There is a lot of content and a whole host of action on offer in Guilty Gear -Strive-. While the character roster is completely mental, I haven’t been able to find a huge amount wrong with the game. The complexity is off putting at first, with so many options available both on the offense and defense, but stick with it and while it never becomes easy, especially online, it does start to make sense.

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.

Crusader Kings III is a must-have, and whilst newcomers may initially be overwhelmed, it’s most certainly one to try. Maybe, just maybe, this will pave the way for a console version of Age of Empires.

Puzzle games need ‘eureka!’ moments and Bridge Constructor Portal has those in abundance, counteracting the progressively difficult levels. So come and join the testing team at the Aperture Science Enrichment Center, where you can destroy stuff, have fun and feel pretty darn smart in the process. Oh, and we have cake!

Thanks to creative and inventive storytelling, Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins offers the best video game experience that the franchise has to offer.

Harold Halibut is a wonderfully creative endeavour that will suck you in. It’s such a nice change to play a game where the most evil of things is an overconfident air con salesman. A game with a lot of heart, the story is great with a satisfying creative arc and conclusion. In fact, it’s a game that is pretty mind-blowing, especially in terms of the visuals. The tech, design, and execution are perfect and whilst there is a slight problem with backtracking and pacing in the middle section, for the most part, Harold Halibut is a game you need to play.

If you are looking to play some baseball, MLB The Show 23 is 100% the first option to pick. It has game modes galore with control schemes to suit any kind of player. The presentation is absolutely fantastic and the in-game help can turn most players into proficient bat swinging monsters.

I am hugely excited about the promise of The Council and can’t wait for the next four episodes. I hope it continues to surprise and intrigue me as much as The Mad Ones has, and the hints delivered so far begin to ramp up to a great conclusion.

If you are a big fan of horror games and enjoyed the first Layers of Fear then you are in for a bit of a bonus with Layers of Fear 2. The developers have enhanced their storytelling skill, their puzzles and their fright-night tone in the making of this new game, and I’ve loved the writing, the visuals, and the amazing sound design.

Aliens: Fireteam Elite is very good indeed. There are issues, but the presentation is bang on, the action is unrelenting, and with missions taking 25 minutes and upwards to complete, the campaign is a good one. Throw in five classes to go at and this should well keep you busy. That’s not to mention the horde mode that unlocks when you complete the campaign.

The Fall of Elena Temple has got a killer idea and no qualms about exploring every facet. A bad game wouldn’t have been worth the effort, and a bad game this is not. The Fall of Elena Temple is worth every drop of your blood, sweat and tears.

The presentation, gameplay, and sheer number options on offer make NBA 2K25 an amazing package; a brilliant sports game.

If you're seeking a tense and atmospheric horror experience, A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is an excellent choice.

Overall and whilst Death Squared may not be the most adventurous of games, it does show that simplicity can still make for a brilliant game. With some fantastic dialogue found throughout and some ingeniously designed levels, it may just be the best puzzler available on Xbox One, and with a decent selection of game modes and plenty of well thought out content, will be one you’ll be remembering well into the year.

Drake Hollow on Xbox One is one of the hardest games to put down this year. It has a brilliant set of systems that keep you engrossed in the action and invested in your personal world. There are plenty of Drakes to meet, unique items and buildings to craft, and battles to be won.

For Honor is a game that I am not even close to finishing with. Its campaign is big enough to not feel tacked on, but the draw of the multiplayer action keeps dragging me away from finishing it. I can feel my skills improving after every round because it’s a new way to play against other players and that deserves highlighting in a highly saturated section of the market.

EA Sports UFC 5 is probably the best iteration EA have made. It embodies the essence of the sport, which makes it easy to recommend for both seasoned fans and newcomers alike.

Smile For Me manages to deliver a totally weird, but very interesting point-and-click adventure that’s unlike anything else.

Octopath Traveller II is challenging yet rewarding, full of narrative that you’ll want to immerse yourself in. It may initially feel a slog, but there are hours of play here, all of which play out across some great world design.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a hugely enjoyable title; one that will appeal to those who love Warhammer, as well as being just as much fun for those that aren’t into the franchise. No back reading is required here - just a happy trigger finger. Playing as a love letter to the shooters of the past, it manages to smooth things out via modern controls, fun gameplay and satisfying action.

Whether you’re there for the chart-toppers, the workouts or the nostalgia, Just Dance 2025 Edition keeps the fun alive and well on the dance floor.

Tell Me Why on Xbox One is DONTNOD's strongest game to date. It is quiet, introspect, mature and superbly written and performed, with visuals that are easy on the eyes - the novel release approach also helps things. There are still some factors holding it back from perfection, but I sincerely hope this is the start of a great partnership between Xbox and DONTNOD, as I feel this game is a perfect example of the type of content Game Pass is perfect for delivering.

If Revelations on Xbox One is a sign of what is to come then this game will be in safe hands. Understanding what needed to be revised in the original, this expansion helps flesh out the lore and gameplay of Age of Wonders: Planetfall.

Luto is a special horror game and one of my favourites in the genre of the last few years. This is a game that has high production values and ranks up there with some of the big guns.

Given the price of Universal Classics Pinball equating to under £3 per table, it’s bloody good value and even though Jaws lets it down, I’d highly recommend adding this pack to your Pinball FX3 collection.

Wargroove 2 strongly reminds of Advance Wars, and that is as good a recommendation as you can get.

There are many secrets and mysteries to uncover in Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo, and Galla don’t hold back when questioning the player about these. Boss fights, puzzles, or even existential questions are posed to both Kulebra and the player throughout

EA FC 26 is frustrating at times, but there is nothing else that can beat it, and no competition that can deliver such a well crafted experience of football.