It's fun for most audiences, but if you have kids of a certain age, My Memory of Us is a fantastic game to play together as it offers good puzzles for younger players and important themes worth your family time. Teaching kids about the worst parts of humanity is a delicate subject but also necessary so that they may grow up more loving and intelligent than some people in our history books. My Memory of Us is at its best as a teaching tool that reminds players of the power of love over hate.

Revenant Dogma feels like a game of missed opportunities. The story is either much too confusing or later all spoonfed to players. Spelling mistakes and subpar visuals make the game feel too rough around the edges. The characters' conversations only tell, never show and the gameplay soon gets repetitive. For genre-deprived fans, it may be enjoyable enough, but for anyone looking for a great Xbox JRPG, Revenant Dogma falls short.

With subtle touches to the on-court gameplay, better and more numerous game modes, and an addicting player upgrade loop, it's a tough game to put down.

Fishing Sim World is perhaps one of the most niche titles on the Xbox platform, and despite its popularity, angling is not a sport that you may expect to translate well to a digital world. Yet, Dovetail Games have captured the essence of coarse fishing surprisingly well. The ambient sounds of nature surrounding you are very realistic, and there's that same sense of tranquility you have when fishing.

The first of three post-launch chapters, Isle of the Dead takes no risks whatsoever, giving players a little bit more of exactly what the game was already. If you want a new level to explore with friends, this will give you that, but if you were hoping to see Strange Brigade in a new light, episode one of The Thrice Damned campaign is not for you. Like the base game, it's a no-frills experience, but this time a few frills would've been welcome.

Unfortunately the episode is let down by the less than subtle way it deals with delicate subjects like racism, as well as gameplay that means this episode feels like quite a slow start to the story. There are several hints throughout the episode to suggest the gameplay may be spiced up in the future, and it may need it if players are going to make it through to the end of the story.

Anodyne is indeed reminiscent of 2D Zelda titles, but it manages to not be bound by comparisons as it offers a fresh and welcome take on this style of game. Though some brute force combat hinders the experience, it uses certain ingredients from the games that influenced it while also injecting its own brand of humour, presentation, and gameplay into the mix to create an experience that fans of the genre should not miss.

All in all, WWE 2K19 feels like a game in which annual players will find enough to enjoy, but anyone looking to make their way back into the ring is best to wait it out in the locker room for another year.

Amnesia: Collection groups one exceptional must-play horror game with two good ones in a trilogy that is well worth the time of any horror fan. Each game shares certain qualities, like fantastic audio design and atmosphere. Where they're different, it's sometimes for the better like A Machine for Pigs series-best ending, and sometimes for the worse, like much else in the same sequel. It's long overdue for Xbox players to finally get a chance to experience Frictional's seminal defenseless horror series.

Razed is fun and flashy. It’s a platformer focused on speed and precision and it’s backed up with fair level design and good mechanics. In its dash towards the finish line, it hits every step almost perfectly. Unfortunately, the couple misses hold it back from top marks. It’s got an uneven difficulty curve that will undoubtedly turn away some casual players. It’s also got an almost required backtracking element to find hidden upgrades and that’s not fun when all you want to do is break records and keep moving through the levels. Razed is nevertheless a joy to play on many occasions and that’s often enough to make it worth playing.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey is an ambitious game that takes a huge leap in the right direction for the series by building on the solid foundations laid by last year's Origins. The world is stunning, the combat feels better than it has in any other game in the series, and the inclusion of choices both big and small impacts the world and creates a much deeper narrative experience. There are still some rough spots then need addressing in future titles, and some of the new additions don't work as well as they should, but Odyssey sets a new bar for what an Assassin's Creed game can be.

Think of the Children is carried by how fun it can be with friends. The silly situations, crazy cosmetics and chuckle-worthy court dialogue are best enjoyed with others. But the flaws become overwhelming in single player where levels aren't balanced for the lack of players, leading to a lot of frustration to merely beat the game, much less be eligible to get the coveted A+ rankings. Local co-op only and lacking controls and mechanics are other reasons that make Think of the Children a niche recommendation to only those dying for couch co-op experiences because the game is a disaster for solo players.

