Chasing Carrots started with a rather good idea and failed to deliver what it seemed to promise. The driving and shooting always felt slow and unadventurous. Most of the time you could just stop driving if you needed a break from the action. That eliminates the hard edge that a shmup style game needs to be good. Endless mode is fun in co-op or by yourself, but it isn't enough to carry the weight of the game. So even if you've got money to burn, there are much better fire pits to throw it in.

The Escapists 2 is a sequel that manages to build and expand upon the original game in every way, whilst also still making it a great starting point for newcomers. Those familiar with the concept will still have lots to learn with the new mobile prison challenges and unique escape methods, and the game still has that surprising level of difficulty. At the same time, however, The Escapists 2 offers a lot more instruction than the original, with a new tutorial level, crafting guide and a slightly more linear approach overall. The introduction of multiplayer is also a bonus, giving players, even more, ways to escape and cause general havoc.

Songbringer is a good approximation of a classic exploration-based adventure – when it sticks to the overworld. The dungeons up the challenge in a very uncomfortable way and do little to support the game's strengths. Even though the hub fares better, it's still where the bulk of the grating story happens, so no part of the game is without its frustrations. Sure, throwing around a boomerang top hat has its moments, but it's not worth slogging through the dungeons to experience.

Planet of the Eyes is a surprisingly short game, clocking in at around an hour and a half. The game just doesn't have the level of polish that allows such a length to be excusable. It's an incredibly simplistic take on gameplay and narrative ideas we've all seen a million times before, never doing anything new or memorable. Even at its best, it amounts to little more than a bland experience, one that will be over quickly and easily forgotten.

Infinite Minigolf brings the fun both locally and via Xbox Live. It’s simple to play and approachable, letting both seasoned duffers and novice putters compete. Xbox One has no shortage of golf titles, but they lack the expandability offered by Infinite Minigolf, and best of all, all those new courses are free for the asking. Well, after you pay your modest $14.99 for the game, that is.

What Remains of Edith Finch is an absolutely beautiful and emotionally complex game. Despite a certain sense of morbidity in telling so many tales of death, the game is truly about the celebration of life. Despite all their differences, each family member is remembered more for who they were than how they were lost. This is a wonderful little tale that uses every second to the fullest, and truly should not be missed.

By going back and looking at what made everyone fall in love with the series in the first place, Sega was able to deliver the best Sonic game in ages. It's a long-lost relic from an alternate history where the franchise got one more great Genesis game. While a bit too caught up in its past, it's undeniably amazing how well the core gameplay still holds up today. Sonic Mania is a fast and fun platformer that should not be missed by any fan of the series or anyone who just enjoys a good side scroller.

Victor Vran is an ok dungeon crawler. There's nothing majorly wrong with it, but the Motorhead add-on shows us glimpses of personality that the main game lacks and the limited customization holds it back from being anything more than average. One of the main draws for these types of games is the loot, but when most of the loot is same or didn't change much, there's not a lot of reason to keep going. Whilst the fighting itself is satisfying, and the co-op (both online and offline) modes kept the game interesting socially, the longevity just isn't there. Unlike The Witcher 3, which I've still to finish. Thanks for the constant reminder Victor.

Mr. Shifty is an incredibly fun send-up of superhero comics and action movies, complete with bright colors and cheesy dialogue. Its unique gameplay hooks are a blast, delivering a solid mix of fast combat and creative navigation. If it weren't for the technical issues that plagued its final levels, this game would easily be a must buy. Hopefully, it will get patched in the future so these problems can stop bogging down a great game.

I like aspects of Planetbase, and I want to like all of it because it’s a nice premise, but it’s really hard to look past its frustrating aspects. The slow pace of expansion can make it a relaxing game to play, but when those frustrations creep in it wipes out any chance of relaxing. In a world where Cities: Skylines exists as such an excellent city-builder on Xbox One, Planetbase suffers in comparison. Going from landing party to self-sufficiency to thriving extra-terrestrial metropolis is a pleasing arc, but at times the game conspires against your efforts to play it.

If we're not talking about gameplay, Broken Age is great. It presents a fun and detailed world to inhabit filled with silly characters and interesting plot developments. If we are talking about gameplay, Broken Age is just okay. It's a serviceable attempt at a point-and-click game that stumbles more than it should. This isn't the best adventure game to come out this year, but it's still an enjoyable ride.

