The simple nature of the games is a double-edged sword. Anyone can play, but the lack of depth means there may not be any lasting appeal.

Considering the extremely fast response times needed for a fighting game, it's amazing how smoothly the online mode plays. It's just as responsive as it would be if you were playing with a pal sitting next to you, which is an astounding achievement.

The changes to gameplay, addition of house rules to kick-off mode and refinements to Ultimate Team make this an improvement on last year, and the third chapter of The Journey is the deepest yet. But fans of the old-fashioned career mode will continue to be disappointed.

Little strategy is required for each stage, with abundant health packs and aggressive opponents of little intelligence. But there are many strategies and the use of cover is vital.

One of the best new features is the Speed Kill, a stealth attack that requires timed button presses for successful take-downs - a brilliant addition to the already exhilarating game play.

The 24/7 create-a-player mode is hugely addictive, letting you train your character and complete increasingly tough challenges. ESPN's weaknesses are a limited defensive game and shallow franchise mode.

The best realistic shooter on the Xbox, at an outstanding price.

The eye-watering speed is exhilarating and enhanced by stomach-churning nitrous boosts.

Role-playing addicts won't be disappointed by the scope of this fantasy romp but a certain level of perseverance is required if you are unfamiliar with the intricacies of D&D.

With a deep but logical fighting system, heaps of gruesome over-the-top violence and a lovably insane cinematic story mode, Mortal Kombat 11 is an excellent fighting game that should have something for just about every fan of the series, let down only somewhat by a greasy and convoluted customisation system driven by loot boxes and grinding.

Some of the bombing runs in the solo campaign can prove quite arduous, but the dazzling pyrotechnics and adrenaline rush of flying your P38 Lightning through anti-aircraft fire make it easy to press the restart button if you fail your objectives.

Along with some colourful new graphics, the alien formations are faster, more elaborate and even include the odd boss monster to test the limits of your reflexes.

A turn-based strategy mini-game called Chronicles of the Sword is a little dry, yet hypnotically addictive.

One of the best new features is the Speed Kill, a stealth attack that requires timed button presses for successful take-downs - a brilliant addition to the already exhilarating game play.

Unusual and delightful. You know you are hooked when you cannot wait to see what your furry friends are up to, or spend hours crafting letters or building the museum collection.

The original NFSU's city was a little repetitive, but now IT'S broken up into five distinct neighbourhoods, each is suitably spectacular. Most of the time you fly through these districts so quickly that everything becomes one big neon blur, but it's worth slowing down to soak up the sights.

An original puzzle experience, fusing musical elements and presentation.

The best new addition is a magnetic grappling device that allows Lara to move faraway items and swing across chasms. Puzzles are beautifully integrated into the environment and frustration rare.

Space conflict complements ground-based action beautifully and jumping into the cockpit of an X-wing or TIE fighter is thrilling.

Packing four incredible action games from the mid-'90s into one nostalgic package, Mega Man X Legacy Collection might not feature the entire X saga but it's certainly the best of it.

Here's a game to sort the men from the boys. Just try not to grind your teeth away.

The clever Comix Zone is a great bonus but the Game Gear titles are primitive and mere curiosities.

ARMS is a breath of fresh air for casual fighting game fans, a beautiful, interesting fighter with a killer roster of characters and that trademark Nintendo twist on established genre conventions. But unbalanced control schemes and an emphasis on fun over fairness may make it a hard sell for the hardcore competitive set.

While the gameplay might not be very deep or precise, Frantics succeeds as a pick-up-and-play game that anyone can enjoy regardless of age or gaming experience. The funny characters are ideal for slapstick violence, and the frequent alliances, backstabs and sabotages keep things interesting.

Some will feel it’s asking a bit much to charge close to full price for this one. The core of the game is functionally identical to the Xbox 360 version, which is playable on Xbox One, and other similar games have been upgraded to 4K on that platform totally free. But taken on its own merits it's hard to argue against the amount and quality of the content. Paradise remains one of the most successful blends of action and driving ever, and the included add-on packs provide hours of tire-spinning, chassis-destroying fun.

It's clear that Concrete Genie is a labour of love made by a small team that really believes in the pro-tolerance, anti-capitalist leanings of the story, and the central interactive street art creation makes for an experience that looks and feels like no other. Yet while this is a vital and worthwhile game you're left to make your own fun a lot of the time, so your enjoyment will depend on how committed you are to painting virtual murals.

A simple yet satisfying family-friendly take on the Diablo-style hack-and-slash role-playing game, Minecraft Dungeons is a fun and creatove adaptation of the series' iconic blocky creatures and graphics, even if it features absolutely no mining or crafting.

This is a thoughtful collection offering dozens of very good games, and they look and play as well as you could expect without retro hardware or a CRT TV. The games aren't all classics, but there is something for everyone and chances are there's a brilliant game in here somewhere you never managed to catch the first time around.