Extinction isn't what it could have been. The story is a complete afterthought but in its throwback sort of way, it doesn't feel out of place. Frequent camera problems get in the way of battling the Ravenii, and overall Extinction fails to deliver on the one thing it must get right, its man versus beast moments. They might be giants, but they're definitely boring.

To say Darkest Dungeon is a challenging and satisfying RPG doesn't seem like nearly enough praise. The sheer amount of customization — 15+ different classes, seven abilities per character to choose from, equippable trinkets, and much more besides — makes for a highly involved, appetizingly deep adventure that can be approached with many different play styles.

Masters of Anima is an excellent game that serves as conclusive proof that Pikmin’s legacy is alive and relevant today as much as it ever was. The game’s foundation is its characters who are humorous and lovable throughout the adventure, with exceptional dialogue and voice acting to back them up. The world itself is lacking a bit in visual variety but it makes up for it in level design, which features linearity combined with a reward for off the beaten path exploration.

While co-op is appreciated, it feels tacked on and the multiplayer modes are little more than a distraction, even if the map editor is one of the most comprehensive seen for a while. Despite this, Far Cry 5 is the best addition to the franchise for quite a while and it is well worth spending many hours visiting Montana.

The world is large, beautiful and full of content. The gameplay itself is exciting and fresh, with plenty to offer in terms of depth and accessibility. But TERA on Xbox is not a great MMO. In its current state, it's not even a good one. In a few patches, TERA might be good. As it is, any other MMO on the marketplace will offer a better experience.

Where Q.U.B.E. was enjoyable but a bit simplistic, Q.U.B.E. 2 really excels. The story is engaging and the puzzles themselves have been improved dramatically from the first game, with new elements being introduced on top of the already great puzzle mechanics. Nothing ever feels too hard or out of reach and you'll find yourself in the mindset of completing just one more puzzle before you call it a day. Q.U.B.E. 2 is a must-play for any fan of the first game or puzzlers in general.

The vigilante track is unique to Telltale and thus feels more compelling for players, but not everyone gets to go down that route. In either case, the climactic fight scene delivers, Joker is finally here in mind and body (and finally portrayed well by his actor), and there's a lot of fallout from the events that teases what comes next time, which will inevitably be revealed over the coming months. If you enjoyed the season up to this point, The Enemy Within's finale is an unexceptional but solid conclusion.

Sea of Thieves is all journey with no real destination, but if that doesn't immediately turn you away, it'll be a pirates life for you.

Devil May Cry 2 remains an uninspired title, but Devil May Cry and Devil May Cry 3 are masterpieces to this day. While people who've played these games a thousand times may find nothing new, everyone will find titles worth their time. These games are classics, and for the most part they still hold up today.

In some hugely important ways, like music, visuals, and its ability to not just engage players as gamers but teach them as students, Mulaka is worth playing for most everyone, rather ironically. It's not a game designed with mass appeal, and yet because it's ultimately so authentic, so intimate, and so beautifully personal, it's easy to appreciate. For most players, Mulaka will be a familiar gameplay experience structured around something wholly new and enriching in every other way.

North is an interesting game with something special to offer despite its flaws. As a gaming experience it will be most satisfying to those who enjoy thought-provoking titles or exploring dark worlds. However, it will also appeal to achievement hunters looking to gain an easy 1,000 Gamerscore in less than an hour.

Switch – Or Die Trying is for those who look for a real challenge in their platformers. It can be likened to Super Meat Boy in that respect. Switch – Or Die Trying is truly a platformer that was made for the diehard fans of the genre.

Twin-stick shooters can either lose their charm quickly or provide some addictive gameplay, so it's fortunate that Tesla vs Lovecraft fits into the latter thanks to its fast-paced and gratifying design. The story is an odd one, but it doesn't detract from the monster killing, whether you're on your own or with a friend.

What we have is a game that is based on one core experience — an exceptionally good one — which comes at the cost of a solid gaming experience and ultimately feels like a title of missed opportunities.

Surviving Mars offers most of the things you expect in a simulation game: a chaotic and overwhelming start is eventually calmed down once you understand what's going on and how to work efficiently. Mysteries add a unique bonus to the progression, and don't be surprised if you become quite invested in your colony the more you play. As is often the case, the controls pose a bit of a problem and feel like they'd be better suited on a computer.

The Council is what many genre fans have been wanting. It builds on the choose-your-own-adventure style with smart new RPG mechanics, adding depth to every encounter unseen in other games like this, and makes the entire experience feel like a chess tournament where anyone and everyone is your opponent.

InnerSpace takes place in a strange world, but it is also beautiful. The bright colours make the world seem friendly and welcoming, and the accompanying music provides a relaxing atmosphere. Players are free to explore the world at their own leisure, meaning that the gameplay should be relaxing too, but there are a couple of gameplay problems that sometimes get in the way.

If you can wipe away all the preconceptions surrounding Konami, Hideo Kojima, and the Metal Gear franchise, you’ll find a competent game in Metal Gear Survive. The story is mediocre and the game has obviously cut corners to make the budget despite being full of microtransactions. However, it’s also fun as both a survival game and a horde defense game at times.

Super Lucky's Tale is perhaps a game best served in small slices, so that the surface cheerfulness isn’t ground down by overexposure to the game’s faults. It certainly seems so based on the short but sweet Gilly Island DLC. The expansion is simply one extra world with a handful of levels plus the inevitable boss, and despite some lovely tropical art design it really does next to nothing to improve or alter the basic gameplay loop.

Frustrating mechanics can and probably will deter some people. However, those who persist and train themselves to learn the fundamentals will find a gem underneath the initial muck that is the first couple of hours. Being a budget title, there is a slight lack of polish and a few technical issues will arise, but Warhorse has clearly mustered all its effort in creating an immersive world and engaging story.

