Commandos: Origins is a welcome return for the series after a lengthy absence, and it should please long time fans and newcomers alike, providing they are up to the challenge.

I have a hard time finding great local multiplayer games. Not only are they not being made all the time, but a lot of them seem to miss the mark when it comes to engaging gameplay that does not get stale. Boomerang Fu on Xbox One rises above this crowd by providing plenty of options, being easy to pick up, and hard to put down. Add the game’s adorable visuals, and you have a recipe for a local multiplayer game with a lot of staying power.

WARSAW on Xbox One is a welcome release even though there are no shortage of games set in World War II. From its strategic turn-based RPG combat, to the focus on characters within the backdrop of a war-torn Warsaw, this is a unique take on historical warfare, one that will leave you appreciating the worth of each individual life as they try to change the course of history.

Move on through the opening hours of confusion and occasionally inaccurate controls and you'll find loads to love about Atrio: The Dark Wild. It can be funny, it can be tense, it can be easy and it can be complex.

Hauntii is another gem of an indie game. It's a fun mix of puzzles, exploration and twin-stick shooting. You’ll love exploring the world and whilst the story is simple, it is very heartwarming.

Dance of Cards is a deeply enjoyable take on the iconic game of poker, which avoids folding under the pressure of its own ambition.

Aragami 2 is a great game, with issues. The gameplay is immense fun, takes on a whole other level with friends and there is something extremely satisfying about being able to do what you want, when you want it, in order to achieve the mission objective at hand. It isn’t perfect though, and seems to be missing that little bit of polish required to lift it to the top tier of gaming.

FIFA 19 is basically the Paul Pogba edition of the series, focusing on creating excitement, showing off and trying to ensure every match is full of memorable moments… the problem is it’s all a bit much at times.

Fantastically well made with passion for the genre, incredible looks and solid play, longevity may be the issue for Final Vendetta; with little replayability and only six stages, it is a bit on the short side.

Gray Dawn will happily immerse you into a good story that mixes many different styles. If you’re a fan of exploration-type games, this will be right up your street. The visuals are lovely, helped along by some stand-out scenes that are original and affecting.

For those that have missed their Harvest Moon gameplay fix over the years, or for newcomers to the series as it makes its full debut on Xbox consoles, Harvest Moon: Light of Hope Special Edition Complete is a very good place to start. It might not quite reach the lofty heights of previous entries but it contains most of what has made the series so successful over the years.

Don’t go sleeping on the Puzzle by Nikoli W series. Very quietly, and in increments, they have been producing better and better puzzle compendiums for your big black box. In Puzzle by Nikoli W Hashiwokakero, they have produced one of their best.

The biggest compliment to give The Land Beneath Us is that even after suffering multiple deaths, you’ll instantly come crawling back for more. It’s not just the mildly amusing narrative or the raft of enemies and bosses that are alluring, but also the variety of upgrades, weapons and relics to get your hands on.

Afterimage is one of those games in which you’ll need to actively switch between different weapons based on the boss you are up against, because almost all of them feel good to use depending on the situation. While I found the exploration to be a bit tedious at times, I kept wanting to come back to discover more about the world and Afterimage as a whole.

Despite its flaws, this is a game that achieves what it wants to in a fun and accessible format. If you’re looking for a cute platformer, then The Plucky Squire is worth playing through at least once.

Despite nearly showing its entire hand from the start, Roombo: First Blood on Xbox remains original and hilarious in light of all the bloodshed.

If you’re a jazz fan, then you’ll enjoy how Blue Wednesday plays, and how the main story elements unfold. The music and mini-games are pleasing to take in, very good on the ear, helping push along this music odyssey and journey.

Sword and Fairy: Together Forever conjures up a magical, mythical RPG that puts onus on storytelling before anything else, played out with awesome cutscenes. If only the translations were better, then the narrative wouldn’t be as difficult to follow and you wouldn’t miss out on anything.

Madden 18 is a rewarding and highly enjoyable game that offers its players a chance of glory and a free reign over how they want to become a franchise legend.

We need more puzzle games. Batu Ta Batu on Xbox has got me fired up for more games with delightfully addictive mechanics. Though the multiplayer feels out of place, and the additional game modes are ho-hum, the endless mode is so good that it’s reason enough to give the game a go.

