Tormented Souls will be loved by fans of the old-school survival horrors. It's almost a homage to them, delivering a fun narrative with some great puzzles along the way. It's whether or not you can handle the fixed camera, limited saves, and clunky combat that will decide how long you can stick with it all for.

It does cooperative play well and with a creepy X-Files vibe to things, the tone is certainly there for a jump scare or two.

Metal Black S-Tribute is a horizontal shooter made with an anything-goes mentality. Playing it is like eating those Harry Potter jelly beans: sometimes you get strawberry-cream, other times it’s earwax. But the experience is so enjoyable that the odd bit of earwax becomes manageable.

Rewind or Die may be aimed at 90's kids, but it offers a short, sharp burst of classic slasher horror which can be enjoyed by all.

The Edge of the World DLC offers much more of the same, which will please some but not everyone. To make The Falconeer a truly must have game, future additions will need to be a little more radical.

Even though Cannon Dancer - Osman stands up well today, ultimately it’s not much more than a straight-up re-release. Although it will no doubt please a niche target audience, you'll have to spend substantially more than your spare change for the pleasure of playing.

Make no mistake, Kingdom of Arcadia on the Xbox offers absolutely nothing new. Hundreds of action-platformers have been here before, and looked better as they’ve done it. Surprisingly few, however, have done it with its levels of charm, and with its tight handle on controls.

Debtor: Enhanced Edition may not have been on your radar, but perhaps it should be. It’s an unfussy, well-made little puzzle-platformer that is in debt to other games (ha!), but is made with care by people who know they’re way around creating a level.

If you’re hoping to grapple with more of a puzzle tiger than a puzzle kitten, then you will be disappointed with Catnigma. There’s more difficulty to be found in opening your mail. We found that degree of challenge to be calming and even endearing, but we don’t expect it to work for everyone else.

For simulation fans, there is a lot to love about The Bus. The recreation of Berlin and its routes is a massive technical achievement, and the Economy mode is a highlight that gives you a compelling reason to keep playing. The controls and UI are lacking at times though

Clash: Robot Detective - Complete Edition has a unique story, one that is funny and engaging at times, with some good multiple endings on offer. The visuals fit well with the tone of the game, but as with pretty much all visual novels, you’ll need to be able to get on with a lot of reading.

If you’re looking for a Zelda-lite experience, Arietta of Spirits doesn’t really put a foot wrong. But to be a truly great game, it needs more content. It needs more exploration options, more side quests, more upgrades. You’ll only be getting three or four game hours with this one, and there’s nothing to really bring you back.

Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions is a pretty good representation of the Rocky universe. What it isn’t is as in-depth a game like Street Fighter, but it is very arcade-based, perfect for short blasts and easy to pick up and play for a few rounds. If you are a fan of the films, the chance to take part in some fights from the canon is great, and if you’re not, suffice it to say that this is a fun game.

It would be fair to say that a sokoban puzzle game is only as good as the quality of its puzzles, and on that count Poko achieves his Arctic Quest.

AirportSim gives a unique perspective on how a ground crew works an airport life - and with that in mind, it does the job.

If you’re looking for an engaging 2D adventure game, then give Chasm a chance. You’re unlikely to be disappointed.

Rip Them Off on Xbox is one of those games which is perfect to play for a while, before you start to feel frustration, put it down and then get swiftly tempted back in to find a solution.

STAY is completely different to anything out there at the moment, in a good way, and so it’s definitely worth checking out. Just remember that there are people that can help with those darn puzzles.

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is a good second entry into The Falconeer universe, offering up something different. There is a lot to admire here, particularly in the simplicity and relaxed nature.

This isn’t a game that reinvents the wheel in any way, and many of you will have likely seen something like this before, most notably in the Trials series. But the undeniably unique brand of strangeness found in Animal Super Squad, and the inclusion of the online community options ultimately makes it a risk worth taking.

