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
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    NBA 2K21
    It should be no great shock that next-gen NBA 2K21 is the best-looking basketball game ever made. What's perhaps more surprising is that 2K has added two substantial modes (in the new WNBA career mode The W and the massively multiplayer The City) to make it the most feature-packed one ever too. Much of its content still has the weight of microtransactions hanging over it, but as long as you don't mind ignoring that and putting in the grind instead, this is a great purchase for NBA fans: especially if you held fire and haven't played 2K21 on Xbox One yet.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tekken 8
    Tekken 8 is a little light on single-player content in comparison to some of the other big fighters out there right now, and it does give off the initial impression of being super-slick over strategically balanced early on. Stick with it though, dig down beneath all the fancy new heat moves and screen-shaking rage attacks, and you'll find a classic fighting system that feels better now than it ever has. Once you're in the zone, pulling off Phoenix smashers, dashing fists and sandwich claps whilst side-stepping like a pro, any slight shortcomings this game may have are left at the entrance to the arena.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tiny Tina's Wonderlands
    Even if you’ve been looting and shooting in the Borderlands for the past decade, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is still well worth a look. It’s got fantastic and addictive gameplay, the pacing feels quite good as well, and there are enough new features, enemies, and bosses that will keep you and your friends coming back for more adventures. Tina's fantasy spin-off proves it's more than worthy alongside the mainline entries.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    EA Sports FC 24
    EA Sports FC 24 isn't the big overhaul that some might have expected, but it doesn't need to be. Instead, it makes subtle but impressive upgrades to most areas of the game, especially in terms of presentation, Ultimate Team and the actual action on the pitch. There's an argument to say that FIFA 23 is worth sticking with for another year, but if you're a big fan of the series (and Ultimate Team in particular), we'd say it's worth your hard-earned money.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Banner Saga
    As a package, The Banner Saga is addictive, attractive, compelling, enjoyable, and truly challenging on the higher difficulty level.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
    Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is another fine slice of Yakuza action from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio thart serves up a little bit of everything over the course of 15 or so hours. This may be a shorter affair than usual by quite some margin, but what's here still manages to deliver lots of exciting action, very silly gadgets, drama and deep cuts for the fans. If the intent was to whet our appetites for Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, then consider that mission well and truly complete. Roll on January 2024.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Don Bradman Cricket
    Don Bradman Cricket is a fine, fine game. As a simulation of a sport, it's right up there in terms of quality.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Isonzo
    All in all, Isonzo is very good at what it sets out to do, which is provide an authentic WW1 battlefield for players to experience, this time way up in the Italian Alps. The series' new setting does add some nice visual variety to proceedings, and the extra verticality has a pretty major impact on gameplay and match flow, but ultimately, we would like a little more meat on the bone, whether that be more online modes, gameplay options or even a single player campaign one day. What's here though is bloody brutally brilliant, and if you enjoy a more tactical approach to online warfare, Isonzo is definitely worth a shot - just remember to rechamber that rifle!
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mega Coin Squad
    Mega Coin Squad is a superbly entertaining title.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Forza Horizon 5
    Forza Horizon 5 is an amazing game, don’t get us wrong – if you’re a newcomer to the series you’ll likely have a blast, assuming you like car games. Returning fans though can expect a similar experience to past entries. For some, that’s where driver fatigue may very well set in. After five games, at this point, you could argue the series is no longer doing enough to protect its crown as the top open-world racer. It’s the same process of going to a festival, unlocking cars, racing a lot, levelling up and repeating the whole cycle. And the new additions - such as the EventLab - are more reliant on community efforts. It is mostly a flawless experience, but the lack of evolution is how other franchises like Need for Speed fell behind in the first place. If the Forza Horizon series is to continue, it really needs to push the formula to new horizons. It would be great to see Playground really let loose with a future entry, as it's now getting a little too comfortable with the tried and tested template.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    EA Sports PGA Tour
    EA Sports PGA Tour is an excellent return to the fairways for the studio, delivering the most realistic and deep golfing action currently available on consoles. There's a slick and rewarding sim to dig into here and, with recent new additions to the choice of control set-ups, it's an experience we thoroughly recommend to golfing pros and newcomers alike. With plenty of modes, top-notch presentation, best-in-class ball physics and a fine selection of courses to master, we can see ourselves spending plenty of time with this one in the weeks and months ahead.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Warframe
    Our time with the game has in no way been brief, yet so much remains to be explored. Community events, an evolving storyline, clans, and the sheer number of missions and locations will keep us returning to this space opera on a regular basis for months, maybe even years to come.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Revenge of the Savage Planet
    Revenge of the Planet successfully shifts the series to a third person perspective in order to bring us a sequel that's a slicker and more confident affair all round. This is a colourful, clever and creative romp at every turn - one that's enhanced significantly when played in co-op - and a game that gives you a cool world stuffed full of silly creatures, crazy weapons, and a ton of possibilities to get lost in exploring. Come for the co-op, stay for the Grob, we always say.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Letter Quest: Grimm's Journey Remastered
    It's not particularly long but the challenges, quests and collectibles are pitched just at the right level to keep you engaged long after the main story is over.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Football Manager 2021
    Ultimately then, you're going to need a little bit of patience with Football Manager 2021: Xbox Edition, whether you're brand-new to the series or a PC player looking to transition to console, but once you've spent a few hours with it, the control scheme becomes easier to wield. After that, you're free to enjoy the best sports management sim on Xbox by a country mile, and a game that football fans owe it to themselves to try at least once, especially now that it's available on Xbox Game Pass. Watch out, you might get hooked.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Stick it to the Man!
