Publisher: Ubisoft / Developer: Ubisoft
Release Date: 10th Nov 2020 (USA) /
10th Nov 2020 (UK/EU) Released back at the launch of the Xbox Series X and Series S, Assassin's Creed Valhalla is one of the finest entries in the series to date, sporting hundreds of hours of content and a wonderful representation of England to explore.
Taking the role of a Viking this time around, the combat is bloody and chaotic, especially with the ability to dual wield two devastating weapons at once. While the series has deviated massively from its origins, what it's managed to morph into is fantastic. Embracing elements from games such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with its quest design, and even taking a leaf out of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with its exploration, it's one not to be missed.
Publisher: 2K / Developer: Gearbox Software
Release Date: 13th Sep 2019 (USA) The Borderlands series hasn't managed to evolve massively since its original iteration, but what it has managed to do is continuously fine tune the gameplay it created back in the original. Borderlands 3 continues that tradition with an entry that feels like a culmination of all the ideas before it.
The gunplay has never felt tighter, the variety in both the environments and weapons is constantly surprising, and the quests manage to remain as wacky as ever. It's hard not to be charmed by its cel shaded world that looks just as impressive now as it did in the original entry. Grab some friends, groovy weapons, and cause some mayhem in Pandora.
Publisher: Raw Fury / Developer: Bytten Studio
Release Date: 26th Apr 2023 (USA) Available On: Xbox Game Pass If you've always wanted a Pokemon-like experience on Xbox, you've got a number of games to choose from, but Cassette Beasts might well be at the top of the list. This cute indie title dropped on Xbox Game Pass in early 2023, and very quickly racked up outstanding reviews from a variety of outlets, landing on an 84 Metacritic average.
Just like in Pokemon, you'll travel on an adventure collecting monsters to use in turn-based battles, but in this case, you actually have to record the monsters to cassette tapes and then play them back in order to fight. It's a really cool idea that works extremely well, so we think you'll have a blast with this one if you like the look of it.
Publisher: Deck13 / Developer: Matthias Linda
Release Date: 8th Dec 2022 (USA) Chained Echoes debuted on Xbox Game Pass to absolutely incredible reviews in December 2022, making it one of the best-rated Game Pass launches of the year. This SNES-esque RPG may well fly under the radar for a lot of folks, but it's definitely worth your time if you're up for some classic JRPG action.
This is a pretty substantial experience as well — you're looking at 30 to 40 hours of gameplay in which you'll "travel around the vast continent of Valandis to bring an end to the war between its three kingdoms". So, this is a chunky RPG with a small download size on Xbox Game Pass - why not give it a go!
Publisher: All In! Games / Developer: The Farm 51
Release Date: 21st Apr 2022 (USA) Chernboylite was one of those games that we really hoped would make the Best Xbox RPGs list eventually, and we're happy to say we've been having a great time with it on Xbox Series X! The game received a major free next-gen upgrade back in early 2022 (including the addition of ray tracing), and it's been elevated to the next level as a result.
As for the game itself? It's officially described as a "science-fiction survival horror RPG", in which your job is to uncover the truth of your tortured past in Chernobyl's Exclusion Zone. In our review, we called it "a deep and addictive indie gem awaits that does a fantastic job of scratching that S.T.A.L.K.E.R itch". Definitely worth a play!
Publisher: Fellow Traveller / Developer: Jump Over The Age
Release Date: 5th May 2022 (USA) Citizen Sleeper might not look much on the surface, but it's an absolutely brilliant tabletop RPG that Xbox Game Pass fans have been enjoying for a long time now. The premise is that you play as a "sleeper", described as "a digitised human consciousness in an artificial body", and the game challenges you to "explore a lawless station, choose your friends, escape your past and change your future."
Here's a bit more about it:
Roleplaying in the ruins of interplanetary capitalism. Live the life of an escaped worker, washed-up on a lawless station at the edge of an interstellar society. Inspired by the flexibility and freedom of TTRPGs, explore the station, choose your friends, escape your past and change your future.
