The 50 Best Xbox One Games Right Now

Best Xbox One Games List – #26 Max: The Curse of the Brotherhood

Developer: Press Play

Publisher: Microsoft Studios

Xbox One Release Date: December 20, 2013

Another one of those near-launch Xbox One titles, Max: The Curse of the Brotherhood is one of those overlooked sequels that got caught up in the crossfires of a busy launch holiday for the newest 8th-gen consoles. A sequel to Max & The Magic Marker, the game is set up after Max comes home to find his brother smashing up all his toys. After searching for a curse to punish his brother, Max accidentally summons a portal that rips his brother into an unknown dimension. Equipped with his magic marker in tow, he jumps right in and tries to undo his naughty deed and save his brother from the clutches of evil.

The gameplay consists of solving puzzles in a 2.5D setting, using both your platforming skills and the growing power of your magic marker to overcome challenges. The open-ended nature of this linear title blends in environments of different stripes (desert, forest, etc.) and helps craft a touching narrative. It’s hard not to feel emotional at the time when all appears lost for Max, and the adventure of the journey is very much part of what makes this game such an effectively crafted title. The puzzles may have been intrusive for some, but it really depends on who you ask.

Next: #25 Mortal Kombat X