    Stick it To The Man is a total blast to play. The puzzles may not be all that challenging, but the beautiful visuals, catchy soundtrack, and wonderful humour make it stick out above other adventure games.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Unmechanical: Extended Edition
    It respects both the genre and your time, and for that — along with plenty of other reasons — there's quite a satisfying experience to be had.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Metro Redux
    There’s no doubt that Metro Redux represents real value for money. Neither game is perfect and Metro 2033 does show signs of aging, despite the improvements, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t an entirely playable game which serves as a sort of hors d'oeuvre to Last Light’s main course.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Atlas Fallen
    Atlas Fallen sees Deck13 make a mostly successful leap to a bright and bold semi-open world that's jam-packed full of excellent combat and some surprisingly slick platforming action. Yes the story is bland, the voice-acting is poor, there are some lock-on niggles and sand-surfing needs work, but ferocious battles, tons of swappable skills and well-designed Metroidvania and platforming elements more than make up for most of the failings here. This is the studio's best game to date for our money, and if you've played The Surge series you'll know that's saying something.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Pinball FX 2: Guardians of the Galaxy
    Guardians are a group worth signing up with, even if they haven't quite mastered introductions.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels
    If you are new to Forza Horizon's Hot Wheels expansions, you’ll likely have a blast with the latest one. It's once again a nice change of pace from the main game – with cars reaching all-new top speeds. For returning players, you can go into this paid DLC knowing what to expect, although it may not be quite as thrilling as the first time for some veterans. At the same time, you could say the Hot Wheels expansion for the Forza Horizon series has now been fully realised thanks to the power of Xbox Series X|S. It’s got us excited to see what’s next for the fifth entry in terms of future expansion content. So go on, get out there and burn some rubber.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Battletoads
    Battletoads is without a doubt one of the funniest games of this generation, and it's a pretty nifty beat 'em up to boot. It does have the occasional lull when things start to feel a little repetitive, but by and large it's a hugely entertaining experience and well worth your time.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
    Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a slick and satisfying spiritual successor that gives Suikoden fans a great big dreamy treat whilst updating, modernising and streamlining its most retro aspects into a brand-new and exciting adventure for newcomers. With a timely tale to tell, excellent battle systems, an amazing cast of characters and plenty of experimentation and puzzling in its dungeons, this is a big win for Game Pass, and a fine farewell for one of the industry's true greats. Now, isn't that a lovely thing.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4
    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 is another great entry in the series that's bound to prove popular on Xbox Game Pass and beyond. Developer Iron Galaxy has done an excellent job bringing these legendary maps into the modern era, and the gameplay feels just as good as it did in THPS 1+2. The structural changes to the fourth game along with the significantly altered soundtrack may irk some people, but there's still a ton of fun to be had overall - and now we're just hoping Tony Hawk's Underground 1+2 becomes a reality.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Alan Wake II: The Lake House Expansion
    Alan Wake 2: The Lake House is another brilliant slice of Remedy goodness. This expansion certainly veers more into Control territory, so if that's your Remedy jam, you're going to have a great time with this one. For us, we'd have liked the game's final DLC to feel a bit more like Alan Wake in its concept and execution, so The Lake House doesn't feel quite as accomplished as the base game or its previous Night Springs expansion. At just $20 / £15 for both DLC packs though, you really can't go wrong in opening up your wallet for some fresh Alan Wake action.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    FIFA 21
    FIFA 21 is very much an incremental upgrade to last year's outing, but what has changed here makes for a much faster, more fluid and fun game of footie than we've seen from the series since perhaps as far back as 2017. New tweaks to off-the-balls runs and passing are welcome, headers are viable options once again and keepers have been nerfed to the point that all-manner of long-range efforts, vicious volleys and fancy finished shots are back in vogue. Volta still feels like a bit of an afterthought - with its new Debut story mode as cheesy as you might have been expecting - but a slick new simulation option in Career mode, alongside that smart player customisation system and customisable stadiums and co-op Rivals and Squad Battles in Ultimate Team, mean there's just about enough here for diehard fans to justify splashing out once again. This is, for all its faults and foibles, a comprehensive and undeniably fun swansong for EA's behemoth on this current generation of consoles.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Plucky Squire
    The Plucky Squire is a delightful kids adventure with a fun and unique core mechanic that's been realised incredibly well. Jumping in and out of Jot's storybook to explore the "real" world, engage in light puzzles and face off against Humgrump's minions is a constant delight and, even though the game is never as challenging or as devious as we'd have liked, it's got a ton of heart. A must-play for kids, then, and a breezily nice time for any adults playing alongside them.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Citizen Sleeper
