Whether you’re familiar with the original or not, Soul Hackers 2 is a fascinating supernatural JRPG that excels in character development and storytelling.

Monaco 2 is a stylish, snazzy heist game with bags of character. Despite moments that will have you seething, there’s still plenty to like here.

Blasphemous is a superb example of a metroidvania. Incredibly captivating and lengthy, it’s a deep, dark, scary hole to jump into that won’t let you out until you reach the end. And once you get out, you’ll want to jump straight back in.

A tricky table but also a fun and well thought out one, Texas Chainsaw Massacre Pinball is perfectly on brand for Pinball M.

Meet Your Maker will quite possibly exceed your expectations. You may find it delivers a rough start, as you are hand held through the basics and then abandoned, but stick with it and something a bit special comes from repeated plays - beating an outpost after multiple failed attempts always feels a bit good.

The Jackbox Party Starter does a great job of introducing players to the party game phenomenon. The choice of games is bang on, and it provides more than enough to help people decide if this is a series they want to party on with.

I guarantee you will have never played anything like Immortality. It’s a compelling enigma, but one I am glad to have had the privilege to soak up and enjoy.

Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle on Xbox One is a step up from Slayaway Camp, but only a single, shambling step. If you’ve not had the chance to play the original then this is the superior entry point, filled to bursting with sliding puzzles from a developer that’s mastered the craft. You’ll be leaving behind a body count that would make Jason (and his mum) proud.

The sheer act of solving puzzles with a laptop and notebook on the table, sifting through the detritus of the internet, just feels so unusual and enjoyably deductive. My Googling skills came on leaps and bounds, as I mastered the art of Google Image Search, and my understanding of ancient civilisations has received a boost too. These aren’t common things to say about games, and Chinatown Detective Agency is such an unusual, refreshing experience that – some minor frustrations aside – we cannot hesitate to recommend.

Missing legend aside, NBA2K24 is a worthwhile upgrade for fans of 2K23. 2K’s yearly package is full to the brim with options and modes.

Another day, another mascot horror game releases on Xbox. The efforts that Finding Frankie has gone to in order to differentiate itself from others works very well. The parkouring takes a few goes to get used to but it quickly snaps into place and feels great. You can see where things during the design were a bit rushed with some dodgy clipping between assets but overall, if you’re a fan of these mascot horror games that keep popping up, Finding Frankie will be another to add to your list.

Few visual novels can lift you to the belly-laughing highs, and then plunge you into the tearful lows of Animal Lover. Squirrel away the cynicism and give it a go: you may start looking at pets in a completely (and innocent) new light.

While there isn’t much in The Excrawlers difficulty or story to really get your teeth into, there’s plenty on the bone elsewhere. It took us aback, if we’re being honest: we didn’t expect this little roguelike to be so tasty.

Nubarron: The adventure of an unlucky gnome on Xbox is a great little indie platformer; one that is perfect for lockdown life. It will transport you to a magical, whimsical world full of colour, delight, and strange angry clouds. Even though it's a short experience, that is truly reflected in the price tag; it will easily provide some entertainment for those long winter days.

ChainStaff is an interesting proposition. The gameplay is hard, brutal even, and trial and error is encouraged to see what you can do to use the ChainStaff to defeat foes. With multiple difficulty levels to go at, and a series of increasingly hard levels, mastering the traversal mechanic and the ChainStaff is vital. But also very good fun.

If you're seeking a heartwarming and family-friendly game, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is an excellent choice.

A wonderful new mode that extends the fun beyond the main stories makes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge – Dimension Shellshock a must buy for those who enjoyed the 2022 turtle based delight. While a couple more characters on the roster and a handful of new story stages wouldn’t have hurt, this is definitely one to pick up if you’re a fan of the heroes in a half shell.

Assuming that the steep price and lack of extras or variety doesn’t phase you, GUNBIRD is a rollicking beauty.

It advertises itself as an unconventional Olympics game, but even that is an understatement because Crash ‘n’ the Boys: Street Challenge throws the rule book out the window to make sports feel fun again.

If you want to have a smile put back on your face then you’ll want to venture out on a journey to find Little Orpheus.

If you are a fan of the multitude of 'work' type games that have arrived on console in recent years, then Hardspace: Shipbreaker will cover your needs.

Whilst Strange Brigade may pose a striking resemblance to Rebellion’s Sniper Elite series in certain areas, this is certainly a game that holds its own. With enjoyable combat, luscious locations, fantastically designed puzzles and some brilliant storytelling, this is certainly a game that leaves a lasting impression.

Despite the host of new features and ideas, Yakuza: Like a Dragon on Xbox is still quintessentially a Yakuza title. The humour is still here, as are the plot twists on plot twists, and of course the karaoke, which all add up to make it one of the stronger ‘launch’ titles on the Xbox Series X|S. There is a noticeable graphical improvement over previous titles on the Xbox One too; Ijincho is a gorgeous addition to the city roster and returning cities have never looked better.

Crashlands by Butterscotch Shenanigans is one of those rare games where a whole stack of ideas has been thrown into the mix, yet the result is a beautiful blend rather than a stodgy mess. The story isn't the strongest, but the wish to see what Flux can build next, the need to gear up to beat a boss, the exploring, and the taming of creatures all just works.

SYNTHETIK: Ultimate on Xbox is a great rogue-lite for gamers looking for a solo challenge. There are plenty of quirks to overcome and if you’re not a fan, or are new to the genre, SYNTHETIK: Ultimate probably won’t be the right fit for you. But if you’re patient, enjoy unforgiving gameplay, and love having tons of weapon and ability variety, then this is the game for you.

Overall, Star Wars Pinball: Rogue One does a terrific job of actually transferring all that’s great about the Rogue One, by incorporating plenty of characters and ensuring the soundtrack delivers in creating the atmosphere. This is a pinball table though, and despite adding two extra flippers into play, some of the lanes are too tricky to hit the ball down, thus having a knock on effect for gamers who want to complete the mini-games which incorporate these actions in order to succeed. It’s very limiting to those lacking the necessary skills, or luck.

Pinball FX - Williams Pinball Volume 8 further expands the roster with three tables aimed at fans of the game. However, with the added bells and whistles there is enough here to keep the majority from flipping out.

you’re a fan of story, tone and original gaming then I would plead for you to enter the world of Pinstripe. You won’t regret it.