Steelrising is a good game that puts itself in the AA bracket of gaming rather than the AAA settings of a Dark Souls or Elden Ring. But what it does do well is deliver an original concept, an amazing setting and a place occupied by killer robots.

ABRISS is a simple puzzle game where the task is very clear and can be explained in two minutes. But it is the complexity in the designs, and of how you approach the game, that gives it legs and mileage.

There’s more than meets the eye in The Last Cube. It may be unassuming, but it’s smart, deep and totally engrossing.

Spaceland on Xbox One is a game that wears X-COM influences on it’s sleeve, including tons of references to other pop culture stalwarts like Gears of War and Duke Nukem. It successfully captures X-COM’s gameplay with quickfire missions that always keep you on your toes, but ultimately does next to nothing with its plot, characters and presentation to entice players new to the genre to give it a spin.

Discolored is a game that has been designed to be played in one sitting, taking a couple of hours to work your way through. It’s very abstract in regards to its story and puzzles solutions at times, but in the same breath it's extremely stylish, beautifully unique and thoroughly enjoyable.

With the gratuitous violence that is included, it certainly isn’t a game for everyone but if you are comfortable with the destruction of humanity in your cybernetic hands, then BUTCHER is a game well worth keeping on your radar.

Some may see Evolution as just a fancy looking Zoo Tycoon, and they’d probably be right, but when you throw in some brilliant visuals, a huge amount of Jurassic Park lore, cameos bringing in the most famous characters from the big screen flicks, and that music, you’ll quickly understand how Jurassic World Evolution is much more than that.

NBA 2K22 is a great basketball game. In fact it's probably the best basketball game out there and actually hitting the court and playing games is thrilling, exciting, and looks brilliant. And alongside that, MyNBA will eat away at your life; fantastically detailed and absorbing, while MyTEAM will cater to the many. It’s only MyCAREER which lets it down

There is not a dull moment to be found in Evil West’s ten to twelve hour playtime. The storyline has the potential to ensure this could well turn into a massive franchise, and there’s just hope that any sequel may place more focus on cooperative play.

Dungeons of Hinterberg is proof that a mash-ups of genres can work. The concept and setup are brilliantly creative, whilst highlights sit in respect of the sim side of the game and trying to build up relationships around the town. It looks beautiful too.

The return of Warface is one that gamers should be happy with. With plenty of game modes to get stuck into, a great variety of weapons to master and no obligation to spend any real money to prove competitive, this is one F2P title that is truly free-to-play, all whilst providing highly enjoyable online focused gameplay.

Eagle Island Twist nails most of its manoeuvres: it has a simple and unique mechanic, but does so much with it. Then it offers a huge playground with two games, dozens of levels, and lots of weirdo riffs on its own formula. In content terms, it’s the Orange Box of platforming (Bird Box?), and - aside from some gameplay quibbles - isn’t too far off the quality either.

When we wanted to unwind and actually achieve something, however unimportant or menial, we found ourselves playing Ooblets. It has become a colourful meditation, a little slice of wellness in our day. Other times, we tickled ourselves by sticking a monocle on our Namnam.

Blue Fire is a magpie with impeccable taste. It’s taken some of the best bits from some fantastic games, and it’s hard to to play it without being swept back to the times of playing Hollow Knight, Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Souls-like games. But while it may be familiar, it has panache on tap, and all of these platforming, combat and Metroidvania elements come together to form something slick and enjoyable.

Inkulinati is great fun to play; a very good, hugely accessible tactical turn-based RPG. It's not too tricky to learn and master, but it really excels in the visuals and presentation - a piece of art in its own right.

The Amazing American Circus is a recommendation with enormous caveats. We loved it to the point that we can, without cynicism, say that it has peaks that few games will better this year. But it’s so unfriendly, gatekeeping the fun behind ineffective tutorials, keywords and initially complex systems.

Even though Hero Express on Xbox One won’t provide the ultimate test of your gaming skills, sometimes all that is needed in the gaming world is a title that oozes fun. And this is where Fantastico have succeeded, by creating a hugely addictive little title that keeps dragging you back for more.

