Neon White feels like a breath of fresh air, thanks to its brilliant design and wickedly paced gameplay. For thrills, spills and occasionally chills, this one should not be missed.

Other than these small issues, Lies of P is an extremely enjoyable game to play through. The feel of the world, the setting, and the combat all seem to have real impact; frankly, these elements are great. The camera and jumping are not quite so good, but in all, Lies of P is an absolute pleasure to take in...If you like a Soulslike, you will like Lies of P. And that pretty much sells it.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands does two things brilliantly; it provides a massive game full of content, vast environments and things to do, and it also is a hell of a lot of fun as a co-op game. The tactical nature never becomes too rigid, ensuring you stay in control of how best to tackle a mission. Story-wise, it’s a lot of little bits of storytelling to push you further on into the destabilisation of Santa Blanca, offering just enough to tide you over. All that really holds it back are a few bugs, the less enjoyable method of going it alone and not being able to utilise the cover system.

Birth, in all of its grotesque beauty, is an unholy delight. It’s a diorama, a series of scenes, that we could tinker with endlessly.

The narrative of All of Us Are Dead stays pretty faithful to the original material, however there’s a lot more meat on the bones and the gruesome nature of the situation is conveyed excellently via the visuals. This makes it an enticing prospect, no matter whether you’re familiar with the story, or coming in without a clue.

If I had one complaint it would be that a bit of freedom on the camera would have been nice, but mostly there is little to complain about in terms of how Dungeons 4 plays.

This is an astonishingly immersive and good-natured fable, and we relished returning to it whenever we were away. It may not be long, it may not do anything groundbreaking, but The Gunk radiated good feelings whenever we picked up the pad.

It says a lot about a game when writing its review makes us want to close the laptop, boot up the Xbox and return to play it. So it is with Monster Train on Xbox, which chucks out a lot of Slay the Spire’s baggage to create a ride that’s more breakneck and exhilarating. Monster Train is more-ish to the extreme, and we’d worry about our social lives, if there was any social life to be had right now.

With only a slight downside, and a bargain price to boot, recommending God of Weapons is a piece of cake - if you like Vampire survivors, then try this one.

Anyone who cares about the rich history of games as an art form needs to play The Making of Karateka. This is a five-hour journey with decades' worth of impactful stories baked into it.

It may not immediately strike as a must-play title, but Immortal Redneck shouldn’t be overlooked. With tons of replayability, tense fast-paced gameplay, fluid controls and enjoyable combat, this is a game that will offer great gameplay for hours on end.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is a beautiful, infuriating, visually stunning game with a lot to offer the dedicated player.

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.

We had a deep love for Solace State. It didn’t dumb itself down. It invited us into the inner circle of an activist group and expected us to sort through its many threads. Would we be violent, political or organise the masses? No choice is easy, no consequence is expected. To enjoy it, all you need to do is understand that this is very much a visual novel, lacking in anything that looks like gameplay.

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.

The Jackbox Party Pack 10 keeps the hot streak going, whilst celebrating a milestone birthday in style. I tend to say this every year, but this one might just be the best collection yet.

Wild Bastards is a brilliant example of an experience which is more than the sum of its parts. This roguelike FPS hits the mark, and its irresistible charm will leave a lasting impression.

With enough fresh content to call back the interest of veteran players and a unique experience that should be welcomed by new players, Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition finally gets the opportunity to really shine.

Eldest Souls does what it says on the tin. It’s brutally hard and unforgiving, but play by its rules and learn the cues, and you will make progress. It’ll take you some time to earn all the achievements for beating each boss without taking damage, but it won’t be long before Eldest Souls begins to talk to you, teaching you more as you play.

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.

Poppy Playtime: Chapter 2 on Xbox takes the strong foundations of the first game and ratchets everything up. It is substantially longer, and like the monsters themselves, it is all killer and no filler.

Sniper Elite 5 is a triumph. The campaign is great, Survival is brilliant fun and Axis Invasion gives an insight into how other players think. PvP sits in the mix like a wasp’s nest at a picnic, generally being unpleasant and spoiling things, but ignore that and this is a quality title that demands to be played.

SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada isn’t perfect, but rarely does a game grab the player and refuse to let go like this one does.

It gives us great pleasure to wholeheartedly recommend Newfound Courage. You will struggle to find a more likeable and relatable narrative adventure. It’s exceptionally well-written, unashamedly gay, and will appeal to absolutely anyone who felt their lip trembling while playing To The Moon. It’s a triumph that wears its heart very much on its sleeve.

If you’re going to drop a collection of games from this moment onwards, you need to look to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection as the content benchmark.

Prey is what you would expect to find should Bioshock and Dead Space cross paths. With a great story that is full of choice and multiple endings, a fantastic atmosphere and some of the most unique enemies seen in a horror game, this is one game that’s fully deserving of praise.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is packed with stuff to do. While the story does stick pretty closely with the protagonist, there are a wide variety of characters who interact with him and each other in a way that feels very organic. Camera woes notwithstanding, what we have here is a very polished product that just deserves to be played.

KILL IT WITH FIRE! 2 deserves credit for building on what made the first game so much fun to play. Despite some rough edges, there’s clearly been an effort made to flesh out the spider exterminating fun, and for the most part it pays off.

BLEED 2 is a fantastic game. It’s simplistic in design and mechanics, but it does the basics really well and is a total joy to play because of it.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is a comprehensive celebration of two iconic games where the skating feels just as good as you remember it, despite a few tweaks here and there.

Is there such a thing as too much Gears? I don’t think so, and that is proven with the release of Gears of War: Reloaded; a game that is as good as ever, slightly better looking than before, and now absolutely chock full of content.

DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D REMAKE on Xbox may be a remake of games nearly 40 years old, but the work gone into their re-creation makes them instantly playable.

If you’re looking for a roguelite game, or something that is story driven and easy to pick up and get invested in, I highly recommend Dreamscaper.

Aside from little niggles, and all in all then, Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs Royal Edition just works. Apart from the loading and the saving, the game is very entertaining, and plays like a love letter to earlier JRPGs. The story is very entertaining, the voice acting of the characters makes you care about the story, and the hook of trying to complete all the quests in the available time leads you to some tense moments.

Psychonauts 2 is an absolute hoot from start to finish. It showcases a lot of what makes video games great, combining skillful and emotive storytelling with inventive gameplay that above all else, is loads of fun.

FAR: Changing Tides should very much be seen as a companion piece to FAR: Lost Sails, but it’s able to deliver a gaming experience that contains pretty much everything you could want. It will take you on a journey through a strange abandoned land that is beautiful, accompanied by a brilliant soundtrack and new surprises along the way.

Probably the best thing about Deleveled on Xbox One is the fact that it feels like some of the levels can be completed in the “wrong” way. By that I mean I could do things that seemed unorthodox and still finish the level. And I think that’s the mark of a good puzzle game - it isn’t confined to a single solution and doesn’t penalize players for attempting to find new ways to complete it.

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.

PUBG may have been sat in Preview for many a month, but it has arrived as a full release to instantly become one of the most addictive games you can play. From start to finish it’s a thrilling and fun adventure that has more tension than you’ll find in almost any other game. Whether you’re looking for a new online experience to play solo or with a group of friends, this is one you should be playing in 2018.

Consider Flock like the finest of fine wines: enjoyed best with a group of friends having a chat, taken at your own pace, not rushed through! Minor bug-bears aside, especially with the inconsistent catching mini-game, what has been produced here is in the upper-echelon of cosy games.

Having originally launched five years ago on other systems, it comes to the Xbox family in a great state as well; I haven’t encountered a single issue in my time with the game. Friendly communities, unobtrusive microtransactions, and a hell of a lot of fun - my biggest frustration is that The Four Kings Casino and Slots didn’t make the jump to Xbox sooner.

Nexomon: Extinction on Xbox One is a great alternative to the Pokémon series, because even though it doesn’t have the legacy, there’s a hell of a lot of elements it gets right – especially the gorgeous visuals.

