If you’re a fan of H.P. Lovecraft’s work then I feel this is one of the best experiences out there, simply because it loves its source material.

In respect to the murder mystery theme and The Shapeshifting Detective is a shining light in immersive story-telling. It may lack in gameplay variety but the shapeshifting mechanic and how it is integrated into the story really sets it apart.

It’s good to be bad in LEGO DC Super-Villains and you should let out your inner Joker by getting involved… but there’s a bit of room for improvement in this one. Batman still reigns supreme in the LEGO DC realm.

There are plenty of games out there that offer long, involving experiences; think of the likes of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Red Dead Redemption 2. Sigi – A Fart for Melusina gives you the opposite of that, and it’s the type of game that we could all do with a bit more of.

Super Street: The Game is bad – outdated graphics, outdated gameplay and outdated objectification of women, bad.

With a stunning visual upgrade brought in, a suitable soundtrack accompanying events and some fluid controls ensuring players are constantly able to keep up with the action, Mega Man 11 is one of the best titles in the series – although the incredible difficulty won’t be something that all will enjoy.

The fifth edition of Jackbox Party Pack brings some notable additions in the forms of Mad Verse City and Patently Stupid. These two can stand up with some of the best from other collections such as Trivia Murder Party and Monster Seeking Monster. The others in this pack don’t feel as good, or in YDKJ’s case, don’t offer anything new. Still, the overall package is good fun for when you have a few friends over.

Because everything is generated randomly, certain characters or events may not occur, making each playthrough slightly different. And, to top it off, there are multiple endings to unlock, so Skyhill definitely has some replay value to it.

War is hell – unless you’re Vinnie Cannoli. In which case it’s just a delightfully humorous killing experience.

Yes, it’s just a port from a successful mobile game and the controls might work a lot better on a phone, but it does the job intended of it and will appeal to a lot of sim fans.

With vast maps, a wide collection of weaponry and fine locations, this is one hunting game that shoots the competition out of the water with an engaging experience in which you can’t go wrong.

There are still several issues that need to be ironed out but GRIP: Combat Racing isn’t a terrible game. In fact, with a few necessary fixes, it could definitely become something rather special thanks to filling the gap left in the genre and providing something a bit different to most other racers. At present though, it’s going to take a bit more variety and polish for this to be a racer we’ll be remembering fondly.

With slow dialogue, repetitive and stressful combat encounters in which enemies glitch out of the map and push you into lava far more than you deserve, and a game length which is rather insulting for the price, I can only be honest and tell you to stay away from Claws of Furry.

HAUNTED: Halloween ’86 has been made with a lot of love by a team of NES enthusiasts and the gameplay ensures it feels rewarding to progress through. The sheer variety of enemies, locations and even moves that Donny/Tami can pull off is impressive considering the limitations of the format. Unfortunately, not having the option to use the analog stick is super annoying, the story doesn’t bring enough to the table to be memorable and the hit mechanics seem a little awry.

With some fantastic vehicles, great new challenges and plenty of beautiful scenery to get lost in, it will ensure you of more hours of off-roading madness yet.

Project Highrise: Architect’s Edition is not quite as addictive as other big hitters in the sim genre, but the game offers an enjoyable experience and a solid challenge with plenty of detailed gameplay to get stuck into. However, things do slow down the further you progress with your building, and can become repetitive which may turn some players away.

Neonwall is one of those games that is fun to pick up and play, if only so you can have a quick go every now and then. It would most certainly work better on other formats away from Xbox One as the controls are, frankly, horrible at times, but there are a good few levels included, and enough puzzles to beat to warrant the price.

While problems with combat and the camera can make Fall of Light harder than it needs to be, the pull is there to push through and see what comes next.

As a fun distraction on your mobile device on a bus or train journey, League of Evil works well. However, it does not lend itself particularly well to a console port that you will find yourself longing to play for any significant amount of time.

All in all then and 8-Bit Armies does exactly what it sets out to do. It’s a love letter to the early RTS games, dressed up in very appealing retro graphics, but with the modern heart of a well defined combat system beating away in the depths.

Don’t Sink isn’t a micro-managing RPG experience that you’re going to sink a ton of hours in to, however the time spent with it will be mostly full of charm and provide a decent amount of joy.

The return of Warface is one that gamers should be happy with. With plenty of game modes to get stuck into, a great variety of weapons to master and no obligation to spend any real money to prove competitive, this is one F2P title that is truly free-to-play, all whilst providing highly enjoyable online focused gameplay.

