Should you be one of those who truly loves a survival game, then you are going to get a lot out of ICARUS: Console Edition. It can be extremely challenging early on, offering little context and not much of a tutorial, but battle through and it comes together nicely.

With addictive mechanics, great music and visuals and a compelling story from start to finish, IXION should be celebrated as a resounding success; an exemplary RTS game. Just be prepared for a seriously tricky and often overwhelming experience.

Experiences like The Ascent don’t come along often. Game Pass may well turn out to be The Ascent’s redemption. This is an experience that’s best had in co-op, and a day one launch on Xbox’s service means that almost all obstacles are removed. So, find three friends and take your time with The Ascent, refuse to play in long sessions, and you and your partners will find worlds and gunplay that blow your augments clear off.

As A Walk in the Dark comes with such a low price, it’s definitely worth a punt, especially if you like platformers. The world it creates is evocative and superbly designed with an amazing soundtrack.

Athenian Rhapsody is a twisted game that loves having fun at your expense, but - most of the time - you’re having fun with it.

We rarely see an Artifex Mundi game reach the dizzy heights of a 4 out of 5. They’re too set in their ways, too janky to justify the loftier scores. But by toying with their payment model, Artifex have given us one of their best hidden object games in Queen's Quest 5: Symphony of Death, effectively for free.

It’s a vibrant and exciting open world full of a wealth of missions, side missions, and recruiting to do, complemented by some decent visuals and brilliant audio work. As the hours have progressed I’ve become ever more excited for the opportunities that it throws up, so much so that now I’m already well invested in upcoming DLC and the promise of multiplayer elements.

Undergrave is so elegant and minimalist that jumping into another run felt low effort. So, while we died in its turn-based battles over and over again, we never felt like rage-quitting. We’d have worked out another combo, another abuse of its three, simple attacks, and want to put it into action. Maybe – just maybe – that exploit would be enough to guarantee success.

Cultist Simulator will deliver a rewarding experience that will appeal to those who enjoy depth to their gaming, as well as a bit of storytelling and a touch of the occult.

It is always strange to replay a game, especially one like The Sinking City; a game that is quite hefty in terms of the hours required. But with this next-gen edition, this is never an issue and it’s been a delight to head back in to the world it delivers - mostly thanks to the new tweaks making it feel like you are playing a new game at times. From the fast loading times to the texture of rain on a coat, The Sinking City now feels wonderful.

There’s a clear sense of progression and evolution here with Evoland Legendary Edition, and it’s easy to see how the second game was borne out of the success of the first. It’s this satisfying progression and Shiro Games’ obvious love for their industry that makes Evoland such a wonderful, if at times inconsistent, experience that should be undertaken by Xbox owners.

Overload is an enjoyable game. It won’t be for everyone, with the winding passages feeling too claustrophobic for some, but if you enjoyed the space shooter of the ‘90s and are feeling nostalgic, this is definitely a game that brings a unique experience to Xbox One.

Space Adventure Cobra - The Awakening has a lot of things going for it. The setting is rich, the action is fluid, and the controls, by and large, work well. There are certain difficulties that require work arounds, but they shouldn’t put you off too much.

Godstrike is full of proper, hardcore shooting action. You could do a lot worse than to give it a try.

It would be nice to see Circuit Superstars filled out with more circuits and possibly even additional vehicle classes, but if you’re looking for a fun little top-down racer that is able to provide some serious racing both online and off, you’re going to be hard pushed to find anything much better.

It must be said, as a whole, Space Elite Force 2 in 1 certainly has some of that X Factor that will keep you playing. With generous achievements up for grabs as well, it's hard to find too much to grumble about.

DIRT 5 on Xbox One isn’t the best DIRT title there has ever been but it definitely deserves a place in the line-up. Just involve yourself in the racing, forget about the faff, and you’ll be sure to have a jolly good time.

An engaging universe, decent back story, and being able to shoot Nazis in the face makes this a joy to play. With only 11 levels it isn’t the longest experience in the world, but if you are looking for an easy gateway into the strategy game world, this could well be the one you need.

As always with these games, the more players you can round up, the more enjoyment you will have and competing with friends and family brings G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra together.

