin!
    Like A Dragon: Ishin finally arrives in the west via a slick remaster that polishes up the visuals whilst also adding some fresh new combat mechanics to boot. This is another super solid entry in the long-running Yakuza franchise, it's perhaps a little more action-focused than usual, a little more on the serious and grounded side in terms of its story, but it also remembers to pack in plenty of the sort of madcap Yakuza substories and side activities that we all know and love. There's an excellent combat system to get stuck into here alongside an epic main campaign storyline that benefits greatly from the game's fascinating historical setting. This one comes highly recommended.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Expanse: A Telltale Series - Episode 1
    So, is The Expanse worth picking up? Well, based on Episode 1 we think so, especially if you like the sound of traditional Telltale meeting a third-person adventure with plenty of optional exploration mixed in. We can't speak for the whole season right now of course, we'll have to wait for it all to wrap up in September for that, but Episode 1 has us invested and we're more than ready to find out what happens next.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Pinball FX 2: Venom
    If you're someone that likes to turn their brain off and flip a ball around without considering every shot to be critical, then this table probably won't be for you. However, for everyone else — especially Spider-Man fans — Venom is a big winner. Symbiote-suit up, true believers!
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
    The original Disney Epic Mickey was a good game that evidently suffered from an issue or two on the Wii, and those have been successfully thinned and repainted in Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed. We're really impressed by just how much effort has gone into this remake (especially the new visuals), and although it's arguably a bit too pricey at launch, there's definitely fun to be had with this one if you're a Disney fan or just a fan of platforming games in general.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Lovely Planet
    Even if you can only beat the first set of twenty levels, Lovely Planet is a first-person shooter that is worth your time. It's beyond challenging, but when you finally put together the perfect run there isn't anything more satisfying. While it's too bad that the game hasn't seen an easy mode (or crosshair support) added in the console release, it's still a refreshing take on a genre that often feels way too stuck in its ways.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game - Complete Edition
    While its early difficulty may deter some people, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game's complexity and how it opens up makes for a highly enjoyable experience. It’s felt like an eternity since we’ve seen this title on our Xbox systems, and having a Complete Edition with touched up visuals and all previously released content is an absolute treat. Whether you’re a fan of the series or a newcomer to the genre, there’s something here to enjoy, and it's a reminder of why so many fell in love with the original game all those years ago.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition
    While the remaster may not fix all of the flaws of the original game, it does manage to breathe new life into one of Capcom's most beloved series.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    EA Sports College Football 25
    EA Sports College Football 25 makes up for some wonky menus and a lack of tentpole modes by bringing the good stuff where it matters. The gridiron action here is fast and snappy, offense feels fantastically responsive, and defensive plays are easier to read and consider thanks to a combination of clear layouts and more time and space on the ball. It looks great, sounds great, plays great and has thusly become our (American) football game of choice going forward. Madden 25, it's over to you.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Midnight Fight Express
    Midnight Fight Club might drop the ball slightly in terms of its narrative aspects, but it gets the important stuff absolutely bang on. This is a slick and addictive arcade brawler that gives you an expansive arsenal of moves, skills and weapons with which to slink off into the night on a blood-soaked mission to take back control of the city. There's tons of replayabilty here, with S-ranks to chase and leaderboards to climb, impressive variety in level design and a pumping soundtrack to bop along to as you take the fight back to the criminal underworld. This one's another Game Pass indie banger.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    This War of Mine: The Little Ones
    This War of Mine: The Little Ones is a fantastically atmospheric, emotional, and compelling game that constantly makes you doubt what you're doing, in a way that feels entirely natural as part of the experience.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Still Wakes the Deep
