I don’t think I’ve ever played a game like Defenders of Ekron before; loving it one moment, hating it the next and then loving it again. Its ambition and storytelling is great and it does some really interesting things with the gameplay which, at times, really impresses – especially that found in the challenge rooms. But there are many more times where it becomes very familiar, failing to allow the previously impressive stuff to take hold.

Whilst an entire playthrough of Spheroids will only take you four or five hours tops, and nothing put in front of you is likely to test any of your gaming skills, you’ll probably still enjoy the mindless ball popping mayhem that it brings – whether or not that statement says more about me and my gaming ambitions though is another matter.

If you’re on Team Artifex Mundi and are hungry for another hidden-object experience, then The Myth Seekers 2: The Sunken City doesn’t do much to disappoint. It’s dull and bland, but it does all the puzzling stuff well and with minimal fuss. But if you’re a tad more discerning or are looking for a decent entry point to the masses of similar games - well, this is about the last game we’d recommend to begin with.

File Egglien under ‘quirky’. It’s a unique pitch from a fourteen year-old (fourteen!) that imagines what a game might be like if you could only fire downwards. It commits wholly to the idea, and cracks out some pretty fantastic platform-meets-shooter levels with the concept. But we couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, games should let you fire in other directions too.

Rabisco+ feels like a tracing of other games, but without any of their colour. By trying to keep the controls to the absolute basics, it never feels challenging, varied or interesting enough. It’s neither enjoyable or unenjoyable - but we would have happily taken either, just so it could have stuck in the memory for more than five minutes.

Police Stories brings some good ideas to the table but with them comes inconsistent execution. It’s punishing and unforgiving, which will take the fun out of the equation for those looking for a quick blast.

Perhaps there is an L.O.L. fan in your home who is attracted by the premise and complications, and - even better - they have friends to join them. Because L.O.L. Surprise! B.B.s Born to Travel, when it has all of these ingredients present, can be a generous, sturdy little Overcooker.

Cricket 19 is a decent, but slightly disappointing follow up, with technical issues and glitches letting down an otherwise solid cricket simulator. The wealth and variety of game modes will likely keep you occupied for a while, but a few patches might be needed before the game becomes a real winner.

There’s potential bubbling beneath the surface here, but Super Geisha Neon never quite finds it. What’s left behind is a rather run-of-the-mill puzzler, and we were in the mood for so much more.

Whiskey & Zombies is a good multiplayer party game ruined by the addition of a weird design decision.

Dolphin Spirit: Ocean Mission achieves the basics of any Cozycore game: it gives you a space to explore and removes anything that might look remotely like friction or pressure. Too often, though, we felt like we were going through the motions, following a process that didn’t leave any room for things like creativity in the photos, surprise in the animal-spotting, or unexpected moments in the story.

The shooting mechanic, general combat and the look of Heidelberg 1693 are all pretty good, ensuring that it is all somewhat enjoyable. However, the lack of a dodge move and the weird jumping makes things a lot harder than they should be.

Little Disaster is one that we can recommend, but you should be wary that it could explode in your hands at any point.

I just can’t get past the dead-eyed, negative-personality of Motorhome: Traveling America Collector’s Edition. It’s a black mark on an otherwise very well-made hidden object game.

You’ll find some enjoyment in Last Days of Lazarus, but at times will feel hampered by the mechanics of the game, especially in terms of the cursor and interaction with items.

I can see, and applaud, the scope and vision, but Undungeon is ultimately let down by failing to be what we want a game to be – fun.

Lila’s Tale and the Hidden Forest could have done with about double the content and a different approach to difficulty: a hard mode, a new game plus, or anything that would have raised a bead of sweat. But for all the grumbles, it’s a fine platformer that might make a fine purchase for a younger player. At least for an hour, until they move on.

Taxi Chaos is not Crazy Taxi, not even close, but it is competent and functional enough to scratch an itch until SEGA’s arcade classic receives a modern 4K remaster treatment.

I can’t fault the team at Persistant Studios for attempting something a little different with Boiling Bolt, but it does come up a bit too short to ever worry the big shmup guns.

