Insurgency: Sandstorm is a completely immersive experience. The level designs are fantastic, the simple gameplay is executed exquisitely, the level of customisation of characters and loadouts is various and the sound design is like nothing I’ve ever experienced.

More of the great writing and acting, more weapons, more levels, more and more and more – it’s all great. With my super-critical head on, the story is a tad cliched, and the twist isn’t a shock to anyone who’s been paying attention, but as an expansion to an already stunning game, I can overlook those things.

Forza Motorsport 7 regains its crown as king of the Xbox racers. Its slick presentation, tight and responsive controls, jaw dropping graphics and amazing sound effects catapult it straight past Project Cars 2 into pole position.

Last Time I Saw You is a beautiful looking adventure full of interesting sub-plots that complement the main narrative arc. Sure, the gameplay mechanics are hit and miss, but the shortcomings are easily overlooked.

Justice Sucks: Tactical Vacuum Action is a refreshingly original title that strikes a brilliant balance for players, offering an experience that is accessible, addictive and - above all else - an astounding amount of fun.

In all, Curse of the Dead Gods on Xbox is a game that is easy to recommend to anyone looking for a challenge. It is is always hard, always difficult, and has not a shred of mercy built into it. In fact, you need to be on top of your game in order to make it to the bosses, never mind to take them down. But should you fail, you can always put your finger on why you did so. The gameplay is complemented well by the overall design; the enemies are great, the Temple looks amazing and the mechanics of the corruption and the light is very well-realised. While it won’t be to everyone’s taste, if a challenge is something you seek, Curse of the Dead Gods will provide it.

Just Shapes & Beats is one of those games that captures your heart and soul. It's addictive, difficult, and great.

Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles has provided an experience that I haven’t found in gaming for a long time. Each and every time I have booted it up, I have been filled with a sense of glee, excited to get back into this beautiful world. While not all of the systems work as well as the developers may have hoped, I have found myself loving almost every minute of my time spent in Gemea and the world of Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles.

You could experience fits of laughter, you may even shed a small tear, but most importantly you’ll have an adventure like no other with Lair of the Clockwork God.

Destiny 2: The Final Shape is the best expansion that has been added to Destiny 2. The story arc truly draws to a close, but there is still much to get on with - exotic quests, new chapters and a whole new area to explore. They make The Final Shape a must play if you are a Destiny fan.

It was extremely refreshing to play a game that played at the pace I wanted it to and not have to worry about convoluted story lines. Yes, it may get a tad repetitive after a while, but it looks stunning, plays beautifully and I look forward to heading back to the hunt some more.

F1 23 is a step up from what was created in F1 22, and thanks to the inclusion of a second instalment of Braking Point, it's right up there with F1 2021. In some aspects it surpasses that too.

Cassette Beasts might not be as immediate as a certain pocket-monster game on another platform, but its depths are more cavernous. If you’ve been aching for a beast-battler that treats you as an adult, well, what’s stopping you? Go collect ‘em all.

The years have been kind to Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered, and its arrival on Xbox and Xbox Game Pass should win it legions of new fans.

There are some tiny oddities here, but this is an otherwise cracking modern-day platforming experience. Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is one of those games that you will have some superb fun with, constantly in awe of the new mechanics that are introduced, marvelling at the sheer variety of stages and ideas found within.

I don’t often recommend frequent visits to a hospital, but Two Point Hospital on Xbox One is one which you must get admitted to at the soonest opportunity. It’ll be your new addiction.

The Curse of the Pharaohs rounds off a great Origins season pass with a big chunk of content. If you’re a fan of Origins then this package is a must buy.

ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights does almost everything right, with varied level design, a multitude of enemies, a good progression system, and a beautiful soundtrack.

9 Years of Shadows is a love letter to the 90s, amalgamating classics such as Metroid, Zelda, Castlevania, Altered Beast - the list goes on and on. But never once does it feel as though it is plagiarising these games, rather paying homage and rejuvenating their ideas for a modern audience.