    Still Wakes the Deep is a tight, narrative adventure dripping in atmosphere and oozing in that sweet Scottish personality we've all come to love (shouting and swearing lots, as it turns out). If you're happy with a total lack of combat and more of a focus on story and exploration, then this one is definitely worth playing through on Xbox Game Pass. We found ourselves rather engrossed with Still Wakes the Deep and its personal tale of loss and family, even if more player agency around the game's spooky oil rig wouldn't have gone amiss. If you've played anything from The Chinese Room before you'll know what you're getting into - Still Wakes the Deep is another successful effort for the British developer to add to its growing repertoire.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Ziggurat
    Combining first-person shooting and dungeon crawling with a roguelike framework lends to a vibe that feels distinct, and it’s one that we think fans of fantasy themes and old-school shooters will appreciate very much.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Ara: History Untold
    We feel like we’ve only scratched the surface with Ara: History Untold even after thousands of turns and multiple games, but this is a fun take on this type of experience and a great choice if you’re looking for an engaging PC game to pull you in. If you don’t mind history with a bit of a twist and want a game where you can sink hours into each session as you overcome all sorts of challenges and triumph as a nation, Ara is well worth a look.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare serves up the freshest take on a stale formula in years, with a new engine and revitalised multiplayer mode that takes full advantage of a finely-tuned weapon customisation system and some welcome changes to ballistic mechanics. While Spec Ops fails to deliver much long-term attraction, the story mode proves there’s plenty of justification for a narrative element in a modern shooter. Free maps and updates bring everyone onto the same page in multiplayer, but Infinity Ward's take on the battle pass template still needs some work.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan
    The adventure Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan took us on never ceased to put a smile on our faces. With a whole cast of memorable and loveable characters, a gorgeous world to explore with a fantastic art style, and a seafaring adventure that just begs you to explore one more island, it's hard not to love what's on offer. It stumbles along the way and may not be for everyone, but ManaVoid Entertainment has crafted a special experience for those it does resonate with.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2
    The greatest compliment we can give to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is that it's a very faithful remake of the original two classics. And for the first time in a long time, the franchise feels fresh again. The game does a great job at recapturing the magic of Pro Skater's early days while also modernising them for the current generation (despite a couple of wobbles), and now we can't wait to see where Activision takes the series next. Welcome back, Tony!
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Echo Generation
    While Echo Generation stumbles a few times, our time with the game was never squandered. It's a testament to how wonderful its world is to explore, along with its engaging RPG systems. You never quite know what surprise will be in the next frame of the game. Will it be a mysterious alien spaceship? Or will you stumble across the legendary monster in the woods? The intrigue never lets up, and while the narrative itself doesn't quite land as well as you may hope, Echo Generation delivers an exciting adventure that Xbox Game Pass subscribers are not going to want to miss out on.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2
    The game itself is still absolutely great, and has added minor updates to multiplayer and the ability to replay the career since launch, which were welcome additions. It's one of the best examples of a Tony Hawk's game in over 15 years, and while the next-gen upgrade is nice, the backwards compatible Xbox One version is also still really good, so you don't need to hand over any extra cash to enjoy it.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Book of Unwritten Tales 2
    Its slow pace and lack of true action will not appeal to everybody but with popular culture references galore and a cast of heroes that you can't help but develop a fondness for, it's a title that can sit proudly with others in the genre...if it can get away with mocking them all mercilessly, of course.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed
    Hypercharge: Unboxed delivers fantastic first and third-person shooting across a good variety of maps and modes, and we've been genuinely impressed by how this indie shooter feels on Xbox with a gamepad in-hand. Sure, outside of the novel theme Hypercharge doesn't really do anything truly unique as a shooter, but that theme is refreshing enough on its own to make this a worthwhile endeavour. Adding in some real-life co-op buddies will likely extend the game's shelf life quite a bit, but even as a solo player we can still recommend Hypercharge: Unboxed to any shooter fan. Now, go forth, and reclaim that spare bedroom!