BIOMORPH is a pretty good game; one that makes a decent fist of the Metroidvania tropes. The ability to change into various creatures is an interesting feature, and there is certainly a lot of content to go at.

Maid of Sker on Xbox One is a very good horror experience; one that manages to create an extremely creepy atmosphere and delivers a good story throughout. The whole sound department needs a round of applause, especially the renditions of the hymns, but it is the entire save system that dampens the enjoyment of the game.

Whilst the transition across languages hasn't helped the writing in places, you should enjoy your time with The World After.

Aside from a few weird game ending issues, Roundguard on Xbox One is decent fun. Fans of Peggle will love what it brings, and even though the roguelike elements don’t always come off, throwing in some dungeon crawling brings a nice touch of variety to the usual peg-puzzling scene.

Whilst the story and combat work well, and the exploration is fun, apart from some serious difficulty spikes the main issue with Dragon Prana is that the story feels bloated.

This is not a masterpiece. Nor is it the port of Snake that you might have wanted or expected. But while Super Snake Block DX might not be the most cerebral of entertainment, for a couple of hours it has a grip that is hard to shake.

It’s rough around the edges for sure, and it’s not going to be for everyone, but if you’re willing to suspend yourself into its limitations and challenges then you might discover something rewarding with Bus Simulator 2.

Webgeon Speedrun Edition isn’t going to set the puzzle-platforming world alight. It is an ice-sliding puzzle in spider’s clothing, and the additions it offers - including some fantastic chandelier vandalism - are minor, gentle additions to the formula. But together with the intricate, well-crafted levels, they’re just enough to nudge Webgeon Speedrun Edition into the realm of a recommendation.

Clash: Artifacts of Chaos has a lot of good ideas and some well worked execution - it is just that lack of a lock-on that is a glaring omission. If you are looking for a different experience though, then Clash: Artifacts of Chaos is certainly that.

For good, clean, old-fashioned fun you could do a lot worse than take Project Starship for a blast.

Candle Knight will take you on a glorious journey, one complete with lovely visuals and rare cut scenes. The platforming elements are good without being anything different, but it’s the interesting combat mechanic that gives Candle Knight an extra element of thought.

At its core, Bucket Knight on Xbox One is a short but sweet homage to the classic run-and-gun platformer. It’s a game that wholly succeeds at providing players with a laid-back experience that never outstays its welcome.

If you have a regular group of friends who can be gathered together, thrown on a couch and want to play games as a few drinks are taken in, then Baron: Fur Is Gonna Fly on Xbox One is a great entry into the genre. If, however, you don’t have that regular group who are always around, drinking your beer and eating your biscuits, then it’s most definitely a somewhat harder sell.

Pirate Bloopers is more-ish fun, until the more-ish becomes less-ish. We found our interest waning, as the repeated levels and the lack of persistent rewards took their toll.

A lot of other CCGs deliver this genre just as well, for free, but Faeria just edges them out by providing so much solo content and infusing a board into play. If you’re likely to spend most of your time offline, then this will be worth the money.

Some might find the non-linear approach to storytelling a bit confusing and the slow gameplay a bit hard to take. However, there is something engaging and creative about Injection π23 'Tabula Rasa', with enough about it to keep anyone intrigued until the end.

Bee Simulator on Xbox One works well as a good educational family experience. It will provide small kids with some great characters and a nice story, but should also give them some challenging but rewarding gameplay that is relaxing and fun. For the adults, it might fall a bit short of what is to be expected for a ‘simulator’ – the tasks can be a bit too simplistic, and at times it all feels a bit rough around the edges.

Even though you’ll only spend a short amount of time with The Sorrowvirus - A Faceless Short Story, it’s one that you’ll enjoy.

Yeah yeah, it should have been baked into the main game, but as an EP of extra songs go, LOUD: My Trip to Japan is a rather welcome improvement on the LP.

Frustrating combat and a world that expects you to be familiar with the franchise aside, Ghostrunner 2 has a good amount of fun provided you can keep up with the fast pace and the many button presses required to stay alive.

