Whether alone or with friends, and regardless of existing knowledge of the IP, Scott Pilgrim EX’s expertly crafted gameplay and graphics deliver a great time.

If you've any interest in running bullet hell experiences, or working with a whole variety of weapons and abilities, then NeverAwake allows for it. Chuck in a nifty little narrative to tie it all together and speedrunning opportunities for those looking for them, and there’s no debate this is one you should be playing right away.

Tiny Bookshop is inordinately clever. Even the smallest systems have knotty, interesting bits to them, from the stat-boosting furniture to the newspaper classifieds. It’s not a cozy game that coasts on you being relaxed and low-maintenance. It is generous, full of things to do, badges to earn and books to sell.

If you value your free time, or have a backlog of games to get through, then be warned: The Colonists can put you under the same magical spell as the original Settlers and ANNO. While its slowness can be occasionally irksome, particularly in the Campaign, it has a habit of dragging you back in. Book a week off, find a log cabin with wi-fi and no intrusions, and watch the time disappear.

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.

Hindsight 20/20: Wrath of the Raakshasa on Xbox is a creative tour de force from industry veterans, which integrates its thematic philosophy into both the narrative flow and game design. The game incorporates the weight and consequence of choice into the way the story unfolds, but also into enemy encounters as players have a choice to forgive their foe rather than simply vanquish these polygonal constructs.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is perhaps the best thing to come out of the Star Wars franchise since Disney took over.

If you like Aliens or strategy in real time, Aliens: Dark Descent is the game for you. Don’t come to it as a brainless blast-a-thon though - you will need to be cunning to finish off the threat!

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing adventure to immerse yourself into, or simply want to revitalise those dormant feelings of mystery and curiosity from your childhood, Pilo and the Holobook exceeds in both and so much more, providing a refreshing experience through its unique gameplay cycle.

If you have any interest in motorsport and are looking for a new speed fix, you’d do well to get behind the wheel of New Star GP at the earliest opportunity. Lack of online multiplayer aside, New Star GP is probably the best arcade racer currently available on the market.

The new characters are fun, the gunplay is as cool as ever, and the additional mechanics add an extra layer. The only fly in the ointment is that the sheer amount of fights do start to get repetitive, but with a crew, Borderlands 4 is about as good as it gets.

If it wasn’t for the weird camera angle and the oddly shaped hit box, Whacking Hell! would be getting dangerously close to Vampire Survivors territory. But as it is, it just falls short.

Exoprimal is extremely enjoyable. With so many permutations of levels, missions and suits to play, it’s a game that is always fresh and fun. I mean, it is dinosaurs fighting robot suits after all!

Perennial Order does enough to distinguish itself from the rest of the field. The mechanics certainly require you to adjust your usual Soulslike playstyle, but the way that the game unfolds and explains more of what is happening the further you get spurs you on.

I’m finding it hard to fault Milestone for what they’ve produced with MotoGP 20 on Xbox One. With multiple game modes, a career which is as deep and immersive as you want it to be, and an online offering which has so far worked flawlessly, there has hardly been a wheel misplaced in the development of this latest racer.

Should you have enjoyed the previous DLC offerings, or simply want more Sudden Strike 4 on Xbox One, then Pacific War is a must-buy DLC. It may prove a little more expensive than the previous packs but with plenty of new content chucked in, and some fantastic naval combat to be enjoyed, it’s hard to argue it doesn’t add incredible value to the game.

Observer: System Redux on Xbox is an example of the ideal remaster. The best bits are amplified; in this case the mangled, filthy cyberpunk visuals and the immersion in a grotesque horror story. Equally, the worst bits are excised, as the terrible stealth sections and the thin exploration are left on the neurosurgeon’s floor. What you’re left with is an emphatic horror title, an easy recommendation to the acquainted and unacquainted, and an experience that will live long in the memory.

EA SPORTS UFC 3 doesn’t provide a massive change over last year’s entry other than the few extra game modes and the striking system, but the changes that have been introduced are certainly for the better.

Gears Tactics on Xbox is one of the best attempts to craft a new turn-based squad shooter game. A rough-hewn, challenging game with a long campaign and lots of options to customize your characters, along with a whole new game-mode, means that Gears Tactics is a must play game for any fans of the Gears universe, turn-based strategy titles or squad tactics games.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Rise of the Golden Idol. The core gameplay loop of solving intricate mysteries remains addictive, whilst the enhanced visuals, new puzzle types, and expanded narrative create a rewarding detective experience.

If you have previously found love with Sonic or Mario, Donkey Kong, Crash or Rayman, you'll find yourself having a fabulous time with Nikoderiko: The Magical World. Beautifully bright, full of secrets, collectibles galore and some superb platforming moments will see this one appeal to pretty much all.

Even if the film has flopped, should you have Jurassic World Evolution 2 in your library and have nigh-on maxed out what it brings, the Dominion Biosyn Expansion is one that will bring a host of new, exciting content.

What Amanita Design have done with Creaks pretty much nails everything you could ever wish for in a puzzler. Surreal, interesting, weird, intriguing, gorgeous and sounding superb. Creaks is a masterpiece. And rarely does it ever exasperate.

Just Dance 2022 doesn’t change up the tried and tested formula of Just Dance too much but what it has added in terms of improved visuals has made for a more entertaining and immersive experience.

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.

You know those cheap and cheerful games that play better than many Triple-A offerings? A Short Hike is one of those games. It’s an experience that will put a smile on your face and even though it’s not particularly lengthy, it's one that comes across as the perfect length for the asking price.

Although it has been part of the Xbox PC line-up for quite some time, having Star Renegades on Xbox consoles is a great thing. For most this is a combat-focused RPG with an addictive battle system, smooth pacing, and fantastic neon presentation. If you are a fan of Battle Chasers: Nightwar then Star Renegades is the perfect game to fill that niche.

Super Blood Hockey will keep you entertained for hours with its simple and addictive gameplay. You’ll find that there is simply nothing more fun than starting a brawl just for the sake of it, and the humour in the Franchise Mode is on point. An all-around brilliant game.