After Wave: Downfall does have a dash of that gaming X-Factor; that desire to play and play again, just to see what is around the next bend.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is a bit of a mixed bag, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed my time with. "DMZombie" is not quite for me, and the campaign's short length and varying quality are worth noting. However, the linear campaign levels left me quite satisfied and most importantly, the multiplayer suite has been an absolute blast to play.

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings Game does the "cozy sim" genre well, and there is a lot of fun to be had with some of the minigames, especially the cooking.

Despite being a slight improvement on its rather average predecessor, How to Fool a Liar King Remastered shouldn’t be seen as an instant recommendation for visual novel enthusiasts. It’s alright, but there are better options out there.

CATTCH on Xbox is the platforming equivalent of a pack of Haribo. It’s colourful and characterful, and you can’t put it down at the start. But chew down on too much at once and you’ll get sick of it.

Be in no doubt, there is a lot of game in this small package, but it will ask a lot of you. If you can invest the time, it will reward you, but it’s a bit too deep for its own good as far as casual players are concerned.

RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business does a great job of carrying on from the first game in the series.

There is a lot of football to be had in Madden NFL 21 on the Xbox One, and when you are on the field, the football is good. EA have created a game that if you have 15 minutes or a couple of hours, they want you tossing their digital pigskin. From modes like The Yard and MUT that offer quicker challenges to a full simulation in either Franchise mode, you will be spoilt for choice. Sadly though, they’re not all good choices. MUT is the big money earner, so receives the most TLC, but this comes at a cost to all other modes.

It’s going to sound weird but Oh… Sir! is a quite a charming game given the context. It has an art style that certainly will not be winning any awards but is weirdly amusing to look at, much like the rest of the game.

You will enjoy your journey through Kong: Survivor Instinct, perhaps more than you may have anticipated. It's refreshing to play a Metroidvania with a focus on exploration, and you'll want to uncover every secret the world holds.

Barring some technical issues causing the odd crash or hard lock, for the most part, the core of the game works well. There is definitely enjoyment to be had however, as all artistic aspects of Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom are beautiful, and the combat and platforming mechanics are solid.

It’s testament to the game that LIT: Bend the Light feels less like a puzzler and more like a reflection simulator at times; the lighting feels real and reacts as you would expect.

Alter Age is a standard KEMCO JRPG with a couple of new features. Do they lift Alter Age above the run of the mill games? Well, yes, they do. Just. And while this isn’t one of the best games in the publisher’s back catalogue, it does have just enough to ensure a recommendation.

Three Minutes To Eight proves to be a worthwhile time for those interested in the narrative structure, but frustration is likely imminent for anyone hoping to unlock all ten endings.

A Frog’s Job is almost everything we want from a budget platformer: crisp graphics, sturdy levels and innovative gimmicks in the time-stopping and phlegm platforms. All it needed was a lick more ambition, and A Frog’s Job could have been a contender.

If you want to understand the B-movie charms of this strange little subgenre, then Demon Hunter: New Chapter is a surprisingly good place to start.

Sensible Soccer and Kick Off fans rejoice! You’ve finally got a spiritual successor in Super Arcade Football on the Xbox.

Unheard - Voices of Crime Edition is a clever game with a running time of around five hours or so, mostly dependent on how quickly you solve the cases. The detectives out there will enjoy the analysis of each case, as well as the going backwards and forwards with the audio to find the clues.

Puppet House doesn't revolutionise the horror genre, but it executes its familiar elements effectively. The pacing is excellent, the gameplay is enjoyable, and the puzzles offer a satisfying challenge without being overly complex.

I have been torn when playing Source of Madness. It is built out with some very solid mechanics for the progression and combat, but the poor enemy variety and AI, coupled with overbearing visuals, ensures it is very hard to enjoy those mechanics.

Barn Finders is completely different in concept and ambition to any other game, and it's pretty addictive as you go on the hunt for treasure.

O.W.L Projekt 2 very much feels like an expansion of the original game, never attempting anything different from before.

