LEGO Worlds may not be built on the mighty foundation of survival and building, but the content in place is certainly a welcome addition. Whilst the quests could certainly do with a little more inspiration, it will be the infinite Master Builder possibilities, with the many thousands of LEGO bricks available, that you’ll be remembering this classic for.

World to the West is really worth checking out. I enjoyed the work that Rain Games have put in and I really believe they are making interesting work that embraces the past with a modern twist. The price might be a tad high, but there’s a lot of quality clearly on show here.

There is a great game hidden away in Rising Lords, with lots of options to play through and a good story. The resource side of things is easy to grasp, taking care of itself after a while and whilst the battle system is rock hard, when it clicks, it all makes sense.

While Rusty Rangers may not have been the roguelite platformer hybrid many may have hoped for, it still excels in the former, providing a replayable amalgamation of gameplay styles seldom seen in the genre.

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.

Many will be happy to see the most popular side to Call of Duty given the main focus this time around, but the lack of anything new and intuitive makes it feel more like a rushed out cash grab than a genuine new entry into one of the world’s most popular franchises.

Whale Peak Games have done a great job in the creation of Go Mecha Ball. A unique game that mixes genres that probably shouldn’t ever be mixed, it turns out to be highly successful. If you want a pinball fix with a twin-stick shooting twist, this is one that should keep you going for a while.

For those looking for a classic survival horror experience, Dead of Darkness has everything you’ll be looking for. Featuring a great variety of difficulties, engaging enemies and interesting level designs, I found myself captivated from start to finish.

We adored Slime’s Journey because it was just pure platforming craft, delivered in the simplest of manners. For £4.99, it’d be greedy to ask for anything more.

Empire of the Ants will probably exceed your expectations - you will be pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of a story campaign, RTS gameplay, and multiplayer options. The ambition of the game is commendable, and the RTS mechanics are well-implemented.

Not only is 88 Heroes a brilliant achievement for Bitmap Bureau, but, more than anything else, it is fun to play. Maybe it can be a little frustrating at times, but that comes with the platforming territory. The varied and fun gameplay, the different level areas, the humour, and finally the music (which is a chiptune masterpiece) all add up to make a truly fantastic game.

The Surge is a game that can be mentioned in the same breath as Dark Souls, something which is high praise indeed.

It seems that the developers of Coral Island have chosen the best bits from a veritable smorgasbord of farm and life sim games. It has the charm of Animal Crossing, the relationship building of My Time at Sandrock, the farming of Stardew Valley and the look of The Sims, all with the addition of a narrative that will keep you engaged enough to overlook the monotony of clearing garbage piles.

It’s fast, fun and challenging, and the old school style of one credit and then being left to git gud is a welcome change from the easier games that seem to limp onto the market these days.

The Last Stand: Aftermath is a fantastic roguelike zombie shooter. It’ll make you think, in detail, about every decision, if only as planning is such a key part of the experience. Aesthetically it’s a little rough around the edges, the music is sub par and it’s not scary, but everything else is such a joy that you’ll genuinely forget about the bits that don’t work.

Sharpen your beak, master your bottom bounce, and start scooting telegrams across the Outback. Just - whatever you do - don’t dare to do it solo. You have been warned: KeyWe is a friends-only experience.

If you’re looking for an in-depth survival experience, where deception is the biggest obstacle, then Project Winter is a great game to pick up. Just keep in mind that you’ll want a mic and it may take a couple of games to get into the swing of things.

Together We Live is a slow burner that develops into an intriguing visual novel that’s equally depressing as it is heartwarming.

Unwording comes with a positive message and creative gameplay mechanics. I appreciated the developers' willingness to experiment with different visual styles to enhance the storytelling and while the experience is relatively short, it feels perfectly paced, leaving a lasting impression.

