Lost Artifacts 5: Frozen Queen isn’t a bad little resource management game - at times it’s relaxing, at others it’s a lightweight puzzle - but it’s too much of a bland thing.
Fundamentally flawed, Filthy Animals: Heist Simulator will struggle to hold your attention - it is frustrating rather than entertaining, no matter how many of you are playing at once.
Whenever Artifex Mundi release a hidden object puzzle adventure, you more or less know what you’re getting due to the formulaic nature of their games. The quality of the puzzles on offer and the storytelling prowess of a particular title however, depends on which developer is at the helm. Given that World-Loom – previously known for their great alchemy-fuelled Lost Grimoires series – are the developers in question, expectations are fairly high for one of their most recent games on Xbox One, Scarlett Mysteries: Cursed Child. Will it be cursed by the former success, or can it continue on the path of greatness lay down before it?
Dread Nautical on Xbox One, with its oddly dark tone, tactical gameplay, and polygonal art style tries to make waves, yet manages to makes an ocean. Whilst it is let down by a lack of variation and complexity later on, Dread Nautical is a whale of a time that I would comfortably recommend to fans of RPGs or the likes of XCOM.
Other than the obvious slow pace that it brings, there is little to dislike about SnowRunner on Xbox One. It’s a hugely immersive game that ticks a whole ton of boxes for those looking to gain new off-roading kicks, and the sheer amount of variety in terms of the vehicles, the trailers and the customisation and amendments that can be made to these is nothing short of stunning.
A quick glance at the Artifex Mundi back catalogue would lead you to believe their titles are only full of fantastical settings, evil demons, and magical creatures. While that may be true more often than not, a handful of their games are relatively ‘normal’ - like Noir Chronicles: City of Crime. Path of Sin: Greed is another offering of such ilk, aiming to deliver an enjoyable hidden object puzzle adventure centred on crime solving. We’re going to have to do a spot of detective work in order to find out if developers Cordelia Games have succeeded.
Help Will Come Tomorrow is most definitely one of those games that survival enthusiasts should try. The options available and the reliance on stats and daily tasks while balancing the needs and traits of your characters is a constant tension and some will relish in the challenge.
River City Ransom on Xbox One is one of those games where it is still hard to believe that it’s from the primitive ‘80s era of gaming. While parts of it have understandably become a little dated, as a whole when you consider the game design, art, gameplay, and overall scope of its ambition and execution, this still manages to feel fresh and modern in any gaming era. For Xbox fans, this is their long overdue foray into the fist-crazy world of River City.
Active Neurons on Xbox One provides a pleasant and enchanting experience, with its few hours of running time near perfect for what it delivers. You can complete this game at your own pace, maybe a few levels a day, or purge it all in one afternoon. And that said, while some points are reasonably tricky, it is never soul-draining, instead creating a relaxing atmosphere that ensures you are never left frustrated or stressed.
Stranded Deep represents a survival videogame in one of the purest forms: desert island life. It is certainly not a difficult concept to conceive, but Stranded Deep is an excellent example of a notion done countless times in other media. There is an open-endedness to it for those looking for a new way of life but there is also a primary objective for those wanting to escape.
If you’re a fan of the genre looking to explore its rich history and origins, then Renegade on Xbox One is a pretty insightful trip down arcade brawling lane.
Obey Me on Xbox One is a lot of fun to play. It’s challenging, fast and furious, and thankfully comes with an appealing story and graphical style. There are issues with the camera, but nothing game breaking, and with lots of fun to be had pushing back demons, what more recommendation do you need?
