DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods - Part Two on Xbox has made tweaks in all the right places to improve things for the concluding part of the DOOM Slayer saga. It’s by no means perfect, but the gameplay and tactics required makes it worth sticking around to finish the fight against evil.

Banana Mania is the ultimate Super Monkey Ball collection: the best levels, the best minigames and the best fun. But don’t let the cute graphics lull you into a false sense of security, even with the questionable quality of life improvements, it remains as tricky and as addictive as ever.

Breakers Collection is one of the better QUByte Interactive remasters and so if you have a hankering for the past, and games with an almost psychic AI, this is for you.

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.

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.

Assassin’s Creed III Remastered on Xbox One is a good game which is fun to play. The graphics may be significantly improved but this is essentially the same as it was seven years ago, albeit now up against much stronger competition. If you’ve never played it before, at £29.99, with all the DLC, it’s worth a look.

Whether you’re familiar with the original or not, Soul Hackers 2 is a fascinating supernatural JRPG that excels in character development and storytelling.

Sadly, Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly can’t match up to its predecessor. It lacks the emotional impact of the first game that meant it stuck with you long after completion. There are still some very touching moments towards the end, depending on how you choose to play it, and the additional endings are welcome, but this reunion of old friends and acquaintances is lacking the same spark that the first game had to spare.

With a nice short, sharp and enticing story, a truly colourful and beautifully realised setting and an achievement list you’ll have mopped up within a few hours, there are many reasons you’ll want to add this fine story adventure to your must play list.

LEGO Speed Champions content is a worthy addition to the Forza Horizon 4 racing juggernaut. It’s bright, colourful, zinging with life – albeit plastic life with jigging Mini Figs – and most of all is a fun place to take in.

If you like point and click adventures with a big side dose of narrative and wish to spend some time dreaming, then Dreamfall Chapters is a place that is well worth visiting.

If we focus on the visual novel genre of gaming, then Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is up there as one of the most accomplished. The story is immense and engaging, the animation is outstanding and some TV broadcast quality is found in the cutscenes.

There’s no doubt that Train Sim World 4 is yet another strong entry in the Train Sim World series. A game that is capable of offering up hundreds of hours of gameplay, the only real question is whether or not we really need a new iteration already. But for fans of the railways, the lure of new tracks and trains will always be a draw, as will some visual improvements.

I’d argue that wrestling aficionados will still find WWE 2K19 to be joyous in short spells and it’s definitely an improvement, so it’s worth a look. Maybe, just maybe, wait for a sale if you’re not entirely convinced.

Whilst it attempts to channel the classic 3D platformers, Trifox feels much more like its own competent video game. The twin-stick and mix-and-match abilities can afford the player lots of freedom to play around with. But don’t let the cute platforming visuals suggest this is an easy ride; Trifox is challenging without ever being unfair.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is well worth a look. I mean, what have you got to lose? Except possibly your life?

It’s rare to find a debut game as confident as As Dusk Falls. It’s rarer still to find one that unerringly finds your belly for an emotional gut punch like this one does.

There is a lot to like about Lords of the Fallen. The scope and scale of the two worlds is impressive, whilst the combat is fast and frantic. Even the exploration side of things, while tricky, is rewarding when you manage it.

Mothergunship is a fun experience. Seeing a gun you’ve designed and crafted rip apart the robotic alien hordes is always fun, and the odd niggles aside, it is more than a decent game to play.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind is a real love letter to the 90’s, in both style of game and content. This is clearly aimed at fans of the TV series, but even if you are unfamiliar, you’ll still have a great time.

The latest in the MotoGP series of games is probably the greatest too. MotoGP 21 looks great, sounds right, and when the gameplay and tactics click and you finally start to make progress through the ranks, it’s a great feeling.

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.

All in all, Grim Legends 3: The Dark City stands out from the Artifex Mundi pack thanks to its exciting story of creatures and secret orders, whilst the voice acting has come a long way from the games that precede it.