I wanted to like Seasons After Fall more than I did. I've gushed about it's breathtaking beauty and the relaxed pace was a welcome change from the fast shooters we're used to seeing. However the mysterious puzzles soon started to grate and the amount of backtracking was insane. The developers certainly show great potential, but unfortunately Seasons After Fall isn't quite the sleeper hit I was hoping for.

For the record, I’m not a huge fan of crime simulators like Grand Theft Auto V, so this game is out of my usual comfort zone. With that confession out of the way, SMAC Games has turned out a fun adventure that, despite the issues I have with its gameplay, keeps me wanting more. Tokyo 42 has found an unexpected fan in me, and if you give it a chance, it just may find one in you, as well.

Deformers is a bouncy, fast-paced and addicting game. When you get your friends together, virtually or physically, you're almost guaranteed to have a blast. The issues start to rise when you look at the ranking system and Form Ball's ability to provide competition. If you have friends over often or play online with them regularly and don't care much for leveling up or ranking up, this game might be worthwhile. If you are looking for a new competitive online multiplayer game, it's not quite there, especially given that there are not many people playing online.

Rime feels like a game that honestly believes itself to be a masterpiece, but it falls a tad short of that lofty goal. It needs to tighten up its pacing, polish its controls, ease up on the tutorials and maybe add a few more puzzles for good measure. While it's not perfect, most of its issues would be fixed with some minor tweaking. It's still a gorgeous, fun, engrossing and powerful experience. From beginning to end, Rime is something incredibly special.

Chime Sharp is a very fun, interesting, and unique puzzle game. There's a lot to love about it, and it has plenty to offer whether you're looking to relax or get really worked up with a solid challenge. Just make sure you know how to play before you get started.

NBA Playgrounds has many small issues and problems that create a game that is equal parts fun and also frustrating. It calls back to classic arcade style games and in some ways succeeds in doing so, but it also fails in a handful of ways. The online mode is a no zone if you want to have fun at this point. However, the substantial roster size of NBA stars and gameplay that is entertaining to watch, and at times also fun to play, will make it appealing to those who want a different basketball experience than the usual sim.

Just as its protagonists change into bats at the successful completion of a level, Demon’s Crystals has two forms. One is its enjoyable gameplay that sticks to the script for twin-stick shooters pretty well, providing great fun in short arcade-like bursts. The other is its lack of polish and confusing design choices. What would ultimately tip the scales towards purchasing the game will either be the user’s interest in the genre – notably fans of Smash TV due to the very similar mechanics – or willingness to take the plunge at such a low price point.

Butcher perfectly captures the feeling of being in a gunfight – it's brutal, it's bloody, and it's over before you know it. Due to being brutal in both gameplay and aesthetic, not to mention a few major hang-ups, this isn't a game that's easy to recommend to everyone. That's too bad though because when it's good, it's bloody brilliant. If you don't mind getting some blood on your hands (and the floor, and the ceiling, and your face), then prepare to meet your doom.

While somewhat in the same vein as the top down Zelda entries, World to the West doesn't come close to being nearly as good. The interesting use of characters and overall well-done puzzles are hurt by annoying backtracking, a lacking story, and a few smaller issues, that all hold the game back from being a much more fun experience. Even with that said, it still is a solid experience with good elements that some people will get a fair amount of enjoyment out of.

Human Fall Flat made me laugh the hardest I've laughed all year. In playing co-op with my sister, I discovered we are both complete idiots, and should never be allowed around heavy machinery. We beat each other up, pulled each other to safety, threw each other to our deaths and worked together on overly complex solutions to simple problems. While the game has some glaring flaws, it's the most fun gaming experience I've had all year, which should come across as a stronger accolade than my attempt at an objective final score.

After 20 plus hours of gameplay, I am still enjoying slicing and dicing my way through the levels to reach 100%. That may not seem like much of an endorsement to you, but for a dad of three who works 60 hours a week, that's saying more than you may know. My time is precious to me, and when I can find a game that stays fun and enjoyable and helps me bring both my kids and friends closer, I'm all onboard. The few downfalls Zombie Vikings has are in no way enough to hold this game back from being a jewel amongst indie games.

