Overview
- Website
- microsoft.com
- Average Review Score
- 6.8/10
- Average Game Rating
- 8.09/10
Latest Reviews of Microsoft Games
Review Age Of Mythology: Retold (Xbox) - Microsoft's Godly RTS Classic Revitalised
Go beyond history
Age of Mythology might not be a major numbered entry, but it's still played a significant role in the Age timeline – transitioning the series from 2D to 3D following the success of Ensemble's real-time strategy king, Age of Empires II. Mythology wasn’t just there to fill the void when it landed on PC in 2002 and is still...
Review Sea Of Thieves - In Truly Ship-Shape Condition Two Years After Launch
It's a pirate's life for me
When Sea of Thieves initially set sail in 2018, it was met with somewhat mixed reviews. Rare's pirate playground is undoubtedly a masterful creation; a vast, dynamic, hyper-stylised sea world dotted with mysterious islands and skeleton forts in which players are set free to create their own grand adventures. However, it...
Review Forza Horizon 4 - The Best Racing Experience On Xbox One
Fuel Britannia
Offshoots aren’t meant to surpass their source material. They’re meant to be unusual curios that take an existing concept in twist it in ways the mainline series never could. When the original Forza Horizon casually rolled up onto the scene in 2012, no one really expected it to attract the fan base that it did, but eight years on...
Review Forza Horizon 2: Storm Island (Xbox One)
Making it rain.
When crafting a DLC package of any significant weight for a game that has gone down really well with gamers and critics alike, developers have to be careful. What they add can’t interfere with the mix that they already had, as they really don’t want to be messing with a successful formula. Playground Games found a way to ensure...
Review D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die (Xbox One)
Look for D
Remember Deadly Premonition? It’s one of the most divisive games ever to be released upon the world. Poor production values, bizarreness to the extreme, and campy…well, everything else, meant it was one of those wonderfully weird games that either clicked with you, or it didn't at all. Now, four years after the release of Deadly...
Review Kinect Sports Rivals (Xbox One)
Do or die.
To say that Kinect Sports Rivals is a high-profile title for Xbox One would be something of an understatement. Being the only game (barring the violently bad Fighter Within, which barely passes as a game) available that’s been designed for the much-maligned Kinect device that’s included with every console, people were looking to...
Review Killer Instinct (Xbox One)
C-C-C-Combo Breaker!
Fans have been asking for it for years and finally Killer Instinct has returned, albeit with a new developer - Double Helix - who have adopted a free-to-play model for the game's characters, which is also now sporting fancy new visuals. However, fans can relax their cynicism and rejoice, as Killer Instinct on Xbox One retains...
Review BattleBlock Theater (Xbox 360)
The Behemoth Is Back
BattleBlock Theater is an Xbox Live Arcade platform puzzle game from The Behemoth, who are the developers of the excellent Castle Crashers and slightly-less-excellent Alien Hominid HD. The graphics are cartoonish, it features a good deal of laughs and some tricky puzzles that will test your dexterity later on. Also, it allows...
Review Kinect Party (Xbox 360)
Ain't no party like a Kinect Party.
Depending on when you pick it up, the decision on whether or not to get Kinect Party is a bit of a no-brainer. For a while after release day, it was available for absolutely no charge and should you have missed out, the price is 800 MSP. The product itself is also a bit of a no-brainer at times too, and while...
Review Red Bull Crashed Ice Kinect (Xbox 360)
Born slippy.
If you aren’t aware of what Red Bull’s “Crashed Ice” event series is, then you’re missing out. In short, the sport of ice cross involves a bunch of ice skater types starting at the top of an icy track that contains all manner of twists, turns, bumps, and jumps, and they have to race to the finish line in the fastest possible...
Latest Microsoft Articles
News Xbox's 'Top Paid' Backwards Compatible Title Could Be Coming To Game Pass
Another one for the list
Over the last week or two, we've seen multiple Call of Duty titles get ported over to the Microsoft Store on PC, which is a good sign that they're likely being prepared for Xbox Game Pass at some stage. While we still don't have any confirmed XGP dates for
News Xbox Series X|S Architect Officially Named 'VP Of Next-Generation' At Microsoft
We love it when a plan comes together
2024 has been the year that Microsoft has officially started talking about its next-generation console plans, and we now have some fresh news on who's helping build new hardware for Xbox. Jason Ronald, who was front and centre of designing and introducing Xbox Series X|S, has been named 'VP of Next-Generation'...
