Electromagnetic pollution has become a serious concern with the immense utilization of wireless information technologies and this has aroused huge interest in the area of microwave absorption. To solve this issue, fabrication of advanced, novel and superior microwave absorbing materials (MAM) with high electromagnetic wave absorption, wide absorption bandwidth, lightweight and cost-efficient are highly required. To date, magnetite (Fe3O4) is being thoroughly investigated as MAM, due to its exceptional dual electromagnetic properties (permittivity and permeability), proper saturation magnetization and high Curie temperature. However, large density and impedance mismatch are some of the limiting factors that hinder its microwave absorption performance (MAP). To circumvent these challenges, reduction of size to the nanoscale, fabrication of hierarchical nanostructures and/or conjugation with other lossy materials have been extensively explored as viable solutions to optimize the MAP of Fe3O4. In this review, the progressive research in the fabrication of Fe3O4 based nanocomposites as MAM is discussed. The factors influencing the MAP of these absorptive materials are likewise discussed in detail. Conclusively, some challenges, limitations, and future prospects in the development of Fe3O4 based MAM are put forth. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.