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.

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.

There are plenty of enjoyable elements to be had but with repetition proving heavy throughout, you have to be prepared for the grind to really get the most out of this Warhammer-RPG.

Both the combat and class system are solid additions to the genre, but the balancing and questionable design choices hold it back from fully reaching its potential.

Spencer is an alright platformer that just so happens to come in at a very cheap price. It might be great for the young kids out there and should appeal to the frustrated parents who want to find something for them to do without breaking the bank, but for me it’s a game with a mobile port feel to it and that doesn’t allow for any groundbreaking new experience.

If stealth-based games are not your cup of tea, then Mark of the Ninja is unlikely to sway your mind. On the other hand, for those who prefer slow-paced gameplay with an ample amount of stealth mechanics, it will deliver an exceptionally enjoyable experience.

If you’re looking to pick up a small indie game that you can sink five or six hours in to without a great deal of difficulty, then this is the game for you. If you’re expecting more, you may be left disappointed.

Red Dead Redemption 2 delivers the goods in a way that very little else has done before it, or quite possibly will do again.

Despite containing some familiar moments, the game makes them its own, serving as tribute to the giants of the platforming genre, rather than feeling like a rip-off.

A deep and involving combat system makes the game a delight to play, and the number of ways an objective can be achieved ensures that no two missions are ever alike. With the whole back story to be explored, the package on offer here makes me very happy indeed; it’s just a shame the online is pretty much dead.

If you are a fan of Skylines, then I would highly recommend the Mass Transit DLC, especially if you are are after another challenge and want to try to create that perfect city.

Hover is a great game if all you want to do is chill out and relax. The main, central district can be explored for hours and you still won’t discover everything, and if you play it online there is a great community to play and compete with. If you want to focus on the story though, it loses its charm as you suffer through repetitive looking areas and missions that bog down the whole experience.

If you have enjoyed the overall experience found in Strange Brigade then it’s probably safe to say that you’ll enjoy the Isle of the Dead DLC too. Whilst it may be more of the same, that isn’t necessarily bad and it certainly maintains the high levels of quality found in the base game.

Its lack of a story-based campaign is sorely missed and the repetitiveness of the environments is noticeable at times, but despite the infrequent flaws a good time can be found in Twin Robots.

Home Sweet Home is at its best when relying solely on atmosphere and sound design, much less so when the hero is pursued by an awkwardly animated being. Nonetheless, the second part of the game delivers a substantial fright factor, making it an excellent choice for a Halloween playthrough.

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

Sinner draws inspiration from several existing titles, but stands apart with its unique approach to development by incentivizing the player to become better, instead of merely improving a character’s skill set.

Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders has a bunch of fascinating character designs, an interesting location to explore and an intriguing premise. Sadly, it fails to capitalise in terms of the narrative, whilst the artwork and animation is below the usual standard of these hidden object adventures.

It is a simple and repetitive venture, but one which does fulfill its promise of providing fairly fun and engaging platform levels, of which there are plenty. Unfortunately, this experience comes within a plain world which contains repetitive music and bad sound mixing.

Many will be happy to see the most popular side to Call of Duty given the main focus this time around, but the lack of anything new and intuitive makes it feel more like a rushed out cash grab than a genuine new entry into one of the world’s most popular franchises.

Any gamer knows that there are a ton of great racers out there, but unfortunately RGX: Showdown is not one of them. This is a game that comes with a severely limited premise and even though it’s initially very addictive, the repetition that it brings eventually wins over any racing dreams.

With a need for strategic thinking a must and enjoyment to found throughout, the Warhammer: Vermintide 2 Shadows over Bögenhafen add-on is the perfect example of how DLC should be made – even if it is just two missions long.

Wailing Heights is without a doubt one of the better point and click adventures you’ll find on Xbox One.

If you’re after some classic multiplayer action that ignores the need for an online connection and welcomes the incredible fun that used to be at the centre of every multiplayer game, then Jump Gunners is a game you need to add to your collection.

There are a decent amount of gameplay hours in the Amnesia Collection as a whole and for the price, it’s a very good deal.

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.

Sadly and even though the idea presented by Dead Age shows plenty of potential for an exciting gameplay experience, the overall execution leaves a lot to be desired.

If you love the Assassin’s Creed games then this is one of the best, even though it’s not a million miles away from the stunning Origins.

