Need for Speed Unbound (Xbox Series X|S)
Need for Speed Unbound sees this long-running franchise back in something approaching top form. With style to spare and some glorious arcadey handling, we were properly surprised by just how great this one is - and it's just dropped onto Game Pass, so you can enjoy intense racing with pals across multiple platforms right flipping now.
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
No Man's Sky (Xbox One)
We all know the story by now. Small indie dev hams up the features of its upcoming space game a little too much, launches to a right old stink-up, and then proceeds to go above and beyond in delivering the game it promised - and a ton more besides.
Whether you love it or aren't really fussed, No Man's Sky has been on quite the journey of its own since launch, and is undeniably one of the biggest turnarounds in recent gaming history. Now as expansive and all-encompassing as we dared to dream it might be, this is a space epic that also provides then means to play with your buddies across a whole bunch of platforms thanks to crossplay support on Xbox and beyond.
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Quake 2 (Xbox Series X|S)
Quake 2’s recent revamp is all the excuse you should ever need to dive (for either the first or 100th time) into id Software’s seminal shooter. We gave it a big fat 10/10 in our review back in August of 2023, calling it “a fantastic package that’s been put together masterfully by Nightdive Studios”.
And of course, as amazing as the core game is, this is a team at Nightdive that have been delivering magic with their revamps lately. So this supercharged version packs in all of the content you could ever ask for - including an amazing new MachineGames level - gives you that all-important crossplay, and a whole bunch of excellent ways to get your slay on with pals regardless of what platform they’re on. Essential stuff.
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Remnant 2 (Xbox Series X|S)
We absolutely love Remnant 2 here at Pure Xbox. Gunfire Games knocked it out of the park second time around with this third-person shooter sequel that ups the ante in terms of enemy variation, scope and style over an already solid predecessor.
This is a highly challenging, strategic and super fun romp that puts teamwork at its core, relentlessly tasking you and your rag-tag squad with facing off against foes who really do not give a single s**t about your feelings. It all looks great, sounds great, plays great and it’s on flipping Xbox Game Pass.
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
ROBLOX (Xbox One)
Look, we’re not gonna sit here and say we think it’s a great idea that you go get addicted to the online chaos that is ROBLOX, but when we tell you that are kids love it more than their own parents…well, it seems there’s something to it.
Roblox really has become a Minecraft-level phenomenon at this stage, spawning its own game creations and mascots that have gone on to be the talk of playgrounds - and emblazoned across all manner of merchandise - up and down the country. It’s huge! It’s also fully playable with users across every platform on which the game is available.
- Xbox Game pass? Free to play
Rocket League (Xbox One)
Another game that needs no introduction at this point, Rocket League is also worthy of the “phenomenon” moniker, innit really. We’ve been loving this particular brand of arcade magic for nine years now, NINE YEARS, and it’s still not grown old. If only the same could be said for us.
With a clever line in very fancy cars that all the mums and dads playing want to buy more than their kids (DeLoreans ain’t playing fair, guys), this is a slice of offline and online multiplayer perfection that comes complete with crossplay. It’s also free, so yeah, get out your dreams and into your car, mate. Get in the back seat, baybaaaaaaay….sorry.
- Xbox Game Pass? Free to play
Sea Of Thieves (Xbox One)
Rare’s online pirating adventures continue to be impressively buffed, expanded, polished and…whatever else you gotta do to make pirates work good, resulting in what’s become one of the very best crossplay experiences out there. And honestly, we really never thought we’d be saying that after the first time we played what was once a bit of an empty mess.
Sea Of Thieves is a real standout on Xbox Game Pass, a unique and deeply involving game that’s well worth digging into with pals on other platforms now that you can. Yarrrrrr?
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
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Street Fighter 6 (Xbox Series X|S)
Did Capcom just deliver their very best Street Fighter game yet? Well, no, they didn’t. That honour belongs to Street Fighter Alpha 3, but that’s fine…we can just think of another way to start this entry.