If the idea of a no-frills Metroidvania, done well, gets you reaching for a gamepad then Kalinur delivers. But its vanilla-ness doesn’t half become a pain when you’re traipsing through the same parts of the castle, over and over again.

Sadly, for the Konami Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection, there are better compendiums out there. The biggest issue with this collection is the similarity between the games – aside from Haunted Castle all the others are variations of scrolling shoot ‘em ups.

I love quirky games that try something different, especially when they bring storytelling into the gaming arena, and that is the case with Life of Fly on Xbox. It's short, but I don’t have an issue with that as it’s just long enough to not outstay its welcome.

How will Moon Hunters be remembered? As a game that tries new tricks, but fails to ever really pull them off.

Subdivision Infinity DX, despite the exciting sounding name, is actually a run of the mill shooter. It looks good and can be entertaining to play, but after a while it runs fresh out of ideas, and brings along nothing that’s not been seen before.

Next Space Rebels is a great rocket designing and building simulator, with a lot of unnecessary frippery attached. If you like to wear tinfoil hats then you may get something out of the story, but to be honest the best part is making and flying rockets.

I enjoyed the story of Down Among the Dead Men, and I think it totally captures the nature of those ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ books of yesteryear. However, after a couple of playthroughs, it does start to become a bit stale, and the lack of energy in the voice-over doesn’t help matters.

Hunting Simulator 2 is a bare bones version of its predecessor, and not even man’s best friend can save this from being an inferior sequel.

We Are the Caretakers deserves heaps of praise. You can point to the world design, story, depth of gameplay and themes of conservation and find something to fall in love with. But it needed longer in Early Access. The bugs and crashes keep stampeding through the game, trampling on what was painstakingly constructed.

Doug’s Nightmare is almost perfectly middle of the road. It isn’t the worst twin-stick shooter in the world, but neither is it anywhere near the best.

Alphadia Genesis 2 is an improvement over the first game. It seems to run more smoothly, and the story is a good one. It is still riddled with RPG cliches and as such really can’t be classed as in any way, original. However, if you are looking for an inoffensive way to kill a few hours, you could do worse than to spend a little time with Dion and his squad in Alphadia Genesis 2.

The visuals don’t live up to the standards that one would normally expect at this price range. Bloodstained doesn’t offer much in terms of narrative either, and most of its characters – bar Zangetsu – are downright awful. If you really want to experience this latest project by Koji Igarashi, then consider waiting for it to land on sale, which I think will happen sooner rather than later.

Bloody Samurai is far from a spectacular action-platformer. It could do with some clarity, a better UI and a dollop of variety. But for the price, Bloody Samurai has style to spare, and there’s at least an afternoon’s worth of entertainment in there.

If you want a bit of wish fulfillment for your little Catboys and Owlettes, with a 2D platformer that knows the gaming limits of your tykes, then this is a wise parenting choice. PJ Masks all shout hooray, because in the night, this - just about - saves the day.

Fimbul is a tricky one to really sum up because on one hand we have a brilliant atmosphere, a strong narrative and some lovely visuals tones. But on the other, the biggest problem is that it doesn’t quite feel properly finished, with glitches and sections that don’t feel fully explored or developed.

Gaps by POWGI is one of the simplest word puzzlers from Lightwood Games in terms of concept, but this helps it by not overcomplicating things that could potentially draw away interested parties. The puns are back too which is only ever a good thing, as is the very easy Gamerscore.

Oxyjet does bring a new idea to the party table, and being a big fan of a co-op game experience it would be churlish of me to mark it down too much for being a fairly slight experience. But playing solo is very dull, and while knuckling down with a partner against the AI is better, it still misses the ultimate competition that comes from a real live adversary.

Wave Break unapologetically rips the core gameplay from Tony Hawk’s games, changes the skateboard to a speedboat, adds in some almost superficial gunplay and reckons that is enough. Multiplayer modes offer some fun, but Wave Break offers nothing new for existing fans of arcade skaters.

There’s a lot to love in Party Panic. It’s garish and hilarious, and there’s so much value in its many game modes and 33 minigames. But boil away the more ramshackle of them and you’re left with a solid dozen, all of which have been done - and better - in Mario Party. For the affordable price, and for the opportunity to have a mid-tier party game on the Xbox One, that might be enough. For others, it might be worth waiting at the window for Fall Guys to come to the party.