News Xbox Exec Appearing At 'Future Of Gaming Handhelds' Panel Next Month
Microsoft's 'VP of next gen' Jason Ronald
In case you missed it, Lenovo appears to be gearing up to announce its first 'Legion Go' SteamOS handheld during a special "future of gaming handhelds" event at CES '25 on January 7th, 2025. While this might not seem all that relevant to Xbox, following ongoing talk of a possible Xbox handheld device,
Talking Point If Developer Direct Returns, Xbox Could Have A Killer 2025 Lineup
So many awesome-looking games to choose from!
If the last few years are anything to go by, we could be around a month out from Microsoft dropping another Developer Direct; its now-annual showcase that dives deep into some of the year's biggest Xbox games. Although next year's event is yet to be announced, we see no reason for Xbox not to do another...
News Tango Gameworks 'Wants To Cherish' Hi-Fi RUSH IP After Xbox Closure
"The characters and the world are beloved by us"
Following Xbox's surprise closure of Tango Gameworks back in May, the Hi-Fi RUSH developer was saved from the wreckage by PUBG publisher Krafton - and in a new interview, the team has talked about how much it now cherishes its most recent IP. Speaking with
Video 30 Must-Play Xbox Games For Under $30 This Holiday Season
Our curated list
Christmas is coming up, and if you're anything like us here at Pure Xbox HQ, this time of year always provides a nice opportunity to sit down and relax with some good old video games over the holiday season. However, despite an ever-growing backlog of Xbox titles (guilty as charged), we can't help but be tempted into picking a few...
News Xbox Series X|S Console Sales Down Almost 30% In The US Compared To 2023
Fresh data from Circana
In what should no longer be surprising news to read, fresh US data from analyst firm Circana has revealed that Xbox Series X|S console sales are down almost 30% year-on-year. This latest set of figures looks at November 2024 hardware sales in comparison to November 2023, where Xbox Series X and S sales have dropped by 29%...
News Black Ops 6 Gets Festive With New 'Jingle Hells' Event On Xbox Game Pass
Jingle all the slay
Xbox developer Treyarch has unleased Jingle Hells onto Black Ops 6 players, with a brand-new Zombies event now live in the 2024 Game Pass shooter. The main hook here is that the game's 'Liberty Falls' map is decked out in loads of festive gear - including "wreaths, ribbons, twinkling lights, Christmas trees, garlands of fir tree...
News Xbox Apparently Thinks Making Hellblade 2 Exclusive Was 'A Mistake'
Project regret
Xbox's exclusive game strategy has been all over the place this year as the team seemingly keeps chopping and changing its approach to things - and we're now hearing a rumour that Microsoft regrets making one of its 2024 games Xbox console exclusive. That 2024 title is apparently Hellblade 2, which arrived for Xbox Series X|S and PC...
News YouTuber Breaks Down Xbox's 'Almost Perfect' New Ad Campaign
Offering a different perspective
Microsoft's new 'This is an Xbox' ad campaign is certainly a bold new step for the platform, as the team continues with its push to open up the idea of 'Xbox' to a wider user base. It hasn't been without its controversies though — especially for us diehard console users — but a fresh video breakdown attempts to...
News Xbox Is Reportedly Working On A 'Cross-Platform Interface' Called Project Rainway
Inspired by Blizzard's Battle.net
Following on from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's recent comments about the future of Xbox, outlet Windows Central has dug into the Xbox owner's plans - subsequently revealing a new cross-platform initiative apparently going on at the Redmond company. According to the site, in particular reporter Jez Corden,...
News Four More Call Of Duty Titles Seemingly Being Prepared For Xbox Game Pass
Four COD games crop up on PC
Last week, three classic Call of Duty games appeared on the Microsoft Store for PC; a sign that the company is likely preparing them for an Xbox Game Pass drop somewhere down the line. Well, you can add four more series entries to that list this week. Yep, Call of Duty: Ghosts,
News Microsoft CEO: 'We Are Redefining What It Means To Be An Xbox Fan'
By taking the "joy of gaming everywhere"
Reports about Microsoft potentially ditching platform "exclusives" have recently been fuelled by its gaming division's new marketing campaign which classes pretty-much everything as an Xbox. Now, Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella has chimed in with some new comments about this strategy during the company's annual...
News Xbox Has Reportedly Delayed 'A Big Game' Into 2026
Journalist takes a guess at what it might be
As we close in on 2025, Microsoft will no doubt still be mapping out what its release schedule looks like in full next year - and a new comment from journalist Jeff Grubb hints that those plans are still being figured out right now. Speaking on a livestream covering last week's The Game Awards, Grubb...
