Review: Kholat, Lock's Quest and Prison Architect: Psych Ward — Roundup

Every week numerous games release on Xbox One. While many are substantial experience like Shadow Warrior 2 and The Surge, there are a few hidden gems here and there. Many of these smaller games have either caught the public’s eye or are just stellar experiences which all Xbox One owners should try out. This week we’re going to be discussing Kholat, Lock’s Quest and Prison Architect: Psych Ward.

Kholat

Many decades ago, a group of hikers was mysteriously killed in the remote corners of Russia. They had inexplicable injuries and were found in strange positions, sometimes several meters from their campsite. The government and investigators found gargantuan footprints next to the camp and since then conspiracy theories abound. Kholat takes that story and weaves it into a game. Best of all, it’s narrated by Sean Bean! The game may be a walking simulator, but retracing the journey of the hikers is a compelling mystery. Reading their journals gives you the sense that they were being stalked by some entity. Lastly, the ending is one of the biggest surprises in gaming…you’ll be blown away and won’t see it coming. Despite the screen tearing and the unlocked frame rate, Kholat is still a worthy addition to the Xbox One’s game catalog.

8/10

Xbox One

Lock’s Quest

Lock’s Quest is a tower defense game coupled with a brawler. You have to build defenses and fight off waves of enemies just like similar games. Unlike many titles in the genre, Lock’s Quest features a rather enjoyable storyline which centers around an invasion of mechanical soldiers. Not only do you have to defeat bosses throughout the course of the campaign, you also interact with other character like any role-playing adventure. Uncovering the mystery behind these constructs and who exactly is orchestrating it all is a blast. There are also other modes which allow you to just build and defend—if you want a more traditional tower defense experience. Overall, Lock’s Quest is absolutely fantastic and anyone who owns an Xbox One should play it.

9/10

Xbox One

Prison Architect: Psych Ward

Prison Architect is a strange game to say the least. Not only does the title allow you to build your own penitentiary, but it also includes stories of certain inmates. Some can be quite disturbing and that makes Prison Architect a much deeper experience than a traditional building simulator. The game’s Psych Ward expansion allows you house a variety of mentally ill patients and all of them come with their own set of challenges. It’s definitely a worthy addition to the game but it’s not filled with as much content as many would’ve liked. Despite that, the Psych Ward content enhances an already fantastic game.

7/10

Xbox One

If you’re going to pick up one of these games, we would recommend Lock’s Quest. To be honest, you can’t go wrong with any of these games…even Kholat with its performance issues. They all appeal to different types of gamers and this selection has something for everyone.