Space Crew is frustrating, by design, and for the risk-averse and “play it safe” players, there’s just no way to play error free: you just have to try and roll with the punches, suck up the damage and shrug off the losses. However it is nicely designed and will be hugely popular with some; if you liked Bomber Crew or the likes of FTL, you’ll likely love this one.

To put it plainly, Area 86 on Xbox One is a brilliant game. The fact that this is SimDevs’ first outing perhaps makes that conclusion even more remarkable. It’s a laid-back experience that gives players the freedom to think outside of the box, and indeed rewards them for it.

Ultimately, Neoverse on Xbox is a rather addictive offering within the deck-building genre and will lure you in for session after session. The complex nature of the gameplay is a slight stumbling block, but soon becomes its best asset as you’re stringing combos together and buffing yourself up for the challenges ahead.

If you are looking for a well thought out, challenging action platformer, Gunborg: Dark Matters has got all the ingredients needed to make it a success.

Asemblance is a very short and very sweet game. It is confusing, weird and tense, but I still love it.

There are few reasons not to give The Wild at Heart a go. It plays like Pikmin but corrects a lot of its faults, giving you more of a leash to explore and puzzle by yourself. When the world is as beautiful and rewarding as it is here, you will feel that tug to keep going, chucking Spritelings at treasure chests and giant wasps with abandon.

Without any of the bells and whistles this is simply Double Dragon optimised for Xbox One. It certainly could have offered a whole lot more as a release, but the base NES game is still a strong and playable classic even in 2020. It may be a hard sell given the quality of other archive releases on Xbox One, but anyone hankering for the original granddaddy of beat ‘em ups will enjoy this trip down brawler lane.

The Disney Afternoon Collection is a perfect conversion of the originals, so if you are a fan of super hard retro gaming, this will be right up your street. For everyone else, the pure, unadulterated gameplay that goes into these titles should be the main hook.

With a small but strong line-up of new dinosaurs, the chance to take in a decent campaign addition and the opportunity to again throw hours of life at Jurassic World Evolution 2, it’s safe to say that the Dominion Malta Expansion is another valuable addition to the roster. If you’ve gone all-in on what Frontier have created so far, then you’d be mad to not fill your boots here.

What we have with Lunar Lander Beyond is a brilliant reimagining of an old classic. If you have any memories of Lunar Lander from years past, then Beyond will drag them up immediately.

It’s testament to the newly implemented features that FIFA 21 is worthy of your cash and, if certain aspects are patched, then this will be the best FIFA instalment in years.

It is held back slightly by a lack of difficulty, a shorter runtime and a handful of technical hiccups, yet it remains a charming, joyful platformer that understands its audience perfectly.

Stranded: Alien Dawn is a very good survival game, one that builds in tower defense and sim-like elements too. Fresh and original, there is enough challenge here for the hardy player as well as plenty of accessible gameplay for any newcomer to the genre.

All in all then and 8-Bit Armies does exactly what it sets out to do. It’s a love letter to the early RTS games, dressed up in very appealing retro graphics, but with the modern heart of a well defined combat system beating away in the depths.

Mexico, 1921: A Deep Slumber has some minor technical rough edges, but these are easily overshadowed by the engaging narrative, unique gameplay mechanics, and immersive atmosphere.

Capcom Arcade Stadium at its best brings the spirit of arcade gaming to a global online setting, providing the atmosphere of walking into a bustling amusement centre, with plenty of incentive to dive into the various titles and pursue a high score worth bragging about. The titles featured here are iconic Capcom classics and cover a range of genres and gameplay styles, and they all benefit from modern quality of life features.

If you were gaming back in the 1990s, RedRaptor is an easy sell. For others, prepare yourself for a stiff challenge and more bullets than you can shake a spaceship at…

As a fan, this one is worth picking up alongside the original Double Dragon as one of the blueprint greats of the beat ‘em up genre.

You Suck at Parking is a good-looking, cute little racer like no other; one that will have you trying to hone your skills over and over again. But just remember, no matter how good you may get, really you may just suck at parking.

Rick Henderson is a little slice of arcade-shooting goodness, and sometimes that’s more than enough.

It’s taken a small indie game from Hong Kong to create the template for graphic adventures on Xbox. It’s taken a while, but we’re finally there. Mr. Pumpkin 2: Kowloon Walled City is compact, frictionless and a joy to play from start to finish.

