We haven’t played many Old Testament platformers with a hint of Altered Beast, so Saga of Sins tops that particular league table. But against all our other criteria, Saga of Sins is merely passable.

Family is a big deal in the East and it is portrayed very well in Road to Guangdong on the Xbox One. Sadly though, the family included here isn’t worth the drive to get there.

The Dead Tree of Ranchiuna fails to reach the heights of other titles, it’s still worth a look. It’s a bit rough around the edges, the walking can feel drawn out and the story doesn’t quite work, but I look forward to see what Bodur comes up with next.

Supported by solid combat and in-depth mechanics, Bow to Blood can certainly be something special. While it doesn’t hit all the marks, with the sometimes painfully slow map traversal being the main issue, developers Tribetoy have successfully ported and expanded upon their original PSVR release in a meaningful way.

So many puzzle games which use blocks and feature literal copies of the famous Tetrominoes often feel cheap or unoriginal. However, Trenga has plenty to offer. There are oodles of levels, a myriad of objectives for the truly hardcore to accomplish, and a nice, primary gameplay loop that makes the game hard to put down.

With a little more care put into the tutorial and explanation side of Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf, the card based gameplay could well have been a lot of fun, but that fun is nipped in the bud sadly.

Dragon Ball: The Breakers already appears to be waning in regards to the player base and that comes as no surprise. The lengthy matchmaking, the poor gameplay mechanics and the damn ugly graphics used for environments are just the tip of the iceberg.

What we have in Aniquilation is almost a case of style over substance - a game that looks flashy and full of pizazz, but is a bit lacking where it counts.

The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales may not top many game of the year lists, but it is a unique experience that is fun to play throughout its short runtime.

I’m of the opinion that you should score a game for the audience it’s made for, and Trollhunters: Defenders of Arcadia on Xbox One is a pre-teen game that delivers on what its audience wants. It’s a brisk romp through all of the best characters and locations in the game, with barely a hiccup along the way. What it sacrifices in complexity or any kind of innovation, it gains in player-friendliness and an adventure that - for the kids in this house, anyway - will make them want to hack, slash and jump all the way to the end.

With a navigation system that fails to allow for any true enjoyment, tying players to a strict path, buggy visuals, and a co-driver that screams at the first opportunity, it’s hard to say Dakar 18 reminds us of the exhilarating experience we’ll find on TV each year.

I don’t think Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid is designed to be a throwback to simpler times, but that is how this feels. It’s just a shame really that there isn’t more of everything.

Should improvements be made to the movement speed and a little more added in to give reason to explore, there is a chance that Elea could turn into something more memorable. Right now though this is simply your average walking simulator.

Revenant Dogma isn’t a bad game; it features some entertaining conversations and finding new, rare weapons in Ethereal Est dungeons can be a blast. Everything else, however, including its predictable storyline, dull environments and needlessly simplistic combat, feels average, and there are far better options in the RPG genre – even at this price point.

Doodle God: Ultimate Edition falters in many areas, but mainly in the one-dimensional, so called puzzle solving and the sheer pot luck it often requires. Instead of making me feel like a god, I am constantly left like a monkey, bashing buttons and hoping a masterpiece comes out. The terrible control system simply adds to my pain, and whilst there is a lot to do, any supposed fun wears off in mere minutes.

Should you like games that are – forgive the overused expression – easy to play but hard to master, then you’ll find Pumped BMX Pro is a game worth giving a crack.

It’s very sad to say that Friday the 13th: The Game, after all the hype and excitement of a game that could have truly represented the incredible franchise, is the most unstable, unreliable and underwhelming game I’ve played in a long time.

At thirty minutes long, Space Jam: A New Legacy - The Game is closer in duration to a Looney Tunes short than it is a movie. But adjust your expectations down, find a couple of mates, play it for free, and you’ll find a belt-action game that can be fun, and has faint echoes of classic beat-em ups like Turtles in Time, The Simpsons and X-Men.

If you’re in the mood for making sense of a mess of a game, with little moments that might - might - make it worth it, then this is The Good Life.

You’ll think I’m mad, but Constructor does start off as a rather enjoyable experience; plodding away, building little communities, experimenting with the Undesirables. It could be a great game, but then it swiftly all goes downhill.

If you’re a fan of the horror genre, like a bit of story, don’t mind a scare and enjoy a lot of exploration, then stop what you’re doing and give Don’t Knock Twice a go.