Gravel attempts to create a full arcade racer with a serious side. It feels like a welcome amalgamation of a number of familiar arcade titles, distilling the racing elements and doing away with distractions and diversions. While this allows the player to jump into race after race after race, it makes it feel one-dimensional at times. However, the arcade racing is certainly fun and engaging, and it's fully adaptable to any racing level. Fans of old-school racing games should certainly enjoy Gravel. Milestone has created something that's been missing in the genre, and though imperfect, it's a good start to what may be a new recurring franchise.

de Blob 2 is absolutely worth playing if you have any fondness for 3D platformers. It's a simple yet creative concept and the sequel brings additional gameplay features that for the most part improve the overall variety of the experience. It gets a little tough and frustrating in the final third but the developers have deftly managed to avoid the majority of design obstacles for which the genre is notorious. It's an easy game to recommend in theory, but it's hard to justify the Xbox One version when the 360 version is backward compatible.

Bridge Constructor Portal is still Bridge Constructor. The inclusion of GLaDOS, dark humor and Portal staples like gels, turrets and companion cubes will be appreciated by fans, but it's not enough to overcome the tedious core gameplay. Once you have the satisfying 'a-ha!' moment of solving a puzzle, you come to the unfun part: painstakingly piling up dozens of little triangle formations to create supports for your structures. The formula gets old quickly as the puzzles start to require more elaborate building, and we come back to that word: tedious. Players who know they enjoy Bridge Constructor will be at home with Bridge Constructor Portal, but those who disliked past games in the series should steer clear, despite the tantalizing Portal branding.

All in all, this title is a satisfactory end to the Nightmares from the Deep story arc. While not the best of the Artifex Mundi titles, especially with its minor gameplay issues, it is far from the worst of the bunch and is still worth a play.

How much you enjoy The Station will come down to how soon you see its ending coming, as it's likely you will see it earlier than intended by the developer. In that case, you may still take away a memorable experience from the game, if you can forgive its derivative tale and enjoy it as a narrative adventure mystery with a bit to say about our role in the universe. It doesn't show or say anything that other science fiction tales haven't shown or told already, but if you're relatively new to the genre or don't mind rehashing previous themes, The Station is worth its short stay.

Past Cure is a game that tries to do too much at once to the extent that it ends up doing none of it well. To varying degrees, it lacks polish in every area. Shooting needs some help in the options menu, melee is borderline broken, stealth is missing key features, and the story abandons a strong start and gets worse with every chapter, all while it weaves in and out of several genres and forgets to make it coherent by the end. In one light it's commendable for a rookie studio to aim so high by designing a game akin to Max Payne or Quantum Break, as they obviously intended to do here. Sadly, Phantom 8 seems to have rejected reasonable restraint in their design aspirations, which may have been the cure for what ails this game.

The Fall Part 2: Unbound manages to improve on the first game in most ways. Intertwining ARID's story with others is a smart move for the sequel, and each host serves as their own character with their own story to tell. A lot of the improvements come with ARID herself, with extra combat and movement abilities making for much smoother gameplay. The puzzles are genuinely tricky, maybe a little too tricky towards the end, and the lack of hand-holding may mean a few head-scratcher moments. Aside from these small issues, Unbound is an excellent continuation of The Fall and sets up for an exciting trilogy finale.

Immortal Redneck's melting pot of genres is a success. Regardless of whether you came for the shooting or the roguelite aspects, you'll be pleased with the handling of the two genres. If you love both, Immortal Redneck should take its rightful place on your Must Buy list. The game even hits all the right notes when other genres, like first-person platforming, are thrown into the mix. Don't expect anything amazing from the six bosses, but the eight characters, 50+ weapons and more than 100 scrolls are still more than enough to make each procedurally generated playthrough unique and fun. Roguelite newcomers will be at home with permanent upgrades and mechanics that encourage players to succeed, and veterans can still get their hardcore fix with the Cursed and Plague Medallions or the 20 lives achievement.

Beautiful moments of platforming brilliance exist, but so do moments of needless frustration. Still, the game has its charms and is worth a look if you're either obsessed with or brand new to the last decade's worth of arthouse gaming. There are far more brilliant games in this genre to recommend, but Fe will certainly do you no harm over its short play time.

Monster Energy Supercross - The Official Videogame certainly captures the atmosphere and the essence of the high-adrenaline sport. The arenas are well-crafted reproductions of their real-life counterparts, and out on the track, the bikes and riders look decent. It gets slowed by jarring moments such as strangely routine lag or sometimes frustrating handling and physics. There is a feeling of the game being not quite finished, with a little polishing still needed in places. That all said, when it works, it works well and there is plenty of content to keep players entertained, especially with the advent of community created tracks. In short, it feels one patch shy of being a great racing title.

Monster Hunter: World captures that feel of hunting, and despite its technical quirks and poor design decisions, if you've got a group of friends to play with it comes highly recommended. If you're running solo, you might be better waiting for a sale.

Ultimately there's not a lot to say about Drift Zone. It does one thing serviceably, but that one thing is done better in bigger games in abundance on Xbox One. As an Android title, you may have fun on a bus or in a waiting room with Drift Zone, but on your home console, it's hard to overlook just how sparse the gameplay suite is. Diehard fans of tuning and tweaking cars may enjoy a half dozen hours or so here, but for most people, Drift Zone is simply an unremarkable experience that makes a strong case for curation of the Xbox digital storefront.

Asemblance is the type of game worth rooting for because it dares to try things in its own unique way. Having said that, its execution leaves far too much to be desired. You can't commend the game for being weird, because it's so weird that it fails to connect at all. It's one of the shortest games you can find on the Xbox One, which should not inherently be an issue, but in this case it is. There needed to be a few more breadcrumbs to help players care about the bizarre sequence of events that unfolds over the game's 30 minutes. Lacking all resonance and intrigue in its playthrough, Asemblance is a decent story once you look it up online later, but more of it needed to be expressed in the actual game.