Little Nightmares is dark, eerie, startling, gross and sinister – all without resorting to M-rated content or a first-person camera. It's a great puzzle-platformer that is amazingly atmospheric, where the scariest parts are a fun gameplay experience rather than a game-halting fright. In many ways, it reminded me of Inside, but I have, to be honest: despite being a little more rough around the edges, I like Little Nightmares more.

Table Top Racing is a worthy competitor in the miniaturized car racing scene. For the most part, the issues I had with the game are small and didn’t significantly impede my enjoyment of the game. It offers a nice variety of tracks, including multiple variations of those tracks, and a nice selection of cars with fictitious names but recognizable features. Its campaign is a decent length, certainly into the double figures for a number of hours to completion, without being all too repetitive, on top of which it offers standalone ‘special’ championship races and online racing. In all, for some combat racing on Xbox One, this is worth a look.

Cities: Skylines – Xbox One Edition is an important release. Not just because it's a great game. And it is. But also because it shows that strategy games really do have a place on consoles. The game has amazing depth, probably more than any other game I've seen on the console, and is almost a match for the PC version without any control issues to speak of. It also looks amazing on a large TV screen, suck it up master race! Cities: Skylines – Xbox One Edition is the sort of game you can get lost in for hours, creating your own stories and worlds to admire. It may take you a few attempts to get the city of your dreams, but once you get the hang of things you're in for a treat.

Since the Sega Master System didn’t enjoy quite the same level of success as the Nintendo Entertainment System, Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap will be new territory for a large number of gamers. Even if you have played it previously, this is a trip that you should take again, just to take in the wonderful cast of characters. It’s not flawless, but there’s nothing here that should prevent platformer fans from helping Wonder Boy return to his normal self.

Flinthook is a roguelike that actually wants you to win. It's definitely a challenge, and it will throw everything it's got at you, but it makes sure you'll have a fighting chance. It's always giving you new opportunities to better yourself, both through practice and upgrades, and always has a little bit of health to offer when you when it's most needed. Once this game has its hooks in you, you'll always be coming back for more.

Outlast 2 has some problems that left me frustrated for most of the first half of the game, as well as some questionable segments later in the game. Even with that said, it also offers a gripping story revolving around the main character and religion, that left much to be interpreted and theorized, yet kept me interested throughout the game. The gameplay won't wow you, but it can offer some solid scares, and will definitely provide players with some disturbing scenery. If you enjoy the horror genre or liked the first Outlast, then you most likely will like Outlast 2. If not, then you may easily get frustrated or turned off by the experience.

Four Sided Fantasy is a visually appealing game with low replayability. Its screen-wrap mechanic is a fun idea and works well, but it needs to be fleshed out to add more complex puzzles. I also experienced a few glitches as I progressed further into the game that forced me to quit the level and start it over. This game is a quick and easy Gamerscore booster, but needs some work to make it stand out. If the puzzles and mechanics were as creative and polished as the artwork, this might be worthwhile.

Blackwood Crossing offers a touching glimpse into the inner workings of a family from the perspective of a young teenage girl. Loss is at the core of the story and watching Scarlett and Finn internalize loss is a heartbreaking look at childhood. Revealing too much of the story takes away from the magic of Blackwood Crossing, but it is a gripping tale that everyone can connect to. Some of the puzzles boil down to disappointing distractions, but other are always engaging which makes the beautiful story the most important aspect of the game. Anyone looking for next tremendous story in gaming should look no further than Blackwood Crossing.

Despite playing for hours on end I never got particularly good at Enter the Gungeon, but that doesn't mean I didn't thoroughly enjoy my time with it. It's great as a top-down shooter, even if it's just average as a roguelike. Pairing the frustration of bullet hell with the frustration of a random number generator doesn't always yield results, but when the stars align there's just something magical about it.

