Every now and again, we like to check up on Metacritic and see how things are faring with the reviewers, and even though we're not even technically through two months of the year yet, we've already got our first top 10 list of 2025.
So, if you're new to it all, the way Metacritic works is that it only ranks games with at least seven professional reviews for that platform. There are 13 Xbox games that meet this requirement for 2025 so far, and we'll list the 10 with the best scores. Metacritic's scores are based on averages, and in this situation we're using the reviews for Series X|S.
- Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (89)
- Monster Hunter Wilds (89)
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (87)
- Ninja Gaiden 2 Black (81)
- Avowed (81)
- Dynasty Warriors: Origins (79)
- PGA Tour 2K25 (79)
- Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter (78)
- Eternal Strands (75)
- Sniper Elite: Resistance (73)
However, if we throw every platform into the mix, we interestingly get more Xbox Series X|S titles in there!
The reason for this is that certain games - such as Citizen Sleeper 2 and Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders, haven't yet received enough professional reviews for Xbox, but they have for another platform.
The scores also get jumbled up - Monster Hunter Wilds has a 90 for PS5, for example, whereas it's only 89 for Xbox.
So, here's how the top 10 looks if we include all potential platforms:
- Monster Hunter Wilds (90)
- Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (90)
- Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth (89)
- Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (89)
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (88)
- Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders (87)
- The Rootrees are Dead (85)
- Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (84)
- Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape 1 (84)
- Dynasty Warriors: Origins (84)
For us, the takeaway here is that things can change a lot from platform to platform, and ultimately it's never worth putting too much stock into Metacritic scores. They're still interesting to analyse from a distance though, and clearly we've seen some amazing games in 2025 already, even though we're only just a few weeks into the year!
There's so much that's set to change even in the month ahead as well, with the likes of Assassin's Creed Shadows, Atomfall, Split Fiction and so much more on the way in March. We're particularly interested to see which Xbox first-party title will come out on top by the end of 2025 - could it be DOOM: The Dark Ages or South of Midnight maybe?!
What do you make of these Metacritic scores for early 2025? Let us know down in the comments below.
[source metacritic.com]
Comments 18
Doom is going to absolutely decimate. That's looking like one hell of an incredible game, and with full focus on SP rather than a tacked on MP, it may be the strongest yet. Shadows will do well too. Can't wait for that.
Xbox games getting lower scores than other platforms - sounds like the Xbox tax argument can keep going for another year….
@Kaloudz Doom I believe could be a candidate for the GOTY. From what we have seen for now, it is looking absolutely amazing.
I feel like I’m still waiting for the first game this year that hits for me. I dunno about anyone else. Maybe KCD2 or Avowed will eventually click, but it hasn’t happened yet.
@AlwaysPlaying there's no such thing its just the games aren't as good that's all other than.indy forza and halo infinite
@Dan1283 Just pointing out the statement in the article:
The scores also get jumbled up - Monster Hunter Wilds has a 90 for PS5, for example, whereas it's only 89 for Xbox.
@AlwaysPlaying oh right yes I understand that definitely not sure what that's all about
@Cikajovazmaj Agreed. I mean, DOOM 2016 was amazing for bullet-storm FPS, Doom Eternal was a great step up for adding in new parkour-like mechanics, but Doom TGA looks like it takes it to whole new heights while respecting its roots at the same time as innovating.
@AlwaysPlaying One percentage point is practically margin of error.
@Cikajovazmaj I think it will do very well but I just can't see it being given a shot at game of the year because of its genre. FPS of the Year could be a possibility however.
@Dan1283 Its just because they are using the average score across multiple reviews.
PS is 90 with 79 reviews
X|S is 90 with 13 reviews
PC is 88 with 40 revies
There’s pros and cons to Opencritic or Metacritic. I like that Opencritic just has a score for the game, not per platform, thought this can be a problem if you have a stinky Switch version for example dragging down the average, or conversely, on the switch showing a better game than that version. But all in all I marginally prefer opencritic.
@AlwaysPlaying there are plenty of examples where the Xbox version scores a point or two higher and vice versa.
@Ilyn Contrary to popular belief Metacritic doesn’t use a straight average, they use a weighted average where some more reputable, or at least more renowned, publications scores count for a bit more than others. They don’t tell us which and by how much but you can see it on games that have very few scores sometimes, the straight average doesn’t quite work out.
Were it not for articles like this or Twitter, I'd never see a Metacritic score, these days.
That said, Like A Dragon Pirate is the best new game I've played this year so far and is a lot of fun, I tried Avowed but it just didn't click for me
Split Fiction about to be up there near the top. I have faith in Hazelight.
I'll be playing avowed soon here. NGB2 was a banger. Other than that, I haven't gotten into any others.
@themightyant Yeah I know thats the downside of Meta that some reviewers are allowed more weight than others. I was more just trying to explain it simply as it not being a platform tax, just the result of different reviews leading to a different overall.
Like A Dragon is definitely not a 89 game. It's late 70s on other platforms and that's about right for what I have played.
How wilds get scored if it ain't out yet?
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...