Despelote is a short game, running just a few hours, but it's a perfect length. It tells an amazing story full of biographical, personal, and larger historical worth. The gameplay is excellent too, complete with plenty of clever little tricks and mini-games. But mostly it’s a game that delivers a wonderfully moving story, and you won’t even have to like football to love it.

Empyreal is a long old game, and you could easily find yourself sinking tens of hours into it. Become one with the addictive and fun gameplay loop, and you’ll have a good time, but you may find that it overstays its welcome after a while.

Spirit of the North 2 is super impressive with some amazing locations and detail.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a phenomenal achievement that hits so many highs. It’s an overall fantastic and unforgettable experience. I’d honestly go so far as saying it is now THE best title in the Elder Scrolls franchise (at least until Morrowind receives the same treatment)

BIOMORPH is a pretty good game; one that makes a decent fist of the Metroidvania tropes. The ability to change into various creatures is an interesting feature, and there is certainly a lot of content to go at.

Don't let that very cheap price point of PuzzleCar put you off. This may be a simple tile swapping puzzler, and you may well complete everything it offers within a couple of hours, but for those hours, you'll no doubt become addicted to the easy-to-handle gameplay and fun levels.

With surprisingly new mechanics stemming from the weapon system, Journey of Johann: Grasslands ends up being a near-perfect experience wrapped up into one short hour.

You’ll enjoy the story and exploration side of Post Trauma, perhaps more than the combat sections and latter puzzles.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape 2 continues the emotional and nostalgic journey started in Tape 1 with a strong narrative that builds on the bonds formed between the group of girls.

If you want easy, over-in-an-hour gaming, head to this buzzy kingdom immediately. But don’t arrive at the gates of Bee Flowers: Royal Garden expecting anything near a test of your puzzling mind.

Breakout Beyond delivers a bit of a unique take on an old classic. It may look to reinvent, but ultimately this is Breakout, flipped. Long term play may be an issue, but if you’re looking for a big old hit of nostalgia, mixed in with plenty of modern day touches, this is one to consider.

Every once in a while it's nice to play a game that just focuses on the spectacle, one that makes the entire experience exciting via a good boss fight. And that’s NanoApostle.

Out of Moves is a bright little puzzle game inspired by some classics of the genre. If you’re after a brief distraction to get your brain blossoming, you could do a lot worse.

You may find Farmer’s Life to be a bit of a pleasant surprise. You should learn to like Kazimar, even though he is flawed, and similar goes for the gameplay, quests, visuals and sound. It's all fine, without ever wowing.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a stunning game. It is emotional, beautiful and utterly captivating. And that all means it is an absolute no-brainer as to whether you should be playing.

Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is a solid game, with a lot of fun on offer. The combat is nicely paced, adding depth as you get better equipped, and while the battling remains a little too numb, you do get used to the quirks of the way it feels. With a decent story to follow, and a lot of ground to cover, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree should well last you a good while.

Two Falls (Nishu Takuatshina) is most definitely an original experience. The story is strong, the lead characters are to be loved, and the adventure which plays out delivers something new.

Chains of Freedom is a ton of fun to play, and while it feels more fluid than many other tactics games, the bones are so similar that it is simple to pick up.

There’s no doubt that KinnikuNeko: SUPER MUSCLE CAT as a whole is pretty fun, and while it doesn’t do anything surprisingly new (ignoring a cat headed bodybuilder, obviously) what it does do, it does well.

Akatsuki: Lord of the Dawn isn’t a bad game, however it is lacking the magical X factor that will ensure you miss it when you’re not playing.

Steel Seed is a solid new IP of a game; one that does mostly everything okay. There are some good action sequences, platforming mechanics that are fun, stealth, combat and skill trees to invest in. The story is good too, but fails to ever wow or do anything to keep your attention for the long term.

The Epyx Collection: Handheld on Xbox is no different to other compilations; you’ll probably find something new to enjoy regardless of the overall quality.

There is something so calming about taking in a beautiful landscape without anything chasing you or needing your mind to focus on questing. It’s that with which Lushfoil Photography Sim excels.

Fall Asleep may be a fleeting fantasy, but as platformers go it’s an enjoyable way to kill an hour or so, even if there’s nothing here you won’t have seen many times before.

Space Filler could be a great introduction to gaming for a non-gamer. With no complicated mechanics or gaming terminology as roadblocks, it’ll be like completing a beautifully stylised space-crossword, with a cozy backing track to fit.

