Hazel Sky is quite short, just some four hours or so in length, but you shouldn’t feel short-changed. It does feel like this is the starter to a bigger narrative to come and whilst the controls feel odd and sometimes a bit frustrating, the original concept, visuals, and variety of gameplay make Hazel Sky an experience worth having.

Harmony’s Odyssey is a delightfully whimsical adventure full of puzzling and charming dioramas. It’ll keep you busy for a good few hours with 3D jigsaws, hidden object style mini-games, and more. Even though the story often appears nonsensical, the silliness of the goings on is still fun to watch and the different biomes to traverse are beaming with vibrancy.

With the rewind feature, Avenging Spirit can still be completed in under an hour, but it is a highly original title when compared to what else was out around that time. And even in the year 2022 it is still a fun 2D jaunt, with the Ratalaika Games promise of easy achievements to boot.

Stranded Deep represents a survival videogame in one of the purest forms: desert island life. It is certainly not a difficult concept to conceive, but Stranded Deep is an excellent example of a notion done countless times in other media.

If you are a fan of Skylines, then I would highly recommend the Mass Transit DLC, especially if you are are after another challenge and want to try to create that perfect city.

It isn't a perfect game, but it is an enjoyable one. I loved the world and the story, even when it lost me slightly. The combat is fun, and the puzzles are excellent. If you have an itch for a single-player action-adventure, Crisol: Theater of Idols will definitely scratch it.

Subnautica: Below Zero is an excellently designed survival experience. It’s a place where the most creative can utilise the tools that they find, going out, exploring and creating a whole world under the sea. It’s helped by a cracking story that sits perfectly alongside this adventure of a lifetime. Admittedly, initial moments are confusing, but once you get into the rhythm of things and understand the resource hunting, it all becomes second nature.

There’s no doubt Digimon Survive is a great visual novel full of content that will warrant multiple playthroughs, however the tactical aspect feels like an afterthought. It’ll all depend on what you want from the experience as to whether you should pick it up, or not.

Active Neurons on Xbox One provides a pleasant and enchanting experience, with its few hours of running time near perfect for what it delivers. You can complete this game at your own pace, maybe a few levels a day, or purge it all in one afternoon. And that said, while some points are reasonably tricky, it is never soul-draining, instead creating a relaxing atmosphere that ensures you are never left frustrated or stressed.

Victor Vran Overkill Edition is a worthy addition to the genre. It doesn’t out-Diablo Diablo, but thanks to the care put into the levelling and loot systems, it is undoubtedly worth the time to explore.

Disco Dodgeball – REMIX is without a doubt one of 2018’s indie dark horses. With enjoyable gameplay, a ton of game modes, and plenty of fun to be had, there is no doubt that those who decide to jump in will head back time and time again to get in on some dodgeball action

Bio Inc. Redemption actually allows you to experience both the preservation of life and the threat of death very well. Sure, it’s morbid, but once you get over that, the concept is smart and completing scenarios provides a sense of achievement.

Despite the massive overhaul to the battle system and more subtle changes elsewhere, TFBW feels like a very safe sequel to The Stick of Truth. It’s still a great journey with characters that fans of the show know and love, but I am unsure why this game was delayed so much when it appears to have re-used a lot of the assets from previous.

Clouzy is the Animal Crossing pet-raising spin off that never happened. A hidden gem that I can wholeheartedly recommend for any parents out there.

If you’re looking for a cheap new adventure to get your teeth into, or are just after a loot collector that will invoke memories of the classic hack ‘n’ slash era, then Hammerwatch will happily ply you with the content required.

Which gang you fall into will be completely up to you. For us, we’ve always been on the side of the Third Street Saints and with the rebooted Saints Row, will continue to do so.

No matter what you may think, sometimes going back is good. Especially when it evokes such great memories of gaming from decades gone by. Hyper Sentinel does that brilliantly.

Children of Silentown is yet another immaculately sculpted point-and-click adventure from Daedalic Entertainment. Compared to Deponia, The Dark Eye and their other adventures, Children of Silentown is somewhat small-scale in scope, but its intense focus allows it to explore themes of childhood and imagination with a deftness that they haven’t achieved before. Treat yourself to a creepy little page-turner.

