While Pirate Pop Plus is not the deepest experience, it does bring new life to an old classic format which is not only a joy to play in quick, short bursts, but can also easily keep you entertained for long periods of time.

Batman: The Telltale Series still has a ways to go before it can prove that it can live up to its potential, but the first episode has the series off to a good start. The ending offers a fantastic twist that leaves me intrigued for where the story will go next, and I eagerly await episode two.

Farming Simulator 17, as with most simulation games, will not be for everyone. If you are a fan of the Farming Simulator series, this year’s version is not majorly different than previous versions, but there are enough graphical and tactile upgrades to keep returning players interested. Many bugs have been fixed too. New players may enjoy the planning, management and logistics of owning and running a farm. Either way, Farming Simulator 17 is now the best way to play a farming simulation game.

In order to improve the experience, 2Dark needs a complete rewrite and significant work on its mechanics. There are way too many distractions in the game for it to stand out. Currently it’s poorly designed, narratively shallow, and relies upon cheap shocks instead of crafting a truly compelling game. It’s a shame that a game with so much potential is let down by gimmicks.

Battle Worlds: Kronos is a series of half-measures that never add up to a whole.

Land It is not a bad game, it’s an incredibly average game that is more suited to a phone or tablet than it is on a console.

Having a poor UI, lack of objectives, slow pacing, and self-limitations, there's not much room left for strategy or fun.

The story has its moments but the puzzles, horror elements and glitches are so severe that it prevented me from enjoying the game.

Kitty Powers' Matchmaker is a fun little mobile game centered around finding love for desperate hipsters that has managed to find itself on consoles. Like a child in an adult conversation, it feels out of place. The game is well designed and colorful, but it can't be given to kids due to the overarching innuendos splashed across the world. With that in mind, the game seems to be a strange entry on Xbox One, with this reviewer finding it hard to place and to justify it being on the console in the first place. As a mobile game I would recommend it instantly because playing it in small doses on the go is fun, but I think console gamers demand deeper experiences.

Long story short, Forza’s customization is more professional but harder to use, while Need For Speed’s customization lacks in areas and it more suitable for people with less knowledge on cars.

Overall, Necropolis is a fun combat-focused game which will keep you engaged for dozens of hours. It’s brutally difficult and even I had trouble despite being an expert at Dark Souls 3. Keep that in mind when purchasing the title. The pastel-looking visuals give it a unique aesthetic and in general it’s quite polished. I just wish the combat was less clunky.

I would recommend picking up Lovely Planet if you genuinely prefer games that require repetition and tremendous skill to master. There is a market for experiences like this out there. The title is addicting and will keep you hooked for dozens of hours. Maybe hundreds if you want to go for total completion. Unfortunately, this game will appeal to only a niche audience because the average gamer doesn't crave these experiences.

A great game which stays true to the original while also innovating by offering a campaign and new ways to destroy ships. Some of the “weapons” are your disposal are quite powerful and significantly change the game.

So many games that try to retrace the footsteps of old games fail to capture any of the soul that made those games great. Ginger: Beyond the Crystal is a game that does capture the essence of old games while improving the game’s controls and graphics. I do think Ginger would have been better with a stronger story and a reduction of random variance.

In conclusion, Sparkle 2 is a well-made marble game even if you have never played any of its past iterations. It is the most played puzzle game on my console by far because of its casual nature.

HoPiKo provides endless epic challenges that may feel overwhelming at times. It fully requires a flawless reaction capacity from the player, making the "trial and error tactic" your best ally in order to achieve perfect timing in every move. Despite its difficulty and some downsides like the lack of leaderboards, the cool aesthetics, catchy soundtrack and short load times makes it easy to pick and play at any given moment.

Overall, this game should absolutely be your introduction to the genre or a new addition to your cycling game collection; just wait until it’s a wee bit cheaper or until it’s on sale.

While I would’ve liked to see a more meaningful narrative as well as more variety in the shooting mechanics, I still think Spheroids is a game I can recommend for someone looking for an intense yet casual adventure.

