Rogue Legacy 2 is a worthy sequel that improves upon almost every aspect of the original, adding a wide array of new classes, abilities, and content.
Grid Legends is a more than capable racer but not quite up to par with Codemasters' previous games.
Although Echo Generation might seem unassuming at first, it is packed with depth and interesting ideas. The distinctive combat stops the action from getting stale, making it more involving and exciting than many other turn-based adventure games. The compelling story and host of charming characters help to push everything along, with a few twists and turns along the way. Anyone who is a fan of turn-based adventure games could do a lot worse than trying out Echo Generation.
Like its predecessor, Surgeon Simulator 2 can be a whole lot of fun, and there is certainly a lot more content this time around to keep players entertained for a long while. There’s some great comedy moments that can be had when performing the medical procedures, usually by accidentally pulling off a limb or attaching a body part in a place it shouldn't be. This is magnified during multiplayer, as the chaos of multiple people working on the same patient is very enjoyable. A few players might find the console controls a bit too frustrating and the puzzle segments are not entirely compelling, but it certainly gets a lot more right than it does wrong.
Where Bus Simulator 21 excels is in providing a relaxing and strangely soothing experience, much like the Euro Truck Simulator series. Slowly driving around a city and picking up passengers can be more calming than expected, even with all the distractions and extra elements that have to be managed. Of course, that’s only when the game actually works properly and doesn’t suffer from any of the performance and technical issues. Until they are fixed with a patch, Bus Simulator 21 might be more of a headache than it is worth, but it will likely prove oddly therapeutic for some, which means even in its buggy state it still may merit a play depending on what a user is looking for.
Trigger Witch is certainly not a bad game by any stretch, but it does feel like it doesn’t quite hit the highs that it could have. The surreal world and wacky concept can start to feel a bit stale after a while, as the action becomes repetitive and the story fails to really develop. Even with those complaints, though, it’s still a satisfying gameplay experience for the most part and will provide a few hours of fun for those who enjoy twin-stick shooters but want to experience something a little different from the genre.
Although The Ascent is far from perfect, it gets more right than it does wrong and is most successful at creating a world that is filled with interesting characters and fun to explore. The sections that require some grinding might frustrate, but there is enough variety in the combat to keep the gameplay from becoming stale thanks to the wide array of weapons and the cover mechanics. Add in the possibility for co-op multiplayer with some friends and The Ascent can certainly provide hours of riotous fun, especially with a release on Xbox Game Pass day one.
F1 2021 manages to successfully include an engaging story mode while also making a series of improvements that keeps the racing game ahead of the pack.
Ditching the simulation-heavy gameplay of previous Olympic games is a smart move that creates a more enjoyable experience, especially in multiplayer, but there's still a lack of lasting replay value.
Famicom Detective Club is a great remake.
King of Seas looks great and has some great ship-to-ship combat but is let down by its underwhelming exploration and basic story.
Republic Commando's brilliant gameplay and compelling story more than make up for the dated visuals, although the Switch version might not be the definitive experience.
Get-A-Grip Chip is an innovative platformer.
Space Otter Charlie is satisfying and enjoyable.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood has a lot of interesting ideas, but the boring and repetitive gameplay and lack of compelling story mean it fails to make a lasting impression.
Space Invaders Forever has two good modes.
Destiny 2 looks and plays great.
Although Football Manager 21 isn't as in-depth on Xbox Series X as it is on PC, it manages to provide a fun and engaging management simulator that has been sorely missing from consoles for some time.
Not a royal flush quality poker game.
A significant improvement in every respect.