Telltale must've known their time was almost up, and even built this season as Clem's abbreviated final fight, but they maybe couldn't have predicted that it would all end even sooner than that. There's still hope for two more episodes, and that fact is really the only reason we're reviewing this anomaly in video game history at all. As it stands, it's worth playing if you can get a hold of it just to see where it might have have been going — and "might have been" appears to be all we have left.

It feels like Big Bad Wolf was in need of some shortcuts to get things to where they need to be for the finale, and there's enough reason to get through this episode and see the series through to its finale, but that still doesn't make Burning Bridges anything better than the low point of an otherwise strong and commendable adventure game.

By this stage, it should come as no surprise that Playground Games finds a way to raise the bar for each release in the Horizon series, and they've once again found another gear in Forza Horizon 4 that leaves its competitors trailing in the dust. The roster of cars is bigger than ever, the setting of Britain is stunningly recreated down to the finest detail, the shared online world is a resounding success, and the addition of seasons adds something completely new and unique to the series both in terms of the gameplay and the aesthetics of the world. I don't know how they do it, but Playground Games has once again set the standard for other racing games to strive for.

Super Street is not a good game. It is borderline irredeemable.

TerraTech has some good elements, with huge scope for building a whole score of different vehicles. Sadly, aside from this and a hefty environment to explore, it doesn't do much else right.

At its core, 3on3 FreeStyle offers a basic basketball experience that can be entertaining for some gamers. It carves out its own personality with simple gameplay, cartoonish presentation and cliche-ridden characters. Whether you’re stuck with AI or others, players will constantly find themselves working towards various goals. Unfortunately, gamers are rewarded scraps for their time and effort which results in either a heavy grind, or the use of microtransactions to speed up the process. 3on3 FreeStyle won’t replace other titles and shouldn’t occupy any space on any gamers hard drive.

NBA 2K19 continues the series' decade-long trajectory of becoming the very best sports sim in the world. That's certainly still true on the court thanks to improved gameplay mechanics that fix trouble spots, a genuinely interesting and well-written story mode, and quality of life additions across the board. Sadly, the series still feels like something less than it should be thanks to predatory and invasive pay-to-win tactics that make their shameful return. Hopefully the day will come when this player base revolts and gets the game at least down to cosmetics-only buying options.

Ninjin: Clash of Carrots starts out as a silly, colorful beat 'em up, then takes a dark turn down a surprisingly frustrating and challenging path. There is a huge arsenal of weapons and perks with which to engage enemies in both local and online co-op. New gear is constantly unlocked along the way, which keeps things interesting (until you rage quit, that is). A little challenge is fine, but in Ninjin, many mechanics feel unfair, and the later bosses' difficulty level is a sharp contrast to the rest of the game. A bit of balancing of the end-game missions would do wonders, but unless that happens, Ninjin remains hard to recommend to everyone.

There is some enjoyment to be had in Sigi – A Fart for Melusina, but that fun quickly dissipates when you begin to feel like an unstoppable force in every level, including boss stages. Searching for hidden caves and grabbing a few hard to reach items definitely adds entertainment value, but the brief 20 level experience is made even shorter by a serious lack of truly fulfilling gameplay.

Dead Cells is an excellent game that will challenge and delight seasoned roguelike addicts, yet Motion Twin has also made it accessible to newcomers. The combination of roguelite and metroidvania genres wraps the bitter pill of permadeath in a sweet coating of exploration, with a solid progression system and plenty of reward loops to help inexperienced players get into the game. Meanwhile expert players can speed run, ramp up the difficulty level and equip the gear and mutations designed for skilled users. Dying repeatedly has never felt this good.

Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders may well tell a storyline independent of the publisher's other titles, but the game mechanics will be more than familiar to those keeping up with them. The mini-games, puzzles, and hidden object scenes all perform as they should, and the rune battle encounters have been switched up a little to try to keep them fresh in one of few changes to the game format. The protagonist's companion can make conversation painful at times, which is a shame as the developer chose to try something new here too. Regardless, the title will still sate fans of the publisher, and those looking for a quick GamerScore fix, as well as providing a great entry point for those new to the genre.

Armored Warfare is a welcome addition to the tank battle genre. It brings the familiar elements from World of Tanks but adds its own subtle changes to both the gameplay and the freemium model, along with modern tanks and weaponry. As with other similar titles, it may not be for everyone, especially those looking for fast twitch-based games, as the gameplay can be a little ponderous until battles begin. However, once the first shots are exchanged, the battles can be as intense as any other. It is a solid title and will easily let you while away many hours, but therein also lies the biggest drawback, it will cost time to reach those higher level tanks, and for achievement hunters, it will have to be a labour of love to unlock all of the gamer score.

This feels more of an incremental installment which builds on the previous outing, retaining all of the key features whilst adding more content and that's not a particularly bad thing. Outside of the US, NASCAR is still seen as a niche sport, but Monster Games has managed to make a game that will appeal not only to those dedicated fans but one that should satisfy those players looking for a good sim-cade racing title. Even with some new toys that feel incremental at best, it makes for a strong foundation for the years ahead for the series.

The tracks are expertly designed to ensure you're always on your toes and always challenged when driving any track, and those tracks themselves are absolutely beautiful and a refreshing experience after years of the same locations from the FIA rally championship tour. There are sore spots, namely the lackluster career mode and an issue with pace notes, but overall this is an unrivaled experience in the rally genre. V-Rally 4 is a game worth experiencing and Kylotonn Games should be on every racing fan's radar after this release.

F1 2018 is the best game in the series we've seen in this console generation. It is just about as complete an F1 experience as it can get without going into the realm of full-blown simulation both from the action and management side. The extra depth added by contracts, rivalries, media and team management may not be for those who just want to race, but diehard fans of the sport who follow the headlines day in and day out will have a sense that they are really being involved in a virtual version of the sport. Racing remains the core of the game and Codemasters has continued to make this accessible to all players regardless of their racing proficiency.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is a sequel that does a lot well, although its biggest detriment is how safely the developers seemed to play it.

We are, after all, talking about a game that catapulted the battle royale genre from total obscurity into a genre that’s astronomically more popular than any other. A game doesn’t succeed in that without merit, and PUBG has it by offering a level of storytelling and gameplay intensity that is absolutely unmatched. PUBG is admittedly a game that’s poorly designed in many ways and sometimes even non-functional. It’s also admittedly one of the best gaming experiences I’ve ever had in my entire life.

Planet Alpha's gameplay is terrible, the whole thing goes on far too long, and it's a hodgepodge of haphazard mechanics and encounters to the point where it's impossible to tell what the game was supposed to be.

Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier creates an engaging narrative that makes both the humans’ and apes’ predicaments and actions understandable, even when violence is involved. I truly cared about characters on both sides of the conflict, which made for some tough decisions when the two sides would clash. The occasional choppiness and short ending scenes are more minor issues, and they don't hamper the overall experience in any significant way. The game may lack what many would consider to be real gameplay, but the immersive storytelling and a few first-rate performances more than make up for such criticisms in a game such as this.

If We Happy Few had all of these problems while in Xbox Game Preview and a pre-release state, you'd be more likely to excuse it, but it's rare to encounter so many issues in a full game release. While none were game breaking, they spoil what can be a decent game, with a unique world, interesting characters, and a convincingly damning depiction of the perils of taking hallucinogenic drugs. It's a world to which you want to return, but it's also a world that throws up a new problem with every visit. With several patches, this game could be a fun experience, but right now it can often be an exercise in frustration.