D/Generation HD is a game that everyone should try. Younger gamers might find it frustrating but that can be avoided by doing research into its history, watching some gameplay and examining the tutorial.

Merely just two steps above the abundance of other Slender-likes on Steam. It’s still terrifying though.

Its focus on stealth actually causes you to pause and take in a lot of the rest of the game's features, especially its art and beautiful environment.

If Angry Birds is your cup of tea, then King Oddball will be there to fill your cup. It’s very addictive.

With the game being only $20, it is more than worth it and I highly recommend checking it out. Had this been priced at $60 I could not recommend it but for this price it represents tremendous value and presentation.

Dogos is a fun top-down shooter with customizable difficulty levels and some interesting mechanics. The ability to move your ship and the camera added another layer not typically found in a retro-style game like this. The levels and music are repetitive but if you can look past that, there is a fun old-school game here that brings me back to the days of playing gems such as R-Type or the more recent Geometry Wars.

8DAYS isn’t accessible and that might be its biggest problem.

Despite its technical shortcomings, ReCore’s story, combat and upgrade systems make it a thrilling and enjoyable experience. You won’t want to put the controller down once you start playing and will be a core-grabbing expert by the end.

Serial Cleaner is a neat idea that isn’t as fleshed out as it could be. A killer art style and soundtrack help the game leap just a step above what would be an otherwise dull, albeit unique game of hide-and-seek. Outside of a few bonus missions, Serial Cleaner lacks replayability and a deep hook to keep you playing.

The game takes many hours to complete because you have to master each level and vanquish the boss. In spite of all this, it’s still a lot of fun and challenging.

Ninja Pizza Girl tries to make a fun game that tackles important issues like self-esteem and bullying, and fully succeeds. Once I picked up Ninja Pizza Girl, I rarely put it down.

For fans and newcomers to the series, the game will not disappoint with its unique blend of time travelling and kinetic abilities plus many Easter eggs from the show. Gemini: Heroes Reborn is a solid, fun and to the point representation of the Heroes universe. Plus, it has a very low price.

Overall, The Living Dungeon is a very enjoyable but frustrating experience at times. The environment and voice acting could be presented better, as well as the storytelling.

Most of my time that was spent in the game involved standing still waiting for strawberries to grow or to repair one of my towers. This completely negates its supposed fast-paced feel and replaces it with almost a clutter effect. This interruption causes you to miss important events that could cost you the game.

Overall, Dangerous Golf is a fun and addictive game if you can tolerate the blurry graphics and low-resolution presentation. To be honest I didn’t have an issue with them but I know gamers who might

Poor online choices mixed with the numerous graphical problems that arise means that SLRE does indeed reach the podium, but misses out on the top step by a mile.

I personally can’t think of a reason to play this game when there is already Forza Motorsport 6, which is superior in every aspect you can think of.

How to Survive 2 isn’t a bad game but it does feel uninspired. Following the same basic principles of the original as well as the majority of its gameplay structure, How to Survive 2 feels more like an expansion—or a large patch—than a new game.

Psychological horror games tend to thrive on how much it messes you up, and the only thing this game messed up is my ability to keep my lunch down thanks to my tendency for motion sickness. Sylvio is a good game, but not for the reasons you expect.

Super Mutant Alien Assault is easy to enjoy and a good title for anyone looking for a game that doesn’t require a lot of energy or focus.

After a repetitive and slow start due to the slight grinding process, Gas Guzzlers Extreme starts feeling exciting, while delivering tons of wild arcade racing fun, just like the good old classics did back in the day. However, it’s a huge bummer that this version of the game lacks any form of online multiplayer like its Steam counterpart.

My only complaint would be that this game still feels like a mobile phone title and doesn't really do anything special to make it stand out on consoles.

Toby: The Secret Mine is a gorgeous, fun and oddly challenging puzzle platformer that has some really large difficulty spikes at times. The playtime might also be too short given its price point. If you’re in the market for a game along the lines of Limbo, go for it.

While I had fun playing Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia, it was let down by its repetitive nature, frustrating controls, and poor AI.