News Xbox Reporter Says That Microsoft 'Won't Have Exclusives Going Forward'
"Everything is timed exclusive at most"
Xbox has changed its approach to game exclusives this year, as the team brings more and more titles to PS5 and Nintendo Switch - and it's starting to sound like the strategy has now completely shifted at Microsoft. We've seen the brand's new ad campaign that calls most things an 'Xbox', and now Windows...
Deals All 60+ Backwards Compatible Games In The Xbox Countdown Sale 2024
Grab some discounted classics!
Xbox's 2024 Countdown Sale is now live and has been since late last week, with over 1000 games discounted in total on the Microsoft Store. As usual, a chunk of the full list is focused on backwards compatible classics - with plenty of OG Xbox and Xbox 360 titles featured. So, down below we've gathered up every...
Rumour Sony's LEGO Horizon Adventures Could Be Coming To Xbox
On the horizon
After a year where Microsoft pressed on with its multiplatform plans — bringing more and more Xbox games to PS5 — it looks like we might finally see something head in the other direction. According to Arab media outlet JustPlayIt, Sony is planning on bringing this year's LEGO Horizon Adventures
Soapbox Paying Tribute To The Best Map In Forza Horizon History
Stick the kettle on, folks
This weekend, Forza Horizon 4 will be completely delisted from digital storefronts, as Microsoft sunsets yet another Forza title due ongoing licensing issues related to racing games. It is, unfortunately, a reality we've gotten used to at this point - every Forza game before this one has already disappeared into thin air...
News Yes, The Outer Worlds 2 Is Another Xbox-Developed Game Heading To PS5
Seemingly on day one
During The Game Awards 2024, one of Xbox's biggest reveals was the surprise appearance of The Outer Worlds 2 - after largely being MIA since 2021. That quietness has been understandable though — developer Obsidian is very busy — and the game's resurfacing in 2024 has brought along with it another interesting wrinkle. The...
News Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (December 12-15)
Included with Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Free Play Days is now live for the coming weekend - and we have quite a substantial offering available this week. Microsoft has added five games in total to the program, including 2024's Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake - which can easily be finished over the weekend! Here's the full Xbox Free Play Days lineup...
News Two Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (December 12)
Our final update of 2024!
Welcome to what's currently planned to be the final Xbox Game Pass update for 2024! Two games are entering the library today, December 12th, as Microsoft's last additions before 2025 rolls around. In this final update, we've got Crytek's newly-refreshed extraction shooter Hunt: Showdown 1896, alongside 2023's For The King...
News Xbox's 'Stream Your Own Game' Now Available To Insiders On Console
Here's the full list of games supported
Following the "stream your own game" rollout for web browsers and other devices in November, Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip-Ahead and Alpha rings can now officially preview this feature on Series X|S and Xbox One consoles. Xbox Insiders (who are also Game Pass Ultimate members) will now be able to stream...
News Towerborne Gets Major Winter Update Ahead Of Xbox Game Pass Release In Early 2025
Microsoft is preparing the Game Pass launch
Towerborne, a Microsoft first-party release, somewhat strangely launched on Steam before Xbox earlier this year - but the team is still preparing for a console and Game Pass launch at the beginning of next year. And, ahead of that wider release, the Steam Early Access bu
News Xbox's PC App Brings Refreshed Home Experience To All Users
Including a refined Game Pass experience
Following a lengthy round of Xbox Insider testing, Microsoft has brought its refreshed Home Experience to all PC users today. The Xbox team says that this new UI makes it "faster and easier to find favorite games and discover great new titles to play" with Xbox on PC. On the surface, this all looks and...
News Xbox Engineer Uses Indiana Jones To Show Off New Gamerpic Feature
Lookin' good!
Back in October, Xbox added a new console feature that allows users to create their own custom gamerpics — including the option to use game captures — which is a pretty neat addition. We haven't tried this out since the update rolled out to everyone, but Xbox's Eden Marie has taken to social media to show us exactly what the...
News Xbox's 'Top Paid' Backwards Compatible Title Could Be Coming To Game Pass
Another one for the list
Over the last week or two, we've seen multiple Call of Duty titles get ported over to the Microsoft Store on PC, which is a good sign that they're likely being prepared for Xbox Game Pass at some stage. While we still don't have any confirmed XGP dates for
News Xbox Series X|S Architect Officially Named 'VP Of Next-Generation' At Microsoft
We love it when a plan comes together
2024 has been the year that Microsoft has officially started talking about its next-generation console plans, and we now have some fresh news on who's helping build new hardware for Xbox. Jason Ronald, who was front and centre of designing and introducing Xbox Series X|S, has been named 'VP of Next-Generation'...