Puzzles seem designed to slow you but never halt you and thus they aren't that interesting. The same can be said for repetitive objectives and visuals. It reads like a laundry list of problems, and yet it remains a lot of fun anyway thanks to strong enemy variety and a frantic pace to the action. If you're looking for a co-op shooter that doesn't demand a lot of you other than good aim and a few good friends, Strange Brigade is a smart choice.

The world of Divinity is exceedingly vast, but it's full to the brim with meaningful content that you'll enjoy exploring through for dozens or even hundreds of hours. There are few RPGs I'd dare to call essential, but Divinity: Original Sin 2 stands out among all others as deserving of that accolade. It's undoubtedly one of the best tactical and role-playing experiences you'll ever have on any platform.

The new setting and cast feel unique and exciting for longtime fans, but those same fans may find the story retreading old plot points too often. More involved gameplay moments and some presentation changes make this Telltale game feel different than the rest as well, like a really cool effect that makes backgrounds seem like they're pulled right out of Kirkman's comics. One particular character arc pushes the limits of believability, which somewhat hurts an otherwise riveting final scene, but overall the premiere is worth jumping into for fans looking to finish what they started over a half-decade ago.

If you're looking for a short burst of fun and Space Invaders holds a special place in your heart, then Super Destronaut DX is perfectly playable. There's a handful of modes on offer to keep things entertaining for a while, but it relies too much on the nostalgia factor and ultimately offers little else. With nothing to keep you coming back after you've earned all the achievements, the game will sadly only be played for an hour or so before it is put back on the shelf and forgotten about.

If you’re looking for a standard Japanese shmup, Defenders of Ekron is going to disappoint, but this Chilean gem offers a nuanced level design that allows it to excel, becoming far better than most of its contemporaries through a revolving door of fun, challenging encounters and enough content to leave you more than content. Sure, it’s full of awful anime tropes that make you resent every story section, and it’s got some game design systems that actively hinder your enjoyment, but those negatives aren’t nearly enough to weigh down the game.

The Mooseman is a game that feels like it accomplishes what it sets out to do, for the most part. The ancient myths of the Finno-Ugric tribes are complemented well by the uncommon visual style. The story that is told over the course of the adventure is fascinating, and the art can range from striking to subdued depending on what the scene calls for. Where The Mooseman falls short is in the areas that are supposed to keep the audience engaged in between the lore-heavy segments.

On the field it's still a fun game as always, but for the first time in a long time, it feels like little more than a roster update.

A refreshing absence of deck building and expansions puts the focus firmly on playing and having fun. Highly accessible gameplay hits a sweet spot where a parent could enjoy riotous duels with their children then move on to more intellectually stimulating gameplay after the kids have gone to bed. The game's greatest weakness is external, as the small player base limits opportunities for online play. It takes a while for the depth of the game to shine through, but it's worth putting in some time and effort to get there.

It's true that from an innovation standpoint, The Banner Saga 3 doesn't do a lot different than its predecessors, but that also means the same great tactical RPG system that has been in place since the beginning makes one final push for the endgame. That endgame is what really makes the game so worthwhile. With heavy decisions to be made and fantastic character closure, The Banner Saga 3 is the most riveting and remarkable the series has ever been, and it establishes the trilogy as one of the greats in gaming.

Overcooked! 2 is a Michelin Star game. As a co-op experience, there are few games better at bringing together players of different skill levels for some fun.

No Man's Sky is tough to recommend because it doesn't nearly have mass appeal. It's a grueling game for far too long and even after that its loop is still too freeform for most players. For the right kind of player, however, it can be an exciting adventure filled with memorable moments and a real sense of discovery. With multiple intriguing storylines that can be chased or ignored, a ton of equipment and upgrades to unlock, and intuitive, easy to use base-building, there's a universe of possibilities to see, provided you can first get off the ground.