Ship Graveyard Simulator tries to bring the excitement of breaking ocean-bound vessels to your sofa. However, it ends up feeling like something best left buried at sea.

Xuan Yuan Sword is a worthy addition to the RPG genre on the Xbox One. The game is long, with a very engrossing story and characters that you really come to care about. Sure, it’s not the prettiest game in the world, but that kind of misses the point

There are glimpses of a great crime sim in Crime Boss: Rockay City, but to find them you'll need to be able to last long enough in the campaign. The roguelite elements at play do little to keep you plugging away for long though.

Games under a tenner can often be forgiven for being short when the story is top notch and the gameplay is innovative, but that’s not DreamBreak.

Doodle God: Crime City is a solid, enjoyable experience if played in short, regular bursts. However, it does lack the crucial “one more go” factor whilst doing little to develop things as you play through the game. This might be one best left to the puzzle enthusiasts.

If you like The Grand Tour, then this is an easy sell. It puts you pretty much in the show, doing what the presenters have just done and allows the chance to drive the very expensive cars in a stupid way. If you hate the show, or aren’t a fan of Clarkson et al, then this isn’t strong enough to make sense as a standalone purchase.

Everreach: Project Eden on Xbox One just doesn’t feel finished. It needs more work on the shooting mechanics, the AI systems and the bike sections. The concept, mission structure and ideas are all good but the game as a whole fails to feel as polished as it should be.

Extinction is a well polished title set in a universe that has an interesting story. It always feels brilliant taking down a huge green beast, but it does get a bit tiring after a while; there really does need to be something else to the game’s bag of tricks to keep the interest high. It doesn’t help that Extinction comes in as a full priced game, and if it had some in around the £20-£30 price range, it would have felt much more at home.

It’s unfortunate then that their license has been relinquished to such a bland and uninspired creation in Asterix & Obelix XXL 3: The Crystal Menhir on Xbox One, especially when previous entries have been quirky, imaginative titles.

At its worst ZAMB! Redux is a ponderous twin sticker, but at its very best, it’s a tactical shooting fan’s dream – it’s just a shame it rarely reaches those latter heights.

Crashbots is let down by some awful design and gameplay choices. The camera needs to be better. The energy system needs to be rethought. The controls are sluggish and need improvement. The physics need to be made more consistent. The technical issues need to be ironed out.

Zeroptian Invasion on Xbox One is rewarding to those who approach it as it should be: like walking up to an arcade cabinet in the ‘80s where every coin you insert matters.

Ultimately, there is a deep sense of regret from playing Waking on Xbox One because I feel there is something brilliant and life-affirming underneath all that is presented. The meditative sections and use of your personal details are unique and something I enjoyed, and there are certainly some great ideas within. However, Waking will divide gamers, with some loving this intriguing premise and others being put off by the overly long, randomly generated areas.

A title with so much potential, Blood Bowl 3 fumbles the ball in the final minute.

With a bit more polish this could have been a great game; the components are all there, but it manages to just stumble over the last little hurdle.

I really wanted to like Hellboy Web of Wyrd, from the announcement trailer reveal, it looked amazing. Technically that is still true - it does looks amazing. Yet sadly it doesn’t have the substance to back up the fantastic style. Maybe hardcore fans will find more joy, but Web of Wyrd feels tricky to recommend to even the most dedicated fans.

The variety of guns is great, but the visuals are not, and the actual gameplay becomes pretty repetitive, pretty fast. Ultimately that is what stops Time Carnage being more than it is.

Trenches is a short but good little horror experience. It plays with an interesting premise and setting, mixing horror, fantasy and reality. The jump scares are excellent and the tension is good, but the world is very limited and there’s a chance you may well get tired of the trench maze trek after a while.

The world, concept, and exploration elements are fantastic, beautiful and enticing. But in reality, the game itself, and the gameplay as a whole, are a completely different matter. Hard to use inventory systems, and uninteresting battles with what seems like hundreds of robots appearing out of nowhere, do nothing to entice you in further.

Devoid of the cult humour that it has made its own over the years, SOUTH PARK: SNOW DAY! feels like a generic multiplayer game with the thinnest South Park skin layered over it.