Maneater: Truth Quest does enough to ensure it can be recommended. The swimming and fighting as a shark is still cool and a lot of fun, finding all the collectibles will take a while, and the new combat opportunities are intriguing, mostly. There are annoyances, but the chance to slip into a shark’s skin makes them seem insignificant. The story does start to grate after a while too, but the fun of being an apex predator never does.

Tenderfoot Tactics is one of those games that must be tried at some point in your gaming career. I loved the lack of a linear guideline, left with the ability to just explore and wander.

Project Starship X on Xbox is a surprisingly inventive entry in what is normally a tried and tested genre. Although stirring the pot when it comes to sound shmup design is usually a bad idea, here all of the zany and crazy ideas are fun and entertaining thanks to the sound fundamentals of the core shooting mechanics.

You’ll want to arrive in Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter knowing that the game is absolutely brutal, and so that means you’ll need to absolutely dedicate yourself to learning the game's systems, closing your eyes and going for it. For many though, that bar of entry may feel a little too high.

The Riptide series always felt too big for its mobile roots, and Renegade may be the jewel in its crown. The story adds a new depth to it and shows that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Everything has been improved upon from the previous entry on the Xbox and it has remained a decent price. If this is a series you have yet to get into, Riptide GP Renegade is easily the best place to start.

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.

NeiR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… is an improved remake of an okay game. The changes that have been actioned are impressive and they in turn make the experience all so much better. Just be aware that many of the basic elements that held back the original are still present.

Doom 64 on Xbox One is exactly what you have come to expect from the franchise. There's nothing new or surprising here, but it's another solid set of demon slaying levels nonetheless. In all honesty, as Doom II was to Doom, it feels as if it could simply be an expansion to the original game. However, as the old saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.

From Space comes together well; in fact, it is one of the better twin stick shooters I’ve played. Playing solo is okay, but it really comes alive with a group of players, whether friends or strangers. What have you got to lose - apart from a few hours of your life?

I would highly recommend Undead Horde if you want some seriously fun gameplay – or just want to raise undead chickens to do all evil.

Stylish, slick and set in Small Heath, Peaky Blinders: Mastermind on Xbox One is a strong first outing for the family. It may be a little on the short side, but it’s a refreshingly different way to test your gray matter.

Boulder Dash Deluxe manages to find a place in the heart. It’s a well crafted, delicately delivered modern take on an utter classic. There are enough stages in place to keep you diving into the boulder moving madness for a decent length of time, all while managing to keep the flow and draw that the original provided.

Peachy Boy is one of those games that should come with a warning for achievement hunters. Yes, you will get 1000 Gamerscore for three minutes of your time. But consider, for a moment, sticking around for a little longer. Because Peachy Boy is a puzzle-platforming treat; just as sweet and disposable as the name implies.

I felt like I have grown along with the game, however, the constant graphical issues and glitches do pull it down to a point of annoyance that couldn’t be ignored.

You'll more than enjoy your time with Necro Story. It doesn't take itself too seriously, the characters are personable, and you do begin to care about their fates.

Bonkies on Xbox is a charming puzzle game at heart, which is best enjoyed with friends. It’s not without its niggles, however there’s a genuinely enjoyable experience on offer here which will appeal to gamers of all ages.

The narrative and atmosphere are both great from start to finish and it’s easy to pick up and play. The puzzle elements are excellent, and for conundrum fans out there this delivers a bit of a treat. It can get tricky mind, so you’ll want to be aware of that, and there are definitely a few odd issues that crop up – the ease of getting lost and lack of mission signposting both worry.

One can complete the entirety of the standard mode in around an hour and should be able to grab every achievement in about 30 minutes. Despite this, I hope it doesn’t become a game for achievement hunters to rinse and leave, I hope people play it for the reason I enjoyed it. It feels like a game created for the love of 2000s platformers and it deserves that same love in return.

Rollerdrome is a unique idea that is, for the most part, executed brilliantly. Aside from a few ultra-specific quirks, traversal feels intuitive and looks ripped out of a stylish action movie. Challenges and high scores give the game ample replayability, and the campaign is addicting enough to complete in just one or two sittings.

