Xbox Tavern

• XSX/S
• 5.4 / 10
• États-Unis

If you were looking for the next big open-world racing game juggernaut, you’ll be sorely disappointed by Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown. The dinginess of its Hong Kong setting leaves a lot to be desired, the racing events are uninspired even though the showrooms and the close-knit racing can be satisfying. Much of Solar Crown feels like a throwback to racing games at the start of the eighth generation, rather than a current force on current-gen hardware. Thus, Solar Crown doesn’t do much that’s wrong or egregious, it’s just uninspired and dull for the most part, and lacking in charisma or a sense of excitement. Such a blow for Test Drive Unlimited‘s return, but Solar Crown races with the reliability of a Porsche with a punctured set of wheels.

• XSX/S
• 1 / 10
• États-Unis

I’ve genuinely lost hope in this franchise. With the mix of VC shills, content creators that overhype a garbage product, outlets praising the word vomit stew that the player base eats up every year – at least the ones with deep wallets – and the F2P tactics in a paid game, NBA 2K will more than likely never return to its glory days that I loved. I’m tired of repeating myself and I’m tired of having expectations go below the bar, like it wasn’t low enough. Every single year it’s “a step in the right direction.” No, it’s not. I stopped settling for less and everyone else should too. NBA 2K25 is a basketball game but feels like a grindy RPG with heavy predatory practices at play. An utter disappointment. Save your money and play a better game.

• XSX/S
• 9.2 / 10
• États-Unis

Excellent presentation, storytelling, performances, and some great quality of life touches make The Casting of Frank Stone one of our favourite Supermassive Games releases yet.

• XSX/S
• 6.5 / 10
• États-Unis

I wanted to like Gori: Cuddly Carnage more than I did, perhaps my hopes were too high. In the end I found the levels too repetitive for my liking and some technical issues soured my mood. There were some fun parts in the platforming and chase sequences but that’s not enough to be able to highly recommend this game to my friends.

• XSX/S
• 8.7 / 10
• États-Unis

Core Keeper is an excellent addition to the sandbox survival genre. The cleverly interlocking systems, the levelling up, and the promise of something new around each corner is going to cause it to consume a lot of people’s times. A must-have for all players.

• XSX/S
• 8.1 / 10
• États-Unis

Monster Jam Showdown is a fun, action-packed racer letting us control the wildest, most over the top vehicles there are. A few quibbles with the controls for stunts aside, if you’re simply after a fun time, then this is an easy recommendation.

• XSX/S
• 6 / 10
• États-Unis

There’s a lot to get your teeth sunk into in Tiebreak, but with matches on medium difficulty lasting over an hour, this certainly won’t be a pickup and play game, and with the mentioned issues with gameplay, Tiebreak won’t be something I return to on a regular basis.

• XSX/S
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

Where Dustborn works – its characters and story – it really works. Leaden combat and side-missions leave it a little lacking.

• XONE
• 10 / 10
• États-Unis

While I’m sad that this will be the last we see of Sam & Max, The Devil’s Playhouse does an amazing job of wrapping up the story of my favorite duo. The remaster has been done with care and looks terrific. It’s important that if you want to jump into the playhouse, you need to play the other two games first to understand some of the topics being discussed. You won’t be disappointed. Saddle up little buddy and get ready to ride with the Freelance Police for one last time.

• XSX/S
• 6.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Players looking for a short, snappy precision platformer would do well to at least entertain the idea of Cattie, even if it misses the mark in a few areas.

• XSX/S
• 8.5 / 10
• États-Unis

What can I say? SteamWorld games don’t miss (with me at least) and SteamWorld Heist II is no exception. This is a special treat for the Xbox ecosystem, as this is our first foray into SteamWorld’s take on the tactical strategy genre. Thunderful have made another game to show and help gamers how to branch out into other types of genres that they may normally not play. If you like this universe but do not typically like this type of game (or don’t know if you do), I would still implore you to give it a chance.

• XSX/S
• 3.5 / 10
• États-Unis

• XSX/S
• 5.6 / 10
• États-Unis

If you’re starving for more Star Wars nourishment in videogame form and you haven’t given Star Wars: Bounty Hunter a whirl, there are far worse games that make use of the Star Wars license. It can be a blast to blast around linear levels with Boba Fett and his jetpack while repelling galactic grunts, but no matter how slick the remaster job is, it cannot hide how old this twenty-plus year old game is, and the frustrations inherent within it are too apparent to ignore. So Bounty Hunter isn’t the worst Star Wars outing and the remaster doesn’t do a bad job, but just like the original game, it might be worthwhile for Star Wars geeks to froth over, but it’s otherwise a despairingly middling affair. So go give Jango and go, but this one doesn’t steal the show and it sorta blows.

• XSX/S
• 8.8 / 10
• États-Unis

• XSX/S
• 9.1 / 10
• États-Unis

Dungeons of Hinterberg proves that it’s always good to step outside of your comfort zone; it went from being not on my radar at all to winning me over almost completely. With brilliantly crafted dungeons, a surprisingly effective social-upgrade mechanic, and some genuinely fun powers to use, there’s a lot to like here once you get past the slower opening sections.

• XSX/S
• 9.8 / 10
• États-Unis

F1 Manager 2024 is the most feature rich experience to date in the franchise and just like last year I can see Team principles being glued to their chair once again trying to improve their team’s fortune. Whether it’s creating your own team or taking charge of one of the current Formula One teams, F1 Manager 2024 is close to being a 10/10 experience for any sports management game.

• XSX/S
• 7.8 / 10
• États-Unis

SCHiM is a delight of a game. Taking a concept that some of us may have played out in our heads as kids, imaging something jumping across the shadows or us jumping ourselves, and have turned that into a beautiful game. Without words, without facial expressions, and limiting color palettes, SCHiM manages to make something really unique.

• XSX/S
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

Kunitsu-Gami continues the trend of gameplay excellence that has blessed all of Capcom’s recent releases. There are just some parts outside that feel like they should be more streamlined.