Whilst The Spectrum Retreat is an enjoyable, well-paced puzzler, it never quite hits the heights of other similarly styled puzzle games. You learn the backstory at the same pace as your character, which means you face the twists and turns together, but it feels like the story could have been expanded on more. The puzzles themselves are never too difficult, but challenging enough to hold your attention. Overall, it's a short but sweet puzzle game that whose greatest fault is coming after several similar but better games.

This is Milestone's best MXGP title to date, improving the graphics, improving the physics, the handling, and the realism, all whilst keeping the title accessible to players of all levels.

For fans of Burnout’s crash mode and the first Danger Zone, Danger Zone 2 offers more of the same addictive gameplay. It’s simple, but there’s a certain joy to creating catastrophic wrecks that other games simply can’t match. Each level plays out as a puzzle mixed with an automotive calamity that you’ll need to solve and the system really works. You’ll enjoy reaching those high scores and then moving on to the next level.

Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion is a great introduction to turn-based combat for those who need such a thing. Its systems work well and the repainting of typical RPG elements with Adventure Time hues is a joy for fans. Unfortunately, the combat is so easy that for many fans, especially adults, it can all feel like it's mind-numbingly simple. Still, if you're a big enough fan of the franchise and just want another game set in the world of Ooo, this is the best Adventure Time game to date.

Mugsters is a game that contains a good amount of entertainment, and the short length allows for some quick, explosion-based enjoyment. Nonetheless, every so often, the good times can be diminished by small irritants and annoyances that begin to add up. Most of the game will see you repeating the same tasks over and over again with a few tweaks and changes.

In the previous episode, The Council proved to be more than a one-episode wonder. Now it's shown it can even avoid the dreaded middle episode slump that so often befalls episodic games such as this. With a huge plot twist, the story is beginning to take on a whole different shape. Meanwhile, smart RPG-infused conversations and more interesting branching paths keep it all well worth another trip to the mansion.

Earthfall is a decent try at filling the Left 4 Dead 3 hole in our hearts, but it's rarely strong enough to be anything other than a lesser imitation of that classic series. Occasionally, the AI director will put on its best show and it'll feel exactly as fans of this sort of game want it to feel, but those moments are too few and far between. With flat characters, AI issues on both sides of the war, and above all else, some glaring pacing problems, Earthfall is a tough sell when the game it's cribbing so closely is backward compatible and still superior a decade later.

Candle: The Power of the Flame took a while to come to consoles but it was definitely worth the wait. The game's beautiful art style and storybook narration perfectly balance the calm gameplay offered by the puzzle platformer. The challenging puzzles offer a distinct sense of satisfaction when they're solved, even if some of the clues are a little too well hidden. On the downside, character movement is clunky and the platforming is the worst part of the game, but the puzzles are so plentiful that this doesn't feel like a major detraction. Those who thrive on brainteasers will love Candle.

It's possible to have fun playing this game, but only for one short burst during your very first game. After that, you'll be questioning why you ever spent your time with this one in the first place.

The racing on offer in The Crew 2 is fun and there are a wide variety of different events and vehicles that will keep you entertained. For some genre fans, that may be enough, but sadly, it’s a game that feels like a jack of all trades and a master of none. Throw in some odd design choices, a dull story, and lukewarm presentation and The Crew 2 is an ambitious game that doesn’t achieve its potential, nor does it approach the standard of some other open-world racers available today.

Gone are the moral choices, instead replaced with Battle Runes and Portal Travel to mix things up a bit, something this would have achieved had they not been relegated to the final part of the game. Despite this, the game's familiar basic hidden object and puzzle solving gameplay will still appeal to the casual crowd and will provide a pleasant 3-4 hour jaunt through a magical fantasy world in a bid to prevent another catastrophe.

All-Star Fruit Racing is as sweet as its name implies. With an irresistibly cheerful aesthetic, plenty of game modes, great track variation, and good customization options all built on top of a fun kart racing foundation, there's no reason to expect genre fans won't adore this game. Audio problems get in the way of making it exceptionally great, but in every other way, it's exactly what you would want from a kart racer and then some.

