Every now and again, we like to take a look at how the Metacritic ratings are shaping up for Xbox releases, with the 2022 list revealing that Elden Ring was the highest-rated title of the year with a massive score of 96.
In case you aren't aware, Metacritic creates an average score for each game based on reviews from across the web and beyond, and that means we can get a generally good picture of how each title has fared with the critics.
Looking at 2023 so far, we're not even five months in yet, but it's already shaping up to be a great year for Xbox releases. Below, we've listed Metacritic's top Xbox games for this year (as of May 2023), although we've eliminated The Witcher 3's physical version - as the digital version of that title for Xbox Series X|S was released in December 2022.
The following list is based on games with at least seven professional reviews for Xbox on Metacritic.
- Resident Evil 4 - 91
- Dead Space - 89
- Persona 4 Golden - 89
- Hogwarts Legacy - 87
- Hi-Fi RUSH - 87
- Persona 3 Portable - 87
- Monster Hunter Rise - 87
- Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition - 86
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - 85
- Ghostwire: Tokyo - 82
Interestingly, this list misses out a few acclaimed 2023 releases such as WWE 2K23, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Like a Dragon: Ishin, Dead Island 2 and Forza Horizon 5: Rally Adventure, all of which couldn't quite make the cut.
It's definitely a nice start to 2023, then, although the absence of Redfall and Minecraft Legends in the list will be disappointing for Microsoft and Xbox Game Studios. The big question is whether Forza Motorsport and particularly Starfield will be able to push towards to the top of the list come the end of the year, and we're all hoping they will!
What do you think of the list? What would you personally add to it? Tell us down in the comments below.
Comments 17
Waaaay too many remakes and remasters in that list for my liking!
Hi-Fi Rush is a masterpiece and fully deserves it's spot!
+1 for Wo Long as well. That game was also amazing!
According to true achievements only 2 of these games made the top 40 most played games last week. Jedi survivor 14th and Hogwarts 21st.
https://www.trueachievements.com/xbox-chart
Aoe2 console control scheme is a miracle, still cant believe they pulled that off.
I also think Minecraft Legends is a much better game than reviewers scored it, I had a lot of fun with it. No other game quite like it.
Wo long was my favourite xbox game so far this year. But Zelda is the best game so far, games just great
I have no doubt Forza Motorsport will be high 80’s low 90’s, similar to Gran Turismo 7. It’s just that type of series, but mileage may vary based on personal taste with racing games. Starfield is still such a wild card. I’m hoping it’s strong. Now that TotK is out now though and we know just how good that one is, it’s got almost insurmountable odds in the goty discussion… but surprises have indeed happened. I think back on 2019, which was a year that had RE2 knock down the door of the year, which was my goty til Mario Maker 2, then Fire Emblem Three Houses came out, then Control came out, and the year finally peaked (for me) with Death Stranding. 2019 just kept getting better, and, even if TotK feels like one of the best games I’ve ever played, so too did Mario Maker 2, and it ended the year at #4 of my year end list. Perhaps Starfield will do the same.
Looking at the list as it is now, Metacritic really needs to start differentiating between old titles and new titles. Persona 3 is ancient and should not be competing against, say, Hi-Fi Rush. Of course, bonafide classics will review well, but that diminishes the impact of new titles, I feel. Remakes are different. RE4 is certainly the best new title on Xbox this year, followed by Hogwarts, then Hi-Fi Rush, for me, although I’d sneak in that Dead Cells Castlevania DLC above Hi-Fi if DLC were to count. I’m honestly surprised by the critical reaction to Ghostwire on Xbox being so much more positive than it was for PC and PS. I like what the game is trying to do, but 82 seems absurdly high for the title. Some critics I don’t agree with though. I mean, there were critics that gave Atomic Heart a 9/10, after all.
Hogwarts Legacy, A Plague Tale:Requiem, Bramble:The Mountain King
There's a lot of remakes and ports on that list so I wouldn't say its a good list. The list should look much better after the next 6 months with some more xbox first party games up there, maybe.
@iBashar141 I have never heard a more ambiguous metric than "lacking the fun factor". Really doubt the game without the fun factor would get 90+ on meta.
Meh, it really shows how poor Xbox are doing when over half of the top 10 are ports and remakes.
@Chaotic_Neutral I don't know the ps5 list doesnt look any better.
Tetris Effect connected
RE4
Moss book 2
Dead space
Monster hunter rise sunbeam
Rez infinite
Monster hunter rise
Humanity
Octopath traveler 2
Star Wars jedi survivor
Hogwarts Legacy
It says a lot in the era of 70 dollar games that most of the top rated games of the year are PS2 games plus an early 00s PC RTS....
Although I've thoroughly enjoyed Dead Space and it looks awesome! It is pretty much a carbon copy of the original bar those side missions. So it's kinda had its day I think. Think Hogwarts should be number 1 as at least it's new even if the concept isn't. And people enjoy it.
Dead Island 2 may not have made the list but I enjoyed it a lot more than any of the games in the top 10. It’s all a matter of opinion as I’m sure someone out there likes Redfall over the rest but imo it’s the worse game I’ve played this year so far.
Like a Dragon Ishin and Hi-Fi Rush for me. RGG has never disappointed and Tango really came through with what will hopefully be a staple for Xbox going forward.
Just a heads up on three potential new entries entering this month.
Chicory currently scores 90 on Metacritic for PC if it gets similar scores on XSX it will jump straight into #2. If it scores lower it’s still likely to be in this list.
Planet of Lana only has one review so far but it’s a 9 from EDGE who are usually pretty strict, but they do perhaps favour indies.
Cassette Beasts (a Pokémon like) is also flirting with the list at around 83 but it might just miss out.
These will be worth trying to see if they are your jam
RE4 remake - third play through. Upgraded all guns/knife. Now working on saving for an Infinite Launcher. Which probably means a fourth play through.
I'm pretty much riding the Nintendo bus with TotK, Advance Wars, Pikmin, etc. until September when Starfield releases, at which point I'll be moving back over to Game Pass.
Nothing on PS5 this year interests me so far. Maybe if FFVII Rebirth drops, but I really think that'll be an early-mid 2024 release. And even then, I'll likely just wait for the inevitable PC release.
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