Skull and Bones is a live service game that has arrived in a world where that kind of trend seems to be dying. There’s no doubt that it starts off great, but very soon it all becomes a bit of a grind, not helped by a weak story and too much time at sea.

If you are a hardcore Turtles fan, get Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants added to your collection; it isn’t the worst TMNT game made. But for those with a passing interest, I would divert your wallet towards Shredder’s Revenge or The Cowabunga Collection to get a full fill of Mutant Turtle based action.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning on Xbox One is certainly well worth taking in if you haven’t experienced it before, and this provides a great chance for anyone looking to delve into a solid RPG with loads of content, a great story, and fantastic combat. If you have played it previously, I don't honestly think there is enough here to warrant going back, unless of course you want to repeat the process and get all the content included in one package.

There are moments of Silver Chains which hit all the right buttons. There’s some good storytelling, a nice bit of terror, and some tense horror. The story doesn't conclude as well as it should, and the hiding from creatures can occasionally be a bit shonky, but if you’re after something to chill the cockles then Silver Chains might just be the game for you.

Asemblance: Oversight is not going to be for everyone. It’s very short, can be quite confusing and it doesn’t hold much sway in the way of gameplay and actual mechanics. But for me – someone who very much liked the first game – this is a nice little extra chapter that gives a well rounded yet unusual narrative mixed with a peculiar world and a very interesting premise to probe into.

Agent Intercept is certainly a fun enough action racer that doesn’t outstay its welcome, but in this instance, it really should have stuck around a bit longer.

Whilst A Song of Ice and Dust may be the most fun DLC for Saints Row 2022, there are still question marks over it in terms of length. The five missions can be completed in under two hours and the new location offers little you haven’t seen hundreds of times already.

Vanquish on Xbox One feels like a snapshot of the past. While the enhancements have done little to spice up the experience, the wonderful feeling of combat remains. It’s a punchy but hollow experience, but it knows what it is. It doesn’t particularly break any new ground, but it’s a reminder of the simple joys a linear based adventure can invoke.

It may not have been the Transformers game that I wanted, but TRANSFORMERS: EARTHSPARK – Expedition surprised me at how much of a decent open world title it is. A few more playable Autobots next time around would be much appreciated.

The sheer amount of content and level numbers will keep you going for a decent while, but you may just find that once you've battled your way through the four-screened puzzle hell of Quadroids, you'll be content to leave it be, safe in the knowledge that you've just taken in an uber unique little puzzler.

If you enjoyed the original Party Hard and want some more killing spree action then you can't go wrong with Party Hard 2 on Xbox One. There is a whole host of content and multiple different ways to approach each level; that in itself will keep die-hard fans happy for a long while.

With its throwback vibes, a great atmosphere and story, The Glass Staircase is well worth a play. It feels like a game ripped straight from the mid-90's, but is still capable of driving its own lane.

The lack of more modes fusing the two games together is a bit of a disappointment, but Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is one of the best ways to play pure versions of either franchise, alongside a ton of interesting variations.

Wizards of Brandel on Xbox One is entertaining enough, and if you haven't played a KEMCO game before then this is as good as any to start with. It’s actually possibly a bit better than most for the KEMCO novice; quite easy on normal difficulty and never too stressful.

Aquarium Land is a management sim where the management is done with a single button, which should be overly simplistic but turns out to be endlessly addictive. But the bugs are a bad aftertaste to a fantastic seafood platter.

Styx may not be the most anticipated stealth adventure of the year, but it’s definitely one you should be checking out If you’re a fan of the genre. Gameplay can unfortunately start to feel repetitive after a string of deaths, but those happy to take their time will find an adventure to enjoy. Unfortunately, with a lack of excitement past the main missions, Styx doesn’t have what it takes to match the big guns like Hitman in the stealth market and the A.I. could also do with being a bit more human-like.

