xbox

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Under the Island

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Under the Island

As Nia moves to a new town, her life gets turned upside down when the ground swallows her up to then place her on the journey of a whole new adventure. Under the Island was a pleasant surprise, and a wonderful delight.

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The 9th Charnel

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The 9th Charnel

The 9th Charnel feels unfinished despite a good attempt and breeding atmosphere. Saikat Deb has set a somewhat decent foundation here, but its execution has resulted in a boring, broken, and bland experience across the board.

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REANIMAL

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REANIMAL

Ultimately, the game’s few technical issues are completely overshadowed by Reanimals' excellence across world design, environmental storytelling, and set-piece moments, not to mention its eerie use of audio, especially via headphones.

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Romeo is a Dead Man

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Romeo is a Dead Man

Romeo is a Deadman is certainly a Suda51 game, and while it is Grasshopper’s best in years, I do wish the No More Heroes jank didn't follow itself here and infect combat and general movement. Still, the craziness that is Romeo is a Deadman is sound, and those looking for another bizarre fever dream are likely to be pleased.

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Ride 6

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Ride 6

So, when it comes to gameplay, Ride 6 is a solid title that sits somewhere between a full-on arcade racer and a true-to-life simulation. Its physics system and focus on bikes make it stand out from the competition, but the learning curve for cornering might be too steep for casual players.

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Apartment No 129

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Apartment No 129

I enjoyed Apartment 129 despite the few flaws that drew me out of some moments. The developers, Dead Witness, crafted a great psychological horror experience that I recommend any aficionados of the genre try.

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Winter Burrow

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Winter Burrow

Winter Burrow is a cozy survival sim as you play as a mouse, desperate to survive the winter in your once occupied home, however, on this journey you will assist and befriend a bunch of different critters that would normally be quite removed from each other and incompatible.

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Dragon Quest VII Reimagined

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Dragon Quest VII Reimagined

I was unsure going into Dragon Quest VII Reimagined whether the game would meet my expectations and if I would cherish it as much as many players have for years. Ultimately, I have loved my time with this reimagined classic.

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I Hate this Place

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I Hate this Place

I Hate This Place tells a new story set in the confines of this richly detailed world. As Elena, you'll battle monstrosities and horrors as you attempt to find your missing friend, Lou, after a ritual goes horribly horribly wrong. To be fair, have rituals in horror stories ever gone right? Yeah, didn't think so.

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Ebola Village

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Ebola Village

Ebola Village is clearly a game built around its inspirations, but that is putting it mildly. When it isn’t ripping on other game’s ideas, it is providing awful movement, poorly modeled zombies, and a general lack of care across the board for almost anything it does.

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MIO: Memories in Orbit

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MIO: Memories in Orbit

Despite some poor choices and an unreliable mechanic, not to mention the annoyance that are the tremors, I still had a great time with Memories from Orbit, basking in its gorgeous visuals and memorable characters, and consider it as one of the better Metroidvania titles in years. 

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I am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival

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I am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival

I am Future is exactly what it says on the tin, it is a cozy apocalypse survival game, and is a nice alternative to what we usually see. It isn't always engaging, but the bright visuals, comfy music, and charm do a lot of heavy lifting here, making this one rooftop party worth attending.

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From The Ashes Expansion - Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

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From The Ashes Expansion - Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora was a solid entry into bringing the films to life with an original story. Now, From the Ashes continues a key moment in the film franchise with the introduction of the Ash Clan. So’lek takes on both RDA forces and the Ash Clan in an action-packed standalone adventure that, while familiar, is wonderfully done.

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Ink Inside

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Ink Inside

Ink Inside is a good attempt at bringing this story to life, but a host of technical issues greatly hold it back. However, aside from its performance woes, there is a solid RPG here with some interesting combat and engaging characters.

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Tormented Souls 2

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Tormented Souls 2

Tormented Souls 2 is an improvement to the original in so many ways. While its horror elements, visuals, and gameplay are exactly what you want from this experience, the game launched in an underwhelming state plagued by countless bugs and tech issues.

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Terrifier: The ARTcade Game

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Terrifier: The ARTcade Game

Terrifier: The ARTcade Game is a Beat’em Up that may lean towards the visual approach of Scott Pilgrim, but it lacks the depth and fun of almost any other game the genre offers. With a limited moveset, and underdeveloped characters, this brawler just doesn’t cut it.

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Clawpunk

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Clawpunk

For players who enjoy chaotic action, challenging roguelite gameplay, and replay-driven progression, CLAWPUNK is a standout indie title. While its steep difficulty curve may not appeal to everyone, those who embrace its style will find a ferocious, synth-driven experience that’s hard to put down.

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CloverPit

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CloverPit

CloverPit is a fun luck-based rogue-lite that requires strategies and careful planning to be able to beat. It is easy to pick up, and the quick attempts make for a fast and fun experience that many can enjoy. If you enjoy rogue-lite style games, I would recommend giving it a try.

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Marvel: Cosmic Invasion

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Marvel: Cosmic Invasion

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a genre throwback to the beat’em up games of yesteryear. With a robust team of characters from the mainstream to the deepest of cuts, and 16 action-packed missions, this is a fantastic game from top to bottom.

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Sonic Racing: Crossworlds

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Sonic Racing: Crossworlds

Crossworlds highlights the Sonic series more so than just being a catch-all mascot racer for the whole publishing line, and highlights the creativity of the world around its notable platformer, with a solid racer that, while its gimmick isn’t terribly impressive, the customization and gameplay around its racing is nonetheless engaging.