PAYDAY 3 is sadly a classic case of style over substance. It’s a “by the numbers” FPS whose uninspiring offer struggles to distinguish it from the competition.

NBA 2K21 on Xbox One is a brash, flashy and powerful game that has a huge array of toys to play with, as well as a powerful toy-kit to make it more your own too. Whilst there are micro-transactions within, the patient player can just grind their way to the top.

The top-down visuals give TRON: Catalyst an old-fashioned feel, which seems appropriate for the Tron Universe. I found the storytelling in this game to be intriguing and full of interesting plots and character dynamics.

There’s no doubting that there is a short and ramshackle Breath of the Wild at the centre of Effie on the Xbox. Its rough, indie edges can be incredibly charming, and surfing the open world on the back of a magical shield is a gift that keeps on giving. But the rough edges are too sharp, too frequently.

I love the vast majority of what Wales Interactive do and that is the case with I Saw Black Clouds on Xbox. It's a game that works as a solo adventure, but equally good with someone to throw ideas off, dictating the decisions you make.

Police Stories brings some good ideas to the table but with them comes inconsistent execution. It’s punishing and unforgiving, which will take the fun out of the equation for those looking for a quick blast.

Panic Porcupine is a run of the mill platformer which cannot escape the shadow of that which inspired it. A problem all of its own making.

High on Life is crass, vulgar, excessive, padded and features a comedy style that is incredibly subjective. However, it also has a ton of heart, strong gunplay, surprisingly good level design, a unique tone and, above all else, it's just plain fun.

It must be said that the story has the potential to be something special, however the poor implementation of key game mechanics and a lack of variation throughout makes Outcast: Second Contact the perfect example of an unneeded remaster.

Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China may have proven to be a bit of a let down with its campaign, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that the combat is rather enjoyable.

At the end of the day, Razed is one of the more superior games to come out of the ID@Xbox initiative; it gets a lot of things spot on, and it never feels unfair which – for a game of this type – is an achievement in itself.

If you appreciate multiplayer brawlers and are after something comical to enjoy with the family, Gang Beasts is without a doubt a game you need to play. If, however you rely on the presence of online players or solo adventures to get your thrills, then this is a game that won’t have much for you.

Some technical hiccups and out of place combat isn’t enough to stop this from being Bloober Team’s scariest game to date, and the best Blair Witch entry since 1999.

City of Brass is a game worthy of your time. It may be slightly overpriced for what it is, but it’s a good addition to the roguelite genre. If you are a fan of the genre that is.

For some, the grind, lack of continued narrative and difficulty curve will be a little off-putting to say the least, but at the end of the day, this is a rogue-like experience that brings an original adventure and a decent challenge that will keep you going for some time.

Astria Ascending is a worthy entry into the JRPG genre. It’s beautifully presented, has a cracking story, engaging combat and enough side quests to keep you busy for a good long time.

Restrictive nuances in both single player and multiplayer prevent players from having as much fun as they could – and at points even make Disintegration feel shallow – but the FPS/RTS fusion on genres works to a point; neither feels more predominant than the other, but then neither feel fully formed either.

There’s not enough here to keep the V-Rally mode from feeling like a chore rather than an enjoyable and fulfilling career mode, and unfortunately that feeling drips down to the overall V-Rally 4 experience. It’s an unfulfilling experience with no clear idea of what it’s trying to achieve.

The First Tree represents what storytelling can be in the industry today, provided that real care and thought has been put into it. This is an indie title that tells a beautiful, emotionally affecting story while painting a vivid, colourful world for you to explore, all in under two hours. It’s an impressive achievement.

There is a very interesting and intriguing premise to Headliner: NoviNews; one that is a comment of the power the media have over world events. It’s also well implemented in how the media make editorial decisions that can help or hinder governments in power.

Obey Me on Xbox One is a lot of fun to play. It’s challenging, fast and furious, and thankfully comes with an appealing story and graphical style. There are issues with the camera, but nothing game breaking, and with lots of fun to be had pushing back demons, what more recommendation do you need?

SWORD ART ONLINE Last Recollection fails to deliver a memorable climax to the series. Despite bringing in a raft of characters and throwing in a load of skills from the off, it just doesn’t do enough to keep you hooked. There’s too much blandness throughout, it doesn’t entice you with things to work towards, and the gameplay is incredibly monotonous.