News Xbox Exec Appearing At 'Future Of Gaming Handhelds' Panel Next Month
Microsoft's 'VP of next gen' Jason Ronald
In case you missed it, Lenovo appears to be gearing up to announce its first 'Legion Go' SteamOS handheld during a special "future of gaming handhelds" event at CES '25 on January 7th, 2025. While this might not seem all that relevant to Xbox, following ongoing talk of a possible Xbox handheld device,
Talking Point If Developer Direct Returns, Xbox Could Have A Killer 2025 Lineup
So many awesome-looking games to choose from!
If the last few years are anything to go by, we could be around a month out from Microsoft dropping another Developer Direct; its now-annual showcase that dives deep into some of the year's biggest Xbox games. Although next year's event is yet to be announced, we see no reason for Xbox not to do another...
News Tango Gameworks 'Wants To Cherish' Hi-Fi RUSH IP After Xbox Closure
"The characters and the world are beloved by us"
Following Xbox's surprise closure of Tango Gameworks back in May, the Hi-Fi RUSH developer was saved from the wreckage by PUBG publisher Krafton - and in a new interview, the team has talked about how much it now cherishes its most recent IP. Speaking with
Video 30 Must-Play Xbox Games For Under $30 This Holiday Season
Our curated list
Christmas is coming up, and if you're anything like us here at Pure Xbox HQ, this time of year always provides a nice opportunity to sit down and relax with some good old video games over the holiday season. However, despite an ever-growing backlog of Xbox titles (guilty as charged), we can't help but be tempted into picking a few...
News Xbox Series X|S Console Sales Down Almost 30% In The US Compared To 2023
Fresh data from Circana
In what should no longer be surprising news to read, fresh US data from analyst firm Circana has revealed that Xbox Series X|S console sales are down almost 30% year-on-year. This latest set of figures looks at November 2024 hardware sales in comparison to November 2023, where Xbox Series X and S sales have dropped by 29%...
News Black Ops 6 Gets Festive With New 'Jingle Hells' Event On Xbox Game Pass
Jingle all the slay
Xbox developer Treyarch has unleased Jingle Hells onto Black Ops 6 players, with a brand-new Zombies event now live in the 2024 Game Pass shooter. The main hook here is that the game's 'Liberty Falls' map is decked out in loads of festive gear - including "wreaths, ribbons, twinkling lights, Christmas trees, garlands of fir tree...
News Xbox Apparently Thinks Making Hellblade 2 Exclusive Was 'A Mistake'
Project regret
Xbox's exclusive game strategy has been all over the place this year as the team seemingly keeps chopping and changing its approach to things - and we're now hearing a rumour that Microsoft regrets making one of its 2024 games Xbox console exclusive. That 2024 title is apparently Hellblade 2, which arrived for Xbox Series X|S and PC...
News YouTuber Breaks Down Xbox's 'Almost Perfect' New Ad Campaign
Offering a different perspective
Microsoft's new 'This is an Xbox' ad campaign is certainly a bold new step for the platform, as the team continues with its push to open up the idea of 'Xbox' to a wider user base. It hasn't been without its controversies though — especially for us diehard console users — but a fresh video breakdown attempts to...
News Xbox Is Reportedly Working On A 'Cross-Platform Interface' Called Project Rainway
Inspired by Blizzard's Battle.net
Following on from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's recent comments about the future of Xbox, outlet Windows Central has dug into the Xbox owner's plans - subsequently revealing a new cross-platform initiative apparently going on at the Redmond company. According to the site, in particular reporter Jez Corden,...
News Four More Call Of Duty Titles Seemingly Being Prepared For Xbox Game Pass
Four COD games crop up on PC
Last week, three classic Call of Duty games appeared on the Microsoft Store for PC; a sign that the company is likely preparing them for an Xbox Game Pass drop somewhere down the line. Well, you can add four more series entries to that list this week. Yep, Call of Duty: Ghosts,
News Microsoft CEO: 'We Are Redefining What It Means To Be An Xbox Fan'
By taking the "joy of gaming everywhere"
Reports about Microsoft potentially ditching platform "exclusives" have recently been fuelled by its gaming division's new marketing campaign which classes pretty-much everything as an Xbox. Now, Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella has chimed in with some new comments about this strategy during the company's annual...