There is a lot of action on display here in Mullet MadJack, and there is also quite a lot of content included, what with things like an Endless Mode. But the issue is the lack of soul. It is fast, it is furious, but it unfortunately also feels meaningless.

If you’re a fan of horror, Creepy Shift: Roadside Diner does a good job of mixing scares with sim work. But just remember, don’t let that jukebox play…

For about the length of the Lost Boys (and the price of renting it) I had a jolly old time with Halloween 1985. Sure, it’s not hugely deep or overflowing with levels. But setting traps for Witches and Mummies was at least initially fun, and the desire to unlock everything kept me going beyond that.

As far as point-and-click adventures go, Kingmaker: Rise to the Throne only really excels on Xbox One in the hidden object area, so don’t rush to get it immediately. It’s good, but not great.

Escape from Life Inc on Xbox is an engaging little game that, although short, has enough about it to keep you wanting to go back to it. I can't put my finger on what exactly the X-Factor is, but there is certainly an appeal about the characters and their struggles. Yes, the controls are wayward every now and again, and it's not the most technologically advanced game ever, but what it has in bucket loads is heart.

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.

Bouncy Bullets 2 lacks variety, multiplayer and longevity, but it’s a glow-up from the original Bouncy Bullets. Spend a couple of hours in this adult playground, and your adrenaline will be firing.

Before Exit: Gas Station cleverly lures you into many false senses of security.

How 2 Escape: Lost Submarine is a supremely well-designed escape room for two players, but it’s got a weakness in its companion app, and the game has a tendency to spring a buggy leak.

Mobile games on console ain’t all bad you know, and if you want a puzzler, God of Light Remastered will suffice.

Debris on Xbox One is an enjoyable experience that provides an underwater journey that is relaxing in its pace, but tense in atmosphere.

If you’re after a casual experience that can be enjoyed either online with strangers or offline with family and friends, then this is a great little game for you to earn those bragging rights.

If you are yet to play a Slenderman game but are a fan of all things horror, Slender: The Arrival on Xbox Series X|S is the version to step into.

Remember Gauntlet? Maze Blaze is a distant cousin, twice-removed. If you’ve been hankering for some cooperative maze-clearing, albeit without any barbarians or accidentally shooting the food, then Maze Blaze is going to deliver.

An easy game to recommend for fans of Ghostbusters that are looking for a chill ghostbusting experience, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is less likely to appeal to single players; the fun dries up pretty quickly as repetition kicks in.

It’s full of great, heightened moments and rhythm action sections that probably warrant the asking price alone. But there are so many missteps in the story that you can call it a full-blown stumble. Hopefully, next time, DigixArt can tell a newer, more expansive story, rather than reversing the car back to its past glories.

Winter Burrow is a curious game; it was designed to be an easy-going entry into the usually challenging survival genre. Winter Burrow is about the journey, it is meant to be a cozy experience, one which demands little of the player. In that regard Pine Creek Games is entirely successful

Trivial Pursuit Live! 2 is a solid and enjoyable party game that can be played by friends and family at home, against the AI, or online with strangers.

SOULVARS tries its best to create a unique world and theme, yet falters, and has to rely heavily on the turn-based action instead.

For the most part Tropico 6 - Next Gen Edition is worth it if you’ve enjoyed any of the previous Tropico games and would like to try the new one for the first time, or if you just couldn’t quite fit enough golden statues of yourself on your island without causing the game to lag.

If you like Minesweeper, then you’re going to find a great deal of fun in Tilesweeper as it really takes the concept to new heights.

Superliminal on the Xbox One offers the tools to fully enjoy this concept for what it is. Playing with perspectives is a novel idea and you can have a lot of fun with it. Repeat playthroughs are encouraged with plenty of secrets to uncover, but there is a bit too much repetition within individual sections of Superliminal.

Perhaps you shouldn’t come to SteamWorld Build looking to pile in hundreds of hours, but this is an extremely likeable, bite-sized city creating adventure.