The fast-paced combat is fluid and smooth, the visuals are a spectacle to behold and the sound effects can make you feel like someone just crashed a TIE-fighter into the side of your house. But with very little in the way of change when compared to the first Star Wars Battlefront and a story that falls flat once you look past the protagonist, Star Wars Battlefront II is a major disappointment, and a poor effort from a studio who have become renowned for making top quality shooters.

If you can stick around after being thrown in at the deep end with the ‘robust’ DLC releases and, quite frankly, awful controls then The Sims 4 is definitely worth it.

With a beautiful art style accompanying the game from the menus to the final boss, gameplay that’s smoother than dancing on ice and able to provide plenty of opportunity for replayability with its increasingly challenging difficulties and numerous game modes, this is a game that shouldn’t be missed if bullet-hell shooters are your type of thing.

Redeemer – Enhanced Edition is a game that is more than worthy of your time. If you enjoy Diablo 3, any game in a similar style is always welcome, and even if you don’t, this is still just an unfettered joy.

It feels like Loot River has difficulty in committing to the type of game it wants to be. For a roguelike, the runs feel too short, with too much blocked off. For a roguelite, the run-to-run progression is too lacking to be engaging.

A more linear, non-combat story-driven game would certainly have been preferred, but if you are curious and love a bit of Lovecraft then you should always consider a deep dive into The Sinking City.

At the end of the day, Jump Stars hits the party scene with great intentions. If you’re going to play it fleetingly, hitting it once a week or so, then you’ll find it will well suffice. But expect to play it and enjoy it on a more consistent basis and you’ll probably be left a little bored by the repeating aspects.

Eventide 2: Sorcerer’s Mirrors could quite possibly be one of the worst puzzling adventures from Artifex Mundi. It’s still not awful though, just nowhere near as good value for money or as stimulating as others.

There are plenty of games out there that offer long, involving experiences; think of the likes of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Red Dead Redemption 2. Sigi – A Fart for Melusina gives you the opposite of that, and it’s the type of game that we could all do with a bit more of.

The use of different flight options can almost act like a training simulator, but for those looking to invest in a drone without the hefty price tag, this would be a good place to start.

The next-gen release of Hunting Simulator 2 on Xbox brings with it some very notable graphical improvements to the environments, but that is the only real difference. A lack of a next-gen upgrade, save migration or new features in general – aside from having to pay even more money – prevent this from being a worthwhile investment for existing players.

There’s a killer idea at the core of Swordship, and so much presentational care has been put into supporting it. What would happen if you ‘pulled a Mirror’s Edge’ and made a shooter completely pacifist? The result would be Swordship, a dodge ’em up that’s overloaded with potential. In execution, though, it slowly capsizes.

There’s a red-pill, blue-pill choice with Jumanji: Wild Adventures. If you’re a solo, older player who loves the series and wants to immerse themselves in the world of Jumanji, you might find this to be too simplistic and ramshackle. Take that red pill and eject out. But if you’re a family **of Jumanji fans, and have two or more players to dance-fight with? Take the blue pill and have a cracking time.

Shredders does everything in its power to make you feel cool, it pays homage to the glorious sport of snowboarding and does wonders to try and welcome newcomers as well.

Aphelion may stumble in its mechanics, but when it places focus on the storytelling, atmosphere and spectacle, it’s exactly the kind of experience DON’T NOD excels at. It’s intriguing, mysterious and clever – we just wish it was tighter in terms of save points and how the gameplay is handled.

ELEX II might struggle to find a market when it is put alongside other open-world games, but ultimately there is a lot of good adventuring to be found in this neat RPG.

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.

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.

Much like the paradox a title like Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin conjures on both sides of the colon, the game itself appears to be of two halves competing against each other.

Between the lacklustre story, the frustrating controls and the non-existent character development, Damsel is just not fun to play.

Not helped by glitches and frame stutters, Alone in the Dark is a decent relaunch of the franchise, one that is let down by the combat mechanics.

Titan Quest is a good game that will appeal massively to the hardcore RPG fan. The story and narrative are excellent and rewarding, with clever level design, great locations and loads to do. The controls sometimes let the game down, as does the menu selection, but if you can’t afford to go to Greece this summer, don’t worry – just sit at home, put on some sunglasses and play some Titan Quest.

