Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair really feels like a game designed for all ages. Veteran players will appreciate the standard difficulty of the game, whilst younger ones may benefit from a few Tonics to help them on their way.

With themes of loss, death, hope, sadness, survival and everything else, it isn’t necessarily the first-choice setting for a puzzle game. But all that adds up to make Moonrise Fall a unique title in that respect.

You’ll have a fantastic time playing through the story missions found in John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, no doubt tempted to increase difficulty levels as you go forward. If you can fully embrace the vibe of a cheesy, over-the-top action movie, then you are going to have a brilliant time here.

Toodee and Topdee is a cleverly thought out game, running nice visuals, a relaxing soundtrack and unique gameplay mechanics. I would have loved to have had more levels to play through and the option of online co-op would also have been good. But these are not deal-breakers and in the mountain of indie games that are available, Toodee and Topdee proves to be a special little title.

Like any hardcore simulation game, Microsoft Flight Simulator is simply not made for everyone. The lengths to which the game goes to accurately recreate cockpits, dials, and the general controls of aircraft is astonishing and this commitment to realism will hook aircraft buffs. But outside of some occasional digital tourism, more casual pilots might not have much to latch onto here.

Agent Fall is a bite sized game with a bite sized price point to go along with it. It’s not going to redefine any genres, but it's a fun, albeit short, experience that mixes things up

Them's Fightin' Herds isn’t a Street Fighter killer, but there is enough here to ensure that it is worth a try.

If you like the Baki Hanma series, or Punch Out, then you should come out fighting with Baki Hanma: Blood Arena.

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail will forever be divisive and it is going to take some time for the dust to settle on Dawntrail to see where it ranks amongst other Final Fantasy XIV expansions.

Is Dice a Million here to usurp Balatro? Not a chance - rolling dice lacks strategy, and the various unlocks are too chaotic to truly master. But there’s still a lovely alchemy in Dice a Million which means that the chaos brings fun. When a collection of dice works, it really, really works, and the ludicrous combos and resulting multipliers give you a satisfying pat on the back.

Nocturnal is a short, yet enjoyable experience. The platforming and visuals are the best aspects of the game. While I wish there was an expansion to some of the mechanics, the fact that it doesn’t stretch out the playtime unnecessarily somewhat offsets that desire.

You will be pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable moving containers around a port can be. A big part of that enjoyment stems from the story of Docked, closely followed by the precision of the gameplay.

Eternal Strands tries much, and very nearly all of it comes off. We could do with some faster pace to lore integration, yet if you wish to skip the backstory that attempts to be injected, you can do so. But land in the world created by Yellow Brick Games and you’ll constantly be astounded by what Eternal Strands offers, whether it be during an Epic battle, in the various ways of traversing the land, or with the playing of physics, the thermos and the mechanics at play.

The overall goal for this game is to make you laugh and it is this which is apparent through every interaction and every character. It’s good at it too, as Beat Cop is genuinely funny. I don’t remember a recent game that has made me laugh as much as this has.

Set your expectations so they are more aligned with a trip to a gallery than a video game and Cuccchi will often dazzle. This is an exhibition as a magical mystery tour, with Enzo Cucchi’s work whirling and dancing round you. It won’t satisfy anyone who’s looking for a challenge, it doesn’t offer particularly stimulating gameplay, and it’s shorter than a National Geographic special on the artist, but it’s many times more enthralling. Quality soundtrack, too.

It’s Guybrush, LeChuck, Elaine and all the others, cracking wise as they have always done, with a luminous cast of characters, some fantastically abstract item combinations, and the odd three-headed monkey. If Return to Monkey Island is the rebirth of the series, we’ll put in an order for seven or eight.

The First Descendant lands on Xbox to provide a solid start to what has the potential to be a long running game.

What we have here in Alphadia I & II is very much business as usual for KEMCO. The same JRPG cliches are here as always, even down to the “will they-won’t they” romance between the two main characters in the first game. And while familiarity can breed contempt, in this case it is more like settling down and slipping on a comfy pair of slippers, before taking in a couple of great stories.

Learning the levels, understanding what you can and cannot do, and experimenting to see what happens is surprisingly engrossing. As a nice relaxing experience, Knowledge Keeper delivers.