Salt and Sanctuary on Xbox One isn’t for everyone; its high difficulty can easily put off many players. Failing on the same spot, again and again, might become disheartening. But learning the patterns and approaching each scenario with patience reinvigorates your stride. Those who manage to overcome these obstacles will likely discover a rewarding 2D souls-like experience with an immense amount of various customization options, including weapons, armour, accessories, and Creeds to accommodate your preferred play style.

KOF’94 stands up to today’s scrutiny, and in many ways provides a purer arcade hit than many of the current fighting games. There’s no practice mode, no easy mode, no nothing – it’s just you, your controller and your wits against a seemingly psychic AI that knows attacks are coming almost before you do.

Thymesia doesn't necessarily bring anything new to the Souls-like world, but what it does do, it does very well.

If you loved the other games in the series, then Bahnsen Knights is a must-buy. And honestly, if you haven't experienced this trilogy yet, you should do so.

The usual frustrations stick in regards to the story, plot and tiresome mechanics, but Sonic Frontiers is a marked improvement and one of the best 3D Sonic games in years.

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.

Sherlock Holmes Chapter One is powered by a brilliant story and the chance to take in some superb cases. The ability to get accusations wrong and to choose whether to save or condemn is a solid touch that allows the game to deliver a great dynamic. There are a ton of hours included here too, with a huge main story and loads of side quests to take in.

PES 2019 is the ideal game for the football purist, but don’t expect to be blown away by new stuff.

Wytchwood isn’t much more than ten hours of fetch quests, one after the other, bound to a simple crafting system. Forage, make and deliver, over and over again. But while that repetition sours the cauldron a little, there’s plenty that’s special in Wytchwood’s world of spells and recipes to mask the flavour.

If you are looking for a short, but sweet, puzzle game then The Star Named EOS comes highly recommended.

If you like a Tactics game, Cross Tails is one of the better ones of recent times. With a little more variation in the mission types this could have been right up there.

TENGAI is the zenith of the Samurai Aces series, and it’s one of Psikyo’s finest. Who knew a game featuring a flying battle-monk could be so entertaining?

Ellphaser is an affordable game that will give you about an hour of entertainment. The gameplay is simple but fun, and you’ll easily get 2000 Gamerscore out of it. It ends just about at the right time too, refusing to ever try to be anything more than what it is.

Main narrative-wise, Button City is first rate. It’s a charming throwback to cartoons of the ‘90s that kids and big kids will enjoy in equal measure. Both Gobabots and rEvolution Racer are also decent minigames in their own right as well, but there is an over-reliance on fetch quests in order to progress the story. It’s after the linear first hour of Button City where the game opens up, with a lot to explore and fully engross yourself in.

If you're after something very different, very in-depth and very unique then We. The Revolution is well worth taking in.

To an outsider, it can be tough to explain why Save Room works so well. It is a fully fledged game of a somewhat throwaway mechanic, but at the same time that mechanic is synonymous with the survival horror genre. So, by that token, Save Room is absolutely a game that should exist.

The price of £34.99 shocked me considering the price of the base game is around a similar price. But this Island Living DLC for The Sims 4 on Xbox One does add a significant chunk of extra stuff.

The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series on Xbox One is a worthy send-off to one of gaming’s best stories and developers of the 2010s. With over 50 hours of content, improved frame rates and animations, and sentimental developer’s commentary, the collection is must-buy for anyone who hasn’t played these games before.

The Golf Club 2019 is an absolutely stunning golf simulator. It’s realism is second to none and makes you really work for every shot played.

Hero Seekers does just enough to lift itself above the rest of KEMCO’s output. The Hero system is interesting, and the story is compelling. As for the rest of it? Well, it’s very much a retro styled JRPG.

If you are a gamer of a certain age then you’ll discover that Galaxy Champions TV is very much the spiritual successor to the classic Smash TV. It’s fast, it’s furious and it’s damn hard, yet it’s perfect for a quick blast when you have a few minutes to spare. Perhaps it could provide a little more in terms of game length, but then there’s the Nightmare difficulty to complete for those looking for it.

