What surprises most is, while it’s an extremely solid fighter, Young Souls might be better as a dungeon crawler. By layering on multiple ways of progressing your two characters, and giving you a map that begs to be explored, it silently attaches a chain to you and reveals that - ta-dah - it has you now.

But don’t let those rather minor issues put you off playing Planet of Lana. This is a game that deserves the praise, the plays and the passion it holds. A supremely well told tale that comes complete with brilliant visuals and an orchestral soundscape to die for, Planet of Lana is a hugely immersive adventure you need to play.

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection lovingly brings the spin-off adventures of Miles Edgeworth to Xbox. It consists of another two entries in an impressively consistent franchise which largely sticks to what it does best, and that is no bad thing.

Darkest Dungeon II is a hardcore game that offers a unique roguelike experience. It’s important that fans of the first temper their expectations going into the second, because it is vastly different, and expecting more of the same will only set those individuals up for disappointment.

Forgive Me Father 2 is an old-school shooter, but it brings enough new ideas to the table in terms of its wildly imaginative weapons and intriguing story.

EA Sports UFC 5 is probably the best iteration EA have made. It embodies the essence of the sport, which makes it easy to recommend for both seasoned fans and newcomers alike.

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

Salt and Sanctuary on Xbox One isn’t for everyone; its high difficulty can easily put off many players. Failing on the same spot, again and again, might become disheartening. But learning the patterns and approaching each scenario with patience reinvigorates your stride. Those who manage to overcome these obstacles will likely discover a rewarding 2D souls-like experience with an immense amount of various customization options, including weapons, armour, accessories, and Creeds to accommodate your preferred play style.

Lost Judgment on Xbox feels like a misstep in comparison to the plot of its predecessor, but it still stands head and shoulders above most other open-world titles.

F1 Manager 2022 is certainly a decent effort; a well-worked management experience that does a lot right - Frontier must be applauded for that. But move away from the stats and you find a numbers-powered management game that just falls short of those higher podium steps.

TowerFall is certainly a very good local multiplayer game that a group of friends can enjoy night after night, honing their skills with the virtual bow and arrow. So it’s difficult then to say the rest of the game, and the price, lets it down. But it does.

The First Berserker: Khazan is a stupendous game. The combat is fast, flowing and very smooth, and while it is undeniably hard, it never feels unfair. Even the camera, which is traditionally a weak point with these affairs, is rock solid and helpful.

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.

Although World of Van Helsing: Deathtrap looks very drab and appears to be just another tower defense game with a gimmick, playing it will cast these negative thoughts away because the enjoyment factor and depth to the whole thing cannot be ignored and really should be praised.

Slime-san Superslime Edition is an absolute no brainer, with addictive fast paced gameplay, a great sound design, bright stylish graphics and an absolutely insane amount of content that will give you countless hours of utter joy. It is easily the most complete package I have seen in a long time and that all adds up to a game that is worth every single penny of the asking price.

You won’t be wowed, a better save system would be great, and you’re not going to find too much in here that hasn’t been done a million times over before, but should you be in the market for a good, fun, stress free Metroidvania-fuelled journey, then you could do a lot worse than help Sarge, Bear and Dex take down that damn Doctor Omega.

War Thunder is without a doubt an addictive game, but it is one that comes with a few caveats. However as a free to play title there really isn’t an excuse to not jump in and give it a go.

Gaijin Charenji 1: Kiss or Kill is perhaps the most absurdly metaphysical experience in gaming, but even when it dives so deep into abstract art and symbolism, it never forgets to be an addictive video game first and foremost. This is a unique video game experience which invigorates the gamer at their most base instinct, and yet it also creeps into their consciousnesses just as profoundly.

The aesthetics and physics are the best I’ve ever experienced in a basketball game, the customisation and level of detail in created players and icons from the league is simply stunning, and the sheer volume of game modes to chose from is incredible. The huge downside to this game though is the greed from 2K who only want you for your money, making it purposefully hard to improve in MyTeam unless you bow to this.