Players are challenged to use their strategic muscles both in building their plane and crew and when taking them into action, with build choices having a significant impact on gameplay. Challenge Mode provides an alternative to the campaign and a chance to experiment with different builds while completing wave objectives. Altogether, it's well worth the plane ticket.

Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered won't be winning any awards for Remaster of the Year, but blowing stuff up is still so much fun that it works. The explosive gameplay brings enjoyment to side, story and DLC missions. Re-Mars-tered is a nice way for new or returning players to experience everything Guerrilla offered a decade ago — well, almost.

For fans of Prey, the idea of a roguelite DLC might have filled them with trepidation, but Mooncrash is an experience that shouldn't be missed. The basic gameplay remains the same but the roguelite style makes the expansion feel like a new experience rather than more of the same. The Survival Mode rules add tension and unpredictability to a new environment, and the increasing difficulty means that players can never become too complacent.

In an age of remasters that don't always feel earned, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is one for which fans have been rightfully clamoring. Vicarious Visions' recreations are simply stunning. The nostalgia overflows from this collection for those that played them so many years ago, and if you're new to the series, they mostly still hold up today.

Minor problems and bugs stop the game from being absolutely spotless, but aside from that, the game is everything you could want in a simulation game. At some point you've probably wished Jurassic Park really existed. For now, this is the closest you can get.

The story has impact on both a base level and philosophically, and will no doubt leave you with questions to consider for days after you finish if you enjoy that kind of thing. I wish I could have more games like NieR: Automata, but I'll probably be waiting a while — it's only so often a game this excellent comes around.

The Incredibles makes its debut in LEGO form with this one, and that alone should entice anyone who is enthused for either brand. The bugs are annoying and the voice acting is just about as bad sometimes, but the open world crimefighting, Pixar cameos, and perfect pairing of these two brands makes LEGO The Incredibles a fun family game, even if it's not quite super.

MotoGP 18 is a clear step forward from its predecessor with the previously used proprietary engine already looking dated. However, it still feels like a transitional title as Milestone brings the UE4 engine to the franchise for the first time. The latest installment reinforces the studio's strengths with the physics, handling, and racing remaining top notch but it also highlights Milestones continuing struggles with the visual presentation.

The roots of the Shift franchise may well lie in flash games but Shift Quantum brings the franchise to consoles in style. The game's Shift mechanic is easy to understand, but when different gameplay mechanics are introduced as the game goes on, it becomes a challenge to master. Players can do so at their own pace without the pressure of a timer, and the reset button makes it easy to start over if mistakes are made.

The gameplay inconveniences are easier to overlook than the rush of endgame exposition, but both of these issues are slightly outweighed by the narrative hits, which come along more frequently than the game’s misses.

Overall this is a very good indie game, despite a few rough spots, offering anything from 10-30+ hours of gameplay depending on one's thoroughness. The challenges available suit a wide range of abilities, and players are free to kill or not without being disadvantaged or affecting the story. People who find trial and error frustrating should be aware that they cannot save scum, and there are some pretty long checkpoints in the more complex levels.

Some levels get frustrating thanks to some poorly placed enemies and obstacles that make clearing them more difficult than they should be, and this issue is only exacerbated by the game's caffeine-infused hyperactive mode, which leaves your character almost entirely out of control. It's meant to be an added challenge, but it goes just a bit too far and becomes quite unwieldy. Other than those moments, however, it's a fun if not exceptional platformer that genre fans should appreciate.

As a saving grace, the game can be fun when you’re throwing out abilities into hordes of enemies and the boss battles are interesting, if not difficult. ZAMB! sounds like an exciting pop, but I’ve come to realize that in this comic book it signals one deadening idea: boredom.