It’s an intriguing tale and the desire to unravel a potential conspiracy whilst escaping is certainly at the forefront of the experience. The problem is, the two core mechanics for solving puzzles are not fit for purpose because one is bereft of accuracy and often malfunctions during placement, and the photo sending aspect just randomly stops working.

If you miss the classic Doom style FPS experience or fancy the challenge of rogue-like every now and then, then One More Dungeon isn’t the worst game to play and will do a job of scratching that retro itch. But should you want something that can keep up with modern trends or even throw something a little fresh into the mix, then you’ll probably not find much in the way of excitement.

Consider the fact that there are many free-to-play alternatives out there, and LEGO Brawls is one for only the most ardent of LEGO fans.

If you fancy yourself as a tank commander, fill your boots with Chrome Wolf. But the controls are a big stumbling block. Finding yourself getting stuck on a corner, before being thrust into yet another fight, soon takes the shine off.

Train Station Renovation is a strange one, however if you fit into the niche market it is trying to appeal to, there’s a chance you will love the game. It's well-designed, works absolutely fine and the mixture of cleaning and subsequent designing of old abandoned train stations will satisfy many. It’s pretty unique though, and slightly weird, but there is plenty of potential for what it can provide in the right hands.

The lack of multiplayer is felt here even with an interesting eliminator mode, and so Formula Retro Racing is only one to check out if you aren’t able to play Virtua Racing and are starved of options.

It’s not overly original, and it’s not ground-breaking, but there is plenty of fun to be had and if you have capable players around you then you can be sure to knock out a good few hours with this one.

What we have in Aniquilation is almost a case of style over substance - a game that looks flashy and full of pizazz, but is a bit lacking where it counts.

In hindsight, creating a spin-off from, arguably, the least fun parts of the main This is the Police series was always going to be risky. It hasn’t really paid off and, at best, only the most hardcore strategists will be able to appreciate what Rebel Cops tries to do.

The variety of guns is great, but the visuals are not, and the actual gameplay becomes pretty repetitive, pretty fast. Ultimately that is what stops Time Carnage being more than it is.

Heavy Duty chose a different path. It’s a finicky, precise simulation game, and that wasn’t the path I would have chosen for it. There is a chance that it’s the right path for you. Just be prepared to drive down that path very… slowly… indeed.

The first 15 minutes of Onigiri does all it can do to put you off. Press on through this however, and there is a surprisingly deep game to be found, one with a very good story centered around good and evil.

It may not have a buttery biscuit base, but Super Bomb Rush! has just enough mix to create something that is well worth a little shot.

Herdling is not the game to convert those averse to walking simulators: It can drag, and has a confusing control setup. But it is also beautiful, heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measures, and that’s all done without a single word spoken.

Rebel Transmute is a competent Metroidvania type game that is let down by some bad design decisions. The sheer amount of backtracking is really annoying, the death penalty sucks, and the map is largely useless - but apart from that, Rebel Transmute is okay.

Kamiko is a good distraction for a few hours but not really enough of a slow burner to keep you coming back for playthrough after playthrough.

Arcade Islands: Volume One doesn’t short change us in regards the amount of games on offer, but I must stress that you won’t be wowed by any of them and a lot of the concepts have been delivered in a more exciting form elsewhere.

Due to the lower priced nature of R.B.I. Baseball 21 on Xbox, it can get away with less major updates between installments. This is certainly the case here: there is no sign of any new modes, and instead it is more a case of existing modes receiving a bit of polish.

Regardless of your thoughts surrounding the source material, there is a deep and complex simulation game to be found in Weedcraft Inc.

For the price, it’s a game for platforming fans to check out. But be wary that by the end, you will have experienced most of what Furwind has to offer… three times over.

Unless you’re really hankering for an ARK/Minecraft hybrid that doesn’t do a better job than either inspiration, just give PixARK a miss.

The bookworms have been at The Darkest Tales, and there’s a risk, and not necessarily a small one, that you will come a cropper on the bugs they’ve introduced. Read with care.

