Paladin is a cheap and cheerful twin stick shooter that gives plenty of ship upgrading abilities. But for what boils down to an hour’s worth of game time, that price still seems a little high and probably makes sure the game is something you’ll wish to pick up in a sale rather than at full price.

A Hat in Time is a top piece of work from a developer who embraces all that is great about an old style 3D platformer and then makes it their own with innovative and insightful fresh ideas.

Abyss: The Wraiths of Eden is easily one of the creepiest stories that Artifex have delivered to Xbox One, with the city being grim and the antagonist providing jump-scares. It’s all fun and games though, as it is full of mini games and hidden object scenes that’ll keep you entertained.

Overall this is a welcome addition to the DLC programme planned for Cities Skylines. Snowfall gives you a totally new aesthetic design and presents a number of challenging new ideas in the way you design your city from scratch.

If you can stick around after being thrown in at the deep end with the ‘robust’ DLC releases and, quite frankly, awful controls then The Sims 4 is definitely worth it.

The grind is real. The grind is great. Sky Force Reloaded is quite possibly the best arcade shmup money can buy.

I haven’t had this much fun in a LEGO game since the third Batman iteration, and that’s testament to the new gameplay features, excitingly fresh heroes and intriguing story. It helps that there’s so much to do and plenty of variety to stave off any boredom.

Had this game been priced accordingly I could easily recommend it, but with what you get and the price at £10.99, I would highly suggest looking elsewhere for a local multiplayer fix before considering Oh My Godheads.

Be in no doubt, there is a lot of game in this small package, but it will ask a lot of you. If you can invest the time, it will reward you, but it’s a bit too deep for its own good as far as casual players are concerned.

It must be said that the story has the potential to be something special, however the poor implementation of key game mechanics and a lack of variation throughout makes Outcast: Second Contact the perfect example of an unneeded remaster.

Grab your phone, call your friends and promise them some free beers as The Jackbox Party Pack 4 is a brilliant combination of mini-games that any budding host will need to add to their arsenal. It may just save Christmas and New Year.

Charging $40/£20 for this game is borderline criminal. Associating it with Road Rash is disrespectful. Unless customizing motorcycles is your sole passion in life, avoid this one.

The narrative, voice work, atmosphere and world of Black Mirror itself are all excellent with some nice touches throughout. The execution of the game isn’t quite so nice, with dodgy controls, frame rate issues, a bit of visual jarring and horrible loading times being amongst the negatives.

Akuatica: Turtle Racing is a very strange game. The main single player element is worth a playthrough – and the price pretty much dictates that you may as well give it a go – but clunky controls and a tacked on Turtle Racing mode that never sees any turtles raced, really does bring nothing but bewilderment to the table.

Episode 5 is an experience of two very different halves; a slow, slightly boring part talking about feelings and mending the broken team with ease, followed swiftly by an action-packed, fun-filled final half.

The fast-paced combat is fluid and smooth, the visuals are a spectacle to behold and the sound effects can make you feel like someone just crashed a TIE-fighter into the side of your house. But with very little in the way of change when compared to the first Star Wars Battlefront and a story that falls flat once you look past the protagonist, Star Wars Battlefront II is a major disappointment, and a poor effort from a studio who have become renowned for making top quality shooters.

This will be a fantastic edition for Final Fantasy XV when it is patched and updated, but it just needs a bit more time and TLC.

Your Toy is a game that I’ve enjoyed a lot. It’s a puzzle/escape room title that is fairy short and delivers nothing original in the story department, but it all works well enough for a couple of hours enjoyment.

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.

There’s no doubt about it, WWE 2K18 is a flawed game. The positives of the Road to Glory mode, the MyPlayer play styles and the always reliable Universe mode, are counter-acted by a boring MyCareer that’s still lacking in so many areas and an online side bereft of any purpose.

The price is a bit hefty, but it’s a clever idea that most definitely teaches you the way of the world, never letting you take things for granted. Unfortunately the awkward control scheme and the hugely repetitive nature will see you getting frustrated once the initial draw has worn off.

Super Lucky’s Tale is still a good-hearted family fun title that should pride itself on being a game that all ages can enjoy, and by completion, you will truly feel you have been treated to a game that does well in immersing you into the story of a small young fox, and the adventure he embarks on.