This Is the Police has been a difficult game to rate and in my mind I've changed my score from "Highly Recommended" then down to "Limited Appeal" and back again, all depending on which part of the game I was playing. This mostly boils down to severe pacing issues and wildly varying difficultly levels throughout. If the developers can tighten this up then This Is the Police could be a real gem, but as it stands, interest levels soon plateau after overly long mid-sections and there's too much frustration in the later half spoiling any earlier enjoyment.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with The Sexy Brutale. It’s been a long time since I felt the desire to replay a game past completion to find every collectible and every secret, but the game is so intriguing it’s almost addictive. With gorgeous graphics, a jaunty soundtrack and some seriously spicy murders to solve you’d be crazy not to want to take a peep at the action. It’s perhaps a bit early to be talking about Game of The Year contenders, but certainly, The Sexy Brutale just raised the bar for 2017.

Aaero is a wonderful introduction to the varied world of EDM with each level being a beautiful visual representation of the song being featured. Its greatest misstep is the smaller selections of songs available which prevent the game from being more than an introduction to the genre. Gaining mastery over a song evokes a sense of accomplishment that is unfelt in most other music games, in large part, due to the way Mad Fellows captures the sense of EDM. Unfortunately, the lack of customization options make return trips to the game less likely, but even those with no familiarity with EDM should make at least one trip to check out Aaero.

Snake Pass goes beyond the concept of being a snake. It fulfills the promise of a playable snake with flying colors and succeeds in molding levels around its nontraditional movement. Obvious repetition does set it, but at least it's repeating a gameplay loop that's wholly unique. It's not the perfect platformer, but it's a perfect example of an unusual idea fantastically executed.

Death Squared is a smooth, simple and challenging puzzle game that focuses on bringing playful humor to what could have easily become a repetitive experience. The dialogue and included "glitches" in the program almost completely mask any sense of tedium with each of the many levels. If you are normally on the fence about puzzle games, this just might be the one to convince you. Whether you want an entertaining solo challenge or a fun new game to play with friends on the couch, you won't need to look further than this.

R.B.I. Baseball 2017 is not a good baseball game. The game is plagued with bad fielding controls and animations, along with awful base running controls that will make you feel like you are playing against yourself. The hitting and pitching are fine, but not nearly good enough to keep you wanting to play more. The lackluster variety of modes is hindered even more by the absence of online multiplayer, making there even less to do than last year's game. If you are looking for some sort of MLB experience on Xbox One, this is pretty much your only option. If you're looking to play a good MLB game, though, then, unfortunately, you own the wrong console.

88 Heroes is perfect for a handful of hours one afternoon but not for much more time than that, which is a shame because there is brilliance on display in the level design. As I progressed through the four areas, I gained a sense of mastery and saw incredible level layouts that I hadn't even imagined possible when I began. Unfortunately, the longer I spent with the world, the more toxic my encounters with the game became. Jokes lost their luster, and I found myself left with a handful of enjoyable characters and dozens more I wish never to see again. Those that can overlook the outdated and offensive language of the jokes on display, the technical issues and don't mind being on the end of a receiving of endless jokes will find a rewarding 88 levels with plenty of strategies required to find all that lies within. Personally, I value my sanity a tad more.

Yooka-Laylee is a fantastic introduction to both gaming and this particular genre as the joy this game creates is unbelievable. I've avoided getting too specific because Yooka-Laylee is an experience that is best served in a state of constant wonder. Needless to say, anyone with a proclivity towards collectibles, seeing pretty sights and solving neat puzzles in games should not miss this one.

Thimbleweed Park is so much more than a nostalgic throwback. It's a distillation of everything that makes point-and-click adventures great, and a modern perfection of a classical type of game design. It's an absolute must if you are or ever were a fan of the genre. While it may be a bit too niche to bring in new fans, I'd still say it's worth a recommendation to even the most puzzle-adverse among us.

If The Inner World was released in the 90s, I'm certain it would be held in the same high regard as classics like Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle. It's a fantastic point-and-click adventure game that handles humor and puzzles with ease. If it weren't for those clunky controls, it'd be a lot easier to recommend. The Xbox One certainly isn't the ideal home for this game, but it's a much-welcomed addition to its library regardless.

I loved my first few hours with Kitty Powers' Matchmaker. It's relaxed, and kitsch gameplay is a refreshing change from the norm. It's got real character and a great sense of humor, and I'd love to see similar dating sims make follow suit and try their hand at the Xbox crowd. However, Kitty Power's Matchmaker's repetitive nature means it's best played in short bursts and I'd question the price point the developers went for when bringing the game to consoles. There's fun to be had but maybe not $12 worth.