Dragon Blaze is not pushing at the boundaries of what shoot ’em-ups can do. Even for Psikyo, who are well known for sticking to a formula, this is one of their most formulaic games. But like ordering the same tikka masala over and over again, simply because you know it’s going to be good, Dragon Blaze delivers a return on the trust you put into it.

It’s fair to say that if you enjoy games such as XCOM, or other turn-based tactical combat games, then Jagged Alliance: Rage is going to appeal to you. It doesn’t quite match the quality of its gameplay in terms of the visuals, and the sound design certainly isn’t going to win any awards, but if you’re after a game you can really sink your teeth into for hours on end – and still come out with a real sense of accomplishment at the end – then this is a game you should be adding to your collection.

The combat is a particular highlight, so if you like brawling or Chinese history, Bladed Fury is an easy sell. Even if you don't, it’s worth a punt, if only so you can dash about with twin blades.

Astroneer is a dream for those who love a sandbox to play around in. It comes with a great design, and a good number of relaxing worlds to explore, mine and create in, with the emphasis constantly being on survival. The controls can be tricky to start with, and there are some weird camera glitches that drop in every now and then, but Astroneer is certainly a game to lose some hours in.

If you’re a fan of old-school Assassin’s Creed, you’ll love what has come about in Mirage, what with the more compact story that is told. Others may still long for those previous hundred-hour adventures though…

If you're thirsty for a unique and flavourful RPG experience, a game that is full-bodied, then Cabernet might be just the drink you're looking for.

We don’t get games like Ynglet often, so let’s take a moment to celebrate it. It may look superficially like thatgamecompany’s Flow, and it might have the simplest of all objectives - to reach an exit. But in all other ways, it’s deliriously unique.

If you’re a fan of Resident Evil or any of the other horror games that are available in the gaming space, Song of Horror is well worth a look. The permadeath of characters won’t be for everyone and the random element of when attacks occur might also frustrate. But for others the tension and thrills will be what make the journey.

There’s no doubt that the Definitive Edition of HITMAN is well worth a look, but it definitely works best when played little and often. Either way, roll on HITMAN 2.

We have a burning love for Rise of the Third Power. It’s a long, lingering cuddle of a JRPG, doing everything we want from the genre: rich storytelling, chummy characters and a large side-step of ‘the grind’. If you can forgive the lack of any combat, loot or progression depth, you may love it as much as we did.

Grabbing three friends and playing will bring you a time that not only will strengthen your bonds of friendship, but will also determine who is the Ultimate Chicken Horse!

Samurai Shodown on Xbox is an excellent fighting game; one that is incredibly well-made and able to provide a return to form for the franchise. It’s runs at a different tempo to many other popular fighting games available today, but it’s wild fun. Unfortunately the story mode is disappointingly light and the online multiplayer is sparse.

It may not be the easiest, and it can be a little insistent in its objectives, but Super Mombo Quest is as rewarding as they come. Just keep that combo up, soldier.

Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 provides one hell of a sniping experience. With so many different ways to approach your targets, multiple challenges to take on and some excellent gadgets to make use of, you’re not going to get bored easily. On the higher levels, the psychic enemies can be a bit wearisome, but this does encourage careful planning.

Jump King on the Xbox One isn’t for the faint-hearted: vertigo sufferers and hot-headed people are better off leaving this “smoking hot babe” for the real heroes. It is however a simple 2D vertical platformer that works on two levels; instantly accessible whilst being painfully difficult.

Flightpath: Adventures in Venaris is one of the better shoot ‘em ups available on Xbox. The strong narrative, the experimentation with loadouts, the all out blasting action - they’ll all allow you to have a lot of fun.

Little Bug is deeply unique, especially regarding its main gameplay mechanic and some of the clever storytelling devices. It's a game where the difficulty can prove to be very taxing, but it just about keeps to the right side of enjoyment, rather than spilling over too much into frustration.

A delightful game that will keep you busy for no more than an evening, Hidden Cats In Rome will sink its claws into you from the get-go, whacking you silly with some seriously addictive hidden object hunting. With the addition of a new-to-the-franchise game mode, this is probably the best in the series so far.