To call Mixtape a ride is a little one-dimensional, as there are so many feelings to be had on the way. A ‘joyride’ fits Mixtape slightly better. A joyride with a tailor-made Greatest Hits tape playing along.

Shovel Knight Dig may be a more streamlined and straightforward experience than its predecessor, but it hits upon a winning formula. No matter how many times you get caught out, no matter how unfair it feels, you’ll always want to give things another go and reach the bottom of the well.

I have massively enjoyed this latest DLC for We Happy Few, even more so than the main game in fact.

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.

Desperados III on Xbox One does something very brave. It takes the pre-existing structure set almost 20 years before it and throws it out the window. Whilst it does feel like its predecessors, it is not afraid to strike out on its own and it does so wonderfully. Its music and atmosphere is phenomenal, its narrative is great, and its gameplay is just so rewarding and addictive. It really does stand out in its own right. Whether or not you’ve played the original is irrelevant: Desperados III is absolutely worth your time.

Dedicate time to mastering the abilities of your favourite Agents, learn the callouts for each map, and get your aim down to a T, and Valorant may quickly become your next major gaming addiction.

Knockout City is basic on the surface but its core mechanics are able to provide so much fun that you may well struggle to put it down. It’s got all the fundamentals right and with just a bit more content added in, this could be something really special. If you’re looking for a unique spin on the competitive multiplayer angle, it’s absolutely worth a look.

Jurassic World Evolution 2 follows on brilliantly from the original game to provide hours of utter joy. The console fit is a great one, with interfaces and opportunities always at the fingertips. Throw in a multitude of options via various game modes and you’ve got what many could well call the ultimate dinosaur-themed park builder.

You’ll certainly enjoy your time with the crew of The Red Marley in Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew. The challenge is real, make no mistake, but using the different crew members and finding the sweet spot in terms of powers does keep you retrying.

The humour, both in character design and the dialogue, is the stand-out winner here with The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet Of Chaos - Chicken Edition, and the rest of it is swept along nicely by the energy these factors bring. The story is good in its own right, but it is brought to life by the silly squabbles amongst the party. All in all, you can’t go wrong with The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet Of Chaos - Chicken Edition on Xbox.

Simple enough to grasp within seconds, complex enough to have you playing for hours on end. Freshly Frosted is a delicious delight.

There is so much to love about Forza Motorsport, that it is an easy sell. The game looks, races and - most importantly - feels absolutely bang on, and while I don’t love the new upgrade system, it’s something to get used to.

The Vale: Shadow of the Crown is utterly unique but it’s one of those games you just have to take a chance on. If I had one criticism it is that there are maybe too many fighting sections and not enough in terms of exploration. But overall this is a brilliant experience and something that any player will remember for a long time to come.

Chicken Police - Paint it Red on Xbox One is a real surprise - a glorious homage to Detective Noir fiction. It’s stylish, sassy and fun - Sin City with a wattle. But while it isn’t overloaded with gameplay, it’s a page-turner from start to finish, and we would happily spend more time with its characters in cases to come. In all honesty, we were expecting something of a bantam class, but Chicken Police turned out to be a heavyweight.

Quake is a certifiable classic that hasn't aged a day and this remastering of all its original content is masterfully done. The console may not be the preferred place to play it, but it’s well done nonetheless and is still an incredibly worthwhile experience.

From gameplay to visuals, and sounds to controls, everything is smooth and fluid. Allowing for plenty of variation and depth to each character, as well as an entirely new race of enemies alongside the already freakish Skaven, and Vermintide 2 has all the boxes ticked when it comes to a sequel done right.

If you enjoyed the first Blasphemous, then getting hold of Blasphemous 2 is a given. Everything that was great about the first game has been built on in the second, with nearly all issues addressed.

The team over at Tribute Games have created an absolute masterpiece of an arcade title in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge; one that floats somewhere between tribute (pun intended) and modern sequel to the classic TMNT arcade titles.