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    FIFA 16
    The things EA hasn't shouted about are the things that they've clearly worked the hardest on and while there are still flaws, this is the best on-pitch representation of the beautiful game since Konami's PlayStation 2 efforts.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    GhostWire: Tokyo
    Ghostwire: Tokyo is another unique and atmospheric adventure from Tango Gameworks that delivers a stunning world full of folklore and supernatural fun to explore. There's a satisfying main campaign to dig into here, plenty of combat against weird and wonderful enemies and a fantastic recreation of Shibuya that's a joy to wander around. However, some niggly performance issues in both the default quality and performance modes, alongside some finnicky controls here and there, hold this one back from reaching its full potential as things stand. If you can make peace with these issues there's still a very strong game to dig into here and one that's absolutely worth taking a chance on via Xbox Game Pass.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    PowerWash Simulator
    It's a really chill addition to Xbox Game Pass that you'll likely end up enjoying a lot if you're into this sort of thing, while others will inevitably think it's boring and too repetitive. It does what it says on the tin though, executing on its concept very effectively, while the addition of online co-op with cross-play between Xbox and PC is a great touch.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Screencheat
    What makes Samurai Punk's game so special is sharing the experience with other players, not the console.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Assassin's Creed Rogue
    Assassin's Creed Rogue isn't the cash grab many assumed it would be, and ultimately is an enjoyable experience and fitting end to the Kenway trilogy.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Crown Trick
    Despite these drawbacks, Crown Trick very quickly dug its claws into us. While it may not be everyone and isn't as approachable as other recent attempts at the genre, it's unashamedly challenging in all the right ways. It has a beautiful art style, a fantastic soundtrack, complex gameplay and an addictive loop that will make you want to have just 'one more go'. It's a perfect Xbox Game Pass title and a fantastic game in its own right.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Evil Within
    The Evil Within feels like an old-school survival game made for the new-school generation. It doesn’t ignore what modern horror games brought to the genre, but it scales it down and puts the focus back on actually surviving.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Alien: Isolation
    For fans of the Alien series, the films, books, comics, and every other form of entertainment imaginable, Alien: Isolation is simply a must-play, given that it fits so well into the storyline that it nearly seems to be a chapter in it's own right.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
    The much talked-about Nemesis System also plays a big role in injecting personality and connecting the player to the game world.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Steelrising
    Steelrising is a super solid soulslike that incorporates a wonderfully unique setting and lots of well-designed battle and traversal mechanics into the mix. There's tons of lovely little details in the world and characters here and the combat is addictive, crunchy stuff that gives you lots of cool weapons to toy around with. The story may not be the strongest, it all takes a while to get going properly and the scraps can get a little rough around the edges from time to time, but overall this is an impressive new entry in the genre that fans should absolutely make some time to check out.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Watch Dogs: Bad Blood
    The most surprising and exciting addition in Bad Blood is the ability to tackle the new Street Sweep missions with an online co-op buddy.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Chariot
    Chariot is one of the best cooperative gaming experiences we’ve ever had. It’s immensely rewarding, abundantly creative, and the sense of accomplishment that it instills within the player will lead to high-fives being thrown around the room on a regular basis.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Persona 3 Portable
    In terms of this new port, well, you've got all the expected upgrades, high resolution graphics locked at 60fps, a quick save system that can be utilised at any point during the action, and the ability to choose your difficulty right from the get-go. All told, it makes for the slickest version of this classic that we've played so far and, if you've yet to play it, we can't recommend it enough really.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Roundabout
    No Goblin has managed to create a game that is not only funny, but also one that is full of heart and which can be genuinely touching.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    MLB The Show 21
    It's a fantastic year to be getting MLB The Show 21 on Xbox. There's a welcome 'Casual' preset for beginners, the gameplay is more enjoyable than ever, and newcomers will likely be overwhelmed (in a good way) at the sheer amount of content at their disposal. Road to the Show's new Ballplayer integration won't satisfy everyone, and needs a few tweaks, but it's nevertheless still a highly enjoyable mode to play, and the likes of Diamond Dynasty and March to October are excellent options as well. We've been waiting a long time to experience The Show for ourselves on Xbox, and it's amazing to finally be stepping up to the plate with MLB The Show 21 on Xbox Game Pass.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dordogne
    Dordogne is a delightful indie trip down memory lane that's packed full of emotion, alongside a surprising number of ways in which to interact with its watercolour world. Mimi's story may be a slight one, but the short running time and simplicity of the narrative add to the charm here. This is a game about reconnecting with your childhood, rediscovering long-lost memories and re-engaging with the things that make you who you are. If you've got a Game Pass subscription and a handful of hours to spare, this is one heartfelt little journey that's well worth taking.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Forza Horizon 5: Rally Adventure
    Forza Horizon 5: Rally Adventure is not only a love letter to the actual motorsport but also the video games that have paved the way and inspired series like Horizon. It might not be what everyone was necessarily wanting from the second and likely final expansion for FH5, but the driving experience here is fun from start to finish and remains the core focus - with dirt roads and tracks that will keep you on the edge of your seat with all sorts of bumps and surprises along the way. It’s well worth your time if you’re looking for more adventures in the land of Horizon.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    LEGO Dimensions
    Lego Dimensions is easily the best Lego game so far. The interaction between the physical Lego toy and the game beyond the portal really sets Dimensions apart from other toys-to-life games and each build, level and vehicle seems to have been carefully thought out.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
    If you enjoy a solid action game, do not pass this up. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a must-play and some of the most fun you can have as the legendary Ryu Hayabusa – even if certain aspects of the design feel dated and select content is missing. This is a great way to kick off the 30th anniversary celebrations of developer Team Ninja. Now, bring on Ninja Gaiden 4!
