Xbox Series X/S: GameSpot's Console And Game Reviews

The Xbox Series X is nearly here, and with the new console's release--as well as the Xbox Series S's release--comes an onslaught of new game reviews and coverage. We've played and reviewed several of the consoles' games already, including newly released titles as well as games that were updated and optimized for the console.

To make things easy for you, we've provided excerpts from all the major reviews below, including the Xbox Series X and Series S consoles as well as several launch games. If you've been waiting to decide whether or not to get the console, this should help you make the decision--if you can find an Xbox Series X/S system to order. The system will not be available to buy in stores for its November 10 launch. However, you will be able to order it online that day, and you can learn more in our Xbox Series X/S order guide.

Xbox Series X review

The Series X is an extremely refined Xbox and a great piece of tech that sets a strong foundation for Microsoft to better serve its console users. If you factor in the brand's development studio acquisitions and upcoming lineup of games, the future does look bright for the Xbox platform. -- Michael Higham

Read our full Xbox Series X review.

Xbox Series S review

The Series S could serve as a great, cost-effective system that is complementary to, say, a PlayStation system or Nintendo Switch. If you just want to access what the platform offers now or what's to come in Xbox's future, and don't mind the gap in graphical details and storage space, this is the Xbox for you. -- Michael Higham

Read our full Xbox Series S review.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon review

"For RGG Studio's first crack at an RPG, it's a damn fine result. It delivers what I love most about Yakuza and introduces new ideas that largely pay off. Ichiban isn't doing it alone, either. He has friends and mentors, ones who've helped him fight and overcome personal tragedies. It was an absolute thrill to watch him grow, and that's what's most important for a game so focused on its characters. Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a passing of the torch, and a fantastic entry in a beloved franchise that proves that it's in good hands with Kasuga Ichiban." -- Michael Higham

Read our full Yakuza: Like a Dragon review.

Forza Horizon 4 review update

"It's the best of both worlds, and the best Forza Horizon 4 has ever looked. (And it was already quite a looker.) In 4K, every detail looks sharp, from the stone walls you'll bust through every time you take a bad angle on a turn to the dials on your car's dash when you take a tour of the interior in your garage." -- Mike Epstein

Read our full Forza Horizon 4 review.

Gears Tactics review update

"Strategy games like Gears Tactics do not automatically translate well to consoles, where good gamepad controls are a must, but Gears Tactics lands the jump to consoles gracefully. Though using an analog stick to move a cursor will always be slower than using a mouse, the pensive turn-based gameplay does not lose anything in translation." -- Mike Epstein

Read our full Gears Tactics review.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla review

This review is for the game as a whole. It is not specific to the Xbox Series X/S version.

"Despite its strong connection to past games, Assassin's Creed Valhalla is more than capable of standing on its own. It takes a little while to build momentum, but when it hits its stride, Valhalla is a confident Assassin's Creed title that takes a few narrative risks which, as a whole, pay off. Eivor is a good hero with an identity that drives the mystery behind the main narrative, and she shines in the self-contained arc structure of Valhalla's story. The supporting cast may not shine as brightly, but it's easy to forgive that when exploring England and discovering new nuggets of worldbuilding is so rewarding." -- Jordan Ramée

Read our full Assassin's Creed Valhalla review

Dirt 5 review

This review is for the game as a whole. It is not specific to Xbox Series X/S.

"Dirt 5 distances itself from the series' recent past by being an unabashed arcade racer that's made up of short, action-packed skirmishes where you're constantly trading paint with a pack of other drivers. There's an infectious energy to the whole thing that's reflected in a handling model that sees you hurl its cars around the track with relative ease." -- Richard Wakeling

Read our full Dirt 5 review.