Going in I was skeptical that a single developer could bring a vision this vast to life, but that’s exactly what has happened and bar a few small issues here and there Ghost 1.0 is a genuinely stunning game – it is certainly one that any fan of metroidvania will absolutely enjoy.

Feral Fury is exactly what you should expect to find if you were to cross indie sensation The Binding of Isaac, with cult hit Ziggurat before adding a touch of the old school original Doom titles.

The depth and the difficulty of Age of Wonders 4 - and this is properly hard, be in no doubt - as well as the sheer amount of things to do, ensures this is a great way of losing a few hours, days, weeks or maybe even months.

I enjoyed my time with the Candleman. It’s an old-fashioned platformer with some very neat tricks and a lot of highly enjoyable gameplay. It might be a bit too samey for some regarding pace and style, but the story is charming with a very downbeat ending, that nearly ruins your investment in the little candle guy. But in conclusion, please give this a go if you like your platformers, love candles and hate the dark. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Dark Nights with Poe and Munro is a hugely enjoyable FMV and I would love to see more episodes follow this in the future. The writing, choice-making, and innovative ideas are all of a high standard and this means that it's another big tick for the fascinating and exciting D’Avekki Studios. Fans of the FMV scene should definitely give this a go.

Party Golf very nearly hits multiple holes-in-one, with just a few sloppy little hooks and slices holding it back from shooting winning scores. Whether you are looking for a new party game to play with mates, or wish to experience a golfing title that is unlike any other on Xbox One, then you’ll have many a fun hour with the trillions of customisable game options that Giant Margarita have allowed.

If you're up for a challenge, and fancy taking on a game that will let you play the way you want, then Time Recoil is well worth a look.

While it’s lean, it’s certainly mean, and you’ll have plenty of fun sending your friends spiralling down to the ground. Skydrift Infinity is an airborne Blur that’s had most of its content excised to focus on fun, and - as Blur fans - there’s no greater recommendation than that.

Syberia: The World Before may provide a bit of a surprise. It’s a particularly good game if you like puzzles or point-and-click adventures, whilst the story is well written and devised with some great locations and characters to meet along the way.

As a proposition in this day and age, Top Racer Collection is not a Forza or GT7 beater, but it isn’t meant to be. For gamers of a certain era, this is an easy sale, as the nostalgia is strong. For everyone else? The gameplay may be a little too simple. However, with four distinct games to go at, there is a lot of content

In Laysara: Summit Kingdom there are modes, difficulties, and enough options to cover all bases, ensuring this is a game that will appeal to any player that enjoys the concept of creating, maintaining, and improving supply lines, all as they expand a beautiful mountaintop settlement.

The Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 on Xbox Series X|S is one compilation you cannot miss out on.

The story will hook you in and keep you playing, some of the puzzles will have you banging your head on the wall (or sneaking onto Youtube for a look at the solution), and the animation and personality of the characters will have you really caring what happens to them. If you never liked this type of game, this probably won’t change your mind, but for everyone else, the crazy world of Thimbleweed Park comes highly recommended.

There isn’t much to grumble about in regards Midnight Fight Express. If you like to fight, this is certainly a game you will enjoy.

As an easy-to-handle entry to the city building scene, it's hard to fault Kingdoms and Castles too much. It may be limited in the very long term, but the opportunity to breathe life into a new kingdom as you get to the point where one feels exhausted allows for new strategies and tactics to come into play.

World War Z is lots of fun and easy to pick up and play, despite being a little on the expensive side. It may not have loads of new ideas, but it delivers a solid online PvP experience that doesn’t disappoint, especially on the zombie front. If you’re looking for your first foray into the online shooter genre, this is as good a place as any to start.

Aery - Calm Mind 2 represents a huge leap forward for the series, and it’s the moment when a calm-but-often-frustrating game loses the ‘but-often-frustrating’ caveat.

MY HERO ULTRA RUMBLE exceeds expectations as an extraordinary take on the battle royale genre. It’s packed with many of the best heroes, and a few villains, showcasing their amazing Quirks for great, action-packed matches.

The Legend of Tianding is a very competent entry into the side-scrolling fighting genre. And the tale is a breath of fresh air as well. It may be one of the first Taiwan based games you’ll play, but hopefully it won’t be the last.

