Pure Pool Review – Playstation 5 (Coming to Xbox)

Now, I know I am breaking the traditional rule of only reviewing Xbox-related titles for the site. However, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Pure Pool Pro from the talented teams of Rockwater and Ripstone Ltd. If you aren’t lucky enough to have played the previous title, Pure Pool, which is now a whopping 12 years old, then I can tell you it was excellent. Sadly, it is showing its age now, and the online servers are a little bit barren these days, which is understandable when the game is over a decade old. So naturally, I have been very excited for this one to land in the palms of our hands. The game is now available to all on Playstation 5 and Steam, whereas players on Xbox Series X|S and Epic Games will have to be a bit patient and wait for a Spring 2026 launch.

Climbing the Ranks, One Cue at a Time

Career mode is probably the ideal place to start if you’re looking to get to grips with the game after the short tutorial. You’ll start by playing amateur-level opponents before taking on some more challenging ones. Each match has optional objectives, and progression is achieved through a star-based system. It could be potting balls off the break, sinking long shots, avoiding fouls, amongst other challenges. In between tackling players, there will be challenge modes such as speed potting, perfect potting and so on to achieve further stars. Working through career mode will also unlock cosmetics that can be used to customise everything from your profile to what you see on the table.

There is tons of content on offer within the career mode, with both 8-ball and 9-ball having their own paths. AI players are also very intelligent, and I genuinely went in thinking it would be easy, but there are some really challenging matches. It’s when you break into the focused and pro tiers that you’re really tested without the amateur visual guides of where the ball will end up.

Challenges That Don’t Miss Their Cue

Pure Pool Pro packs in a very generous offering of various challenge modes, which are very addictive. These modes twist the core mechanics into competitive bursts of gameplay that will have you trying and trying again for hours on end. Seeing real player scores on the leaderboard after each attempt is what makes this section of the game incredibly moreish.

• Speed Potting – Here you’ll be attempting to clear the table as fast as humanly possible
• Checkpoint – You start with a timer, potting a ball adds seven seconds, and potting the white loses five seconds. Do the best you can to keep the run going and pot as many balls as possible
• Perfect Potter – Here you can’t miss a shot and will have to try and keep potting to achieve the best number of balls potted possible
• Royal Rumble – A chaotic and fast-paced mode where balls constantly respawn
• Daily Challenge – Balls are scattered at random, no visual aids, try and pot as many as you can

There is a lot to sink your teeth into here, and you can honestly lose hours just playing these modes as I did. You can attempt them as many times as you like, improve your technique and try to climb those global leaderboards and be amongst the very best in the world.

Rack ’Em Up Against the World

The longevity and replayability of Pure Pool Pro rest on the online multiplayer. The big difference this time around compared with the first title is the addition of cross-play. Cross-play is supported between Xbox Series X|S, Playstation 5 and PC. Whilst Xbox players will have to wait a little longer to play, you’ll be amongst the mix at launch. It’s very simple to get going with playing online against real competitors, but I couldn’t help but notice some shortfalls in comparison to Pure Pool.

There is no ranking system, and stats are attached to your personal profile that only you can view. Ripstone has since confirmed that, since I started this review, statistics for online 8-ball and 9-ball are coming in a future update. You can also match up with friends using friend codes, handy if you want to set up personal matches or competitions amongst friends. With some future stats and leaderboards, I could see myself playing the game for years to come.

Graphics Sharper Than a Freshly‑Chalked Cue

Visually Pure Pool Pro is an expected step up from its predecessor, delivering a whole new level of presentation in the modern-day era. The game boasts some stunning resolutions with an apparent native 8k resolution at 60fps on Playstation 5 Pro and 4k/120fps on the standard Playstation 5. High-end PC rigs would easily achieve fantastic resolutions on par with those mentioned already.

Alongside these impressive resolutions, there is sheer quality in bringing the illusion of being within a pool hall/arena to the big screen. Tables are rendered with beautiful clarity, and the gloss and shine across the pool balls bring realism to each match. It’s all achieved through the magnificent lighting effects that make this the most realistic pool simulation to date.

Sound That’s Always Right on Cue

Pure Pool Pro’s audio design creates a similar atmosphere to what the first title achieved. Everything feels authentic and not overwhelming, and whilst the choice of venues is limited to start with, it doesn’t matter once you’re potting away. The clash of balls, to gently kissing them together, is both heard and felt. I especially enjoyed the more subtle details, such as the ball being potted and rolling through the mechanism of the table, hearing each clunk as it makes its way down to the collection chamber. The soundtrack is strong, and whilst the original Pure Pool music was good, it got repetitive quickly. Here, there appear to be more tracks which are all mellow, relaxing and suit the casual atmosphere.

Final Thoughts

Pure Pool Pro is a technical masterpiece in this genre. The moment you load up the game, you’ll see the strengths of the experience from the get-go. Exceptional presentation right across the board, deep focus on the mechanics of ball and cue movement makes for the most realistic pool simulation on the market today. I’d love to see a little more love go into the online competitive side of the game, but I’m sure the close-knit team will take all feedback into account going forward.

I can easily recommend this game at its extremely reasonable cost of £19.99. If you purchase the game in the first couple of weeks, you’ll get a nice 20% discount. You can purchase the game on Steam HERE or Playstation 5 HERE. We, as a team, are looking forward to the game arriving on Xbox Series X|S in the near future. For our Xbox readers, keep your eyes peeled for this one, as Pure Pool Pro has racked up and sunk this entry with style.