Losing yourself in Haven on the Xbox is a sedate joy. You can wile away hours, clearing Rust from the world and pocketing alien produce. Then it’s back to the Nest for a night’s kip and one of the more endearing romantic relationships in video games. But as you skim across the surface of the Source, you’ll be left wishing that Haven could have trusted you a little more, and let you dive deeper into its shallow systems. It may not quite reach the heights of its inspirations, then, but Haven is an alien holiday that might just blow your troubles away.

SUPER BOMBERMAN COLLECTION provides a well packaged love letter to the history of the franchise for longtime fans. It also creates a welcoming entry point for beginners. Despite lacking some conveniences and accessibility, it delivers plenty of well-aged gameplay to savour.

Donut County is a bizarre experience, but it is one that is well worth having, so much so that there is no other game out there right now with this level of personality. The balance between charming characters, environments and a story that manages to be goofy yet impactful makes it truly special.

The game is challenging, almost blisteringly so, but that seems to be the thing that drags you back in; you just know that if you could be a bit more careful, you’d have got past that tricky bit and all could be well.

Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit will bring a smile to your face. If you had a checklist of all the best bits of a point-and-click game, this is one that is capable of ticking nearly all of it off.

Before I played The Adventure Pals, I expected a cheap imitation of the popular Cartoon Network show, when in fact it’s a damn good platforming adventure.

Whilst it attempts to channel the classic 3D platformers, Trifox feels much more like its own competent video game. The twin-stick and mix-and-match abilities can afford the player lots of freedom to play around with. But don’t let the cute platforming visuals suggest this is an easy ride; Trifox is challenging without ever being unfair.

Forsaken Remastered is a genuinely faithful recreation of the original, with just a little touch of smoothing over the visuals and the excellent addition of all previous content.

PING REDUX on Xbox One is a radical blast from the past with great visuals, music and levels. The value is superb and the gameplay is truly addicting.

If you want something to scratch the retro platformer itch, Bat Boy could well fit the bill. Just don’t go into it expecting it to be a pushover!

The wonderful world and ever-increasing challenge ensures that Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles is a unique experience that is well worth taking in.

It’s a nice comforting game to re-engage with, as ISLANDERS: New Shores adds in just enough improvements to justify being a sequel. The boon system is a great addition, as are the new buildings and islands on offer.

Despite not realising its full potential, Jack Move is good at what it does and should definitely be considered if you’re after a condensed JRPG.

It’s a testament to the development team that despite the flawed and repetitive concept they have still managed to craft an enjoyable, charming experience.

You'll really enjoy what Turbo Golf Racing offers, and it is perfect for shorter gaming sessions. However, I’m not fully convinced it will carve itself out a place as a permanent fixture in everyone’s game library. Enjoy the ride while it lasts, however long that may be.

GRIME: Colors of Rot is a pleasure to play. If you want a challenge, this is the game for you, particularly as the world is extremely well realised and will happily draw you in.

You will have a very pleasant time with FOMOGRAPHY - especially if you love taking photos and think of yourself as a bit of an amateur photographer.

All in all then and the Ultimate Edition of Dovetail Games’ Euro Fishing is good, despite the occasionally dodgy visuals.

River City Girls 2 is both good and not-quite-so-good. There is a lot of charm and personality oozing out of the screen as you play, and the way that the dialogue is written and performed is great. The difficulty is real, the slightly jerky animation makes things tricky, and the block is rubbish, but despite this there is a good deal of fun to be had.

NHL 26 is one of those games that will easily last you the year, working as a welcome return to the franchise. Whether you are a hockey fan or not, you’ll get thrills from the on-ice action, taking you back to the glory days of decades gone by.

Five Dates on Xbox One is a well-written, funny and endearing FMV game that manages to turn dating into a game without making it crass. Once you get over the awkwardness of choosing options based on what dates want to hear, you’ll be in the thralls of some fantastic actresses with engaging stories to tell. Swipe right on this one.

It’s not easy to put Beholder 2 on Xbox One in a box though, as it’s a truly unique blend of gameplay elements – a narrative-driven world that is filled with engaging characters, strange places, and mysteries waiting to be solved. Simply put, it’s one of the most artistic and well-written interactive experiences I’ve seen in a while and, while it’s not perfect, it is completely unforgettable.