Ok, we’re just going to go with that opening actually, honestly who cares, as Street Fighter 6 is - in this writer’s opinion - a very close second. We already ranted about it in our 9/10, stating that it fixed the issues with its predecessor’s anaemic launch - boy did it ever - by serving up big meaty modes that give you a ton of ways to learn and play. It’s massively user-friendly, very welcoming to newcomers and all with that sweet crossplay cherry on top.
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Streets Of Rage 4 (Xbox One)
We’re feeling quite hyperbolic right now to be honest. Know when you’ve said too much, too loudly and you stop talking and you can hear your own voice? That way. But we must press on with the hyperbole, we’re afraid, as Dotemu went and served us up one of the finest side-scrolling adventures of ALL-TIME.COM with this incredible return to where the streets do have a name, and that name is…conputer game…no wait, it’s rage, that name is rage. Absolutely made a mess of that.
Streets Of Rage 4 is a perfect slice of arcade heaven. It feels amazing to play, it’s colourful and slick and snappy, it sounds incredible - my friends this soundtrack is top five gaming material and Olivier Deriviere deserves all the kisses - and it never fails to put a big stupid grin on your face. If you’ve already played it you know the deal, if you haven’t, well, you really should!
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Tetris Effect: Connected (Xbox Series X|S)
One of our absolute favourites, this one. Tetris has always been impossible to stop playing, it’s always been hypnotic and strangely, intensely personal. Tetris Effect: Connected digs into this and delivers the same incredible gameplay within dynamic dreamscapes and an electric soundtrack that plays alongside your movements. It is absolutely wild.
The connection this puzzle masterpiece manages to make between player and game is on another level, and you can play it online now too, multiplayer and all that stuff. We’ve never tried it, we’re solitary Tetris folk, but for those who indulge you’ve got the option of crossplay on Xbox and beyond to max out your opponent/partner choices.
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege (Xbox One)
Another multiplayer masterpiece that’s been doing the rounds now for nine whole years. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege has continued to be upgraded and supported and added to over the years, resulting in what now must be the ultimate version of one of gaming’s best strategic FPS options.
Now we haven’t played in a long time, if we’re being completely honest, so we can’t speak to how high the barrier to entry is these days, it’s all fairly easy to pick up but there’s definitely a learning curve to the meta. However if you find yourself in its groove you’ll likely be in it for the long haul and this really is some pristine, and highly involving, strategic shootin’ action.
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Well, that’s our picks for the best crossplay titles currently available on Xbox consoles, but have we made a total mess of it? Have we missed all the best stuff, the cool stuff, the games that only cool kids know about? Make sure to let us know the comments!
Comments 6
Glad to see Remnant 2 on the list, one of the GOAT coop games IMO, I have been playing it once a week with 2 friends since it launched.
Warhammer 40k Darktide has been getting steady updates and is in a pretty great place now and has full cross play. Fantastic coop game and is still on game pass.
Nothing I want to play is on that list tho.
Oh wait, valheim is crossplay, Steam and Xbox. It's not on this list tho.
No The Finals. Shame on you.
@clvr only shooter I play, I started at the beginning of season 2. Wonder what season 3 will bring
I started playing a bit of Remant 2 and I found it quite cool to be honest, really nice atmosphere. Played with a bunch of good fellas from the PS world. Would recomment having a try if you haven't and are somewhat interested on it.
@Traygor same, and I'm a bit ashamed of confessing that it's basically the only game I've played since it launched lol
I've always been a single player guy, never been into online multiplayer, but man is this game something else entirely.
The mechanics, the aesthetics, the lore... everything's just so well made and polished, not even mentioning how innovative it is.
I've always hated the F2P model, but Embark being an independent studio I can totally see why they went that route, and it's that exact reason that compelled me to buy some currency (never bought any micro transactions ever before), because they are independent and honestly deserve all the success and money they can get.
The way they constantly update the game weekly based on player feedback is just the icing on top of an absolutely delicious cake.
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