With old-school design comes both nostalgia and frustration. It knows that and it's surprisingly proud of that. It's clearly made with a lot of love for the genre. If you're nostalgic for such games too, there's really not much to dislike, but neither is there anything new to behold.

oOo won't appeal to everyone, but for those willing to accept the flaws as well as the challenging nature of the game, oOo can be an addictive experience and a fix for that satisfying, 'just one more go' experience.

Whilst it's not quite the next Rocket League it's still a rather good arena-based team game that's easy to drop into and play for short periods.

From the charming illustrations to the unique puzzle design, Gorogoa is truly a top-notch representation of quality over quantity.

This game couldn’t be recommended to anyone and it only earns a score even this high because it is not functionally broken, but that’s nothing to be proud of.

The high-octane action is constantly intense. It looks and sounds stunning, especially on the Xbox One X, and it's easy to pick up and play initially but has an added layer of depth thanks to its class-based gameplay that will make it hard to truly master. If you're looking for a standard arcade racer to play alone, it's probably not for you, but if you're looking for something different and have a few friends willing to team up, ONRUSH feels wholly new and chaotically fun.

There's certainly room for difficult and frustrating platformers that eventually reward you when you succeed, but Bounce Rescue! rarely feels worth the trouble because it's challenging for all the wrong reasons.

The best-case scenario for Agony is that patches fix the many technical problems plaguing this game right now. If or when that happens, it will then start to be playable, but even then it will contain a host of gameplay issues. A patch isn't going to redesign the entire stealth system, find new voice actors, or design a vision of Hell that is better than the doodling of a 15-year-old metal fan. There's no fix for much of what hinders this game, and what can be fixed absolutely should have been before this ever hit stores. One thing is clear, it definitely feels like Hell trying to play Agony.

With publishers regularly being satisfied with only the most basic of upgrades in remasters, it's not too surprising that the developers have scrimped on some of the potential that this version of Dark Souls could truly accomplish. Despite this, it's still a fantastic game and it is well worth reliving once again or experiencing for the first time.

The beautifully drawn and wonderfully composed Yoku's Island Express is another nice addition to the Xbox One's library of platformers. There is a ton to unlock and collect on the island's large map, which is rewarding and fun to explore, although the size of the world can sometimes lead to problems. But while the mashup of pinball and platforming is enjoyable to play, players aren't going to see anything in Yoku's they haven't already seen from either genre.

Conan Exiles is a game that is rewarding to survive in, considering you start off with nothing at all. Going from an exiled criminal to the owner of a large riverfront property is a great feeling. Learning the ins and outs of how to thrive in the Exiled Lands is enjoyable, especially when doing so with other players. These positives tend to be forgotten though, and can be completely eclipsed by the game’s main pitfalls. The frame rate is unacceptable at times, which then affects the already subpar combat.

City of Brass gives you no reason to play through it multiple times, and frankly very little reason to play through it the first time.

There are still a few minor issues with the hidden object games that need stamping out and stop the episode from being a must-play, but for fans of the publisher or the casual point and click genre, the episode is well worth spending an evening playing through it.

Story, voice work, and animations are all still goofy, but throw in co-op multiplayer, better endgame content, and more reasons to replay it, and State of Decay 2 is the type of game with which certain players will fall in love. There's always something to do and in a classically sim style, it's hard to know when to stop. It's the most realistic zombie apocalypse simulation in the world and that's a beautiful thing.

By combining the reinvigorating RPG elements of the premiere with detail-oriented puzzles, and adding new layers to this political mystery, it's all shaping up to be one of the best new series of the year. It's a lot of fun whether you're in it for the chess match of every conversation, the puzzles that demand you pay close attention, or the mystery that continues to tease. If you were waiting for more than one episode before you committed to the series, worry no more. This is a mystery worth unraveling.

The gameplay is what you’re familiar with, which is fun but not without its problems. You’ll still have floaty controls, you’ll still fumble with depth perception and you’ll still use the minimal number of gameplay mechanics to move about. But the levels are smartly designed and they’re fun despite the game’s shortcomings. That’s gotta count for something.