Cloudpunk on Xbox One is something I have loved spending time with, mostly thanks to the beautifully designed future city. It's a big old journey for an indie game, however if you’re not particularly a fan of narrative and story, needing more action in your games, then I don't think this is going to be for you. Even if you are happy to take in a ton of lore, there are still times when it needs some pace injections, and I could have done with more to involve myself after the main focus finishes. But if you want to get lost in a cyber world then you can't go wrong by delivering some packages with Cloudpunk.

Kingdom Rush Frontiers builds a gaming stronghold worthy of defending the honour of the tower defense genre, but there are a couple of weak spots. The strategic elements ensure a real challenge is to be had as you get to grips with the many enemy waves heading your way.

Forsaken is the shot in the arm that Destiny 2 needed. Now it feels like there is a purpose, something to push for in grinding the end game content, and this makes a difference.

SiNKR 2 on Xbox, much like the original game, is a great time. It is equal parts relaxing and satisfying for the majority of the 87 levels, and the difficulty is pretty well-balanced. Sinking a puck in a hole is just as satisfying as ever, and the low asking price makes the game all the more worthwhile.

Hidden Cats in Berlin is another stellar addition to the series, continuing on from where Rome left off.

If you’re after a new game to play with some mates, and couldn’t care less why you are doing it, you could do much worse than check out this cooperative space adventure.

If you like a puzzler then you’re going to like 7th Sector on Xbox One. The puzzles will test your mental abilities to the limit and it will constantly surprise you in its attack and verve.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is ambitious, but a little flawed. The scope of the game is amazing, and the world is a pretty cool place to be, but technical issues drag the score back a bit, sadly.

Shantae: Risky’s Revenge - Director’s Cut on Xbox One is a fun and unique game that I can definitely recommend picking up. Again, it’s not going to be a hardcore platformer with a crazy elaborate story, but it will be a relaxed adventure with incredibly catchy music.

There is a lot packaged into the six-hour runtime for The Last Worker. With an engaging if slightly predictable story but more game elements than you can shake a stick at, it is a game that will take you through a range of emotions: laughter, sympathy, rage, compassion, disappointment, and everything in between.

Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles is a game that has been made with care. The world, art design, and music all come together for an extremely enjoyable experience. The gameplay mechanics work well, and the RNG of using dice in a deckbuilder is handled in a way that doesn’t feel unfair.

Spacejacked on Xbox One manages to deliver a great blend of a tower defence-style game with platforming elements and some resource management twists.

View it as a high concept rom-com, or buy into the earnest and endearing attempts to bring modern dating to your living room, and Ten Dates might become more than your new best friend. We fell in and out of love with its scrappy cast, and would happily live in a world where we get these once every couple of years.

Indivisible on Xbox One is super stylish, charming and loads of fun to play. There is a slightly wonky difficulty curve to get to grips with and the game will set you back a fair few pennies, however, if you’re looking for something different to lose yourself in, you’ve found it.

We’re a little enamored with Just a Little Purr Suit. It’s not got a big budget sheen, or even a mid-budget sheen. What it does have is a brilliant concept and some clever, tightly wound puzzles that will require deep thought to complete.

War is hell – unless you’re Vinnie Cannoli. In which case it’s just a delightfully humorous killing experience.

Spending a few hours with The Mermaid of Zennor is not for the faint of heart, but it’s worth sticking with for a multitude of reasons. As long as you’re able to handle the dark themes and are prepared to see the world through the eyes of a very troubled young girl, then this is a visual novel you should be reading.

With its handcrafted aesthetic and unique combat offering a new spin on traditional tabletop battles, Wartile on Xbox One offers up something quite refreshing. Despite the maps not being the biggest there is a lot crammed into them and exploring offers plenty of rewards.

Samurai Warriors 5 is no doubt the best iteration of the mainline series, be it Dynasty Warriors or Samurai Warriors (or even the Warriors Orochi spin-off). As it stands right now, this is as good as it gets for the Warriors series. It has a lot of ideas and systems which integrate in an interesting way, and the core gameplay is as fun as ever. The only caveat here is that the core gameplay loop present feels no different to that which we’ve experienced for the last two decades, and inevitably it will run thin.