Darkwood is a rare kind of game – an experience that is so cohesive and masterful in almost every way. Every time I played, it felt as though I was stepping through the screen to another world, one that is as twisted and dark as the wilderness that surrounds it. Honestly, the less you know the better, so just go play it and experience its brilliance.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is an excellent game. It's a massive and immersive experience, with a compelling story, stunning visuals, and satisfying combat. While a few graphical glitches are present, they don't detract significantly from the overall experience.

Simply put, Typoman is a superb indie title that I had a brilliant time with. The main campaign may be over in around four hours, but there are a couple of mini games that test your creating skills to the max. The world, the story and gameplay it creates are stunning, with real deep moments of sadness quickly switching to those of hope.

The story of American Arcadia is fantastic, sharply written and with some nice twists. The puzzles aren't too hard, and the gameplay is fun, never afraid to throw different mechanics into the pot.

When you take into account the standout moments and combine them with brilliant visuals, some audio that is out of this world, a smattering of puzzles, a top drawer narrative and super intense gameplay, and yet again we find that Remedy have delivered the goods with their latest adventure.

The story of Nobody Wants to Die is an absolute highlight, full of great characters and an amazing world with superb practices and ideas. Further to that, the detective gameplay is fun and interesting, giving you a real feel that you are actually solving a complex crime and motive.

Two Point Campus: School Spirits offers more of the high quality content we’ve come to expect from Two Point Campus. This time around it feels like the formula has been tweaked a little more than previously, rather than simply slapping a new skin on the action.

Wildermyth: Console Edition is a testament to the power of storytelling and imagination. This game managed to draw me in with its unique blend of strategic depth and narrative engagement. The gameplay is accessible yet challenging, and the character progression and world-building create a truly immersive experience.

Throughout my roughly three hours with Mosaic, I found myself constantly awe-stricken. The world is beautiful in its design and, though sparingly used, colors are bold and breathtaking. The sound design between BlipBlop’s constant dings of success and the haunting music that’s played as you simply go to work is superb. Krillbite Studio has done an amazing job at crafting an experience.

Perhaps it doesn’t have the legs to carry itself for weeks and then months down the line, but for the price and the amount of randomly created content on offer, it’s a bit of a no brainer really, delivering one of the most addictive rogue-like experiences I’ve ever played.

There is an established formula for a Poppy Playtime game, and Chapter 4 is no different – some puzzles, some scares and some collectibles to help flesh out the story. But it feels like Chapter 4 is the beginning of the end, putting in motion moments that feel like a climax.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot on Xbox One is a thoroughly enjoyable game, but those familiar with the series will get more out of it. Despite some relatively minor flaws, regardless of who you are there’s lots of fun to be had here.

Little Nightmares is a well created, superbly executed affair. I’d prefer it to be longer and I have to admit to not only being disappointed, but also shocked, at its short length. In fact, unless you’re going back through things for a second, third or fourth time, just in order to pick up all the collectibles, then chances are you’ll be done with the five chapters and then everything Bandai Namco and the development team at Tarsier Studios have given you in no more than a few quick hours. I guess the price reflects that though and when something is so good, perhaps it’s best to keep it at an enjoyable length. If you’re after a tense game that will have you questioning every little moment from start to finish, then Little Nightmares is most definitely for you.

Cities: Skylines - Remastered is extremely immersive and complex, but easy to pick up and play, minus a few learning curve issues. The package it offers has everything, from the grand scale to the microdetails. Sometimes it’s just fun watching people go about their daily lives, and there are options for that too.

We’re confident that Earthion takes the crown for best SHMUP of 2025, which isn’t bad for a 16-bit title.

There’s a constant onslaught of Metroidvanias that seem to populate the store like rampant rabbits, so much so that it gets hard to decipher the quality from the scrap heap when searching through. Iconoclasts on Xbox One stands out from the rubble and manages to build itself into not only a great Metroidvania, but an amazing game with an identity of its own.

