GONNER2 on Xbox One is absolutely rock hard and requires the reflexes of a ninja hopped up on Red Bull to get anywhere, and so this is not a game that you would play for a nice, relaxing blast before work. However, if you enjoy a challenge, it is certainly worth playing. Even with fingers made of butter, progress can be made by concentrating fiercely, and it is then when GONNER2 starts to become rewarding.

Protodroid DeLTA rises above its niggles to emerge as a characterful platformer which pays a faithful tribute to those which inspired it.

A Building Full of Cats is a great use of your cash. That money goes to promoting animal adoption over purchasing them, so you can feel warm and fuzzy about improving the world… before enjoying the double-benefit of some hidden object gaming. What’s here might not be revelatory, but it’s an adorable way to pass the hours.

There is no guarantee that you will enjoy Spooky Chase on Xbox. It’s an acquired taste that demands that you’re patient, focused, have the reactions of a grasshopper, and are willing to persist with the same level over and over again. Its randomness means you can’t rely on muscle memory, so tie your pad round your wrists, as it might go for a skydive out of the window. But come to terms with what Spooky Chase wants from you, and it’ll create great moments.

Bad Dream: Coma on Xbox will leave a mark, mostly thanks to its strange, surreal visuals and dream-like concept. It's a good point-and-click adventure, but might be too obscure and surreal for some - you’ll certainly have to work in order to understand the purpose of the main character and what is happening to them.

Timothy vs the Aliens will run for anything up to four hours or so and it’s quite nostalgic to play through it, reminding much of games from the Xbox 360 period. It has a lovely visual language, employing a black and white world to great effect. All the mechanics work very well and there are collectibles to find for the purists at heart. However, it does all feel a bit empty and fails to excite enough for you to want to look forward to your next playthrough.

Carto on Xbox One is one for the younger gamer, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing at all. It has the right vibe and presentation of a children’s book coming to life, and the whole setup of using puzzle pieces to bring a map together makes for an intuitive and engaging gameplay mechanic. While the game world and exploration within is a bit on the simplistic side, the puzzle design is still effective in what it achieves, both in the game design and in driving a meaningful narrative.

Oxide Room 104 is a decent little survival horror; one that has some great ideas but falls short in others.

Use Your Words is a great way of entertaining the entire family for a good couple of hours. Whilst you may have played that old board game to death, knowing all the answers it brings, Use Your Words mixes things up so much that no matter how many times you play it, the responses you see, and the joy it brings, will always be varied.

Morbid: The Lords of Ire is an odd duck. It looks poor but good at the same time, the combat is clunky and yet still a decent amount of fun to partake in, and there are interesting facets to get to grips with.

Almost My Floor is a very good point-and-click adventure that is inventive with its narrative and cartoon visuals

For those wanting to flex their creative muscles once again in Planet Coaster, the Studios Pack is one of the biggest add-ons to be able to do just that. Across the board though, one or two more rides and facilities would have helped sweeten the deal.

Treat DARKGEMS as two hours of laid-back, ASMR mining, and there’s gold in the seams. It’s possible to switch off and fill your ore bag with achievements. But expect any more from it – in terms of playtime, challenge or a sense of reward – and you will come away empty handed.

Once the water gets flowing and there is a steady stream of unlocks as you douse building after building, Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue DX starts to catch fire

Hyperdot on Xbox One is a fun, minimal and inoffensive arcade game. With a friend, dodging a barrage of colourful shapes can be a blast. But playing the game alone only exposes how repetitive Hyperdot can get despite some really tense challenges and a surprisingly deep level editor.

If you're after some nicely paced retro adventuring and want to laugh when doing so, then you can't go wrong with some Guard Duty.

If you’re a massive fan of the snooker scene, wish for nothing more than potting balls, working out angles and thinking ahead, then Snooker 19 is for you.

If you are after a tricky little driving game which can provide an enjoyable challenge, then Stunt Paradise is it. Just be aware, you may run out of desire to keep playing once the achievements and Gamerscore have been ticked off.

GOST of Time is a fun game that is hampered by its short runtime and lack of refinement. What is there is an interesting and enjoyable game, but it left me wanting more.

Guts ‘N Goals is a comprehensive package, which you might not expect from a game that’s basically Rocket League where everyone’s gotten out of their car, brandishing baseball bats. It’s subtle as a brick; it sells a brand of anarchy that’s too noisy; but most importantly it’s fun, and flourishes when you’ve got friends on the sofa with you.

Dragon Snack actually manages to deliver a good path-building puzzler that’s not going to break the bank. The challenge is decent enough to hold your interest for its fairly short completion time and there’s fun to be had by figuring out the solutions.

I greatly appreciate a strong narrative in games, and Dagon: Complete Edition delivers a compelling interactive storytelling experience. However, the game's niche appeal and lack of traditional gameplay might not be for everyone.

Killer Queen Black on Xbox really does tick the boxes in every way for its uniqueness and addictive nature. There are serious hours of fun to be had with a competitive or casual title that can easily be played in short bursts.

Zeus Quest - The Rebirth of Earth is a good point-and-click puzzle adventure game that is unique, fun and suitable for all the family.

The Royal mode and Live Campaigns are good additions, but ultimately, Trackmania feels a bit too restrictive for those simply wanting to enjoy even just the core experience.

EpiXR Games deserve smaller, but still notable laurels. Aery - The King’s Messenger soars past the craters where other Aery games have crashed. It’s about as flawless as an Aery can be.

It’s a platformer with teeth, and if you want a challenge then Evasion From Hell could be for you.

You may well be surprised at how addicted you’ll get to House Builder as you enjoy building different homes across the globe.