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is no doubt among the best Xbox platform exclusives of 2021, and a staggering showcase for your console of choice. It manages to translate an ambitious PC epic almost seamlessly into a console experience, where the play mechanics and control scheme are mapped perfectly onto the Xbox controller.

With more of the same charm and horror that made Prey so enjoyable, and plenty of variety and challenge brought with each unique run, Arkane Studios have done a fantastic job at giving us a quality triple-A roguelike experience.

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

Trials of Mana is a delightful experience. The engaging story, enjoyable combat, and charming presentation make it a must-play for RPG fans, with the monster pop-in issue just a minor blemish on an otherwise polished game.

All in all, Shiness: The Lightning Kingdom is a phenomenal game that deserves to be played and enjoyed by anyone who is a fan of RPG action games.

Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition is a faithful remaster. It may not radically change or update the source material, but that matters little thanks to its brilliance.

BALL x PIT is a mash-up of Vampire Survivors and Breakout, and it is just as addictive. Runs are short and explosive, and you can feel the improvements in between them, all lending itself to giving it one last try, again and again.

Let’s hand Lost Twins 2 its laurels. Making a cooperative game that delights the experienced gamer just as much as the inexperienced is witchcraft. Only Hazelight can do it consistently. But in comes Lost Twins 2 who nails that AND arrives with an innovative mechanic.

What do we have with Inspector Waffles? An absolutely brilliant point-and-click adventure. The story, characters and overall dialogue are all brilliantly written, and the puzzles encourage exploration and experimentation.

If you've played the other two games in the World of Assassination trilogy then you owe it to yourself to finish the narrative in Hitman 3. If not, well, the ability to play all the games in one location makes this an almost essential purchase. If you like sneaking around and playing dress up with guns, Hitman 3 is for you.

PGA TOUR 2K25 is amongst the very best golf games currently on the market. It’s full of charm, plays really well and looks great. Perhaps the microtransactions are a little too in the face, but at no point do you have to succumb to the opening of a wallet.

Win or lose, you’re going to have a smashing time, and that’s all that really matters. So grab a Senzu Bean and meet me on the Dragon Ball FighterZ battlefield for some pure, adrenaline fuelled fun.

The latest in the MotoGP series of games is probably the greatest too. MotoGP 21 looks great, sounds right, and when the gameplay and tactics click and you finally start to make progress through the ranks, it’s a great feeling.

Visual novels aren’t for everyone, but after playing this I am intrigued to explore the genre a bit more. It is an early contender for Indie Game of the Year – it is such a joyous game.

On one hand, Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! delivers an unbelievably surprising, chilling and suspenseful story. On the other hand, it will be a slog for those who don’t enjoy sifting through dialogue for 3-4 hours. Regardless, this is a story every seasoned gamer should at least try to experience.

Overcooked 2 is simply brilliant. It comes with a massive story mode that is full of various recipe types to keep you busy, an arcade option for those wanting to hone their skills, and a versus mode which sees the very best chefs pitting themselves up against one another in a cook off to the death. All that combined means that it is a must purchase game… especially for those looking for some multiplayer madness.

It’s colourful, imaginative and will make your children feel like platforming superstars. Marsupilami: Hoobadventure, completely out of nowhere, is the best Xbox kids game of the year.

Loop Hero is perfectly pitched for DLC; we will get our fold-out chairs and camp out days before to make sure we get them day-one. Because we are in its clutches now, looping and looping like Tom Cruise in an F-14 Tomcat. We can’t help ourselves: it’s a compulsion now.

It is an utter treat to revisit Metro Exodus with the new enhanced version on Xbox Series X|S. I do recommend that if you are new to the Metro Series then play the first two games before picking up Exodus, however if you’ve played those and never managed to get around to Exodus, this is the perfect time to visit it.