I love games that try new things and make bold choices. Centum does that, taking the notion of a point-and-clicker, mixing in some escape room vibes and turning it all on its head.

This selection of games will keep you going for hours and hours, so if the challenging nature doesn’t put you off and you don’t mind a load of dialogue, there’s plenty of value in Deponia Collection.

Chained Echoes is a very accomplished JRPG that is well worth playing, mostly thanks to a great story and some classic retro feels.

If you like a base builder that hearkens back to the age of Evil Genius and Dungeon Keeper, and can look past some performance issues and the occasionally stupid AI, then this is definitely one you should look at getting. It’s funny, it looks nice, and it will definitely fill that need to plunder and pillage.

Rhythm Sprout is a playlist of eclectic bangers, tied to a simple rhythm action system that slaps you round the face with challenge. But master it - or take advantage of the Beginner Mode - and you will experience what will undoubtedly be one of the most charming games of 2023.

Lilith-M on the most part is a wonderfully crafted indie puzzle game that produces a challenging, yet rewarding experience for its players.

Despite camera and control woes, Crosak is still worthy of your attention. There aren’t many spiritual successors to ‘90s 3D platformers, and Crosak knows what made them great.

A Fold Apart on the Xbox One is a wonderful love story wrapped up in a very well-designed puzzle game. It’s an incredibly relatable game for anyone that has ever spent any time away from a loved one, or someone who has to deal with internal demons on a regular basis. And for those that haven’t, you could well learn a thing or two here about mental health in general.

There’s no doubt that KinnikuNeko: SUPER MUSCLE CAT as a whole is pretty fun, and while it doesn’t do anything surprisingly new (ignoring a cat headed bodybuilder, obviously) what it does do, it does well.

Skully on Xbox One is a fun game with creative elements, and if you love platformers and want to try something new, then Skully is worth checking out.

EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26 clearly shows that the American Football sim is on an upwards trajectory. The on-field action remains solid, but it is backed up by modes and general improvements across the board.

Ultimately, Sovereign Syndicate is a very good narrative experience, filled with three great characters navigating an interesting and varied steampunk London. It is a slight shame their stories don’t overlap a bit earlier, but it is a pleasure spending time with them regardless.

[REDACTED] is a great roguelike with plenty for fans of the genre to get stuck into.

Wanderstop is visually stunning, complete with a great soundtrack and capable of surprising anyone who plays.

There’s no doubt it can be a bit slow going, especially getting to know the people of this world, but if you can deal with that, then Vampyr is a very good all round experience that’s to be appreciated.

Grit and Valor - 1949 is extremely interesting, as well as being pretty fast paced. While it isn’t, strictly speaking, an RTS, it’s close enough for me, and that means it is more than worth a dabble.

Throwing you head on into 50v50 warfare, in which teamwork is essential and death comes quickly in huge maps, Hell Let Loose is a stunning game that had me playing round after round. Aesthetically it could use work, the frame-rate drops do start to become a bit tedious and the sheer scale of maps may put off some people. However, it’s a great bit of brutal warfare and one I know I’ll be keeping installed for a long time to come.

Feather on Xbox One is a great example of just how varied video games can be. It’s totally non-typical and provides an experience quite like no other; one that everyone should take a look at.

Vaporum: Lockdown is a rock solid RPG that will be a delight to anyone interested in a more classic experience. Pretty much everything is done right here - the story clicks, the combat is great, the levelling is fun and the puzzles are layered. If you're looking for a good dungeon crawler on Xbox, start right here.

The world and atmosphere of Goetia on Xbox is something to love. It's a very cerebral, clever, and originally designed point and click adventure. The story and writing are excellent throughout and the puzzles are both interesting and unique. I do however think that it can all become needlessly complicated at times and you really do have to think outside the box in order to find some of the solutions.

The Stairwell is one of my favourite games in the looping genre. There is something about the vertical, Escher-esque design that really got its hooks into me.

