Xbox Tavern's Scores

  • Games
Select another publication »
For 2,228 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 52% higher than the average critic
  • 9% same as the average critic
  • 39% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 4.3 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 71
Highest review score: 100 Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy
Lowest review score: 6 The Language Of Love
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,073 out of 2228
  2. Mixed: 885 out of 2228
  3. Negative: 270 out of 2228
2232 game reviews
view
per page
    • 76 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Heart of the Forest
    Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest managed to capture what I enjoyed about the choose your own adventure games of childhood and wrapped it up with an engaging tale, full of interesting scenarios, characters, and outcomes. There’s minimal visual/audio presentation, but what’s here still helps to craft a great atmosphere in addition to almost 120,000 words full of thousands of variations. If you’re after something along the lines of Telltale’s best work, then Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest comes highly recommended.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Blacksad: Under the Skin
    I had a fun time with Blacksad: Under the Skin. The immersive soundtrack and engaging story never out stayed its welcome and for me I’d say it rivals Telltales The Wolf Among Us as one of the better detective story games out there.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
    If you loved the original form of Shin Megami Tensei V, then Vengeance is a fantastic complement to it, with a strong second story arc, excellent quality of life improvements, and a generally refined and improved JRPG experience fans of the genre will lap up vigorously. Yes, it’s still perhaps existing in the shadow of the Persona series with its litany of similarities, and doesn’t quite have the grace and style of its brethren, but it’s a hardcore RPG that blazes its own path (mostly), and does so with conviction and poise. Vengeance is therefore fully worthy of your attention and the amount of hours you’ll no-doubt pour into it.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    TT Isle of Man: Ride On The Edge 2
    Despite some niggles, TT Isle of Man Ride on the Edge 2 is easily the best feeling racer I’ve played in quite some time. The sheer sense of speed and place in the thick of hurtling along the track is almost overwhelming. Some more shorter races would have been nice, and it’s all too easy to fall to the back after a single mistake, but put a bit of time into grasping the delicacies of the handling and you’ll find an incredibly satisfying racer.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Green Hell
    Green Hell is an absolutely fantastic survival game. The way the jungle pulls you in with its beauty at the same time as punishing you for even the smallest of mistakes. Creepy Jar have done a great job making you both feel consumed by the jungle as well as adding the psychological strain of being stranded alone. The game makes no excuses for its learning curve, but it doesn’t need to because of how great the overall experience is. In the famous words of Axl Rose……… Welcome to the Jungle!
    • 77 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons
    Double Dragon Gaiden: ROTD is a perfect addition to the series keeping what made the originals memorable and enhancing the experience without going fully 3D. The fast-paced action and different play move sets keeps things fresh as well as playing the stages in a different order to enjoy new challenges. I appreciate the effort that has gone into keeping the game fresh with the rogue-lite elements, the unlockables in the shop and the variety of characters you can play as I think this is well worth picking up.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Underhero
    An amazing game and a joy to play. Is Underhero perfect? No, but there’s little to dislike, and similar to the crush phase of a new relationship, the game’s faults are extremely easy to overlook. The many diverse gameplay elements of Underhero mesh well and add benefit to the game rather than retract from it. It’s charming and highly recommended.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Marble It Up! Ultra
    All in all, I’ve had a..blast… playing Marble it Up! Ultra this past week. There are a lot of levels to work through, the times are truly a challenge, and some of the designs are masterfully done. Add in the weekly challenges and multiplayer and we’ve got an easily recommended arcade title that should provide entertainment for some time to come.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Cat Quest III
    Cat’s Quest III is a worthy sequel. Fans of the previous game will have a blast and enjoy being back in the world of cat-puns.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    American Arcadia
