If you're looking for a golf game to play, there is only one title you should be bothering with - PGA TOUR 2K21. As a golf simulation there is nothing else on the market to beat it, and much of that is down to the power of The Golf Club.

It may not appeal to everyone, but if you’re a plane enthusiast looking for a game to truly bring excitement to the skies, not only is this the game you’ve been waiting for, but it’s the game the series’ 20+ year history has been building towards, pulling no punches in bringing the ultimate experience.

Super Crazy Rhythm Castle is wacky, inventive and a whole lot of fun. If you can see through the asking price, you’ll be tapping away in no time.

It’s bigger, it’s better and it’s a joy to play and there is no reason why you wouldn’t want to jump in with one last hoorah with the Strange Brigade.

There may constantly be talk about redefining the racer for a new generation of gamer, but that chatter can now stop as Codemasters have done just that with brilliant effect in ONRUSH. And all by just removing that finish line.

Pinball FX - Williams Pinball Volume 9 is a compilation made truly great by WHOdunnit, returning with three new tables that have all the usual bells and whistles.

Astria Ascending is a worthy entry into the JRPG genre. It’s beautifully presented, has a cracking story, engaging combat and enough side quests to keep you busy for a good long time.

I will admit that I was wary of 2K choosing Mafia to remaster, as the game was old and middle of the pack, but in hindsight it was a masterstroke: the story and structural core of the original was exceptional, but everything else had room to improve. 2K has thrown the sink at Mafia: Definitive Edition to make sure those improvements make an impact, and it’s barely possible to recognise the original under the lacquer.

Should you be in the market for a puzzling platformer then you’ll struggle to find one any more delightful than Planet Alpha. The odd mechanical issue aside, it comes across as a stunning journey that will draw you in from the start and very rarely ever lets go, especially once you really get to grips with how the brilliant solar cycle mechanics work.

It’s easy to recommend what R8 Games have created here. Pacer is quite possibly the finest anti-grav racer available on Xbox - a slick, smooth, super fast roller coaster of a game that lets you go as deep as you want, in more ways than one. If you’ve been hanging on for a Wipeout beater, you’ll still be waiting, but this is about as close as it gets to a modern day anti-grav masterpiece.

There is a lot to love in The Serpent Rogue - especially when you get into the groove - and you’ll hugely enjoy the chance to explore the world given.

Ugly may well take you by surprise. It is clever, exciting to play and full of unique gameplay mechanics, brilliant boss battles, and adventure. Taking you on a journey through a narrative of highs and lows, sadness and remorse, this is a visually-told affair that is pretty amazing. Some puzzles might frustrate, but ultimately the challenge is part of the experience.

Encounters is a great addition to Everspace. Whilst it doesn’t change the general fabric of the game, there are certainly plenty of new additions to get stuck into, and the price more than warrants returning to one of last year’s finest rogue-like adventures.

In all, The Crew 2 is a big step forward for the series and does its best to right the wrongs of the original. Take the time to learn the ins and outs here and you will have a game that gives you hours and hours of enjoyment.

It’s fair to say that The Office Quest on Xbox One ticks almost every single box for what makes point and click adventures great. There are a ton of fun mini-games, an array of inventory-based puzzles, and a load of quirky characters to fill in the gaps between the two.

Initially, I didn’t see much of a connection between Vampire Crawlers and Vampire Survivors. But the similarity is what they both did to me. Both of them gripped me tightly for 20 hours or so. Both made me feel like I was a gaming god, being showered with rewards as I cut through enemies. And both gave me permission to leave once I mastered them. I ended both games feeling like nothing in its world could touch me.

Chains of Freedom is a ton of fun to play, and while it feels more fluid than many other tactics games, the bones are so similar that it is simple to pick up.

Backfirewall_ is a wonderful game; one that is highly original and full of creativity. It's a delight to play through, capable of making you laugh and gasp in equal measure.

Tchia is a game with longevity as finding every collectible, completing every mini-game and killing every bad guy can still be accomplished on completion of the main storyline. Complete with a beautiful location inspired by Caledonian culture, there should be no reason to not follow Tchia’s journey.