The gameplay is strong enough to make Space Hulk: Ascension worthy of consideration, but technical issues stand in the way of being able to give it a general recommendation.

It's a fun strategy game with more than meets the eye, and will be a welcome addition to any fan of the genre.

Through The Woods is a horror game that delivers some good scares, just not really in the way that was intended. Enemy encounters are easy to overcome and at worst take just a bit of trial and error. The more effective scares come from the many stories you'll read as you span the woods of Norway looking for your son. Throw in some solid sound design, including an infrequent but effective soundtrack, and it's a game that's worth playing for horror fans, so long as you know it's not just some branches that are broken in these woods.

The presentation is cute and fun, and most of the gameplay is generally challenging without being too difficult. As a player, it is quite satisfying to puzzle your way through the roguelike levels defeating all of the foes, uncovering the secrets and grabbing all of the collectibles. Unfortunately, all of that hard work feels short-changed when the difficulty spikes so sharply at the end of a multistage level.

The game should be given credit for its incredible performance with a lot of enemies onscreen, and the different graphical settings that let players relive the past are a nice touch. But on the content side, Hyper Sentinel is thin, with only 12 levels and three game modes that don't do enough differently to hold the attention of anyone except hardcore fans.

Those who already enjoy anime in both its art and its typical sensibilities will likely adore the game. Others who may have avoided anime to date but enjoy a story-driven adventure game should not overlook it either. Its premise is strange, but always charming and engrossing too. Issues with controls and platforming hinder the experience, but not enough to sour all the good that is present, like subtly branching storylines and a host of memorable characters. Anime fan or not, you won't easily forget it.

Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles can be a great game if you look at it through a particular lens, that lens being from the year 2000. The game has managed to replicate the original survival horror mechanics that elevated games such as Silent Hill and Resident Evil to success almost perfectly, but its beguiling allure sadly melts away the more you play.

A romp through Owlboy's beautiful zones brings back wonderful memories of platformers of the past; however, make no mistake, the game is modern-day. But without its incredible presentation, stunning visuals and charming music, Owlboy would be devoid of anything special. When it comes down to the gameplay, Owlboy 's companion-heavy experience isn't horrible, but it's not groundbreaking either, and the sections that control badly are more memorable than those that don't

At the end of the day, this title is a satisfactory end to the Enigmatis story arc, and it's concluded in a satisfactory manner with no loose ends left behind.

Runestone Keeper is a game that may give back as much as you put into it. Mechanically it's extremely simple and anyone will be able to get to grips with it. However, if the core gameplay features frustrate you, it can be tempting to give up after a short while due to the fact that luck is regularly against you. If you do persist, though, it is an enjoyable title that offers a rewarding experience.

Despite showing its age in occasional places, the purity and simplicity of Burnout's arcade racing is as refreshing now as it was when the title was first released. Its world may not be as expansive or as good looking as some of today's titles, but its racing experience is still up there with the best and arguably superior to some modern-day counterparts.

When the Xbox version of SYMMETRY is updated to add a lower difficulty level it has the potential to be a great introduction to the management genre and satisfying for casual and experienced players alike. However, at time of writing, the steep learning curve, high difficulty level, and occasional game-breaking bugs make it more fitting for hardcore fans of the genre and people whose love of challenges is matched by their patience.

For the most part, The Adventure Pals is an absolute joy to play. The graphics make it instantly appealing and have a nostalgic feel that doesn't let you down. The gameplay is simple and cute but never feels too easy or too hard, making it enjoyable to play through, despite a few issues here and there. As far as platformers go, it is a gleeful and well executed adventure and well worth jumping into.

Senua is fierce and imperfect in a way that will have you rooting for her like few characters ever garner. Her journey is pretty much unceasingly filthy, violent, tragic and horrific, yet it's not a story of suffering, but rather one of perseverance. Senua is a remarkable character who instills all of her energies into the player in such a way that will never be forgotten.