Despite the issues, Breakfall knows what Pizza Titan Ultra is, and for that it’s a better game. At roughly 5 hours to completion, it never gets old, supplying enough variety to keep you entertained. Priced at £9.99/$11.99, it is worth your time if you’re looking to spend an evening with a unique experience.

The indie soundtrack that accompanies your time with Life is Strange 2 Episode 1 is both melancholic and atmospheric, matching the mood of the story perfectly. As to be expected from a Life is Strange game, the dialogue and voice acting are spot on and I felt fully immersed in the lives of Sean and Daniel.

Episode 2 hits you with a frenetic finish and you’re left to wonder how the rest of the season will play out, if it gets the chance. Here’s hoping that Skybound swooping in to try and save the day means it’s plain sailing for the narrative from here on out because the hard-hitting storytelling is strong in this second episode, adding extra dimensions to a few characters and leaving you wanting more.

The art style is simplistic and the game is brutal to the point of almost being impossible. I’m sure some out there will enjoy the visuals and others may find the punishing difficulty a breath of fresh air, but I doubt the two will go hand in hand too often.

Williams Pinball: Volume 1 is a throwback to the real-life tables that initially made pinball what it is today. Are they geared up more towards the hardcore crowd? Yes, and the Pro physics option will be right up their alley, but that’s not to say the casual Pinball FX3 players won’t enjoy these.

With a navigation system that fails to allow for any true enjoyment, tying players to a strict path, buggy visuals, and a co-driver that screams at the first opportunity, it’s hard to say Dakar 18 reminds us of the exhilarating experience we’ll find on TV each year.

Despite some of its shortcomings, mainly pertaining to rudimentary combat, Anodyne is an enjoyable and – more importantly – memorable experience.

Hollow Knight isn’t just a Metroidvania game, it goes above and beyond that, taking the genre into the modern age. The visuals, sound design and level layouts are absolutely gorgeous, the variety of enemies and customisation is astounding and the difficulty level just makes you want to go back again and again.

Shalnor Legends: Sacred Lands is no more and no less than a Zelda game for the Xbox. If you have any interest in RPGs, retro or not, then you need to play this game.

At the end of the day, Razed is one of the more superior games to come out of the ID@Xbox initiative; it gets a lot of things spot on, and it never feels unfair which – for a game of this type – is an achievement in itself.

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 a bit more polish this could have been a great game; the components are all there, but it manages to just stumble over the last little hurdle.

With a beautiful art style accompanying the game from the menus to the final boss, gameplay that’s smoother than dancing on ice and able to provide plenty of opportunity for replayability with its increasingly challenging difficulties and numerous game modes, this is a game that shouldn’t be missed if bullet-hell shooters are your type of thing.

Claybook holds a strong foundation for a positive gaming experience, but at present it still resembles more of the game preview feel than that of a fully complete experience.

The stories and characters are brilliant – although there are pacing problems throughout – but when it’s at its best and the jazz tunes are flowing, This is the Police 2 ensures that you will smell of cigarettes and cheap whiskey as you go about your investigative work into the wee small hours of the night.

3on3 FreeStyle brings a keen reminder to why we love street-style games so much, but the clear pay-to-win influence stops this particular game from shining, turning it into a battle of the wallets rather than a test of skill.

Overall and the Great Lakes DLC for Railway Empire is another engaging piece of content. In fact, should you be able to pick up the base game, and all the content included, then the whole package would make an excellent GOTY edition.

If you want a better defensive survival experience, then you should play the base game, whilst those looking for a new horde fix should play something else.

Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker takes a risk by venturing into the online battling arena genre and it doesn’t pay off. Putting aside the technical issues for a minute, and to be fair there could be a good experience here, but even then the combat and movement is difficult to master.

Speed Brawl is excellent when it’s at its peak; it’s comparable to titles like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game, and Skullgirls, both in terms of visuals and gameplay. However, it adds a twist with the inclusion of timed events and, should the copious number of bugs not deter you, is worth the attention for its fluid action-packed gameplay and the alluring visual get-up alone.

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

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

If you’re a fan of Forza as a whole then Forza Horizon 4 will not disappoint, and whilst the progression and seasons systems change up the core experience, Forza Horizon 4 still shows the key signs for an exemplary racing experience that must be applauded.

If you’ve hunted the preacher for this long, you simply must experience the finale for some much need closure.

