Feature After Three Months, These Are The Top 10 Xbox Games Of 2025
We have a new leader!
- Xbox
- Top 10
- Metacritic
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
Review South Of Midnight (Xbox) - A Fantastic, Soulful Outing From Xbox Game Studios
Worth headin' south for
- Xbox
- South Of Midnight
- Xbox Game Pass
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
Video Phil Spencer Shows Off 'Secret Xbox Lab' For Next-Gen Hardware
"Where the next generation of Xbox is being crafted"
- Xbox
- Phil Spencer
- Next Xbox
- Console
- Hardware
Talking Point Would You Be Willing To Pay $80 For Xbox Games?
Or even more in the case of GTA 6?!
- Xbox
- Talking Point
- Nintendo
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
Feature Five Ways The Switch 2 Reveal Has Been A Huge Win For Xbox
It's been a surprising success for many reasons
- Xbox
- Features
- Switch 2
- Lists
- Xbox Series X
News Switch 2 Emulation Highlights Future Challenges For Xbox Backwards Compatibility
No wonder they've built a team for it
- Xbox
- Backwards Compatibility
- Next Xbox
- Switch 2
Latest News
TodayFri, 4th Apr 2025
News Switch 2 Emulation Highlights Future Challenges For Xbox Backwards Compatibility
No wonder they've built a team for it
Xbox backwards compatibility has been an amazing benefit throughout the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S generations, but if the next Xbox console is to be a radically different device, it's going to result in new challenges for the program. We've seen this week how the
- Xbox
- Backwards Compatibility
- Next Xbox
- Switch 2
Guide Next Xbox Console: Everything We Know So Far About Microsoft's Next-Gen System
Your all-in-one guide to the console AFTER the Series X
With the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S generation now having spanned multiple years, it's time to look ahead to what the next Xbox console will deliver for us, which is expected to arrive at some point in the not too distant future. In this all-in-one guide, you'll find everything we know so...
- Xbox
- Guides
- New Xbox Console
- Next Xbox
- Everything We Know So Far
Video Phil Spencer Shows Off 'Secret Xbox Lab' For Next-Gen Hardware
"Where the next generation of Xbox is being crafted"
Microsoft is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the company, and as part of those celebrations, "Today" has provided an exclusive look at what it's calling a "secret Xbox lab" where the next generation of Xbox is being made. Now, annoyingly, we can't embed the video in here at the time of...
- Xbox
- Phil Spencer
- Next Xbox
- Console
- Hardware
News South Of Midnight Comparison Reveals How Similar The Xbox Series X|S Versions Look
"An easy one to recommend"
South of Midnight is officially out now in early access, and alongside the reviews that dropped yesterday, the tech wizards at Digital Foundry have been looking into the Xbox Series X and S versions to see how they shape up. Basically, they're both really good! It's noted that you'r
- Xbox
- South Of Midnight
- Comparison
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
News Ahead Of The Oblivion Remake, The Original Just Got Updated On Steam
Is it a sign?
We've been hearing a lot about the Oblivion remake recently (even though it hasn't been officially announced at all yet), and earlier this week, it was rumoured that it could be shadow dropping for Xbox Game Pass on Thursday. That... didn't happen. Nevertheless, the person who rumoured that date remains confident that the Oblivion...
- Xbox
- Oblivion Remake
- Oblivion
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
News Xbox Adds Multiple New Dynamic Backgrounds To Kick Off April
Mostly based on Xbox first-party games
In the mood to change your background on Xbox? Well, we've got a bunch of new dynamic backgrounds to choose from right now, including the strange Microsoft 50th anniversary one that we highlighted here at Pure Xbox recently. Beyond that, there are also new Xbox dynamic backgrounds for South of Midnight,...
- Xbox
- Dynamic Backgrounds
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
Feature After Three Months, These Are The Top 10 Xbox Games Of 2025
We have a new leader!
It's usually the case that the first three months of any year are the quietest for new Xbox releases, but we've already seen multiple Game of the Year contenders in 2025, including one that's just become the highest-rated on Metacritic! Yes, we're using Metacritic to curate this top 10 Xbox games of 2025 list - and looking at...
- Xbox
- Top 10
- Metacritic
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
News Former Xbox Exec Throws Shade At Switch 2, Says It's A 'Hard Pass'
"$500 for GameChat in 2025, lets go"
Everyone's been sharing their thoughts about the Nintendo Switch 2 over the past few days, including former Xbox veteran and Blizzard president Mike Ybarra, who hasn't been shy in revealing his dislike for the system. In a series of posts on social media, Ybarra criticised the Switch 2's high price along with...