Once Upon a Puppet provides an enjoyable journey through a theatrical world, working nicely in terms of character integration and overall gameplay experience. However, there is no wow factor and it’s all too easy to get lost with what you are doing, unaware of any purpose.

If you enjoyed the subversive type of psychological horror from Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!, then Moving Houses on Xbox will be right up your street.

Amerzone - The Explorer's Legacy surprises, both with how good the actual adventure is and just how much effort has clearly gone into this remake.

Ultros is a form of art that you can so easily lose yourself within. It’s a vivid tapestry of sound, art and emotion, woven together into an unforgettable journey.

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.

It probably goes without saying, but if you don’t like chess, you won’t like Chess Infinity. But if you fancy learning the game, or think of yourself as something of a Grandmaster already, then you’ll get a lot out of what it offers.

I was surprised by the depth of story found in I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream, and how adventurous it feels for a game to take it on. A bleak tale, sometimes a bit depressing, there is still something very unique about it.

Is this Game Trying to Kill Me? is a fun and thoughtful game that will tax your brain for a couple of hours. The narrative and setup are fine but it's not going to rival anything in terms of storytelling. This is all about solving puzzles, working your way through two interconnecting worlds.

If you’re a jazz fan, then you’ll enjoy how Blue Wednesday plays, and how the main story elements unfold. The music and mini-games are pleasing to take in, very good on the ear, helping push along this music odyssey and journey.

Detective From The Crypt is a reasonable game at a cheap price. The story and characters are good and, for a point-and-click adventure, it delivers a decent mix of puzzles, side quests, and detective work. However, the control system, UI, and the pace of the game does let it all down a tad, so much so that you may become frustrated.

Commandos: Origins is a welcome return for the series after a lengthy absence, and it should please long time fans and newcomers alike, providing they are up to the challenge.

For the vast majority of our time with Hook: Complete Edition though, we’ve become slightly addicted. The minutes fast turning into hours, and whilst a little fatigue does creep in near the end, there’s no doubt that this does the job intended of it - to provide a humble, minimalistic puzzler full of content for a low price.

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

There are some good ideas kicking around in Police Shootout. A few of these work well, like the interrogation and turn-based combat. However, other moments bring it all down – shooting is weird, as is stealth, and the whole thing feels like it is stuck in another generation.

If Dollhouse: Behind The Broken Mirror didn’t come complete with such a mad roaming camera, and if the combat wasn't bland, then it would make for a much better game. With these elements in place, it instead feels a bit unfinished, unable to be lifted to heights through the intriguing and enjoyable atmosphere and narrative.

For many, a beloved childhood classic has returned in Croc Legend of the Gobbos on Xbox. And, aside from the improved camera and graphics, it plays exactly as you remember. Easy to start with, getting more and more tricky but with the overarching sense that it was never quite as good as a Crash or Spyro game.

I love games that try new things and make bold choices. Centum does that, taking the notion of a point-and-clicker, mixing in some escape room vibes and turning it all on its head.

You should love the journey through Leila's past and present. This is a game that tells a warm and beautiful story, without giving answers, but constantly pushing you towards a pretty hopeful ending.

If you can forgive RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition its rough edges, a deep, engrossing game with plenty of content awaits you.

There is a charm in its simplicity, and the general gameplay certainly has an appeal. However, this remaster doesn’t take any risks or introduce any new mechanics. If you’re looking for a chill, loot-heavy dungeon crawler with a cozy, old-school vibe, FATE: Reawakened is probably worth the dive. If that’s not your style then there’s a lot left desired.

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.

Another day, another mascot horror game releases on Xbox. The efforts that Finding Frankie has gone to in order to differentiate itself from others works very well. The parkouring takes a few goes to get used to but it quickly snaps into place and feels great. You can see where things during the design were a bit rushed with some dodgy clipping between assets but overall, if you’re a fan of these mascot horror games that keep popping up, Finding Frankie will be another to add to your list.

PGA TOUR 2K25 is amongst the very best golf games currently on the market. It’s full of charm, plays really well and looks great. Perhaps the microtransactions are a little too in the face, but at no point do you have to succumb to the opening of a wallet.

Ellphaser is an affordable game that will give you about an hour of entertainment. The gameplay is simple but fun, and you’ll easily get 2000 Gamerscore out of it. It ends just about at the right time too, refusing to ever try to be anything more than what it is.

Will you like Cat President: A More Purrfect Union? Well, personally I think it's important to have games like this on the Xbox. It harks back to a time from years gone by in which gaming experiences never took themselves too seriously.