News Xbox Has Reportedly Delayed 'A Big Game' Into 2026
Journalist takes a guess at what it might be
As we close in on 2025, Microsoft will no doubt still be mapping out what its release schedule looks like in full next year - and a new comment from journalist Jeff Grubb hints that those plans are still being figured out right now. Speaking on a livestream covering last week's The Game Awards, Grubb...
News Xbox Reporter Says That Microsoft 'Won't Have Exclusives Going Forward'
"Everything is timed exclusive at most"
Xbox has changed its approach to game exclusives this year, as the team brings more and more titles to PS5 and Nintendo Switch - and it's starting to sound like the strategy has now completely shifted at Microsoft. We've seen the brand's new ad campaign that calls most things an 'Xbox', and now Windows...
Deals All 60+ Backwards Compatible Games In The Xbox Countdown Sale 2024
Grab some discounted classics!
Xbox's 2024 Countdown Sale is now live and has been since late last week, with over 1000 games discounted in total on the Microsoft Store. As usual, a chunk of the full list is focused on backwards compatible classics - with plenty of OG Xbox and Xbox 360 titles featured. So, down below we've gathered up every...
Rumour Sony's LEGO Horizon Adventures Could Be Coming To Xbox
On the horizon
After a year where Microsoft pressed on with its multiplatform plans — bringing more and more Xbox games to PS5 — it looks like we might finally see something head in the other direction. According to Arab media outlet JustPlayIt, Sony is planning on bringing this year's LEGO Horizon Adventures
Soapbox Paying Tribute To The Best Map In Forza Horizon History
Stick the kettle on, folks
This weekend, Forza Horizon 4 will be completely delisted from digital storefronts, as Microsoft sunsets yet another Forza title due ongoing licensing issues related to racing games. It is, unfortunately, a reality we've gotten used to at this point - every Forza game before this one has already disappeared into thin air...
News Yes, The Outer Worlds 2 Is Another Xbox-Developed Game Heading To PS5
Seemingly on day one
During The Game Awards 2024, one of Xbox's biggest reveals was the surprise appearance of The Outer Worlds 2 - after largely being MIA since 2021. That quietness has been understandable though — developer Obsidian is very busy — and the game's resurfacing in 2024 has brought along with it another interesting wrinkle. The...
News Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (December 12-15)
Included with Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Free Play Days is now live for the coming weekend - and we have quite a substantial offering available this week. Microsoft has added five games in total to the program, including 2024's Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake - which can easily be finished over the weekend! Here's the full Xbox Free Play Days lineup...
News Two Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (December 12)
Our final update of 2024!
Welcome to what's currently planned to be the final Xbox Game Pass update for 2024! Two games are entering the library today, December 12th, as Microsoft's last additions before 2025 rolls around. In this final update, we've got Crytek's newly-refreshed extraction shooter Hunt: Showdown 1896, alongside 2023's For The King...
News Xbox's 'Stream Your Own Game' Now Available To Insiders On Console
Here's the full list of games supported
Following the "stream your own game" rollout for web browsers and other devices in November, Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip-Ahead and Alpha rings can now officially preview this feature on Series X|S and Xbox One consoles. Xbox Insiders (who are also Game Pass Ultimate members) will now be able to stream...
News Towerborne Gets Major Winter Update Ahead Of Xbox Game Pass Release In Early 2025
Microsoft is preparing the Game Pass launch
Towerborne, a Microsoft first-party release, somewhat strangely launched on Steam before Xbox earlier this year - but the team is still preparing for a console and Game Pass launch at the beginning of next year. And, ahead of that wider release, the Steam Early Access bu
News Xbox's PC App Brings Refreshed Home Experience To All Users
Including a refined Game Pass experience
Following a lengthy round of Xbox Insider testing, Microsoft has brought its refreshed Home Experience to all PC users today. The Xbox team says that this new UI makes it "faster and easier to find favorite games and discover great new titles to play" with Xbox on PC. On the surface, this all looks and...
News Xbox Engineer Uses Indiana Jones To Show Off New Gamerpic Feature
Lookin' good!
Back in October, Xbox added a new console feature that allows users to create their own custom gamerpics — including the option to use game captures — which is a pretty neat addition. We haven't tried this out since the update rolled out to everyone, but Xbox's Eden Marie has taken to social media to show us exactly what the...