The accessibility provided and the customisable experience found in NHL 23 make it perfect for fans of the sport, and even those who have never tried an EA hockey game before.

If you were ever put through the wringer by Inside or Limbo, and fancy climbing through again, then White Shadows will duly oblige. It’s a magnificent lightshow.

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.

Nuclear Blaze is a short and sweet game that can take up a chunk of your day if you feel like trying something new. The collectibles and challenge mode difficulty will extend your playtime if you choose to go that route. On the other hand, even people who aren’t good at platformers will find Nuclear Blaze accessible, what with its range of difficulty modifiers.

Swamps of Corsus on Xbox One is a DLC that offers tons of replayability, in a game that had it to spare already. Previously a surprise hit, this update has propelled Remnant: From the Ashes into one of the best games available on Xbox Game Pass.

Where Paradise Marsh excels is in offering a world that breaks so many of gaming’s golden rules: walk in any direction; do what you want to do; follow the objectives if you feel like it. Paradise Marsh warps and shifts to accommodate whatever you do, and the substance of its genius is that you barely notice.

Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters will keep you interested. The story arc is very enjoyable and keeps you pressing forward to see what is going to happen, whilst the managing of your ship is a lot like trying to keep a load of plates spinning. It’s all helped by the fact that the combat is suitably brutal and visceral.

Wanted: Dead doesn’t give a damn what you think. It throws ideas at you left, right and centre, with reckless abandon. Luckily, most of them stick to form this weird and wonderful video game.

Should you be a fan of the base game of A Little to the Left, then it feels like an obvious choice to get involved in Seeing Stars. There are some good ideas included in here, with multiple solutions available for nearly all new levels. Whether you have the inclination to work through all those different completions though may be nothing short of an extremely personal decision.

Hidden Cats in London is a must-purchase for cat fans and anyone who has enjoyed the previous games in the series. Others should perk their ears up too. It’s a highly recommended game for anyone who likes hidden object games or laid back experiences

MANIAC will roll back the years, whisking you away to those early experiences with Grand Theft Auto. It has a very arcade-like feel to it, with quick gameplay loops and exciting action.

For those who like the franchise, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is an absolute gem, delivering for gamers of any skill even if it does feel a tad easy to play. It’s highly recommended for those looking for an well-worked platforming adventure, or younger gamers. I for one would welcome a sequel with even more of the same, ideally with an absolutely huge Bikini Bottom to explore and even more characters to play as.

Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster is a win for Nightdive. The developers' ever growing reputation for preserving and accentuating classic games is put on full display here. The remaster is faithful, one that keeps the spirit of the original game alive whilst smoothing some of the edges that time has inflicted upon it.

Nullstar: Solus is a strong addition to the ever-expanding repertoire of precision-platformers, although it’s unlikely to be held amongst the genre’s greats.

Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER delivers an intriguing sci-fi adventure that’s relentless from the get-go. MidBoss have crafted an interesting world full of fascinating characters and ensures their personalities are showcased via great voice acting.

If you’ve not yet been tempted to jump in with anything Sudden Strike 4, then there is very little here that is going to change your mind. However, those who have enjoyed everything that’s already on offer will see Africa – Desert War as a no-brainer.

BEFORE I GO is an enjoyable metroidvania, where gameplay is king. The story could use some additional flushing out and the dialogue comes across as awkward at times, but the game stands strong despite its flaws. It’s certainly worth checking out if you want to get sucked into a world for a few hours.

The Taller I Grow is a game that everyone should have a go at. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this neat, well-designed platform puzzler, and if you’ve got a mind that is capable of handling puzzlers then you should find yourself blasting through this in a couple of hours.

You’ll be left impressed by Antro. There’s some great story set-up, and the gameplay is fast, fun and easy to get your head around. It does frustrate on occasion, especially in the free-running sections, but the music and visuals provide great sights and sounds to keep you interested.

What Iris and the Giant lacks with its minimalistic style, it more than makes up with addictive card-play. The emotional narrative is subtle yet works greatly due to the little nuances from Iris’ life incorporated into the gameplay. And the gameplay is where it thrives.