- Xbox
- Nintendo Switch
- Blizzard
- Industry
News Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Length, Performance Modes & Other Xbox Details Revealed
Launching on Game Pass later this month
You've probably seen us gushing over Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on numerous occasions here at Pure Xbox in recent weeks, and that's simply because it looks so good! It's also coming to Xbox Game Pass on April 24th. Ahead of that Game Pass launch, we've learned a few extra details about Clair Obscur:...
- Xbox
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- RPGs
- Xbox Game Pass
- How Long To Beat
News Xbox Spring Sale Yet To Begin, Two Other Sales Now Live On Console
Sit tight
Well, the Xbox Spring Sale hasn't begun yet! We'd predicted that it would start today, but the deals usually start showing the night before if that's to be the case, and instead we've been presented with two other types of Xbox sales instead. Those two sales are for the Devil May Cry franchise, and then a whole bunch of simulators,...
- Xbox
- Deals
- Xbox Spring Sale
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X
News Xbox Adds Prime Gaming Freebie For April, Available To Claim Now
A Minecraft game for Prime members
It's starting to become more of a common thing to see Xbox games being given away as part of Prime Gaming, and we've seen three examples of this in 2025 alone - including a new one that just went live last night. Yes, you can now claim Xbox game Minecraft Legends for free via Prime Gaming from April to June,...
- Xbox
- Amazon Prime Gaming
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
- Minecraft Legends
YesterdayThu, 3rd Apr 2025
Review South Of Midnight (Xbox) - A Fantastic, Soulful Outing From Xbox Game Studios
Worth headin' south for
Ever since wrapping up my early preview of the game almost two months ago now, I've been desperate to get back to Xbox's South of Midnight. That single-chapter sneak peek drew me in with its gorgeous visuals, smooth gameplay and undeniable charm - I just needed a bit more context to get a proper idea of what Compulsion Games...
- Xbox
- South Of Midnight
- Xbox Game Pass
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
Feature Five Ways The Switch 2 Reveal Has Been A Huge Win For Xbox
It's been a surprising success for many reasons
The Nintendo Switch 2 looks cool without a doubt, but it's also received some negative press since yesterday's Switch 2 Direct over things like the crazy game prices and the Game-Key Cards that have been compared to the Xbox One era. Xbox was already set to benefit from the Switch 2 with its...
- Xbox
- Features
- Switch 2
- Lists
- Xbox Series X
Roundup Here's What The Reviews Are Saying About Xbox's South Of Midnight
Early access begins today!
The first Xbox Game Studios release of April is debuting today in the form of South of Midnight, which releases in early access for those who are willing to pay an upgrade fee. And so, as a result, the reviews have just landed for it! Here at Pure Xbox, we gave South of Midnight an "Excellent" 9/10 in our review, praising...
- Xbox
- South Of Midnight
- Round Up
- Reviews
News GTA 5 Officially Returns To Xbox & PC Game Pass This Month
Update: We've got a date!
We've got a big Xbox Game Pass addition set to arrive later this month! It's being reported by a couple of GTA insiders today that GTA V will be making a return on Xbox Game Pass in April 2025, presumably in two or three weeks' time. One of the accounts reporting this is GT
- Xbox
- GTA 5
- Xbox Game Pass
- Reports
News BAFTA Announces List Of Top 21 Most Influential Games Ever
Not many Xbox first-party titles though
Ahead of the BAFTA Games Awards taking place next week, the organisation has announced the "Most Influential Game of All Time" as voted for by the public today - and the surprising winner is Shenmue. The 1999 Dreamcast classic (which eventually ended up on Xbox) managed to surpass the likes of Tetris, DOOM,...
- Xbox
- BAFTA
- Industry
- Random
Guide South Of Midnight Release Date, Release Times & Early Access Details On Xbox
A huge Xbox Game Pass release to kick off April!
April is officially here, and that means we've got (at least) two Xbox first-party titles to look forward to over the coming weeks, including South of Midnight which arrives at the start of the month! We're really excited for this one here at Pure Xbox, and here's hoping the final game is as good as...
- Xbox
- Guides
- South Of Midnight
- Xbox Game Pass
- Early Access
News Microsoft Rewards Re-Adds 3 Months Of Xbox GPU Ahead Of Potential Price Increase
Worth keeping in mind
Back in February, we highlighted how some Microsoft Rewards users had received emails suggesting that the redeem prices for Xbox Game Pass might be going up in April, and we're almost at that exact date of April 20th now. However, before then, an old option for redeeming three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (or PC Game...
