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.