    Much like In Other Waters, this is a game you simply need to sit down and play in order to fully appreciate, as no screenshot or explanation will fully do it justice, and having it release on Game Pass is just the ticket to entice interested parties to try their hand. We urge you to dive in here, as this is a game of real style and substance with multiple endings to mop up as you peel back layers and dig deeper into Eldin's Eye and its inhabitants. Citizen Sleeper is a unique and thought-provoking adventure that's truly taken us by surprise.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Quantum Break
    Quantum Break's commitment to delivering a rich, layered narrative isn't always conducive to gameplay, but that doesn't diminish how engrossing this is an entertainment experience. The combination of intense time-bending action, gripping story, and cutting-edge presentation make this the kind of game that sucks you in and doesn't let go until the credits roll. While it's not quite as inventive as it thinks it is, Quantum Break is fresh, ambitious, and a heck of a lot of fun.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Outlast
    Let it be known that Outlast is a genuinely stressful and nerve-racking experience, but that’s exactly what a true survival horror game should be, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Gears of War: Ultimate Edition
    With a bunch of new content, a massive visual overhaul, mechanical improvements, and other subtle modernizations, Ultimate Edition has earned the right to be referred to as the definitive version of Gears of War.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is lean, green and totally not mean. This is a wonderfully thorough compilation of the glory days of 8 and 16-bit Turtles beat 'em ups. There's thirteen games here, covering everything you could possibly want from the glory days of TMNT side-scrolling action, alongside an exhaustive array of extras that goes above and beyond what we've seen from most retro compilations of late. Turtles fans and beat 'em aficionados, get that pepperoni pizza order in, kick back and prepare to relive some of the true greats of the late 80s/early 90s era. Over 30 years on and, as it turns out, we still love being a turtle!
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
    Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is a super solid action-RPG that delivers an absorbing and emotional ghost story on top of combat that, well, it gets the job done. Antea and Red are a fantastic pair of leads, the writing and acting are on point and 17th New England is every bit as effective a setting as you would hope for a spooky tale of lovers torn apart. If you can make do with a world that's more linear than most modern efforts and combat that isn't going to give Geralt of Rivia any sleepless nights, you're in for a right treat.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    MLB The Show 22
    MLB The Show 22 is another brilliant arrival in the series, and once again delivers fluid and gorgeous presentation on Xbox Series X|S. The gameplay remains highly satisfying, while Road to the Show and Diamond Dynasty remain compulsive modes. While 'no money spent' is still pleasingly feasible in the latter, it feels a little more grind-heavy this year, so hopefully that will ease off. Elsewhere new commentary is welcome, but is too short on lines this time around. MLB The Show, as a series, does feel like it needs a leap at some point; as another steady iteration, though, this latest entry is still a standout sports sim and a must for baseball fans.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Lies of P
    This dystopian tale of Pinocchio does a lot to stand on its own two feet, but when you strip all the set dressing away, it is simply a terrific love letter to Bloodborne. It is rough around the edges with some balancing issues and environment clipping causing you to get stuck in corners too easily, but with enough persistence (and skill), Lies of P is one of the best non-FromSoftware soulslikes yet.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Forza Motorsport
    Forza Motorsport feels like a game that's set up for the future. The technical underpinnings on show in Turn 10's Xbox Series X|S debut are remarkable, and this sort of solid foundation is always a good start. While there's still hours and hours of fun to be had with what is here, genre fans will quickly be reminded of what's missing - making the new FM feel like a launch pad for what's to come rather than a complete experience at launch. When Turn 10 gets around to adding more unique career events, tracks and bonus features, this could become one of the very best sim racers ever to grace Xbox. For now, it's a brilliant effort.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
    Square Enix has successfully revived Dragon Quest 3 once again with this HD-2D Remake – making it more accessible than ever for newcomers with an array of quality-of-life updates and offering up more than enough new content for veterans to make it worthwhile revisiting. Even if it has aged, this is another great addition to the company’s HD-2D line and well worth playing if you’re a fan of old-school JRPGs.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Immortals Fenyx Rising
    Immortals Fenyx Rising undoubtedly owes a huge debt to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, borrowing wholesale as it does from its core gameplay mechanics and narrative structure. However, what Ubisoft Quebec has come up with here also adds enough of its own spin on proceedings, with a strong personality and sense of humour sat alongside some brilliantly designed puzzles, flashy, satisfying combat and a huge world full of secrets, treasures and Ancient Greek mythology to discover. It may falter slightly in the final stretch by wrestling away player freedom and funnelling you through its overly long endgame, but this is still a hugely entertaining, technically impressive Ancient Greek romp that's well worth experiencing.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    NBA 2K23