The frustration of dying for the thousandth time finds its counterweight in the gorgeously fluid ballet of a perfect run. With a wonderfully evocative soundtrack and a whole host of creative ideas and plenty of additional challenges beyond the main campaign, Celeste manages to cram in a whole lot of goodness without ever missing a step. Fans of tricky platformers will find much to love in the game's design, but it's also a perfect starting point for anyone new to the genre — perhaps even those actively averse to it. In short, it's a bit of a masterpiece.

Wulverblade is a beautiful evolution of a classic genre. In nearly every way it takes the side-scrolling beat 'em ups of yesteryear and reimagines them for the high definition, story-driven gaming landscape in which we now reside. The captivating artwork never loses its luster, and it's aided by a strong audio experience, engrossing combat that demands you play smartly, and a fascinating mix of true history and folklore. With very few caveats, Wulverblade is an exceptional game that no genre fan should miss.

2064: Read Only Memories is a well told futuristic story that does so many things right. The retro cyberpunk setting and soundtrack is a joy, and it feels like everything you do in the game has an impact. Characters actually have their own personalities, and the puzzles often have different outcomes that require some thinking on your part. Sadly, the game is let down by a few issues that can't be forgiven. Even for a narrative driven game, there is an awful amount of reading to pick through. Worse than that, though, the controls will cause you issues on numerous occasions where the d-pad and analogue stick are both involved. Overall, though, the game can be deemed a success, and your journey with Turing is one well worth experiencing.

The aerial combat genre is a very under-represented and niche genre on the console. FT:SOC is a budget-priced game and it does feel like this; it might not be the title to bring in new fans but it gives existing fans a new title to while away a few hours. There's a fair bit of content, and the combat can be intense and challenging. However, the lasting appeal of the title will depend on the multiplayer arena, and given that the virtual skies were already relatively deserted and there is unreliable network behavior, this doesn't look too promising. This is a shame, because when it worked, it was good fun. Casual players might enjoy picking up the relatively quick achievements that are available, but this is mainly a title for those fans of the aerial combat genre.

Mutant Football League faithfully recreates the arcade football games of decades past in almost every way. The lack of NFL licensing hurts the appeal, as household names and faces are replaced with hideous creatures and terrible puns. Still, the core mechanics of MFL feel so much like the games that inspired it that it's hard not to recommend to fans looking to mess with that nostalgia. Some truly terrible comedy writing gets in the way, but it's in keeping with the game's antiquated idea of what it means to be edgy, like it takes not just its game design but even its writing cues from 1995. Mutant Football League is unabashedly a nineties game resurrected in 2018.

Xuan-Yuan Sword is gaming’s homage to a so good it’s bad B-movie. There are some really great aspects to the game. The combat’s potential depth is realized in boss fights, the story is engaging, and it has strong characters with depth. It’s got all the essentials of a good JRPG, but it's mixed with a poor localization and shoddy technical work to create a game that is almost enjoyable at first. The technical issues and translation are comical at the beginning and you’ll find yourself surprised at the absurdity, but the humor slowly erodes as the hours pass by. Eventually you’re left with a paper mache house built around a solid framework. It’s a game that could have been good with another few months of development and a better translation, but what we got could still be a fun romp if you approach it with the right mindset.

The potential for too much chaos comes to fruition with this fourth episode as The Enemy Within finally succumbs to the Spider-Man 3 problem after a hard fought bout. That's not to say the season can't end with great spectacle. As always, Telltale has set up players for what should be an action-packed finale. It's also apparent that this won't be the final season of theirs with the hero, so part of the fun comes in watching the teases for next season begin to surface as they do in What Ails You. It's been a middling season thus far, but that's come to be a bit expected of Telltale since their 2012 heyday. They could still turn it around with a memorable finale. Maybe this episode's most vital maneuver is to have cleared some of Batman's — and Telltale's — path to success.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is an early narrative adventure game that outdoes some of its later counterparts in ambition. That ambition is sometimes misguided and ultimately problematic for the storytelling, but a moving final scene with a major reveal salvages the overall story. Mixing in lots of different game mechanics and puzzles is an interesting pre-Edith Finch look at the genre. It still looks gorgeous now four years on from its original release, and it delivers a strong sense of time and place, but above all else, Ethan Carter is trying to move you with its narrative. In that regard, it's a story worth telling, but not always a story well told.

Vesta is a quaint title that provides suitably challenging environmental puzzles for those who decide to take a shot at it. The story isn't anything special, but the gameplay is more than enough to keep you playing. Despite this, you may still find yourself getting needlessly frustrated at a few deaths due to the awkward controls that occasionally bubble to the surface. When everything works as intended, though, Vesta and the droid work well together, allowing you to comfortably test your brain to a satisfactory degree.

Lost Grimoires 2 is a sequel that carries only minimal ties to the game that preceded it, meaning that it is perfectly playable on its own or as part of the trilogy. The casual adventure title can be enjoyed by all audiences due to the simple nature of its gameplay. Neither the hidden object scenes nor puzzles are too complicated, although the lack of alternative to the hidden object scenes will be jarring for some. The transfusion mechanic makes a welcome return and provides the most challenging puzzles of the title, although there is nothing that will see players rushing for the hint button or a guide. The title is a more worthwhile experience than its predecessor, but there have been better games in the Artifex Mundi portfolio.

Night in the Woods is a refreshing take on the adventure genre. With unique visuals and an all too realistic setting, the game will appeal to anyone who enjoys storytelling on a level more human than the usual fare seen in the medium. The town of Possum Springs will be a depressingly familiar one for any who grew up in small American towns where complacency with hardship is in the water, and it's a credit to the game's writers that every single resident of the troubled town feels real. Even if you didn't live in such a setting, the game's subversion of coming of age tropes make for a special story. It does sell itself out a bit at the end to drive home its central theme, but the rest of it is visually, audibly, and narratively memorable.