Temtem is not perfect, but it is as close to Pokemon as you'll get on the Xbox. With 164 creatures to capture and so many more features to uncover, Temtem is a fun time and a good challenge all in.

The Soroboreans is a fine addition to the game and a must-have for any fan. If you just want a bit more Outward, give it a try.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has successfully landed and recovered. While the initial server issues were frustrating, the game now delivers on its promises, offering a vast and immersive aviation experience.

Super Meat Boy Forever lives up to its reputation, providing another hard-as-nails platforming experience. It expands well on the original, despite occasionally feeling overwhelmingly brutal, which may put some off. It’s certainly not for the faint-hearted, but should please fans of the original test.

Train Valley: Console Edition is one that we can see ourselves going back to for weeks – and possibly months – in the future. The highly addictive, simple-yet-complex nature lends itself brilliantly to a game that can be played for a few minutes at a time, or – as we’ve found – as hours pass. There are serious frustrations with the control scheme and UI, but other than that this is a super little game that will keep you on your toes at all times. Just remember, that pause button is your friend.

Whilst there are areas of FIFA 23 that still need improvement and some modes are stagnant, the gameplay is the best it’s been for a few iterations.

Killer Chambers on Xbox is a brutal teacher, killing you over and over again, splattering the walls with your innards as you learn the patterns of its rooms. But when you do learn and succeed, well, it’s a mighty feeling. It can be added to the ranks of rewarding hardcore platformers, then, just a notch below Celeste and Meat Boy - lofty heights that we never expected from this little pixel-art platformer.

EVERSPACE 2 will hold your interest well. It’s likely to be a game that you go back to, time and time again, working with new loot and trying a variety of different approaches.

SturmFront - The Mutant War: Übel Edition on Xbox is a blow for blow recreation of the arcade games of yesteryear. It’s loud, gory, brash and unapologetically retro, with action that is nothing but non-stop.

The plot and substories aren’t as involving as the prequel but Yakuza Kiwami is a much more introductory and inviting title; by being a bit more scaled-down it opens itself up to a much wider audience. If you missed out on Yakuza 0 when that released, start here instead.

Cross the Moon’s a stylish and enthralling vampire tale, and there are very few visual novels that have its confidence. It has a sure hand in its photography, soundtrack and plotting, and - as long as you can stomach the lack of any interaction at all - you’ll take great glee in unwrapping its mysteries. You won’t ever come back to play Cross the Moon, but one of its unexpected moments or lilting songs will sink its fangs into you.

The Dragon’s Lair Trilogy is incredibly fun. It’s a gorgeous, entertaining and painfully hard set of games but the gratification of getting to the next stage makes everything worthwhile.

Highwater could easily become one of those end-of-times comfort games; very relaxing with an interesting world to explore. Sometimes it might feel a bit empty and the combat does get slightly repetitive, but overall I had a great time playing and exploring this land.

Nidhogg 2 is an incredible game that offers up wonderfully tense and deeply strategic gameplay whilst trying to keep the tongue firmly in its cheek. While the single player doesn’t always work as it should, the multiplayer is easily worth the asking price just for the way it can make you feel.

DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake does a brilliant job of keeping as close to the original without diverting too much. It is a remake, but not perhaps in the way you would expect, with so many other recent remakes changing so much.

Levelhead on Xbox One offers a surprisingly deep platformer experience wrapped up in a comedic package. Its jokes don’t always land but its tone and style are solid throughout. For those without a Nintendo Switch, it offers a very tempting similarity to Super Mario Maker, but is still interesting enough to stand out without the comparison.

Revenant Saga on Xbox One is a return to form for KEMCO. A proper story, relatable heroes and a real urge to see the story through to its conclusion elevate this to the higher ranks of KEMCO games.

If you’re the kind of gamer who likes a challenge, intent on beating your previous score, Akane is a great game to play. There isn’t a boat load of content, but for what it costs, you shouldn’t be expecting that much.

The difficulty spike found in Astrune Academy helps to increase the feeling of accomplishment when you beat a tough fight. But from there, whilst the story is pretty good, there’s nothing you wouldn’t have seen in any KEMCO game previously. Thankfully, it is interesting enough to keep you playing, as you wait to see where the story goes.

