Ashen subverts expectations. It manages to take the Souls genre, deconstruct it and make it feel originally its own. From the art style to the lovingly-crafted areas you venture through, you can tell that this was a passion project for the development team at A44. Slight performance issues aside, Ashen is a wonderful action role-playing game that respects the player’s desire to explore. It’s some of the most fun I’ve had with my Xbox One this year and well worth the time of anyone who is a fan of the genre, as well as a great entry point for those who are curious – a true independent gem.

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.

Exit the Gungeon is a smart remix of the original, streamlining its approach while offering the same intense shoot-em-up action. While it can feel smaller than its predecessor, in no way is it lacking in level variety, weaponry, or personality. Now that the series has a top-down shooter and a sidescroller under its belt, when will we be getting an Enter the Gungeon first-person shooter?

Even for those who haven’t gotten the chance to experience the original game, Q.U.B.E. 2 does a great job of filling the player in on the important details that lead up to this point. If you’re in the mood to test your brain against some exciting puzzles all while experiencing an interesting and phenomenal story, then look no further.

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.

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 went into Nightmare Boy not knowing what to expect. After multiple playthroughs, I can say I’ve really enjoyed everything the game has to offer. If after completing the game you’re looking for something to further the replay value, some of the achievements offered challenge players to complete the game without dying, without saving or even without killing any of the little friendly slime creatures riddled throughout the game. If you’re looking for a solid, challenging Metroidvania game to fill your free time, Nightmare Boy may be just what you’re looking for!

Over the years, 2D platformers have been raising the bars in quality and ingenuity. Double Cross doesn’t add much to the genre but is pretty decent overall. The excitement of solving cases diminishes quickly when you come to realize there is no thinking on your part. It just serves as part of the storyline. If you can focus on the combat and levels, you’ll see why it’s still a very enjoyable game. Each of the various stages offer different challenges to make things feel different as you progress. It’s nice to be able to choose what missions you take on. The story is a bit light and the humor could use a lot of work. It ends up being a fine addition to the platformer genre, but nothing you need to rush to purchase.

I'm glad we have another good Portal-adjacent title. Bridge Constructor Portal perfectly combines aspects of both games to create something uniquely challenging. It's obviously a pick-up-and-play casual game that's not quite at home on consoles, but the gameplay at its core is great nonetheless. It would still be a great game without the Portal aesthetic, but it wouldn't have made me smile nearly as much.

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.

With a pretty good blend of puzzles and fighting, Brok the InvestiGator doesn’t have very many dull moments. People who don’t normally enjoy this genre might be pleasantly surprised! If you get stuck you can always get the hints, which will tell you exactly what to do next. The story is well-written and the voice acting doesn’t skip a beat. A big bonus is being able to go through the game multiple times to discover all of the endings and scenes. It makes it very replayable, and you actually won’t feel like you’ve completed the story until you’ve run through it a few times to find an ending that you are happy with. I like that there are multiple ways to progress certain encounters, and it was actually fun looking for the Ads which are the collectibles that can be used for hints. I do wish there were a few more cases though, as they kind of took a backseat to Brok’s family drama. Would I play a sequel or DLC? I definitely would. Hopefully, they are finished with this character.

The Magic Circle is exactly what I want from an indie game, and despite being weird and niche, I celebrate the fact that games like this are being made.

This game is by no means perfect but set a pretty high standard in the format they chose to unravel this witty story in.

Perhaps the most disappointing thing about Letter Quest is the fact that it really doesn't feel like it makes that much difference when you craft an unusually long or complex word.

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.

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.

I am in love with Livelock. It is one of the most feature rich and professional independently developed games I've ever played, whether on Xbox One or elsewhere. At only $19.99, Livelock is worth every penny, punching well above its weight and contending strongly against a lot of retail titles that offer much less and cost a lot more.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On a pure gameplay level, Ruiner is almost perfect. It strikes the perfect balance between challenge and fun. The game feels incredible to play, and every ability feels satisfying and powerful, but that means nothing if you don't have the skills to use them well. The story and world may not be fleshed out enough, but at least it's a sight to behold. The game may be called Ruiner, but it can only improve your game library.

If you enjoyed Left 4 Dead and it's sequel then a purchase of Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide will likely be a no brainer. It's fast paced action combined with the Warhammer lore and RPG-lite features makes this a great game that should keep you interested for hours or more likely months. The game is perfect for those with a regular crew of gamer friends, though it's low player base may be off putting for some.

It is still a very enjoyable game that, with any other name, would standalone as a fun, feature rich and exciting title. Unfortunately, what I wanted was something that resembled the first Pac-Man Championship Edition (and the Pac-Man games I love) a lot more closely. Newcomers and speed runners will probably love this version, but those looking for nostalgia will find the game sadly lacking.

Mothergunship is a ultimately a humorous tale of taking back earth from the aliens that had no business winning in the first place. Going through this game will have its frustrations but the funny writing and the solid gameplay at work here will make those melt away. From top to bottom, Mothergunship is a good time, and good for a solid go on your hard drive. So what are you waiting on soldier? Don’t you have some aliens to kill?

With multiple endings, you steer your mystery taking uncertain turns in the hope they lead you in the right direction. The unique shapeshifting mechanic is absolutely genius. The flow of the scenes is done quite well, with the only hiccup being the time you felt was wasted from showing up at empty rooms. You may feel content with your ending but may also have that itch to try again to see all of the possible outcomes. I don’t tend to watch movies more than once, but one that changes constantly in a video game format is something I can definitely get on board with.