If you’re looking for deep combat and puzzles in a Zelda style, you’ll have to look elsewhere, but for anyone else, Okami offers a rich world that will undoubtedly leave you happy to have been in.

Ultimately, this collection is for people who either loved the original seasons and want to replay them, people who have never played any of The Walking Dead games before now, and/or people who want an extra 4000 gamerscore without too much effort. With such good storytelling on offer here, it's easy to play and enjoy them whether you've done it before or not. The graphical improvements are decent but that doesn't disguise the problems that are ever present in Telltale games. Unless you are absolutely desperate to join Clementine again, it's probably best to wait for a sale on this one, but whenever you play it, the story will stay with you for a long time.

Episode 3 - Hell Is Empty brings Life Is Strange: Before The Storm to its conclusion, resolving the story of not just Chloe and Rachel but also that of many other characters. Unfortunately some of the story points seem rushed to conclusion, likely a result of trying to tell a story in three episodes instead of five, and Chloe's backtalk mechanic is still criminally underused. On the other hand, there are improvements to the puzzles in this episode. Along the way, players will make many decisions, some far easier than others, all of which have some effect on the story to truly make it a tale of your own creation. Some players may well prefer Max and her powers to the more grounded story of Chloe, but the prequel is still a worthwhile journey through Arcadia Bay and an appropriate telling of the events before Max returned to the area.

Episode 5 - Above and Beyond is an appropriate end to another good Telltale season. The episode does a brilliant job of bringing everything together and tying up a number of loose ends across the season. The episode is scattered with important choices and either choice at the end offers closure for the gamer. Aside from the episode feeling a little short, there's not a lot wrong here. It may not be non-stop action, or blow you completely away, but it is a solid end to an enjoyable season.

Hello Neighbor is a fantastic premise that falls apart in practice in nearly every way. The game was billed to have cunning AI but offers only an overbearing Neighbor with occasional moments of goofiness. It was meant to feature a bizarre and secret-filled house, but ends up wanting to streamline players with little wiggle room. If you're really dying to know what the Neighbor is hiding and can easily forgive the many trouble spots, you might have limited fun here. Alternatively, another hefty patch could undo a lot of these problems. Such a makeover would need to be drastic, however. When simple tasks like reliably picking up and using or placing items are clunky, it's a good sign that the skeletons in the closet aren't worth discovering.

Whilst War Stories does not bring any changes to the combat or battle mechanics of the game, it introduces a single player element that has been much requested by the community. Each story is short enough to be played in a single sitting and provides a platform for beginners to learn the basics of the game and for veterans to try out new tank builds and tactics. Players can additionally use the scenarios to farm a few more credits and experience points without the necessity of joining online games. It may not be a wealth of content, but there's a good few hours of gameplay, new achievements and the comic-book introductions are a novel new approach for the game. With the combat essentially untouched, it remains as engaging as ever, not forgetting that this is a free update for a free-to-play title without paywalls or loot-crates, so it's a good time to jump in if you already haven't started.

Oh My Godheads is a fun game if you are looking at it from the multiplayer side of things, but it manages to have something for the single player gamer too. Although the choice of modes is limited, there's plenty of fun to be had, especially with the different Godheads thrown into the mix. A little more introduction to the game and its controls would have been helpful at the start, and online multiplayer is always a sad thing to miss out, but ultimately there's easy gamerscore and some frantic fun to be had here.

A Hat In Time is a game that is proud to wear its influences on its sleeve and largely does them justice. The 3D platformer features a quirky story, diverse and memorable levels, interesting well-voiced characters, and collectibles that actually have a point. The platforming is responsive and the difficulty scales appropriately on the whole, but the game is let down by camera issues — clipping through objects, zooming in at inappropriate times, and shaking all contribute to unfair deaths for the player, often at the worst possible moment. There's something here for players of all abilities and most will be able to look past its faults for another enjoyable completion.

911 Operator is a game that most would assume to be a laughably bad title. However, the game proves that wrong as it takes itself seriously and tastefully addresses the pressure that emergency services no doubt feel in reality. Approaching situations strategically will generate the best results, and handling emergency phone calls is an exciting concept. However, when you begin to hear the same call twice, or another collapsing bridge appears, the initial rush from encountering these for the first time quickly diminishes. Nonetheless, the fun factor never disappears entirely, so you will garner the same amount of enjoyment out of the game in correlation to the time you invest in it.

Origins provides a much-needed change in direction for the Assassin’s Creed franchise. The range of new action-RPG elements isn’t especially innovative but they do more than enough to make the previously tired gameplay feel fresh and engaging. The world is beautiful and dense, the characters are interesting, and the story offers enough mystery and intrigue to keep players coming back before it sadly ends far too quickly. Assassin’s Creed Origins isn’t perfect, but it points to a long and healthy future for the series.

SOMA is so deserving of high praise even as it's difficult to do so with specifics and not spoil the excellent story. Simon's journey through PATHOS-II ask a lot of questions that it demands players answer in their own terms, both in-game and long after. Even as it's often dystopian, the central themes and questions surrounding SOMA are worth mapping onto today's world. They are questions that may always be relevant. Who are you? What is the self if not an illusion? SOMA is a good horror game that does most things well, but more than that, it is an exceptional science fiction tale that no genre fan should miss.

Overall, A Walk in the Park is easy to recommend — if you liked The Surge and you want more of it, that’s what you’ll get here and you’re in for a great time at the theme park. If you couldn’t get over the issues in The Surge then there’s nothing here that’s going to change your mind.

Black Mirror will leave you feeling a bit torn. It's a good story told in a good location, accompanied by an ideal soundtrack. The fact that it is carrying on with the same family from the original games is the icing on the cake. Sadly, it is let down by too many problems, including annoying movement and camera tracking, poor facial character designs and other issues that mount up to make the game more of a struggle than it should be. It's hard to recommend the game at its current price point, but a discount might warrant a purchase for those who like a good supernatural tale told via point and click gameplay.

