Xbox Tavern

“Robots at Midnight brings little to the genre that is new. It is decent enough but lacks the spark to elevate it.”

“Overall happy to see TMNT cross yet another genre, but Tactical Takedown just barely makes a good grade. It’s not bad but it does nothing for the genre to make me want more of it. I can, for sure, recommend this for those wanting a more toned down turn-based strategy experience, especially if you love the Turtles, however. Veterans to these games will likely find Tactical Takedown a bit slow and too simple.”

“Ra Ra Boom is a fun, colourful scrolling brawler/shooter that has plenty of charm and good replay value. Some small niggles in the combat and early game power levels aside, this is one for those looking for some couch co-op brawling good times.”

“Heartworm is a love letter to survival horrors of the 90’s, with a great look and feel that apes those older games brilliantly. Boring boss fights, an uninspiring tale, and some user interface niggles stop this being a full-hearted recommendation, but if you’re in the market for old school Resident Evil-like gaming, then this should fit the bill nicely.”

“Some stunning pixel art and music compliment a fun action platforming roguelite title. The aesthetics can occasionally mask enemies, but gaining upgrades and knowledge of what’s to come remains rewarding for its brief runtime.”

“ISLANDERS: New Shores is an absolute treasure that improves on everything set up before. Amazingly, it also ends up being a great entry point for newcomers by remaining soothing and unstuffy even with the added bells and whistles.”

“God of Weapons may not be as refined as Vampire Survivors to knock them off their perch as the best rogue-like survival game. But I think it does plenty to provide a fun alternative. I like the variety of characters, unlockables and objectives as it keeps the game fresh and interesting. It’s very easy to pick and play, and not difficult to master.”

“I am Your Beast is lean, well paced, and full of style and humour. An essential purchase for anyone that loves to chase a perfect murder run.”

“Another detailed, super niche, hobby specific game that didn’t sit well with me, but this time it wasn’t because it was bad necessarily! Rooftops & Alleys was fine for what it was, but it wasn’t right for me despite being excited to play it. Mostly a mixture between the controls not aligning for me and not finding much to do (I am glad to see the time trials and trick battles exist, but other stuff being options comes to mind; think collecting letters ala the S-K-A-T-E challenges from THPS or finding lines and gaps) lead me to my final opinion. I would definitely need some multiplayer motivation for this to have any longevity as well which isn’t present for me. If you have those things and the will to “get good” at games, then this might be for you and your friends. Don’t let my bad gameplay sell the game short either!”

“A too short affair with a real threat at the conclusion of Siren’s Rest means a lot of the game is spent swimming and gathering narrative exposition rather than fighting for survival as in Still Wakes the Deep. Luckily, the story told is engaging enough to pull us through the few hours it takes, and the sense of being at the bottom of the North Sea is convincing enough to be its own threat for those of us who aren’t super keen on the water as it is. I’m not sure if it helped or hindered my preparation for real life though…”

“Whether you've come for a good yarn, intense drama, or intriguing puzzles, American Arcadia has you covered nicely without ever overstaying its welcome. Experiencing Trevor's story and the interplay between Trevor and Angela is engaging and high-quality entertainment. It's brief, and the characters aren't particularly interesting, but American Arcadia is a game with plenty to say - an inspired, brief, but pleasurable title that deserves attention.”

“Knock on the Coffin Lid is a solid entry in the roguelite deckbuilder category. Anyone sick of the other big contenders will have plenty of things to do. Those looking for a bit more story than usually found will get the most out of it.”

“If you’re up for a disturbingly enjoyable tale for an evening or two, do yourself a favour; pick up Cooking Companions with as little prior knowledge as possible and just revel in the places it takes us. Just don’t let the kids watch.”

“Kiborg has crunchy combat and a fantastic sense of adventure to its progression system. Anyone looking for a character action game that delights in the absurd should give it a try. That said, you will need to be content to deal with the unfinished nature of some aspects.”

“Thanks to a brisker pace and slightly shorter runtime, I found myself enjoying Tape 2 a bit more than Tape 1. It feels more exciting and engaging, and even the modern day parts pay off finally as we get to the bottom of the mystery that was frustratingly teased throughout the last episode. As a whole, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is one of the better choose your own adventure style games in recent years, and a welcome return for Don’t Nod indeed.”

“Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds: Ultimate is a loving remaster/reworking of the original title, it is bursting with content and all of the originals wide-eyed excess. For those revisiting this will be everything they could possibly want (bigger roster, more modes, better multiplayer). For hardcore beat ‘em up fans the combat might not be deep enough for them but they aren’t the target audience for this title.”

“Techno Banter is a wonderful little title with tons of Berlin charm. Part text adventure, part Papers, Please, and a handy dousing of EDM.”

“After being drawn in by some eye-catching artwork, Leila backed it up with an engaging story and fun puzzles, albeit hampered by controller inputs rather than a mouse. This niggle aside, Leila is an easy recommend for those looking for an evening of puzzles alongside some heartfelt, thought-provoking storytelling.”

“There isn’t much to say about a game like this other than you get what you see. Looking for a relaxed hour of gaming? Look at Cats & Seek. Looking for that game to play after you spent dozens and dozens of hours completing that huge RPG? Look at Cats & Seek. Looking for a fast and easy 1,000 gamerscore? Look at Cats & Seek.”

“It’ll be over in a few evenings, but what a few evenings it’ll be with KinnikuNeko SUPER MUSCLE CAT. The anime styling is very cool, and only enhances a solid set of levels and abilities that we have to play with. A few more opportunities to switch between buff and cat Neko at will would have been great, but as it is KinnikuNeko SUPER MUSCLE CAT comes very highly recommended indeed.”