Martha is Dead is a brilliant era-based thriller. The headlines will focus on the sections that have been censored by Playstation, but that would be a shame because there is so much more to this game than those moments. Experience Martha is Dead and it will stay with you for some time to come.

I’m thankful to In the Dark for getting me to play the whole Lil Gator saga. I’m not sure I was feeling down, exactly, but I was certainly bathed in a Gatory glow after playing the Gator of the Year Edition. In the Dark continued the good work, adding a fitting and heartfelt coda to an already brilliant game. And there’s no finer compliment than that.

It’ll take just a few minutes for you to start enjoying ROUTINE, especially if you like games set in space, the chance to go solving strange mysteries, or the odd, non-conformist narrative.

If you’re in the market for a new twin stick shooter, one that brings a fun little story, some top notch bullet-fuelled gameplay and the chance to go and chase those highscores of your mates, then Assault Android Cactus more than delivers.

Anyone looking for a tough metroidvania game, one with an immersive story, needs to check Nine Sols out now.

Galacticare is an intergalactic powerhouse that’s full of weird and wonderful concepts. The campaign delivers unimaginable scenarios with great narrative moments to keep you engaged. With new ideas constantly being introduced, it’s always fun to see what bizarre species, creature, or object is coming next.

Pumpkin Jack is both timely and welcome on Xbox One. As a Halloween-themed action platformer, it fills a niche and void nicely and delivers a brilliant adventure in its own right. From its great pacing, solid gameplay, and consistently engaging design with only a few minor annoyances, this is one spooky adventure that can potentially achieve cult status.

Small technicalities aside, Resident Evil 4 on Xbox Series X|S is a wonderfully recreated thrill ride from start to finish. Capcom have struck a perfect balance that should keep both veteran players and newbies happy.

With an exceptional heavy metal presentation thanks to a brilliant soundtrack and uniquely detailed visuals, Valfaris is as metal as gaming gets.

It’s rare to find a debut game as confident as As Dusk Falls. It’s rarer still to find one that unerringly finds your belly for an emotional gut punch like this one does.

Watch Over Christmas is a lovely, engaging, point-and-click adventure that’s full to the brim with all things Christmassy and more.

Sometimes you can know too much about a game, and that is absolutely the case with Thank Goodness You’re Here. It’s best to offer up your hand and trust it. Sure, it might slap that hand, but the pain will be worth it.

The Game of the Year Edition of DiRT Rally 2.0 on Xbox One does enough to earn its name. Collecting a year’s worth of DLC into one package, with all the extra cars and tracks, is a great idea, but then also including the excellent Colin McRae Flat Out Pack ensures that the game is pretty much double the size it was at first launch.

It’s full of action, it’s easy on the eye and it continues to reward for as long as you pump time into it. AngerForce: Reloaded is a fantastic effort and a memorable scrolling shooter.

Every once in a while it's nice to play a game that just focuses on the spectacle, one that makes the entire experience exciting via a good boss fight. And that’s NanoApostle.

Bloodhound claims to bring “a fresh look and old fun” to the gaming scene, and this about sums it up perfectly. Forget overblown stories, forget angst and self doubt - blow seven shades out of a range of demonic foes with powerful weaponry and I guarantee that you will be left with a smile on your face.

With Cardpocalypse you’ll laugh to yourself, it’ll bring back memories of the good old days and by the time it’s over, you’ll be wanting to do it all again. So save up your pocket money and grab it swiftly.

If you are looking for a truly unique game, with an off-the-walls story, Death Stranding Director’s Cut will be seen as a treat.

As a conclusion to Kiryu’s seven-game saga, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life on Xbox provides a very fitting end that will not leave a dry eye in the house. It is an added bonus that it is one of the best Yakuza games; a standout title in a standout series.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a phenomenal achievement that hits so many highs. It’s an overall fantastic and unforgettable experience. I’d honestly go so far as saying it is now THE best title in the Elder Scrolls franchise (at least until Morrowind receives the same treatment)

Playing Braid, Anniversary Edition is like opening the time capsule of a museum curator. The sheer love and care that is gone into filling that capsule is breathtaking. And for those who have never experienced Braid, you’re in for a treat.