Tyler: Model 005 is simply a bad game. Good graphics cannot hide the multiple issues: bad voice acting, poor combat and crucially, terrible platforming. In a game where platforming is a major component it is imperative that jumping works, and here it does not at all. In fact, this may well be the worst example I’ve ever seen.

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.

Forsaken is the shot in the arm that Destiny 2 needed. Now it feels like there is a purpose, something to push for in grinding the end game content, and this makes a difference.

If you want to take a little trip down memory lane and are ready to get your platforming skills working again then Wenjia just about gets the job done.

Adios Amigos is an interesting game. The blend of cartoon action and physics is good fun, and the fact that it is different each time you play makes it more appealing. It’s not the lengthiest game in the world, but the action that is here, especially running across local co-op and being suitable for kids, makes it worth a whirl.

There is a lot to admire and enjoy about Out Of The Box with its originality and unusual gaming techniques. The story is a very good one, full of moral declines, doomed romance, and evil crimelords. The actual gameplay is brilliant at first too, but it does start to tire as things progress.

Moonfall Ultimate is a prime example of how not to make a game. The nice looking graphics are drowned in a tide of clunky combat, poor animation and a generally unpolished feel. I cannot recommend this game to anyone, unless you were to buy it for your worst enemy. Even then, that may still come under the heading of cruel and unusual punishment.

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.

Revenant Dogma isn’t a bad game; it features some entertaining conversations and finding new, rare weapons in Ethereal Est dungeons can be a blast. Everything else, however, including its predictable storyline, dull environments and needlessly simplistic combat, feels average, and there are far better options in the RPG genre – even at this price point.

The first episode of The Walking Dead: The Final Season has set the scene very well for Clementine to really shine from here on out, especially with the way that events unfold as it could see her taking on more responsibilities than ever before.

There’s decent gameplay attached to it all, sure, but the drab visual presentation, the lack of variety or different levels, the archaic difficulty spikes; it all adds up to a game that needs more polish or a rework.

Forsaken Remastered is a genuinely faithful recreation of the original, with just a little touch of smoothing over the visuals and the excellent addition of all previous content.

Shadow’s Awakening is very solid indeed. Fans of the genre will have a lot of fun here and should well enjoy the depth of gameplay that is on offer. The switching between worlds in a great trick and the developers use it superbly well, whilst the fully voiced cast offer an extra dimension.

I’m a fan of coffee and metal. To see them featured so prominently in a videogame is alright in my book, and it’s a concept I can really get behind. However, the high difficulty and repetitive button-mashing stops Coffee Crisis from being a game that is really enjoyable.

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.

On the whole, NBA Live 19 is definitely on the right path. It’s aesthetics are beautiful, both on and off the court especially in regards to its player models, which are stunning. The inclusion of the WNBA is a fantastic step forward that puts it’s a step above the 2K series. Unfortunately, the “story mode” feels very stale and just doesn’t compare to other sports game’s take on it.

At its heart, Fishing Sim World is a worthy successor to Euro Fishing. It builds on what its predecessor did right, and expands the range of opportunities in a sympathetic way. It’s not perfect, and immersion breaking glitches are disappointing, but all in all, we have a new champion fishing game.

There’s not enough here to keep the V-Rally mode from feeling like a chore rather than an enjoyable and fulfilling career mode, and unfortunately that feeling drips down to the overall V-Rally 4 experience. It’s an unfulfilling experience with no clear idea of what it’s trying to achieve.

Should improvements be made to the movement speed and a little more added in to give reason to explore, there is a chance that Elea could turn into something more memorable. Right now though this is simply your average walking simulator.

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.

On your own it is a great game for a quick five minute fix, although longer sessions can get frustrating thanks to the unusual control scheme. If you play with friends however then the game is transformed and I’m hard pressed to remember a game in recent times that has given me more of a laugh than this has when enjoyed with company.

I simply cannot think of anything that would make the Dead Cells game experience better. Its hard but not unfair, runs like a dream and plays like a lump of Teflon draped in silk. You need to play this game, and the retro graphics, while they may not be to everyone’s taste, really suit it, ensuring that it is just a pleasure to play.

I’ve been left wanting pilot schedules, food decisions, and many more options in regards time management. But instead I’ve been left with some very dull, very boring gameplay that will struggle to appeal to anyone.

Even though the gameplay comes with its occasional glitches, has a bit too many things going on and is run by some strange mechanics, the story, characters, and overall tone are all brilliant and extremely well put together.