    NBA 2K23 is the strongest this franchise has looked and felt in recent memory. With a fantastic focus on various eras from the past 50 years of the sport, a superb Michael Jordan Challenge mode, plenty of improvements on the court and series-best presentation, this is a super slick and polished feast of basketball for fans to dig into. Yes, microtransactions are still an ugly issue, especially in MyPlayer mode, but if you can look past this failing, you're in for an absolute treat here with a ton of deep and addictive single player and online modes to get stuck into.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Evolve
    When Evolve is at its best, it is one of the greatest co-op experiences ever crafted. Few games require so much teamwork and are as satisfying when everything falls into place. Conversely, it can be a complete mess when played with hunters that are incompetent or not playing their position.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a super-slick boomer shooter that serves up one of the best Warhammer-themed games we've played thus far. The oppressive vibes and stompy violent silliness of space marines has been recreated faithfully here in a FPS that's every bit as perfectly pitched and polished as the very best recent examples of this rejuvenated genre. We'd have loved to see some multiplayer or different modes to muck around with, yes, but there's no knocking how fast and fun this retro shooter's campaign is. For old-school FPS fans, this is the good stuff.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Back 4 Blood
    Is Back 4 Blood the Left 4 Dead 3 we've been waiting for? Yes! It's a worthy spiritual successor to Valve's classic zombie-slaying series of multiplayer games, and offers a well-designed Campaign mode with some impressive new features such as its strategic Card system. The difficulty perhaps needs balancing a little more, and the lack of meaningful progression when playing Solo Campaign needs addressing sharpish, but otherwise we've had a blast with Back 4 Blood so far, and we look forward to many more Campaign runs in the weeks, months and years to come.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition
    For the younger players especially, bouncing around as a Jedi or flying the landspeeder around the desert is unlikely to get old anytime soon.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty
    Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty definitely shows its age in spots, but it is absolutely the best way to experience the first Oddworld game.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Xuan-Yuan Sword 7
    Despite these missteps, Xuan Yuan Sword 7 surprised us with just how fun it was. It harkens back to classic adventure games from the early '00s, filled with all the charm of that era. Sometimes it's refreshing to play a game that knows exactly what it wants to be and accomplishes it with very little getting in the way. While there are some localisation issues, some presentation problems and a lack of challenge in its combat, we do hope Xuan Yuan Sword 7 finds an audience in the west, as it would be a shame not to see how the next entry can build upon these solid foundations.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Rogue Legacy
    Rogue Legacy is one of the best indies available on Xbox One, and you should do what you can to become a part of its family tree – its zany, amusing, dysfunctional family tree.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Horizon Chase 2
    If you liked Horizon Chase Turbo as much as us, then this speedy sequel is an easy recommendation. We'd have liked a bit more meat on Horizon Chase 2's bones, but what's here is undeniably fantastic fun, and we've loved experiencing the series' sense of arcade racing wonder once again. The graphics are gorgeous, the gameplay is slick and satisfying, and despite a relatively short runtime you just can't go wrong with this one. Horizon Chase 2 is a virtual world tour that's well worth heading out on.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Little Nightmares II
    Little Nightmares II is bigger and bolder, which builds upon the foundations from the first game. The game is host to a disgusting, decaying world that opens up as you progress through each chapter. Its inhabitants will haunt your dreams for days and the emotional connection it draws between Mono and Six with absolutely no dialogue is powerful. It's a shame that frustrating chase sequences and clunky combat scenarios consistently break the immersion, as the game is just shy of being something truly special. As it stands, Little Nightmares II is a thrill ride filled with visual striking moments of pure nightmare fuel, which may invite you to leave your lamp on for the foreseeable future.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Battlefield 6
    Battlefield 6 is a fantastic first-person shooter, and the team at Battlefield Studios — now led by FPS veteran Vince Zampella — has done an amazing job at building this new foundation, especially after the dip in form with Battlefield 2042. The gunplay feels ace, the game looks and runs beautifully, and all of the core ingredients that make a proper Battlefield game are here. Some of those ingredients do need some extra seasoning though; the campaign is fun but bland and I want to see more large scale, Conquest-focused maps in future - but all-in-all, this is a great effort. In this day and age, the day one multiplayer experience is simply a base to be built upon, and that base is rock solid. I can't wait to see where Battlefield 6 ends up in a few years' time.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Star Wars Outlaws
    Star Wars Outlaws has been a thoroughly welcome surprise. We expected a great big open world dullard of a thing, but instead we've got clever stealth systems, excellent level design, fun combat and a wise refining of the usual collectathon and busywork mechanics. Kay Vess and Nix make a highly competent stealth/death squad, the whole thing looks and sounds great and you even get to take off from planets, fly into space and blow stuff up. What it lacks in new mechanics or originality in gameplay, it makes up for with vibes. It's got it where it counts, kid.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Forza Motorsport 6
    Warts and all, this is well worth the investment.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Escapists
    The Escapists is not a game for those who get frustrated easily.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Golf Club: Wasteland
