WWE 2K25 is impressive all-round with its exciting and enthralling gameplay that’s enhanced by a great selection of game modes. While The Island doesn’t reach its potential, the likes of MyFACTION, MyRISE and Showcase are thriving. And then there’s the massive roster to take into account, which is crucial to longevity.

Agatha Christie - Murder on the Orient Express is the best Poirot game of recent times and really brings out your inner detective. The investigating of scenes and piecing together timelines is very engaging, while the frequent puzzles are great to test those little grey cells.

For a few hours, Lacuna - A Sci-Fi Noir Adventure let us walk in the shoes of a Deckard or Bogart, looking mournful as we smoked a cigarette in the rain, and we’d gladly take the opportunity again.

Raji: An Ancient Epic on Xbox One is a game I wanted to love from the off. From the moment I picked it up, right through to the telling end, I have to say I haven’t been left disappointed. It is a beautiful, epic journey with some fabulous storytelling and amazing visuals. Yes, occasionally the combat drags a bit, the waves of enemies grow dull as you progress to the latter stages, and the price is a tad high for the six-hour or so experience, but I think it's worth it for the quality on show here.

Windjammers 2 is more proof that simple ideas can take off when done effectively. What is essentially Pong sprinkled with a bit of table hockey and a dash of Street Fighter works because it is so simple to play.

You’ll have to be a fan of the puzzler genre, need to be used to the slow rhythm of a point and clicker, and be prepared for the strange and the unusual, but if you’re up for that, or are a fan of games like Mr Pumpkin Adventure, then you will love Bulb Boy.

Venice 2098 has surprised in many ways. I initially thought it might be too depressing, pushing a tricky subject matter concerned with climate change. But the game is full of hope and humour, as well as concern surrounding the human spirit. You will have to get used to the camera though.

If you love Chernobylite and can’t get enough of it, or are interested in giving it a go for the first time, the Xbox Series X|S version is a worthwhile purchase.

Trials Rising isn’t just another Trials instalment. It creates even more incredible fun with exciting and action packed tracks that never cease to both amaze and also infuriate in equal measures.

Solasta: Crown of the Magister brings enough new touches to the table to make it a recommendation, especially as it comes with the promise of online co-op and a Dungeon Creation tool. There is more than enough here to keep you rolling your dice for the foreseeable future.

If you’re after a unique adventure that borrows ideas from a load of games, but beats its own drum loudly, then Masters of Anima might just be worth adding to your collection.

Destroy All Humans! is an easy game to recommend for fans of the original. It feels faithful almost to a fault as it carries the story, jokes, and somewhat antiquated game design with it. While there are some nice additions and decent visuals, it probably won’t do much to convince those who didn’t play it back in 2005 to give it a go.

This is a truly original piece of gaming; an experience full of creative invention, brilliant premise, and the most terrifying piece of world-destroying machinery ever - The Eternal Cylinder.

Shredders does everything in its power to make you feel cool, it pays homage to the glorious sport of snowboarding and does wonders to try and welcome newcomers as well.

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.

Whereas Darksiders III missed the mark by straying too far from the path, Darksiders Genesis on Xbox One proves that the formula from the first two games was successful enough for their franchise. It’s true that this is a more linear experience this time around, but none of what made Darksiders a cult hit in the first place has been sacrificed in translation.

Dandy & Randy DX is like Grandma’s cooking. You’ve tasted it time and time again over the years, and it doesn’t feel like it’s changed, but it tastes so good.

SiNKR on Xbox One is a thoroughly satisfying experience, and one definitely worth the play. It may frustrate at times, but the satisfaction that comes from completing a difficult level is rather euphoric. Also, given the easy 1000 Gamerscore on offer, and the low asking price, it's not hard to recommend you spend time with the game. If sinking pucks sounds up your alley, or you just love puzzle games, SiNKR is definitely for you.

Whilst at first, the additions to Madden NFL 23 would appear to be more subtle over previous versions, they all add up to make one of the better instalments of recent years.

Minoria on Xbox One is a worthy entry in the broader Momodora canon. While Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight is arguably the more memorable experience, Minoria is still a welcome and unique take on the developer’s own Metroidvania formula; one that manages to do things with its own style both in presentation and gameplay.

The gameplay and visuals of 1979 Revolution: Black Friday are not bad, but at the same time they are not as fantastic and inventive as I had hoped. The story, writing and characters though are great with some brilliant hidden facts, photos and films. The voice work is excellent and it really does allow this great idea to shine, all as it tackles a massive piece of history through the medium of gaming.

Once you get accustomed to the controls, which at times feel a bit cumbersome, and as long as you are able to ignore some weird physics, Cash Cleaner Simulator is a game that you can easily spend dozens of hours in. The mechanics that can be frustrating are also what ensure the game is unique and fun.

The Witch Queen expansion for Destiny 2 on Xbox Series X is one of the better ones that Bungie has produced.

Andro Dunos 2 certainly doesn’t take any prisoners, and as a reminder of simpler times, when games were tough and gamers were nervous, it does enough to merit a play.

If you're a fan of Monty Python and the type of animation and humour that has come from it, you are going to love The Procession to Calvary. It's a game which is great fun with a bonkers mad story, weird multiple endings, and some brilliant use of art and animation.

System Shock very much deserves its second coming, and so many groundbreaking elements of the original game still impress today. However, beyond the cosmetic upgrade the same foundations remain, warts and all.

If you’re looking for something slightly different in tone, with a great story, some slow paced thoughtful gameplay and visuals that look like a piece of art then take a trip to Trüberbrook.

Short but powerful, taking place over a couple of hours of running time, Lucid Cycle is extremely enjoyable. The idea of placing you in many different dreams has the feel of a short story anthology about it; this is helped by the fact that each and every one of them feels different in terms of style, location, and moments of gameplay. Fans of narrative adventures and walking sims will have a lovely time here, as it takes the genre into different areas of greatness.