Atomicrops delivers a brutal bullet-hell rogue-like with every design choice intentionally included as part of the overall package. While there are some issues, Atomicrops’ utter uniqueness has won me over.

Super Ninja Miner makes us want to commission a Kickstarter for its benefit. All it needs is an investment in its graphics, an artist to fall in love with it and give it some spit and polish. Because the presentation really is all that holds Super Ninja Miner back.

Blacktail is not an easy game, with some tricky combat situations and big boss battles, but it’s a game that allows Focus Entertainment to end their great year on a high.

If you like games like Myst and the more recent newcomer Obduction you are going to love Quern – Undying Thoughts on Xbox One. With the amount of content included it is great value for money, and whilst the puzzles can seem pretty hard everything you need is around you; trial, error and patience is rewarded.

Despite the slow nature of the first half of House of Ashes, when it gets into its stride it is a homage to classic science-fiction action horror titles that will leave you on the edge of your seat. The scares may not be as obtrusive as the previous titles in the anthology, but this may then appeal to those that aren’t necessarily horror fanatics.

Need for Speed Heat is fast, furious, fun, and the best Need for Speed game of recent years.

With new challenges arriving each in-game day, plenty of characters, tough choices and the perfect dark and grubby environment to match the general moral breaking tone of the game, Beholder: Complete Edition provides a rather unique experience and is certainly one that’s worthy of your time and attention.

Lumines Remastered is a wonderfully addictive puzzle game. It’s perfect for the mobile market, but it’s nice to have a game like this on console, if only for a bit of variety in the digital library. The gameplay, soundtrack, and presentation are all top notch, but it is missing an online mode and I think the price could be a tad cheaper.

If you fancy something a little different, want to grab a shed load of Gamerscore and find yourself constantly harking back to the days of Portal, then this is the one for you.

It’s been a pleasure to play Pumpkin Jack on Xbox Series X|S. It looks and sounds brilliant, comes with decent combat opportunities and will have you dipping in and out for a while, all as the exploration and hunting of skulls becomes all consuming.

The biggest compliment that I can give to Mindscanners is that it is simply mesmerizing; completely engaging from beginning to end. It’s not incredibly long and the minigames can get pretty dry, but the story, atmosphere, and moral systems will keep you glued to the screen, even bringing you back to get some of the other endings.

Evil Genius 2: World Domination is a brilliantly presented and deeply layered strategy game. Minor issues aside, it’s rarely been so good to be bad.

Cake Invaders is a fun game for a limited period of time. It’s exciting and can be challenging, depending on how the power-ups fall, but equally after about half an hour, you are likely to have seen all it has to offer. For achievement hunters, it’s an easy sell, but for folk looking for a return on their investment, that’s less so.

The Trine: Ultimate Collection is great if you’re after a co-op puzzler – or four – with a ton of challenging, but fun, gameplay to be had. Without a doubt I’d highly recommend Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince because it’s almost faultless and the stunning world it transports you to is one that mustn’t be missed. In fairness, the only drawbacks found in the rest of the series are age-related and an ill-fated switch to 3D for Trine 3.

Before I Forget on Xbox is an important game, mainly because of its subject matter and how it deals with a condition that can affect us all. It's a story told with compassion and beauty and will certainly be something that sticks with you long after it has concluded.

There’s room for improvement in Football Manager 2023 Console, but it’s still a brilliantly addictive experience. Unless you have a gaming PC, this version is a must for any football fan.

War Thunder is without a doubt an addictive game, but it is one that comes with a few caveats. However as a free to play title there really isn’t an excuse to not jump in and give it a go.

If you are a point and click fan who loves a good story then Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth is a must purchase for you. But be warned, this is all about story and character, without QTE fight scenes and any supernatural powers.