If you are a fan of the series, Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash is an easy sell. Being able to actually take part in pivotal battles from the manga and anime is good fun, and the story appears to be gripping and easy to follow. But for the good, there’s some bad and the online side of things needs some attention - the lag is a real issue in a fast paced fighting game. Thank god for the co-op which works well, then.

Music Racer: Ultimate is a decent effort at a rhythm game, but it simply lacks too much in the meaningful gameplay category to warrant a recommendation.

The Last Oricru is a bit of a mixed bag, even if it is mostly one filled with goodies. What it does, it does pretty well, but basic things like a hysterical camera that is keen to show you anything except the bloke smacking you with a sword, do put a dent in the enjoyment. Playing cooperatively is a great idea, and having a friend along can make things better, but even then there are better entries in the action RPG genre.

The two games featured in the Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection were big deals when first released. Playing them again now, it is clear to see why. Whilst relics of the past, they still hold up quite well today. Sure, there are several issues including poor servers, frequent crashes and more, but the gameplay is still a lot of fun and goes someway to trumping the issues.

It fails in regards to the gameplay thanks to a complete lack of variety in hits, and a robotic and linear feel to each match, but the visuals are fun and there are a ton of customisation opportunities.

Trulon: The Shadow Engine certainly looks ready to send gamers on an adventure, especially in creating a world full of fantastical beings, but that’s where the goodness ends in truth. The turn-based card combat system grows tired in no time at all – despite a decent array of enemies – whilst the difficulty spoils and subsequently halts progression through to the end.

With dreadful controls, no map of where to go, nor any in-game speedo to see how fast you are going, Fast & Furious Crossroads on Xbox One is a massive let down. Online is messy at best, and while the storyline is a corker, the way that every mission seems to play out the same, just in a different place, makes me sad.

If you're a fan of survival horror then it may be worth adding Remothered: Broken Porcelain on Xbox One to your list. It delivers a decent, although frustratingly confusing, narrative that is complemented by some good stealth mechanics and the deliverance of an air of creepiness and horror throughout. However, the bugs are hugely annoying and for some it is these which will determine whether this game lives or dies. Personally, I think this would be a shame, because under the rough exterior lies a bit of a diamond.

Nippon Marathon can certainly be described as a marmite game; you will either love it or hate it. Find a group of friends that all love it and you can easily laugh away an entire evening attempting to out run each other. But it isn’t for everyone, and it is easy to understand why. What to some will look like shoddy game design is actually a very purposeful and conscientious element of the design, but that won’t necessarily sit right with those that like nothing left to chance.

Don’t bother yourself with Deformers; it’s too pricey, sparsely populated, and not really fun to play anyway.

Korgan is a throwback to another time of gaming, with its instantly addictive hack and slash dungeon crawling gameplay. The visuals and sounds are basic, but underneath is a beating heart with a very dependable bit of game design that warrants a play.

It’s not perfect, but look beyond the bugs and there is a deeply rewarding game to be found in Fallout 76.

Even though it is not as polished and original as some of its rivals, Windscape has a certain charm that is impossible to ignore. That said, it’s a bit of a slow burner, which may put some off, but should you get through those opening stages will find a a solid adventure game in its own right.

Nickelodeon: Kart Racers is a bit all over the place. While the maps that focus on boat racing suffer from bad controls and difficulty issues, this game offers enough variety to occasionally bring a reasonably good time. The release price will be a bit steep for most, but when the game clicks together, the kart racing experience is satisfying enough to warrant a try.

From the grind of a seemingly pointless Story, and the one off hits of an even more pointless Exhibition Game, you won’t find much to keep anyone other than the most ardent of hockey fans from going back - and even then it’s never going to have much of an appeal over the NHL games that are out there. By all means give it a shot with a mate or two, but the repetition will soon win over the day.

Anti Gravity Games Studios have included four unique zones, tons of levelling options, a hardcore mode and an actual incentive to perfect levels. Unfortunately the design of most of the game’s systems make that content unenjoyable. Between performance issues, difficulty spikes and a large amount of unfair deaths, it’s tough to enjoy your time here, and much of what fun can be had ends up being more at the expense of Hell Warders rather than because of it.

It’s a massive shame that Blackwind is let down by the systems which should let it flow. If this came to market as a top-down twin-sticker with a few platforming elements and some decent metroidvania-styled puzzling, it would work really, really well. But the decision to add in a confused viewpoint is a killer; one that will have you concerned every time you fire things up.