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

If you’re into mountain biking, enjoy games that are a bit different, or simply want a bit of a challenge then Descenders is a game you need to be paying attention to.

Disjunction on Xbox is a game that I hadn't heard anything of prior to playing it, and I've been pleasantly surprised by how polished and assured it is. The story is a cracker, getting to know the three main characters and their abilities has been interesting, and all in all it’s provided an extremely enjoyable time. This is helped by an appealing hook and gameplay elements that are strong enough to ensure you keep on playing.

PUSS! on Xbox is absolutely worth picking up and trying. If you have the patience to get through its often brutal levels, you will find a surreal, rewarding experience that is simply unlike anything else. This is a game that will make you scream in both anger and delight, but it's also a game that comes with some of the most satisfying gameplay I’ve experienced in a long while.

It is always strange to replay a game, especially one like The Sinking City; a game that is quite hefty in terms of the hours required. But with this next-gen edition, this is never an issue and it’s been a delight to head back in to the world it delivers - mostly thanks to the new tweaks making it feel like you are playing a new game at times. From the fast loading times to the texture of rain on a coat, The Sinking City now feels wonderful.

Should you want to involve yourself in mass fights, laughing uncontrollably throughout, or wish to get engrossed in the RPG elements of Beneath, you’ll want to put your best fighting shoes on, because it’s time to Paint the Town Red.

SCHiM is an inventive, highly creative puzzle platformer. There’s a genius idea that comes to the fore, and going from shadow to shadow is highly entertaining. But the developers have also managed to create a world and a story that many will want to spend much time in...In a perfect world, there could be some more hints and pointers, but SCHiM is a game that will ensure you’ll never want to lose track of your shadow.

Yes, I Am Your Beast falters at times. There are moments of clunkyness, slight repetition, too-short campaign. But when it works, and more often than not, it absolutely does, it traps you in the most beautiful kind of loop.

We have no illusions about which of the two Teslagrads we prefer. The first game, recently remastered, is just that little bit more considered, clever and rewarding. Teslagrad 2 ups the cool factor by handing you a breakneck slide, letting you glide about like Sonic, but the result lacks the first game’s finesse.

Call of the Elder Gods is a special game that serves as the perfect sequel to Call of the Sea. It instils a wonderful sense of adventure that reminds of classic Indiana Jones films, just without the constant action and combat.

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is a real blast as it injects the madcap abilities and personas of the One Piece universe into the Musou style of gameplay that the Warriors games are known for. Sure, the objectives themselves are quite bland, but the action itself is a hell of a lot of fun thanks to the varied roster possessing devastating moves.

With Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War on Xbox you get a hell of a lot of game for your money. It’s a game in which you could easily spend hundreds of hours in, and then you can throw Warzone on top. It's a great package and one that provides a thoroughly enjoyable campaign, a deep multiplayer mode, and tons of the usual Call of Duty theatrics.

The Council Episode 2: Hide and Seek is, once again, a very good addition to an experience that delivers a complicated, interesting and thoughtful story, constantly hinting at a much larger overriding narrative arc.

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.

Slight graphical issues aside, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered is a great offering, and a brilliant glimpse into the past.

The visual tone, soundtrack, and narration of Candle: The Power of Flame, as well as the inclusion of great puzzle elements see it coming across as something with brilliant invention. The downsides are that some of the game mechanics feel a bit off, and a tad annoying, but it isn’t enough to dampen the spirits or ruin the enjoyment of this stunning candle adventure.

Saints Row The Third Remastered on Xbox One is big, brash and bloody brutal. And it’s just as much fun as it was upon the original release. But it’s also a bit clunky, provides unsatisfying combat opportunities, and the new visual style, whilst appreciated, doesn’t really bring it up to modern day standards. If you’re a Saints fan then you’ll have no trouble playing through this again, but those who have previously steered clear of the franchise probably won’t find much need for this remaster – no matter how much content it brings.