There are B-list joys to be had in Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood on Xbox. At their peak, the levels can be playgrounds where choosing stealth, combat or both puts a wicked grin on your face. But too often you’re confronted with the game at its worst: lethargically plodding around game hubs and the same factory interiors, over and over. It’s not silver that’s this werewolf’s biggest weakness: in Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood, it’s repetition.

This all comes together to ensure that if you like zombie adventures, then considering the super cheap price, there’s no reason not to at least give this one a shot. However, should you want something that will keep you on the edge of the seat then you may just be hoping for a little too much here.

ExZeus: The Complete Collection on Xbox can offer some cheap thrills in what is largely an unremarkable rail shooter duology. If you’re feeling starved for 90’s styled arcade shooters with all the noise, then these could be fun, but be prepared for underwhelming visuals and stock standard gameplay.

Super Soccer Blast: America vs Europe just about makes it through the group stages, but gets unceremoniously dumped out in the first of the knockout matches.

It’s packed full of destruction and most definitely builds adrenaline, and they are the two real big draws, but I’d be hugely impressed if you were still playing it on a consistent basis a week or two down the line.

It is by no means a bad game, but OmegaBot needs a little polish in the platforming sections to make it a great one. As it is, it is firmly middle of the pack.

From my first moments with Weakless on Xbox One, I really wanted to love the experience. The world, characters and unique gameplay see this come across as the type of game that I adore, and it cries out to be just that. However, whilst the gameplay is good, the running time is very short and it doesn’t do quite enough to live up to its full potential; at times it feels like a beta playthrough for a much bigger game or idea.

So, what does the fox say? This fox says that FoxyLand on Xbox One is an enjoyable enough little adventure with enough platforming goodness to see you to the end, but lacks any sort of imagination to truly distinguish itself from a rapid growing market of retro platformers.

In a not exactly over saturated strategy game market, it is worth a look, but it is so po-faced and serious about the subject matter – for want of a better phrase – the developers have forgotten to insert any fun into Numantia.

Warlander is best in its first few games, so give this overblown MOBA a go, experience its best moments and make your choice. Just be prepared for shallowness to bite after the first few hours.

Rugby 22 may be the best presented rugby union game available, but it is still a world away from the upper echelons of sports simulation titles.

I like what UFOPHILIA is trying to achieve. The concept and gameplay loop are fun and addictive. There is a good range of aliens and a solid incentive to unlock new locations and equipment. However, the constant back-and-forth between the location and base is a tad annoying. There is also the elephant in the room: the lack of multiplayer

Crank the difficulty up, try to get invested in the story, be aware that the game is very short, and you will probably have a good time; just don’t go in expecting Carnage in Space: Ignition to rival a game five times its price.

The very similar Addams’ Family: Mansion Madness is leagues ahead of Hotel Transylvania: Scary-Tale Adventures, and brings the fun and laughs for four players. In the family-friendly horror stakes, there’s only one winner.

Maybe this is not a game of the year contender, but it’s probably a good starting point for the new direction and rejuvenation of Double Dragon.

If you’re looking for a little more of the same then there’s probably a chance you’ll find some enjoyment in Captain Wilkins and The Freedom Chronicles as a whole, but it’s hard to recommend jumping into the additional content over a replay of the main game.

Funko Fusion ends up being a pop culture-fest that’s overly difficult and a bit of a mess. The technical issues are worrisome, but the fact that the gameplay is geared up for a co-op setup not yet available is a real head-scratcher. Nevertheless, when it works, the puzzles are smartly implemented and the worlds are very well-created. There’s a generous amount of replayability too, which is enticing for completionists.

Despite being fun and varied, the mechanics are clunky and the AI is more of a hindrance than a help.

It Lurks Below is a game I really wanted to like and the foundation that it has is great. But it needs to be optimized for Xbox One better. The gameplay is fun when there aren’t bugs to deal with and, who knows, maybe I’m just unlucky? I just know it could be done better and I hope to see future updates that remedy some of these issues, because I really do think It Lurks Below has a lot of potential to be something amazing.