    Ultimately, the main impression we've taken away from Golf Club: Wasteland is that it's an alright golf game on its own, but it's really not about the golf. You'll want to settle in with a nice pair of headphones when playing this one, let the game suck you into its unique concept and narrative, and we think you'll have a really good time with it. At a standard price of £8.29 / $9.99, it's a definitely a reasonable fee for an other-worldly round of golf.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
    Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a solid soulslike experience that serves up top-notch combat in a hugely atmospheric setting which incorporates real-life historical events, Chinese mythology and dark fantasy elements. There's a clever battle system at the heart of proceedings here with deflections, ripostes and screen-shaking fatal attacks the order of the day, whilst an innovative morale rank and recruitment system makes for action that's flexible enough to cater for newcomers to the genre. The narrative isn't particularly cohesive, and a handful of the missions on offer are a little too short for their own good, but overall this is Team Ninja's finest soulslike experience to date and a must-play for action fans.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Electronic Super Joy
    If you like the sound of a challenging platformer that will push you to the edge of frustration when things are going badly but make you feel like a gaming god when things are going well, Electronic Super Joy may be just the game you're looking for.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Forgotten City
    The Forgotten City has surprised us with how engaging it is. The time loop mechanic is used to great effect and works much more than a simple gimmick, and the standout is the writing, which keeps you invested line after line. It's not a home run, with some overall clunkiness to the game and certain segments that could easily have been stripped out, but it's definitely a 10-12 hour adventure worth taking, with many paths and possibilities to uncover.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Escapists: The Walking Dead
    A great introduction to either series and well worth the asking price.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
    It always felt like LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga would struggle to live up to its lofty promise of delivering essentially the most expansive Star Wars game to date, but the team at TT Games really have done an amazing job on it. We've still got a few nitpicks, and we also wish it included online co-op support, but there's no denying that it's a stunningly beautiful and brilliantly ambitious take on the world of Star Wars complete with endlessly enjoyable gameplay and enough side-content to keep you busy for many, many hours to come. We've been waiting so long for this game to arrive, and we're pleased to report the Force is definitely strong with this one.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Star Wars: Squadrons
    Star Wars: Squadrons combines a solid campaign with a truly fantastic multiplayer element that throws players into an immaculately rendered vision of classic Star Wars action that contains enough depth and detail to satisfy hardcore pilots while still remaining accessible and fun for more casual players. There's not too much in the way of modes as things stand right now, and some players may be put off by the rather bare-bones upgrades and cosmetics on offer, but what is here packs a mighty fine punch, enabling fans of the franchise to live out their fantasies in epic dogfights full of truly iconic moments ripped straight from the classic movies. This is the best Star Wars space-battling action currently available on consoles and a must-play for Force freaks everywhere.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Football Manager 2023 Console
    Football Manager 2023 Console is a great experience on Xbox once again this year. A meaningfully improved UI helps with navigation and overall accessibility, while the addition of Team Talks along with UEFA Champions League and Europa League branding are welcome new features. It's still missing a few things from the main PC game, but if you can look past that, the console version is great way to get your FM fix this season.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Silent Hill f
    Silent Hill F is a great survival horror title, and a true return to the classic series from Konami. It mixes things up well throughout its roughly 10-hour runtime, and I enjoyed both what the more grounded and the more hellish areas of the game had to offer. As a relative newbie to Silent Hill I can't wait to see where things go from here, and I really think developer NeoBards has what it takes to learn from F and improve on it for what's next. Silent Hill is finally back on Xbox, and it was worth the wait.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Twelve Minutes
    All in all, then, Twelve Minutes is definitely worth a download with Xbox Game Pass if you're even the least bit interested in the premise, as both its story and gameplay combine to create a memorable thriller. There are a couple of downsides if you look for them, and the replayability factor will be pretty low after you've discovered everything, but we think you'll really enjoy your main playthrough regardless, even if you're not the biggest fan of point-and-click games.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Minecraft Dungeons
    Minecraft Dungeons does an excellent job of taking the blocky world and characters that we all know and love from Minecraft and transplanting them into a light and breezy, kid-friendly action-RPG. The streamlined systems of character building and upgrading here are delightfully easy to engage with, levels are beautifully realised, and randomly generated slices of the overworld and the various mobs and bosses you come up against provide a fun challenge for up to four players to get stuck into. It may not be the most dark or difficult action RPG out there, but for newcomers to the genre, young kids or massive Minecraft fans, this one is an easy recommendation.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    NBA 2K22