I still find The Inner World: The Last Wind Monk to be an enjoyable point-and-click adventure, however the price is almost double that of its predecessor which doesn’t help matters. Is it twice as good? No, but if you were a fan of Robert’s first outing, then you’ll have a thoroughly good time here I’m sure.

If you like a base builder that hearkens back to the age of Evil Genius and Dungeon Keeper, and can look past some performance issues and the occasionally stupid AI, then this is definitely one you should look at getting. It’s funny, it looks nice, and it will definitely fill that need to plunder and pillage.

Forces continues the trend of Modern Sonic games being very average and not even an injection boost like Classic Sonic or the new customisable Avatar character can save this from being average at best.

This little indie game is testimony to what can be achieved with a small team of developers and a lot of crazy creative imagination.

Call of Duty: WWII is most definitely a more than decent entry to the franchise. The return of boots-on-the-ground gameplay is certainly welcomed and it’s good to see Sledgehammer Games take a little risk and try out some new features.

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is another example of how to do a FPS game right, and even though the single player format may not be as popular as it once was, Wolfenstein II delivers much of what many of us would love to see more of in the future.

If you like dancing, pop music and previous Just Dance games, then you can’t help but be entertained by Just Dance 2018.

If you’re in the market for a new twin stick shooter, one that brings a fun little story, some top notch bullet-fuelled gameplay and the chance to go and chase those highscores of your mates, then Assault Android Cactus more than delivers.

Sadly, for all its premise, Elex has to be one of the most uninspiring RPGs I have experienced in a long time.

NBA 2K18 succeeds in delivering truly addictive gameplay that is pretty easy to pick up for newcomers, while long-time players will enjoy mastering the advanced techniques.

Farming sim fans will, quite obviously, relish the challenge and this has got everything they could ever want. I mean it all works fine, the career mode is good and there seems to be a range of vehicles that will satisfy farming experts around the world. But it is the newcomers to the genre that Real Farm might find tricky to attract - all because of the farming grind.

Simply put, it feels like a hunting game made by somebody who has never gone hunting.

Brawlers are meant to be played in one sitting, with friends, while the sound of button smashing drowns out the catchy music coming out of the TV. By that standard alone 99Vidas is successful.

Nothing could come close to the climax of episode three, but episode four manages to offer a better all-round experience.

If you’re looking for something that combines puzzles and slasher films, then this is just about a decent holdover until something better comes along.

If you’ve played any of the other Assassin’s Creed games in the franchise, then stop reading this and buy Origins right now. If you’ve always been curious about playing, and want to try an action adventure, with RPG elements, or feel like taking in a great story and beautiful locations (that will look even better with the Xbox One X), then give it a go.

If you’re done with the whole killing thing, and are just looking for the most stunning of adventures that will leave you considering life as a whole, then AER – Memories of Old is the game for you.

We Sing Pop is a classic entry into the singing genre, with the experience proving heavily similar to previous singing titles such as the highly popular Singstar series.

If you’re looking for a casual platformer with some classic Metroidvania style elements and plenty of varied enemies to blast away at for a bit of afternoon fun, then there is no reason not to jump into Mystik Belle.

I love the visuals, I adore the soundtrack and I feel the huge open world that is being delivered is ripe for exploration purposes. But the sheer ruthlessness of the bosses that have caged the poor children is just a bit too much to bear, as is the struggle back from the checkpoint after they have wiped you out for what seems like the millionth time.

If you have ever wanted to be a fishing mannequin, then this is the game for you, but for everyone else, if it’s raining and you are determined to go fishing virtually, Dovetail Games’ Euro Fishing is streets ahead.

If you like a good puzzler, then Dying: Reborn is the champion of the conundrum, with twists and brain scratchers that will keep you occupied throughout. The controls are clumsy and don’t quite work right and the soundtrack when combined with the voice over is just plain annoying. But all that said, if you like the idea of being stuck in an escape room and like cerebral horror, then this could be for you.

Overall and Rugby 18 is a game for die hard rugby fans who know every move and have the patience for the slow gameplay.

If you are looking for something that will show you what it was like when games were games, and players were nervous, then this is the anthology for you.

Spintires: MudRunner is a fantastic game and one well worthy of the praise it received previously. It comes with some fine physics, textures, graphics and realism – more so than we’ve ever seen in any off-road title – and that ensures it is one you should be playing at the earliest opportunity.

It looks great, it plays great and it comes with that one ingredient that always makes for a decent experience – an addictively teasing quality.