Will you like Through The Woods? Well, I love indie games that have a strong voice and really unusual tales to tell. Through the Woods has all of this and much, much, more with a brilliant, unusual story that is fun to be part of. It doesn’t shy away from the dark and tricky storylines which is brave, and should be admired.

If you’re an avid viewer of Adventure Time, then it’s worth experiencing for the narrative at least, but everyone else should wait for Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion to get a discount.

If you’re a fan of H.P. Lovecraft’s work then I feel this is one of the best experiences out there, simply because it loves its source material.

It is an enjoyable romp, with its frenetic pace and solid competitive play, but it is brief. How long you end up enjoying it for may depend on how many friends you have, especially considering the rather steep £35 price tag.

I like the story and the overall tone, while the combat is certainly engaging and solid. The whole control system and how it has been implemented doesn’t work as well for me, with a lack of fluidity and ease of use at times. But overall there is a very good game on offer here, and with it priced up at just about the right level, for fans of this genre it’s probably a must buy.

It’s easy to see what Citizens of Space on Xbox One is going for: a playable Saturday morning cartoon for children. But many of the decisions made to achieve this – such as simplistic combat and a dumbed down story – make it hard to recommend. At best, Citizens of Space can be regarded as a fine JRPG to get your children started.

There is a lot of imagination and heart gone into the making of Super Toy Cars 2 on Xbox One that oozes out of almost every corner. Career mode is an absolute blast and I will never tire of smashing up opponents – or myself when making a bad judgement on one of the obstacles. The game is slightly let down by only allowing two players locally – four would have made this a gaming night essential – and the lack of modes online, but there is still masses of fun to be had here on your own.

Summertime Madness is a beauty, there’s no doubting that. It bewitches you with sunkissed moments and some surrealist cutaway moments, like a whale that swims past you at the summit of a lighthouse. But these are garlands on a forgettable little game, one that gets lost in its own mazes and can’t find a way of generating feeling, fun or meaning. One for only the fiercest Myst fans.

The story and over-the-top action are what makes Mia and the Dragon Princess the fun thriller of a game that it is. But it’s also a game that will ensure you want to unlock all the story outcomes, and the shorter running time aids this achievement as well. However, the gameplay doesn’t move anything on too much and it could do with some more tricks up its sleeve; much like some competitors have tried.

WrestleQuest is a great RPG adventure that’s oozing with personality. Full of exciting grappling, it’s absolutely a love letter to a bygone era, but it also works for those unfamiliar with the wrestling business, thanks to a cavalcade of quirky characters and eccentric drama.

Unfortunately, it seems the more of Marvel’s Avengers you play, the less likely you are to come away with an overall positive experience. The single player by itself might take you up to 10 hours but diminishing returns for the multiplayer aspects set in rather fast. The single player is Hulk: strong, fast and a surprise when you aren’t expecting it. The multiplayer is Bruce Banner: calculated, small, and has the potential to be something powerful but isn’t quite there yet.

State of Decay 2 is far from a bad game and, in spite of its technical odiousness, it’s just so much fun to play. Offering more of what made the series great in the first place, fans of the original will be more than satisfied. Newer players might be harder to impress though, as their truck somersaults gaily through the air and they ultimately quit in frustration.

Sinner draws inspiration from several existing titles, but stands apart with its unique approach to development by incentivizing the player to become better, instead of merely improving a character’s skill set.

There should be no doubt that long-time fans of the series will be happy to finally have FlatOut return, but it will be more for the lack of anything like it available on the market right now, rather than the quality of the game this time round.

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.

I’m left here taking with me memories of a game that has shone throughout and risen enough to really put itself up there with the highest quality indie titles currently available. I’m utterly thankful that I stuck with the adventures of Rise & Shine, jumping, double jumping and pounding that trigger button right until the very end. Because you see, it delivers moments of magic throughout.

Vesta is a lovely little story-filled puzzler that is powered by humour and brings enough thought as to why, what and when at all times. It’s not the most perfect game, and slight control issues, a repetitive soundtrack and massive save problems put a downer on things, but it’s still worth taking a shot at.

It's great that the creative vision of the developer is out there in the world of Scorn. The bold choice of not having any hints about what to do and no leading narrative is a courageous one; one that I applaud. What lets Scorn down though is the fact that the puzzles aren't that inspiring, a bit too bland.

