I liked Guacamelee 2 more than I did its predecessor, though being a few years removed from that experience it’s hard to pinpoint why. I remember the original left me unimpressed and occasionally frustrated; here those feelings were lessened but not completely mitigated. It’s the same game but better, backed by a team that’s gained a lot of experience since they’re first go-round. If you loved the first you’ll love this; if you didn’t love the first this still may not win you over, but it’s a definite step in the right direction.

This world is a dark place, and Martha is Dead is a reminder of how fragile mental health is.

No Man’s Sky’s most interesting aspect is how the game that seemingly failed in gamers eyes almost two years ago, has risen from the ashes and has been reborn as something spectacular.

For what it is, it’s an extremely well-done game. You won’t be bragging about your perfect mows to anyone but it’s not about the adrenaline rush, it’s about the learning experience you can bring to you in your own life’s decisions. You’ll know more about mowing and a little more about running your own small business. Well, at least I think it helps. I could be wrong, but it will look good on my resume!

Somehow the game doesn’t get boring even when repeating the same levels (because they are never actually the same, they’re random). If you’re after the usual horror games for Halloween this will not give you that craving. However, if you’d rather just have some casual fun within the spirit of ghosts, then you can at least play this on the side.

Whilst Anima isn't perfect, it is a huge, honest and generally very good game that should appeal to fans of third-person action games.

The best analogue I can come up with for this game is the arcade first-person light-gun shooter, like The House of the Dead or Time Crisis. When taken in that context, Time Carnage makes a lot of sense. It’s playable in small bites, it’s pretty good fun and it offers multiple ways to play. The asking price is just right, and low-risk/high-reward combinations are a winner in my eyes. The complaints I do have should not keep genre fans away from this time-hopping adventure, so leave the DeLorean in the garage and start up your Xbox One instead.

Yoku’s Island Express is a highly compelling mix of genres. Its pinball is fantastic, and its world is full of fun things to do. Through brilliant game design, this odd combo is merged into an inseparable, cohesive whole. The blend is not perfect, off-balanced in a way that will likely appeal more to pinball aficionados than fans of more classic Metroidvania fare, but still does justice to both genres. For the first shot at this unique idea, it definitely hits the mark; Yoku’s Island Express is so fun and charming it’s impossible not to have a blast.

As a returning fan of the original Worms, I'm delighted by what Worms W.M.D has to offer. It's the best Worms game in years and it is a fantastic place for a new generation of fans to begin with.

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.

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.

Wulverblade is a great hack-and-slash adventure, despite its few annoyances. The price is right, the game is exceptionally well done and most importantly it truly seeks to enlighten the player to a turbulent period in British history. The amount of effort put into the historical notes is as much a labor of love as the game itself, so take the time to review them. Grab your blue face paint and your favorite armament (or arm, whichever), and show those Romans whose empire it really is.

More interactive novel than game, Night in the Woods won’t be for everyone. However its appeal is still high thanks to a clever blend of light-hearted yet surprisingly mature storytelling and some of the best friends you’ll meet in a video game. It’s also one of the most painfully accurate depictions of working class life. With pressing financial troubles the cast of Night in the Woods don’t have the luxury of dream careers, gap years and discovery vacations. With a sense of melancholy, it’s time to leave childhood behind and grow up fast.

It may seem from the outside looking in that Earthfall isn’t anything special. Looks can be deceiving. Earthfall is special in the sense that it takes a beloved series with a unique style of gameplay that most assumed to be dead and gave it new life. Left 4 Dead is a series that’s better left to die in the past. Earthfall is a game that you should give every opportunity to play.

Darkest Dungeon is sadistic. Its gameplay is unforgiving, with any situation taking a turn for the worst at any moment. The art style is gritty and monsters unsettling. Its narrator speaks of hopelessness even in the brightest moments. Playing the game will make you question your sanity because despite its unpleasantness it's incredibly addicting. The turn-based combat is challenging but rewarding, making every adventure an intriguing risk worth taking. The adventure may not always be satisfying, but there are many harrowing tales just waiting to be told.

The biggest gripe I had was the map and traveling system. It gave me a sense of wanting to give up because I felt too bothered to run to certain areas. It’s what may hinder people from reaching the story’s conclusion. If you do manage to stick with it, you’ll have a true appreciation of a world you’ll eventually want to know more about.