The sky is the limit in War Tech Fighters. Despite looking a bit dated in places this game has proven to be one of the surprise hits in 2019, and it is a far bigger game than it first appears. There is plenty of variation in the mission structures to keep you entertained, and even after destroying thousands of enemies it is still incredibly satisfying blowing up the next one immediately after.

If you love your puzzlers and adore what the likes of Portal can deliver to the gaming world, then you are going to love The Entropy Centre.

Whether you're looking to take some tentative first steps into Atari's Recharged series or are an old veteran of the rebooted scene, we'd urge you to stick Caverns of Mars: Recharged right near the very top of your play list. It can certainly feel brutal, there's no denying that, but the adrenaline hits it can bring far outweigh those of frustration.

With only one big decision to make regarding Daniel’s powers, the magic is still an important part of the storyline in Life is Strange 2 Episode 4, just it is seemingly taking a backseat for now. This leads me to believe that it’ll all make an important comeback in the next, and final episode. And it will be here where we will finally see if the brothers get to have the happy ending they deserve.

Regardless of the love you’ll have for Wilmot’s Warehouse on Xbox, it’s a game to admire. It is incredibly minimalist, in its fantastic chillwave soundtrack, visuals and the basic sorting it tasks you with, but that just highlights its elegance. It’s a very original game, but at the same time feels so refined that it could be from a genre that’s been around for decades.

Date Everything! is a very different take on the dating sim genre, but it is bursting with character and the characters to match. It’s hard not to be impressed with the creativity on show, and be sucked into the bizarre but brilliant world the team at Sassy Chaps Games have created.

If you like point and click adventures with a big side dose of narrative and wish to spend some time dreaming, then Dreamfall Chapters is a place that is well worth visiting.

Goat Simulator 3 isn’t perfect, feeling rough and ready as you play. But this is what Goat Simulator has always been. With my cynical head on, it does feel a bit artificial this time, like the team of developers have tried to introduce bugs and glitches.

Box Align X is an addictive minimalistic puzzler that goes for substance over style, succeeding in providing a proper test for your brain.

Cat God Ranch is a weird concept, but it works thanks to the roguelite elements conjuring up a ton of variety. The vast amount of variables keeps everything fresh for hours and the strategic approaches you can adopt are quite fascinating.

If you haven’t played Lost Ember before, the Rekindled Edition is the best way to jump into the game. For those who have, it’s great to be reminded of the narrative journey once more, this time with improved visuals.

If you have been a fan of previous Just Dance titles, then once more this will be one that will appeal, especially if you have a subscription to Just Dance Unlimited.

Stranger may not have the utter appeal of an Abe title, and he might feel a bit rough in places, but the basic premise and ideas of Stranger’s Wrath HD are so great that the old school elements can be somewhat overlooked.

If we focus on the visual novel genre of gaming, then Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is up there as one of the most accomplished. The story is immense and engaging, the animation is outstanding and some TV broadcast quality is found in the cutscenes.

For all the wonderment it brings though, A Pixel Story is a bit stop-start, without either the story or platforming side ever really being let off the leash. When the controls allow it, the traversing sections work well and the story is utterly brilliantly, but just occasionally they get in the way of each other.

It can’t be an easy gig changing things as fundamental as the type of game you develop without losing your identity, but Immortals Fenyx Rising: The Lost Gods on Xbox manages this so well. It feels like a piece of DLC that attempts a lot of ideas that didn’t quite make the cut in the main game, yet it is easily the best DLC of the three post-release offerings.

There is an awful lot to like about ACA NEOGEO Metal Slug. Charming graphics, unforgiving skill based gameplay, pad bitingly hard bosses and a touch of slowdown combine to make a heady brew.

Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr Ultimate Edition is a lot of fun, and the new content certainly adds to the base game. The story is compelling, and the action in the levels is pretty non stop, forcing you to play tactically if you want to survive; taking cover and blowing up items in the environment will see you right.

Your feelings on randomness will determine whether Dicey Dungeon is for you. You can plan for that RNG and occasionally even stop it, but the dice will occasionally look up at you with its piercing snake eyes, and you’ll just have to swallow the loss. If you can accept that brand of cruelty, Dicey Dungeon is cracking.