The extra game modes, graphical fidelity, sound design, and improved controls make for a long and tasteful experience.

Among the Sleep executed this flawlessly, and it combines this aspect with a wonderful journey through the dreams and life of a child. I would recommend this game to anyone who’s looking for an experience that will leave you with goosebumps, and a story that will leave you wanting more.

Overall, The Park is a fantastic game that everyone should experience.

Kick & Fennick doesn’t really have enough to stand out amongst other, better platformers on the Xbox One.

While the combat is simplistic, overall the gameplay is solid with responsive, smooth controls. You can find its story almost anywhere in any form of media, but it’s also the type of story that never gets old.

Obliteracers is a great game which you will really like if you’re a fan of kart racing titles.

Overall, I think that Gryphon Knight Epic is a great game for fans of the genre and can even surprise people who are looking for a good story.

If you're an avid fan of puzzle adventures, with a bit of comedy in the mix, you won't be disappointed.

Anyone that finished Bridge Constructor and thought they wanted more to do should pick up this game. If you are new to the series, the question becomes if you want a puzzle game, or a physics-based car jumping game. I really like both entries in the series, but it really comes down to what the gamer is looking for.

Perception is a short experience but a bit of a dull one for those looking for a good story. It can be really frightening, especially if it manages to play into your own personal fears and crawl under your skin, but the story is nothing super fresh or remotely interesting. The game’s mechanics can be too frustrating and unpredictable which is a shame because there’s a lot of potential at the game’s core. If it weren’t for the game’s fantastic sound design, it may be a complete swing and a miss but it’s more of a foul ball in this case. If you’re looking for a really juicy new horror game, you may have to wait for something like The Evil Within 2 later this year.

With such a broken and frustrating experience, the story fades behind the utterly teeth-gnashing music and you quitting altogether. I liked the game, but it needs more polish. A lot more polish.

It’s the bare-bones of what I wanted the game to be. Still, for all of its faults, I think that people will find it enjoyable. I realize that I might not be the title’s target audience. I wanted something with a little more difficulty and much more variety, but for $6.99, Bike Mayhem 2 offers just enough content to satisfy its customers.

A very solid game mechanically, visually and technically. I love that the developers took a very different approach to the tower defense genre and I think it paid off. I hope in the next iteration there can be a little more balancing to how the pace of a match works. Overall, it is definitely a good choice for players who like the action-oriented tower defense variant like Dungeon Defenders and Deathtrap.

Episode two is a bland entry to a so-far uninspiring series.

The Town of Light is a fantastic story trapped inside a bad game. Tedium, repetitiveness and extremely slow movement combined with a purposefully dreary locale halt what could’ve been a great package. If you’re looking for a deep, emotional story that explores the abuse of mental patients in the 20th century, The Town of Light is well-written and features an ending that will definitely stick with you.

Gunscape offers a simple way for players to create and share their maps with the rest of the community using a level editor that is already familiar to gamers. The game's main issues are the stability problems that some players may find frustrating and end up putting the game to the side, which, being a game deeply dependent on community-created maps, might end up with less and less new content to be played.

It’s great. I think it’s by far the best game Virtual Air Guitar Company has made so far. It’s more engaging than their previous titles and elevates Kinect-based experiences to a new level.

We Are The Dwarves is a different experience from what you’re probably expecting. Many people who are looking for a Diablo-like game will be disappointed because it’s more along the lines of The Banner Saga. The title takes awhile to acclimate to but it’s a rewarding game. If you’re in the market for a short but surprisingly intense experience, be sure to pick this one up.

Overall, Skylar & Plux: Adventure on Clover Island is a good game which is let down by its short duration and technical problems on Xbox One. However, one element that stands out the most is the phenomenal and hilarious voice acting. If you’re looking for a casual platformer which can be completed in a few hours without the need for an extraordinary amount of skill, then this is the game for you. However, in its current form—especially with the frame rate issues—it’s not a title we can recommend. The developers need to patch this game as soon as possible.