Judgment on Xbox Series X|S is an incredible achievement. Whether this is your first foray into the wider Yakuza franchise, or you played it upon its original release, the graphical upgrades are very impressive. It is also helped by being a brilliant game, mixing more traditional Yakuza elements in with a detective film noir thriller.

With rewards for playing through Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance II multiple times, you’ll need to sacrifice a large part of your gaming life if you choose to dive in.

It is hugely obvious that a whole load of love has been thrown into this game over the course of development, and whilst that alone shouldn’t be the single reason you buy it, when you combine that commitment, that passion and that love with brilliant gameplay mechanics, fantastic visuals and a story that just keeps on unfolding, you’ll get a great outcome.

If you like an arcade racer, if you like drifting, and especially if you like drifting in arcade racers, Inertial Drift on Xbox One is the game for you. Even if you usually like the more serious end of the racing spectrum, I defy anyone not to be gripped by the sheer exuberance of the game world and the outrageous handling that is on display.

After the release of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 on Xbox, we can definitely say that the franchise is back. After the disaster of Pro Skater 5, and the so-so remake on the Xbox 360, this is easily the compilation that brings the Tony Hawk’s franchise back into the gaming spotlight.

A Plague Tale: Innocence is superb. If you’ve ever played the PlayStation exclusive The Last of Us, you will feel very at home with A Plague Tale. Already regarded as one of the best games of the last generation, the next-gen improvements solidify it into a must play-title.

By focusing on a small selection of set mechanics and interrogating what can be done with them in two dimensions, alongside its visual clarity and direction, The Pedestrian creates a polished and self-contained little game that’s well worth setting aside an evening to explore.

Putting the minor visual issues and familiar mini-games aside, My Brother Rabbit is a must have for point-and-click aficionados thanks to it being a lovely experience with a heartfelt tale and a ton of clever puzzles to overcome.

El Paso, Elsewhere is one of those games that will have you smiling from ear to ear, all whilst ensuring your action vibes are jumping. It's a clever game that does so much with so little. It helps that it is as cool as hell too, whilst the slow-mo action never gets old.

It has been a while since the last expansion for Age of Wonders: Planetfall – Revelations – however the wait has been worth it as this is easily the most content-rich and impactful addition to the game thus far.

FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles is a remaster that has been well worth the wait. Tactics remains the daddy of them all, and this remaster improves upon the original with plenty of modern additions.

This is how you do a Sonic game.

Iron Harvest is an absolute delight to play. If you’re a bit of an RTS noob you’ll never feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount to do or how to control your diverse army. The story will help keep you engrossed over the lengthy play time, as Iron Harvest Complete Edition provides access to characters you’ll actually care about, all as you hope to lead them to triumph.

I have loved my time with Thumper and will carry on loving this mad, mental, skill based music mayhem of a game. There are moments when you might feel it all gets too much and too similar, but take a break before going back and you’ve fall in love with it once again.

The Forgotten Kingdom is yet another stellar piece of DLC for Remnant II. Its self-contained approach doesn’t detract for those jumping in mid-campaign, with plenty of new loot to then take back into the main game.

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.

Buddy Simulator 1984 is a bolt from the blue, a killer game that comes from nowhere to shoot you between the eyes. We can’t stop thinking about it, yet we’re cursed not to talk about it here, or to anyone else in fact, as it would utterly ruin the experience of playing it. So, take a chance, friend, and download Buddy Simulator 1984. We promise that it doesn’t come with AI malware included. Promise.

If you have any interest in either a flight sim, or a rogue-like experience, for the reasonable price that it’s at, you should buy Sky Rogue immediately. Trust me, you’ll be feeling like a top gun in no time.

Cris Tales succeeds in what it sets out to do. It isn’t as good as Chrono Trigger but is still a very good RPG in its own right. I hesitate to call it a JRPG as it doesn’t have that feel, but is still as competent and enjoyable a game as I’ve played in a long time, all helped along by a great art style, enjoyable time-bending mechanics and a story that will keep you hooked.