I really enjoyed Maize, perhaps more than I should have. I was expecting the game to be absurd to the point where it made no sense, but in reality I found the story cohesive. Completely out there with a Russian teddy bear and walking, talking corn stalks, but still cohesive.

The Hitman HD Enhanced Collection costs £50, and whilst this may be for two games that are now in HD, they have not had the type of overhaul that would usually warrant such a price tag. If you enjoyed the original titles you’ll love these, but this release won’t do anything to convert critics of the series.

With the majority of sports on offer in Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – The Official Video Game proving to be fun and easily accessible, it makes this latest Olympic Games game an easy recommendation for those looking for a party game to be enjoyed with friends. It might not quite have the charm of the Mario and Sonic Olympic Games variants, but it still manages to borrow a lot of what makes those games fun by toning down a bit of the emphasis on sports simulation.

NBA Playgrounds rids the sport of all the annoying rules, allowing gamers to enjoy the raw and stripped down version of basketball, albeit with a lot of quirkiness thrown in. Given the lack of stuff to do though, and the price tag, I’d be inclined to say hold off for now.

SkyKeepers is a very solid, well put together 2D platform adventure title. The gameplay is nothing short of good and it can be great fun to play. That said, the constant battles and the increase in the difficulty arc became a real problem and dulled my interest quite considerably. But fans of this type of game will love the skill level required, and for them, death will only make them stronger.

For the most part the game does a great job at being a strategic and thought-provoking turn-based strategy game. And the humour provides an excellent layer of polish and enthusiasm which makes playing Attack of the Earthlings much more enjoyable.

Warface: Breakout is very much just some shooter, and there are much better games out there that will be more rewarding to play. If you liked Warface, then by all means give it a whirl, but it doesn’t compare to the other current darlings of the FPS genre.

It has been good to go back to Mafia II after a decade. The visual upgrades that have been implemented to the cityscape are great, and it has been hugely entertaining to be reminded of the story again, one that tells a great tale with enough twists and turns to keep any Mafia crime fan happy.

Dustoff Z on Xbox One is one of those games that you should take a punt on if you’re looking to keep yourself entertained for an evening, home alone, with little else to keep you occupied. It delivers a decent upgrade system to both the shooters you can employ and the vehicles that you can fly, and there’s just enough of a test to ensure you won’t be able to shut your eyes and hope for the best.

Don’t come into this one as a time-poor player, as FBC: Firebreak just doesn’t do enough to reward the casual ones out there.

Bleeding Edge on Xbox One is just pure fun. It’s a tight, fast thrill-ride that keeps me playing which, as someone who predominantly plays single-player, is not easy to do. While it certainly isn’t what some fans of Ninja Theory may be expecting, it is still a great first collaboration from what will likely be one of Xbox Game Studios’ finest teams.

It’s strange to have seen the tennis video game scene left to die in recent years, but Big Ant have proven that there is still plenty of love for the sport. You may find the lack of licensing an issue, but if you love Rafa Nadal, and enjoy a couple of games of tennis, then all is good in the world of AO International Tennis.

This is as average as shmups get, and the whole set-up and premise is far too silly to the point where it blurs the line of being a parody of itself.

Paradise Lost on Xbox has surprised from start to finish. It tells a good and moving story, and deals with an alternative chilling history with some brilliant visuals and well-written narrative. It's not a challenging game at all but rather a narrative exploration that takes you on quite a linear path.

Blightbound is a great co-op experience for dungeon crawling enthusiasts, but if you don’t have anyone to play with, you’re better off skipping this one.

If Pupperazzi was a dog, it would be a pug. It’s cute in theory, but it huffs, puffs and has trouble functioning, stumbling over itself when it tries to run. It’s tough to control, and so small that you wonder where the rest of it went. Pupperazzi, unfortunately, is more like the runt of the litter.

Those coming to Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 primarily for multiplayer will find a polished, thrilling package that will last all year. Those seeking a memorable solo campaign will leave disappointed.

If you enjoyed the original Party Hard and want some more killing spree action then you can't go wrong with Party Hard 2 on Xbox One. There is a whole host of content and multiple different ways to approach each level; that in itself will keep die-hard fans happy for a long while.

