Chess Knights: Viking Lands on Xbox is pretty unique and the mash-up between Vikings and chess is one that I could never have imagined would work. But as a puzzler, it does – even if the control scheme doesn’t particularly help matters.

It is likely that Dead Island 2: SoLA is the last major update for Dead Island 2. It’s a shame then that it’s the weaker of the two post-release add-ons

Dogurai is an interesting game, purely from it being a throwback to the games of yesteryear. But it’s not a great fit on Xbox, with the short and sweet levels possibly more suited to something like a Nintendo Switch. Still, if you want to take a trip back in time, Dogurai may be for you.

The annoyances of Glorious Savior are pretty much balanced by the new mechanics, and as a result this is a very middle of the road game - it never quite tips over the edge into greatness, but neither does it fall into the pit of oblivion.

A game that does what it needs to do pretty well, Rise of Fox Hero is a good old-fashioned platformer; bright and cheerful, with a good amount of levels and challenge.

OddBallers has a fun and quirky side to it, and much like dodgeball, it doesn’t take itself too seriously. But this is a game that cannot survive on AI opponents and custom lobbies alone. There is one small change needed to help propel OddBallers into the next great online party game, and that’s to go free-to-play.

There’s no doubt that Trivia: Knowledge Trainer - the Quiz Game is good for a bit of fun for an hour or so, and the knowledge-building part of the game is genuinely great. But the extremely basic layout and its complete lack of thrills do lose it points in terms of long-term appeal or longevity.

I have two distinct reactions to my time with Vaccine. The first is hatred of its terrible old control system, changing camera angles and the random generating house of horror. The second reaction though is of respect and enjoyment at the increasing tension of the challenge, while getting better at unlocking the secret of the Vaccine. This is a game that you need to fail at and spend some time with in order to get the best out of it. If you can get past the issues I had at the beginning then there is a good Survival horror game in here, with a neat concept, that will make some classic gamers very happy indeed.

While we’ll happily cheerlead for Geometric Sniper, we’re also acutely aware that Blood in Paris represents a step down. It only contains half the levels of the original game, and those levels hide behind snipers that are trying to kill you this time. It works for a while, but then you realise the snipers are a distraction.

Kiosk is okay, at least for the couple of hours it’ll take you to get through the story.

Farmer’s Dynasty on Xbox One a solid and interesting addition to the farming sim market. I like the repairing elements of gameplay (probably more than I should), and you can easily invest hours and hours playing the game, especially when going deep with the RPG elements. The actual farming moments don’t innovate enough though, and there is no getting away from the fact that it is a big old grind.

Infinitrap: Rehamstered is a frantic little adventure game that almost makes dying fun. However, the Xbox release is a fairly meagre offering which falls short of its potential.

The bones of Stolen Realm are basically sound, and while one mission in the campaign is an issue, the rest of the gameplay is pretty good. The Dungeons and Dragons underpinnings ensure things are fun to play, and the tactical action can be challenging

Even though it doesn’t really excel at any one thing, it’s hard to fault Amazing Breaker, mostly as it does exactly what it has set out to do. If you’re after some quick arcade fun though, then Amazing Breaker could well be your ice breaker.

I have enjoyed spending time with Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection, getting immersed into the narrative as I went. But, at times, driving for long distances, working from A to B and then back to A again, becomes extremely tedious.

The independent pieces of Prisonela DX are great. The music slaps, the art does a strong job, bolstered by some dynamic visual effects. The levels themselves are dopamine hits translated into spinning blades and precise platforms. The fault lines appear in the translation to a roguelike. Prisonela DX’s bones are snapped and cracked to fit it to this new shape, and the result becomes less than the sum of those parts.

Dark Atlas: Infernum has a lot of promise in terms of its story and creative atmosphere. I liked what the game attempts to achieve, and in some parts, it does that very well. However, the lack of a map, the constant darkness and issues with overall focus don't help matters.

Given the steep price point, it’s hard to recommend the Williams Pinball: Twilight Zone table for Pinball FX to anyone except ardent fans of the TV show or those with love for the classic machines.

Cybertrash STATYX is very much an okay game. The action is pretty good fun, but then you get to a jumping section and feel like throwing your pad out of the window.

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is a cutesy adventure game that has a great sense of humor and some simple gameplay mechanics.

If your gaming horizons only encompassed Argonauts Agency and other 8floor games, then Argonauts Agency 5: Captive of Circe would be something of a masterpiece. For the series, this is smooth as Perseus’s shield, and it’s actually innovating. Two mechanics makes for one of the biggest leaps forward of any of their titles.

Royal Tower Defence on Xbox is a game that is greater than the sum of its parts, but if you are looking for a proper challenge, you could do a lot worse. It’s not a looker, but the gameplay shines through and the hook it delivers is certainly real. For the low asking price, it’s worth giving it a try.

It'll be the story and world that keep you going in Dead Man's Diary, even if things do get a bit familiar. But then, there are problems with the writing and the monotony of the survival mechanics.

On the whole Violett Remastered is a pretty good game and certainly a very challenging point and clicker that will put your brain into overdrive. The control system doesn't feel great at times and the lack of hand-holding or any kind of instruction make the first moments tricky. But as things progress and you get into the swing of things, this is a very enjoyable and very unique experience.

Shiro is a ten-a-penny platformer which achieves what it sets out to do; no more, no less. If you fancy some cheap thrills and easy Gamerscore, you’ll know exactly what to expect here.

DeadCore most definitely has the marmite effect. You will either love or hate speedrunning games and that will probably decide whether you like this or not.

G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout on Xbox One has an audience, but I can't imagine it's a very big one. The title is perfectly serviceable but there are so many options that are of higher quality and more worthy of your time that it’s tricky to want to get involved here. However if you are a fan of this franchise, it will be a fun romp through the world of G.I. Joe; something which is perhaps all it was ever trying to be in the first place.

If you’re looking for a unique adventure of exploration and don’t mind a slow build-up, Jalopy on Xbox One isn’t a bad shout.