New Super Lucky’s Tale on the Xbox One aims to be a love letter to 3D platformers of old, and it absolutely is. For older gamers it feels instantly familiar, yet fresh, and littler ones will have a blast playing as Lucky.

ISLANDERS: Console Edition is something that is able to deliver a relaxing city experience without the stress of deep management, finances, and dealing with unhappy residents. It’s a game that is great to pick up for a quick bash, finding the minutes turning into hours. It’s well priced too and the low outlay works as a brilliant incentive to those looking to take a gamble.

Train Valley: Console Edition is one that we can see ourselves going back to for weeks – and possibly months – in the future. The highly addictive, simple-yet-complex nature lends itself brilliantly to a game that can be played for a few minutes at a time, or – as we’ve found – as hours pass. There are serious frustrations with the control scheme and UI, but other than that this is a super little game that will keep you on your toes at all times. Just remember, that pause button is your friend.

Just Dance 2023 is another colourful slice of dance wrapped up in stunning visuals and catchy tunes - perfect for warming yourself up on a cold night, chilling out with friends or heating up the party. For us, it’s got the best playlist for a good few years too.

Everything in Miasma Chronicles comes together to ensure that it is a blast to play through. The mix of real time exploration and turn-based combat is intriguing, but combine in a good story and it will keep you hooked.

Moving Out 2 is a cracking game. Single player is tougher, no doubt about it, but the game really comes alive in multiplayer. With a host of levels, and a lot of objectives within those levels, Moving Out 2 is a game that you'll have a lot of fun playing.

Crow Country is an excellent homage to the games found in the early survival horror market. But it still manages to do its own thing, and I like the way it opens up the experience for all gamers, from hardened players to newcomers.

Keeper is a short, but very sweet, exquisitely crafted experience which relaxes, intrigues, impresses and delights at every turn. This is about as relaxing as gaming gets, and I loved it.

The action on offer in The King of Fighters XV is fast, furious, nicely polished and very addictive indeed. Finding a team that suits your playstyle is good fun, building your own team is rewarding, and with a deep and quite accessible fighting system to get to grips with, it’s well worth playing.

Far Cry 6 is a slow burner, but once it gets going it really sinks those hooks. Fans of the series will have a blast, whether alone or through the cooperative options. Granted, the menus can sometimes over complicate things, and the cutscene stutters are annoying, but the main point to take away is that if you love open world games, especially those which provide fun, excitement and the freedom of choice, then come to Yara. It's not a huge revolution, but it's a fun one.

If you’re looking for one of those pick up and play games that can be enjoyed for either a few minutes or a couple of hours at a time, then LOST ORBIT: Terminal Velocity on Xbox One is the game for you.

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

I implore you to find a friend who owns it or to buy it yourself and share the experience with someone else. Honestly, don’t miss A Way Out, for it’s the purest form of co-op out there and a truly innovative game.

If you're one of those who constantly harks back to the good old days, you're going to love what has been produced here. Hotshot Racing really does hammer home the feel of the old classic racers, however there’s a nagging feeling that I just wish they'd gone a bit deeper and provided even more of the brilliant gameplay that is on offer.

I have hugely enjoyed my time playing Little Nightmares II on Xbox. The mature themes and tense moments that made the first game so fun are present in full force, and like the first game there are plenty of secrets to be found and stories to uncover. If you want a good horror platformer, then Little Nightmares II doesn’t disappoint.

Moonglow Bay is not without its flaws. It’s too undercooked, with bugs and knotty boss moments. But its story of fighting back from grief and depression swells the heart, and we could happily spend a half-hour every day in its world. We can feel our blood pressure sink as we play it.

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.

There is such a lot of content here, and such a huge array of replayability, that if you like Warhammer 40,000 it’s a no-brainer. If you don't, or aren't aware of it, this is a very good game almost in its own right. Real tactical thinking is needed to stop those dastardly Necrons, but you'll enjoy the journey.