    NBA 2K22 is an excellent next-gen addition to the franchise on Xbox Series X, delivering revamped gameplay that feels better than ever before on the court, smoother transitions between modes and all manner of graphical bells and whistles to boot. My Career's new City area has been well implemented and could well be a huge timesink for those who are into that mode and, although there's no other major changes to speak of, what's here is undoubtedly still the slickest basketball ticket in town right now.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
    Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a unique strategy experience that draws from traditional Japanese culture to give us an incredibly detailed world to work through, one bite-sized level at a time. The strategy here is tight, the animations and combat look and feel great, and the dancing, music and base-building ensure that there's always something to do in the downtime between Seethe-destroying sorties. Capcom are still on that hot streak, and we are here for it.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Chernobylite
    Chernobylite is a fascinating survival horror RPG that serves up an enthralling and impressively detailed exclusion zone for players to run a series of dangerous raids in. There may be a few too many gameplay elements chucked into the mix here but strong writing, well designed missions, great support characters and some incredible visual and audio work smooth over most of the rough patches. If you can deal with a some clunkiness with regards to combat and are prepared to work a little to get the most out of it, you'll find a deep and addictive indie gem awaits that does a fantastic job of scratching that S.T.A.L.K.E.R itch.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sonic x Shadow Generations
    Shadow's latest chapter is arguably his best video game outing yet and easily the definitive experience in Sonic X Shadow Generations. The remaster of Sonic's existing campaign tops it all off, even if it has aged a bit in 2024. Fans of the ultimate lifeform (and the blue blur) should have a blast with this one.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Leo's Fortune
    There is enough variety in Leo's adventure to keep it fresh as the game progresses and the overall length, while shorter than we may have come to expect from modern games, will leave you wanting more.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Gotham Knights
    Gotham Knights is a dark, dense and surprisingly gripping action adventure that almost manages to step up to the level of the very best of the Arkham series. There's a cracking story to dive into here, a huge and wonderfully detailed city, tons of lore for Bat fans, brutally crunchy combat, four cool superheroes to get a handle on and some of Gotham's most infamous villains to take down as you fight to prevent an all-out turf war. We were slightly concerned going into this one but, as it turns out, we needn't have been. If you can ignore some messy menus and a few too many upgradeable bits and bobs, you'll have a great time.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    EA Sports FC 26
    All in all, while EA Sports FC 26 isn't perfect by any means, I commend the development team for providing a more "authentic" style of gameplay compared to what Ultimate Team offers. Combine that with the fantastic suite of modes and excellent presentation as always, and we've got a great and memorable entry in the series this year.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Watch Dogs
    If you were expecting Watch Dogs to take the genre in new directions then you’re going to be sorely disappointed. With that being said, Watch Dogs is still an engaging and often times surprising action game.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dungeon of the Endless
    But it's a game that, once it has you hooked, will reel you back in over and over again because you just know you can do better this time, or perhaps you think you've discovered a new strategy - it's all very compelling.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster
    Nightdive Studios serves up another fantastically thorough revamp of a retro classic with Star Wars: Dark Forces. It may not quite have the reputation of the likes of Quake 2 or System Shock, but this is a fun Star Wars shooter nevertheless, one of the better efforts from the '90s, and a game that looks and feels the absolute business thanks to enhanced graphics, modernised controls, fancy lighting techniques and all manner of other bells and whistles. Not quite essential, then, but a damn good time regardless, especially for fans of the original Star Wars franchise.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
    Infinity Ward has delivered its best Call of Duty game since the original Modern Warfare 2 (from way back in 2009) with this year's release. The game's campaign mixes things up rather nicely, delivering a more tactical outing this time around, and the game's multiplayer caters to almost every type of Call of Duty player out there. While the non-Zombies co-op mode is an expected low point, MW2's multiplayer component is jam-packed and well-balanced, creating a compelling reason to keep returning to its huge online sandbox. Modern Warfare 2 won't convince the CoD haters out there, but this year's release is a return to form after one of the franchise's major lows in 2021's Call of Duty: Vanguard.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    TopSpin 2K25
    Top Spin 4 was so good that it continued to thrive for 10 years past its sell-by date, and TopSpin 2K25 feels just as enjoyable to play in 2024. Sure, the character models don't look great, and the game could do with a few tweaks and additions in certain areas, but the key thing is that developer Hangar 13 has nailed the gameplay. We've been waiting such a long time for a tennis title to really grab our attention like Top Spin 4 did back in the day, and we're pleased to say that TopSpin 2K25 is comfortably the best tennis game we've played in over a decade.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