- Xbox
- Microsoft Rewards
- Xbox Game Pass
News Four Games Are Joining Various Xbox Game Pass Tiers Today (April 3)
One is brand-new, the others are for the 'Standard' tier
Welcome to your latest Xbox Game Pass update! The first drop of April is giving us four games across various Game Pass tiers, but three of them are only new to Standard members - whereas the other is new to everyone. Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition is the game that we're getting across Xbox...
- Xbox
- Xbox Game Pass
- Microsoft
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X
News Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (April 3-6)
Four games to dig into this weekend
Xbox Free Play Days is back again for the next few days, and it includes a nice selection of four games that are free to try (for Game Pass members) from April 3rd to April 6th across Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Here's the full list of games you can play on Xbox as part of Free Play Days this week:...
- Xbox
- Xbox Game Pass
- Free Play Days
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X
News Final Fantasy 7 Remake Still Coming To Xbox In 2025, Insists Insider
"Still Xbox bound"
One of the big stories coming out of yesterday's Switch 2 Direct from an Xbox perspective was the fact that Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade was announced for Switch but not Xbox - but apparently it's still on the way to us this year. This is according to known leaker "NateTheHate" on social media, who advised to Pure Xbox...
- Xbox
- Final Fantasy 7 Remake
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
- Rumours
News Xbox Is Already Fixing The Number 1 Complaint With Game Hubs
"A change to the experience that we think you'll like"
Last week, it was announced that Microsoft was introducing a new Xbox Game Hubs feature on Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, and some Xbox Insiders have been testing out the new addition over the past few days. Although most people seem to be enjoying the Game Hubs, there was immediate...
- Xbox
- Microsoft
- Xbox Game Hubs
- Xbox Insider
- Updates
Talking Point Would You Be Willing To Pay $80 For Xbox Games?
Or even more in the case of GTA 6?!
The big topic that's dominating the industry this week is the Nintendo Switch 2, and specifically the higher game prices that it's set to implement for first-party titles - a whole lot has already been said about the Mario Kart World situation! As mentioned in our "huge win for Xbox" feature earlier today, this...
- Xbox
- Talking Point
- Nintendo
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
News Xbox Game Pass Is Getting Another Simulator Game In May 2025
You can never have too many of them!
We've got a new game to add to our big Xbox Game Pass list for 2025 in the form of Spray Paint Simulator, which is officially heading to the service at some point in May. It'll be available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. In Spray Paint Simulator, it'll be your job to give a fresh coat of paint to...
- Xbox
- Xbox Game Pass
- Simulator
- Spray Paint Simulator
- Microsoft
News Descenders Next Suffers Last-Minute Delay For Xbox Game Pass
"The game needs some tweaks"
We've got some sad news to share about April 2025's Xbox Game Pass lineup today, as it's been confirmed that Descenders Next will be missing its planned April 9th launch - and it's currently delayed with no new release date. In an update, the team advised that a recent PC demo has indicated some areas that need tweaking...
- Xbox
- Descenders Next
- Xbox Game Pass
Wednesday2nd Apr 2025
Feature Xbox Release Dates In 2025: A List Of New Games Coming Out This Year
Your month-by-month guide to all Xbox releases
Looking for a list of every game coming out on Xbox in 2025? You're in the right place! Below, we've provided a month-by-month guide to all the Xbox releases that have been announced for 2025 so far - with many more to come of course! Don't forget that we've provided a separate guide for every Xbox...
- Features
- Xbox
- Release Dates
- New Games
- 2025
News Nintendo Switch 2's Crazy Game Prices Could Be Terrible News For Xbox Fans
Makes Game Pass look incredible though
We all know that Nintendo likes to place a certain value on its first-party games that never drops all that much, but with the Nintendo Switch 2, that's being taken to the next level - just wait until you hear how expensive Mario Kart World is! So, to buy a digital version of Mario Kart World on the Switch 2,...
- Xbox
- Switch 2
- Industry
News These 10 Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (April 3-15)
The latest roundup of new titles
The Xbox Game Pass lineup for April 2025 was already stacked until we got to today, and now Microsoft has gone and revealed a bunch of other new additions for this month - including Borderlands 3 and Diablo 3! As usual, there are a few new additions to Xbox Game Pass Standard
- Xbox
- Xbox Game Pass
- Round Up
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
News Seven Games Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass In Early April 2025
Update: It's no longer eight!