Overall there is a lot to love about Jettomero: Hero of the Universe – it is original and quirky, has some amazing little mini-games and delivers a sad lonely story about being a robot all alone in the universe.

Deathless. The Hero Quest is certainly a memorable title. Like it or not, there is an engaging core, which successfully merges with over the top set pieces, culminating in a fantasy-deck building-RPG epic bound to grip you. And that is despite its flaws.

Not that it is recommended on a golf course, but EA have knocked it out of the park with EA SPORTS PGA TOUR. It is a welcome return for a series that no longer needs a golfing legend to grace the cover. And long overdue it has been too. The 2K PGA games have had us covered in recent years but there will only be room for one golf franchise going forward. Welcome back to the club, EA.

Whether you’re a fan of the original or want to experience this franchise for the first time, Cat Quest II is the superior game of the two and builds upon the original in all departments.

Hero Survival may not be as good as Vampire Survivors (there, I’ve said it) but it is a competent stab at the formula. If you fancy something a little bit different, then you could do a lot worse than to take this for a spin.

There's no doubt that ArcRunner is a fun blast. It isn’t wildly new or unique, but what it does it does well. As a roguelike shooter with a cyberpunk skin, there is enough about the gameplay loop to keep you coming back.

PowerWash Simulator 2 is a paradox. It looks like work and should feel like it too, but it somehow ends up being a relaxation.

In a way, the soundtrack for Katamari Damacy REROLL on Xbox is a pretty good interpretation of the game itself. It’s eclectic, fun, weird and charming but perhaps a little antiquated when looking at it now. With better technology, this could lead us to a great sequel, but for now it’s just a short, pleasant experience.

Mortal Shell: Enhanced Edition is a great example of how to revamp a game for the better via the power of the next gen. Even if you didn't buy the game first time around, I can recommend that you "Shell" out for it now.

Onimusha: Warlords reminds me of simpler times; when games focused on the aspect of fun, instead of pure realism. Hence, the Inabayama Castle is a welcome destination for anyone who longs for the good old times.

Endling - Extinction is Forever is an important game that tells a tale of the environmental and man-made destruction that is happening around us.

If you’re a story lover, then Alfred Hitchcock - Vertigo is possibly a must-buy. It's a unique and individual game, powered by a narrative that has been inspired by the famous director's classic film.

The blasting action on offer in Metal Mind is fast and furious, while the random nature of the power ups you find makes getting a decent build feel more luck than judgement. But use that creation to go taking enemies apart and you’ll be hit with a good feeling.

Almost every change in Madden NFL 22 this year is of a positive nature, and it is easily one of the best entries in recent years. Franchise mode is in great shape, and set to get better as the year progresses, and it almost feels like EA Sports are reminding themselves that not everyone wants to just play Ultimate Team. Some modes such as The Yard and Superstar KO still feel tacked on but at least offer a bite-size gameplay experience if time is limited.

It’s safe to say that UnderMine on Xbox One will keep you coming back time and time again as it definitely has a ‘one more go’ vibe. No matter how full your sack is or what upgrades are available, you always feel like you’re making some kind of progress and the rewards are plentiful.

Crow Country is an excellent homage to the games found in the early survival horror market. But it still manages to do its own thing, and I like the way it opens up the experience for all gamers, from hardened players to newcomers.

It's quite the challenge to keep everyone alive, but in Eternal Threads it has enough intrigue to keep you going until the very end of the timeline.

Taiko No Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is an excellent rhythm game for solo or multiplayer enjoyment. With a wide variety of songs, four difficulty levels, a training mode, and engaging multiplayer options, there's something for everyone.

Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical is as flawed as its characters, but there wasn’t a moment we weren’t revelling in its company.

I have been a big fan of The Dark Pictures Anthology from the very beginning, sticking with them through the highs and the slightly rougher lows. Directive 8020 feels like a definitive step up from the rest, introducing new mechanics like the turning point system. There is also room for the pass-the-controller multiplayer mode if you want to share the scares with friends. The story is surprising, interesting enough to keep you hooked to the various endings, but the stealth sections and QTEs do get a bit tiresome. There is no doubt though, Directive 8020 is a great playthrough.