If you have found the Puzzle by Nikoli W series already, then Heyawake is a satisfying more-of-the-same. Its air of familiarity is easy to ignore when you’re pulling the pencil from behind your ear and filling in more brain-teasers. But if you’re new to the series and want to dip a toe in, it’s possibly the least engaging by a degree or two.

A Role-Playing Horror Game will keep you covered for a few hours, but this is a game that is worth taking in a few times, as you hunt down different endings.

Akimbot is an enjoyable romp in a robot world that should well appeal to many.

You’ll be impressed by the concept and execution of Amanda the Adventurer. It's dark, disturbing, funny, and entertaining. However, I wish the gameplay offered more hints, particularly regarding the multiple endings.

Infinite Links does what you want a JRPG to do - it tells a good story, has relatable characters to enjoy and evil baddies to batter, distracting you from your day to day life.

If you want a game that focuses fully on exploring, chatting to animals and becoming absorbed in another reality then come on in, drink the Kool-Aid and wander around An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs.

Fueled Up may not be the most comprehensive experience, but on the whole it’s a great little co-op game that’s accessible to all.

If you're looking for a spooky and relaxing experience, turn off the soundtrack and enjoy a creepy flight through the world of Aery - Midnight Hour.

Despite the audio inconsistencies and the story's melancholic tone, Bottle: Pilgrim Redux is a worthwhile addition to the "walking simulator" genre and one of the stronger entries in Tonguç Bodur's growing portfolio.

There is nothing daring or complicated about Mythic Ocean. It’s not substantial, being one-and-done in a couple of hours, without a convincing reason to play again. But it has something to say about the difficulties of friendship, and it achieves a meditative state that allows you to unwind as you navigate beautiful environments.

Tonguç Bodur is capable of creating some brilliantly relaxing walking sims, mixing in strange fairy tales and calming visuals. GENIE Reprise is one of those better games

Like rhythm action games? Like Russian shoegaze and post-punk? Like baseball? The number of people who say yes to those three questions can probably be counted on one hand. But if you are instead open to those three experiences, then Kovox Pitch is one of the most surprising and unconventional games of the year.

The story belts along at a cracking pace, with the requisite number of twists and turns to work through, and there are some very enjoyable battles to engage in along the way. It’s not Final Fantasy 7, but give it a chance and I think you’ll enjoy it, difficulty spikes aside.

It's the journey from mountain to heaven itself that is the star of Cat and Ghostly Road - highly original and deeply atmospheric to play.

All three new cabinets in Arcade Paradise have goals to aim for, and can appear on your to-do list, fitting in perfectly with the others in your arcade. They offer a chance to return to the arcade – not that you should have ever left it – with some new games. And we hope they’re the first of a few additions to come.

Pneumata should be applauded as a piece of work from a solo developer intent on creating a vivid and disturbing world of horror and mystery.

I wasn’t expecting much from Stubbs the Zombie, but Rebel Without a Pulse has proved to be enjoyable, with an entertaining narrative, writing and zaniness. If you're after some old-school action and can forgive the dated visuals, then Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse on Xbox might well be worth your time.

If Narita Boy had a better handle on what it did well, and spent less time on the stuff it didn’t, we’d have a hit on our hands. Instead, we have style over substance - a Tron Evolution rather than Blade Runner, say - when it could have been a bonafide classic.

If you like the Surge 2, The Kraken on Xbox One is a short but fun expansion at a reasonable price.

UnderDungeon is a game that will restore your faith in the retro scene. It is quirky and charming, yet while the action isn’t fast and furious, it is much more considered. There are issues, but the levels are varied enough to keep you coming back.

Sentinels of Freedom on Xbox One has a lot of charm and there are not a huge amount of turn-based tactical games with a superhero theme out in the market. For fans of Sentinels of the Multiverse, it’s lovely to see these beloved characters brought to life. Much like your hero in-game, there’s raw potential here - but a bit of help and some polish is needed to make Sentinels of Freedom really super.