The classic Meat Boy mechanics are still present in Super Meat Boy 3D and it feels great to sprint through a level while narrowly dodging whatever the game throws at you. It can be frustrating at times, but to a certain extent, that’s kind of the point. For the most part, this is a great challenge that hits the mark much more than it misses.

The return of Morrowind will certainly be hitting the right notes with many fans of the series, but it also adds to a growing list of reasons as to why The Elder Scrolls series is better as a solo experience.

Overdriven Reloaded is a big game, packing a lot of value and gameplay hours into a small space before you’ll be done with it. It isn’t as polished as Sky Force, for instance, but the roughness is part of the charm, in an endearing kind of way.

There’s fun to be had here, especially in couch co-op, but the niggles sit in the mix like a bunch of wasps at a picnic; you can try to ignore them, but sooner or later they are going to sting you.

Deliver Us The Moon on Xbox One is a game that I have thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish, fully immersed in its 6-hour or so running time. There is a nice range of puzzles to play with, a great piece of storytelling on offer and some excellent exploring to be had. It’s all helped along by good visuals and some wonderful sound in both the music and voice-over departments.

Bonkies on Xbox is a charming puzzle game at heart, which is best enjoyed with friends. It’s not without its niggles, however there’s a genuinely enjoyable experience on offer here which will appeal to gamers of all ages.

Wayward Strand has you on the outside, looking in, and we found our attention wavering as we were shaking the bars that held us back.

Batora: Lost Haven is a cracking adventure boasting a powerful character driven story. Despite simple and sometimes unvaried gameplay, there’s enough here to keep you invested until this tale’s conclusion.

EA Sports WRC is probably the best there is. Begin to understand the need to be fast but cautious and any fan of the World Rally Championships should look to get behind the wheel of this one at the earliest of opportunities.

For the right person I am sure Discounty would be a satisfying package as is, but it falls short in a lot of areas that otherwise have great potential.

You will be pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable moving containers around a port can be. A big part of that enjoyment stems from the story of Docked, closely followed by the precision of the gameplay.

It’s the more-ishness where Grind Survivors stumbles. While it gives you plenty of ways to build your avatar, it doesn’t give you enough to do in terms of levels, objectives or enemies. And the meagre unlocks are spread too thinly over what little is there. That ‘Grind’ in the title begins to feel less a selling point, and more a warning.

The Disney Afternoon Collection is a perfect conversion of the originals, so if you are a fan of super hard retro gaming, this will be right up your street. For everyone else, the pure, unadulterated gameplay that goes into these titles should be the main hook.

Fight’N Rage on Xbox One is an ocean-deep video game belonging to a genre not normally known for offering gameplay variety. The fighting system and level design have a level of depth and variety which provide plenty to discover for those willing to commit. Beyond this there is a pandora’s box of unlockable goods and secrets worth coming back to again and again.

Stylish, slick and set in Small Heath, Peaky Blinders: Mastermind on Xbox One is a strong first outing for the family. It may be a little on the short side, but it’s a refreshingly different way to test your gray matter.

If you have the reflexes of a ninja, if you eat Mega Man games for breakfast, if you are young and limber, then OkunoKA Madness on Xbox One will challenge you. If you are riddled by the ravages of time, however, it will break you... without a word of a lie. It plays well, controls brilliantly, but is absolutely unforgiving, so if you want to challenge your reactions and your finger dexterity, OkunoKA Madness is the game for you.

If you’re a fan of WRC, want a new racer to keep things a little exciting and fancy pushing your car through some of the finest tracks in the world, then WRC 8 is probably going to be a good buy for you.

Rival Megagun manages to bring something new to the table; a rare thing in this day and age. Adding PvP to a shmup is a bold move, but it’s one that works very well and beating a real person gives a buzz that is quite addictive.

If you’re looking for something slightly different in tone, with a great story, some slow paced thoughtful gameplay and visuals that look like a piece of art then take a trip to Trüberbrook.

DOA6 is fast, fun and doesn’t take itself too seriously – the perfect way to wind down after a hard day at work. If you are looking for a new fighting game to embrace and spend time getting to know, you can do a lot worse than Dead or Alive 6, although I’m going to have to be slightly harsh with the scoring due to the online gremlins that are in place.