While it certainly takes certain cues from Limbo in terms of its art style and atmosphere, Feist is undoubtedly different and brings some interesting mechanics to the table, but its unrefined AI and extremely easily-exploitable boss enemies mean that Feist just feels like a limited and broken platformer.

Releasing a six-year old port onto the Xbox One without reworking the graphics will probably keep this title from any hope of success and the control scheme shows that this game still feels at home on PC, especially while on horseback.

Overall, I am Bread is a hilarious adventure that might not appeal to everyone, but it is still fun anyways. I had a blast with it and for $13, it offers plenty of bizarre scenarios to warrant a purchase. Just remember I am Bread is the equivalent of a gag gift than a meaningful purchase on Xbox One.

As a huge fan of the genre, even I would say Subject 13 is a pass. The puzzles eventually left me feeling incomplete as the difficulty spike was unwarranted and unwanted. The final puzzle is also one of the biggest letdowns I have had in a while. I really hope the developers keep trying as I believe they have something here, but I would wait for Subject 14 or Subject 15 first.

The content might be great but it is severely lacking when it comes to the technical department.

GunWorld 2 is a disappointing action-adventure platformer that tries to be challenging for all the wrong reasons.

While the game can be exciting and fun, with the occasional awesome level, it spends most of its time being frustrating and cheap.

While the game can be fun in short bursts, the gameplay loop is designed around you playing for extended periods of time. This, combined with subpar visuals and fairly simplistic gameplay, makes Lost Sea an unrecommendable title compared to similar games on Xbox One.

Moto Racer 4 is one of those few motorcycle racing games that actually works well on Xbox One. Although severe technical issues plagued the game at launch, efforts have been made to improve it.

Sword Coast Legends is an appealing game but it has too many technical problems which aren’t game-breaking, but can be quite aggravating.

I do acknowledge the complaints from critics about the killer being overpowered compared to the survivors, but personally, I found it made the game more true to the horror genre. As a survivor, winning should feel next to impossible, and the challenge makes escaping all the more satisfying. Overall, this is a solid horror-themed survival game with the promise of good fun. Should they fix the servers and tweak some of the less successful elements, it could even be great!

The Dwarves is a good game which is elevated by its story more than its gameplay. It’s complex and the unique visual design of the characters and the great voice acting make the experience. Unfortunately, the performance problems detract from the package even after the recent update. The problem with the flickering markers on the map is another major annoyance.

For what it is, Pixel Heroes: Byte & Magic succeeds in accomplishing what it sets out to do. It’s an unapologetic retro game that looks to capture the nostalgia of an era in gaming long gone. But while it does succeed in doing that, it remains to be seen if many gamers will actually find that enjoyable.

This puts me in a difficult position because I’m currently stuck with two viewpoints on this game. On one hand, this isn’t what I wanted. As a fan I am pretty disappointed with the direction they’ve taken and I’m certain this is going to drastically lower my play time. On the other hand, it’s still not a bad game. Racing is fun and mechanically speaking I don’t see all that much wrong with World Series at all. There’s enough game modes to get by and customisation options are plentiful for now considering more will probably come later. There’s just that 6-year-old inside me who is crying right now because the game he’s waited 11 years for is just alright. A truly underwhelming experience from start to end.

A great game which needs more polish to be exceptional. It offers a basic Uno experience which needs more content.

Zheros is without a doubt a good beat 'em up, as its core is a pure '90s beat 'em up experience. It has great 3D environments as well. Unfortunately, it suffers from a few issues. The story is all told in cinematics without a single dialogue. Apart from that, the story is kind of predictable even without dialogues.

Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3 is a broken experience on Xbox One. If the multitude of bugs and horrendous frame rate were fixed, the game would be quite enjoyable as a lower-budget Far Cry 4. As it stands, however, the games needs excessive patching before it becomes a viable experience to charge $60 for. CI Games need to release a patch as soon as possible on Xbox One.