The story, design and writing styles are brilliant with some excellent moments and lots of hours to delve into.

Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor might be a curious choice – a single-player cousin to a game that’s the epitome of co-op play. But it’s no cash-grab, and everyone from DRG fans to Survivor stalwarts should give it a chance.

Blazblue: Cross Tag Battle Deluxe Edition is a welcome return home for the Blazblue series on Xbox. An accessible, fun and deep fighter, this will delight fans of the represented franchises but also serves as a great calling card for new fans.

Kill the Bad Guy is a delightful game, which provides hours of entertainment as you plot to cause “accidents” to wipe out the bad guys. Making sure they are in the wrong place at the right time is great entertainment, and it’s a great game to load up when you tire of other titles. It’s just at the right level of engagement that you can relax while playing it, but you also have to use your loaf a bit.

Machinarium on Xbox One is a beautiful, stylish little puzzler that provides a real challenge. More important than that, however, is the fact that it immerses you in a fascinating and mysterious world that is an absolute pleasure to explore.

Warm Snow will go a long way towards curing you of any roguelike phobia. In fact, you’ll have a blast running around and slicing things up. If you like a roguelike this is an easy sell, but even if you don’t, I urge you to give Warm Snow a try - there is something special about it that will just keep you playing.

Somerville is an important addition to our gaming diet. It’s not worried about pushing boundaries in terms of narrative structure or story, and never wants to guide the player too much, letting them find their own journey through a brilliant linear adventure.

There are slight issues with combat in the early stages, but the exploration and puzzles on offer in The Last Case of Benedict Fox are very good indeed; they will keep you playing as you attempt to get to the bottom of the mystery. A challenging and involving game, the aesthetics of the whole world just add to the charm.

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.

The Jackbox Party Pack 11 is a great collection of games which boasts the series staples, but features no standout stars to add to the all-timers list.

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 takes what made the original an absolute belter of a game and improves almost everything. The turn-based action will keep you on your toes and ensures excitement in every encounter, while the charming yet gritty story hits you in the feels all over again.

I love this game. I may not have completed it, chances are I’m going to struggle with a few of the stages for days, weeks and months on end, and I’ve more or less given up even trying to pick up half moon, full moon and full sun rewards, but the overall sense of achievement that The Sun and Moon gives in just the bog standard completion of a stage, is enough of a reason for me to keep playing.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy isn’t a collection that’ll entice people in who lack patience and don’t enjoy reading reams of text, that’s for sure. For those who love their storytelling though, I’d challenge anyone to point me in the direction of a game that hooks them in with such a thrilling selection of tales as this does; the cast of characters help ensure there’s plenty of intrigue.

Far Cry 5 is a bloody laugh. It doesn’t take itself too seriously – but then the series never has. If you’re a fan of the previous games then this is a must buy for your collection; it is bright, noisy and frantic and I wouldn’t have it another way.

The Catch: Carp & Coarse is the new fishing champion. The visuals are great, the fighting mechanic is intuitive and the variety of venues ensures that you’ll need to spend time learning a number of different fishing methods. Simply put, this is as good as fishing gets on the Xbox.

For The King is quite frankly one of the best games you can get for the price range. With five different game modes, all of which include their own enjoyable gimmicks such as survival elements and a focus on seafaring, there is more than enough content to find yourself going through. Supported by fantastic depth in the combat and systems that tie the game together, what few setbacks it has can easily be overlooked. If you have been looking for a turn based RPG, it would be an absolute shame to skip out on For The King.

The beautiful graphics, chill soundtrack, and enjoyable gameplay loop more than make up for any criticisms I could throw at DAVE THE DIVER.

Ashen manages to take a hardcore genre of games and make it accessible and approachable to those who are not fully experienced.

Slime Rancher 2, of course, takes many things from the pre-laid foundation of its predecessor, very rarely for worse. The majority of the time, each mechanic, minuscule or major, feels completely revamped for the better, with an abundance of thrilling, new content that ultimately leaves Slime Rancher 2 a more polished, enjoyable experience.