Rise of Industry 2 is a complex, ambitious, and occasionally frustrating industrial simulator. It captures the entrepreneurial spirit of the 1980s and gives players an impressive amount of freedom to craft their own success story. But that freedom comes at the cost of a steep learning curve, a cluttered interface and a handful of bugs that can derail your progress.

Conan Chop Chop comes alive in multiplayer whilst the single player feels like a bit of a slog; almost too hard for its own good.

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.

Republic of Pirates just about provides an enjoyable time. The core gameplay loop of building and plundering is surprisingly relaxing, and the story is interesting enough to provide solid motivation.

It is a little rough around the edges, and there are annoyances, but the core gameplay and the way the sniping is handled makes it a game that I can recommend if you are looking to scratch that sniping itch.

Willy Morgan and the Curse of Bone Town won’t have anyone running about, cheering the return of the point-and-click adventure. Its ambitions are nowhere near that high. Set your expectations to ‘LucasArts homage that feels good to play on console’, though, and there is fun to be found.

There’s no doubt that Builder Simulator is a true sim game; the creativity and imagination are where the game really sings. With all the tools at your disposal, it’ll be up to you to make of it what you will.

Little Kite will take you around 4 to 5 hours to complete, maybe less if you're clever and nail the puzzling situations. It’s a well created experience, and is great to see something tackle new and fervent ground in its subject matter. The artwork is amazing and the world created brilliantly realised, however the controls feel awkward at times and the speed of the cursor is annoying.

Looking for Aliens has a real quirkiness to it, one that the hidden object gameplay lends itself to rather well. You can get fully absorbed in the landscapes and explore them completely, as you search for the items required.

With a good number of dungeons to explore, and multiple quests for each one, there is a lot of content in Dragon Ruins II, and I found myself being sucked into the world of dungeon crawling rather easily.

If you’re a fan of the sim world, where you need to be involved in every decision, micro-managing every detail in every department, then you will have an amazing time with SimAirport. But should you be coming along for your first experience of the genre, this is perhaps not the best game to start with.

Phantom Breaker: Omnia is a technically deep, good looking fighting game, but it is ultimately hamstrung by a lack of polish.

Battle Kid looks, sounds and plays like something straight out of the 1980s, and I’d encourage anyone to check it out. The Fortress of Peril is waiting...

Phantom Trigger is something a bit different. It offers a branching story, lots of action and an appealing graphic style, but the designers have, for my money, taken the “hardcore” part of the synopsis a little too far.

In all Tempest 4000 is really a love letter to the original game. It sticks very close to it’s source material, but despite this a few things have been added. If I’m honest though, most of these miss the mark.

Monster Truck Championship on the Xbox One offers an unusual vehicle to play around with and does so well enough. It could be argued that there isn’t too much on offer to justify the price tag, but what is present is a decent Career mode and a multiplayer mode. Where racing games have developed and evolved over time, Monster Truck Championship takes it back a notch or two, but that is by no means a bad thing.

You should well enjoy your time with Rise Eterna 2, largely because it reminds of games from the past, and the swell of nostalgia hits hard. As a game, it is short, but with multiple difficulty levels to try out, and the chance to play around with the loadouts of the team, there is a decent bit of replayability built in.

In the simplest terms, Dead Dungeon is an incredibly affordable game that will provide a few hours of fun. It’s by no means perfect, but it does a good job of providing a variety of challenging levels to get through. If you’re looking for a challenging platformer that can be beaten in a weekend, then Dead Dungeon on Xbox One might be the game for you.

The opening stages have that gleeful abandon that a lot of mining games have, as our pockets filled with gold and unlocks made us into mining deities. The game kept widening out to add more and more things to do and we were smitten with how generous it was. That generosity had to come to an end, though: as Cave Digger ran out of surprises, the feelings of grinding started to take hold. Treat these feelings as a canary and get out before they choke out the enjoyment, and Cave Digger becomes a glittering recommendation.