The combat isn’t stellar, the levels themselves leave a lot to be desired, and the story is honestly forgettable. It’s a shame that what makes the RWBY animated series so great could not be translated into its first proper video game. Still, the campaign offers around 5-6 hours of playtime and it’s a competent, and even at times fun, hack and slash game that I recommend you play with a group of friends.

A great game which builds upon the excellent Trials gameplay and adds more layers to it to offer a compelling experience. I just wish the shooting and platforming mechanics were tighter and that the Trials motorcycling gameplay was as strong as the mechanics offered in Trials Fusion.

Overall, Q*bert Rebooted: The Xbox One @!#?@! Edition is great. It offers a lot for its very low price.

A decent experience. It’s a mobile game that was ported to console and that much is very apparent.

I recommend Albedo to any puzzle fan with some patience who is willing to be rewarded for hard work. Although some functions detract from the overall experience, Albedo is an above average puzzle game with many redeeming qualities. Taking into account the elements that could be refined in Albedo, I'm anxious to see what Merge Games develops next.

Bit Dungeon+ is not very fun. I really didn’t enjoy my time with it even though this game belongs to my favorite genre. I spent ten hours in Bit Dungeon+ and I will say that is enough. The game did not give me any internal or external motivation to replay it. The difficulty spike, clunky controls, underwhelming music, and disappointing artwork lead to a game that is much weaker than it should be.

Black and White Bushido is simple. Without much complexity to itself mechanically, and a tiny amount of content available for the price, this isn’t a game that you need to jump out and buy straight away. Outside of the draw of its unique color-based mechanic, Black and White Bushido is an extremely average indie title that would be tempting to pick up during a sale but undeniably forgettable outside of one.

Mighty No. 9 is a masterpiece of old-school gameplay mechanics, and, one needs to look at it as a spiritual successor to Mega Man, instead of an outright sequel.

Overall, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan is a solid brawler focused around co-op, but also enjoyable and easy to manipulate while playing solo.

With more polish and time, Soul Axiom could have turned out to be an amazing experience. There was potential in its narrative and puzzles that was wasted by poor presentation and level design. Soul Axiom had decent individual parts that never quite coalesced into a satisfying whole.

The game is certainly enjoyable, but on a personal level has little replay ability. Combat is relatively OK, but runs out of enjoyment quickly, as you spend time avoiding enemies and their attacks, plus any environmental hazards.

There are some good elements in the game, as always, but they’re bogged down by uninspiring gameplay.

Active Soccer 2 DX tries to bring back the fun experience of a football video game like the Sensible Soccer games rather than the realistic aspects like FIFA and PES but, unfortunately, it has some issues at the moment, such as the clumsy menus, the glitched player animations, and the buggy football rules system that seems to have a random situation.

Overall, Shred It! is a pretty fun and addictive game you should play if you see it drop down to $5 or less and just want a game to play for a few minutes while another game downloads in the background. While it doesn't fully translate well on Xbox One, it mixes fun and intense gameplay into a beautiful world.

Solar Shifter EX has so much potential but is let down by its ridiculous difficulty due to the choices made by the developers.

Shadwen attempts to mesh the genres of stealth-action and puzzle games in order to create a unique experience in an original medieval world, but its time-control mechanics have little purpose other than to conceal the broken AI and the tedious gameplay.

While I was a big fan of the free version of Doodle God, I cannot recommend Doodle God: Ultimate Edition. The main reason is that there is not enough of a difference to consider this game “Ultimate.” The lack of some ads and the ability to complete the game without waiting for my “energy” to recharge is not enough to warrant a premium version of the free game. This is only amplified by the awkward controller inputs. I really hope the next Doodle God puts Xbox players first if they want to be taken seriously on our platform of choice.

The title’s inaccessibility is its biggest problem. However, if you can look past that and come prepared by watching playthroughs or reading guides, Pixel Piracy will keep you hooked for dozens of hours.

With the right power-ups and speed, Carmageddon can eventually become a beautifully manic game full of offensive humour and gratuitous gore. While this may be the best Carmageddon game, Carmageddon was sadly never that great to begin with.

Although the game has some technical hiccups, the game is too fun and addictive to pass up.