The first batch of games leaving Xbox Game Pass in April 2025 have been revealed today, and there are seven of them in all - including highlights such as Harold Halibut, Coral Island and Botany Manor. Here the full list of games leaving Xbox Game Pass in early April 2025: Date Game Platform
- Xbox
- Xbox Game Pass
- Leaving Soon
News Switch 2 Feature Reminds People Of The Disastrous Xbox One Launch
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the Switch 2"
The Nintendo Switch 2 is obviously what everyone wants to talk about today, and looking at what's being said on social media, it's surprising to see Don Mattrick and the Xbox One launch from 2013 being brought up on multiple occasions! Looking into this a bit more, it's to do with the
- Xbox
- Nintendo Switch 2
- Game-Key Cards
- Xbox One
News Nintendo Just Broke Our Hearts With Today's Final Fantasy 7 Annoucement
Come on Square Enix, Xbox fans need it too
So, we've just finished watching today's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, and the first thing that stands out at first glance is that the Switch is getting Final Fantasy 7 Remake Integrade, but there's still no announcement for Xbox as of yet. We've been waiting for this game on Xbox for years and years at this...
- Xbox
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Nintendo
News ASUS Xbox Handheld Set To Rival The Nintendo Switch 2 In Price
Decisions, decisions
Today's big Nintendo Switch 2 Direct has just wrapped up, and although a price wasn't announced during the stream for whatever reason, it's now been confirmed that it'll retail at $449.99 - or $499.99 with the new Mario Kart thrown in. That's pretty expensive for a Nintendo console, and it potentially puts the price in-line...
- Xbox
- ASUS
- Xbox Handheld
- Nintendo Switch 2
News Multiple Upcoming Xbox Games Appeared At Today's Switch 2 Direct
Here's what we spotted
Today's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct featured a bunch of games that are also coming to Xbox in the future, including the likes of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 and Hollow Knight: Silksong - both hitting Xbox Game Pass in 2025! Here are all the Xbox-related announcements and trailers from the Switch 2 Direct on April 2nd: Street...
- Xbox
- Nintendo Direct
- Switch 2
- Round Up
News Croc Remastered Is Now On Xbox, And The Reviews Are Divided Over It
The critics can't make their minds up
It's only taken 28 years, but Croc: Legend of the Gobbos is now finally on Xbox! The remastered version of the PS1 platformer arrived on the Xbox Store earlier today, and it's available to buy at a price of £24.99 / $29.99. As you might expect with a remaster of such an old game, the critics are pretty divided...
- Xbox
- Croc: Legend of the Gobbos
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
Roundup Here's What The First Reviews Are Saying About 'A Minecraft Movie'
You might be surprised!
This week marks the arrival of A Minecraft Movie after a long wait, and although many had predicted that it would fare poorly with the critics, quite a few early reviews have actually been very positive for it so far. Here are some of the reviews and impressions we've spotted for A Minecraft Movie: Chris Killian...
- Xbox
- A Minecraft Movie
- Round Up
- Film
- TV
News Xbox Is Missing Out On FromSoftware's 'The Duskbloods' In 2026
It's a Switch 2 exclusive
As you may have seen, one of the big announcements from today's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct was that FromSoftware's new IP The Duskbloods would be coming to the console - and it's actually a Switch 2 exclusive in 2026. What are we missing out on? Well, it's a multiplayer game that bares a heavy resemblance to Bloodborne,...
- Xbox
- FromSoftware
- The Duskbloods
- Switch 2
News Call Of Duty's New Xbox Update Adds Crossplay Matchmaking Options For 'Consoles Only'
Combating "PC cheaters"
Activision is rolling out Season 3 of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 this week and in case you missed it, console players on Xbox platforms will be given some new crossplay multiplayer options to reportedly combat PC cheaters. One setting in particular, available in Multiplayer Ranked Play, Warzone Ranked Play, and Multiplayer...
- Xbox
- Call of Duty
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
- Updates
Feature 10 Exciting Xbox Indie Games To Look Out For In April 2025
Including multiple Xbox Game Pass titles!
There are always so many exciting Xbox indie games to look out for every month thanks to the ID@Xbox team, but the list can admittedly become overwhelming - so it's our job to try and pick out a few of the most notable ones. For April 2025, we've highlighted three Xbox Game Pass titles that are on the way...
- Xbox
- Indie Games
- April 2025
- Features
Tuesday1st Apr 2025
News 'Iffy' Rumour Claims Oblivion Remake Could Hit Xbox Game Pass This Week
Please be true, please be true
We've been hearing a lot about this rumoured Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake over the past few weeks, and if you believe what some of the latest reports have been saying, it sounds like it's going to drop at some point during April. It might even be as soon as this week! Social media user DetectiveSeeds, who has...
- Xbox
- Oblivion Remake
- Xbox Game Pass
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
News Atomfall Is Already A Colossal Success On Xbox Game Pass & Beyond
The best launch in Rebellion's 32-year history
It's been less than a week since Atomfall arrived on Xbox Game Pass, and it's already smashed through over 1.5 million players across all platforms - marking the most successful launch in Rebellion's 32-year history as a company. Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley described the achievement as speaking...