Whether you are new to the Alliance of the Free Cities or a frequent visitor, My Time at Sandrock is a highly playable game. The storyline flows at a decent pace, there is always somewhere to explore or a new gadget to build that keeps you wanting to return. Expect the odd frustration - whether that’s a minor bug, or the sheer amount of time spent talking to the residents. However, you’ll certainly never get bored with your life as a Sandrock builder.

Granted, Scarlett isn’t the most exciting protagonist in the genre, but Scarlett Mysteries: Cursed Child is easily one of the better hidden object puzzle adventures on the market. Therefore I’d certainly recommend picking it up.

If you're looking for something retro and breezy to play through in an evening, you’ll have a great time with Gato Roboto on Xbox One. This is a funny and charming experience from beginning to end, and it's clear the developers deeply understand, and are fans of, the genre they were working with.

You may miss the straightforward single-player experience of previous Outlast games, but in The Outlast Trials the cooperative multiplayer experience feels original and well thought out. Fun to play with friends, it can be as scary as hell.

Vlad Circus: Curse of Asmodeus is a pretty good game. The graphics work nicely, the story is compelling and Josef, while a bit of a scumbag, is a likable enough protagonist. Unravelling his story is a worthwhile pursuit, and if you like a disturbing game, this might well be up your alley.

No Longer Home is a woozy, experimental and magical dream that dredged up our own memories of a similar time. If you’ve ever felt lost and unsure of what the future might hold, then No Longer Home will keep you in good company.

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun brings a particularly brutal challenge, but at no point does it ever feel unfair.

We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie doesn’t add much more that Katamari Damacy REROLL hadn’t already added, making it the second best of the experiences on the Xbox. But you really shouldn’t sidestep it either, as more of the same is ‘super-dooper’, as the King of the Cosmos would say, since the same is so instantly charming.

The gameplay in Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director’s Cut is solid, the story is excellent, and this is an improvement over Shadowrun Returns.

Skelattack is a great game that is just missing that last little bit of polish to make it an essential play. If you like games with heart, if you'll pardon the phrase, you're not going to go far wrong with Skelattack.

You’ll need to get through a slightly confused opening, but then Ruffy and the Riverside fast becomes a quirky, unique, challenging game that is ripe for manipulation.

Visual novel fans can be reassured that Sunny Café is one of the good ones. It’s a coffee paradox: the writing is light and frothy like a dalgona (thanks Sunny Café for teaching us what that is), but short and rich like an espresso. It’s a blend of visual novel and minigames, and the combination is on the nutty side.

The AI bots are dumb, but it’s really in the local play and online where the game shines. It’s fast, fun and furious, with a pace that makes the older gamer wince, but when it all comes together, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is more than capable of delivering a decent old time.

DRIFTCE may be too demanding for some, but for others, the sheer challenge will spur them on. If you fancy yourself as a Touge master, you need to play DRIFTCE.

The devs have truly cared about Slide Viking, and there’s almost no chance that you will dislike your time with it.

Sixty Words by POWGI is still a quintessential POWGI game. That is, taking an existing puzzle trope and adding a unique spin to it. But the additional paint-by-words mechanic may just be enough for those that haven’t played a POWGI game to give this one a try - if only to see what all the fuss is about.

Pinball FX - Tomb Raider Pinball continues the consistent streak of excellence for the pinball game which, thanks to the franchise that has been added, will likely feel that little bit more special for many than other tables.

WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is a game with a lot of heart, and the developers need to be congratulated for attempting something different with the genre.

TRIANGLE STRATEGY is a deep and rewarding tactical RPG that rewards patience and curiosity. To see everything will require at least three playthroughs, but there is a New Game Plus to assist with that. And on those repeat playthroughs, at least you can skip those cutscenes; they are plentiful, and perhaps too many.

It is fast, brutal, punishing and can bring complete strangers together into a zombie mincing machine. Swarm is there if you have the PvP itch, and if you can play with others, this is an easy sell. If you play alone, things are more problematic, as a lot of the game seems to be locked away from you, but co-op up and you’ll be sorted with the zombie killing sprees of Back 4 Blood.