War Robots: Frontiers does make a decent fist of most of the requirements of the online shooter genre, but fails on perhaps the most important - the actual online bit. The servers are flakier than a croissant factory, and as a result the whole game experience is affected, as it is impossible to rank yourself up when the game thinks that you have never finished a match.

Age of Mythology: Retold is great fun to play, complete with a real “just five more minutes” vibe. It helps that it comes with plenty of ways to play, as well as a wide range of units.

The story is really good, the whole atmosphere of the game is beautiful, and fluid traversal is a joy to use. South of Midnight is a game you need to play - if only so you can experience the rollercoaster it is.

Maybe the roguelike elements will annoy, and sometimes luck plays a bigger part than any thoughtful decision making, but even if you do reach the end, Blue Prince will continue to reveal a host more secrets.

Recall: Empty Wishes does well to deliver multiple interesting layers to its psychological narrative, grabbing your attention in the process.

Sometimes visual novels are lengthy and suffer from too much filler, but in the case of Sol Dorado Heist, the swift nature of its storytelling prevents it from becoming anything more than just a decent crime mystery.

Promise Mascot Agency ticks a lot of boxes by being original, fun, and at times, quite weird. The mascot management is at the core of the game, but it’s the additional free-roam activities that flesh it out to deliver the most enjoyment.

Chornobyl Liquidators is a mixed experience. On one hand you have this delicately crafted piece of art that so desperately wants to pay respects and highlight the tragedy of Chornobyl’s disaster through a realistic depiction. On the other hand, it’s a clunky, indecisive mess and lacks any form of identity to achieve the success it might otherwise deserve.

Should you be after an old school platformer, one that has some friction in its gameplay mechanics, then Shadow of the Orient is a steal.

As always with these types of games, come to Chippy’s Stash knowing that you’ll be leaving it again well within an hour, and understand that the majority who do buy it will do so for Gamerscore bragging alone, and it’s hard to knock what is offered. But if you’re looking for a game that is approaching anything near ‘decent’, you’re going to be left disappointed.

There is a lot of action on display here in Mullet MadJack, and there is also quite a lot of content included, what with things like an Endless Mode. But the issue is the lack of soul. It is fast, it is furious, but it unfortunately also feels meaningless.

BLEACH Rebirth of Souls is a great entry into the BLEACH universe. The story is well done and while the online side of things is a bit of a mess (not all the game’s fault, as online players will always adopt anything that lets them win) you’ll find plenty of fun within.

Super Jagger Bomb 2: Go East may not seamlessly gel together, but collecting bombs is a blast, for a time at least.

Next of Kin is a simple game in many ways, but this doesn’t stop it from being a solid retro inspired, narrative driven mystery thriller.

Well designed, beautifully drawn and with a real challenge, if you have an interest in this genre, then The Stone of Madness will be right up your alley.

O.W.L Projekt 2 very much feels like an expansion of the original game, never attempting anything different from before.

Alter Age is a standard KEMCO JRPG with a couple of new features. Do they lift Alter Age above the run of the mill games? Well, yes, they do. Just. And while this isn’t one of the best games in the publisher’s back catalogue, it does have just enough to ensure a recommendation.

You may adore the complexities of item management, and feel a puzzling test of the mind will set you up for the day. But aside from masses of Gamerscore, and the odd whir of your brain, Legends Aligned ultimately comes up short, never changing from the tried and tested method it initially delivers.

Caligo does a good job at taking you on a journey, but the lack of any other gameplay choices could be a bit off-putting. The themes of the narrative can be quite deep too, at times overplayed, however, Caligo is certainly a game that will stick in the mind long after play.

Atomfall is an intriguing concept done just about well enough. It won’t be the clunky first-person combat or the fetch quest-esque approach that will be what it’s remembered for, but the surrounding mystery and how you as the player choose to uncover it.

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.

Popotinho’s Adventures is a distinctly average platformer which pulls on a meagre amount of tired and tested ideas from the genre, resulting in a surprisingly lengthy but otherwise disappointing experience.

Runny Bunny may not surprise or even impress you, but the combination of puzzle elements and the fact it’s a little demanding at times makes this a couple of hours of solid fun. Definitely more carrot than stick.

The best I can say about Cyber Mission is that it runs okay, and that the two player side of things is better than the solo play. Other than that, it’s one to avoid.

Sometimes all you need is some insanely fast-paced and extremely fun gunplay, great enemy designs, and huge open levels to have a good time. And that’s exactly what Turok achieves.