I certainly enjoyed looking at Hunter's Legacy while I was playing, but I can't really say that I enjoyed the act of playing it. The combat is slow and exhausting, and the lack of awareness afforded by the camera when fighting enemies that fly off screen is an enormous pain that leads to countless deaths. There's plenty of game in Hunter's Legacy, and a 100% will probably take close to 20 hours; I just can't think of who would be interested in such an offer, especially with far better Metroidvania games on the market.

Trulon: The Shadow Engine is an okay game and therein lies the problem. There are no major problems, but neither is there anything to distinguish it from any other RPG, so much so that it may as well be called "RPG Game". The card battle system starts promisingly; however, the interesting premise is not expanded upon in any meaningful way. With its increasingly tedious battles, the whole thing seems to lose steam towards the halfway mark leaving little desire to play the game to completion other than for achievements.

A Pixel Story is one of the more confounding games I have played in recent memory as its greatest strengths also end up being its greatest weaknesses. There are a lot of great ideas within A Pixel Story, but they fail to join and create a cohesive experience. The visual references and puzzles were often clever, but the actions required to solve puzzles diverged from what the references suggested should be taking place. A Pixel Story only borrows visual inspiration from the platformers that came before it and populates the rest of the world with their own ideas. My time with A Pixel Story left me wishing that far more from the past had made the leap to The System beyond visual representations.

Whether you’re going it alone or have a friend to morph with, Shift Happens is great fun. The level designs are great, the environments are visually striking and fun to progress through, and Bismo and Plom are simply adorable blobs to interact with. While $14.99 may seem like a high price point for this platformer, Shift Happens is more than worth it. Take my word for it.

Ittle Dew 2 was a fun little title that I enjoyed about 80% of the time. It controls well and unabashedly pulls from many classic games from the past. However, it fails to achieve the same level of greatness their inspirations achieved. Instead, you find bosses who feel impossible to beat and solutions to puzzles you will only find by accident or Google. The idea of me finishing off as many bosses in as many dungeons as I did and never once feeling accomplished or masterful was saddening. If you're a fan of this genre in need of a quick fix, maybe check it out, if not, don't waste your time.

To summarize, I can't help but position Warhammer Quest as decidedly average. There is quite a lot to do here, and some of it is borderline enjoyable, but so much of it is dull, repetitive and so lacking in a strategic challenge that it feels as if it might as well play along by itself. I can't help but think it's quite a cynical release either, considering it costs ten times as much as the practically identical mobile game, which is a medium that feels much better suited to the subject matter anyway. Steer clear if you're looking for a pulse racing, genuinely enjoyable digital board game, and only dive in if you feel you know what you're getting yourself into.

Spheroids can be addicting, but that means your time spent with it won't last long. This type of game doesn't rely on a well-written story; it relies on functionality and an enjoyable endeavor. It has met the basic requirements for success but is not going to appeal to everyone. Like the bouncing spheroids, this game has its ups and downs. If you are looking for a quick game with a simple charm and a clear objective, this is it. If you're looking for hidden secrets and a challenge, you should probably pass.

Uncanny Valley has a couple of good ideas. Firstly, it has an interesting setting and plot, and the 2D action adventure approach works well at a conceptual level. The introduction of a compelling reason to replay the game, and the various means to progress through it and end it is also very welcome. Unfortunately, the combination of abysmal controls, poor combat and a lot of repetition in almost every area can make it hard to get the most out of Uncanny Valley, and as a result, it's not going to be for everyone.

Vaccine sets out to imitate the classic horror games of old, and in that regard it is successful; however, it fails in being an engaging and enjoyable experience as a whole. The roguelike elements are not a great match for the classic genre, and the reliance the player will have on luck and having to deal with clunky controls will make the game an easy one to put down. If you are itching to play an old school horror game, then you're way better off just playing the HD remake of the original Resident Evil, than having to deal with the frustration that is Vaccine.