It’s often described as a ‘pop album video game’, but Sayonara Wild Hearts is more than that. It’s a love letter to both gaming and music, perfectly marrying the two mediums together in one expressive package. It’s an art form and one of the best indie titles to hit the Xbox One generation.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 on Xbox One is an excellent addition to Xbox Game Pass, and another solid entry to the series. It is a culmination of the series so far that has arrived on Xbox in 2020, until Like a Dragon releases later in the year. Hopefully, the remaining titles of 3-6 can release on Xbox, because Kiryu and Haruka’s journey is only just beginning. But if this is the last ‘Kiryu’ Yakuza game, then it’s been a wild ride.

There’s a lot to like about Kombinera. Yes, it can be a hugely frustrating game, but like the very finest puzzlers, the moments in which things just click and you fully understand what is needed for a level completion are right up there with some of the most joyful moments in gaming.

If you loved the original and got on well with the sequel, then you will enjoy the visual improvements made to The Talos Principle: Reawakened. The puzzles and narrative will draw you in, whilst the DLC and new chapter works nicely to add content and story to the world.

It’s simple to understand, it’s easy to pick up and play, and overall this is easily one of the best Battle Royale titles on the market.

HOTEL BARCELONA is enjoyable from start to finish, even if that finish comes about too swiftly. It's also definitely over the top and not something to take too seriously. HOTEL BARCELONA is really just a fun game, no matter how you look at it.

Dead Space is a remake done right. It builds on what the original game did well, delivering in terms of tension and environment, adding new layers as it goes. Should you be a fan of what the franchise did in the past, or are just looking to have your spine tingled, I would suggest you give Dead Space a go. And use headphones, yeah?

In conclusion and if you like a JRPG you really must play Fernz Gate. The story is amazing, with a real twist that will keep you guessing all the way through, and as a retro exercise it’s almost perfect. What else can I say but play it.

The Castlevania Dominus Collection is a very good collection of great games from years gone by, and for the reasonably low price, it feels like storming value as well.

You’ll have a lot of fun playing RimWorld Console Edition and it’s a game that you’ll find yourself constantly heading back to. The PC version is bound to remain superior thanks to the fans that have built up so much content for it, but we should be thankful that we can now boot up RimWorld on our consoles.

If you’re looking for something that combines both the platforming and puzzling world, whilst trying something a little different, Embers of Mirrim is for you.

FRONT MISSION 1st: Remake proves that they don’t make them like they used to. There are a couple of issues with the UI, mainly it not being clear, and it must be said that going into battle against the world will see you taught a big old lesson. But that only proves what a hard game this is.

FAR: Lone Sails is a trip that once you play, you won’t forget anytime soon. It’s beautiful and emotional in a raw way that very few games manage; with no words, it strikes straight to the heart. It’s a wonderful experience from start to finish, and I wholeheartedly suggest anyone to play it who has the slightest of interest.

Alan Wake 2 Night Springs is a short, sharp burst of brilliance which, despite existing simply to expertly whet our appetites for more, is a great ride whilst it lasts.

ARC Raiders does a great job delivering on a satisfying and fun extraction shooter. Encounters with other players will range from exciting to frustrating, and ARC enemies often have their own set of challenges to overcome, but these things are what make the experience unique and rewarding.

Without the multiplayer element, I’d be happy to say that Door Kickers: Action Squad is more than worthy of the fairly low asking price. But with it, the entire experience moves up another good notch or two, providing some of the best cooperative styled gameplay I’ve managed to take in over recent years.

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.

Sokolab manages to conjure up puzzles that are of a high quality, something rarely seen in the realm of Sokoban-style offerings. This is mainly due to an influx of new mechanics at perfectly placed intervals to ensure the experience stays fresh.

In some ways, Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition on Xbox One is Beamdog’s finest translation to consoles, yet in other ways it is one of their worst. However the strengths of both the original game and the excellent new control scheme make this adventure one that is more than worth taking in.

TOEM really has no barriers for anyone - kids all the way up to great-grandparents - to enjoy its relaxed take on photography.

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.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 is an incredibly satisfying park builder. The overall challenge may be lacking but the environmental and park design mechanics more than make up for that slight disappointment.