By fusing strategy elements, 2D side-scrolling and tower defence mechanics, Kingdom Two Crowns on Xbox One forges a game unlike any other. It has a widely unique approach to its gameplay loop. While it’s definitely not the first game to have players build during the day and survive the night (Minecraft, anyone?), Kingdom does it in a way that no one else has.

Pushy and Pully in Blockland on the Xbox One is simply one of those games that should be avoided at all costs. Repetitive, fiddly and not sure what sort of game it is, the only thing enjoyable about it is the art style. But even then, all it did was make me long to play those older games again rather than have to sit through any more of this. It’s not really a puzzle game, it’s not really a platformer, it’s just an unfortunately bad game.

Whilst I have really wanted to love SuperMash, it has instead ended up as a tedious, frustrating and downright boring affair. There are some great ideas but the good faith these earn are ruined within minutes.

Sin Slayers: Enhanced Edition on Xbox One is very much a game of two halves. Exploring and fighting are fun, and the Sin mechanic – while being a gimmick – is a nice one to have. Other than that though, the menus are confusing, the presentation is distinctly average, and it just feels like a bit of a beta rather than a finished product. There is fun to be had here, and once you figure out the menus it’s really not too bad, but flailing around trying to understand what is what is hugely off-putting.

Cryogear on Xbox One is a stylish throwback which packs enough content to keep players entertained for hours. Despite not being the most challenging of its ilk, it’s a solid action-RPG platformer that more than deserves a look.

I cannot remember a time that I played a game that made me angry just by looking at it. There may be some potential behind the idea - War Theatre definitely has a place that it wanted to go. Sadly, we will never know what that was since the game is marred by a tiresome excuse for gameplay and hideous visuals.

If you’re in the market for a super cheap, super quick runthrough in which you can gather up pretty much a full 1000 Gamerscore in less than 30 minutes, then this is the game for you. However, if you’re looking for something half decent, or a new adventure to get your teeth into, don’t even consider Chop is Dish.

Taimumari: Complete Edition on Xbox One is very much a game of two halves. Taimumari itself is an enjoyable retro platform romp from the era where gameplay outweighed graphics, and it is still a great deal of fun to play to this day. The Legend of Himari, on the other hand, tries to do something different and sadly fails, creating a game that isn't fun, instead causing frustration.

The story, the characters, and the relationships that grow between those you meet will make you want to continue playing Miden Tower on Xbox One. If you don't like retro styled JRPGs it’s unlikely to sway you, but for everyone else, this is a game that needs to be played. In fact, it’s the best KEMCO game of recent months and you really should give it a try.

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.

With distracting performance issues and limited gameplay content despite there being a few different game modes, Super Dodge Ball is a tough sell given that the far more entertaining Crash ‘n’ the Boys: Street Challenge is available as the superior unconventional sports option.

It’s funny how a story about keeping the universe together has released as everyone has been told to isolate. But that irony almost makes this game just what is needed. As your unlikely group of heroes go out and save the universe, they also manage to spread a sense of warmth and joy that permeates across nearly all aspects of StarCrossed on Xbox One. And while I was left wishing there was more content for these characters to interact with, I felt satisfied in a way that few games in recent times have managed to achieve.

Blind Men on Xbox One offers a rather interesting concept of playing as a supervillain but is let down by downright creepy writing, spelling mistakes and a bland story. Whilst fans of boy’s love visual novels might find something to like here, there are plenty of better choices out there.

If you like games like Myst and the more recent newcomer Obduction you are going to love Quern – Undying Thoughts on Xbox One. With the amount of content included it is great value for money, and whilst the puzzles can seem pretty hard everything you need is around you; trial, error and patience is rewarded.

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.

Granted, Scarlett isn’t the most exciting protagonist in the genre, but Scarlett Mysteries: Cursed Child is easily one of the better hidden object puzzle adventures on the market. Therefore I’d certainly recommend picking it up.

The plot and substories aren’t as involving as the prequel but Yakuza Kiwami is a much more introductory and inviting title; by being a bit more scaled-down it opens itself up to a much wider audience. If you missed out on Yakuza 0 when that released, start here instead.

Dread Nautical on Xbox One, with its oddly dark tone, tactical gameplay, and polygonal art style tries to make waves, yet manages to makes an ocean. Whilst it is let down by a lack of variation and complexity later on, Dread Nautical is a whale of a time that I would comfortably recommend to fans of RPGs or the likes of XCOM.

Path of Sin: Greed is your standard murder mystery, albeit one infused with a vast amount of puzzles to solve in order to catch the criminal(s) involved. The luxurious setting is wonderfully portrayed via hand-drawn visuals, but the characters residing within them are terribly boring.

It’s a hugely immersive game that ticks a whole ton of boxes for those looking to gain new off-roading kicks, and the sheer amount of variety in terms of the vehicles, the trailers and the customisation and amendments that can be made to these is nothing short of stunning. Throw in a whole ton of content in the form of main missions, tasks and challenges, and if you’re up for getting down and dirty, then there is possibly no better place to get started than with SnowRunner.

Help Will Come Tomorrow is most definitely one of those games that survival enthusiasts should try. The options available and the reliance on stats and daily tasks while balancing the needs and traits of your characters is a constant tension and some will relish in the challenge.

River City Ransom on Xbox One is one of those games where it is still hard to believe that it’s from the primitive ‘80s era of gaming. While parts of it have understandably become a little dated, as a whole when you consider the game design, art, gameplay, and overall scope of its ambition and execution, this still manages to feel fresh and modern in any gaming era. For Xbox fans, this is their long overdue foray into the fist-crazy world of River City.

Active Neurons on Xbox One provides a pleasant and enchanting experience, with its few hours of running time near perfect for what it delivers. You can complete this game at your own pace, maybe a few levels a day, or purge it all in one afternoon. And that said, while some points are reasonably tricky, it is never soul-draining, instead creating a relaxing atmosphere that ensures you are never left frustrated or stressed.

Stranded Deep represents a survival videogame in one of the purest forms: desert island life. It is certainly not a difficult concept to conceive, but Stranded Deep is an excellent example of a notion done countless times in other media.

If you’re a fan of the genre looking to explore its rich history and origins, then Renegade on Xbox One is a pretty insightful trip down arcade brawling lane.

Obey Me on Xbox One is a lot of fun to play. It’s challenging, fast and furious, and thankfully comes with an appealing story and graphical style. There are issues with the camera, but nothing game breaking, and with lots of fun to be had pushing back demons, what more recommendation do you need?

Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones on Xbox One isn’t a beacon of beat em’ up games in 2020, but hindsight is a little kinder to its well-intentioned ideas that were unfortunately rather flimsy in execution. This game was part of the swansong for NES, and decades later it’s now a case of a historical curiosity which may be enjoyable to those genre enthusiasts with an acquired taste.

As a fan, this one is worth picking up alongside the original Double Dragon as one of the blueprint greats of the beat ‘em up genre.