Perhaps one of the more challenging titles from Lightwood Games, Mixups by POWGI will test players far more than previous titles. It’s a shame then that sometimes there isn’t a unique pun to reward you for completing the puzzle, but after spoiling players with hundreds of them in five previous games, we shouldn’t complain too much.

Eagle Island Twist nails most of its manoeuvres: it has a simple and unique mechanic, but does so much with it. Then it offers a huge playground with two games, dozens of levels, and lots of weirdo riffs on its own formula. In content terms, it’s the Orange Box of platforming (Bird Box?), and - aside from some gameplay quibbles - isn’t too far off the quality either.

Discolored is a game that has been designed to be played in one sitting, taking a couple of hours to work your way through. It’s very abstract in regards to its story and puzzles solutions at times, but in the same breath it's extremely stylish, beautifully unique and thoroughly enjoyable.

Cross the Moon’s a stylish and enthralling vampire tale, and there are very few visual novels that have its confidence. It has a sure hand in its photography, soundtrack and plotting, and - as long as you can stomach the lack of any interaction at all - you’ll take great glee in unwrapping its mysteries. You won’t ever come back to play Cross the Moon, but one of its unexpected moments or lilting songs will sink its fangs into you.

Should you be coming to Tour de France 2021 looking for a proper bike racer which will let you replicate the real-world grand tour, this isn't the game for you. And unfortunately unless those behind it take a season out to prepare themselves for future years, it’s hard to see how this franchise can ever begin to appeal going forward.

Destruction Derby has not been this good in video games for years. It’s just such a shame the publisher is charging for an update that affects Xbox Series S players in such a way. If you’re playing on an Xbox Series X, then Wreckfest is a fast, aggressive and chaotically fun racing game. I would definitely recommend it. Otherwise, wait for an update on the Series S side, for the time being.

It’s fair to say that there are mobile game vibes going on in Farm Frenzy: Refreshed, but before you view that as a negative, it’s that element of proceedings which lends itself to providing something addictive; something easy to pick up and play for short spells. The cursor issues are the biggest bugbear of all though, causing a hindrance to your chances of sweeping up all the stars.

So many puzzle games which use blocks and feature literal copies of the famous Tetrominoes often feel cheap or unoriginal. However, Trenga has plenty to offer. There are oodles of levels, a myriad of objectives for the truly hardcore to accomplish, and a nice, primary gameplay loop that makes the game hard to put down.

Alphadia Genesis 2 is an improvement over the first game. It seems to run more smoothly, and the story is a good one. It is still riddled with RPG cliches and as such really can’t be classed as in any way, original. However, if you are looking for an inoffensive way to kill a few hours, you could do worse than to spend a little time with Dion and his squad in Alphadia Genesis 2.

Deep down, under all the skimpy clothes and comedy nudity, there is a solid game trying to get out of Empire of Angels IV. The story is good, the actual battles themselves are fun, and seeing your ragtag band of ladies become badass through constant fighting is quite rewarding. However, this has to be balanced against the frankly juvenile way that women are portrayed.

Promesa is a game that many may not 'get' or be interested in, mostly due to the lack of gameplay and action. For others though it’s a brilliant way of being able to take in something unique. For the entry price of an art gallery, Promesa allows you the chance to take in an exhibition from the luxury of your own home; a beautiful, thoughtful experience that takes you through the memories of someone's past and present.

Super Soccer Blast: America vs Europe just about makes it through the group stages, but gets unceremoniously dumped out in the first of the knockout matches.

Visually it looks bad, the controls are shonky, and rarely can any fun be had. A lack of tutorials, confusing menus, and errors popping up all over the place sees Heliborne spiralling to earth, totally out of control. If you are a fan of helicopter games, after playing this, you won’t be.

It’s a shell of the version that is available in The Four Kings Casino and Slots – that I hasten to add is free-to-play – and doesn’t offer anything substantial over that version. There is easy Gamerscore to be had, and that’s about it. You would be better off spending the £4.19 it costs to buy Four Kings: Video Poker and put it towards microtransactions for the larger casino instead.