From start to finish A Juggler’s Tale is hugely enjoyable. It tells a classic fairytale-type of story but then turns the format on its head, leaving you to wonder about the power of stories and who controls them. It's a short experience that will take you just a couple of hours to complete, and it’s a shame there is no real replay value, but for me the length is perfect - as are the visuals and storytelling.

Cursed to Golf is punishing, unrelenting and a lot of fun. It is everything you want a roguelike to be, with a side order of delightful pixel art.

DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake does a brilliant job of keeping as close to the original without diverting too much. It is a remake, but not perhaps in the way you would expect, with so many other recent remakes changing so much.

In a few words, if you like things a bit different, then I would highly recommend trying Sorry We’re Closed.

The world of The Knight Witch is vibrant and well-crafted - if you’re open to a challenge, then it’s worth looking past the few shortcomings.

Lorenzo Redaelli hits a very high bar with Mediterranea Inferno, especially in terms of what can be achieved with a visual novel.

On the whole, Flipping Death delivers a creative idea that will satisfy for a little while as you have fun possessing weird people, working out which one’s the key to progression and, of course, literally becoming Death himself. You’ll either giggle a lot at the humour or find it a bit too inane, but I personally enjoyed the daftness.

Overall, Star Wars Pinball: Rogue One does a terrific job of actually transferring all that’s great about the Rogue One, by incorporating plenty of characters and ensuring the soundtrack delivers in creating the atmosphere. This is a pinball table though, and despite adding two extra flippers into play, some of the lanes are too tricky to hit the ball down, thus having a knock on effect for gamers who want to complete the mini-games which incorporate these actions in order to succeed. It’s very limiting to those lacking the necessary skills, or luck.

I am hugely excited about the promise of The Council and can’t wait for the next four episodes. I hope it continues to surprise and intrigue me as much as The Mad Ones has, and the hints delivered so far begin to ramp up to a great conclusion.

Project Warlock on Xbox One is a run of the mill clone of classic shooters, but it doesn’t incorporate the ingenious and thoughtful level design that made its forebearers such timeless classics.

Revenge of the Savage Planet is a worthy successor to the previous game, especially if you have a buddy to take along for the ride.

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.

If you are looking for a slice of rock hard gaming nostalgia, I can recommend 20XX to you. It is hard but not unfair, demanding more of you as a gamer than any game I’ve played in recent times.

DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS is a well worked game, with a lot of content to go at. You’ll find hours of fighting just by following the main storyline, yet while it is possible to do this, the real joy of the game comes from wandering around, talking to people and taking on additional missions. The storyline is strong too, and so if Dynasty Warriors is your bag, Origins will be seen as an easy sell. Even if you are new to proceedings, this is a good place to start.

Evil Genius 2: World Domination is a brilliantly presented and deeply layered strategy game. Minor issues aside, it’s rarely been so good to be bad.

It’ll take just a few minutes for you to start enjoying ROUTINE, especially if you like games set in space, the chance to go solving strange mysteries, or the odd, non-conformist narrative.

For Honor is a game that I am not even close to finishing with. Its campaign is big enough to not feel tacked on, but the draw of the multiplayer action keeps dragging me away from finishing it. I can feel my skills improving after every round because it’s a new way to play against other players and that deserves highlighting in a highly saturated section of the market.

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.

The action is fast and bloody, and there is now a strong case to be made for Mortal Kombat to take its place at the top table of fighting games. Mortal Kombat 11 has grown up with the Aftermath Kollection on Xbox One, and I for one think that’s bloody marvellous.

Metal: Hellsinger on Xbox Series X|S isn’t quite the Symphony of Destruction we were hoping for. It feels more akin to a band’s debut EP; a noteworthy introduction but one that is just a snapshot into the potential.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a superb game. It is blindingly fast, fluid and great fun to play. The bosses will have you chewing your pad until you suss out their patterns, and the rest of the action is just as tough - never underestimate an enemy, even a small one. Apart from the loading times, this is one of the best action RPG games on the market.