It’s been an absolute blast going back to Red Dead Redemption. It might not be the all-encompassing big remake from the ground up that some wanted. But why do you really need to do that when the foundation is this strong?

Divinity: Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition is a truly superb RPG experience that delivers a complex but intriguing narrative, some of the most exciting and intelligent turn-based combat I’ve ever encountered, and a shed load of quests to ensure there’s always something to do.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a stunning game. It is emotional, beautiful and utterly captivating. And that all means it is an absolute no-brainer as to whether you should be playing.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II builds upon the foundations already in place, offering a more polished experience with improved visuals, a larger world, and a deeper narrative.

Rainswept on Xbox One is a game that I have enjoyed tremendously, from the very start right up to the very finish. It tells a great, mysterious detective story while keeping its heart, humour, and heat.

1000xRESIST will be hard sell for some, a narrative driven adventure game will not appeal to the masses. Truthfully, had it not appeared on Game Pass, I would likely never have played it. But now that I have, I know I will never forget it.

You’ll find it a pleasure to step into the world of The Talos Principle 2. If you love puzzle games, then this is near perfect; a game full of challenge but backed by a great story.

It’s safe to say that Need For Speed Payback is a return to the glory days for the series, able to mentioned in the same breath as Underground or Most Wanted.

Lord Winklebottom Investigates is the quintessential British murder mystery; a great addition to the vast point-and-click library.

Maneater on Xbox One is bloody brilliant. It’s a massive game with a lot to do and a huge amount of content to discover - the locations or beauty spots are usually wittily scripted, and have quite a few nods to popular culture as well, making them entertaining asides. What's more, there is a good story of revenge to follow.

West of Dead on Xbox One is a major accomplishment. It feels like it has it all: an appealing visual style, exciting gameplay, tight design, and smart writing. As a roguelike, it has been built to last.

Games like Hades have made the dungeon crawler thrive by treating it like a high-end watch. The inner workings are intricate and polished, making it a joy to play over and over. But Nobody Saves the World takes the opposite approach: it doesn’t look inwardly, polishing something to the nth degree. It blows open the doors and makes exploration and progression the focus. It gives you the world.

Grindstone represents the absolute zenith of puzzling, and you should bump and grind against its smooth edges as soon as the opportunity presents itself. One hour will lead to another, and soon it will be three weeks later. You have been warned (but do it anyway).

ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist is a great metroidvania, perfect for anyone looking for a new game to try. While it shares a world with its predecessor, there isn’t any need to play ENDER LILLIES before starting this one.

Retro Machina is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. It’s hard not to get invested in the eerily beautiful but ultimately bleak world which has an engrossing story to tell.

Banner Saga 3 is a fitting end to the brilliant trilogy. It’s a deeply emotional journey and from a development point of view, this is an excellent job well done.

Looks can be deceiving, and from an outsider’s point of view, Metrico+ could be seen as bland and basic. That couldn’t be further than the truth, as it is in fact engaging, very clever and creates a sense of melancholy to balance out any moments of minor frustration.

The action certainly ramps up, both in difficulty and in sheer number, but you will love every gore-soaked minute of your time in NINJA GAIDEN 2 Black.

OlliOlli World: Finding the Flowzone is a wonderful send off for one of the best games of 2022. The friendly interactions between the characters is always a joy and that, along with the art style, never fails to bring a smile to your face.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a seriously addictive turn-based RPG that will impress returning players and enchant newcomers for hours on end. There’s a ridiculous amount of content and a huge roster of demons to engage with, as well as a shed load of welcome additions and improvements.

It may not manage to bring a ton of new elements to the mining landscape, and the initial scene setting components see early progress a slow one, but once it opens up and the skills and abilities come into play, you’ll find a wonderful Metroidvania themed experience that is well worth taking in.