Despite the massive overhaul to the battle system and more subtle changes elsewhere, TFBW feels like a very safe sequel to The Stick of Truth. It’s still a great journey with characters that fans of the show know and love, but I am unsure why this game was delayed so much when it appears to have re-used a lot of the assets from previous.

RAID World War II feels broken. Nothing really seems to work, and everything that is in it looks like it has seen better days. The developers have a lot of work that they need to action in order to fix this game, or at least make more of it work before asking for people to fork over some cash.

Monolith has something for everyone here, and just like Gollum with his ‘precious’, you’ll be hooked after a little taste of the power you can possess in Shadow of War.

The standard of this second episode feels like a traditional Act Two. It’s not quite as good as the first, and is hopefully sitting here just to bridge the gap that is leading to an exciting final third.

Batman: The Enemy Within is flying high at the moment, with a cast of intriguing characters bearing their own identities which feel unique to the series, despite many of them having multiple incarnations in other forms of media.

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

Whilst there are no game destroying features within Zombie Party, it’s fair to say that with the variety of games available on Xbox, Zombie Party doesn’t ever possess anything that will keep players coming back for more. The vast number of items and unlockables are certainly deserving of praise, but the gameplay shows nothing more than a lack of identity and fails to bring anything memorable to the table.

For those who have been curious about Dark Arisen and love old fashioned RPG’s, then this is a must buy. Yes, the quests can get boring and there is a big whiff of old generation about the experience, but there are tons of content for your money.

The Evil Within 2 is highly recommended to anyone who loves a horror game, and you don’t have to play the first one to get an understanding of what is going on.

Credit is due for the unique and daring storyline, however the way in which it, and the gameplay, come across gives nothing to allow Iron Wings to be remembered in a positive way.

All in all then, if you are in the market for a puzzle game, Walk The Light could well scratch that itch.

Decay – The Mare is another unusual, strange quirky game to enter the Xbox One library of misfits.

Is FIFA 18 the best in the series? No, but there’s a whole load of things to do once you’ve embraced all the gameplay enhancements to ensure it’s still a decent game.

After spending a fair bit of time with the many fighting games that have released this year, it’s fair to say Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite is both slacking and lacking in comparison.

Inversus Deluxe is a hugely enjoyable game. Or at least half of it is because whilst I adore Arcade mode, the XP system and the multiple maps that the game comes with, the Versus option is lacking the fun factor.

With sluggish and unresponsive combat, all of which fails to match the overall speed of the game, Bloody Zombies isn’t the best thing you’ll be playing this year.

Given the price of Universal Classics Pinball equating to under £3 per table, it’s bloody good value and even though Jaws lets it down, I’d highly recommend adding this pack to your Pinball FX3 collection.

The story is a gem, and it’s worth playing through just to see what happens to Rogue and co, but the desire to replay any levels on a harder setting is just not there. Quirky controls (at the risk of being kind) and guns which lack both a decent feel or noise rob the game of a lot of impact.

Splasher is generally a great game that comes with fantastic visuals, smooth and fluid controls, addictive gameplay and plenty of variety. It is certainly one of the better platformers to arrive on Xbox One this year and if you’re a fan of the genre, this is one you should be looking to add to your collection.

Games under a tenner can often be forgiven for being short when the story is top notch and the gameplay is innovative, but that’s not DreamBreak.

If you’re looking for a new top down shooter in which you can play your own way, then you need to call the JYDGE.

As it stands, it is the price which will ultimately dictate things. For less than five dollars, Marble Void is well worth the punt… especially if you’re one of those who are looking for a new marble fix. It’s not as good as the likes of Marble Blast Ultra from years past, but it’s a solid entry with a great price. But please fix the frame rate issues.

Lilith-M on the most part is a wonderfully crafted indie puzzle game that produces a challenging, yet rewarding experience for its players.

The inclusion of dabbing in a game about ninjas tells you a lot about both the experience itself and the thoughts behind it. Is it serious? No. Is it worth bothering with? Not unless you’ve got some friends over for a party.

If this really is a sim, one that tries to portray how dull and dreadful an airport firefighter’s life is, then the developers have achieved their goal. But I’m not sure that was the intention.

There are a vast number of improvements needed before the game could be considered worth playing on a regular basis, but with the right creative direction and some key changes to some major aspects of the game could indeed see it become a great title – eventually.

