With Little Nightmares 2 Tarsier Studios has once again dreamt up a wonderfully unnerving world filled with grotesque and fantastical creatures that is a horrifying pleasure to explore. Gameplay is mostly the same as in the original, with the only significant exceptions being the addition of Six as an AI companion and some clumsy combat that actually feels more like a puzzle than anything else. If you enjoyed the first game, and you’re looking for more of the same creepy goodness, you can’t go wrong with Little Nightmares 2. Just maybe sleep with the lights on after you’re done playing.

Virginia is a game because of its avenues of release and its use of a controller, but it is the most cinematic, movie-like game that may have yet been created.

Thankfully, even as some features are conspicuously absent, nothing else in Battlefield V feels rushed. It's a smooth experience, offering yet another audiovisual master class, and regularly delivers a true sense of spectacle in a way that other console shooters simply can't match.

Assassin's Creed Shadows feels like a rejuvenated new entry for the series: more polished, more streamlined, and more feasible in terms of completion than some of the recent games. I appreciated how quickly this game gets going — especially when compared to slower openings, like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. It still boasts a massive open world, something which those older games struggled to make as rewarding to explore as they could have been, but I'm itching to see everything Shadows has to offer. It really does feel like that feudal Japan setting is more worth the wait.

Switch – Or Die Trying is for those who look for a real challenge in their platformers. It can be likened to Super Meat Boy in that respect. Switch – Or Die Trying is truly a platformer that was made for the diehard fans of the genre.

Monster Hunter Rise is a fantastic action game that will keep you busy for hundreds of hours, and the upgrades on Xbox compared to the Switch original are considerable. Veteran hunters might feel like the streamlining has been taken a little too far in places, but Rise does often manage to add different kinds of depth in new ways, even if series fans are unlikely to find too much of a challenge here outside of a few notable quests. The Rampage being something of a chore is a shame, especially with it being a key part of the narrative, but it is what it is and aside from the handful of required quests and a related achievement for running 50(!) of the damn things, you can largely ignore it and enjoy the series' more traditional hunts in typically enjoyable fashion.

The limited but excellent soundtrack and local competitive modes make the overall package well worth playing if you're a fan of this type of game. Just don't expect anything groundbreaking -- pun intended, again.

The game makes for a fun adventure with a bit of a family-friendly leaning, and allows you the freedom to chase mission markers or just slow down and explore. A good variety of missions will please any players who haven't yet grown weary of the developer-publisher's oft-seen open-world design, making Ubisoft's risky project a game that shoots for the stars and in many ways manages to get there.

To this day Halo Wars remains the most accessible RTS game to have ever been released on a console, and while it may lack the depth of some of its PC brethren, as an introduction to the genre it is still at the top of its class.

In a sea of ID@Xbox games, Typoman: Revised stands on its own thanks to its solid gameplay and unique use of words and puzzles. The platforming simply feels good and the usage of letters, words and antonyms add another layer to it.

Nobody Saves the World is a bold change of direction for the team best known for the Guacamelee! games, and the gamble pays off. It's a creative ARPG that rewards experimentation brilliantly, and even without memeing as hard as its lucha-masked stablemates (does anything?), it manages to entertain all the same with its own blend of tight combat, hugely customisable classes, daft humour, and a well-told narrative.

After the disappointing and short installment that was Episode 3, Guardians of the Galaxy and Telltale fans can breathe a sigh of relief because Telltale has redeemed themselves. Episode 4 is much more fulfilling than its prior episode in both length and content, with weighty decisions to be made and lives to possibly be changed forever. We also get more glimpses at the Guardians' past, and these sequences are done well and will evoke emotion. The gameplay also hits a high note in this episode with several escape and combat scenes set to more classic songs from Peter Quill's mix tape. Telltale still struggles outside of their signature quick time event sequences, so the parts when you need to walk around and interact with things are as awkward as ever. But, finally, we're getting somewhere in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series' fourth episode.

Despite showing its age in occasional places, the purity and simplicity of Burnout's arcade racing is as refreshing now as it was when the title was first released. Its world may not be as expansive or as good looking as some of today's titles, but its racing experience is still up there with the best and arguably superior to some modern-day counterparts.

Lego 2K Drive is, without a doubt, a fun, chaotic arcade racing game for anyone that's a fan of the franchise. Its open world is enjoyable to explore and there are plenty of activities to get stuck into. While the story can be a bit of a slog due to its difficulty, Lego 2K it offers an inviting entry point for children interested in racing games, mixing in a dash of humor and a sprinkle of over-the-top mini-games. There isn't anything revolutionary to be found, but it offers hours of entertainment and a good few laughs — Visual Concepts has the building blocks of an awesome new series with Lego 2K Drive.

Project CARS 2 really does feel like Project CARS version 2.0 with virtually all aspects of the title having been polished and improved. All of the minus points and complaints from the previous title have been addressed, including the all-important playability with a standard controller. In single-player mode, Project CARS 2 has much more to offer than nearly every other title in the genre but this is undermined by the patchy and unpredictable multiplayer at this time. The combination of weather and the new LiveTrack 3.0 engine is simply superb. Each track becomes so much more alive, shining most in less than optimal racing conditions, leaving other track implementations feeling horribly static. Those who only want to race two or three laps at a time will miss the amazing changing track conditions, so this is a title that is for racers, for those more interested in the details of motorsport in general and a much more immersive experience. The title continues to push the genre forward and continues where other titles stop.