If you are a fan of The Sims and desperately want it on your console, you will probably be able to overlook this console port's abysmal user interface and controls in order to get at what is essentially the same game you've always known. The Sims themselves are still charmingly over-animated and the audio-visual design is pleasing enough. For anyone else, the struggle to overcome the nastiness of even the basic controls and menus only leads to the same old gameplay loop, albeit with a couple of interesting features bolted on. As a series, The Sims has simply failed to evolve enough.

Whilst there are moments when the arcade racing feels like fun, there is an omnipresent sense of Déjà Vu, that you've played this all before. NFS Payback doesn't bring anything original to the genre and if you've already finished with those other racing titles, you're unlikely to find anything new here. It feels like the game is following other racing games and has somehow lost its own identity in the process. It's not a bad title, but it also fails to distinguish itself. It feels like an option and an alternative; it no longer feels like a must-have title not even for arcade racers. However, the main issue is the progression system that relies more on luck than skill, and judgement that almost seems to debilitate the player's advancement. Despite the previous reboot and this latest title, Payback already feels aged and needs a dramatic rethink if it is to reclaim its crown from the likes of Forza Horizon.

Outcast was plucked straight out of 1999 and dropped into 2017, but in many ways it's better than what we have today. Sure, the combat is horrific and there are other details that clearly show the game is dated, but it doesn't matter. If you're looking for a modern masterpiece, this isn't it; instead, Outcast trips back to a time when games were all about exploration and being absorbed in the world. The alien Talan feel like real people who you'll want to help and they live in a world that feels alive in a way even games like Skyrim do not. Cutter Slade is an outrageous protagonist but he's lovable in his own way — the Nathan Drake of the 90's. These elements come together to create a package that's a pure joy to play through. This game simply exudes charm in a way that few others do. Outcast was the adventure game of the year in 1999, and it's my adventure game of the year in 2017. Outcast is a special piece of gaming history that surprisingly and against any reasonable expectation withstood the test of time. It absolutely should not be missed.

L.A. Noire is a great game. The six years since its original launch haven't changed that. The imagining of 1940s Los Angeles is massive and detailed, and every aspect of the game feels meticulous and polished. The well-woven story edges out any gameplay complaints or issues that arose in the original game. All the DLC and additional challenges are here — albeit some of it has been inserted less than tactfully — making the Xbox One version a nice compilation for players who missed this gem from last gen, but the value drops significantly for returning players, partially due to L.A. Noire's engaging and memorable mystery. The appeal is snuffed out when you already know how every twist and turn in this detective tale goes, and Rockstar hasn't brought out enough meaningful changes to make L.A. Noire worth another visit from players who already donned their detective badges on the Xbox 360.

LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2 is a testament of how far TT Games has come in perfecting the LEGO formula. From tiny hubs focusing on story completion, we now have a gigantic and diverse open world to explore as we see fit. Chronopolis is great fun and uncovering all of its secrets is a hugely entertaining and rewarding experience. The wide range of characters and story levels help to keep that exploration fresh, but unfortunately a few problems with glitches and controls hold it back. Nonetheless, comic-book fan or LEGO fan, this is a title that will no doubt satiate your appetite for some superhero goodness.

Even with a lackluster story and a barebones arcade mode, Star Wars Battlefront II would be one of the year's best games if — and it's a big, almost tragic i" — it didn't involve pay-to-win tactics. These microtransactions are disabled at time of writing, but they are promised to return in some form. Even if they never return, they've already gifted early adopting big spenders with a shortcut to success that other people can't or won't access. In so many ways, Battlefront II is exactly what fans want it to be. It finally feels like the games so many cherished from many years ago. It's hard to ignore the problems caused by purchased Star Cards, but if the creators can find a way to fix the system so that it is fair for everyone, what will remain is one of the year's best video games and a Star Wars experience for the ages... but again, that's a big if.

Batman: The Enemy Within offers a third episode a touch above most Telltale middle sections thanks in large part to just how great Catwoman is portrayed by Laura Bailey. Her work, along with the episode functioning primarily as a romance story, keeps this episode intriguing even as the rehashed environments try to drag it down considerably. It's exciting to see how Telltale will play this love story through to the end of the season. Knowing their proclivity for remixing familiar plots and characters, it feels safe to expect they're building something between the star-crossed lovers. If they can trust themselves to focus on the stronger points like this romance and not sell out to hit some punches thrown quota, this season could feel uniquely different than other Batman stories.

Call of Duty: WWII is a game that was much requested by fans and ultimately hits most of its targets. The story mode's focus on in-the-trenches brotherhood falls short of its mark due to introducing a dozen or so characters and only getting a few of them to stand out. However, if you're coming back to the series annually you're probably in it for its other two modes, multiplayer and zombies. In both instances, they innovate in fun ways. At times, it does feel like the whole package benefits from the simple timeline swap. If you gave up on the franchise's small maps and repetitive story structure, WWII doesn't do enough to make you want to come back. It remains true to itself, for better or worse. For anyone who still plays the games with glee every November, Call of Duty: WWII is a better-late-than-never return to the series' roots.

Numantia's setting is unique, the story is interesting and allows you to make important choices, and the gameplay is challenging and strategic. However, this turn-based title is wrapped in an unpolished package that doesn't let the positive traits shine: frequent bugs and glitches are off-putting, inputting commands feels sluggish, the controls aren't well-suited for console, and there are lots of missed opportunities to guide and educate the player more. Despite the fact Numantia might not be the pinnacle of strategy games, if you're an Xbox player craving the genre, you might be willing to put up with the flaws.

Episode four has set us up for an exciting conclusion to Minecraft: Story Mode - Season Two. We have another exciting boss fight, some more genuinely tough decisions and some serious topics that make you really feel for the characters. There are bits within the episode that can be skipped, which make them a little pointless, and the sudden ending feels like there has been something cut out; it could have benefitted from a little more set up for the last episode. Overall, though, it's another solid entry into the season and will have you excited for what is to come next.