I loved the idea behind Typoman, but sadly the the actual implementation didn't play out as I hoped. The graphics are stunning, but the gameplay itself doesn't hold up. It's also extremely short and worse still when you consider the 3 hour runtime is being padded out with lengthy cutscenes and having to repeat sections due to unfair instant deaths. On the other-hand, The Antonymizer mini game was a real hit, but not quite enough to save the game and warrant a purchase.

Within the first fifteen minutes of playing Pix the Cat, you’ll see mostly everything it has to offer. The core aspect of this game is chasing high scores. For some, crunching the numbers and perfecting the art of gameplay just isn’t what they are looking for a game. Others will be turned off by the repetitive nature.

Despite my love of physics-based games, I didn't have fun with this iO at all. At its worst, it's a mess where things just don't work the way you want, but most of the time it's just a dull platformer with lackluster visuals and repetitive level design. The concept is novel, but it left a lot of room to grow.

Crypt of the NecroDancer separates itself from other roguelikes thanks to the rhythmic beat gameplay and the variety of content available for players to mess around with. The games soundtrack will keep you playing and coming back to the game so that you can hear that one particular track again. The level by level exploration of the game is fun once players get used to the beat of the game. There is a lot to like with Crypt of the NecroDancer and most players will find some aspect of the game to get hooked on.

The Little Acre offers a great all around experience for everyone. It's one of those games that you should pop some popcorn and gather the family for a fun enjoyable game night. Pewter Games manages to keep you enthralled the whole time, offering a happy yet emotional story with enjoyable puzzles, simple controls and good humor. I know point-n-click games aren't for everyone, but if you are a fan of them or don't mind them as long as you have a good time, then don't hesitate to pick up TheLittleAcrfe.

Pixel Heroes: Byte & Magic has got some nice ideas behind it. For the first few hours, it's an interesting and challenging take on retro RPGs. However, it's eagerness to make you suffer is ill-placed and more of an annoyance than a lesson learned. There's an achievement to wipe your party 100 times, but I'm pretty sure I would have experienced some mental breakdown if it got to that point.

Subject 13 stands out with its difficulty range, puzzle variety and collectibles that add context and clues. As long as you have enough patience to handle the sometimes lengthy puzzles and the finicky controls, this game can be an incredibly enjoyable experience that truly tests your puzzle solving abilities.

Wells is an enjoyable game that does one thing fairly well, but won't wow you. Running and gunning through the levels doesn't change much, but the variety of weapons and the core mechanics make what could have been a dull slog into a fun three-hour journey. Everything outside of the core gameplay leaves much to be desired. I enjoyed my time with Wells, and while it does nothing memorable, those who are looking for a short run and gun game could do worse than giving Wells a shot.

I can almost see the appeal of playing Doddle God on a mobile phone. Perhaps when you're waiting for the next bus, or when your friend is late meeting you. I say almost, though, as I'm pretty sure I could find a million other more interesting things to do on my phone. Or maybe I've just never hit that level of boredom required to find a game like Doodle God fun. However, on a home console system, it's about as dull as you can get and at $9.99, there are hundreds of better games out there worth your time and money

While Kill the Bad Guy has more than its fair share of frustrations, they're never so bad that they overshadow the game's strengths. It's a simple puzzle game that handles variety and difficulty well, containing a decent amount of content. It's dark themes and constant justification of bloody murder may be rather blunt and uninspired but may appeal to those who want their brainteasers to be a bit more brutal.

Candleman lights up the night as a unique experience on Xbox One. Its use of light makes even the most basic puzzles and platforming challenges a lot of fun to play through. As I became more and more absorbed into the world of Candleman, I found connections with the protagonist that I never expected to share with a candle. And perhaps the unexpectedness of Candleman is that the time I spent with the game felt refreshing. I never found myself needlessly frustrated at the difficulty, rather; I found myself in a constant state of shock and awe as each new part of the journey offered exciting new opportunities. Candleman is a timeless tale meant for nearly all ages only hindered by a myriad of technical issues.

Saban's Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Mega Battle looks great and sparks so many nostalgic memories for me, but that is where any happiness from this stops. The game itself is basically hot garbage in a pretty multi-colored wrapper. The boss battles are lackluster, controls are horrible and the story is generic at best, even for a Power Rangers story.

