XboxEra's Reviews
Turbo Golf Racing is a great racing game and an all right golfing experience. It’s got an appealing visual style and music and it’s a casual title that’s easy to pick up and play but it’s also hard to master. There’s lots of customisation you can unlock to stand out of the crowd, no matter the playstyle. If RC cars and balls appeal to you, this game is for you. It’s on Game Pass and has crossplay enabled.
Jokes and gaming slash cartoon references swim freely in this self-aware point and click adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed the humour in “Jorel’s Brother and The Most Important Game of the Galaxy” short runtime, even with a middling middle portion. A good title to experience on the go and for fans of the original television show.
The Rogue Prince of Persia’s Early Access launch is a solid one. While there is a decided lack of content the core gameplay is fantastic and I cannot wait to see what this one turns into by version 1.0.
Despite the backing of a company as large and as well-funded as Microsoft, Ninja Theory have, in my opinion, nurtured their independent spirit and kept it well and truly alive in every facet of Senua's Saga: Hellblade II. It's brutal. It's breath-taking. It's brilliant. If this is “Independent AAA”? Sign me up for more.
System Shock is an all-time classic, and this is by far the best way to experience it. Nightdive Studios have followed through on their promise and delivered a full remake that gets what made the original so special.
Pool Party is a fun sit-down and get-dirty physics-based party game that's a lot of fun to play but feels lacking in its content offerings. Easy to pick up and play for everyone, even the less gaming-inclined.
While the level design is serviceable and the budget of the game clearly shows in things like the UI, the combat flows very well once you get a hang of it and the game is always giving you more monstrosities to slash into ribbons. Morbid: The Lords of Ire might not be the best soulslike I’ve played, but it’s absolutely one of the better games in the genre. And considering it’s not launching as a full-priced game, it’s hard not to recommend the game for fans of the genre looking for something similar but still fun enough to have a good time.
Mediterranea Inferno is an excellent contemporary visual novel that will connect to you even through its eccentricities. A gorgeous presentation along with a mash of personal struggle grounded in Italian culture and LGBT-positive themes.
The addition of the commentary tracks from creator Jonathan Blow and friends was a very interesting listen. For fans of game design, art, music and more, it’s a fascinating insight in to the very creation of the things we love. A worthwhile package is on offer here with Braid: Anniversary Edition. I’m pleased my memories on just how great this game was and is, haven’t been jumbled or misremembered in the slightest.
The game's cut-throat pacing will certainly excite the hardcore players, but the lack of real breaks, meaningful exploration, and worldbuilding makes WRATH: Aeon of Ruin more of a shooting exercise than an actual memorable experience. I still feel like recommending it, maybe on sale, to skilled players looking for a tough challenge on console - but in the genre's modern-day resurgence, there are better alternatives to choose from.
Little Kitty, Big City is a short and sweet experience, much like this review. Full of charm and heart, it’s well worth checking out Day One on Xbox Game Pass whether you’re a cat person or not.
Hades II Early Access launch is better than I could have hoped. If this was version 1.0 it would be better than 95% of games launched in the past decade. As is they’ve said they’ll be working on the full launch through the end of 2024. If you enjoyed Hades then know that the sequel is, somehow, even better.
Indika is an odd, wonderful title. Mixing 3D photo-realistic art with 2D-pixel graphics makes some bold choices. Excellent writing and voice acting help carry mediocre gameplay and created an experience I will never forget.
It may not have the visual flair and marvelous shooting of Treyarch’s creations, on top of some annoying connection woes at launch – but since they seemingly abandoned the classic formula, Sker Ritual satisfyingly fills that classic Zombies-shaped hole in our hearts, proposing a fun game, already packed with content and quite cheap. Do we need much more? All in all, it’s a very promising start for Sker Ritual – I’m eager to see patches, balance changes, DLCs or even a sequel tackle the few shortcomings, because, underneath it all, it has all the elements that made us fall in love with the Zombies formula and then some. Bravo!
with this much content and all sorts of local and online multiplayer options, Richman 11 is easily one of the better board game experiences on Xbox, especially for younger folks who'd prefer something a bit more accessible.
SAND LAND offers a big beautiful dust bowl for players to explore to their hearts’ content. I found its story and its characters to be the main driver for my playthrough, but the fun vehicle combat went hand-in-hand in my enjoyment of the game. A great adaptation of a legend’s work.
Another Crab’s Treasure is a balls-hard Soulslike that was one of the most frustrating experiences of my reviewing career until I gave in and used its game-saving accessibility options. Once the difficulty was better balanced the game’s humor and heart were able to shine through.
TopSpin 2K25 is a massive disappointment. Feeling more like beta software, with a lack of modes, players, and fun. I cannot recommend this one at the egregious $70 price point.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a triumphant debut for Surgent Studios. At $20, and available on day one for PlayStation+ subscribers, any fan of the action-platformer genre would do well to check it out. Zau’s journey through loss will stick with me for a long time, and the excellent gameplay already has me itching to play through it all again.
I’ll be checking the game out constantly as it progresses through early access. Right now I’m not having nearly as much fun as I was hoping. Gorgeous visuals, occasionally stellar combat, and an intriguing narrative have been held back by progression issues, and far too much busywork in-between runs. I have confidence that Moon Studios will figure things out, though, and that by version 1.0 this game could be an all-timer.