Moonglow Bay is not without its flaws. It’s too undercooked, with bugs and knotty boss moments. But its story of fighting back from grief and depression swells the heart, and we could happily spend a half-hour every day in its world. We can feel our blood pressure sink as we play it.

Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi is definitely a game that you need to stick with, being patient, but if you do then you will be rewarded well, as you make your way through more dungeons and face off against all kinds of dangerous beasts.

This is more than just Ooo in PowerWash Simulator 2: this is PowerWash Simulator 2 warped and re-painted to feel true to Adventure Time.

You know those experimental and diverse games that should be played by everyone? Milky Way Prince - The Vampire Star is one of those.

In a few words, if you like things a bit different, then I would highly recommend trying Sorry We’re Closed.

I would highly recommend giving The Long Dark a go, especially if you’re after something different and love the idea of a survival sim with an interesting story.

I’ve really enjoyed this latest and last piece of DLC for We Happy Few. It’s been an excellent season of extra gaming goodness, and if you decide to play through the base game plus all of the additional extras you’ll discover a very tasty package indeed.

Octopath Traveler on Xbox is a game that expertly marries a traditional JRPG with more modern ideas. It should be immediately obvious that this is the intention with the “HD-2D” visuals, but even after only a short time playing it feels so well-executed.

Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore works well. The art style is a bit like Marmite in that you’ll either love it or not, but the bones of the game are strong whilst the action on offer is very good.

Astor: Blade of the Monolith is well worth a play. It isn’t often I finish a game and then go straight back into New Game +, but this is one that will tempt you. There are annoyances, but the action and the story are both good enough to ensure this is a recommendation.

It may not be that much of a surprise but Taiko no Tatsujin: The Drum Master! is massively enjoyable. While the songs range from easy to “surely only an octopus can hit all these notes!”, the challenge can be tweaked to suit everyone, and it turns out that a little drumming is a surprisingly relaxing pastime.

It might not be the biggest or longest open-world, but Immortals Fenyx Rising on Xbox manages to cram a hell of a lot in. It takes huge swathes of inspiration from Breath of the Wild, almost unapologetically so at times. But by also taking cues from Assassin’s Creed and God of War – plus many more – it carves out a little unique space for itself. Whether it is the start of another franchise from Ubisoft remains to be seen, though the DLC plans would suggest a much wider narrative.

If you like the original game then you’re in for a treat with the amount of detail in regards to governing and how to guide your subjects to eternal bliss.

RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic brings together the first, and best, two games in the series in one bumper package. Although not all that much has been done to update the source material, it remains one of the best theme park sim games out there.

Artifex Mundi have delivered a worthy follow-up in Enigmatis 2. I’m intrigued as to what comes next in the Enigmatis series, as it has been a great on-going tale so far.

If you have played them before, and you’ve grown frustrated that 8floor Games never seem to release a coherent, bug-free and ambitious title, then stop the Argo for a moment. Argonauts Agency 1: Golden Fleece is the one.

Song of Iron will get its hooks into you, refusing to let go until you reach the end. Yes, there are some weird control configurations to get used to and at times you may find yourself lost and confused, unsure what to do next. But there is an overwhelming feeling of being involved in a huge epic saga throughout; one that is grand, sweeping, and brilliantly executed.

Whilst there isn’t really much to the gameplay aspect of Infinite Minigolf, it must be said that the simplicity throughout only helps to make the game even more addictive.

AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES has been an interesting game to play through. Whilst the visual look may not immediately be appealing, give the narrative a chance and you’ll become invested. Just don’t expect the theory you form throughout your play time to hold up...

Inferno 2+ on Xbox One is a solid, thumping tribute to the twin-stick shooter genre. Its RPG elements provide some differentiation from the crowd and there’s loads to keep you busy.

We’d love to meet the people behind Garlic. We imagine they’re mad as a hatter and great fun to be around, because that’s precisely how we’d describe Garlic. It may not be big, it may not be clever, but it’s plenty weird, and the action-platforming is so polished that you’ll be sprinting through that weirdness with a whacking great smile on your face.