Yes it has some serious pacing issues and the long conversations where you don’t seem to be doing much can grate. But the gameplay is solid, with some interesting extras and it still looks very pretty indeed.

The Star Wars Pinball: The Last Jedi pack should’ve been just a sole table inspired by the events of the film, because The Last Jedi table is utterly thrilling and accessible to Star Wars fans of all skill levels. It was always a risk to base an entire table on Ahch-To and that risk didn’t pay off at all, for all the Porgs in the world can’t save it from being a boring and overly difficult experience.

If you have never played a Crash Bandicoot game then now is the perfect time to get into it. And if you’ve done it before, you’ll find a lovely HD trip down memory lane.

Call of Duty: Warzone on Xbox One takes the best – and occasionally the worst – from its own history and mixes it with the knowledge gained from its contemporaries to make an excellent experience that players can easily spend hours joyfully fighting in.

More of the great writing and acting, more weapons, more levels, more and more and more – it’s all great. With my super-critical head on, the story is a tad cliched, and the twist isn’t a shock to anyone who’s been paying attention, but as an expansion to an already stunning game, I can overlook those things.

Stories Untold on Xbox One should be applauded. It's a masterclass in storytelling and an experimental success when it comes to how you find yourself engaging with gameplay and game styles all in one package. It will turn your head inside out, but it will also leave you thinking about what has happened long after you finish.

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.

Riders Republic on Xbox takes the basic framework of Steep and adds a whole load more to it to create a very fun arcade sports title. The skiing and snowboarding events feel like the SSX games in their heyday, the rocketsuit and wingsuit events are exhilarating, and the bike events ensure you are constantly one wrong move from total disaster.

Your enjoyment of Grow: Song of the Evertree will depend on whether you find that its brand of Stardew Valley-style nurturing to be a chore or a compulsion. Find its wavelength, dallying with its systems for short bursts each day, and we’re confident that you will find a tug to return.

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.

Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series presents a bit of a no-frills approach to a remaster. Both games are presented as they originally were and are still as good as ever. They are highly replayable to those that experienced them first time around, but there is a lack of anything else included, unless you are willing to pay for it.

BAFTA take note, because South of the Circle ****- in a few categories - comes preciously close to being best-in-class.

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is a deep, serious game that needs a lot of time investment, but if you can find that time it is unlikely that you will feel short changed, what with the sheer amount of content on display.

The Devil in Me isn’t the best game in The Dark Pictures Anthology, but it isn’t bad at all. It’ll keep you entertained all the way through, and it's a brilliant laugh to play alongside others - the scares that play out when you have a room full of people are second to none.

Nuclear Blaze is a short and sweet game that can take up a chunk of your day if you feel like trying something new. The collectibles and challenge mode difficulty will extend your playtime if you choose to go that route. On the other hand, even people who aren’t good at platformers will find Nuclear Blaze accessible, what with its range of difficulty modifiers.

It all leaves Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 - Turbocharged to be seen as a decent alternative to its predecessor. If you want to blast around with your favourite Hot Wheels vehicles, this is as good as you're going to get. But if it's a massive racing overhaul you were expecting, you'll be left disappointed. More of the same will have to do you.

Damning Ufouria: The Saga 2 with faint praise, but this is a sturdy, enjoyable and accessible platformer. It’s almost impossible to dislike thanks to its gorgeous feltworks world, and it’s equally impossible to fall foul of its difficulty levels.

Terminator 2D: NO FATE is a good game, with lots of nods to the lore, all of which will go down well with fans of the franchise. Equally, it’s welcoming enough for those who aren’t invested in the universe.

