Xbox owners are in for a treat with Rune Factory 4 Special. A masterwork of an RPG, this is a game you can easily spend real-life days playing away. A perfect fit for fans of Rune Factory and Animal Crossing, as well as an exciting action JRPG for fans of old-school Zelda, there is something in this game for everyone. While the port from 3DS to Xbox isn't exactly the most graceful, after a few hours, it's unlikely you will care.

Crusader Kings III is a must-have, and whilst newcomers may initially be overwhelmed, it’s most certainly one to try. Maybe, just maybe, this will pave the way for a console version of Age of Empires.

Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story is an unmatched trip into one of gaming’s most unique minds, and you’ll be all the luckier for having gone in on it.

This is how you do a Sonic game.

Wreckfest is a game you need to be playing. It’s hectic, it’s engaging and it’s complete carnage.

Forgotton Anne is a lovely looking game, with the constantly moving art really impressing as you advance on the adventure, creating a world full of interesting characters. The story starts slow but comes into its own as you delve deeper, with sadness, humour and joyful moments all part of the experience lasting over six hours. Capping it off is a beautiful orchestral soundtrack that is often relaxing and never feels out of place.

Resident Evil Village is worth every cent. If you loved Resident Evil 7: Biohazard then you’ll be ecstatic about being able to step back into the shoes of Ethan Winters in this new title. This is a game that is worth every penny, offering up a great blend of horror and action alongside some superb character development.

Port Royale 4 on Xbox One delivers a shockingly great time. I feel that many will skip past this title because it looks niche or too complicated, but truly this is a streamlined and swashbuckling affair that provides a good time throughout. I immediately started having fun with practically no learning curve needed, as it drew me into a system of trade routes, town management, and naval combat. It’s a unique and engaging mixture that provides hours of strategy.

For fans of Final Fantasy, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is a no-brainer. But for those not as well versed in JRPGs, this is still a fantastic introduction. It has all the great hallmarks, along with a few cool unique features.

REANIMAL is a big step up from the Little Nightmares games in terms of story and world-building. This feels more mature, more epic, and, at times, much more terrifying.

If you are invested into Virtua Fighter, you’ll find lots to love about Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage. And even if you’re not, this is easily good enough to drag you in. The action on display is smooth, the gameplay is fast, and as long as you avoid the sharks online, you’ll have an enjoyable time with this one.

If PvP is your bag, then you’ll be right at home with what Marathon brings to the table, but for the rest of us, the bar for entry is set too high.

It feels like Crash 4 is stuck somewhere down the middle in terms of Crash games; way off the lofty heights of Crash platforming at its peak in Warped, but well above some of the stuff that followed the original trilogy. Does it try to introduce too much? Maybe. But then in a weird paradox it doesn’t do much more to bring the franchise to modern consoles. Much like the plot of Crash 4, it is unsure which time period it is in.

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.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a better game than the other more recent Call of Duty games, but if you hark back to the classics like MW2 and the original Black Ops games, then you won't find it reaching those same heights.

DIRT 5 on Xbox One isn’t the best DIRT title there has ever been but it definitely deserves a place in the line-up. Just involve yourself in the racing, forget about the faff, and you’ll be sure to have a jolly good time.

LEGO Voyagers sets many foundational bricks that could be used by LEGO titles for years to come, be it the refreshing take on gameplay, reflective show-not-tell narrative told in wonder filled environments, or simple co-op fun. Sadly, a lack of overall direction and goals leaves LEGO Voyagers feeling more like a tech demo that future titles will have to rebuild, rather than a complete gaming experience.

NBA 2K19 is an absolute masterpiece of a basketball simulation. Everything seems real, from the way the players move and communicate on the court, the TV presentation and even the player mannerisms; it is just stunning. The abundance of customisation that is offered with almost every game mode makes for much replayability too and the only thing that lets it down are those damn microtransactions.

WWE 2K24 delivers a huge wrestling playground for you to not only finish the story, but create your own stories too. The vast amount of game modes in place and the massive roster of Superstars helps forge a ton of possibilities. The improvements are clear to see, but there are areas that need a little bit of attention, with the online side especially lacking.

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.

Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Editions restore two of the greatest role-playing video games to ever come out of the Dungeons & Dragons universe, all wrapped up in The Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition Pack on Xbox One. The enhancements and optimisations help these juggernaut adventures to once again reaffirm the same dominance they had two decades earlier.

I absolutely love the thoughtful pacing of Sumerian Six. Weighing up every movement and action, knowing that one wrong step could mean the end of your life and the level, is thrilling.