    Whether you’ve come for a good yarn, intense drama, or intriguing puzzles, American Arcadia has you covered nicely without ever overstaying its welcome. Experiencing Trevor’s story and the interplay between Trevor and Angela is engaging and high-quality entertainment. It’s brief, and the characters aren’t particularly interesting, but American Arcadia is a game with plenty to say – an inspired, brief, but pleasurable title that deserves attention.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Isonzo
    Isonzo commits to the WW1-era faithfully, with the pro’s and con’s that come with dealing with that time periods battles. I enjoyed the slower pace and more methodical approach to combat and objective capturing, and hope to see it continue to build a community of players willing to invest the time into the long battles.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Forza Motorsport
    Overall, if you enjoyed previous Forza Motorsport titles then you’re again going to enjoy this one too. It has plenty of racing, lots of tracks, and even more cars to be getting involved in. Forza Motorsport is slowly pushing more and more towards that sim racer but there is still plenty of the arcade feel to keep things accessible to newcomers and being an Xbox Studios title you can guarantee long after you’ve finished up the single-player content, there will be countless weekly additions of multiplayer events to keep you coming back for more should you wish to make this your number one go to racer. For me though, it’s simply just more Forza.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Zombie Army 4: Dead War
    Zombie Army 4: Dead War is a great game and a lot of fun for the older generation. With an awesome realistic look and gameplay I found myself enjoying it right up to the end. With a strong following I hope there will be more Zombie Army games to come, because why not right?
    • tbd Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Pizza Possum
    It is hard to find negative things to say about Pizza Possum. It’s length I suppose as I wish it was longer or had more levels. There’s hope for a sequel at least. That said, Pizza Possum delivers a fun and accessible game. No run ever feels like a waste of time with its item progression and the more you play the easier those items make the game. If you are in need of what I like to call a “palate-cleansing” game, I hope you give Pizza Possum a thought!
    • 85 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Freshly Frosted
    I’ve very much enjoyed my time with Freshly Frosted. It’s proven to be a nice game to unwind with after the work day, with challenges that are pitched just about right for the most part. Wrapped up in a cute and whimsical story and art style, this is a refreshing puzzler that stands out from the crowd.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Sheepo
    Sheepo is sort of a goldilocks game, every aspect of the game feels “just right”. The level design and game world are well designed, the difficulty makes the game approachable for many players, and the game doesn’t overstay its welcome thanks to its playtime which is on the shorter, more reasonable side. Whether you’re a platformer fan, a Metroidvania veteran, or a newcomer, Sheepo is a game you should try (and if you do, maybe you could tell me what type of animal you think he is).
    • tbd Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Signs of the Sojourner
    If you’re looking for something different and unique then Signs of the Sojourner deserves your attention. Its simple-to-learn card game mechanic does a fantastic job of symbolizing a lot of the core concepts of communication, and once you learn the best tactics to use you’ll want to experience everything the game has to offer. The game has a high replay value, each time you play you will find something new, meeting new characters, discovering a hidden city, or maybe learning about your character’s past. Or you can blaze your own trail and try to unlock one of the many alternate endings. Even if you don’t normally play story-focused games or card games, Signs of the Sojourner should have something for you and is definitely worth checking out.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Sonic Colors: Ultimate
    As a lifelong Sonic fan, I’m glad I was finally able to play Colours, and in the best possible fashion thanks to the nice audio/visual upgrade. The core gameplay is great, and the Wisps add far more than I thought they would to proceedings. Some of the classic issue with 3D Sonic games remain, but these are limited in what is otherwise a great time.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    The Surge 2
    My time with The Surge 2 is far from over. Lessons from the original have clearly been learned, with the whole production having a better feel to every aspect, from combat through audio/visual presentation. While in some parts the difficulty spikes to an almost frustrating degree, it’s worth persevering with. An absolutely brilliant entry into the Souls genre, and well worth picking up.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Infliction: Extended Cut
    For fans of titles like Silent Hills (P.T.) and Amnesia this is a must. Great atmospheric surroundings provide a truly horrific experience. With photo realistic graphics, great sound and tense moments that make you freak out, Infliction: Extended Cut does a fantastic job and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for this rising indie team.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Laser League