Sure, there’s a zombie apocalypse happening, but Dead Island 2 might be the most fun end-of-days yet. The dark humour, gratuitous violence and sandbox-esque playground of LA allows you to come up with some beautiful and brutal zombie kills.

Metal Slug Tactics may take a couple of hours before things start to click, but once it does it offers a fresh perspective on a tactical RPG. It plays like a Metal Slug game, it absolutely looks like a Metal Slug game, but it manages to do all that in a tactical fashion, with some fresh ideas that keep things fun and fast paced.

Treat Sonic Superstars as another 2D Sonic adventure and it’s fine. Treat it as anything more, like it was advertised, and you will be disappointed.

I would highly recommend giving The Long Dark a go, especially if you’re after something different and love the idea of a survival sim with an interesting story.

A combination of a great price, some brilliantly challenging mechanics, a rather unique premise, a quality visual look and that banging soundtrack pumping away, ensures that Octahedron should be right up there near the top of your wanted list.

My Friend Pedro on Xbox One is a gloriously violent, silly and, ultimately, fun game. Because the experience is so short it doesn’t give itself time to become irrelevant or boring, and so we are gifted this little gem of fun that can just be enjoyed.

Edna & Harvey: The Breakout - Anniversary Edition on Xbox One is a big old game, but if you wish to get your teeth into a world of eccentricity and the bizarre it should just suffice.

Time Loader is a good story-driven platforming adventure that does interesting things involving time travel and creates a very likeable robot.

If you need to stop an asteroid, you call Superman, but if you need pure joy in your life, pick up DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos.

Are you ready for an addiction? DECEIVE INC. may well provide it. How long that feeling will last is debatable but there’s no doubt that this one will grab you at some point. Perhaps the real test will be with the online community though as whilst the servers keep busy, there is a great future for DECEIVE INC.

Hugely accessible, Mr. Run and Jump is once again proof that Atari know exactly what is needed to deliver a new addiction to the modern gaming scene. This is a vibrant platforming delight.

Contra: Operation Galuga is a more than solid run and gun shooter that you should take for a spin. It comes with some great shooting action, an interesting weapon system and the chance to play with friends. Just be aware of the difficulty.

NBA 2K22 is a great basketball game. In fact it's probably the best basketball game out there and actually hitting the court and playing games is thrilling, exciting, and looks brilliant. And alongside that, MyNBA will eat away at your life; fantastically detailed and absorbing, while MyTEAM will cater to the many. It’s only MyCAREER which lets it down

It’s not without issues, but the brilliance of the parkour and deepness of the combat easily outweigh the various bugs and glitches which pop up. Perhaps it’s not able to revolutionise the genre like the first game did, but Dying Light 2 Stay Human is still more than worthy of your time, patience and hope of staying human.

If you like a puzzler then you’re going to like 7th Sector on Xbox One. The puzzles will test your mental abilities to the limit and it will constantly surprise you in its attack and verve.

While it seems that Popcap and EA have played it somewhat safe, Neighborville is still an interesting game to play, and with more of an emphasis on the story mode, including the return of the gnomes to find and vanquish, there is plenty of fun to be had here. Just don't expect to have your socks blown off with the originality on display.

Rogue City offers a true RoboCop experience, immersive gameplay, and a story that keeps players engaged. The attention to detail and faithful recreation of the iconic character makes this a must-play for fans of the franchise and newcomers alike. I can happily ignore the niggles because Teyon have remembered the most important thing for licensed games - authenticity and fun gameplay.

Park Beyond oozes character and is dripping with imagination, but the execution is sadly lacking in parts. That said, this fantastical world gives the creative types the tools to run wild.

Need For Speed Unbound is an attempt to recapture the glory days of the Need for Speed franchise, and to a large degree, it succeeds. There are annoyances, such as the cheap AI, ridiculous driving effects and music, and the ability to steer your car in the middle of a jump, but against that is set a strong upgrade mechanic, fun races and great set pieces, not to mention some intense police chases.