    Fans of the game will find themselves once again transfixed as they embark on the journey once more and for those have not yet taken the plunge, now is definitely your chance. Just remember to keep the tissues handy. You might be in need of them.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings
    Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings is a fitting way to round out the baseball season and a great excuse to invite friends over for some local multiplayer action. While another mode and online functionality would've made this package an absolute grand slam, the core gameplay is so addictive and well-executed that it's hard to think of it as anything less than a home run.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Nobody Wants to Die
    Nobody Wants to Die's short announcement-to-launch window and its ambitious concept made us cautious, but that caution was unnecessary in the end. It's a tight, gripping adventure that knows exactly what a great sense of place can do for an experience like this, and we had no trouble blasting through the game in one sitting. A little more gameplay depth wouldn't have gone amiss, and Nobody Wants to Die is overall quite a short game - but it's one that's definitely worth picking up if the visuals and themes on show here speak to your gaming sensibilities. Now, we need to see some sunshine after blasting through this one.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Evil Within: The Assignment
    With a more interesting lead character, tighter pacing, and better scares, The Assignment is that rare story add-on that may even be better than the main game.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    WWE 2K24
    WWE 2K24 is undoubtedly one of the best wrestling games in Xbox history, but it's also a game that prioritises incremental upgrades over any kind of major overhauls, so casual fans may struggle to justify a full-price purchase. As dedicated wrestling "marks" though, we think the new MyRise stories, superb improvements to MyGM, nostalgia-driven Showcase mode, additional match types and various gameplay adjustments are all worth the price of admission.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    WWE 2K22
    WWE 2K22 isn't going to surpass the likes of "No Mercy" and "Here Comes The Pain" in terms of fan favourite wrestling games, but in our opinion, it's the best WWE 2K game to date. The gameplay is improved, the graphics are improved, and there's enough content here to keep you busy for a long time, even if some of the new modes haven't quite reached their potential yet. There are still some unwanted series staples here, such as clunky collision detection, but for the most part it's obvious how much progress has been made across the board over the past couple of years, and it's now up to 2K to take things to the next level with WWE 2K23.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Gears 5
    Gears 5 is an odd thing; it's neither a grand leap forwards, nor a complete rehash of what came before, and therefore sits somewhere in the middle of the two. On the whole, the improvements do outweigh the negatives (the non-linear approach to campaign levels and the small changes to horde mode being some of the most notable), and while The Coalition still has some work to do to really make the series its own, this is a far bolder and more varied approach the relatively safe Gears 4. If you love shooters and you want a good place to jump back into the series, this is perfect place to work the rust out of your lancer.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    MLB The Show 23
    MLB The Show 23 plays it safe with regards to its Road to the Show and Franchise modes, with both of these aspects in need of a good old-fashioned revamp at this stage in the game. However, Diamond Dynasty is a total blast that very wisely chooses to be generous with its rewards, whilst the all-new Storylines mode introduces a thoroughly entertaining and educational journey through The Negro Leagues that's been our absolute highlight of the package so far this year. With the series' top-notch core gameplay and wealth of control and accessibility options helping to smooth over the rough of a few lacklustre modes, this is another super solid entry in the franchise.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    XDefiant
    XDefiant has been built to scratch a very particular online FPS itch, and the more bloated and complex AAA shooters have become, the more we've come to appreciate an experience like this. The game could do with a little more content, and some tweaks to gunplay and progression wouldn't go amiss, but we can't see why XDefiant shouldn't have a bright future ahead of it. Ubisoft has shown us all that it has the patience to stick around with online shooters if they have a solid community — just look at the near decade-old Rainbow Six Siege — so this should definitely be one title worth investing some time into. XDefiant isn't perfect, but this is a very promising start and we're already becoming invested in where Ubisoft's latest Xbox FPS can go.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Lost in Random
    Despite these hurdles, we hold no doubt they'll be ironed out in the coming weeks. What will be left is an underrated gem that has unfortunately slipped under the radar. Coming out the same week as Tales of Arise, Life is Strange: True Colors and Sonic Colors: Ultimate, the game appears to have been lost in the noise. It's a shame, but we're confident an audience will be found of people such as us who will love and embrace this game - warts and all. Lost in Random may not strike a chord with everyone, but for those it does, they will absolutely love it.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind
    Rita’s Rewind is well worth checking out if you’re a fan of Power Rangers or retro-style tributes to the beat ‘em up genre. It also offers up some great fan service and nostalgia, with its super scaler segments mixing up the gameplay with all sorts of blockbuster arcade scenes that do a respectable job honouring the source material. And hey, if you’re a lapsed Power Rangers fan, the memories should come flooding back in no time! This truly is a great way to mark the series’ 30th anniversary and goes to show just how much fun this franchise can still offer after all these years. So go, go Power Rangers!