8-Bit Adventure Anthology (Volume One) is a port of three renowned MacVenture point and click titles that manages to stay true to form on the latest generation of consoles, even if there are some slight technical issues in one of the games. This will please traditional adventure game fans who will relish the challenging puzzles and gameplay. On the other hand, the title will be a bit of a culture shock to those who are used to modern adventure titles of a more casual nature, where guidance is commonplace. These games won't hold your hand, won't let you take your time and will even try to kill you along the way. If this sounds like fun then you can't go wrong with this blast from the past.

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is a popular IP that has strong action and emotion, all backed up by a rock-solid soundtrack. Telltale held the power to make it a memorable addition to the Telltale library, but they let it slip away. The story hits some of the notes of a feel-good superhero story, but falls flat when it tries to evoke more powerful emotions like sadness. Flashbacks to prior episodes are often used as a crutch as well, making the final episode thin on new content. When you strip away the lackluster storytelling, all you have is an outdated engine, QTE sequences that have been wearing thin for a long time, and clunky gameplay that can't stand on its own.

Super Lucky's Tale succeeds in several ways. For anyone looking for a quick and simple platforming break, or introducing their kids to the world of gaming, this charming, beautiful and largely competently designed world will likely keep you entertained throughout. Unlike many child-friendly properties in the media, the characters, music and voice-work will likely keep the young ones entertained without irritating the parent. It's a shame Lucky himself is such a bland character in terms of personality and move set; what little interaction Lucky has with the world is hampered by fairly frequent and irritating design decisions. Little Lucky really could have given us a bit more to keep players of all ages entertained, and he will need to find a few more tricks up his sleeve in any future adventures if he wants to compete with the veteran mascots of the genre. Here's hoping that he gets the chance.

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is an outstanding single-player shooter with a plot that is full of twists and turns and a cast of well written and believable characters, each with their own flaws and motivations. The action is wonderfully violent and the gunplay is about as satisfying as you can get from a shooter. There are a few sound issues and small instances of flickering textures, but overall Wolfenstein II delivers a first-class experience full of pulse-pounding action and unforgettable story moments that should not be missed.

AER - Memories of Old is a beautiful story told in a beautiful world. Allowing you to access memories is a great way of telling a back story without taking up too much of your time, and allowing you to piece it together yourself helps involve you more in the game. Flying around the land as Auk is simply a delight, and there is something to be discovered at every single turn in the well designed world. Yes, there are minor issues with some elements of flying, and the lagging in the temples really does break you out of the hold the game has on you, but the biggest issue you will have with this game is that you simply want to play more, and that is one of the biggest compliments that you can offer.

When entering the world of Abyss: The Wraiths of Eden, players would be forgiven for thinking they'd stumbled into a different game. Despite its similarities to the world of Rapture, the city of Eden provides an extremely fitting and menacing backdrop to the story told by Artifex Mundi, although there is some recycled character assets. The standard hidden object and logic puzzle gameplay performs as it should and will provide a handful of hours of entertainment for those who enjoy a casual evening of gaming. Meanwhile, the domino games provide a great alternative to those who are tiring of hidden object games, even if the lack of reset button makes them unnecessarily challenging. The overall result is another solid effort that will keep new and returning players entertained yet again, even if some know exactly what to expect by now.

FIFA 18 offers the best game of football that the series has seen in some time and provides the best overall package for fans of the sport. It might not be up there in terms of authenticity with PES on the pitch, but this year's release has made up some ground, excelling at providing those wow moments that gets fans of the real sport on their feet and punching the air. With an interesting return of Alex Hunter, new game modes to try, and a level of presentation and detail that can’t be found anywhere else, FIFA 18 is easy to recommend to long-running fans of the series and is a solid jumping in point for people who might have skipped a few years.

The second and penultimate episode of Life Is Strange: Before The Storm heats things up in more ways than one. Not only is the Bay on fire, but Chloe's life also seemingly goes up in flames at both home and school, and her relationship with Rachel is definitely increasing in temperature. All of this happens at such a pace that unfortunately some things aren't given the air time that they deserve and there's a chance that five episodes may have been a better idea than three. Despite this, we're getting to see the characters develop in a believable manner, and when player decisions start to take effect, it truly feels like it's becoming your story as much as it is Chloe's. With the addition of the relevation on which the episode ends, you would be forgiven for wanting to rush headlong into the next episode to see the conclusion to this tale.

Underneath its flaws, Rogue Trooper Redux is good, old-fashioned fun. Its linear levels are solidly designed and offer a variety of ways to approach the objective at hand. Different play styles are also encouraged with stealth, distractions or running in and mortaring everything in sight all being viable tactics. Multiplayer exists, and that's about all that can be said about that. However, Rogue Trooper is a 2006 game, and Redux still feels like one. Just to name a few of its flaws, the cover system is clumsy, attempts at platforming are awkward, switching weapons is imprecise, the enemy AI have a collective IQ of seven, and it occasionally checkpoints when the entire room is shooting at you. Simply put, when you're not annoyed with Rogue Trooper, you're going to be having a good time with it.

The Evil Within 2 doesn't reinvent the survival-horror genre but makes it work in more of an open world. Blending it with the tightly directed sections we have come to expect from the genre creates a fantastic horror setting that cranks up the tension only when it's needed. Players are rewarded for exploring and the scarce resources are distributed in a way that you often feel like there is only enough to scrape by, yet it never leaves you feeling under-prepared. Unfortunately, Sebastian's movement and animation often feel disconnected and some animations do seem clumsy in general, while some visual assets noticeably pop into view. Thankfully, these minor issues don't detract too much from the overall package and The Evil Within 2 delivers an interesting and memorable horror experience that is challenging yet fair.