The Metroidvania hooks of exploration and new abilities, leading to further exploration, are all present and correct, and most importantly it’s great fun to play. It’s full of nice touches and humour, moving along at a cracking pace, and minor annoyances aside is a game I can recommend.

There is something so calming about taking in a beautiful landscape without anything chasing you or needing your mind to focus on questing. It’s that with which Lushfoil Photography Sim excels.

Deep Rock Galactic on Xbox One is a game with obvious appeal. It is punchy, funny and a blast with friends. The environments and mission structures do become a bit repetitive but the moment to moment gameplay is fantastic. If you are looking for a “blow off steam” game to play with friends, Deep Rock Galactic has you covered.

Ghost Files: Memory of a Crime on Xbox One conjures up a very enjoyable narrative and gets the creepy serial killer character spot on. A lot of the puzzles you have to overcome tie-in really well with the background of the protagonist and the memory loss aspect.

I had a great time playing Stasis, as it reminds of how good a point-and-click adventure can be, dragging up memories of old '90s games and films in the process.

Weapon of Choice DX is an interesting proposition. It isn’t massively long, but with multiple difficulties really ramping the challenge up, and many operatives to master, there is enough to keep you coming back.

Think of Wonderland Nights: White Rabbit’s Diary less as a visual novel, although it is one, and more of a deduction game. Playing this way leads to joy after joy, as you pair up individuals using an astute timetable mechanic with the aim of unlocking one of a multitude of endings. Like an episode of Columbo, you know how things turn out, but it’s how you get there that’s the mystery.

If you’re a fan of something like Cities: Skylines - Remastered, then Transport Fever 2: Console Edition is going to be for you. It offers plenty of hours of entertainment and it’s easy to lose yourself in what it delivers; something that is a good mark for any sim game.

While Destiny: Beyond Light on Xbox does axe more content than it adds, it is still worth playing through. The new world is an interesting place, and with a lot of post story content coming from Variks, the scope to have fun is large. A new Raid makes me happy indeed, and with new exotic quests and Hunts to take part in the future does appear to be bright.

This is a solid and really engaging hardcore retro throwback, and so if you’re looking for a blast to the past, you’ll feel like a kid again playing Oniken.

Hidden Cats in Spooky Village is as good as all the other Hidden Cats in… games, which is to say that it’s very good indeed. Finding cats is as seamless, characterful and cozy as it has always been. Just with added Cthulhu.

This is a colourful hidden object game suitable for a wide audience to enjoy, with fun and recognisable themes present to add character to proceedings. Sure, it’d be nice for a few more time periods to feature in order to provide extra variety and the map editor is a tad overwhelming, but it’s not the end of the world.

The games included in Gex Trilogy are undeniably fun, and stem from a time when gameplay was the most important thing. That ethos shines through in everything found in this reissue.

Darkestville Castle on Xbox One is a great game for fans of the genre and new arrivals. The art style is clean and fun, the story is wacky, and there is plenty of content to justify picking it up. If nonsensical puzzles and point and click games are your thing, you can’t go wrong with a copy of Darkestville Castle.

Streets of Rogue on Xbox One is a totally solid roguelike game that will please fans of the genre and can easily eat up many hours, experimenting and playing around with the humorous world that Matt Dabrowski has created.

Whilst nothing in Mekabolt on Xbox One is found to be reinventing the wheel, what is on offer is a couple of hours of old school fun and games in a beautifully realised 8-bit setting.

You'll probably be able to complete Papetura in less than two hours, but I like a short experience that is full of quality, rather than something stretched out with fluff. Papetura delivers on this.

Afterparty on Xbox One is a brilliantly fun game. It has memorable characters, a unique setting and funny, macabre writing that will keep you coming back for more.

The final showdown found in Life is Strange 2 is what we have all been waiting for, and it does not disappoint.

Rarely do you find anything in StickType that goes beyond the basics, and with a story that doesn’t explain itself too well, and an overbearing difficulty on occasions, the less patient gamers may not want to stick around. However, should you be after a game that will push your capabilities, whilst providing all the essential qualities of a decent platforming experience, then StickType is a game that you need to play. The super cheap price point helps too.