Xbox Tavern's Scores

  • Games
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:
2232 game reviews
    • 71 Metascore
    • 47 Critic Score
    Artistic expression is what will strike the biggest chord in Strayed Lights. There are lovely moments of beauty to unearth, and you will no doubt find a game ignited with a love for tranquillity and colour. However, empty spaces make Strayed Lights world feel uncomfortably abandoned at times, and the combat is based too heavily on precision and colour matching to engross. Thankfully, Strayed Lights is short, but it runs out of momentum too soon despite some impressive boss encounters and some gorgeous skies. Give it a whirl then, but you won’t feel like Strayed Lights is anything but a shallowly gentle gust that will blow by without the force it needed to stick in the mind.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 68 Critic Score
    Really though, it’s all about the sea exploration, and even though the act of playing is repetitive and quite dull, there’s a good range of information in both scanning the various animals and the short documentary pieces that accompany the adventure. A little more interaction or life to sea creatures might have been nice, but if you fancy educating yourself and perhaps your kids on how important the oceans – and the life within them – are, this is a great resource.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Lake is a wonderfully chill adventure. The sense of place is great, the characters we meet are all interesting and entertaining, and I found it to be a great way to unwind after a long day – the way it should be. Well worth checking out, and an adventure I’ll come back to time again.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    PAC-MAN WORLD Re-PAC is not only a mouthful to say but it’s a great take on the game from yesteryear. PAC-MAN WORLD Re-PAC is the remastered version of PAC-MAN WORLD and it holds up great. The platforming is crisp and fun. I really like taking a beloved character like Pac-Man and changing his gameplay mechanics on their heads. You get the best of both worlds of classic Pac-man and classic platforming gameplay. Recommend!
    • 71 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    The King’s Bird is an utterly challenging platformer that’s perhaps, oftentimes, more frustrating than it needs to be. Further hindrance is found in its slightly unresponsive handling, together with its wildly fluctuating difficulty curve. That being said, if you can muster the perseverance and precision to see it through, you’ll find a pleasant, warm, and somewhat endearing adventure buried underneath its convolution.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 63 Critic Score
    Warsaw is a tough and gritty strategy battle game. It wants to capture the hope and spirit of those struggling through the real historical events of the Second World War in Poland. But I am not sure there is enough of a detach between that theme and the fact you’re playing game. I struggled with the mood of the game and I think was down to the historical era and setting. But fundamentally it is still a tricky and challenging strategy battle game which should appease fans of that genre.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    If you’ve got a few gamers in the house then I highly recommend picking Unspottable up. It’ll provide a good few laughs (and arguments) and is quite different to most of what is out there already. Hiding in plain sight while trying to suss out those around you is a lot of fun. Just bear in mind that this is a strictly local multiplayer title.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It may be the same game as the 2019 release underneath, but this upgraded Complete Edition is well worth a look for both returning players and those new to it for the Annihilation Line story mode on its own. There are better shooters out there, but for a bit of AA-style fun, this is a solid choice.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Silt takes a solid concept, uses its ideas smartly, and doesn’t out stay its welcome. A few niggles aside, this is a great way to spend a few hours solving the mysteries of the depths below and the diver seemingly stranded within it.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 67 Critic Score
    Despite the dated visuals and camera issues, the gameplay remains as fun, as fast paced, and as addictive as it was over a decade ago. However, the lack of anything new in this collection may leave many of you wanting for more. The content alone is worth the asking price, but time and minimal effort certainly hasn’t done Dante any favors.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The Medium is one of the best horror games I have played in a long time. Between the 2 worlds that have been created and the outstand sound score, Bloober Studios have absolutely smashed this out of the park. The fact that this game will be in Game Pass on day of launch is incredible and should make it a must download for anyone with a subscription.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    The Invisible Hours undoubtedly offers up a good story, but the shallow portion of content and overly lax gameplay leaves a lot to be desired. It’s well worth a run through if you enjoy a good whodunnit, though with that being said, this is less of a game and more of a marginally interactive experience. Still, it’s well crafted and engaging nevertheless.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 81 Critic Score
    El Hijo: A Wild West Tale is a beautiful stealth game. I do love the fact it’s not all about killing but just getting to the next area. I had a great time playing the title and I love the art style too. Like most stealth titles, if you’re a fan of this genre and enjoy not going around killing everyone then this is a game for you to pick up.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 71 Critic Score
    I couldn’t quite gel with much of the puzzle logic, which tends to lean too heavily on trial and error rather than innovation.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 73 Critic Score
    Sable is one of the latest games to get a day one release on Xbox’s Game Pass service so it’s almost impossible to not give it a recommendation for anyone with a subscription, but on the whole, I was somewhat let down. The game has some of the most visually stunning graphics I’ve seen, but the gameplay gets repetitive. Exploring the desolate expanse on your own terms is not as fun as it sounds; however, a compelling series of quests and wonderful writing throughout are just enough to keep you hooked and justify the price of admission if you’re already a Game Pass subscriber.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 76 Critic Score
    Impact Winter, as far as survival games go, remains quite accessible throughout. The time management mechanic sits well with the item and character management systems, which further bolsters the genuinely tense gameplay. Sadly, however, technical issues such as framerate inconsistency and the occasional freeze, ironically, pulls this game just shy of greatness.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Anima: Gate of Memories – The Nameless Chronicles is a surprisingly deep RPG that offers a rich and interesting story, fast-paced combat and the freedom to explore its world however you see fit. Issues with its poor voice acting and somewhat dated visuals to the side, Anima is one hell of a fluid experience that seamlessly combines several well developed functionalities together to produce a memorable adventure.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Chant offers a thrilling foray into the survival horror genre. The acting and crafting elements make Jess’ plight feel incredibly dire, while the story remains gripping throughout. Despite some technical limitations, this grim island teeming with tension is still an eerie paradise worth exploring – especially when confronted by the mysterious Gloom!
