All in all then and 8-Bit Armies does exactly what it sets out to do. It’s a love letter to the early RTS games, dressed up in very appealing retro graphics, but with the modern heart of a well defined combat system beating away in the depths.

If you’re a fan of Resident Evil or any of the other horror games that are available in the gaming space, Song of Horror is well worth a look. The permadeath of characters won’t be for everyone and the random element of when attacks occur might also frustrate. But for others the tension and thrills will be what make the journey.

There’s an original, fantastic deckbuilder here, surrounded by an even more original, and just as engaging text adventure. But Black Book doesn’t stop there, and adds more and more layers until you’re left with a huge, unwieldy onion. If you can stomach its design quirks and scattershot understanding of what is fun or isn’t, Black Book has some of the best moments in modern card games. Only you will know if you’ve got the patience to get there.

We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie doesn’t add much more that Katamari Damacy REROLL hadn’t already added, making it the second best of the experiences on the Xbox. But you really shouldn’t sidestep it either, as more of the same is ‘super-dooper’, as the King of the Cosmos would say, since the same is so instantly charming.

PAW Patrol World isn’t made for us adults. It’s Adventure Bay and surrounding areas, with all of the barriers removed. It’s a glorious playset, the entire TV series ready for kids to reach in and enjoy. That’s something that none of the previous games have managed.

Freedom Planet 2 evokes so much of what makes a great platformer, but feels a little bloated in parts. Still, that doesn’t stop it being a thoroughly enjoyable thrill ride which is sure to delight fans of the genre.

What we have with Lunar Lander Beyond is a brilliant reimagining of an old classic. If you have any memories of Lunar Lander from years past, then Beyond will drag them up immediately.

Conscript is grim to play, but ever-so important. It's a brilliant homage to the war and the soldiers who fought there, as the horror of the situation and the relentless fear of the battle are clear and constant.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape 2 continues the emotional and nostalgic journey started in Tape 1 with a strong narrative that builds on the bonds formed between the group of girls.

It isn't a perfect game, but it is an enjoyable one. I loved the world and the story, even when it lost me slightly. The combat is fun, and the puzzles are excellent. If you have an itch for a single-player action-adventure, Crisol: Theater of Idols will definitely scratch it.

While it doesn't completely innovate or elevate the genre, Dragonkin: the Banished tries enough new things, while executing the basics at a high enough level, to stand amongst the best of the genre.

It’s fun, it’s wild, it’s a classic returning with a fresh lease on life and it’s one that any true racing fan should be getting involved with at the earliest opportunity.

Tacoma is a high quality walking sim that tells a brilliant story of hope, whilst delivering complex and interesting characters.

Halo Wars 2 irons out any issues that the original game had, and provides more of the same, but with a bit more polish. Whilst fans of the series will be glad to play this sequel, newcomers to the RTS scene might have a harder time.

If you can get over the numerous yet humorous glitches and expect them to be patched out later, then this is a decent cricket simulator with plenty to do long after the current Ashes series finishes down under.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name may be a shorter and smaller Like a Dragon game, but it doesn’t skimp on quality. This ‘greatest hits’ approach of including many fan favourite side activities from over the years only further highlights what makes Like a Dragon such a treasured franchise.

All in all, the ‘A Walk in the Park’ expansion is a worthy addition to the base game. I enjoyed my time with The Surge when I reviewed it way back in the mists of time, and the expansion has the exact same feel as the main game, but has turned everything up to 11 with the addition of the new enemies and weapons.

Tandem: A Tale of Shadows offers up something refreshingly different and is bursting with charm, however the premature ending will leave you wanting more.

Frustrating combat and a world that expects you to be familiar with the franchise aside, Ghostrunner 2 has a good amount of fun provided you can keep up with the fast pace and the many button presses required to stay alive.

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.

Victor Vran Overkill Edition is a worthy addition to the genre. It doesn’t out-Diablo Diablo, but thanks to the care put into the levelling and loot systems, it is undoubtedly worth the time to explore.

World to the West is really worth checking out. I enjoyed the work that Rain Games have put in and I really believe they are making interesting work that embraces the past with a modern twist. The price might be a tad high, but there’s a lot of quality clearly on show here.

If you're a fan of an RTS, then you're going to love Company of Heroes 3 on Xbox Series X|S. The campaigns are fantastic, as is the use of the UI as it moves from PC to console.

So, is it worth investing your money and time in either the Snowbound or Elite Class DLC packs for Mantis Burn Racing? Well, if you’ve found yourself maxing out everything that the standard career brings, then it’s a bit of a no-brainer and you’ll want to get yourself involved asap. The cheap price and free-ness of Snowbound warrant that at the very least.

War is hell – unless you’re Vinnie Cannoli. In which case it’s just a delightfully humorous killing experience.

At the end of the day, if you like top-down adventures, it goes without saying that God’s Trigger is one you should be checking out. Not only does it tick all the boxes both visually and in terms of the gameplay, but it also has a pretty affordable price tag too.

If you have a like minded group of friends then this is a good game, but if you are a single player, then only serious masochists need apply.

Odd collisions and the need for a bit of a grind aside, there is little to not like about this game, with the speedrunning elements, the visuals, the well-worked challenges, and the open feeling of carving your own route all coming together to create something rather wonderful.