Experts of the game will criticize the simplicity of the moves on offer and it is they which will want more of what the 2K game has to offer. But for me, as someone returning to the sport this Live 18 is as good an introduction to the genre, and the life it aims to promote, as you can get.

It was extremely refreshing to play a game that played at the pace I wanted it to and not have to worry about convoluted story lines. Yes, it may get a tad repetitive after a while, but it looks stunning, plays beautifully and I look forward to heading back to the hunt some more.

Forza Motorsport 7 regains its crown as king of the Xbox racers. Its slick presentation, tight and responsive controls, jaw dropping graphics and amazing sound effects catapult it straight past Project Cars 2 into pole position.

If you’re bored of the usual superheroes and are just looking for something a bit different, a bit funny and a bit, um, button mashing, then Deadbeat Heroes delivers. It’s far from perfect, and the issues with gameplay advancement are hugely annoying, but it’s just about worth a play if you fancy a bit of mindless comic violence.

Everything considered, N++ is an absolute gem. Anyone who wants a platformer should buy this game.

You’ll have to be a fan of the puzzler genre, need to be used to the slow rhythm of a point and clicker, and be prepared for the strange and the unusual, but if you’re up for that, or are a fan of games like Mr Pumpkin Adventure, then you will love Bulb Boy.

Danger Zone had the expectations of being a spiritual successor to Burnout, encompassing everything that was good about it. That gameplay is there, somewhere, but it gets lost between the generic level design, and over-reliance of pickups.

It is platforming greatness at its very best, and proves just what can be achieved when the necessary time is put into fine tuning a game before release.

Whilst it would have been wonderful to have seen some fresh content included in the War Stories, the changes made and the new additions included are valuable ones to have, with some fantastic new maps, more of the same attention to historical accuracy and some exciting new challenges.

The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game isn’t the best Traveller’s Tales offering, but the great combat and the creative ideas to try something new are what prevents it from being a terrible game. Maybe buy it in the sale, but definitely don’t pay full price.

While the physics work well, the music is decent, and the bright colourful nature it emits is absolutely fine, without anyone to play Tricky Towers with, you're left with a game that is very much left wanting.

I love a lot of what it has to offer, and it certainly comes with a plentiful supply of achievements, but I feel totally let down with the problems found in the mechanics and framerates.

With plenty of extra levels that can be unlocked, and an enjoyable and easy to follow story, Caveman Warriors is an impressive title. It would have been nicer to have seen some more sensibly placed checkpoints and respawn locations, but the overall game experience is generally enjoyable and is definitely something you should be looking to get involved in.

You’re not going to be playing Let Them Come weeks and months down the line. In fact, you may not bother heading back for alien bashing even a couple of days after your purchase, but should you be looking for a game that brings a hugely addictive hit for a single evening, then Let Them Come is well worth checking out. Especially at the price.

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

Fans of the universe will love the way this huge chunk of content gives you new characters and locations. However, it might feel a bit familiar at times, and it never goes into proper sequel territory. But that’s because it’s not.

Episode Three, “Jailhouse Block”, ensures that the Admin is as fearsome as ever and that the heroes are going to have a tough time if they are to ever end his reign of terror. The action provides plenty of fun and the new characters have interesting personalities to get to know.

If you’re looking for the next puzzle game that will test your highly skilled reactions to the full, then Revolve is exactly the game you’ve been looking for.

If you want a dramatic interactive novel, full to the brim of lore and dialogue options, then Echoes of the Fey: The Fox’s Trail is possibly good enough to be given a look.

With beautifully bright, hugely abstract visuals, a pumping soundtrack, a superbly well designed menu system and a huge amount of addictive racing across well detailed tracks, LIGHTFIELD is most definitely one that the racers out there should give a go - especially if those racers are more obsessed with bettering lap times than racing actual opponents.

INK may sound very basic – and for the most part it is – but the gameplay is exceptionally enjoyable.

In short then, the story of this Sniper Ghost Warrior – The Sabotage DLC is enough to make me recommend that you play it, at least if you enjoyed the main game.

Overall I had a good time with The Coma: Recut. The running and hiding from the creature does get a bit tiresome, but the originality of the story, gameplay and visuals make up for the tiring survival element I had to endure.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a throwback to classic JRPGs, but in many ways an improvement. It’s like Aliens compared to Alien; all the aspects that made the original great have been polished up, tweaked and turned up to 11 to deliver something that is arguably even better than the inspiration.