Megaquarium on the Xbox One does an excellent job of presenting a sim management game on a home console, without dumbing down the abilities you have at your fingertips. Gameplay is fun and fair; it doesn’t offload hundreds of problems at you at once, meaning a much more casual experience.

The gameplay never ventures off its initial premise and the difficulty remains stagnant throughout. But nonetheless, it’s an enjoyable experience with a clear focus on being played with a friend. It’s a story of block meets switch, and a lovely one at that.

Aside from the manic nature - and the rubbish music - the rest of Raiden IV x MIKADO remix is a joy to play. If you like old school shoot ‘em ups, then give Raiden IV x MIKADO a try, and be prepared to recalibrate what you think is a hard game.

If you like an RTS, there is fun to be had in The Valiant, but there are elements missing that would make it better – such as the ability to slow time and plan before springing your trap.

Risk System on Xbox is a game that does the opposite of a traditional shooter, as rather than getting distracted with mounting an attack, the game solely places emphasis on careful avoidance and manoeuvring. Although it shies away from bullet hell conventions, it offers a style of challenge which is satisfying in a different way; a rush that comes with barely scraping by an enemy attack.

I would say that if you have a subscription to Xbox Game Pass then it’s an instant download, if not then it may well be best to hold off for the price to go down a little. Whatever though, if you fancy something different and are a fan of hand to hand combat then get into the world of Absolver for a good old punch up.

Pirates on Target is a budget puzzler that doesn’t aim high, but hits the bullseye in terms of smart, elegant brainteasers. While it might lure you in with easier geometric challenges, there’s always an absolute beast of a puzzle just around the corn-arrrr.

Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection is a brilliant collection of all the mainline arcade games we know and love, but in reality it is only a small slice of the past 30 years. Capcom could have given us so much more with this and I can’t help but feel slightly disappointed by the lack of content available.

Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate is a departure from the franchise many will know and love, but it is one that works well. If you have a group of friends who are ready for a spot of virtual fisticuffs, this is an easy sell.

For under a tenner, you could do a lot worse than turn off the lights, lock the doors, grab a pair of headphones and get stuck into Worse Than Death. It’ll tide you over for a few hours, put your problem solving skills to the test, and provide a few scares here and there.

The Cursed Frog isn’t going to win any awards, but it’s about the best you can hope for from a cheap platformer. You’re getting a forty-five minute experience that can’t sit still, juggling ideas and mechanics without ever settling on one. By the end, we looked back on The Cursed Frog with fondness. It was an enjoyable burst of chaos.

Paper Ghost Stories: 7PM is not a particularly long experience, feeling like a prelude to a much bigger world. But for the very cheap price, it is well worth giving it a go.

BAD END THEATER takes the visual novel genre and does something exciting and unique with it. The concept is one to love, as is the opportunity to piece together bits of the puzzle, with various outcomes changing up the narrative.

Gryphon Knight Epic: Definitive Edition on Xbox One probably only has a strong appeal to those that like this sort of game, and doesn’t really offer enough that is new, interesting or involving for newer players, nor for those that don’t really care for a tough as nails challenge. But you do get to ride a gryphon though.

The components of a really fun game are present, the world is well-designed and aesthetically it is beautifully done. But many of the roadblocks in Nice Day for Fishing feel like a way to pad out the time.

Enter the world of Shapik: The Quest, fully armed with the information that it’s extremely, stupendously short (but still worth the money), and you’re less likely to be blindsided. You can enjoy it for what it is: a hand-crafted little point-and-click adventure that gives a momentary view into a world that you will want to spend more time in.

All in all though and Asdivine Kamura on Xbox One does everything you’d expect of an Asdivine game from KEMCO, and as such is a worthy bearer of the name.

Word Maze by POWGI is a timely reminder of how fun these unique puzzle games can be. And this is easily up there with some of the best ones to come out of the minds of Lightwood Games.

Neon City Riders on Xbox One is a refreshing ‘80s neon interpretation of The Legend of Zelda with plenty of inventive ideas, both in its game design and stylistic presentation. It is certainly not an experience for the faint and impatient, but it may be just the thing for players yearning for those brutal gaming experiences from that decade.