Kill It With Fire on Xbox is brilliant. It’s original, preposterous, but more importantly an absolute hoot. It does what few games have the power to, which is put a smile on your face and fill your heart with joy. The only snag is that you’ll never look at a house spider in the same way again.

Should you be looking for a KEMCO game that is different to the rest, Eldgear should well be considered. It comes with a great story and is proper challenging. If only there was a more in-depth tutorial…

Collecting all the characters, finding all the weapons, and exploring the depths of the character screen alone will keep you busy for many hours, and with an extra chapter to unlock after you have defeating the Archfiend, there’s plenty of content to get involved with. Apart from the dreadful walking controls, this is a game that I can recommend to fans of the genre.

You may be tempted to look the other way but don’t, because underneath the somewhat cheesy exterior of Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids is a highly entertaining and accessible strategy action hybrid.

It’s hard to be too critical of Golf Zero on Xbox One however, because at just under a fiver, there’s a really fun platformer here with responsive controls and a neat fusion with golf that’s fresh. The gradual increase in difficulty provides a good challenge and the short levels mean that failing isn’t bothersome in the slightest. On the flipside, you’ll be finished in a couple of hours, the settings are rather plain, and Speed Run mode might as well not be there.

Five Nights at Freddy's: Into the Pit is a great addition to the series. The gameplay is engaging and terrifying, and the multiple endings encourage replayability. The game offers a sense of discovery as you find secrets, save your friends and family, and make choices that affect your survival.

I absolutely love the thoughtful pacing of Sumerian Six. Weighing up every movement and action, knowing that one wrong step could mean the end of your life and the level, is thrilling.

Immortals of Aveum should be praised for its original concept, writing, and new world-building. It's a new franchise that is brave; a very different type of FPS. Playing through feels like watching a good Marvel movie - you'll have a good time but will rarely care for it after.

You may initially think that 10tons have gone mad by pitting the brains of Nikola Tesla against the weirdness of H.P. Lovecraft – and you’d be right. But whilst they are mad, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are wrong and once more they’ve managed to create another addictive little twin stick shooter.

Saints Row The Third Remastered on Xbox One is big, brash and bloody brutal. And it’s just as much fun as it was upon the original release. But it’s also a bit clunky, provides unsatisfying combat opportunities, and the new visual style, whilst appreciated, doesn’t really bring it up to modern day standards. If you’re a Saints fan then you’ll have no trouble playing through this again, but those who have previously steered clear of the franchise probably won’t find much need for this remaster – no matter how much content it brings.

White Day: A Labyrinth Named School is a lore-filled survival horror that’s hard to resist. It caters to a wide range of gamers thanks to a selection of difficulty settings and really lends itself well to multiple playthroughs.

Volcano Princess is a very interesting proposition. It is nice to take in a game that is about as stress-free as you can get, instead leaving the player to go shaping a (virtual) life; something that can be strangely rewarding.

Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story is an unmatched trip into one of gaming’s most unique minds, and you’ll be all the luckier for having gone in on it.

Fast, furious top down twin-stick shooter that channels the spirit of Smash TV, but goes beyond and expands it. Six player couch co-op is the icing on the cake of shootyness.

APICO is an eye-opening sim that’s enlightening in regards to beekeeping and the important role bees have in our ecosystem.

F1 22 is once again capable of providing a seriously hot F1 racing experience, but the bits away from that are less exciting.

The team at Fallen Tree Games have created a brilliant playground for us to explore, destroy and burgle. It is a great love letter to the humble origins of the open-world game that we know and love now, but that does mean it comes with the restrictions associated with that; mainly, the overly long mission arcs that unfortunately become a bit of a grind, especially in the opening hours where the map is more restricted.

Viewfinder is, ultimately, a great game for casual puzzle game fans, as the content is accessible and fun. Someone looking for a real brain-teaser may find the difficulty lacking, but the unique visuals make the game worth at least considering.

After the ending of The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, I’m absolutely ready for Life is Strange 2. I highly advise giving it a go seeing as it’s free.

Experts of the game will criticize the simplicity of the moves on offer and it is they which will want more of what the 2K game has to offer. But for me, as someone returning to the sport this Live 18 is as good an introduction to the genre, and the life it aims to promote, as you can get.

Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap is an astonishingly beautiful game to both look at and play. Its story is as charming as ever and the gameplay doesn’t ever over-complicate itself. The large variety of stages have enough to keep things interesting, while the amount of creatures to play as, with their unique skills, and ability to change from modern to 8-bit graphics at the touch of a button is marvellous.

I would recommend giving Haimrik a go if you’re a fan and partaker of games that like to be a bit different or a bit off-beat, as it comes with a highly entertaining visual tone, funny humour in the writing and some gameplay that is inventive and unique.

If you are looking for a completely different Star Wars experience, one that plays with a very good open-world, then Star Wars Outlaws should be taken in.

There’s no doubt Episode Four, “Below the Bedrock”, is a very good offering with very little downtime which helps stave off the potential for boredom. Sure, it could use a bit more humour, but the writing and voice acting is mostly good enough to convey the emotions that are running through the characters’ minds.

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure feels like taking a vacation on your Xbox. Even while players explore a blissful island paradise, there is still an important environmental message to learn, and plenty of tasks to engage in as players interact with the vibrant setting and its various colourful characters. Although the experience is largely designed for younger players, there is plenty of incentive for any player to kick back and soak in a video game that genuinely feels like a holiday escape.

Episode One of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series is not the best opener to a Telltale series I’ve had the pleasure of playing, but it’s still a very strong beginning to a story about a crew of opposite personalities gelling together.

Lorenzo Redaelli hits a very high bar with Mediterranea Inferno, especially in terms of what can be achieved with a visual novel.

The DOOM + DOOM II collection is a must have. It helps to have a solid foundation - the fact that the original games are timeless. Then factor in the extra games, additional content and mod capabilities, and you have a bumper compilation. This really is the Ultimate DOOM.

For newcomers, it’s a hard one to recommend, because the whole thing can take its toll at times, but if you are already accustomed to farm life, then this is as good as it gets.

Visual pop-in and map confusion aside, this game is a great deal of fun, and with so many characters to choose from finding your ideal team has never been so challenging. If you have enjoyed the previous games in the series, then this is a no brainer, but if you haven't then Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate could well be the stepping stone you need.

Overdriven Reloaded is a big game, packing a lot of value and gameplay hours into a small space before you’ll be done with it. It isn’t as polished as Sky Force, for instance, but the roughness is part of the charm, in an endearing kind of way.

Everyone knows FromSoftware make hard games, and Sekiro is certainly no different. If anything, it may be even harder than those which have come before it. So, for newcomers it may not be the best ‘entry’ point to these types of games but if you have more than a passing interest in Soulsborne games, then Sekiro is definitely another one to add to this ever-growing list.

If you have yet to play any of The Dark Pictures Anthology games, there is no better place to start than at the very beginning with Man of Medan; even more so now that it is optimised for Xbox Series X|S.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles is a great experience for fans of the show to reminisce and recreate those epic battles Tanjiro and his fellow slayers get embroiled in. It looks brilliant in many aspects, the sound is spot on in all areas, and the overall storytelling is great.

Transient: Extended Edition is a very ambitious game; one that isn't afraid of giving the player some high-end sci-fi mixed with Lovecraftian themes. The gameplay introduces a range of different playstyles over the fairly swift running time and that might be too much for some. Yet the visuals are a delight with some great use of lighting and level design.

Eastshade is a first-person, open-world exploration game. It’s atmospheric, immersive, relaxing and just the right side of challenging.

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks: Stunt Mayhem is surprisingly fun. For children within the target age range, this is a no-brainer, but even older players will find some enjoyment here.

It’s not a game that is going to be for everyone, and there are problems with direction, getting lost, and the onset of motion sickness. But overall it works great.

Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection on Xbox One is a rock(man)-solid compilation of some classic GBA and DS titles. The presentation is great, the games are incredibly polished and fun, and the value is undeniable. That said, not every game in the compilation has stood the test of time, and as these games were not made to be played on a television their visual quality can be hit. Still, for Mega Man fans this is a must-buy, as it brings 6 beloved games into a neat and tidy package.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Galactic Edition offers a fairly pricey way to boost your character roster. Some will love it, but it may well be lost on others. Still, the base game is brilliant.