Mortisomem is a compelling retro style horror game that will provide a good couple hours of entertainment. With some captivating lore and a fantastic atmosphere, fans of the retro VHS aesthetic will have a great time roaming the dreary forests of inland Brazil.

Wicked Isle for Atomfall is great for those that loved the base game. But those who felt it fell short of its ambition will only see more shortcomings.

Think of To Farm Lands as a bit of frivolous, cozy gameplay that you can take in without too much worry. Consider the cheap asking price and the super easy 2000 Gamerscore that will hit your account, and you’ll understand that it is nothing too offensive. Whether that is your bag or not, will determine your love for the game.

I very much admire The Prisoner of the Night. It’s a small indie game that explores a culture and story that I never would have been aware of in normal day-to-day life. The creativity on display, in terms of the design and look of the world, as well as the music with a calming voice-over should be commended. But unfortunately, the platforming elements of the game (which are a big bulk) are fairly average and – at times – uninspiring.

The Mooseman is too quick to sideline its own gameplay, and we would have welcomed it all having equal focus.

If you’re a fan of NASCAR then there is no reason not to check out the latest entry in the series, but if you’re after a fully licensed experienced you may be a little disappointed.

Even though Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 on Xbox looks to seriously build on what its predecessor delivered, there are a few elements which hold it back from really providing the goods. The camera is god awful, the picky track limits system is a pain, and there are only so many times you can go flying through the air pulling off stunts before the whole thing gets boring. The open world has some serious promise, especially with the multitude of secrets that are hidden within, but a bit more shiny wax needs to be applied for this monster truck to start to gleam.

Aery - Heaven & Hell ends up in neither Heaven or Hell. It’s snugly in Limbo. Just as we thought we were going to soar up to the Pearly Gates with some high-fidelity visuals and pressure-free objectives, we come crashing back down with repeated levels, shoddy storytelling and a frustrating bug

Where Are My Friends? manages to create an original experience with the concept of designing four contrasting games and wrapping them together in a story of friendship – what little story there is. Nothing has the wow factor though, and aside from the lovely runner level, there is very little I haven’t seen before elsewhere.

For fans of the series, Killing Floor 3 is worth playing, especially with a dedicated squad. For newcomers, it offers a taste of frantic co-op mayhem, even if the flavour fades faster than it should. But for a game that arrives years after its predecessor, Killing Floor 3 lacks some much needed innovation.

A game developer would probably not want to see the word ‘workmanlike’ in a review, but it’s exactly what Cards of the Dead is. It’s a shabby-looking, functional little card game, which delivers just enough tension and survival-horror to warrant the price tag.

There’s no doubt that Gigantosaurus: Dino Sports is a well put together collection of mini-games, pushed along by a fun narrative and some additional challenges. But it’s very much let down by the asking price - we’d wait for it to drop in price by at least half before being able to fully recommend it.

If it wasn’t for the control scheme, Unlife could well have had something about it. The story and atmosphere are good, creating tension and astonishment as you explore the underground world. But whilst there are some translation problems with the text, it’s in how it controls where the biggest issues sit.

This is one middle of the road puzzler, that just so happens to be powered by the luck of the rogue-like draw.

Truth be told, Monster Energy Supercross - The Official Videogame 4 on Xbox feels like a step backwards. After the series high point of the third instalment, the enhancements on offer here are clearly designed to be an improvement over that one. However, the changes to the fundamental racing itself make this a far less accessible entry.

There is a charm to Strange Horticulture, even with the occult themes and downtempo music, but only if you can stick it out long enough.

Atomic Heist is good for a short session, and does offer some shooty thrills and spills. The repetitive nature of the game won’t be to everyone’s taste, and although the developers have tried to help with this by changing the layout of the station every day (the so called “Daily Mission”), they can’t disguise the sense of deja vu when you are flying and shooting.

Exp Parasite is easy to pick up and play, but hard to master. It’s fun while it lasts, even if it is frustrating in parts, but unfortunately it fails to ever pull any rabbits out of the hat.

Sokorobot manages to deliver a decent challenge with its Sokoban-style box-sliding puzzles and provides adequate variety in regards to the mechanics to get you over the line.