You have to get over the hurdle that this is clearly Lemmings, but with some annoying barbs. And you need to ignore the rough presentation. Clear all of those, and Jujubos is an ingenious riff on a classic

Bigben Interactive have done a fantastic job of bringing the sport to the console experience. The competitive feel is certainly there, and the unique handling seems to have been particularly well crafted.

Though it will not win any awards for its gameplay, this game is a real treat. It encapsulates the heart and spirit of what wonderful things can be done with an indie game. Its rougher edges and rustier bits can be frustrating, but if you want to play one of the most unique titles of the year, then you could do a whole lot worse than Bartlow’s Dread Machine on Xbox One.

LASERPITIUM must be a marketer’s nightmare. It looks bland and has nothing fancy to shout about. You could be brutal and call it generic. But it’s so ruthlessly efficient at what it does. Writing it off would be a premature act. In its complex levels and juiced-up weaponry, there’s more than enough to keep a shoot ’em up fan quiet.

Taqoban is certainly one of Ratalaika Games’ stronger releases. It’s a great little puzzler, with the simple, easy-to-grasp mechanics allowing for levels that offer a challenge to even the most adept box pusher.

EA Sports College Football 25 offers a variation of American Football that may be more appealing to those who take issue with the stop/start nature of the game itself.

Overall, I found my time with Kitty Powers fun and unique, whilst leaving my face always smiling. The package the developers have put together is really polished and tight, with some great mini-game fun to be had. I do think the price is a bit too high though and if it were under the £10 mark it would be perfect. The game does drag after a while and you lose the impact of going on the dates and playing the mini games, especially when the stakes get higher.

Whilst One More Dungeon 2 isn’t the most demanding game, and can feel a bit repetitive as time goes on, the bosses ensure things are mixed up a bit. It means that this is a competent game, but it lacks the spark needed to make it truly great.

A modest success, Savage Halloween on the Xbox slaps a spooky mask on a Mega Man run-and-gunner and chucks in some Battletoads-style racing levels for good measure. What it lacks in surprise, it makes up for in charm, and there’s some challenging moments to overcome. It’s more trick than treat, then, and for £4.19 it’s barely more than a family-sized pack of Haribo.

If you’re a platforming fanatic then Inops is going to be a game for you, and it’s nice to see that there is a decent challenge available. I’ve enjoyed what the game has done in the terms of short bursts of fun and interesting gameplay, but certainly found the repetitive elements and unlocking of levels a bit tedious and demoralising at times.

Light Fairytale Episode 2 is a no-brainer pickup for anyone who has played and completed the prequel, as they look to pick up where things left off. Still, the short playtime means they won’t get to experience too much story development, nor will they get to fully dive into the new gameplay systems.

Invest time in it, pay attention to every attack and its benefits, and you will make the slowest of progress. The clouds clear and One Step From Eden starts to make sense. If you have the time and inclination to get there, this becomes a spiritual successor to the Mega Man Battle Network series.

Original and intriguing while at the same time being strange and beguiling, No One Lives Under the Lighthouse works some old-school visuals in the best of ways.

DESOLATIUM is an unusual, yet enjoyable, point-and-click adventure that is well worth getting your teeth into. The visuals are very impressive, whilst the atmosphere and soundtrack are equally good.

Die After Sunset is a roguelike shooter with a bit of a twist. The whole light/dark thing does make a difference to the gameplay, and the way that the events are randomly assigned to the levels means that there is a bit of longevity built in. However, it doesn’t take long for things to become a little bit tedious.

CONVERGENCE: A League of Legends Story is definitely geared towards more casual platformer gamers and as far as metroidvanias go, there are better ones out there.

If you want a period correct, hard to control FPS game, then Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition is exactly the game for you.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky should be seen as an expansion rather than a full prequel, but it is one that fans will enjoy nonetheless.