NASCAR HEAT 2 is packed full of content for the fans and to get the most out of it, you really need to be a fan of the motorsport. The visuals are the weakest link and are the only thing to really complain about. Underneath, there is a solid racing title that is good fun especially when racing in the pack surrounded by other cars. Monster Games has done well to capture all of the glamour of the sport whilst keeping it authentic at the same time. For those looking for more diverse disciplines in their racing, other titles will be better suited, but for NASCAR fans it's a great title that pays homage to the sport.

Deadbeat Heroes is an average game that is made far worse by poor design choices. At a quick glance, it's a simple brawler with a neat comic book art style that doesn't take itself too seriously. Upon further inspection, it's a frustrating game that encourages — no, forces — replaying missions with its minimum score requirements and strict punishments for failure, but it's excruciating to do so because dialogue, level intros and enemy introductions can't be skipped. Despite the emphasis on reaching target scores, the mysterious scoring system is never explained. Replaying levels isn't as bad in the early levels of the game when failure isn't as prominent, but the unfairness of the later levels may have players stuck in a painful cycle of dying and having their hard-earned scores wiped because of it. Do yourself a favor and leave this comic book on the rack.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War is the best Assassin's Creed-style game available. It's also a worthy successor to a game many called 2014's Game of the Year. The world is huge and full of tons of activities. The new fortress assault system creates awesome battles that feel truly epic. Then there's the return of the Nemesis system, which runs through every system the game has to offer. The system keeps combat fresh and it gives Shadow of War a much-needed splash of character and humor. Its faults are undoubtedly minor. One of the game's more prominent side activities, fight pits, are simply not very fun at all. Then there are the loot boxes, which aren't strictly necessary but will undoubtedly create a need to grind if you don't purchase them. Overall, Shadow of War is an excellent game that offers dozens of hours of enjoyable content. It's a game that's worthy of every minute you'll put into it.

Housing a story that is both offensive, yet hilarious, ludicrous, yet serious is a rare achievement but this game accomplishes it. The overhauled combat also keeps strategy a key part of gameplay so tactical thinking is always rewarded.

After the disappointing and short installment that was Episode 3, Guardians of the Galaxy and Telltale fans can breathe a sigh of relief because Telltale has redeemed themselves. Episode 4 is much more fulfilling than its prior episode in both length and content, with weighty decisions to be made and lives to possibly be changed forever. We also get more glimpses at the Guardians' past, and these sequences are done well and will evoke emotion. The gameplay also hits a high note in this episode with several escape and combat scenes set to more classic songs from Peter Quill's mix tape. Telltale still struggles outside of their signature quick time event sequences, so the parts when you need to walk around and interact with things are as awkward as ever. But, finally, we're getting somewhere in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series' fourth episode.

Morphite's attempts to capture the adventurous spirit of the final frontier mostly fall flat, but its simplicity of approach may win over the casual gamer — possibly more so in its mobile ports than on home consoles. Muddled art direction, abysmal dialogue and uninspired side quests prove to be the greatest obstacles to enjoyment, but the main quest missions have a few moments of classic platforming entertainment. Ultimately the game boils down to exploring randomised planets and scanning the stuff you find there, which some will find pleasantly meditative for a while. Morphite fails to be a shining star in a crowded market, but at least it's an easy-going place to visit for a short refuel on your journey to greater discoveries.

MercurySteam promises Raiders is a living platform that will look very different a year from now. Thankfully, that means a lot of these issues could disappear by then. Nothing the game does wrong, outside of its characters and story, is irreversible. If you like third-person shooters it's worth grabbing a team and trying out the free prologue for yourself. Just be aware that there are parts of this game more broken than the planet on which it's set.

Tricky Towers is game that strikes you as simple from the outside, but once you start playing you realise it's actually quite hard to master. The game is enjoyable and addictive both online and offline, with a good choice of modes to play either against others or on your own. Unfortunately building towers isn't always easy to do as the trajectory beam doesn't always seem to be accurate enough and you have no idea what your spells do until you actually try and use them. Overall, the game is fun for a short time, but it's never anything on which you are going to spend a huge amount of time.

The LEGO NINJAGO Movie Video Game introduces a decent number of new features to keep the tried and tested LEGO formula up to date. Combat has received another overhaul, adding in an extra layer of depth with upgrades and extravagant attack moves, so it looks much slicker than previous entries. These moves can be put to the test in the enjoyable distraction of the Battle Arenas, which are best experienced with friends. The change in level design may feel unusual at first, but it is refreshing nonetheless even if it does also mean that the game is a short one. Technical issues, most notably loading screens, do also hinder the experience somewhat, but it shouldn't put too much of a dampener on your playthrough as a whole. LEGO fans will no doubt find another fun adventure within, even if it may be over in a flash.

Ruiner is a whirlwind of shooting, dodging and dying that falls just shy of true greatness. The shaded cyberpunk environments are depressing but beautiful, inviting you into a seedy criminal world where challenging enemies and badass weapons abound. Death is always one misstep away; you'll come to embrace it and take it in stride as you figure out what makes every opponent tick. However, by halfway through Ruiner, you'll have seen all there is to see, as much of the late game encounters are lazy copy-pastes of enemies and bosses from earlier in the game. While it's cool there is a skill tree and perks to upgrade, some of them aren't worth investing into, and it feels like the developers try to push you down a specific leveling path with the way the encounters are set up. The frenetic, fast-paced combat is still a blast, especially if cyberpunk themes are your jam, and the opening levels of Ruiner are some of the best gaming experiences to be had in a while.

