Amidst the Xbox 360 store closure and Starfield preload news that dominated headlines yesterday, we didn't get a chance to highlight a new Xbox release that's been getting fantastic reviews so far - Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew!
This is an all-new stealth strategy game from the developer of Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun and Desperados 3, in which you embark on a journey to "seek the legendary Black Pearls" and revive your cursed crew.
Here's a bit more information on the game:
"The Curse of Lost Souls haunts the mysterious island chain known as the Lost Caribbean, which is under the control of the terrible forces of the Inquisition. They despise all that is supernatural and use soul devouring fire to hunt cursed pirates like you!"
"Embark on a journey with cursed pirate Afia and seek the legendary Black Pearls to revive a cursed crew of your own. Each of your eight shipmates is a playable character with an individual personality and armed with unique supernatural powers. Launch friend or foe with Gaëlle's magical cannon, use Mr. Mercury's soul anchor to open a magic portal or dash across spacetime for split second stealth attacks with Afia's mythical sword."
As mentioned, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew has been getting superb reviews over the past few days, racking up a Metacritic average of 86 for Xbox and 85 for PC. That said, the vast majority of reviews have been for PC so far.
Here's what some of the critics have been saying:
IGN (9/10)
"Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is a peak example of the stealth tactics genre from a studio that is clearly mastering its craft."
GameSpot (9/10)
"The inventive setting, swashbuckling macabre tone, an enjoyable cast of phenomenal characters, and a compelling gameplay loop all come together for a uniquely satisfying stealth-strategy experience. I can not only recommend it, but I truly hope it's the start of a franchise so that I can spend more time with me mateys."
PC Gamer (87/100)
"On par with its (excellent) predecessors, Shadow Gambit trades some focused design for deeply compelling piratical freedom."
Eurogamer (4/5)
"Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is a cerebral but hugely characterful stealth tactics game filled with creativity and depth. And fun pirate stuff."
GamesRadar (3.5/5)
"Strategizing your way around the same handful of maps might get samey after the first 10 hours, and the plot often comes second fiddle to its brilliant cast of characters, but Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is a gem of a game with a mischievous glint not to be ignored."
It's a great start for Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, then, which is priced at £31.49 / $35.99 on the Xbox Store. The best bit is that a free trial is now available as well, allowing you to check it out before you commit to a purchase.