Figuratively and literally, Starfield is the next evolution for a Bethesda game; taking that framework and that sandbox before applying it 1000 times over. There are memorable characters, quests and locations, but these help you tell your own journey too as you forge your own path and create your own plots within this unfathomably large sandbox.

If you have never played Bastion before then this is a must buy. It’s beautiful, sad and a great journey with some fun Diablo type gameplay and neat surprises along the way.

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a well balanced compilation of games with broad appeal, skilfully and faithfully enhanced for the modern player.

If you’re after a baseball experience that comes with real-world visuals, the licensed players and teams that you love and all the bells and whistles of an in-depth sim, then you might be disappointed here. But if you’re just looking for a game that gives you thrills, spills, and a lot of fun, then Super Mega Baseball 3 might just be for you.

If you are after a breathless ride through a lovingly crafted world, NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound may well be the game for you.

If it wasn’t for a few little niggles in regards the need to reload and work through jump mechanics, Bramble: The Mountain King could well have been verging on top marks. Even then, this is a game that is hugely enjoyable, and the Nordic world feels like a great place to spend some solid hours. Just be aware, this can be a scary place and at times a bit gruesome, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Deadlink is a well-polished, extensive FPS/roguelike experience that I can see being an absolute time-sink for many players.

For fans of the genre, WRC 9 is a very good facsimile of what it must be like to run a WRC team, but for those of you who want their rally driving to be more enjoyable and less like being mugged, then DiRT Rally 2.0 is where the smart money goes.

Just Dance 2022 doesn’t change up the tried and tested formula of Just Dance too much but what it has added in terms of improved visuals has made for a more entertaining and immersive experience.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a solid and enjoyable blast-a-thon with a good story to go along with the gory action

All in all then and Path of Exile is an enjoyable game, held back by some peculiar design choices, both in game and in the UI.

Little Nightmares is a well created, superbly executed affair. I’d prefer it to be longer and I have to admit to not only being disappointed, but also shocked, at its short length. In fact, unless you’re going back through things for a second, third or fourth time, just in order to pick up all the collectibles, then chances are you’ll be done with the five chapters and then everything Bandai Namco and the development team at Tarsier Studios have given you in no more than a few quick hours. I guess the price reflects that though and when something is so good, perhaps it’s best to keep it at an enjoyable length. If you’re after a tense game that will have you questioning every little moment from start to finish, then Little Nightmares is most definitely for you.

PowerWash Simulator 2 is a paradox. It looks like work and should feel like it too, but it somehow ends up being a relaxation.

If you are a solo player, Ready or Not is hard to recommend. Yes, there is fun to be had, but it’s in the multiplayer world where it comes alive; where the real action is.

A Plague Tale: Innocence delivers a brilliant story, innovative mechanics and truly immersive gameplay. Yes, the whole dying and repeating exercise occasionally borders on the the fine line of annoyance. But when you consider the visuals, the audio and the experience as a whole, I would highly recommend this journey into the past.

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.

Like an ant, punching above its weight is the best way to describe Grounded. In many regards, this is the little game that could.

The Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a beautifully realised remaster of the original titles which, thanks to today’s technology, fully matches the potential and ambition the games had in the 1990s.

Final Fantasy VII is regularly seen as the greatest game in the fabled JRPG franchise, yet it is hard to argue against CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- REUNION being the best spinoff. The improvements to the graphics and combat elevate this remaster above, whilst retaining the best features of, the original.

With the theme music still kicking around in my head now, the world of Mokumana having surprised with multiple twists and turns, and the puzzling pinball moments standing proudly alongside the many platforming opportunities, this is one game that is going to appeal to a huge range of player.

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.

With its gorgeous pixel-art visuals, the charming cast of characters, the enchanting soundtrack, and the smooth platforming, Owlboy certainly delivers an engaging experience from beginning to end. If you’re looking to scratch that nostalgic itch or even if it’s your first time jumping into a pixel art style game like this, Owlboy is a game you will not regret playing.

From gameplay to visuals, and sounds to controls, everything is smooth and fluid. Allowing for plenty of variation and depth to each character, as well as an entirely new race of enemies alongside the already freakish Skaven, and Vermintide 2 has all the boxes ticked when it comes to a sequel done right.

Simply put, if you’re in the market for a chess game, you’re not really going to find anything much better, especially if visuals are your thing.

Whether your motivation is reclaiming your youth, or exploring the early days of RPGs, then Steve Jackson’s Sorcery!: The Complete Collection will put you under its spell.