If you haven’t fired up Bridge Constructor Portal in a while then the Portal Proficiency DLC on Xbox One is an ideal excuse to do so again.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was already one of the best games of all-time, but now the Complete Edition has cemented that legacy and will ensure that it is a game which is talked about for many more years to come.

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne on Xbox One is quite simply an exceptional expansion to an already exceptional game. Combined, they make one of the best games of the console generation.

Episode Two “Giant Consequences” is a great addition to an already exciting second season of Minecraft: Story Mode and is well worth a look.

The Star Wars Pinball: Solo Pack is a great trio of tables for Pinball FX3 and all of them offer something completely different.

#Funtime on Xbox One is right up there with the very best twin-stick shooters on the market. It provides plenty of playing options, it has just enough challenge to make sure you find yourself going back time and time again, and it’s got a brilliantly responsive and smooth control system which is an utter must for a game of this ilk.

I am still hooked into what this game has to offer and the twists and turns in this particular episode are absolutely brilliant. The concept and the world it has created is indeed both clever and epic in their scope and ingenuity; there has been a great mix of real-world history, religious texts, and a truly imagined world all blended in a very clever way.

The fact that a basic cycle of solving puzzles, collecting resources and building stuff is so captivating is a testament to how beautifully immersive the world of Dwarrows and its inhabitants are. With so much to do, so many areas to explore and an entire town to build, it’s remarkably easy to get sucked in. Expect plenty of hours of enjoyment from this one.

Konami have upped their game again. Your move EA.

Sweet Witches on Xbox One is a near-perfect example of how you can take a simple concept and turn it into a vibrant game that is non-stop fun. It may be short but there is a host of stuff that has been magnificently created.

AQUA KITTY UDX won’t appeal to all, but that would be a huge shame. It’ll whisk you back to the golden age of arcade games, before hitting you smack in the face with its modern day feel, bringing enjoyment that very few other side scrolling shooters can manage...Each and every year, an indie title pops up and wows me. Here, in 2017, AQUA KITTY is that title.

Against the Storm won’t be a game for everyone, but for those who love the early gameplay of city builders, it’ll be an incredibly satisfying game that can easily provide dozens of hours of fun.

All in all and Crunching Koalas have pulled one out of the bag with Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition. It’s super addictive, has stunning visuals, a soundtrack to die for and delivers one hell of a fun gameplay experience that just ramps up even more when played in local co-op.

Supraland on Xbox One may be simplistic and a tad easy overall, but don’t let first impressions fool you. Its focus on exploratory gameplay makes it loads of fun to play. What results from it is a well-rounded, entertaining adventure which is one of the best experiences of its kind available today.

Come and join the mission to rejuvenate the marvellous place that is Stardew Valley; it’ll be the best farming experience you’ve ever had.

Green Hell is a hugely challenging, massively immersive game that will transplant you in the Amazonian jungles in both a good and a bad way.

If you’re looking for a game that will entertain the whole family, innovating and informing as you go, then you can’t go wrong with Lost Words: Beyond the Page on Xbox. It’s a great experience with a fantastic concept, some beautifully heartfelt writing, and wonderful gameplay.

Apex Legends is without a doubt a fantastic game. It may be lacking a solo or duo option, and it may have a few very niggling issues, but all-in-all it’s a fantastic addition to the Battle Royale genre.

Blazing Beaks on Xbox is definitely worth picking up. It’s challenging, well put together, and just a fun way to kill some time. It's helped by the fact that the risk and reward mechanics are extremely well-done, especially since the amount of risk is tailored to what the player decides.

Tempus - Level Escape will be able to provide you with an experience that is relaxing and intriguing, complete with some brilliantly designed puzzles. Running at just a few hours in length, the visual storytelling is a delight, helped by a concept that is completely original and unusual.