At the end of the day, Tetris Effect: Connected on Xbox is just Tetris. It’s the game we’ve all played a million times over, it’s a game we all know like the back of our hand, and it’s a game in which we can rack up the highest of high scores with our eyes closed. And that, that feel of familiarity, is quite possibly the only thing that is holding Connected back from utter greatness. Yes this version looks great, it plays brilliantly, it sounds awesome, and it could well be the best Tetris experience yet, but at the end of the day it’s still Tetris... yet it is still as stupidly addictive as it ever was.

Momonga was a true joy to play and a real hidden gem in the ID@Xbox program. For a game that can be completed within an hour, it has so much variation and puts some 30-hour open world games to shame. Couple this with the cliff-hanger ending and the game will keep you guessing at what’s next.

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.

More of the same, but brilliantly different, is probably the best way of summing up Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders. Those who adored the Downhill scene should jump at the chance of switching sport, proving to the world once again that with great risk comes great reward. And this time, if you need some multiplayer madness to complement things, you'll be well catered for.

EA Sports FC 24 has really stepped up for the rebrand and the gameplay is the most interesting it has been in years. The majority of game modes are improved, with changes across the board and Ultimate Team finally incorporating the women’s teams. It’s authentic, professional looking and exciting to play time and time again.

9 Monkeys of Shaolin on Xbox One is a great fighting game. Using the skills you learn, deploying the right attacks, dodging within a hair's breadth to allow you to attack faster; these are all great gameplay moments. The visuals do a superb job of showing what's happening, multiplayer on the couch is just as fast and furious (if you really want a challenge, turn friendly fire on), and the online multiplayer side of things - while suffering from a severe lack of players - works just as well.

The First Tree represents what storytelling can be in the industry today, provided that real care and thought has been put into it. This is an indie title that tells a beautiful, emotionally affecting story while painting a vivid, colourful world for you to explore, all in under two hours. It’s an impressive achievement.

The Let’s Build a Zoo: Aquarium Odyssey campaign is an excellent extension of an already brilliant game. It’s fantastic how much freshness the aquatic theme brings to the table in terms of tasks, buildings, and decorative pieces.

Save the Ninja Clan isn’t the most unique title on the market, but it has more than enough to warrant recognition as its own game. Sure, it is incredibly reminiscent of Super Meat Boy, but as a game everyone enjoyed so much, that really isn’t a bad thing. For just $2.99, this is possibly one of the best value for money titles you’ll buy this year.

So what do we have with Persephone on Xbox? Quite simply, a game that is brilliant both in design and execution. The world our titular hero finds herself in is beautifully designed, with puzzles that make full use of that unique central concept of death as a means to progress. By using a ‘show, not tell’ approach, the game places experimentation at the forefront and encourages the kind of lateral thinking that is so often missing from indie titles in the genre.

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.

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is a co-op puzzling masterclass encapsulated by a wonderfully charming world. If you’ve ever played Trine before, it’s more of the same brilliance in regards to creative platforming puzzles and gorgeous environments.

These major chapters for The Elder Scrolls Online rarely disappoint, and High Isle is one of the better ones - if only for introducing Tales of Tribute alone.

I love Planet of the Eyes. It’s a short game, but a perfect adventure that comes with a smart sci-fi story.

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.

Having already established itself as one of the best fighting games of the previous generation, in its upgraded form Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate on Xbox looks set to wear that crown into the new generation of consoles. The combat is some of the best in the genre, and you can make your favourite character – from the generous offering of 37 – completely your own with the amount of customisation options.

60 Parsecs! on Xbox is a game that is easy to pick up and easy to come back to. The mechanics are great, comedy is woven into all of the writing, and each playthrough feels different enough where the experience doesn’t just feel like a repeat of the last. If you want a space-themed survival comedy that can easily pass the time, then do yourself a favor and get 60 Parsecs.

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

We’re still riding that feeling - the feeling of having zero expectations, only for Ashina: The Red Witch to grab hold of our attention for hours. Ah, if only more games surprised us like this.

FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves is an excellent fighting game that can be recommended to anyone who loves a fighter. It is bold and colourful, explosive and engaging and keeps you playing “just one more match”, waaaaaay into the early hours.