- Xbox
- Atomfall
- Xbox Game Pass
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X
Rumour Halo's Leap To Other Platforms Might Be More Limited Than Expected
UE5 has been a significant shift
There have been ongoing rumours about the Halo: Master Chief Collection making the jump across to certain other platforms, but now new information suggests it might not necessarily play out like expected. Speaking to 'The Xbox Two' podcast about the upcoming Switch 2 launch, The Verge's senior editor Tom Warren...
- Rumours
- Xbox
- Halo
- Microsoft
News Xbox's Latest Server Outage Is A Bit Different To The Usual Ones
If you've noticed weird behaviour, this might be why!
Xbox has suffered another server outage today, but not in the way you'd might expect! As confirmed on the official Xbox Status support page, the outage affects "store & subscriptions", "cloud gaming & remote play", and "games & gaming". At the time of writing, the team is still...
- Xbox
- Server Outage
- Server Status
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
News Xbox 'ZZZ' Tease Leads The Way In April Fools' Jokes This Year
We've seen some pretty good ones!
In case you'd hadn't clocked on, today is April Fools' Day, and we've been spotting plenty of April Fools' Jokes on social media over the past few hours as a result, including a few that have been getting quite a bit of attention. In particular, the folks behind Zenless Zone Zero (or "ZZZ" as it's often called)...
- Xbox
- April Fools
- ZZZ
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
News Nightdive Studios Wants To Bring Xbox 360 Games Back From The Dead
"Really good games that shouldn’t be lost"
The Xbox 360 is an amazing console that boasted an unbelievable library of games, and while some of the best are still playable on modern Xbox consoles through backwards compatibility, there are plenty that sadly never made the jump. And of course, things got worse last year when the Xbox 360 marketplace...
- Xbox
- Nightdive Studios
- Xbox 360
- Remasters
Interview "Let's Make Great F**cking Games" - The Legacy Of Monolith Productions
Time Extension Monolith Productions co-founder Toby Gladwell reflects on the company's history
On February 25, 2025, it was announced that the Washington-based developer Monolith Productions would be closing its doors for good, causing a mass outpouring of grief from all corners of the games industry. Since its formation back in 1994, the developer had built up a...
- Interviews
- Features
- Monolith Productions
News Windows Might Be Adding A New UI For The ASUS Xbox Handheld
Other handhelds should benefit from it too
There's a lot of talk about the ASUS Xbox handheld right now, and that's no surprise considering it was teased last night by the company - it's all but confirmed at this point. We don't know really know anything about it yet though - aside from that it's going to be similar to an ASUS ROG Ally and will...
- Xbox
- ASUS
- Xbox Handheld
- Windows
News Xbox Is Hosting A Massive 'Spooky Games' Sale This Week
Ahead of the Spring Sale coming soon
We're still waiting on the Xbox Spring Sale to start in the very near future, but until then, we've got a few hundred new deals that have appeared on the Xbox Store - most of which are part of a new "Spooky Games Sale". This sale is obviously based around horror games for the most part, and we've picked out a...
- Xbox
- Deals
- Spooky Sale
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
Talking Point Are You Expecting Xbox News At The Switch 2 Direct This Week?
Nintendo's new device is being fully unveiled
We're going to be seeing an awful lot of Nintendo Switch 2 news doing the rounds later this week after the Switch 2 Direct has taken place on Wednesday, and who knows... perhaps we'll get some Xbox news to discuss as part of it. It's been mentioned on numerous occasions that Microsoft wants to bring...
- Xbox
- Talking Point
- Features
- Nintendo Switch 2
Pick One What Was Your Favourite Xbox Game Pass Game In March 2025?
Atomfall? 33 Immortals? College Football?
A new month has begun today, and it already looks like an incredible April for Xbox Game Pass, but let's take one final moment to look back at March 2025 and what it's delivered for us on the service over the past few weeks. The big highlight for many will have been Atomfall, which just launched on Xbox...
- Xbox
- Xbox Game Pass
- Features
- Pick One
Monday31st Mar 2025
News Xbox Handheld Seemingly Revealed By ASUS In New Teaser Trailer
It's happening!
It looks like ASUS has given us our first tease of the 2025 Xbox handheld! A social media post has gone live today with a short video which includes an ASUS ROG Ally-style device alongside an Xbox controller. You can see the clip down below - along with Xbox's response to it: There's no official confirmation about an Xbox...
- Xbox
- Xbox Handheld
- ASUS