Clever use of an interactable radial wheel aside, Police Simulator: Patrol Officers should be handing in its badge for lack of care to the community, well before its shift is over.

I have two distinct reactions to my time with Vaccine. The first is hatred of its terrible old control system, changing camera angles and the random generating house of horror. The second reaction though is of respect and enjoyment at the increasing tension of the challenge, while getting better at unlocking the secret of the Vaccine. This is a game that you need to fail at and spend some time with in order to get the best out of it. If you can get past the issues I had at the beginning then there is a good Survival horror game in here, with a neat concept, that will make some classic gamers very happy indeed.

It'll be the story and world that keep you going in Dead Man's Diary, even if things do get a bit familiar. But then, there are problems with the writing and the monotony of the survival mechanics.

Asemblance is a very short and very sweet game. It is confusing, weird and tense, but I still love it.

Despite the fact that it’s very short, rather bare and occasionally doesn’t respond naturally to your decisions, We should talk on Xbox One is an interesting experience that’s easy to recommend.

Monster Jam Steel Titans is fun for a time, but you’ll feel short changed for what you get considering the premium price tag.

There is a great game with a brilliant idea underneath the problems of Headspun; problems that have made the game unworkable.

There are much better fishing games than Ultimate Fishing Simulator, and my strong advice is that if you want to go fishing on Xbox One you look elsewhere first.

What’s good about Castaway Paradise is that it’s a great time sink; easy to spend an hour or two just mulling around the place, catching a few fish, pulling out some weeds or just tending to your crops. It isn’t the sort of gameplay that will appeal to everyone, but if you are looking for a game to simply pass some time, this is the perfect choice

RAID World War II feels broken. Nothing really seems to work, and everything that is in it looks like it has seen better days. The developers have a lot of work that they need to action in order to fix this game, or at least make more of it work before asking for people to fork over some cash.

Unknown Fate on Xbox One is a mixed bag. I love the concept, the world, and the experience that really has compelled me to keep playing. On the other hand, the control system and the game-stopping bugs have ruined things multiple times; thankfully the overall experience has a strong enough lure to make you want to go back.

The cell shaded look of Sedna and the soundtrack are excellent, but the change in gameplay, some of the combat and the isometric look lessened my enjoyment. The puzzles and innovative ideas are great though and some of the world themes are interesting to revisit, but it most certainly left me remembering the original as the better experience.

In conclusion then, with the graphical glitches that are in place, I can’t with a good conscience recommend Verdun. If things were fixed, the pacing and style of gameplay would suit the more tactical, considered player and I can see that the Horde Mode could be fun with a few like minded friends.

Sadly and even though the idea presented by Dead Age shows plenty of potential for an exciting gameplay experience, the overall execution leaves a lot to be desired.

It may come in on the cheap side which is always a positive, but if you’re after a meaningful zombie experience, this is definitely one you can afford to leave behind.

MindsEye is no longer the broken mess it was when it launched in June of 2025. The developers have clearly worked hard to iron out the bugs and elevate the game to a higher standard. I enjoyed the campaign and much of the core gameplay, even if it felt more like a game from yesteryear rather than a cutting-edge release of today.

Unless you’re dying for a scary fix which highlights how much one person can do in terms of development, I would probably steer clear of Whisperwood mental institution and the frustrations found within. You see, you might just end up submitting yourself as a patient.

A sadly undercooked game that shows sparks of promise and a real passion for the source material. Unfortunately it is tough to recommend The Lord of the Rings: Gollum in its current form, especially at full price.

It’s clear where its inspiration came from and if you are a fan of early 90’s hack and slash dungeon crawlers, then you will likely see some enjoyment from this. It is very basic and should last no longer than a few nights to complete, but with a price as low as this it is difficult to expect anymore.

It’s not going to wow the masses but it’s worthy of an afternoon sit down and despite the lack of VR on Xbox One seeing it fail to emphasise those big scares, there is just enough in place to make you jump.

I was hoping to be blown away by Dead Alliance, but a dwindling player base, poor gameplay, terrible bugs and a lack of content make this just another disappointment within a once great genre.

Element Space on Xbox One is a game that apes two of the giants of sci-fi gaming – X-COM and Mass Effect – and instead of using this as inspiration and building on them, instead tries to ride two horses and ultimately ends up falling down the gap in the middle.