The mission to bring Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition from PC to Xbox is a successful one. Age of Empires IV may not make history buffs out of the uninitiated, but it is a compelling enough entry for those who are interested in the genre or the subject matter.

Captain Velvet Meteor: The Jump+ Dimensions may well take you by surprise. The story of Damien has a lot of heart, capable of telling a wonderful tale of two different realities beautifully.

Planet Zoo: Console Edition is Frontier Developments at their finest, creating the best zoo simulation game of all-time, and one of the best simulation games in general.

If you didn’t get on with the first House Flipper, failing to understand the beauty of cleaning up a place, rebuilding it into a palace, then House Flipper 2 is not going to be for you. But if you did like things first time around, then this is an improvement, thanks to a fun campaign and various environments, areas and items.

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria is a deeply entertaining adventure that will please those who are happy to sink some serious time into exploring the dangerous but delightful Dwarrowdelf.

Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition is for fans old and new. Older fans will appreciate a re-release of the series high point, along with some other cool bits, and the newer fans can get a taste of a multiplayer classic.

GRADIUS ORIGINS does what it says on the tin. It allows us to play all the Gradius and Gradius adjacent games in one place, either toughing it out or wimping out with the new features.

SOMA is a great game that brings a perfect blend of survival horror, an intriguing story, believable characters, and the constant dread of failure – things that are all too rare these days.

Ghostwire: Tokyo can be a mixed bag. Occasionally brilliant, it follows that up with lacklustre sections and clunky mechanics.

Super Hydorah is sold on the premise that it is a challenging opponent. I have no issues with that – but you need to be sure this is a game for you before you drop that all-important cash.

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.

Another Crab’s Treasure is an outstanding game, only let down by a dodgy camera and some unfortunate scenery issues. The combat is hard but fair, capable of being tweaked to your liking, and that means exploring a vast underwater world as a small crab has never been such fun.

The foundation of Frostpunk 2 is fun and challenging. Managing resources and relationships throughout the campaign is a satisfying process, and the story itself is engaging. But the performance issues on Xbox bring the experience down significantly.

Playing Streets of Rage 4 is an absolute no-brainer and it is without doubt one of the best games of the year.

The Sexy Brutale is definitely one of the more original ID@Xbox games that we’ve seen recently. On one side there is an incredibly dark and sinister side to the game solving, sometimes described in great gory-detail, murders. But then ultimately it is a game of hope as Lafcadio tries to prevent his friends re-living their nightmares day after day.

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.

Whilst you may well be drawn in to MOUSE: P.I. For Hire by the visuals and soundtrack, once in, you’ll discover a game that is so much more than just that - an investigative, story-focused, secret-hunting, first person shooting platformer that is an absolute joy to play.

Yes I’m a fan of Tomb Raider, but once again I have loved my time with Lara in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. If you’re in my camp, and enjoyed the first two games of this rebooted franchise, then I would highly recommend this experience. In fact, it is the best of the three in terms of of tomb exploration, puzzle interactions, deep storytelling, and action.

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.

The Outer Worlds 2 is as good as the original game, and dare I say even a little bit better.

Like in 2016, you need to know just one thing about SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE - SUPERHOT really is super hot.

RiME is a game that feels perfect to play, from the very start right up to the epic finish.

Ghosts n’ Goblins Resurrection is a triumph, and I have no hesitation in awarding it the highest score I can. There are not many games that will immediately beckon you forth to try and beat them once success has been found, but Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection is one of those games. If you are a fan of the franchise, you’ll love how true to the source material it is, and if you are new, well, you are in for a treat.

This is a truly original piece of gaming; an experience full of creative invention, brilliant premise, and the most terrifying piece of world-destroying machinery ever - The Eternal Cylinder.

Work has gone in to the Anniversary Edition to ensure it fits within Skyrim and the lore surrounding it as a whole; so much so, that if this is your first-time playing Skyrim, you won’t recognise what is base game and what is from the Creation Club content.

The mechanics in Torn Away are so varied that a couple could have been lost along the way without affecting things; like the first person sections. But it’s the story's emotional beats which shine, absolutely spot on whilst the main characters are wonderful and tragic.

If you’re a hockey fan, this game is highly recommended, as NHL 19 has made gameplay changes that make the experience much more authentic, while at the same time introducing new modes and adding to many old ones in order to bring the fun back to the series.

Operencia: The Stolen Sun is wildly ambitious for Zen Studios and for their first RPG it is incredibly impressive. It’s filled with passion and the team clearly love the genre. It does not get everything right, but if this is evidence of more to come, I can’t wait to see what the studio can do next.

Blazing Chrome is the breakout release which JoyMasher needed to get noticed.