    • 71 Metascore
    • 66 Critic Score
    Whilst short and somewhat overly dramatic in regards to its writing, the game’s core loop is thoroughly well designed, putting forward engaging, clever mechanics that rarely grow tiresome. This is further upheld by solid visual and audio design, both of which collectively set the vibe of the game remarkably well. Puzzle fans looking to fill a quiet evening will no doubt enjoy what’s on offer, it’s just a shame it’s all over with far too soon.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 77 Critic Score
    While my rose tinted nostalgia glasses may be firmly pressed against my nose, FOX n FORESTS is a wonderfully accurate reminder of the good and bad times of the 16-bit era. Younger players may balk at its simplicity given that things certainly have come a long way since, but the game pulls off its aim so well that it’s hard not to be impressed.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Inner Friend is creepy, abstract, touching, and something that will get under your skin. There’s a story here that is relatable, yet presented in a way that captures the exaggerated-ness of a child’s imagination. Movement is a little fiddly, and it’s all over quickly, but the experience is still one that will stick with us for some time yet.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 58 Critic Score
    Fearful Symmetry & the Cursed Prince is intimidating and frustrating, but that’s precisely its intention. Fans of puzzle games will likely enjoy what’s on offer throughout the campaign, and it packs just enough content to justify the price point. Sadly however the only aspect of play that truly evolves throughout the course of the game is the difficulty. The visuals, despite being diverse, are far from interesting and the same can be said about the story.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    My Hero One’s Justice uses its source material well. There’s minor and infrequent issues with the game’s combat, being that some commands go unnoticed in the heat of the chaos, but in the face of everything that the game gets right, this is easy to overlook. There’s plenty of exciting content to work through here. Content that, for the most part, remains stunning, empowering and diverse from the get-go.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    I could not put Chronos: Before the Ashes down and fully enjoyed every minute of it. I could only wish it was longer with me clocking in 20 hours on Heroic difficulty. All in all a phenomenal experience, albeit shorter than I would like, though due to its VR roots I expect this had some factor in that. The story of a valiant hero slaying the dragon isn’t ground breaking but sets the tone perfectly for what is a very fun experience. The audio and visuals are both fantastic complimenting each other perfectly. I cannot wait to see what Gunfire Games have in store for the future of the Ashes franchise.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Crash Team Rumble is not the game fans of the bandicoot asked for but is the game we got, and I can say it isn’t that bad. The game in its content is a bit shallow with one main game mode but I hope that will change in the future as it is a games as a service game. I look forward to lobbies full of friends in the future versus randoms but this a fun pick-up-and-play (for a bit) game. We shall see how it’s future holds up.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Nine Parchments is an excellent co-op adventure game with a fantastic combat system, beautiful environments and a wonderful melodic soundtrack. There’s a lot to see and unlock, and just trying out different character and spell combos will take multiple playthroughs. This game will surely be a popular choice for group play.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 45 Critic Score
    Despite having some neat ideas across the board, the final execution of Colossus Down just feels a little too awkward and uninspiring. Clunky, repetitive combat and a teenage angst-filled story do little to inspire continued play. There are far better examples of the genre out there, on which your time is better spent.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Nostalgia fills the air in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl now that it is out on Xbox. On one hand this is the closest the Xbox will see to Super Smash Bros. and on the other hand it’s full of classic Nickelodeon cartoons and I love a good crossover. This will no doubt be a fun time with friends or kids alike as long as you know that the base content can be had very quickly and thus the repeatability could become a bore. If you are in it for the long time this is a fine brawler to pick up.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 92 Critic Score
    Constantly surprising, packed with clever puzzle design, and with an interesting story to boot, The Entropy Centre has just cemented itself as one of my favourite puzzle titles ever. Too many combat sections let it down a little, but they are worth persevering with to see just how Stubbington can show off his puzzle acumen next.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    oOo: Ascension is a decent arcade experience that amply rewards the player’s perseverance and endurance. The ever evolving intricacy of each stage will constantly keep players on their toes, offering up new and interesting obstacles at each and every hurdle. Despite some frustrations with the, at times, imprecise controls, oOo: Ascension is definitely one for those that relish a challenge.

Top Trailers