Taking everything into account, FIFA 20 on Xbox One has brought in more control to the experience; in particular the defending which feels refined. The Ultimate Team mode shines brighter than ever, whilst Pro Clubs receives the boost it needed, with many other areas still delivering solid modes without changing much. Sadly, there’s no longevity in VOLTA as it is, with a yawn-inducing story not helping matters.

Whilst there are areas of FIFA 23 that still need improvement and some modes are stagnant, the gameplay is the best it’s been for a few iterations.

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.

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.

What was once the standard-bearer for open-worlds has been overshadowed in the near decade since its first release. Grand Theft Auto V still holds up really well, but playing it now does feel like stepping into a time machine, such is the way that real-world and video game development has changed in the years since.

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

Overall there is a lot of fun to have with Flinthook. If you like fast paced action games with a retro twist, then this is going to be one of those five star games that you’ll love. If you hate these type of games, and you know who you are, I would say give it a go and persevere, because it does reward the effort. There is a lot of game here for an indie title and even though I’ve put in many hours, I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface. This doesn’t matter though, because I know I’m going to keep coming back, just to put on my space hook, get me some space pirate booty and complete a Raid or two.

If you're looking for a game which is able to wow in the cutscenes, make you laugh during moments of ill and see you frantically run for your life in others, all while still being able to deliver a smattering of humour and satisfaction whenever Abe's fellow Mudokons are saved, Oddworld: Soulstorm Enhanced Edition is the game you must play.

Nova Lands avoids nearly all the pitfalls of the ever popular sim genre, providing a charming and accessible experience which is hard not to like.

If you’re a football fan there’s a load of fun to be had with this game and Madden NFL 20 is a solid experience with a massive improvement over last year’s offering.

GRID, I can happily say, is a triumph. It can be forgiven for a career mode that on some fronts lacks variety, due to how well realised the gameplay is, as it's deep, authentic and above all else, a huge amount of fun. You’ll struggle to find a racer that plays better than this.

There are many hours of gameplay to be had here and if you’re after an old fashioned, but fresh RPG, which takes its role playing roots seriously, then this is a must buy for you. If you love story and narrative, rather than action and shooting, then you should be grabbing it right now.

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.

There is something about the snappy satisfying combat that allows the game to be elevated above the niggling issues that it does have, and will have you wanting to keep going back for more.

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.

If you’re a fan of Resident Evil or any of the other horror games that are available in the gaming space, Song of Horror is well worth a look. The permadeath of characters won’t be for everyone and the random element of when attacks occur might also frustrate. But for others the tension and thrills will be what make the journey.

There’s an original, fantastic deckbuilder here, surrounded by an even more original, and just as engaging text adventure. But Black Book doesn’t stop there, and adds more and more layers until you’re left with a huge, unwieldy onion. If you can stomach its design quirks and scattershot understanding of what is fun or isn’t, Black Book has some of the best moments in modern card games. Only you will know if you’ve got the patience to get there.

We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie doesn’t add much more that Katamari Damacy REROLL hadn’t already added, making it the second best of the experiences on the Xbox. But you really shouldn’t sidestep it either, as more of the same is ‘super-dooper’, as the King of the Cosmos would say, since the same is so instantly charming.

PAW Patrol World isn’t made for us adults. It’s Adventure Bay and surrounding areas, with all of the barriers removed. It’s a glorious playset, the entire TV series ready for kids to reach in and enjoy. That’s something that none of the previous games have managed.

Freedom Planet 2 evokes so much of what makes a great platformer, but feels a little bloated in parts. Still, that doesn’t stop it being a thoroughly enjoyable thrill ride which is sure to delight fans of the genre.

What we have with Lunar Lander Beyond is a brilliant reimagining of an old classic. If you have any memories of Lunar Lander from years past, then Beyond will drag them up immediately.

Conscript is grim to play, but ever-so important. It's a brilliant homage to the war and the soldiers who fought there, as the horror of the situation and the relentless fear of the battle are clear and constant.