Citizen Sleeper received one of the best Xbox Series X Metacritic scores of 2022, almost placing it in the top ten games of the year, so that tells you how much the critics (and players) have been enjoying it so far!
Publisher: Deck 13 / Developer: Radical Fish Games
Release Date: 2016 (USA) /
2016 (UK/EU) CrossCode is a 2D retro-inspired action-RPG that has gone unnoticed by some, but it was a low-key hit when it was part of Xbox Game Pass, and we highlighted it here at Pure Xbox as "a wonderful blend of Zelda and Sword Art Online."
We'll let our own words do the talking here — it's definitely one to add to your wishlist!
"CrossCode has surprised us massively. Its narrative is engaging enough to keep us moving forward, but the gameplay is the true star. It boasts some deep RPG systems, punchy combat, fantastic puzzles, and a world you want to explore every corner of."
Publisher: CD PROJEKT / Developer: CD Projekt Red
Release Date: 15th Feb 2022 (USA) You could potentially still argue that Cyberpunk 2077 isn't yet in the finished state that was promised to us all those years ago, but the recent release of the Xbox Series X and Series S upgrade has definitely rectified many of the issues that plagued the title back at release in 2020.
In our 'hands on' review of the next-gen update, we called it "a major improvement on Xbox Series X," pointing out that it's "an immediately noticeable and genuinely impressive improvement right out of the gates." It's been a rocky couple of years for CD Projekt Red's ambitious RPG, but now is finally the time to get on board with Cyberpunk 2077 if you've been waiting until it's in a better state.
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Release Date: 12th Apr 2016 (USA) /
12th Apr 2016 (UK/EU) There have been many Souls games over recent years and many imitations, but none perfect the formula better than Dark Souls III. The dark, gothic world is represented beautifully through the Xbox One version, and playing the game through backwards compatibility on the Xbox Series X|S is enhanced by FPS Boost.
The combat, much like other entries, is brutally hard, but is ultimately the most refined of the series here. Each encounter is a nail biting testament of skill and dexterity that demands the upmost attention. It's a constantly rewarding experience that's hard to put down. Definitely check it out.
Publisher: Devolver Digital / Developer: Acid Nerve
Release Date: 20th Jul 2021 (UK/EU) Acid Nerve has followed up the wonderful Titan Souls with this Zelda/Souls inspired action adventure that looks sublime and plays even better.
Death's Door is a beautiful, intricate little thing with surprisingly tough and moreish combat, clever puzzles and a world that's chock full of secrets and hidden areas for you to find as you blaze through its bosses, unlocking new skills that allow you to access more areas as you go.
There's so much style here, so much atmosphere, and it also doesn't outstay its welcome. Death's Door is a perfectly formed bit of magic from a developer everyone should be starting to sit up and take notice of! Seriously, this is one of the best games on Xbox Game Pass.
Publisher: Blizzard / Developer: Blizzard
Release Date: 6th Jun 2023 (USA) We all had high hopes for Diablo 4, and fortunately it delivered. Over six years' worth of hard work went into making this the best entry in the series, and in our opinion Blizzard absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one.
Here's what we had to say in our Diablo 4 review on Pure Xbox:
"You can see why it’s taken Blizzard over six years to get this one out the gate when you look at the end product. Diablo 4 is a natural evolution of the series with its new open-world design and gameplay, enhanced social and multiplayer experience, and a live service that promises to keep players returning to the world of Sanctuary for years to come.
These strong foundations and scale of the whole experience, combined with the five unique classes and seemingly limitless customisation options for builds, should keep even the most diehard demon slayers busy for a very long time. With all of this in consideration, Diablo 4 is a must-play if you’re a veteran of the series and it's a great starting point for newcomers. We can't wait to jump back in!"
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