The Berlin Apartment accomplishes a lot within its five-hour running time. It successfully takes you across four different decades, centred around an apartment that has stood at the cornerstone of German history. Berlin is undoubtedly the star of the show, and through the window frames, you realise just how much change and horror the city has gone through.

Who said that single player games were dead? Call of the Sea on Xbox was made for Game Pass: a fantastic story stunningly told, full of well-pitched puzzles, with almost zero replayability. It’s one of 2020’s most surprising genre-reboots, taking Myst and transplanting in a heart, and we’re all for it. You’d do well to buy a ticket to its shores.

I have been delightfully surprised at how accessible and addictive Heavy Metal Machines on Xbox is; it has been a thrill to have something like this at a quiet period in gaming. The game has real potential and enough legs to see it grow and blossom into a success.

All in all though Battle Princess Madelyn has been a wonderful waltz down memory lane. I love the way the game plays, I can clearly see the affection that the inspiration is held in, and it is just the right side of too hard. The visuals are bang on, the music fits perfectly and the gameplay has been polished to within an inch of its life.

The Big Top Breakout is cheap, cheerful and worth trying your hand at escaping from at least once, but maybe even twice or more to see the other possible ways out. The whole setting is a lot of fun, the clown inspired customisation items are welcome and the jobs are well suited.

As long as you stick to the single player, Jagged Alliance 3 is very good indeed. The controls are nicely optimised for console, the story is interesting and forging a team out of a bunch of seemingly disparate personalities is a lot of fun. With a deep levelling and crafting system to get to grips with, this is one of the better strategy games of the year.

Madden NFL 19 isn’t exactly breaking new ground when it comes to EA’s football franchise, but it is a step in the right direction. The additions to Franchise and Ultimate Team modes provide a more complete experience that appeals to more players, and versus play is more seamless this year.

Loop-based anomaly games have become all the rage lately, and there is a very real danger that this type of game will overstay its welcome. But in the case of CAPTURED, it does a great job of keeping you interested with its effective scares and the unsettling environment that you are forced to meticulously examine.

Klang 2 is a very solid entry in what has become a niche genre in the past couple of console generations. Tinimations has done a wonderful job of building a more tightly tuned follow-up complete with a hard-hitting soundtrack.

Road to Boruto tells a great story, drawing in the player to becoming emotionally attached to the next generation of heroes. The battles are generally entertaining and using characters I’ve never used before certainly helps to keep things fresh. That being said, the best battle on paper is a real let-down and the side quests can drag on a little.

Trinity Fusion is a good game with a steep learning curve and instinctive combat that is enjoyable to get involved in. No two runs are the same, the difficulty is hard, yet if I had one complaint it would be that the damage you take feels wrong.

I didn’t know what to expect when starting Faye Falling, but I was pleasantly surprised, and it hooked me from beginning to end. It has a great tone and a story that is engaging, at times poetically mournful.

HELLDIVERS 2 on Xbox Series X is a triumph of co-op design featuring resourceful, percussive, and dangerously fun gameplay. The missions strike a sweet balance of duration and intensity, loadouts reward experimentation, and team synergy just works. But it’s not flawless.

With several modes to get lost in, addictive gameplay and incredible replayability, SEUM is one of the most promising platformers of the year so far and is well worth playing even by the most casual platforming fans.

It is great having Super Monkey Ball back on consoles, and like any good friendship you can jump straight back into it and feel like you’ve never been apart.

The Exit 8 on Xbox presents a chilling horror puzzle game. Part walking simulator, part puzzle game, and part psychological horror, it is more than worth the entrance fee.

Even though the slow-mo shots feel controlling, and the running feels entirely unnatural, The Diaries of Agent Silent Death is a vast improvement over the previous DLC entry.

I’ve really enjoyed my time with this very unique game. Yes there are pacing issues and it does outlive its welcome once we get about two thirds in, but for the price, there is a lot of game on display here.

The destruction technology is industry-leading, the gunplay is strong and the graphics are stunning. However, the gameplay loop, while quite fun, is a bit limited in its current state. With time, I suspect THE FINALS will blossom into an upper echelon first person shooter.

