Back in July, we thought we'd be getting the new side-scrolling space shooter known as Earthion on Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, but it ended up getting delayed for all consoles until an unspecified date in September.

Well, that date has arrived! Earthion is now available on Xbox as of September 18th, and because of the PC release a few weeks ago, we already know that it's one of the best-rated video games of 2025.

It has an 88 average on Metacritic (based on 11 reviews) right now, placing it in 15th place for the highest-rated game of the year, sitting alongside the likes of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Monster Hunter Wilds.

Here's what just a handful of the game's reviews have said so far:

Time Extension (9/10)

"On a system that has more than its fair share of quality shooters, Earthion stands out as one of the best – and while purists have to wait a little longer to play the 'real' version of the game on the Mega Drive / Genesis, this emulated edition is perhaps the ideal way to experience it thanks to creature comforts such as screen filters and granular control over audio and visual settings, plus the addition of things like online leaderboards and prototype builds of the game."

Digital Chumps (9/10)

"Earthion is a perfect encapsulation of the timelessness of the SEGA Genesis. Ancient and Yuzo Koshiro have set the gold standard on how to breathe life into a shoot-em-up while innovating its reach to be fun for all players. Despite it being a Genesis title emulated on PC, it’s a must-have for anyone who loves retro games with just the right amount of challenge."

Noisy Pixel (8.5/10)

"Earthion is a love letter to shmup fans and SEGA enthusiasts, blending Gradius-inspired mechanics with Thunder Force-style flair, stunning 16-bit visuals, and a nostalgic Yuzo Koshiro soundtrack. While some visual clutter hampers precision play, its clever boss battles, relentless level design, and authentic retro feel make it a standout in modern and vintage shooter circles."

PlayStation Country (8/10)

"If Earthion had hit the Megadrive back when that was a thing, it would have made all the other supposed classic shoot ’em ups on there look mediocre. There’s enough of a classic heart here to make it feel legit but with gameplay that’s a bit more evolved. We still prefer the simplicity of a good R-Type power-up system but the upgrades here add a lot of utility and the fact that the game doesn’t punish you massively for a mistake is very welcome. Earthion is the new apex shoot ’em up for Megadrive fans and retro shoot ’em up fans in general."

As mentioned in these reviews, Earthion has been designed for the SEGA Mega Drive / Genesis, and it'll be getting a physical version for that console in 2026. In the meantime, the digital version is now available for PC, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, with physical editions for those platforms also arriving later in the year.

If you fancy checking it out digitally, Earthon is available at a price of £16.74 / $19.99 on the Xbox Store right now, and we'll leave you with more details about the game along with some screenshots down below.

Yuzo Koshiro’s Earthion is a side-scrolling space shooter developed natively for 16-bit systems by legendary Japanese developer Ancient Corporation. Guide space fighter pilot Azusa Takanashi, through eight chaotic levels, each with their own unique environment, enemies, and boss fights, to repel the alien invaders and save planet Earth.

Are you picking up Earthion on Xbox this week? Tell us down in the comments section below.

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