If you want a shorter experience, maybe a less challenging one complete with a ton of thrills and spills, then Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a good option to have.

If you are looking for a completely different Star Wars experience, one that plays with a very good open-world, then Star Wars Outlaws should be taken in.

Ghostrunner’s flaws are tragic ones. With it starting so strong, the bugs, poor optimization and horrendous design choices stung more and more. If all you’re looking for is a cyberpunk distraction until CD Projekt Red’s hotly anticipated title, this may be just what you’re looking for. However, if you want a game that’s consistent and well-made throughout, you could play the first eight levels of Ghostrunner on Xbox One and pretend it ends there.

When it comes down to it Westerado: Double-Barreled is a unique game. Its pixelated art style separates it from the crowd with great effect. The writing and sense of humour is executed well, as well as the overall story and motivations. It’s a simple but effective game that gives the player what they want – to be a badass cowboy.

World War Z: Aftermath improves on the base game in a number of ways. Despite the new content only adding a few short hours of gameplay, there are more reasons than ever for players to keep coming back for more.

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.

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.

The puzzles can verge on the sublime, and the prospect of a season pass and new escape rooms makes us slobber with anticipation. We could arch an eyebrow at the story and controls, but ultimately it’s hard to escape just how clever Escape Academy is.

Beyond a Steel Sky verges on the impressive. However, the puzzles can occasionally feel over-complicated at times and there are moments where the game does get a bit saggy narrative-wise; especially in the middle section. But the new 3D world, the great visuals, and the new hacking mechanics certainly make up for some of the negatives.

There’s more than meets the eye in The Last Cube. It may be unassuming, but it’s smart, deep and totally engrossing.

It is great to have one of the classic farming games on modern consoles again, but STORY OF SEASONS: A Wonderful Life can’t hold a candle to many of the more modern offerings.

Eternal Strands tries much, and very nearly all of it comes off. We could do with some faster pace to lore integration, yet if you wish to skip the backstory that attempts to be injected, you can do so. But land in the world created by Yellow Brick Games and you’ll constantly be astounded by what Eternal Strands offers, whether it be during an Epic battle, in the various ways of traversing the land, or with the playing of physics, the thermos and the mechanics at play.

There is a lot of game to go at in Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny, as well as a host of bosses to beat, each one providing a stellar challenge. If you like samurai affairs, or the Onimusha games in general, Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is an easy sell, as it is very much more of the same.

Journey to the Savage Planet on Xbox One is an amazing game – there are no two ways about it. It plays fast and fluidly, the enemies are challenging to kill (especially the bosses) and with a beautifully scripted, humorous thread of story running through it’s been a joy to play. In fact, if the netcode had worked properly at all times it would be a slam dunk for this Savage Planet, but even then you still owe it to yourself to play this game. It really is that good.

No matter how you look at it, Persona 5 Tactica is super rewarding and there’s not a thing to moan about. As a bold new direction for the Persona franchise, I have to applaud the bravery.

Carrion on Xbox One is a very well-designed and crafted game. Whilst it can be frustrating to backtrack and redo levels when you’ve got a new power, the backtracking is part of the design rather than a flaw in the design. The combat is nicely weighted and the stealth elements are light and don’t require too much patience. Whilst it’s a short, punchy game, it doesn’t outstay its welcome or become repetitive.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Heart of the Forest revels in storytelling and character-building, presenting you with choices to make, adding consequences to those choices, and then growing your character based on those consequences. It could have done with a bit more bite and certainly more Garou-bloodletting, but the tale it tells will leave you over the (full) moon.

The depth and the difficulty of Age of Wonders 4 - and this is properly hard, be in no doubt - as well as the sheer amount of things to do, ensures this is a great way of losing a few hours, days, weeks or maybe even months.

Perhaps the opening moments of Airhead are a bit bewildering and the latter puzzles are rock hard, but as an overall experience, Airhead is a blast.