Déjà Vu on Xbox One offers a charming, if brief, experience that is fun and utterly relaxing to play. Anyone with some cash or credit going spare should give this a look, even if it may initially seem a little pricey.

Dustborn has a lot going for it. There’s a great story that goes down many different pathways, all while meeting a ton of interesting and diverse characters along the way.

Stay Out of the House may have the air of the familiar, but offers an unsettling struggle for survival with The Butcher in one of the most authentic stealth survival sims I’ve played in a long while.

Colour-matching aside, Overdriven Evolution is a beast. It’s one of the most over-the-top shooters we’ve played, lighting up like a pinball table as you play. But it’s also stacked, absolutely full to the brim with game modes and challenges

Pure Farming 2018 is the best farming sim title that I’ve played on this generation of console. If you’ve always been curious about trying one of these games then this will be a great place to start, and the seasoned professional will adore the content and challenges – with the added bonus of taking in farming ideas from other countries. It’s a bit of a shame about the lack of multiplayer though.

LEGO CITY Undercover manages to create a charming and humorous experience for all the family, with a definite old school cop show vibe in style, writing and soundtrack. It provides childish jokes and slapstick style to bring on the laughter, as well as cheeky parodies which are easily recognisable.

Multiplayer is a blast and single player won’t let you go, even though you might get tired of the grind about halfway through. There’s also a neat story to be found and the cast of characters that keep reanimating are delightful, with some very original game mechanics on show.

The Touryst is a great little vacation simulator with clean cube graphics, a fun little plotline, and plenty of minigames to check out. It’s a “byte” sized game that is good “bit” of fun.

The action in Space Mercenary Defence Force is pretty good and fairly addictive, although getting a good build going can be quite difficult, as the upgrades are all random. However, the urge is there to have just one more go, and with a very low asking price there is a certain amount of fun to be had.

Phantom Spark is most definitely a racing game, but it isn’t necessarily one for the purists out there. No speedometer, hardly any engine noises and no real opponents may put traditional petrolheads off. But for those looking for a chillout, zen-like racing game, look no further than Phantom Spark.

It looks great, it plays great and it comes with that one ingredient that always makes for a decent experience – an addictively teasing quality.

The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo is a free-wheeling, surrealist graphic adventure that’s so beautiful that sometimes we just want to sit back and admire.

LEGO Bricktales is a puzzling delight that enables your imagination to thrive as you solve a myriad of interesting problems.

Moonscars may look grim, but there’s little horror in allowing your morbid curiosity to get the better of you here.

Abiotic Factor is fantastic. If you love survival crafting with a dash of retro sci-fi atmosphere it’s an easy recommendation - especially if you have friends to play with. It’s not perfect, but Abiotic Factor nails the sense of creative problem-solving that keeps you saying ‘just one more hour.’

The Jackbox Party Pack 8 is another splendid serving of mini-game madness. There’s nothing radically new or different here, but the same established formula works as well as ever, especially when your mates are up for a game or two.

Hidden Cats in Rio de Janeiro is a welcome return to what makes the Hidden Cats franchise so appealing. It rediscovers the simple, zen-like joy that made us fall in love with the series in the first place.

It’s wonderful to play through Little Nightmares again, this time in Enhanced Edition form. The graphical updates are the biggest thing to mention and you can really see them working on screen. It’s a shame the DLC isn’t included in the base package, but for newcomers, Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition is an absolute indie masterpiece.

Mørkredd on Xbox is hugely enjoyable in co-op, delivering a delightful game full of mystery, magic, and wonder, complete with puzzles that test both your brain and your friendship. In the single player it’s a little more of a struggle though. My advice? Grab a buddy and play the wonderful Mørkredd right now - It’s both challenging and unique.

Turbo Overkill is bonkers - that special kind of bonkers that makes you sit back after a set piece fight and think “Did I just survive that?”. It is fast, furious, and insanely fun, with a cool retro vibe married to modern day speed and mechanics.

Despite not being the most complex management game, Spacelines from the Far Out offers a well rounded experience that is easy to dip in and out of. This is one trip you will be happy to hold a season ticket for.

Brilliantly designed with a different slant on the genre, Wordless has a unique style and some amazing visual storytelling.