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An adventurous romp of the chest-thumping variety. Perfect for perfectionists / masochists or those wanting a hearty dose of nostalgia, but lacking in that extra something that makes it feel completely fresh.
Square Enix have finally given us a world packed with quests, slick combat and significant depth in how we equip Lightning for battle. So why have they put all this in such a bland world and under a time limit? This could have been a rich game for us to explore and wrap ourselves in. Instead, we're pushed around and made to feel unwelcome.
A super fun action platformer, Strider re-creates the fun of the original for the new generation. Well worth your time and money as a distraction until the larger AAA titles hit the stores.
A poorly-designed outing that might, in another continuity where the previous Thief games never existed, have earned itself the heady accolade of 'barely average'. Unfortunately, we all know that it could be - and has been done - so much better.
South Park: The Stick of Truth is a fantastic adaption of the show, and will thrill fans who have always wanted to visit this Colorado community in an interactive medium.
A polished and enjoyable but somewhat aimless survival focused city-builder that slowly loses its appeal once you figure out how to survive the initial starting-up period.
The concept of Octodad: Deadliest Catch is clever and the overall experience is good for some laughs. But it is hard to recommend a game that is fun for little over an hour. Young Horses just doesn't seem to know what to do with their good idea.
Good for a quick laugh, but not much more than that. If you value an evening's entertainment over having a significant chunk of your spare time eaten up, Jazzpunk is for you.
Strangely compelling though it is, Consortium is a roughly-cut venture that doesn't really make use of its ideas. Not recommended unless you're really, really, creepily into dialogue trees.
You can nitpick The Banner Saga to death, but despite its flaws the game is a joy to play. People who are looking for a fantasy world with weight and depth will fall in love with Stoic's tale of man and varl pushed to the brink. This studios first attempt at a full single player campaign has demonstrated their skill, leaving me hoping there is more in store.
I can only really recommend giving this a go if you're going to be able to get it for free as a former buyer of the Vita version. You'll appreciate the improved controls, but this is still a frustrating experience for the majority of the time. Avoid until the GBP 9.99 / USD 14.99 price tag is slashed in half.
A quirky trip back to the well, but dig a little deeper and you'll find that these small injections and remixes of classic NES games are more enjoyable than the full experiences they hail from.
As a new IP, The Swapper is one of the best around. The great puzzles, superbly told story and beautiful visuals make me excited for whatever comes next from the Finnish developer.
All-around frustrating controls, irregular physics and unfriendly level design make Max: The Curse of Brotherhood another misstep in the Xbox One digital launch library.
Lococycle isn't broken, but that's the only praise I can give it. The game offers up uncomfortably unfunny material and sandwiches it with boring gameplay. In the end, the game is a squandered opportunity and a failed attempt at an idea that could have had merit.
Forza Motorsport 5 sets the bar high for visual fidelity and simulation racing on the Xbox One. Sadly, design choices and lack of content get in the way of the fun.
Ryse: Son of Rome is a decent action trip and a good addition for the Xbox One launch lineup, but on its own there's nothing particularly memorable to help stand the test of time.
One of the better games currently inhabiting the discarded skin of the roguelike. Doesn't do anything particularly mind-blowing, but it's definitely fun while it lasts.
Those tired of Enemy Unknown's formula will not find compelling improvements or changes here, though fans will find enough new content to merit another go at vanquishing the Alien invasion.
Powerstar Golf is a competent game, but it is incomplete. Players will quickly find themselves longing for more features, a bigger roster, and more finely tuned gameplay. Due to a lack of content and some difficulty imbalances, the game is difficult to recommend.