    • 66 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Hyper Void
    Hyper Void is a stellar shoot 'em up experience that passes the time in a fun and exciting way, with gorgeous high resolution graphics and an action-pumping soundtrack. All for a price tag that, in our opinion, is worth an adrenaline-fuelled romp, even if it the whole thing doesn't last as long as we may have liked.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Resident Evil: Revelations 2 - Episode 2: Contemplation
    Episode Two: Contemplation is hands down, a better, stronger, and more satisfying entry than the Revelations 2 premiere episode was.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    F1 24
    F1 24 gives fans of cool dad energy another superbly polished racer to indulge in for the upcoming season of loud car driving. The new "dynamic handling" system makes things feel nicer whilst using a gamepad, and Challenge Career feels like a genuinely great addition that we'll continue to play over the year. It looks and sounds as good as ever, there's plenty of fun to be had in co-op and online modes, and if you dig deep you'll find a fiendishly exciting and incredibly fast racer that can test your skills to the max if you let it - whilst remaining welcoming for newbies who need to tone things down a bit. That's pretty much all we could have asked for.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Avowed
    Avowed is a fantastic action-RPG that focuses on its combat and exploration first and foremost, which you'll either love the sound of, or not so much. Yes, Pillars fans looking for the sort of depth that comes with that series will need to adjust expectations accordingly, as this is a breezy, spunky, fight-fuelled affair that's more about creating cool loadouts and finding treasure than it is falling in love with an NPC or spending ten hours in your inventory at a time. Come for the fast-paced fights, colourful environs and excellent exploration, and you'll have a great time.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Planet of Lana
    It took us slightly over five hours to complete Planet of Lana, and while that might seem short, it felt like just the right amount of time for a game like this. We had a blast completing its unique and varied puzzles while also admiring the stunning scenery along the way, and it's definitely an experience that lives in the memory once you've completed it. This is the first ever release from Swedish developer Wishfully, and they've done a fantastic job bringing yet another superb indie adventure to Xbox Game Pass.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Company of Heroes 3: Console Edition
    Company of Heroes 3 survives the jump to consoles pretty much intact. This epic WW2 RTS is still an absolute treat - one that plays well with a controller, and gives you a wealth of modes to dig into in solo, co-op and PvP flavours. The Italian campaign is the highlight here for sure, mixing old-school Company of Heroes with the dynamic map antics of Total War, but a super strong story mode also delivers a more traditional helping of Relic's RTS magic to boot. There are some performance issues to resolve; quality mode stutters whilst performance can look a little underwhelming in places, but overall this is a huge win for console RTS fans and another fine entry in one of our favourite strategy franchises.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    NBA 2K25
    NBA 2K25 is the best the series has ever been on the court. This is slick and addictive stuff with improved passing and defending, hundreds more animations and a ton of big modes to sink your teeth into. Eras is a standout again, it's great to see the women's game included, and fans of digging deep into stats and shoes, badges and builds will be more than happy. We'd love to slap a higher score on here, we really would, but there's gotta be a penalty for such egregious and constant microtransaction badgering when players have already coughed up a bunch of cash for the game.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Outriders
    Outriders really has taken us completely by surprise. This is a game that gets off to a pretty bad start but, once the combat kicks off properly, quickly reveals itself to be one of the slickest and most addictive looter shooters we've played in a long while. Launch weekend has been a mess of server issues, for sure, but stick with what People Can Fly has dished up here and you'll find yourself handsomely rewarded. This one comes highly recommended.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Persona 5 Tactica
    Persona 5 Tactica is another very solid and self-assured spin-off for Atlus' stellar RPG franchise. Placing the Phantom Thieves in tactical turn-based battles works a treat here, with addictive and challenging strategy complimented by a slick sense of style, strong writing and a campaign narrative that will keep fans happy. Whether you're here for Persona specifically or you're just wanting a solid slice of tactical action to dig into, this one has got you well and truly covered.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mad Max
    Mad Max isn't a perfect game, and it probably won't win over anyone tired of the open-world formula, but this is an instance where we feel pure fun trumps any minor disappointments.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
    LEGO Batman 3 offers a lot of entertainment and is a pleasant experience overall – from the dialogue, to the little winks at pop culture, to the actual gameplay.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Crew Motorfest
    The Crew Motorfest has really surprised us. Not since the Test Drive Unlimited days have we had this much fun with an open world racer outside of the industry-leading Forza Horizon series, and that can only be good for competition going forward. The jury is still out on whether Motorfest, and any potential sequels, will have the stopping power that FH does, but Ubisoft's history with updating and adding to The Crew 2 bodes well for this title's future. Motorfest isn't fully refined just yet but the game feels like a hugely successful reset button for The Crew series, and we're now totally invested in where things go next.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Artful Escape
    It's also worth mentioning there are some substantial performance issues. The frame rate dropped considerably fairly often, pulling us out of its gorgeous world. There were also a few occasions where dialogue on the screen was not voiced, which felt very odd. However, these issues aside, The Artful Escape is absolutely an adventure worth taking. It contains some magical moments, an engaging narrative and the best soundtrack in a game all year. It doesn't always hit the mark, but when it does, it smashes it out of the park.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Harold Halibut
    Harold Halibut is a heartfelt and handcrafted tale of human existence, delivering charming, profound, and deeply funny writing guaranteed to put a smile on your face. What Slow Bros has managed to achieve with its visual style is masterful and, for our money, it's now one of the best looking games on Xbox. The gameplay can feel repetitive at times, and the writing can drag in places, but ultimately we had a great experience seeing it through to the end. If you’ve got a Game Pass subscription, it’s worth checking the game out for its aesthetic alone. Harold Halibut won’t be for everybody, but for those that resonate with its story, it’s sure to stick with you for a long time.
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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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