If you’re looking for a casual platformer with some classic Metroidvania style elements and plenty of varied enemies to blast away at for a bit of afternoon fun, then there is no reason not to jump into Mystik Belle.

As a proposition for adults then, Matchbox Driving Adventures crashes out fairly early. The kids it is aimed at may well find it a lot more appealing though - it is certainly colourful, bright and speedy enough to hold the attention.

Bright Lights of Svetlov is cheap to purchase and over fairly quickly - but occasionally that’s all you want in a game. It’s helped along by delivering an interesting and intriguing short story about a certain time in history, in a country that many won’t know much about.

The Last Kids on Earth and The Staff of Doom does enough to warrant interest from those who enjoy the universe via other mediums. The gameplay is straightforward and the arsenal of moves will be exciting from a child’s point-of-view, while the boss encounters are a real highlight.

ZOE Begone! is a wonderfully created but brutally difficult SHMUP, that despite looking cute and cuddly, will challenge even the most adept players.

Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona is a game that packs a real challenge; a game that will test your patience as well as your reflexes. The basic premise is engaging and it tells a good tale, but the extreme difficulty and numb combat will make you question your life choices.

We Sing Pop is a classic entry into the singing genre, with the experience proving heavily similar to previous singing titles such as the highly popular Singstar series.

Aside from Hatsune Miku Logic Paint S, the Xbox is pretty barren when it comes to picross and nonogram puzzles. This only really leaves PictoQuest. Just as well then that it is a pretty good picross game.

Recall: Empty Wishes does well to deliver multiple interesting layers to its psychological narrative, grabbing your attention in the process.

Overall, Thicker Than Water didn’t just hit a speed bump, it went for a Sunday drive in quicksand. Almost everything is done without urgency, or intensity, and the writers picked wildly inappropriate times for characters to discuss things which are the least of anyone’s worries when there’s a hunt going on. What could’ve been a bad episode, received a lifeline in the form of an enthralling and engaging final chapter of episode four.

Myst on Xbox is far from being the definitive version of the game, as in the process of modernising the graphical and visual presentation, it loses much of the artistic charm of the original 1993 classic. It’s certainly nice to have full 3D movement, but even then, the experience lacks the functionality of the original point and click control scheme.

The end result is a game that gets the adrenaline going at the start, but dumps landmines of imprecision and repetition in the way. By the end, you might have the thousand-yard stare of a war veteran. It’s certainly good value, and there’s challenge and length to the game, but your mileage may differ about whether the mission is worth taking. Dare we say it, Dog Duty on Xbox One might be a better proposition on PC.

Sky of Destruction is sufficiently different from a run of the mill shooter to make it interesting. The composition of your fleet, and the way that you can configure the aircraft you use, add a bit of spice to a stale genre. On the downside, the tutorial is extremely poor and doesn’t really give us much of a clue as to what to do.

I’m not sure there’s another game on the market quite like Hairdresser Simulator. That should mean budding hairdressers will have a lot of fun with it.

With no properly new features, just new songs, Just Dance 2021 doesn’t come across as a completely new game - just an expansion pack to the previous one. Saying that, the new songs do show a better range of genres than the previous couple of titles and the free month of Just Dance Unlimited means that there is something to get everyone dancing over the festive season.

Blast Brigade Vs the Evil Legion of Dr. Cread has plenty of hidden depths, despite the fact the journey is something of a bumpy one. If you can see past the occasional gripe, there’s an engaging adventure here that is difficult to put down.

Cozy Grove on the Xbox lies in the shadow of Animal Crossing, and the moments where it steps out of that shadow are its weakest. While Animal Crossing never stops feeling welcoming, Cozy Grove keeps pushing you towards the door, and a lot of the charm goes with it. Regardless, there’s plenty of room on the Xbox for an experience as undemanding and beautiful as this one, and you’ll find yourself rummaging for walnuts in a spare thirty minutes. You certainly can’t live in Cozy Grove, but it’s great to visit.

Shadowrun Returns is a solid tactical RPG with a good story; one which you will certainly enjoy.