There is a decent narrative to follow, and getting your wings powered up is pretty satisfying, but the trivial combat robs Krut: The Mythic Wings of a lot of fun.

If you really must engross yourself in some 1980’s film culture, then drag out that old VHS recorder and watch Terminator for the millionth time. Just don’t bother spending time, money or effort on Tango Fiesta.

STONE on the Xbox One compares itself to films such as The Big Lebowski and Inherent Vice, and in the odd moments it is. But even in a game that is barely two hours long, these moments are too far apart, and the filler is very disappointing.

Tears of Avia on Xbox One is the very definition of an underachiever. It feels unfinished in almost every regard, and the combat is functional at best but offers nothing compelling in terms of gameplay variety or depth. There is a tactical turn-based RPG at the core, but nothing about it is designed to reel a player in or make them want to stick around.

Hello Neighbor is not a game that should be taken lightly, but it is one that will polarize the fans. I’m on the side that enjoyed it, even though at the start it was nothing near enjoyable. You will fancy it too if you can accept that it means well and forgive the game’s flaws.

I understand that delays, post-launch patches and day one updates are now par for the gaming course, but that doesn’t mean that a game shouldn’t be held back if it’s not up to scratch. Case in point: Tennis World Tour.

There is so much ambition to be found in Protocol on the Xbox. At times, it’s on a path to becoming a hybrid of Prey and Portal, both in the way it feels to play, and its ability to generate left-field ideas. Unfortunately, the ideas never fail to be executed poorly. Thanks largely to its controls, you will be, by turns, infuriated, bored, confused and offended. For a game that starts by feeling like a commentary on the lack of control in video games, it’s when you’re handed control that Protocol is at its worst.

It’s fine for a bit of quick shooting, especially if you’re after mini missions and quick level satisfaction. It can also be enjoyable at times, with a good range of different weapons and upgrades. But ultimately it didn’t keep me interested long enough – mostly because of the simple story, mechanics and level design.

Super Blackjack Battle II TE is a love letter to arcade beat ‘em ups in terms of its style and sound. That’s about as far as it goes though, with little in terms of excitement, no longevity and just boring old Blackjack to keep you company. Worst of all, the A.I. ruins any chance of finding fun or a challenge, thanks mostly to its pure stupidity and lack of understanding. It’s like playing against my Nan after a Sherry or five.

The whole Heavy Fire: Red Shadow experience feels like it should be on VR, and that may well be the best way to get anything out of this turret shooter. The price is too high as well – at least for anyone to take a punt on – and even though it does nothing wrong and all appears to work fine, it does become very repetitive quite quickly.

CrossfireX is a strange beast which doesn't quite fit together. Odd development decisions and a real lack of ambition result in a barely average experience which pales into insignificance when compared to its competitors and previous developer efforts.

At first glance, XIII looks like a video game. It has graphics, sounds come out of the speakers, and a character moves when you touch the pad. But sit down to play it, and you’ll realise that it’s held together with sticky tape and paper clips, collapsing into scraps when you play for more than five minutes.

Super Street: The Game is bad – outdated graphics, outdated gameplay and outdated objectification of women, bad.

Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality is a short, simple adventure game. However, it draws skillfully upon the Doctor Who franchise, making it an experience fans won’t want to miss.

There are plenty of problems found in Bounce Rescue, and these outweigh the positives tenfold, but the biggest by far is that the game lacks the fun element we all need from an indie title. Feelings of frustration and unfairness instead preside over nearly everything that this game delivers. And that’s not good in anyone’s book.

Tyler: Model 005 is simply a bad game. Good graphics cannot hide the multiple issues: bad voice acting, poor combat and crucially, terrible platforming. In a game where platforming is a major component it is imperative that jumping works, and here it does not at all. In fact, this may well be the worst example I’ve ever seen.

Occasionally there are gameplay experiences which you take in, but then require a nod to not just the asking price, but the size of the development team. Sanity of Morris on Xbox is one of those games; a game that at times feels like a triple-A title in scope and ambition.

Revhead is both good and bad, with the scales coming down on the bad side rather firmly. As a mechanic simulator, it works and is fun. But the rest of the game is shockingly bad. I can’t recommend Revhead to anyone who doesn't have actual grease under their fingernails.