With a little more polish Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader could have been a strong contender as a genre leader, but as it is, we have to pull back on that a bit. Yet still, if you like Warhammer or CRPGs, this is an easy sell.

Nowhere Prophet on Xbox One is a quality experience for what it intends to do, even if it is a bit of an acquired taste. It is soundly designed as a single player card game and will certainly appeal to its intended audience.

Other than some small issues, King Arthur: Knight’s Tale is very good indeed. If you like King Arthur, this story gives a whole new perspective on the history and tales.

Downward: Enhanced Edition is a bit of a bargain. The parkour elements are fun, as it allows the player to zip and jump around, whilst the exploration of a ruined world brings secrets to the fore.

Times & Galaxy will leave you smiling. It's a gentle game, but one complete with some good, fun writing and storytelling, full of humour and strange world-building.

Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island is a game best enjoyed at a leisurely pace, margarita in hand. There's no sense of urgency or threat, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the island's tranquil atmosphere and the unfolding narrative.

There is a lot to love about SpellForce III Reforced, especially if you are an RPG and RTS fan. The world it builds and the story it creates are immersive and compelling, whilst the visuals add a layer that makes it stand out from the cheaper version of games of this genre.

Brilliantly addictive, fantastic world building that comes with a superb combat system and great looking lands. Because, you see, it doesn’t just do them well – it does them great.

There is a lot of game to go at in Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny, as well as a host of bosses to beat, each one providing a stellar challenge. If you like samurai affairs, or the Onimusha games in general, Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is an easy sell, as it is very much more of the same.

theHunter: Call of the Wild 2021 Edition on Xbox is a game that I have really enjoyed. The slow pace and deliberate way you have to approach the hunts are a welcome change of pace from the frenetic games that frequent the marketplace, the vistas are beautiful, and the approach to your prey needs to be bang on if you are to stand a chance of seeing anything other than a retreating derriere.

Whether you’re familiar with the original or not, Soul Hackers 2 is a fascinating supernatural JRPG that excels in character development and storytelling.

Monaco 2 is a stylish, snazzy heist game with bags of character. Despite moments that will have you seething, there’s still plenty to like here.

Blasphemous is a superb example of a metroidvania. Incredibly captivating and lengthy, it’s a deep, dark, scary hole to jump into that won’t let you out until you reach the end. And once you get out, you’ll want to jump straight back in.

A tricky table but also a fun and well thought out one, Texas Chainsaw Massacre Pinball is perfectly on brand for Pinball M.

Meet Your Maker will quite possibly exceed your expectations. You may find it delivers a rough start, as you are hand held through the basics and then abandoned, but stick with it and something a bit special comes from repeated plays - beating an outpost after multiple failed attempts always feels a bit good.

The Jackbox Party Starter does a great job of introducing players to the party game phenomenon. The choice of games is bang on, and it provides more than enough to help people decide if this is a series they want to party on with.

I guarantee you will have never played anything like Immortality. It’s a compelling enigma, but one I am glad to have had the privilege to soak up and enjoy.

Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle on Xbox One is a step up from Slayaway Camp, but only a single, shambling step. If you’ve not had the chance to play the original then this is the superior entry point, filled to bursting with sliding puzzles from a developer that’s mastered the craft. You’ll be leaving behind a body count that would make Jason (and his mum) proud.

The sheer act of solving puzzles with a laptop and notebook on the table, sifting through the detritus of the internet, just feels so unusual and enjoyably deductive. My Googling skills came on leaps and bounds, as I mastered the art of Google Image Search, and my understanding of ancient civilisations has received a boost too. These aren’t common things to say about games, and Chinatown Detective Agency is such an unusual, refreshing experience that – some minor frustrations aside – we cannot hesitate to recommend.