Dragon Quest Builders 2 is going to be the perfect game for some people and the most tedious of ones for others. Presenting a more directed take on the classic Minecraft structure, this succeeds at retaining that creativity while actively giving players something to work for and something tangible to do. But, more impressively, Builders 2 never feels like a pale imitation.

If you’re a fan of the genre looking to explore its rich history and origins, then Renegade on Xbox One is a pretty insightful trip down arcade brawling lane.

The cute style is appealing, the story is suitably bonkers, and the difficulty is set right for the younger gamer. It’s short, yes, and it isn’t overly challenging, but it is fun and worth a try. It’s not going to trouble the Final Fantasy experiences of this world, but for a quick diversion, you could do a lot worse.

Despite the problems prevalent in its control schemes and design choices, The Persistence on Xbox One feels so utterly unique in its genre. Its roots in the VR design have felt like both a blessing and a curse for the overall package, but the good most certainly outweighs the bad in this rogue-lite adventure.

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.

Over these laid-back winter days, Dad’s Monster House might be exactly what you need. A well-constructed, taut little graphic adventure that sticks around for a few hours.

Overall and whilst Earthfall is looking to carve an identity of its own and bring the alien invasion to our screens once more, it’s impossible not to compare it with the Left 4 Dead series. On a positive though, those wishing for a new Left 4 Dead title will find plenty of fun to be had with this addictive shooter and with a few more campaigns added to increase the longevity of the game, this is easily a title that many will want to head back to time and time again.

Hover is a great game if all you want to do is chill out and relax. The main, central district can be explored for hours and you still won’t discover everything, and if you play it online there is a great community to play and compete with. If you want to focus on the story though, it loses its charm as you suffer through repetitive looking areas and missions that bog down the whole experience.

While some might find the interiors and character design somewhat dated, and there are occasional glitches, Nephise: Ascension is a worthwhile look, especially for those who enjoy atmospheric exploration.

There is a lot to like in Bright Memory: Infinite. It is a graphically impressive marvel that is a marked improvement over its predecessor. The story is hard to follow but the gameplay more than makes up for its shortcomings. From the solid gunplay to the fun genre mashups, Bright Memory: Infinite is undeniably a fun time.

Know the beast that you’re getting: ASTROSMASH is a coin-op classic that’s been given a razzle-dazzle visual improvement, four-player co-op, as well as reams of graphical and gameplay options. What it isn’t is a modern shmup with all of the depth and game modes that you might come to expect from the genre. Know these rules of engagement, and ASTROSMASH might surprise you.

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.

Solo: Islands of the Heart on Xbox One is something of an enigma. The deep delve into the player’s love life is a risky one as many won’t even want to contemplate such thoughts when gaming and so the ‘story’ could be a non-event for some folk. On the plus side though, the visuals, the sounds and the puzzling goes hand in hand to create an experience that’s a challenge.

On the whole, NBA Live 19 is definitely on the right path. It’s aesthetics are beautiful, both on and off the court especially in regards to its player models, which are stunning. The inclusion of the WNBA is a fantastic step forward that puts it’s a step above the 2K series. Unfortunately, the “story mode” feels very stale and just doesn’t compare to other sports game’s take on it.

Petroglyph Games have managed to pack a ton of content into what could be considered by some to be nothing less than an expansion pack, however there have had to be some concessions made in making this console RTS experience, as well as attempting to make it accessible to beginners; not all make for a better experience.

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.

It’s fair to say that there are mobile game vibes going on in Farm Frenzy: Refreshed, but before you view that as a negative, it’s that element of proceedings which lends itself to providing something addictive; something easy to pick up and play for short spells. The cursor issues are the biggest bugbear of all though, causing a hindrance to your chances of sweeping up all the stars.

Park Story is every bit the Scottish fable. It’s thick with humour, colour and character, and we were endlessly surprised by it. There’s a Legend of Zelda template at play, but mostly it’s scrawled over and rethought to create something new. We just wish it wouldn’t randomly and unexpectedly headbutt us like it does

KungFu Kickball is certainly not the casual, immediate party game that it presents itself as, and it needs some repeat play to master it. If that sounds like a fun project for you and your mates, then KungFu Kickball can be hilariously rewarding. Twin it with a screening of Shaolin Soccer, and you are golden.

If you’ve been waiting for Brain Training on the Xbox, Professor Rubik’s Brain Fitness delivers exactly on those terms. It’s fully featured and well presented, with tasks that stretch your brain to its limits, even more so than Dr Kawashima’s did. There may be a hole at the centre of the cube where a personality or identity should be, but for the puzzle enthusiasts who want to keep their brain limber, this is ideal, cubed.

Megaquarium: Freshwater Frenzy is able to deliver more of the same. This is a great and underrated sim management game, now with a new injection of fresh content for players to enjoy.

I still find The Inner World: The Last Wind Monk to be an enjoyable point-and-click adventure, however the price is almost double that of its predecessor which doesn’t help matters. Is it twice as good? No, but if you were a fan of Robert’s first outing, then you’ll have a thoroughly good time here I’m sure.

IN-VERT on Xbox One is a bit of a rollercoaster. On the one hand, I think its challenging gameplay, tight controls and beautiful difficulty curve make for an engaging little platforming romp. On the other hand, the boss fights are bad, the story is pointless, and the wonky collision detection can be horrifyingly upsetting. However, also like a rollercoaster, once it was finished I felt satisfied.

VED is an unconventional game that defies easy categorisation. While it might not immediately grab your attention, it gradually becomes more engaging as you delve deeper into its story and world. See it as a slow burn that rewards patience and exploration…

Is a fairly by-the-numbers twin-stick roguelike enough to get you parting with your cash? If the familiarity sounds like it might be comforting rather than galling, then there’s every chance that you will find a rewarding and deep dungeon-crawler in Mystic Gate.

Project Blue is a perfect fit for those after a retro inspired platforming challenge. Otherwise, you’ll struggle to find much here to win you over.

Whether you’ll find enjoyment with SubwaySim 2 or not will depend on how much you like picking up passengers and working your way across routes in an allotted time. That said, the scenarios on offer are good, adding a bit of variety to the usual gameplay, almost adding in a story.

Scott Whiskers in: the Search for Mr. Fumbleclaw very much puts the heart back into point and click. It's a lovely funny story that takes you on an unexpected journey; one full of cats and relatable characters.