The story, the script and the characters in Knee Deep, as well as the setting, all contribute to a fantastic experience that is entirely unique at the moment. Knee Deep a game for anyone who wants to experience something a little calmer, a bit more cerebral and a little bit different to the norm.

From your eight-year-old cousin to your spouse to anyone who can hold an Xbox One controller, everyone can and will have a great time playing Towerfall Ascension.

This game has hundreds of levels that you cannot manually choose, cool looking characters that all function the same, easy to use controls and a point system that favors number of kills over survivability. If you're looking for a simple and easy game to play with a few friends, this game is for you. If you're looking for a new and exciting multiplayer experience to really dive into, this one is not there yet.

This game can be fun but not for long periods of time. It is more likely a game you would buy, play once then forget about until you are looking through your game library because you ran out of storage. I've said this before and I will say it again: puzzle games should require patience and skill rather than focus on speed and luck. King Oddball's enormous amount of levels and chuckle-worthy achievements just don't cut it.

As a fan of the show, I'm disappointed I didn't like the RWBY: Grimm Eclipse more. I did have fun playing it online and mindlessly mashing buttons, but that thrill didn't last.

Subterrain is my favorite game of the year so far (I know it's early days yet) because I love the incredibly deep, complex gameplay and nearly endless challenge that the game offers. The color palette may be limited, and the manual is rubbish, but the game retains a ton of personality from a decent story, the interesting setting and the unique take on survival horror that it offers.

The Assembly on Xbox One is a technically proficient decent walking sim, with great graphics, voice acting and surprisingly superior immersion for a low budget version of a VR experience. That said, the story in any walking sim really needs to be the main feature. It's unfortunate then that The Assembly is something of a snore-fest.

Siegecraft Commander will grow on you, but how much, I can't say. The controls and the rubbish drawstring aiming spoiled it for me, and with a better implementation of those things, I think I would have found less to fault about the building chain mechanic that could actually have been quite interesting.

The two to three hours it takes to complete Toby: The Secret Mine never sees the story build on its initial momentum from the opening scenes. Toby: The Secret Mine is worth seeing but it's only a handful that will find it worthwhile to stay.

I found more things negative about I Am Bread than positive. I understand the attraction to such a meme-worthy game and why some consider it to be a great game. But trust me on this: after about 30 minutes of gameplay, you’ve seen everything I Am Bread has to offer.

Metrico+ is a delightfully challenging game that sometimes requires out-of-the-box thinking.

There are several interesting ideas for puzzles, but they are poorly implemented, and the lofty technical ambitions are let down by poor performance. All in all, Nevermind struggles to elevate itself above mediocrity, but that doesn't mean that it isn't worth your time.

While Dead Effect 2 had its bumps and rocky moments, I certainly enjoyed playing through the game. I’d even go as far as to say the bad dialogue and accents sort of grew on me by the end. For $11.99, this game feels like an absolute steal when considering the high replay value and three different types of classes to play as through the story. Dead Effect 2 is worth the buy.

The turn-based strategy is solid, but everything else surrounding Acorn Assault: Rodent Revolution is a hard nut to swallow. The repetitive slog and poorly written story make this quirky game uninteresting, albeit weird. I have a tough time recommending this game to anyone including those who enjoy strategy games, as the core turn-based gameplay is not good enough to warrant having to trudge through the issues the game has.

I had a great time playing through Rise & Shine, but sadly, I know I'll never go back to it. I wanted to complete it; I very much so enjoyed the final twist of the story and the end "solution" even more. Enjoying the end, however, doesn't change the fact that the glitches, bad button layout and overly annoying self-awareness, really make it hard to enjoy at times.

For the brief moment it lasts, SPIFFING is a great game with an excellent script and a fairly high standard of production. Unfortunately, it's so short that it feels like a tutorial or a demo even. I'm known at XBLA Fans for commenting on game prices too often, but I can't ignore the fact that SPIFFING weighs in at nearly $20, yet lasts for less time than a decent TV drama.

No matter if I'm playing with my kids or having a few drinks with my buddies, throwing a sphere with a wand has proven to be way more fun than it honestly should be, that's part of its charm. I love local multiplayer, it's what I grew up on and Wand Wars reminds me why it is such a great way to spend my time with the people I love.

