Abiotic Factor is fantastic. If you love survival crafting with a dash of retro sci-fi atmosphere it’s an easy recommendation - especially if you have friends to play with. It’s not perfect, but Abiotic Factor nails the sense of creative problem-solving that keeps you saying ‘just one more hour.’

The Jackbox Party Pack 8 is another splendid serving of mini-game madness. There’s nothing radically new or different here, but the same established formula works as well as ever, especially when your mates are up for a game or two.

Hidden Cats in Rio de Janeiro is a welcome return to what makes the Hidden Cats franchise so appealing. It rediscovers the simple, zen-like joy that made us fall in love with the series in the first place.

It’s wonderful to play through Little Nightmares again, this time in Enhanced Edition form. The graphical updates are the biggest thing to mention and you can really see them working on screen. It’s a shame the DLC isn’t included in the base package, but for newcomers, Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition is an absolute indie masterpiece.

Mørkredd on Xbox is hugely enjoyable in co-op, delivering a delightful game full of mystery, magic, and wonder, complete with puzzles that test both your brain and your friendship. In the single player it’s a little more of a struggle though. My advice? Grab a buddy and play the wonderful Mørkredd right now - It’s both challenging and unique.

Turbo Overkill is bonkers - that special kind of bonkers that makes you sit back after a set piece fight and think “Did I just survive that?”. It is fast, furious, and insanely fun, with a cool retro vibe married to modern day speed and mechanics.

Despite not being the most complex management game, Spacelines from the Far Out offers a well rounded experience that is easy to dip in and out of. This is one trip you will be happy to hold a season ticket for.

Brilliantly designed with a different slant on the genre, Wordless has a unique style and some amazing visual storytelling.

This new experience will take you a few hours to complete and that feels like the perfect amount of time to spend in this world. It comes across as a very complete package and I enjoyed this encounter hugely; even more so than that of the main game.

Where Swamps of Corsus relied on repetition to get maximum enjoyment out of Survival mode, Remnant's Subject 2923 feels a lot shorter in comparison. But don’t let that put you off; it is still packed with the same hardcore gameplay as the main game. And with Reisum offering a brand-new area, there is plenty to see and do. It is a fitting end to a very underrated game, but one that hopefully spawns a sequel on the next generation.

Asdivine Saga does exactly what it says on the tin. The story is good, delivered without too much padding, and the characters are engaging. Fighting is as fun as ever for a KEMCO title, especially when you consider taking in some grinding and the opportunity to head into the extra arenas. In fact, it’s hard to find too much in the way of bad points.

The gameplay on offer in Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game is fast paced and frantic. It never gets old hanging someone on a generator, and finding a group of people willing to team up, cooperate and play the game the way it should be played means this is a lot of fun.

Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 does enough to make it worth a punt. The story is silly and funny, and the action on display, the so called “matchroidvania”, does enough to make it addictive and playable.

Does Little Nightmares III push the series onto another level? Well, in terms of the addition of co-op play and the ability to use combat, it certainly does. However, the journey through these new worlds, while visually distinct, does cover some similar thematic beats, and at times, it can feel like a well-trodden path.

Shadow Tactics: Aiko’s Choice keeps you playing, trying new things. It is this challenge that pushes you along and as a tactics game should never be a pushover, it most definitely fulfils the brief.

Autonauts is an interesting experience. The novelty of building robots rarely wears off, whilst the ability to get them to do almost anything results in some very intriguing experiments.

Overall there is a lot of fun to have with Flinthook. If you like fast paced action games with a retro twist, then this is going to be one of those five star games that you’ll love. If you hate these type of games, and you know who you are, I would say give it a go and persevere, because it does reward the effort. There is a lot of game here for an indie title and even though I’ve put in many hours, I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface. This doesn’t matter though, because I know I’m going to keep coming back, just to put on my space hook, get me some space pirate booty and complete a Raid or two.

The Last Hero of Nostalgaia is funny from the first step. From its nods to Soulsborne games like notes on the floor giving you hints, to its joypad smashingly difficult boss battles, The Last Hero is a really solid and incredibly wholesome feeling title.

If you have ever wanted to smash police cars/racers off the road then Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered on Xbox is the game for you, and that goes double if you've never played it before. It’s fast, furious and will have you on the edge of your seat as you hurtle round corners, inches from disaster, winning a race by the skin of your teeth. If you played the original then there’s not a lot new here, but it looks and plays great - that in itself means it’s got to be worth a punt.

You should enjoy your time with Tri Breaker: A Sacred Symbols Odyssey. The levels are varied, there are a host of things to do, and the boss fights add another dimension. The story is daft - and slightly annoying - but once it is turned off, things flow much better.

At its core, Sea of Thieves is a fun, innocent experience that rewards spontaneity and imagination, but becomes rather dull and repetitive if you want a linear experience. As part of Xbox Game Pass, Rare’s Sea of Thieves is more than worth the time you will put into it.

The DioField Chronicle is a great looking game, with some good storytelling and some average RPG mechanics. But it all adds up to a fine first entry that leaves us eager for more.

Dark Deity 2 is an accomplished SRPG with a nice retro vibe to it. The story keeps you plugging away, the variety of the characters and upgrades you can choose helps with longevity, and to get all the achievements you are going to have to play it multiple times.

If you’re in the market for a new horror title, and just so happen to love a puzzle or two, I’d highly recommend you spend some time with DARQ: Complete Edition on Xbox. The main game with added DLC brings together a decent chunk of gameplay for the price, and whilst it’s not a huge game the Complete Edition seems to deliver exactly what is required.

If you’re a fan of H.P. Lovecraft’s work then I feel this is one of the best experiences out there, simply because it loves its source material.

Whilst Episode Five of the Minecraft: Story Mode Season Two is a bit of a slow burner, filled with momentum killing moments, it really comes into its own once it actually gets going. The vast amount of well-voiced characters supporting Jesse on this immense task and bouncing off one another, the puzzle design and the top notch battle with the Admin, all ensure that a mediocre finale transforms into a great one.

Moving Out – Movers In Paradise on Xbox is a meaty, fun-packed adventure and one of the best pieces of downloadable content I’ve seen within a game.

Wild Dogs may not look like much, and the screenshots make it look like a generic shooter with nostalgia goggles on, but it’s ace. In the bosses and the freewheeling levels, it finds a way to elevate the competent shooting into full-on recommendation. Every Mega Man (and their dog) should give it a whirl.