If you're a fan of Kinect, there's no reason why this game shouldn't be in your collection because FRU is a game that is testament to what could be achieved with Microsoft's peripheral.

The Evil Within 2 doesn't reinvent the survival-horror genre but makes it work in more of an open world. Blending it with the tightly directed sections we have come to expect from the genre creates a fantastic horror setting that cranks up the tension only when it's needed. Players are rewarded for exploring and the scarce resources are distributed in a way that you often feel like there is only enough to scrape by, yet it never leaves you feeling under-prepared. Unfortunately, Sebastian's movement and animation often feel disconnected and some animations do seem clumsy in general, while some visual assets noticeably pop into view. Thankfully, these minor issues don't detract too much from the overall package and The Evil Within 2 delivers an interesting and memorable horror experience that is challenging yet fair.

The game's early era mechanics will be a joy to nostalgically-driven gamers while also making enough concessions to contemporary players that remove most (but not all) frustrations. If you don't mind the pixelized art and a few gripes that come with it, it's well worth it to saddle up for Westerado.

By combining the reinvigorating RPG elements of the premiere with detail-oriented puzzles, and adding new layers to this political mystery, it's all shaping up to be one of the best new series of the year. It's a lot of fun whether you're in it for the chess match of every conversation, the puzzles that demand you pay close attention, or the mystery that continues to tease. If you were waiting for more than one episode before you committed to the series, worry no more. This is a mystery worth unraveling.

Surviving Mars offers most of the things you expect in a simulation game: a chaotic and overwhelming start is eventually calmed down once you understand what's going on and how to work efficiently. Mysteries add a unique bonus to the progression, and don't be surprised if you become quite invested in your colony the more you play. As is often the case, the controls pose a bit of a problem and feel like they'd be better suited on a computer.

de Blob 2 is absolutely worth playing if you have any fondness for 3D platformers. It's a simple yet creative concept and the sequel brings additional gameplay features that for the most part improve the overall variety of the experience. It gets a little tough and frustrating in the final third but the developers have deftly managed to avoid the majority of design obstacles for which the genre is notorious. It's an easy game to recommend in theory, but it's hard to justify the Xbox One version when the 360 version is backward compatible.

Devil May Cry 2 remains an uninspired title, but Devil May Cry and Devil May Cry 3 are masterpieces to this day. While people who've played these games a thousand times may find nothing new, everyone will find titles worth their time. These games are classics, and for the most part they still hold up today.

In the previous episode, The Council proved to be more than a one-episode wonder. Now it's shown it can even avoid the dreaded middle episode slump that so often befalls episodic games such as this. With a huge plot twist, the story is beginning to take on a whole different shape. Meanwhile, smart RPG-infused conversations and more interesting branching paths keep it all well worth another trip to the mansion.

Overall, A Walk in the Park is easy to recommend — if you liked The Surge and you want more of it, that’s what you’ll get here and you’re in for a great time at the theme park. If you couldn’t get over the issues in The Surge then there’s nothing here that’s going to change your mind.

With its beautiful graphics, gritty realism, and engaging story, it won't take long for gamers to find themselves hooked on stalking through the shadows. The improved skill trees make customization possible and enhanced skills add to the enjoyment of the adventure. With a nice mix of easy and challenging, the achievements add even more to the fun. All in all, Styx: Shards of Darkness is a game you won't want to miss.

Sure, it's got an exceedingly forgettable story and its gameplay design isn't as easy to understand as one might hope. But it's also got a roster of characters that feel unique and that take on topics your average popcorn JRPG doesn't dare touch. Its combat has a ton of depth for those that dig deep enough and it's really quite fun. Its world design is excellent with secrets to discover everywhere and a clear path for those on a mission. This isn't the best JRPG you'll find on the market by any stretch, but it's certainly still good and those looking for a history lesson on how the genre used to be couldn't do better on Xbox One. Tales of Vesperia is a title fans will be happy to revisit.

Immortal Redneck's melting pot of genres is a success. Regardless of whether you came for the shooting or the roguelite aspects, you'll be pleased with the handling of the two genres. If you love both, Immortal Redneck should take its rightful place on your Must Buy list. The game even hits all the right notes when other genres, like first-person platforming, are thrown into the mix. Don't expect anything amazing from the six bosses, but the eight characters, 50+ weapons and more than 100 scrolls are still more than enough to make each procedurally generated playthrough unique and fun. Roguelite newcomers will be at home with permanent upgrades and mechanics that encourage players to succeed, and veterans can still get their hardcore fix with the Cursed and Plague Medallions or the 20 lives achievement.

Overall, while Mirage does have its issues, I keep finding myself reluctant to put the controller down. I want to get back into Baghdad and hunt down every last treasure. I don’t have the same fatigue, this far through the game, as I might have felt when trying to mop up achievements in Valhalla. Mirage feels like the perfect length — far from outstaying its welcome, I want it to keep going. This refocus on stealth is so much fun, and while I’ll still be playing the next open-ended Assassin’s Creed game we get, it feels like Mirage pretty much achieved exactly what it set out to do.