FAR: Changing Tides should very much be seen as a companion piece to FAR: Lost Sails, but it’s able to deliver a gaming experience that contains pretty much everything you could want. It will take you on a journey through a strange abandoned land that is beautiful, accompanied by a brilliant soundtrack and new surprises along the way.

World of Warships: Legends delivers another fantastic showing from the ‘World of’ series on console and ensures that players have an engaging and accessible title that can be enjoyed for hours on end.

SteamWorld Heist II comes together to bring a lot of fun. You’ll enjoy getting to know all the characters and locations that have been added into the game, whilst the actual combat is tough, but well balanced.

Amerzone - The Explorer's Legacy surprises, both with how good the actual adventure is and just how much effort has clearly gone into this remake.

Yooka-Replaylee is not a masterpiece of 3D platforming, far from it in fact, yet if you just lower your expectations for this to be the next Banjo-Kazooie, enjoyment will soon follow. A stunning soundtrack, world, and overall charm, harmonise with the troubled, yet enjoyable gameplay, and the accompanying arsenal of moves. Simply put, Yooka-Replaylee is fun, but not groundbreaking.

The Division 2 is very much like the first game of the franchise. The gameplay feels familiar, but there are noticeable tweaks and additions to all the modes on offer, all of which are for the best. I’ve had a blast playing through it all in co-op with a friend, but it’s certainly different playing on your own; far from terrible but you’ll need lots of willpower.

It delivers on its promise and then some, and if you’re someone who enjoys playing video games alone or with friends, and likes having fun whilst doing so, in that respect, Borderlands 3 is perfect.

Paper Trail is one of those puzzle games that you’ll think you can get the hang of, capable of completing it in an hour. But you'd be wrong as the initially simple setup is very deceiving and the more the game moves forward the trickier the puzzles get to solve.

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

Planet Coaster 2 is a worthy follow-up and another fab continuation of the wider ‘Planet’ franchise. The water parks don’t intrude too much, ensuring that this remains a theme park creator at its heart, and most of the new inclusions add to that simulation side of things successfully.

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.

The surprise success has spawned a fitting sequel in Hand of Fate 2, with deeper RPG elements, interesting lore and some really great challenges which all feel different.

The games are perfect conversions, the museum function is brilliantly designed, and the whole SNK 40th Anniversary Collection oozes quality. In a way I think it’s a shame that a lot of gamers will look at the primitive graphics and bleepy bloopy sound to dismiss this as another retro collection that can safely be ignored while waiting for the next Call of Duty or FIFA to rock up.

eFootball PES 2020 is a brilliant game offline that delivers plenty to do and exciting gameplay to be enjoyed. If it’s to be judged solely on playing against the A.I. and friends locally, PES 2020 on Xbox One is a must have. Sadly for Konami, the online side presents a slight dip in quality and the constant waiting to find a match is a pain, especially for the new Matchday mode.

Created as a collaboration piece with the man himself, AVICII Invector is of such a high quality that it will not just appeal to fans of the late superstar, but will certainly come of interest to all manner of gamers from around the world.

A great start is made with Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot on Xbox One for the Borderlands 3 campaign add-on roadmap. It’s not perfect by any means, but is great fun and well worth your time and money if you’ve finished up with Borderlands 3 and need a reason to return to this addicting loop.

Railway Empire - Complete Collection on Xbox One is a fun game, it has beautiful visuals, in-depth systems, and allows a ton of freedom. It won’t be for everyone; the sheer amount of content can be overwhelming and learning some of the more complex elements of the game will seem like a daunting task. Get over the learning curve though and you’ll be rewarded with countless hours of fun, and there is always the option of going the easy route.

If you have a team of friends who are always online, I can almost call Cake Bash an essential purchase, as it is truly bonkers, and different each time. It’s just a shame that for single players, whilst there is fun to be had, it’s reduced down a smidge.

Hivebusters is a great addition to the story content of Gears 5 on Xbox. The same production values, the same great acting, and (whisper it) a better set of protagonists than Kait and J.D., all add up to make this a must play expansion.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles is a great experience for fans of the show to reminisce and recreate those epic battles Tanjiro and his fellow slayers get embroiled in. It looks brilliant in many aspects, the sound is spot on in all areas, and the overall storytelling is great.

Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space remains a charming, funny and downright weird adventure, many years after the original release. Despite a few niggles, the new polish means there’s never been a better time to dust off your magnifying glass and attempt to crack the case.

MouseCraft is one superb game worthy of your attention. A fun and tricky game to be enjoyed by both young and old gamers alike.