ASTRO AQUA KITTY is a delight. It's a well-thought out space-themed Metroidvania that will appeal to a range of players; especially those who revel in the micro-management of weapons, items and the percentage points they bring. If you liked what the kitties brought with AQUA KITTY UDX, this is going to please you on an altogether grander scale.

Chivalry 2 is easy to pick up and play, with much of the draw coming from the fact you don’t have to worry about learning a crazy amount of moves. There is nothing better than meeting a worthy opponent on the battlefield and going 1-on-1, block for block, slash for slash, countering each other carefully. Some may need more in terms of game modes and further incentives to keep them there for the long term, but for now, you can't go wrong with a bit of medieval PvP mayhem with Chivalry 2.

Wingspan is an elegant, exceptional board game and it’s been delivered with real care to the Xbox. Console is a good look for it, as it automates things that are more unwieldy on a table-top, making it - dare we say it - the superior way to play. When Wingpsan was so rewarding to play in the first place, that’s an extraordinary achievement.

The Last Kids on Earth and The Staff of Doom does enough to warrant interest from those who enjoy the universe via other mediums. The gameplay is straightforward and the arsenal of moves will be exciting from a child’s point-of-view, while the boss encounters are a real highlight.

As a whole, Dungeon Escape is a rather mediocre platformer game. It doesn’t have much in the way of personality or unique mechanics but the game offers a few hours of challenging platform for a low price. It also offers an easy 1000G which is always a bonus.

As a free-to-play title, Super Bomberman R Online doesn’t have a lot to offer in all honesty. Quick Matches provide short, sharp bursts of fun but beyond that there’s nothing else to see really. If you and your friends are willing to invest a little in the game, you can breathe some more life into it, but overall it’s a very similar experience throughout.

Sunless Skies: Sovereign Edition is a really unique and interesting experience, and there are not many other titles that can pull of this kind of genre mix. It works out in a great way too - it’s deep, intricate, complex, and deeply engaging. Further to that, the story is investing and written gorgeously.

On the whole Violett Remastered is a pretty good game and certainly a very challenging point and clicker that will put your brain into overdrive. The control system doesn't feel great at times and the lack of hand-holding or any kind of instruction make the first moments tricky. But as things progress and you get into the swing of things, this is a very enjoyable and very unique experience.

Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 provides one hell of a sniping experience. With so many different ways to approach your targets, multiple challenges to take on and some excellent gadgets to make use of, you’re not going to get bored easily. On the higher levels, the psychic enemies can be a bit wearisome, but this does encourage careful planning.

If you’re a fan of Resident Evil or any of the other horror games that are available in the gaming space, Song of Horror is well worth a look. The permadeath of characters won’t be for everyone and the random element of when attacks occur might also frustrate. But for others the tension and thrills will be what make the journey.

Green Hell is a hugely challenging, massively immersive game that will transplant you in the Amazonian jungles in both a good and a bad way.

After an uphill battle, we can now enjoy Talisman: Digital Edition. Initially, it didn’t want us to play, with its ‘will this do?’ tutorial, terrible controls and interminable slowness. But, after hours of persistence, we’ve found our workarounds. Like the heroes of the game, we’ve overcome multiple trials, and opened the chest to reveal a modest treasure: an esoteric, old-school little board game, half Snakes & Ladders, half Dungeons & Dragons. We might even chuck some cash down for an expansion.

Xbox owners certainly have viable means to experience these titles in other forms, but when it comes to convenience and accessibility, Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is a solid value proposition all the same.

Making a licensed game remotely must have been quite the challenge - locked into a release date, sellotaping a game together from the scrappy materials that you’ve been given. We would have loved to say that DreamWorks Spirit Lucky’s Big Adventure was a plucky underdog, overcoming those issues to create something that fans and young players would love. But no. It’s a soggy cardboard box of a game, empty of things to do and barely holding itself together. And as cardboard boxes go, £34.99 is quite the asking price.