I have really enjoyed fighting my way through the Tower, uncovering each twist and turn of the story along the way. The two distinct phases work very well, and exploring is its own reward, granting new items to the team. Combat, bar one little grumble, is superb and all in all I can easily recommend Tower of Time to anyone looking for an RPG with a little twist.

CorpoNation: The Sorting Process is a brilliant commentary on capitalism and totalitarian states of being. It's frightening, truthful and so well observed. A bit like 1984, a bit like Papers, Please, it also provides a chilling verdict on live service gaming.

Dark Quest 4 is a pretty accomplished turn-based strategy game. It doesn’t wow with new features, but instead provides a solid challenge and the chance to play with friends.

Wildfire on Xbox is bursting with ideas, and there is a deceptively deep stealthy adventure on offer. Sometimes the pacing can feel off, but once you get your head around it, there’s plenty to enjoy here.

Evil Wizard takes twisted humour and easy to learn mechanics to craft a Metroidvania, action-RPG that you should take the time to play.

The vast majority of Super Pixel Racers proves that there is still plenty of life left in the old arcade racing dog yet. It’s a shame that the online scene is totally dead and buried, but if you are looking for a new racer that delivers a huge career mode, or occasionally have some mates round for the odd gaming session, then I’m not sure you’ll find any retro racing that is much better than what is found in Super Pixel Racers.

If you’ve enjoyed games that absolutely drench their 2D platforming in artful, kooky narrative, then you are going to find a treat in The Wizard and the Slug.

Foolish Mortals Games delivers with Kaiju Wars, creating a simple but improbably deep turn-based RPG that captures the thrill of a Godzilla attack. If you’re allergic to randomness, you might want to temper your enthusiasm, but everyone else will find they are in strong, scaly hands.

Trover’s one of a kind humour, acting, writing and overall personality are more than enough to justify a trip down this surreal space adventure.

The Legend of Zelda’s influence on the action-adventure genre is worn almost as a banner by ChildStory, with gameplay and level design alike clearly influenced by that series, in mostly positive ways.

If you want a simplistic adventure that you’ll remember for all the right reasons, then Feudal Alloy on Xbox One is the way to go. It isn’t perfect, but it is a fun experience; with super simple controls, smooth and fluid gameplay and a story we can all get behind, there’s no reason not to love Attu’s adventure.

I am a big fan of storytelling in games and that is why The Mildew Children appeals. Others may be put off by the sheer amount of reading, or lack of actual gameplay. But exploring this world, as well as taking in the interesting and intriguing set-up allows it to excite.

By their very nature puzzle games are meant to be mysterious and that is no more true than with The Sojourn. It looks beautiful, it plays out super smoothly and the audio kick hammers home the immersion that ensures you will keep getting dragged in.

There aren’t many political simulation games out there on the console market, but Suzerain is one that is full of depth, colour, and deep intrigue.

NBA 2K21 Next Generation on Xbox Series X is a great addition to an already packed amount of content. It’s visually more stunning than anything that has come before it, with a complete sheen to the gameplay and stunning work in how the players move and react. Everything is just topped off by some amazing work in the audio department.

Sundered: Eldritch Edition is addictive and fun. Together, that makes this game really great. It doesn’t execute things as brilliantly as Symphony of the Night (but what game does?), but it will absolutely be in the conversation of recently released excellent Metroidvania’s for years to come.

MADiSON is a pretty great first-person horror adventure. It has a strong story, a great premise, some impressive visuals, and amazing sound design.

Chameneon is difficult. Cruelly so, perhaps, dabbling as it does with physics and relentless obstacles. But if you’re up for the challenge, there really is no other reason not to pick it up.

It may not bring massive changes to the genre table, and it may rely on a tried and tested formula, but there’s no denying that it’s a solid experience that offers a few good hours of fun, plenty of replayability and comes ready for newcomers and veterans alike to get stuck into the madness.

Modern Warfare II is most definitely a Call of Duty game; a good one to boot; things are going in the right direction with this iteration.

It has a mad but intriguing story, good gameplay, and excellent visuals, and it’ll be interesting to see what the team behind Chorus of Carcosa come up with next.

Varney Lake is a charming addition to an interesting game franchise. Seeing returning characters come back with a fresh new story to tell, working an X-Files and Stranger Things vibe, isn’t a bad thing at all.

