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.