Hue is a challenging puzzle platformer, but it's one that serves to teach and reward the player rather than frustrate as so many modern platform games do. The puzzles certainly had me scratching my head on more than one occasion, but the leisurely pace of the game allowed me to sit tight and have a good think before making my next move.

The point-and-click genre is not one I’ve personally been interested in. This one is excellent, both for people who love these types of games and those who don’t usually care about them. The story is one to remember, giving a somewhat educational yet funny look into how communism works. Being set in the Cold War era, it does everything right to keep things fairly accurate, even while being fictional. By accurate I’m talking about the music and culture. I only had an issue with certain interactions and wish there was a chapter select option. Otherwise, I advise anyone to pick this up and play through it.

A good game should give you a reason to return to it frequently, and Atomic Heist has that quality without question. Yes, it’s challenging and occasionally frustrating, but it’s so enjoyable you just have to try it again and see if you can get farther. Fun games get my vote, and fun, cheap games are even better. With an exceptionally low price, Atomic Heist makes an occasional bout of radiation sickness far more palatable, so get back in there and retrieve that core!

The beauty is both bright and dark, delivering not only one atmosphere to appreciate but two. While the story can be a bit confusing and hard to follow, it still manages to at least put an idea in your head that you can work with. There are a few areas that seem to go on a bit too long but maybe that’s just because I played it twice. The lack of extras and chapter select is especially unfortunate because of there being so many collectibles. It’s a very unique game that has excellent voice acting and terrific music and sound effects. Only a few times did I see stuttering and sometimes there were weird light issues. The things I think need improvement happen to have a very big impact for me when it comes to an overall package. Otherwise, everything else was really well done.

This is a short but sweet mini-horror game that you can pick up for an afternoon or spread out over a few. There isn’t really much to come back to after you finish it, but this is fine because you’ll likely know what you’re getting into if you pick it up. Besides the cool horror part, they have decided to add some silly parts, like balloons falling when you make it through the job. This works fine in similar titles like the Before Exit series, but I’m not a fan of it being in something that’s supposed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Luckily, there isn’t too much of it. When it’s all said and done, the goal of the game was accomplished. To give you a short experience that you can think about and enjoy. To create a creepy atmosphere that has a few jump scares, but doesn’t go overboard.

The finest skateboarding experience on Xbox One.

A lot of things combine to make an enjoyable detective adventure. You have moody music, pixel graphics, animal characters, stealth, conversation decisions, and dark noir crime drama. The biggest downfall is sadly the story, specifically the last chapter. Again I don’t want to give anything away because it is worth playing and some will find the twist awesome, but I was not a fan. I would definitely like to experience more of the city, especially as a different character. It’s the type of game setting that opens up a lot of options for sequels or DLC. And if that content is created in the future, I will be thrilled to jump back into the crazy animal city.

Aqua Moto Racing Utopia is solid. It’s the Wave Racer 64 of 2018. The game is easy for anyone to pick up and play. Even those who aren’t at all interested in racing will find enjoyment in the game. With a variety of different modes across 10 different tracks and the ability of online and split-screen play, the game includes the right amount of content to justify the price. Aqua Moto Racing Utopia is a game well worth the time and money. Don’t let this game pass you by!

Little Triangle is a great game. It brings forward unique characters and interesting level design and finishes it off with genuine difficulty that starts out smooth but will ultimately quit holding your hand by the second world. Granted, while there are a few issues with the performance stutters and double jump mechanic, it’s something simple that a patch could fix. These problems, however, are minute when compared to all the great aspects the game presents itself with.

If you've already bought The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth and you like it, then Afterbirth is basically an essential purchase. On the contrary, if you couldn't engage with Rebirth, then there is absolutely nothing here to change your mind.

Mages of Mystralia is a decent adventure game. It's also a damn good puzzle game too, keeping you on your toes throughout. Spell creation is well thought out and the pacing is spot on with the difficulty rising at a beginner friendly yet challenging rate. However, whilst the design is great on paper and I found no technical problems, there's no special hook to really wow or truly immerse you enough for a second playthrough. That said if you enjoy adventure, puzzles and a hearty dose of magic, Mages of Mystralia is a solid choice.

Tesla vs Lovecraft is a great twin-stick shooter. I liked 10tons’ previous efforts, and I think this one is very satisfying to play. Its enemies, guns, perks and abilities are all varied and play well with each other, and the first time I stacked several 'one extra projectile fired per shot' perks and jumped in my mech, I couldn’t help but grin at the hail of bullets I was unleashing.