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends
    There's a charming art style and wholesomeness to Rolling Hills that's immediately captivating, and we've been pretty surprised by the level of depth that it provides - it's still a simple game, but the ability to explore beyond the confines of the restaurant was something we hadn't expected, and various aspects of the gameplay continue to evolve over time as well. The loop of serving customers, buying new ingredients and decorating your restaurant is an addictive one, and it's all backed up by a superb soundtrack that's become firmly stuck in our heads.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Expeditions: A MudRunner Game
    Expeditions: A MudRunner Game shifts the slow-moving action of its predecessors from small scale levels full of straightforward challenges to a set of large open world maps designed specifically for freewheeling offroad exploration. The magic of SnowRunner et al remains intact here, with a gloriously atmospheric bunch of regions to get busy taming as you push forward through swamps, across rivers and over mountains in a game that genuinely feels like Death Stranding in a truck at points. Co-op mode may be missing at launch, which is a real shame, and there's a few graphical issues to sort just now, but we reckon this is still Saber Interactive's best crack at the offroad sim yet, and that's saying something.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Penarium
    Penarium is one of the best arcade-style games we've played this console generation. The campaign doesn't last all that long, and more multiplayer options would've been appreciated, but all in all, there's a healthy amount of content for the price.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    SIFU
    Sifu is possibly the best beat ‘em up we’ve played in a long time. It’s a refreshing take on the genre, and in the words of Cobra Kai’s Johnny Lawrence, it will make you feel like a “badass” when the fight is going your way. At the same time, it can be quite ruthless. Either way, you’ll probably be thinking about your next run when you aren't even playing it, which is a sign of just how great it is.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Q.U.B.E. Director's Cut
    Q.U.B.E: Director's Cut is an excellent physics based puzzler that offers enough variety and challenge to its puzzles to satisfy even the most lateral of thinkers.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Crash Team Rumble
    Crash Team Rumble is a slick and addictive online arena battler that looks and sounds great and offers up some properly addictive team-based action that's easy to pick up but with plenty of depth to master. Focusing on collecting fruit rather than killing foes keeps things feeling fun and frustration-free, the various roles available to play as add a sense of skill and strategy, and there's a strong lineup of colourful characters and three decent maps to play on at launch. We're suitably impressed so far and with new seasons adding more maps and characters in the near future, things are looking bright for this one starting out.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Action Henk
    Action Henk is enjoyable and challenging, of that there is no doubt. It isn't going to win any awards for visuals – despite looking good enough to get the job done – and we'd like to have seen the comedy brand placement from the initial playroom area be used more in the levels themselves. With that said, neither of these things is going to interrupt your entertainment and the enjoyment and exquisite frustration that the game provides is more than enough for it to get our recommendation.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Pinball FX 2: Iron and Steel Pack
    Regardless of if we preferred Wild West Rampage to CastleStorm, or vice versa, the fact remains that both delivered the kind of thrills and sense of reward we like to see attached to a game of pinball. We think it's time you consider loading your catapult and six-shooter.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Aliens: Dark Descent
    Aliens: Dark Descent sees Tindalos serve up a cracking RTS that manages to capture the essence of this terrifying sci-fi series whilst giving players plenty of sweet strategy to sink their teeth into. Tweaking the established XCOM setup to better suit the nature of the enemy at hand, this is an Aliens adventure that leans into stealth, studious preparation, consideration of resources and slow-burn exploration as you manoeuvre through evocative environments whilst attempting not to disturb the deadly xenomorph hordes. There are a few rough edges here and there, and some strategy fans may mourn the loss of individual unit control, but overall this is one express elevator to hell we absolutely recommend taking.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    SteamWorld Dig
    This is one platform game that should not be missed.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Trek to Yomi
    Trek to Yomi is a game of two halves, where slightly repetitive combat does bring things down a notch. However, that other half — made up of the game's visuals, characters, storyline, atmosphere and overall polish — is so good that you'll want to carry on trekking right until the end. More involved combat could have elevated this one to being potentially one of our very favourite Game Pass games, but make no mistake, this is an adventure you'll want to head out on.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Amnesia: Rebirth
