Xbox Games With 90+ Scores On Open-Critic

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So, with all the Game Pass news lately – especially that price increase everyone’s talking about – it got me thinking about Microsoft’s gaming history over the last ten years. Honestly, Xbox hasn’t always been known for releasing a ton of super popular, critically-acclaimed games, but they have had some real wins along the way. It’s worth remembering those!

As a huge Xbox fan, I’ve been checking out the best-rated games on the platform, and it’s amazing how many critically acclaimed titles there are! I’m mostly focusing on games made directly by Xbox Game Studios, but I’ve also included a few incredible third-party games that were available on Game Pass right away. These really highlight how well Microsoft is working with other developers and the awesome exclusive deals they’re making – it’s a fantastic look at everything Xbox has to offer.

Forza Horizon 5

OpenCritic Score: 92

Currently, Forza Horizon 5 is the best open-world arcade racing game available – though that may change with the release of Forza Horizon 6 next year. It’s a truly outstanding game, far surpassing its rivals in terms of graphics, how realistically cars handle, its music, and the amount of things to do. Best of all, it’s just plain fun to play, even if you only have a few minutes.

Some players feel that Playground Games doesn’t take enough risks with the Forza Horizon series, sticking closely to the established formula with each new release. However, the series remains unique and highly acclaimed. Forza Horizon 5 won Best Racing Game at both The Game Awards and the D.I.C.E. Awards, and was also praised for its stunning graphics and sound.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

OpenCritic Score: 92

Similar to the Forza Horizon games, Microsoft Flight Simulator stands out from the competition. It delivers an incredibly detailed, high-quality, and realistic experience, largely because Microsoft invests heavily in its development and constantly updates it.

The newest Microsoft Flight Simulator is considered the best of its kind – a remarkably realistic flying experience that will be hard to beat. It skillfully blends advanced technology that’s useful for learning with a captivating sense of discovery, offering a taste of next-generation gaming. The game creates an incredibly immersive world, blurring the lines between what’s real and what’s virtual.

Forza Horizon 4

OpenCritic Score: 92

Many still consider Forza Horizon 4 the best game in the series. It raised the bar with its dynamic changing seasons and stunning graphics, surpassing anything else on the market at the time. Forza Horizon 4 offers a fantastic experience for racing enthusiasts of all skill levels, blending freedom, ease of play, and thrilling gameplay. It’s a critically acclaimed title, winning numerous awards, including Best Racing Game and Xbox Game of the Year in 2018, and has become a fan favorite.

While Forza Horizon 4 is no longer available to purchase digitally or through Game Pass as of December 2024, players who already own the game can still enjoy it. Despite being a bit older now, it remains one of the best games on Xbox.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

OpenCritic Score: 92

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is unique on this list because it wasn’t made or funded by Xbox. It’s a typical Game Pass partnership with an outside developer, and a very successful one at that. That’s why it stands out as one of the best games from other studios available to Game Pass members on release day.

The game was a critical and commercial success, earning high ratings and becoming a potential Game of the Year winner – it’s already won several awards! Being available through Xbox’s subscription service introduced it to a large audience, though it’s hard to say exactly how many players experienced it on different platforms.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

OpenCritic Score: 92

Similar to Expedition 33, Hollow Knight: Silksong launched on Xbox Game Pass despite being an independently published game. It wasn’t funded by Microsoft, but a typical agreement allowed it to be available on the service from day one. Like Clair Obscur, Silksong is predicted to be a contender for Game of the Year awards and is already considered a top-tier metroidvania game.

As a huge fan, I was so excited to finally see Silksong released! It’s great that Microsoft is bringing it to Game Pass, which is smart for them. But honestly, after waiting for years, I think a lot of us – myself included – just wanted to own the game, especially since it was pretty affordable at launch. It felt like a title worth buying, not just playing through a subscription.

Ori and the Blind Forest

OpenCritic Score: 90

Ori and the Blind Forest was created by Moon Studios and published by Microsoft, who bought the game roughly a year into its development. It’s a critically acclaimed and fan-favorite title, and is considered one of the best games available on Xbox, alongside its sequel.

Ori and the Blind Forest is a beautiful and moving platform-adventure game in the metroidvania style. It received numerous awards between 2015 and 2016, including Xbox Game of the Year from the Golden Joysticks, Best Art Direction from The Game Awards, and an Artistic Achievement award from the British Academy Games Awards.

Minecraft

OpenCritic Score: 90

Whether or not Minecraft truly counts as an Xbox game is still up for discussion, especially since Microsoft bought the game back in 2014 for $2.5 billion. But since it was re-released in 2017, it’s become a key, constantly-updated first-party game with a huge player base. Given how much Microsoft has invested in Minecraft over the years, it would be odd to leave it out.

Since Microsoft began supporting it, Minecraft has grown beyond its original game to include spin-offs like Earth, Dungeons, and Legends. The recent Minecraft movie was also a big hit in theaters. Because the game is constantly being updated and improved, Minecraft remains the most popular sandbox game, with millions of players still enjoying it today.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

OpenCritic Score: 90

Man, I absolutely loved the first Ori game, and Ori and the Will of the Wisps is just as amazing! It launched right on Game Pass, which was awesome, and it’s a real showcase for what Xbox can do. The developers, Moon Studios, really leveled up the graphics this time around. The first game was beautiful 2D art, but this sequel uses full 3D models with these incredible layered backgrounds. It took a while to make, but trust me, it was worth the wait – it’s a stunning metroidvania that looks and plays fantastic.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps was rated about the same as the original Ori game. It also brought Microsoft significant recognition, winning Xbox Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards and receiving multiple NAVGTR awards.

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2025-10-24 07:35