If you have previously enjoyed games like Thomas was Alone, then Journey of the Broken Circle on Xbox is going to be for you. The developers have created a beautiful and magical world with strange, unreal characters, but have managed to place real-world issues into it; the mix works brilliantly.

You’ll have a great time with Tides of Tomorrow and its strange time-travelling mechanics. Its use of integrating other players’ journeys into your own is a genuinely inspired bit of game development. The story firmly hooked me throughout its 10-hour campaign, and there are some incredibly tough choices to make along the way.

Microids and OSome Studio have achieved the improbable in The Smurfs 2: The Prisoner of the Green Stone. They’ve made a platformer that’s smurfing ace, a Super Mario Sunshine-like 3D adventure that both kids and adults can enjoy. The best licensed kids game of the year? You better smurfing believe it.

Shape of the World won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re into exploration/walking sims then this is a must purchase.

As a representation of the speed and danger of bike racing, RIDE 4 is pretty bang on. The races are hard, the Time Attack is brutally unforgiving, and the online component holds its end up, with no difference in the way the game plays. For fans of two-wheeled death machines, there is a lot to like here and Milestone have, once more, made a good fist of the various difficulties of bike racing.

Although there still needs to be a proper tutorial present in order to entice the most bike-shy of gamers, if you are a fan of MotoGP, or are interested in the sport, then MotoGP 24 is the best way to get involved virtually.

Codename: Ocean Keeper is an interesting game that blends two different bits of gameplay together quite well. The risk of mining is balanced by stomping about in a mech with machine guns attached, and the boss fights really require you to be on your toes.

Anyone looking to get involved in the MotoGP experience would be wise to pick up this year’s entry. Whilst things still seem quite similar to previous entries, there are some subtle changes that certainly improve upon things and with a decent experience all round, there’s little to fault.

By ditching much of the hardcore sim superstructure, what is left is is a fun, accessible racing game that can easily be mentioned in the same breath as Forza Motorsport. It’s fast, good-looking and, with the exception of some dim-witted AI, super fun to play. If you are in the market for a racing game, you can do a lot worse than Project CARS 3.

Firefighting Simulator: Ignite may well surprise. The gameplay loop is engaging, and the fire control, with all the different equipment to use, is genuinely exciting. It’s helped along by some amazing visuals that allow it to really feel like a current-generation sim game, something which is unusual in this genre.

Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator is a tense and heart-racing experience that maximizes on its simple mechanics to great effect. While understanding what is required of you is not complicated, the focus and speed required to make the most cash comes in intense short bursts.

You should have a good time with Eastern Exorcist. The combat is flashy and nuanced, the hand-drawn artwork is gorgeous and the short length makes it a perfect weekend game. There are some areas for refinement, especially in the polish of the overall package, but the fun of Eastern Exorcist shines above all else.

FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE improves on a cult classic in so many ways. Although one poorly thought out decision holds it back, this remains one of the best examples of its genre.

Goat Simulator: Remastered retains the original's chaotic charm while enhancing the visuals and bundling all the DLC

As far as story-driven games go, Knee Deep is certainly ranking high in terms of original concepts and the story itself is chock full of suspense, over dramatisation and mystery. Almost every character has something about them to be memorable, whilst the locations set the scene well without ever looking brilliant. After a strong start, a rocky middle that almost lost me and an unforgettable finale, Knee Deep is a great overall experience. Just don’t expect any fancy brain teasing puzzles.

Imagine Earth is immensely enjoyable. The game modes on offer are good and the campaign is excellent. But above all else a good sim game should be easy to use, addictive to play, and it should always make you feel like you want to play it more and more. Imagine Earth ticks all those boxes.

When teams coordinate, objectives shift dynamically, and firefights erupt across carefully tuned arenas, Delta Force feels like something greater than the sum of its influences. The challenge for the future is to refine this identity, not just echo others.

There is a lot of fun to be had with Sine Mora EX. It’s a solid, hard as nails, well crafted bullet fuelled shooter, with a lot to do and a whole bunch of different modes to try out.

The Survivalists on Xbox One is a very enjoyable experience. Its gameplay feels a bit like Don’t Starve, and its monkey system a bit like Factorio. But above all else, its charm and general aesthetic is all its own.