A game for all the ages, there’s a ton of content included so take out your wand, put on your most magical of hats, and go and enjoy the thrills of Hogwarts Legacy.

Four Sided Fantasy is a brilliantly complex puzzle game. Now this might not be the game for everyone and a few will give up after the first hurdle, but that would be a shame because it has so much more to offer. The design, sound and concept are original and unique, whilst the price is perfect and makes it well worth a punt.

Some issues with a controller are to be expected, but with a massive new expansion and a graphical overhaul on the way, now is a great time to get into Final Fantasy XIV Online: A Realm Reborn.

You owe it to yourself to play SOULCALIBUR VI if you have even the slightest interest in fighting games.

Apart from little issues that you can learn to drive around, Hot Wheels is a worthy addition to the greatness that is Forza Horizon 5.

River City Ransom on Xbox One is one of those games where it is still hard to believe that it’s from the primitive ‘80s era of gaming. While parts of it have understandably become a little dated, as a whole when you consider the game design, art, gameplay, and overall scope of its ambition and execution, this still manages to feel fresh and modern in any gaming era. For Xbox fans, this is their long overdue foray into the fist-crazy world of River City.

Severed Steel is breathless. It’s a dervish of wall-runs and gunplay, and we struggle to think of a game that makes us feel so powerful, so much better at gaming than we actually are. Sure, it’s over in two flicks of a lamb’s tail, but those flicks are glorious and in slow motion.

DOOM: The Dark Ages is a gloriously gory game which manages to feel familiar but fresh at the same time. Adapting the gameplay may well have seemed like a gamble, but in the capable hands of id Software, it has certainly paid off.

I absolutely adore The Eternal Cylinder, even more so now it has been optimised for Xbox Series X|S. Many games attempt to be bold, creative and offer an experience unlike any other. This is a game which does just that. You’ll struggle to find escapism better than this.

It could well be overwhelming for some, but on the whole, if you give it time, the visuals, the soundtrack, the concept and the gameplay of Manifold Garden will more than deliver.

Sure, there’s a zombie apocalypse happening, but Dead Island 2 might be the most fun end-of-days yet. The dark humour, gratuitous violence and sandbox-esque playground of LA allows you to come up with some beautiful and brutal zombie kills.

I have no hesitation in recommending Edge of Eternity. It is a huge game, but more importantly, it has an epic story to be told. The combat system has some nice touches which keeps it fresh, and the crafting is deep and immersive. This is a game that many will be playing for days and weeks on end, with Midgar Studios needing praise for creating something special.

Once Peglin gets a grip, it's very hard to escape that grasp. You may fire it up for a quick five minute blast, but don't be surprised to discover runs that go hours’ deep and sleep patterns that are fast ruined.

The action is fast and bloody, and there is now a strong case to be made for Mortal Kombat to take its place at the top table of fighting games. Mortal Kombat 11 has grown up with the Aftermath Kollection on Xbox One, and I for one think that’s bloody marvellous.

BlazBlue Entropy Effect X is a very good game, with a massive amount of content to go at. Each run is different, the number of avatars to unlock and master adds to the longevity a lot, and for the most part, there is a fast, fluid and furious game to be found here.

Marble It Up! Ultra is a game that will have you staying up late at night, chasing leaderboard times and going all out for bragging rights.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name may be a shorter and smaller Like a Dragon game, but it doesn’t skimp on quality. This ‘greatest hits’ approach of including many fan favourite side activities from over the years only further highlights what makes Like a Dragon such a treasured franchise.

UNSIGHTED is a great game to play, especially when you consider the co-op mode, the Boss Rush mode and the Dungeon Raid you can take part in, and further to that, the amount of replayability based on choices you make is very good indeed. It’s only the slight imprecision in the combat that stops UNSIGHTED from getting a full score, and I can honestly recommend this to everyone.

Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse is a madcap mystery brimming with creativity, showing there is life in the old dog (and rabbit) yet.