If you are in the market for a side scrolling slash-em-up/platform-survival game, you could do a lot worse than take in these Lost Ruins.

Metro Exodus may not be perfect; certain graphical inconsistencies, bugs and a flawed AI make sure of that. But a bleak post-apocalyptic world, along with a cast of memorable characters who populate it, lead to a definitive Metro experience.

If you love Far Cry then there is no reason for you not to want to involve yourself with Far Cry New Dawn, as it does everything you would expect and a little bit more.

Commandos: Origins is a welcome return for the series after a lengthy absence, and it should please long time fans and newcomers alike, providing they are up to the challenge.

I have a hard time finding great local multiplayer games. Not only are they not being made all the time, but a lot of them seem to miss the mark when it comes to engaging gameplay that does not get stale. Boomerang Fu on Xbox One rises above this crowd by providing plenty of options, being easy to pick up, and hard to put down. Add the game’s adorable visuals, and you have a recipe for a local multiplayer game with a lot of staying power.

WARSAW on Xbox One is a welcome release even though there are no shortage of games set in World War II. From its strategic turn-based RPG combat, to the focus on characters within the backdrop of a war-torn Warsaw, this is a unique take on historical warfare, one that will leave you appreciating the worth of each individual life as they try to change the course of history.

Move on through the opening hours of confusion and occasionally inaccurate controls and you'll find loads to love about Atrio: The Dark Wild. It can be funny, it can be tense, it can be easy and it can be complex.

Hauntii is another gem of an indie game. It's a fun mix of puzzles, exploration and twin-stick shooting. You’ll love exploring the world and whilst the story is simple, it is very heartwarming.

Dance of Cards is a deeply enjoyable take on the iconic game of poker, which avoids folding under the pressure of its own ambition.

Aragami 2 is a great game, with issues. The gameplay is immense fun, takes on a whole other level with friends and there is something extremely satisfying about being able to do what you want, when you want it, in order to achieve the mission objective at hand. It isn’t perfect though, and seems to be missing that little bit of polish required to lift it to the top tier of gaming.

FIFA 19 is basically the Paul Pogba edition of the series, focusing on creating excitement, showing off and trying to ensure every match is full of memorable moments… the problem is it’s all a bit much at times.

Fantastically well made with passion for the genre, incredible looks and solid play, longevity may be the issue for Final Vendetta; with little replayability and only six stages, it is a bit on the short side.

Gray Dawn will happily immerse you into a good story that mixes many different styles. If you’re a fan of exploration-type games, this will be right up your street. The visuals are lovely, helped along by some stand-out scenes that are original and affecting.

For those that have missed their Harvest Moon gameplay fix over the years, or for newcomers to the series as it makes its full debut on Xbox consoles, Harvest Moon: Light of Hope Special Edition Complete is a very good place to start. It might not quite reach the lofty heights of previous entries but it contains most of what has made the series so successful over the years.

Don’t go sleeping on the Puzzle by Nikoli W series. Very quietly, and in increments, they have been producing better and better puzzle compendiums for your big black box. In Puzzle by Nikoli W Hashiwokakero, they have produced one of their best.

The biggest compliment to give The Land Beneath Us is that even after suffering multiple deaths, you’ll instantly come crawling back for more. It’s not just the mildly amusing narrative or the raft of enemies and bosses that are alluring, but also the variety of upgrades, weapons and relics to get your hands on.

Afterimage is one of those games in which you’ll need to actively switch between different weapons based on the boss you are up against, because almost all of them feel good to use depending on the situation. While I found the exploration to be a bit tedious at times, I kept wanting to come back to discover more about the world and Afterimage as a whole.

Despite its flaws, this is a game that achieves what it wants to in a fun and accessible format. If you’re looking for a cute platformer, then The Plucky Squire is worth playing through at least once.

Despite nearly showing its entire hand from the start, Roombo: First Blood on Xbox remains original and hilarious in light of all the bloodshed.

If you’re a jazz fan, then you’ll enjoy how Blue Wednesday plays, and how the main story elements unfold. The music and mini-games are pleasing to take in, very good on the ear, helping push along this music odyssey and journey.

Sword and Fairy: Together Forever conjures up a magical, mythical RPG that puts onus on storytelling before anything else, played out with awesome cutscenes. If only the translations were better, then the narrative wouldn’t be as difficult to follow and you wouldn’t miss out on anything.

Madden 18 is a rewarding and highly enjoyable game that offers its players a chance of glory and a free reign over how they want to become a franchise legend.

We need more puzzle games. Batu Ta Batu on Xbox has got me fired up for more games with delightfully addictive mechanics. Though the multiplayer feels out of place, and the additional game modes are ho-hum, the endless mode is so good that it’s reason enough to give the game a go.

Maneater: Truth Quest does enough to ensure it can be recommended. The swimming and fighting as a shark is still cool and a lot of fun, finding all the collectibles will take a while, and the new combat opportunities are intriguing, mostly. There are annoyances, but the chance to slip into a shark’s skin makes them seem insignificant. The story does start to grate after a while too, but the fun of being an apex predator never does.

Tenderfoot Tactics is one of those games that must be tried at some point in your gaming career. I loved the lack of a linear guideline, left with the ability to just explore and wander.

Project Starship X on Xbox is a surprisingly inventive entry in what is normally a tried and tested genre. Although stirring the pot when it comes to sound shmup design is usually a bad idea, here all of the zany and crazy ideas are fun and entertaining thanks to the sound fundamentals of the core shooting mechanics.

You’ll want to arrive in Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter knowing that the game is absolutely brutal, and so that means you’ll need to absolutely dedicate yourself to learning the game's systems, closing your eyes and going for it. For many though, that bar of entry may feel a little too high.

The Riptide series always felt too big for its mobile roots, and Renegade may be the jewel in its crown. The story adds a new depth to it and shows that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Everything has been improved upon from the previous entry on the Xbox and it has remained a decent price. If this is a series you have yet to get into, Riptide GP Renegade is easily the best place to start.