Citizen Sleeper is a rather niche game. The gameplay itself is minimal, but there is a massive amount of storytelling to be taken in.

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is a real blast as it injects the madcap abilities and personas of the One Piece universe into the Musou style of gameplay that the Warriors games are known for. Sure, the objectives themselves are quite bland, but the action itself is a hell of a lot of fun thanks to the varied roster possessing devastating moves.

Unsouled is a bit more than a 2D Elden Ring. The combat is a highlight, the story is pretty compelling, and while the visual look means it won’t be for everyone, move beyond the graphics and there is a more than competent game lurking below the surface.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape 2 continues the emotional and nostalgic journey started in Tape 1 with a strong narrative that builds on the bonds formed between the group of girls.

If you’re looking for something to get your teeth into, something with a nice progression system and loads of content that will keep you busy, then Crossout is the game for you.

It’s not going to be a game that is for everyone and the style and pacing might put some off, but if you like a narrative or an adventure that delivers an intelligent dose of darkness then a purchase of DISTRAINT 2 might be a very good choice to make.

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is a deep, serious game that needs a lot of time investment, but if you can find that time it is unlikely that you will feel short changed, what with the sheer amount of content on display.

Crown Trick on Xbox is one that encapsulates the true depth and intricacies of the random chaos in roguelike RPGs. The gameplay systems and mechanics are both rich and daunting, and they lend themselves to an organic turn-based experience which is deceptively simple on the surface, yet imbued with strategy.

Time spent with Diablo II: Resurrected is certainly an enjoyable one. It isn’t as polished as Diablo III, but then this is a remaster of a 21 year old game and I fear the devs were pretty much painted into a corner: if they changed the systems, the original fans would be up in arms, but keeping the original feel does mean it slightly alienates players who are used to the newer game.

If you’re a fan of RPGs then grab some coffee, be ready to lose a lot of man-hours, and ring in sick to work, for Greedfall is going to take up a lot of your time.

If you have enjoyed the overall experience found in Strange Brigade then it’s probably safe to say that you’ll enjoy the Isle of the Dead DLC too. Whilst it may be more of the same, that isn’t necessarily bad and it certainly maintains the high levels of quality found in the base game.

With its gorgeous pixel-art visuals, the charming cast of characters, the enchanting soundtrack, and the smooth platforming, Owlboy certainly delivers an engaging experience from beginning to end. If you’re looking to scratch that nostalgic itch or even if it’s your first time jumping into a pixel art style game like this, Owlboy is a game you will not regret playing.

On the whole Gearshifters is a brilliant little surprise. A side scrolling combat racer like this shouldn't really have as much going on as Gearshifters does, but the inclusion of those roguelite elements means this is one you'll be going back to time and time again - if only as the temptation of a new upgrade is always just around the corner.

It is by no means perfect, and the camera is a serious issue that can cause problems, but other than that it’s been a pleasure. It’s brutally hard, but the sections it is split into are just the right length for a quick blast, and seeing a boss go down is just as thrilling here as it is in Dark Souls.

Microtransactions and frustrating matchmaking issues aside, Rogue Company on Xbox Series X|S is thoroughly enjoyable. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s so snappy, action-packed, and easy to get into that I regularly convince myself to play just one more game over and over.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is undeniably a great 3D fighter that’s geared up to pander to fans in the best way. The impressive visuals, the nostalgia-fuelled Episodes, the humongous roster of characters, and the exciting action are praiseworthy. The only major sticking point is the steep learning curve and the potentially off-putting difficulty spikes that hit you from the outset.

Dawn of Man on Xbox One is a strong entry into the RTS console market. Like all great games of this type, there are hours and hours of gameplay to be found within, not to mention the extra challenges on offer and specific hardcore option for the lunatics.

A Fantasia of jazz and line-art, Genesis Noir on Xbox is a voyeuristic tour through the beginning, middles and end of the universe. The laid-back, blissful pace won’t be for everyone, and a reliance on toys rather than actual objectives will irritate some. But side-step the bugs and a couple of gameplay hiccups, and you have a ride that has a groove that, once tuned into, will take you somewhere deliriously unique.