    Laser League has the potential to stand just as tall as other competitive multiplayer experiences, such as Rocket League. It’s fun, fast paced and constantly exciting throughout. The fact that it’s so easy to pick up and play makes it widely accessible, bolstered further by its unique and articulate foundation and design. This is a game of chaos, strategy and speed, unifying to produce a game that’s truly like no other.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    State of Decay 2
    State of Decay 2 is a huge step up from its predecessor. There’s a large and diverse variety of content within, all of which is upheld by well developed systems, fluid gameplay and easy to understand functionality. This isn’t going to be for everyone, however, there’s no denying that despite its niggling issues and bugs, it’s easily one of the best Microsoft exclusives in recent memory. It’s tense, action-packed and thoroughly entertaining.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Creaks
    Creaks is a bizarre, yet engaging, puzzle platformer that manages to play with its rule-set in clever – though also a little too repetitive – ways.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Archaica: The Path Of Light
    All in all then, I had a really great time with Archaica: The Path of Light. The puzzle difficulty is pitched just right, it allows us to solve puzzles at our own pace and it has a brilliantly executed hint system that still encourages thinking about a solution rather than just giving us the answer. Some minor control issues aside, I’d highly recommend picking this up, especially if you’re after something to unwind with after a long day.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3
    Don’t let the name of the game or the simple match 3 gameplay throw you off. Crazy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 (CRDM3) is a wild and fun ride through an actual videogame and what some of those characters are learning and figuring out. It’s a story I wasn’t expecting but quickly wanted to keep going to unravel it more.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Core Keeper
    Core Keeper is an excellent addition to the sandbox survival genre. The cleverly interlocking systems, the levelling up, and the promise of something new around each corner is going to cause it to consume a lot of people’s times. A must-have for all players.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 86 Critic Score
    Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
    Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes takes a simple concept and makes it something that’s hilarious, tense and massively entertaining. It helps that the game is very accessible and easy to understand for both the direct player and the off-screen participating helpers, alike. This is undoubtedly the best party game in recent memory, one in which losing is every bit as fun as winning.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 86 Critic Score
    Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction
    Overall, if you’re after a new co-op shooter to play with friends, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction isn’t a bad way to go. Sure it’s difficulty will be enough to turn some away, but should you stick with it, formulate a plan and not mind the frequent MIA operator in need of a saviour, what you’ll find is a competent multiplayer shooter that brings fantastic visuals and challenging gameplay to an already beloved franchise and with plenty of returning characters that players will know from before, this doesn’t feel like yet another game that you’ll need to learn from scratch. Is it worthy of being a fully-fledged game? I’m not so sure, but with it currently available on Xbox Game Pass, there is no reason to avoid checking out what is likely to be one of the years biggest shooters.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 86 Critic Score
    Nobody Wants to Die
    A wonderful surprise mid-year. Nobody Wants to Die is a tightly woven walking sim, with gorgeous environmental art and a compelling story. Anyone interested in this kind of story telling should definitely pick it up.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 86 Critic Score
    Blasphemous 2
    When all is said and done I believe Blasphemous 2 will sit high atop the Metroidvania Pantheon. However, throughout almost my entire time with the game, I couldn’t get the first game out of my mind – thinking how I should go back and play it again or finish off all of the free bonus DLC. The new weapon system with its three separate weapons gives this a good amount of replayability and allows for many different playstyles which is great. As a whole, the sequel is much more approachable for new players to the genre, and while there are plenty of improvements and quality-of-life additions, I can’t help but feel that Blasphemous 2 is the inferior product. Hopefully, the Game Kitchen plans on adding additional content here as they did with the original. I enjoyed my time with the game, but it needs something more to really draw me back in.
Page:

Top Trailers

See all »
See all trailers »