    Amnesia: Rebirth is a more mature effort from Frictional Games, with an increased focus on story, making the whole experience feel more like a complete game than its predecessors. The new setting is an eerie place to be as well, even if it's not quite as 'conventional horror' as the locations that make up the Amnesia: Collection. There are some puzzles we got hung up on for a bit longer than we'd like, and the story is a bit vague at times, but this is still an enjoyable adventure overall and one we can definitely recommend for Game Pass players, especially those looking for an immersive horror experience.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Quarry
    The Quarry sees Supermassive Games back on top form with a spiritual successor to the superlative Until Dawn that comes mighty close to knocking that classic off its lofty perch. There's a fantastic cast of well-observed characters to get to know here, a narrative that packs in several threats and plenty of twists, turns and light-hearted moments to sit alongside its shocks and juicy revelations. With jaw-dropping visuals, a cracking soundtrack and plenty in the way of replayability in order to see every outcome on offer, this is an interactive horror experience that's well worth jumping into.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League
    Rocksteady's Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, despite all of the wailing and gnashing of teeth pre-release, has arrived in perfectly fine form. This is, at launch, one of the most polished looter shooters we've played, an action-packed superhero adventure that dishes up top-notch combat, tons of fan-service, excellent traversal (important for superheroes!), addicting loot, and plenty of surprises and shocks to boot. Yes, the story is artificially dragged out, mission types are repetitive and the store is a right royal rip-off, but the writing, the performances, core mechanics and incredible attention to detail here ensure that this is one squad of misfits who've managed to take the heat and survive intact.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition
    For the asking price, this 20th anniversary remaster of Beyond Good & Evil is a great experience – with respectable visual upgrades, sound enhancements, some quality-of-life improvements, and bonus content to top it off. While the gameplay, mechanics, and environments don’t always feel quite as fresh as they once did, Jade’s story is still as charming as ever. Now, about that next adventure…
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    F1 22
    F1 22 is another super solid entry in Codemasters' superlative run of racers. There may not be any really pressing reason to pick this one up if you own last year's game, but besides a lack of new ways to play and an F1 Life mode that's all a bit pointless in the end, this is still the pinnacle of F1 video game action that fans of the sport will no doubt be enjoying until F1 23 drops.
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In Progress & Unscored

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    • 50 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection
    On Xbox, there is definitely going to be some debate about whether or not fans should consider checking out the Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection. If you’re not in it for online play, and only want to participate in solo and local play, we would argue the affordably priced backward compatibility versions offer more than enough. If you do want to relive the glorious online battles of yesteryear in a fresh package though, the extra credits of the Classic Collection may be worth the asking price. [Review in Progress]
    • 94 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition
    Revisiting The Witcher 3 after all the drama with CP2077 takes us back to a time when CD Projekt Red was an unstoppable force. Although we've experienced some minor technical issues with the quality mode on Xbox Series X|S prior to release, overall this free update for Witcher 3 is a fantastic package that makes what was already an excellent experience (with two wonderful expansions) an even better one. If you haven’t played The Witcher 3 already and love action RPGs, now is the perfect time to check it out. It's without a doubt one of the greatest games of all time, and if you’ve already fallen in love with it before, you’ll still have a blast reuniting with the White Wolf in this latest update. Note: This review of The Witcher 3: Next Gen is still "in-progress" as we've suffered a few minor technical issues as part of our review build. As mentioned above, a patch is expected to address these issues in the coming days (potentially before the update's public release), so we'll hopefully be able to return to this review later in the week and provide a final score.
    • 70 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Undisputed
    After 14 extremely long years, we're so glad to finally be playing a major new boxing game on Xbox. Undisputed isn't necessarily the perfect follow-up to Fight Night Champion, but it's a more realistic take on the sport that delivers a good amount of entertainment inside the squared circle, and we're impressed by what the Steel City Interactive team have created with their first video game ever. Let's hope we don't have to wait another 14 years for a sequel! [Review in Progress]
    • 90 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Monster Hunter Wilds
    Monster Hunter Wilds is another step in the evolution of this growing series featuring updates to the combat, world design, equipment and upgrades, and comes loaded with all sorts of quality-of-life adjustments, making it probably the most accessible entry to date. For veterans, it throws more monsters at you to slay and gear to upgrade beyond the story, and after hours and hours of hunts, the gameplay loop remains addictive. Let the hunt begin!

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