Everyone knows FromSoftware make hard games, and Sekiro is certainly no different. If anything, it may be even harder than those which have come before it. So, for newcomers it may not be the best ‘entry’ point to these types of games but if you have more than a passing interest in Soulsborne games, then Sekiro is definitely another one to add to this ever-growing list.

If you have yet to play any of The Dark Pictures Anthology games, there is no better place to start than at the very beginning with Man of Medan; even more so now that it is optimised for Xbox Series X|S.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles is a great experience for fans of the show to reminisce and recreate those epic battles Tanjiro and his fellow slayers get embroiled in. It looks brilliant in many aspects, the sound is spot on in all areas, and the overall storytelling is great.

Transient: Extended Edition is a very ambitious game; one that isn't afraid of giving the player some high-end sci-fi mixed with Lovecraftian themes. The gameplay introduces a range of different playstyles over the fairly swift running time and that might be too much for some. Yet the visuals are a delight with some great use of lighting and level design.

Eastshade is a first-person, open-world exploration game. It’s atmospheric, immersive, relaxing and just the right side of challenging.

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks: Stunt Mayhem is surprisingly fun. For children within the target age range, this is a no-brainer, but even older players will find some enjoyment here.

It’s not a game that is going to be for everyone, and there are problems with direction, getting lost, and the onset of motion sickness. But overall it works great.

Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection on Xbox One is a rock(man)-solid compilation of some classic GBA and DS titles. The presentation is great, the games are incredibly polished and fun, and the value is undeniable. That said, not every game in the compilation has stood the test of time, and as these games were not made to be played on a television their visual quality can be hit. Still, for Mega Man fans this is a must-buy, as it brings 6 beloved games into a neat and tidy package.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Galactic Edition offers a fairly pricey way to boost your character roster. Some will love it, but it may well be lost on others. Still, the base game is brilliant.

If you like dancing, pop music and previous Just Dance games, then you can’t help but be entertained by Just Dance 2018.

A lengthy game with a host of hours of play behind it, Rain World will give you the opportunity to experience a world of wonder, danger, and slugcats.

Steelrising is a good game that puts itself in the AA bracket of gaming rather than the AAA settings of a Dark Souls or Elden Ring. But what it does do well is deliver an original concept, an amazing setting and a place occupied by killer robots.

ABRISS is a simple puzzle game where the task is very clear and can be explained in two minutes. But it is the complexity in the designs, and of how you approach the game, that gives it legs and mileage.

There’s more than meets the eye in The Last Cube. It may be unassuming, but it’s smart, deep and totally engrossing.

Spaceland on Xbox One is a game that wears X-COM influences on it’s sleeve, including tons of references to other pop culture stalwarts like Gears of War and Duke Nukem. It successfully captures X-COM’s gameplay with quickfire missions that always keep you on your toes, but ultimately does next to nothing with its plot, characters and presentation to entice players new to the genre to give it a spin.

Discolored is a game that has been designed to be played in one sitting, taking a couple of hours to work your way through. It’s very abstract in regards to its story and puzzles solutions at times, but in the same breath it's extremely stylish, beautifully unique and thoroughly enjoyable.

With the gratuitous violence that is included, it certainly isn’t a game for everyone but if you are comfortable with the destruction of humanity in your cybernetic hands, then BUTCHER is a game well worth keeping on your radar.

Some may see Evolution as just a fancy looking Zoo Tycoon, and they’d probably be right, but when you throw in some brilliant visuals, a huge amount of Jurassic Park lore, cameos bringing in the most famous characters from the big screen flicks, and that music, you’ll quickly understand how Jurassic World Evolution is much more than that.

NBA 2K22 is a great basketball game. In fact it's probably the best basketball game out there and actually hitting the court and playing games is thrilling, exciting, and looks brilliant. And alongside that, MyNBA will eat away at your life; fantastically detailed and absorbing, while MyTEAM will cater to the many. It’s only MyCAREER which lets it down

There is not a dull moment to be found in Evil West’s ten to twelve hour playtime. The storyline has the potential to ensure this could well turn into a massive franchise, and there’s just hope that any sequel may place more focus on cooperative play.

Dungeons of Hinterberg is proof that a mash-ups of genres can work. The concept and setup are brilliantly creative, whilst highlights sit in respect of the sim side of the game and trying to build up relationships around the town. It looks beautiful too.

The return of Warface is one that gamers should be happy with. With plenty of game modes to get stuck into, a great variety of weapons to master and no obligation to spend any real money to prove competitive, this is one F2P title that is truly free-to-play, all whilst providing highly enjoyable online focused gameplay.

Eagle Island Twist nails most of its manoeuvres: it has a simple and unique mechanic, but does so much with it. Then it offers a huge playground with two games, dozens of levels, and lots of weirdo riffs on its own formula. In content terms, it’s the Orange Box of platforming (Bird Box?), and - aside from some gameplay quibbles - isn’t too far off the quality either.

When we wanted to unwind and actually achieve something, however unimportant or menial, we found ourselves playing Ooblets. It has become a colourful meditation, a little slice of wellness in our day. Other times, we tickled ourselves by sticking a monocle on our Namnam.

Blue Fire is a magpie with impeccable taste. It’s taken some of the best bits from some fantastic games, and it’s hard to to play it without being swept back to the times of playing Hollow Knight, Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Souls-like games. But while it may be familiar, it has panache on tap, and all of these platforming, combat and Metroidvania elements come together to form something slick and enjoyable.

Inkulinati is great fun to play; a very good, hugely accessible tactical turn-based RPG. It's not too tricky to learn and master, but it really excels in the visuals and presentation - a piece of art in its own right.

The Amazing American Circus is a recommendation with enormous caveats. We loved it to the point that we can, without cynicism, say that it has peaks that few games will better this year. But it’s so unfriendly, gatekeeping the fun behind ineffective tutorials, keywords and initially complex systems.

Even though Hero Express on Xbox One won’t provide the ultimate test of your gaming skills, sometimes all that is needed in the gaming world is a title that oozes fun. And this is where Fantastico have succeeded, by creating a hugely addictive little title that keeps dragging you back for more.