As Dusk Falls is the kind of game that Xbox Game Pass was made for, in the best possible sense of such a compliment; it’s a narrative thriller and adventure that’s easily worth the price of admission, and more importantly, it’s absolutely worthy of your time.
No More Heroes III for current-gen consoles addresses many of the visual performance issues of the 2021 Switch version while also preserving all the quirks, style and flash that made the original so enjoyable despite them, making it the definitive version that fans and newcomers alike should play.
Weighed down by a weak and predictable revenge plot, impossible-to-miss visual glitches and gameplay bugs, and stingy restrictions that prevent players from using any their owned equipment in matches, the Bloody Ties DLC drains much of the fun out of what makes Dying Light 2 great.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns is a both a refreshing, lighthearted take on Firaxis Games’ XCOM formula as well as a shining example of how to faithfully adapt Marvel properties to new game genres that sit outside of the typical action-adventure wheelhouse, propped up by great writing, dialogue, and stellar voice-acting befitting the source material.
High on Life perfectly blends tried-and-true Metroidvania and classic first-person shooter elements with Justin Roiland and Squanch Games’ distinctive brand of dark, fourth wall-breaking comedy, resulting in an action-adventure that no gamer should dare miss out on, especially when it is being offered for free to anyone with an Xbox Game Pass subscription.
Hi-Fi RUSH is a highly enjoyable action-adventure fuses the solid, hack n’ slash combat of Devil May Cry with enthralling rhythm-based mechanics, while also blurring the lines between anime and Saturday Morning Cartoons to deliver a larger-than-life protagonist whose story is just as much fun to watch as he is to play.
Atomic Heart promises tens of hours of tense, first-person, Bioshock-style combat, a compelling, twist-filled narrative, challenging puzzles and an eccentric lead duo that will definitely grow on you.
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a finely polished, absolutely worthwhile remaster of the fourth game in the franchise, with excellent sound and visuals, fun mechanics, and a genuinely haunting story, held back from a higher score only by its outdated controls and sluggish character movement.
Featuring a literally jaw dropping, procedural zombie damage system, a diverse and entertaining cast and high production values from start to finish, Dead Island 2 not only manages to live up to the expectations set by its two mainline prequels over a decade ago--it blows them right out of the water.
Planet of Lana is a must-play for platforming fans, boasting vibrant visuals and a unique, family-friendly take on the classic action-adventure genre.
Armored Core VI delivers superlative visuals and uncompromising challenge that will delight hardcore fans but risks alienating newcomers with its steep learning curve.
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is an indie megaton mic drop from Team Reptile on how it’s done, paying serious homage to the genuinely unique, visually arresting and musically ahead-of-the-curve games that Jet Set Radio and Jet Set Radio Future originally were.
Despite a nonsensical plot and slightly lower emotional stakes, Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a stunning refinement of the Dragon Engine that's wholly deserving of your time, whether you're a longtime Yakuza fan or new to the franchise.
While Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora dazzles with its visual fidelity and expands the lore of its universe, its gameplay shortcomings and frustrating navigation prevent it from fully realizing the thrilling potential of embodying a Na’vi warrior in the mesmerizing world of Pandora.
Tekken 8 sets a new standard in the fighting game genre, brilliantly blending a vast array of characters, innovative gameplay, cutting-edge visuals, and user-friendly features, making it an ideal choice for both series veterans and newcomers alike.