I can't help but recommend Enigmatis 2 for its interesting narrative, its highly accessible gameplay and its low price that together create a package that is very appealing. It may be on the short side, but with the extra campaign included, there is much less to complain about. I know that Enigmatis 2 won't be for everyone, but it is a charming package that deserves a serious look.

I really enjoyed Wick for the short period of time in which it remained fresh, new and interesting to me. The forest is creepy and the enemies are terrifying the first few times you encounter them, but the fear is short-lived once rationality begins to take over. Playing Wick in a pitch black room, or passing the pad with friends can extend the experience. If you're a fan of horror games, or you just love a spooky story, then Wick is well worth a second look.

Darksiders: Warmastered Edition takes a great game and makes it… well, the same. I don't mean to belittle the work done on the remaster; the visual and performance upgrades are really good. It's a great re-release of a great game, but it's a game that still feels rather recent. With nothing additional added to the package, it may not do enough to appeal to fans of the original, but for newcomers, this is the best version of the game.

Had it included multiplayer modes, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to award Gas Guzzlers Extreme our Highly Recommended award, but without it, prospective players should think long and hard about what they expect to get out of the game.

This game is $14.99, but it should be $30, or even $40. The game is vast, detailed and nearly impeccable in every way, with perhaps only the social element lagging behind the rest. It is every bit as feature packed as the AAA rated games that it is similar to, such as Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing. I'll be playing Stardew Valley for a long time to come, and I genuinely hope that this review inspires you to pick it up and do the same, because this is one of the finest examples of passionate, empowered independent video game making I've ever come across.

Yesterday Origins is by no means perfect but its strong story kept me gripped to the end and left me hoping for a sequel or even a series of adventures featuring our two heroes.

Westerado: Double Barreled is something that can be played and beat in an hour or enjoyed for much longer stretches, just depending on your mood. There are many hidden elements such as hidden areas, secret rituals, multiple endings and secret quests. It's such a simple game but with so much to enjoy. If you're looking for something different, a change of pace, then this is the game for you.

Tennis in the Face is a great game with hardly any noticeable flaws. It is a great way to kill an hour or a whole day. Playing for the crowns or the high scores keeps it engaging and worth playing more than once.

There's certainly plenty of hours of game time in Mekazoo and plenty of replayablity; I just don't understand why anyone would subject themselves to Mekazoo.

Functionally, the game plays fine, but with the lack of any real variety of enemies game to make it interesting for more experienced players, and we now have a bit of an oddity that's not particularly accessible to casual players and is unlikely wow diehard shmup fans either who'd be able to find similar, yet more compelling, shoot-em ups elsewhere.

Its cutesy presentation will put some players off and its concept, in general, is probably best suited to a younger audience, but to be fair, it can get challenging in places with some fast-paced resource management required as the game progresses.

Zen Studios has taken a lot of time to think each stage through and try to bring as much of the feeling of that game and its world as they could. Each table felt 100% like a pinball representation of its triple-A counterpart and not only was the table enjoyable to play but it sparked great memories of the original games.

Nebulous is a successful puzzle game in that it meets the general criteria to be one; however, it does not have any element that draws you in and makes you want to play for hours or even complete the game.

I loved Furi, and it excels at what it sets out to do but it is a very niche experience. Fighting a single boss for over ten minutes can be an endurance test in and of itself but failing enough times and having to repeat some bosses for over an hour can get exhausting.

Energy Cycle is perfect for those who take pride in their gamerscore and are always looking to increase their number of achievements. The game hands out achievements as frequently as parents hand out candy on Halloween night. Those looking for something a bit more than gamerscore in a game might want to look elsewhere as there is little in Energy Cycle that is particularly new or fun.

Imagine a game that has the potential to exceed every expectation you had going into it in some regards, but is so poor in others that you can barely stand to play through the worse sections. That, for me, is The Dwarves. It is a huge missed opportunity.

Headlander is a really fun game for those looking to scratch a Metroidvania itch, however, those looking for a revolutionary new take on the genre should know that they won't quite find what they are after here. Instead, they will find a competent game that excels at the basics and offers a number of laughs and sources of wonder.

Blue Rider was supposed to be a new twist on an old genre, but it sort of falls short of the marker. That doesn't change the fact that it was enjoyable and fun.