Rabbit Raid is a forgettable experience that only really has one gimmick - picking up and throwing vegetables. But even that is barely a factor throughout the majority of the game, only being utilised during the even more forgettable boss fights.

Blow it up has enough about it to remind of the joys of Angry Birds. The destruction mechanics are good, as is trying to work out exactly where the sweet spot sits, all so you can go blowing things up with aplomb.

If you’re a fan of Assassin's Creed, hooked from the very first game, you’ll find a lot of love for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. It feels very familiar, but still manages to do a great job of adding extra relish in terms of combat, visuals, and storytelling. There's no doubt that the double protagonist pivot, with different playstyles, is a winning formula.

WWE 2K25 is impressive all-round with its exciting and enthralling gameplay that’s enhanced by a great selection of game modes. While The Island doesn’t reach its potential, the likes of MyFACTION, MyRISE and Showcase are thriving. And then there’s the massive roster to take into account, which is crucial to longevity.

Ghost Teen Escape from Limbo is yet another by the numbers platformer which provides a fleeting but fairly fun flutter of gameplay, even if it fails to do anything that helps it stand out from the crowd.

As a first foray onto Xbox consoles, Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & The Envisioned Land does a stellar job. It looks stunning, and the strong mix of exploration, alchemy and combat all complement each other extremely well. At times it does feel the story beats are a bit too spaced out, and the world map is daunting to look at, but no two play sessions are the same.

You’ll have a good time with Prison Loop, and the cost outlay feels about right for the amount of time you will get to spend with it.

Not to exaggerate but Split Fiction is a very special game. It’s one thing to aspire to offer variety and bring so many ideas together. It’s entirely another to manage it so successfully, creating a game which just gets better and better and better, as well as managing to stick the landing when it comes to the final act.

Wanderstop is visually stunning, complete with a great soundtrack and capable of surprising anyone who plays.

Gravitators brings something a little bit different to the table of an overcrowded market, and as such is worthy of a look. While it isn’t massively original, bringing things together as it has, does deliver a spark of originality.

If you can get past the annoying controls and unwieldy camera, then there is a semi-fun game to be found in Glover (QUByte Classics). The levels are well designed and the bonus stages offer up some good variation, but it will take some patience and effort to get to that point.

Whilst the odd trap may see Steampunch occasionally err on the side of ‘challenging’, this is a platformer that is about as simple as you can get. Slightly imprecise mechanics add to that, but mostly this is a side scrolling platformer that can be completed in less than a hour. And then forgotten about straight after that.

Two Point Museum is arguably the best in the series yet, and keeps the hot streak going for the consistently brilliant sim series.

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

We reached the end of Cats and Seek: Dino Park without any fuss, and enjoyed the brief time spent with it. Well put together, if you're a fan of cosy gaming, hidden object hunting, or cats in general, it'll be well worth your time taking a trip to the Dino Park.

The choices in Afterlove EP are plentiful, but it does feel at times they are a bit too superficial, and don’t have much bearing on the way the overall story is progressing. But that story is still an interesting and engaging one, and that’s what makes Afterlove EP a great narrative.

Even after investing many multiples of hours into Civilization VII, you’ll continue to be dragged back in. Much like most of the franchise, it's a real time-eater, and once you start it's hard to stop. There may be a bit of a dumbing down in systems, but as someone who has come back to the series after time away, I appreciate the change, even though it continues to feel familiar.

There is a ton of DLC available for City Transport Simulator: Tram, but even with all that, is this a game that will fulfil your tram sim needs? Well, maybe. The simple nature of driving a tram across a city is fine, but the career mode feels lacking

Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit will bring a smile to your face. If you had a checklist of all the best bits of a point-and-click game, this is one that is capable of ticking nearly all of it off.

Techno Banter is a short game, and even in that time, your interest may wane, but on the whole the writing is good, as is the chance to explore a pixelated cyberpunk world.

If you're thirsty for a unique and flavourful RPG experience, a game that is full-bodied, then Cabernet might be just the drink you're looking for.

Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator is both interesting and reasonably engaging. The mix of driving and treatment simulation is unique, and it can be educational to learn about the different instruments and medications used in emergency medical care. However, the driving sections can become tedious after a while, especially when navigating through dense traffic or dealing with unpredictable pedestrians.

The Backrooms 1998 is a great horror game, albeit one that is pretty short. You may enjoy the earlier aspects more than those that play out later down the line, but throughout a playthrough you’ll find some excellent sound and visual designs, as a real sense of menace plays out.