As wonderfully ridiculous as Just Die Already is, after a few hours you may struggle to find enough to keep your attention. This isn't down to a lack of direction, but instead the shallow gameplay depth. It's a wild ride while it lasts though.

If you wish to enjoy the gameplay of Darkest Dungeon without tearing your hair out, then Vambrace is very much for you. It couples a Game of Thrones narrative with engaging side-quests and a more than amply challenging progression.

Scribblenauts Showdown is one of the better party games that doesn’t involve singing, dancing, or everyone needing a smartphone, so grab a controller and unleash your creative thoughts upon those closest to you. It’s good, wholesome fun.

The looks and soundtrack are really interesting and the mind testing puzzles are a delight to attempt. The humour of the English Inventor tackling space travel, but still needing the perfect cup of tea in the process, amused me a great deal, and whilst I do think you will have a ball with a friend in local co-op, the single player is still fun.

Monster Truck Championship on the Xbox One offers an unusual vehicle to play around with and does so well enough. It could be argued that there isn’t too much on offer to justify the price tag, but what is present is a decent Career mode and a multiplayer mode. Where racing games have developed and evolved over time, Monster Truck Championship takes it back a notch or two, but that is by no means a bad thing.

Spacebase Startopia on Xbox is a sim game which is full of character and offers a solid experience, especially for those who are fans of the genre. However, the clunky control scheme and uncomplicated formulaic gameplay may prove too much of a barrier for some.

It’s fair to say that Before We Leave is perhaps more suited to a beginner than a true veteran of the genre, but there’s still more than enough here for everyone to find hours of entertainment.

AEW: Fight Forever possesses the foundations for it to be an excellent blast from the past, but fails in building upon them. It’s not a bad game, I just feel as though there are too many areas in which it’s lacking substance and so longevity is an issue.

Little Hope on the Xbox One is a substantially different horror game than Man of Medan, and that is one of the beauties of The Dark Pictures Anthology. However, that does mean that gone are the tight corridors of Man of Medan, replaced by a lot of walking on empty roads and dirt paths in Little Hope. It was a tale that I personally found a lot less scary, though this could be down to familiarity of the anthology starting to creep in. It is still more than capable of producing a decent amount of scares though as the nights start to draw in.

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.

My Hero One’s Justice 2 is an incredibly frantic and enjoyable fighting game that delivers fans with an up-to-date adaptation of the goings on in My Hero Academia. The roster is more fleshed out compared to its predecessor and the game modes – Missions especially – are mostly improved.

The levels are well-designed, whilst the questing, building freedom and gathering of tools helps it to standout from many of the other LEGO titles. Throw in the massive amount of items and characters, plus the exciting relics, and there’s a lot to like. Unfortunately, it’s lacking in the storytelling department, has far less longevity than one would expect for the price and often repeats objectives for the side quests. Oh, and it’s frustrating to have so many technical problems.

With beautifully bright, hugely abstract visuals, a pumping soundtrack, a superbly well designed menu system and a huge amount of addictive racing across well detailed tracks, LIGHTFIELD is most definitely one that the racers out there should give a go - especially if those racers are more obsessed with bettering lap times than racing actual opponents.

If you love adventure, shadow puppets, and unique gameplay then Projection: First Light on Xbox One will enchant.

I think the most important thing to keep in mind when playing Windbound on Xbox One is that there is a bit of an adjustment period to picking up the game. I didn’t boot it up and immediately fall in love with it; the visuals and premise drew me in, while the mechanics took some adjustment. But after a while everything begins to feel pretty good.

With simplistic controls ensuring gameplay is easy to pick up for players of all ages, a smoothly spoken narrative pushing the story along at the perfect pace and plenty of interesting puzzles found throughout, this is one cooperative puzzler that offers a memorable and enjoyable experience.

All in all though and Anthem is a great deal of fun. The in-depth story, believable characters and masses of content promise to keep you busy for a good long time.

So 2Dark is really a story with two sides; it’s either excelling from its attention to detail, or failing because of its heavy-handedness. I’d love to say that this is a nuanced story that explores the depths and complexities of its subject matter. But really it’s a calloused story surrounded by nuanced and sophisticated gameplay. All in all, 2Dark is a rewarding experience, so long as your leave your sensitivities behind.