With The Pact, Batman: The Enemy Within is hitting all the familiar notes for Telltale frequenters. For Batman fans, however, it's using those notes to play a really special tune so far. Some reservations are still in order as this trajectory mirrors last season's which fell quickly after the early parts of the season. For now, at least, The Enemy Within is giving longtime fans of the Dark Knight an exciting mix of new and old plotlines while carefully balancing the widest range of villains the series has dealt with so far. We'll know if The Enemy Within is a truly memorable Telltale product if they can avoid their middle episode valley, but for now, it remains worth getting into costume.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a magnificent success. At first glance, the beautiful visuals draw you with hopes the gameplay could match how excellent they look... and it does. The JRPG combat requires deep, tactical thought in nearly every battle as you push through your foes. Unlike most RPGs, even the random fights will often require some thinking to determine what to use to benefit you both in the current fight and in future fights, as resources are not always infinite. Bosses most of all can feel like epic battles where your strategy plays a key part in the process. Backed by strong character development and plenty of side content to keep you going, this is an RPG any fan of the genre would be a fool to miss. It's not perfect, but few games ever are. What's here is excellent and it comes highly recommended.

Destiny 2 takes the groundwork set out by its predecessor and refines some of its rough edges, especially in terms of its plot. Bungie hasn't changed the fundamentals of the game but has made it feel a lot more accessible to new players. They've increasing the number of activities there are for players, although the grind does eventually set in. That said, it doesn't quite feel like a sequel. There isn't much in the way of brand new content — a lot of what has been added is the same as before but just repackaged in some way. The title does still have plenty of room to grow and if its life cycle is anything like that of the original Destiny, the game may look and feel different in two years time. With two expansions already on the horizon, we may even see a few changes in the very near future.

Turn 10 Studios has created a title with extremely high production values, a highly polished, extremely playable and as much fun as all of the previous titles in its illustrious history. Fans will love the racing experience, which is as good as ever. The new dynamic weather brings an extra challenge to those willing to brave it, and the new driving gear brings an extra level of personalisation allowing fans to express themselves even more than before. Fans will also be happy to see the return of particular circuits, including Mugello, Suzuka and the newly embellished Maple Valley, and with a potential garage of 700+ cars, there will be something for everyone, including those who want to race trucks — where else will you get that opportunity? For now, Forza Motorsport 7 remains the benchmark for console racing and it will be seventh heaven for all Forza fans everywhere.

Project CARS 2 really does feel like Project CARS version 2.0 with virtually all aspects of the title having been polished and improved. All of the minus points and complaints from the previous title have been addressed, including the all-important playability with a standard controller. In single-player mode, Project CARS 2 has much more to offer than nearly every other title in the genre but this is undermined by the patchy and unpredictable multiplayer at this time. The combination of weather and the new LiveTrack 3.0 engine is simply superb. Each track becomes so much more alive, shining most in less than optimal racing conditions, leaving other track implementations feeling horribly static. Those who only want to race two or three laps at a time will miss the amazing changing track conditions, so this is a title that is for racers, for those more interested in the details of motorsport in general and a much more immersive experience. The title continues to push the genre forward and continues where other titles stop.

Cuphead is likely to reveal its deliberate frustrations too late for some people. It's hard not to become infatuated with the game's visuals, leaving uninformed buyers lured in by those blatant strengths to discover only then that it revels in its own relentlessness. This, in turn, could leave some wanting a refund and needing a new controller or two. However, for those that go into it with a co-op partner and with the knowledge that its design is as unforgiving as it is beautiful, it will be a unique and rewarding game. Always unabating but never unfair, Cuphead is tough to overcome but even tougher to put down.

Lightfield has succeeded in creating a new take on an old racing subgenre that is worthy of your time. The “omnidirectional” racing allows you to think creatively about how you approach each track and can lead to some very rewarding time trial runs. With good level design and solid game mechanics backing it up, there’s a solid foundation here. If a game can thrive on being unique alone, then Lightfield will be a runaway success, but there are significant blemishes that can’t be overlooked. There are only seven tracks and “three” game modes where two are functionally the same and the third is not enjoyable at all, leaving racing as the only real element to the game. It might be visually explosive, but the music sinks your energy and will have you searching for something more fast-paced to suit the game. At the right price, Lightfield is worth investigating, but at its current price it’s hard to recommend.

Episode 3 is the best episode yet in this new series. The story continues to be both interesting and exciting as we find out more about the Admin's past and how he might be beaten in the future. Prisoner X was a good addition to the story with her intriguing character arc to follow. Couple this with another fun to beat boss fight and a good location to explore and there's not a lot of places this episode has gone wrong. The only minor blips were with a very abrupt ending and the Admin seems to act like more of a little child than a big bad guy at times. Overal,l though, this is a great third episode and sets up for an exciting penultimate episode to come next.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2018's gameplay offers an exceptional and authentic experience. It’s not a massive jump forward, but this year’s new additions and gameplay tweaks do a good job of refining what made last year’s game so good. Sadly, all the good work on the pitch is let down by tired and dated looking menus, game modes that are desperately in need of some innovation, shockingly bad commentary and the continued lack of licenses. It's a solid jumping-on point if you're new to the series, but seasoned veterans may find too few improvements to justify the price.

WRC 7 is racing for the sake of racing. In its purest form, it is full to the brim with exciting tracks across a huge variety of locations. The handling model fits as a simcade and it’s extremely fun, feeling rewarding while still offering up plenty of challenge even for veterans of the series. It does suffer from a completely forgettable career mode, but at the end of the day the game was never trying to be a rally career manager. It was trying to be a rally racing game and, in that, it has succeeded with flying colors. If you’re just looking to play in the dirt, WRC 7 is an excellent experience you’ll be glad to have played.

DreamBreak is a short but still enjoyable title for those who decide to jump in. The intriguing story could have been expanded upon a little more, however the game doesn't needlessly outstay its welcome purely for the playtime. With different mini-games and mechanics spread throughout, the two or so hours that you will spend will be engaging. Eugene's slightly clunky controls need tightening for fluidity. Meanwhile, the lack of replay value means that the game won't have much of a lasting effect in today's market, but that shouldn't deter fans of the genre. If you're a genre fan and don't need DreamBreak to break the mold of point and clicks, it'll be a short but fun adventure.