Insurgency: Sandstorm is a completely immersive experience. The level designs are fantastic, the simple gameplay is executed exquisitely, the level of customisation of characters and loadouts is various and the sound design is like nothing I’ve ever experienced.

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.

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

Last Time I Saw You is a beautiful looking adventure full of interesting sub-plots that complement the main narrative arc. Sure, the gameplay mechanics are hit and miss, but the shortcomings are easily overlooked.

Justice Sucks: Tactical Vacuum Action is a refreshingly original title that strikes a brilliant balance for players, offering an experience that is accessible, addictive and - above all else - an astounding amount of fun.

In all, Curse of the Dead Gods on Xbox is a game that is easy to recommend to anyone looking for a challenge. It is is always hard, always difficult, and has not a shred of mercy built into it. In fact, you need to be on top of your game in order to make it to the bosses, never mind to take them down. But should you fail, you can always put your finger on why you did so. The gameplay is complemented well by the overall design; the enemies are great, the Temple looks amazing and the mechanics of the corruption and the light is very well-realised. While it won’t be to everyone’s taste, if a challenge is something you seek, Curse of the Dead Gods will provide it.

Just Shapes & Beats is one of those games that captures your heart and soul. It's addictive, difficult, and great.

Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles has provided an experience that I haven’t found in gaming for a long time. Each and every time I have booted it up, I have been filled with a sense of glee, excited to get back into this beautiful world. While not all of the systems work as well as the developers may have hoped, I have found myself loving almost every minute of my time spent in Gemea and the world of Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles.

You could experience fits of laughter, you may even shed a small tear, but most importantly you’ll have an adventure like no other with Lair of the Clockwork God.

Destiny 2: The Final Shape is the best expansion that has been added to Destiny 2. The story arc truly draws to a close, but there is still much to get on with - exotic quests, new chapters and a whole new area to explore. They make The Final Shape a must play if you are a Destiny fan.

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

F1 23 is a step up from what was created in F1 22, and thanks to the inclusion of a second instalment of Braking Point, it's right up there with F1 2021. In some aspects it surpasses that too.

Cassette Beasts might not be as immediate as a certain pocket-monster game on another platform, but its depths are more cavernous. If you’ve been aching for a beast-battler that treats you as an adult, well, what’s stopping you? Go collect ‘em all.

The years have been kind to Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered, and its arrival on Xbox and Xbox Game Pass should win it legions of new fans.

There are some tiny oddities here, but this is an otherwise cracking modern-day platforming experience. Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is one of those games that you will have some superb fun with, constantly in awe of the new mechanics that are introduced, marvelling at the sheer variety of stages and ideas found within.

I don’t often recommend frequent visits to a hospital, but Two Point Hospital on Xbox One is one which you must get admitted to at the soonest opportunity. It’ll be your new addiction.

The Curse of the Pharaohs rounds off a great Origins season pass with a big chunk of content. If you’re a fan of Origins then this package is a must buy.

ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights does almost everything right, with varied level design, a multitude of enemies, a good progression system, and a beautiful soundtrack.

9 Years of Shadows is a love letter to the 90s, amalgamating classics such as Metroid, Zelda, Castlevania, Altered Beast - the list goes on and on. But never once does it feel as though it is plagiarising these games, rather paying homage and rejuvenating their ideas for a modern audience.

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is no doubt among the best Xbox platform exclusives of 2021, and a staggering showcase for your console of choice. It manages to translate an ambitious PC epic almost seamlessly into a console experience, where the play mechanics and control scheme are mapped perfectly onto the Xbox controller.

With more of the same charm and horror that made Prey so enjoyable, and plenty of variety and challenge brought with each unique run, Arkane Studios have done a fantastic job at giving us a quality triple-A roguelike experience.

I really enjoyed Maize, perhaps more than I should have. I was expecting the game to be absurd to the point where it made no sense, but in reality I found the story cohesive. Completely out there with a Russian teddy bear and walking, talking corn stalks, but still cohesive.

Trials of Mana is a delightful experience. The engaging story, enjoyable combat, and charming presentation make it a must-play for RPG fans, with the monster pop-in issue just a minor blemish on an otherwise polished game.

All in all, Shiness: The Lightning Kingdom is a phenomenal game that deserves to be played and enjoyed by anyone who is a fan of RPG action games.

Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition is a faithful remaster. It may not radically change or update the source material, but that matters little thanks to its brilliance.

BALL x PIT is a mash-up of Vampire Survivors and Breakout, and it is just as addictive. Runs are short and explosive, and you can feel the improvements in between them, all lending itself to giving it one last try, again and again.

Let’s hand Lost Twins 2 its laurels. Making a cooperative game that delights the experienced gamer just as much as the inexperienced is witchcraft. Only Hazelight can do it consistently. But in comes Lost Twins 2 who nails that AND arrives with an innovative mechanic.

What do we have with Inspector Waffles? An absolutely brilliant point-and-click adventure. The story, characters and overall dialogue are all brilliantly written, and the puzzles encourage exploration and experimentation.