As a modern fighting game, it manages to hold its own against more seasoned stablemates, thanks to its accessibility and hidden depths.

It’s neither revolutionary, nor a next-gen leap, but Powerstar Golf is a cheery, entertaining experience regardless. We’ll be coming back to this for weeks.

A cool and unique physics-based puzzle platformer from the house of Pokémon, Giga Wrecker Alt. has some nice twists and mechanics. It's found a perfect home on console.

If you'd have asked me after hour five what The Crew was, I would have said a solid 50% score. Hour ten? 60%. Thankfully though, the home straight is what saves The Crew from being just another average racer and with its incredibly game world, it’s worth dipping your toe in. Just don’t expect it to get decent for a long time, but when it does, it’s almost worth the wait.

Code Vein 2 definitely feels like a sideways step in many respects. However, much like the original, it’s still a hell of a lot of fun.

Despite some glaring roster omissions and little in the way of meaningful evolution over the boxing sims of old, Undisputed enters the ring as a lean and mean contender that's fighting fit. Just don't go expecting any seismic shifts when it comes to the boxing formula.

An ever-so-slightly shabby single-player first-person shooter, Terminator: Resistance – Complete Edition still does right by the movies, delivering a decent slice of narrative, and robust action, to boot. Come with me if you want to be entertained for about 10-15 hours.

Sporting various improvements over its predecessor means Railway Empire 2 is a marginally more approachable game, but there remains a barrier of entry that may prove a little too high for some. All aboard, then? Maybe not, but we’d recommend at least giving it a go.

The Jackbox Party Pack 2 is pretty much essential if you have family or friends to entertain. It's one of very few games in which everyone can join in, providing hours of fun and laughter. One to dig out for social gatherings then.

Aphelion is an enjoyable journey across a hostile alien planet that’s a little too light on human drama, but nonetheless emerges as an engaging sci-fi adventure while it lasts.

Replaced is a decent mood piece, with punchy combat, an underwhelming story and platforming, and striking visuals.

Kinect Sports as a launch title though is extremely promising and it does show that Kinect could very well have a future in every living room – big living rooms that is. As it stands now though, Kinect Sports is perfect for short bursts with friends and is certainly unique, but there are a few annoyances that regrettably hamper the whole experience.

If Marvel's Avengers were an MCU movie, it'd be Age of Ultron. It's perfectly entertaining and well put together, with some great set-pieces, but it isn't necessarily one you're going to return to again and again.

Alien: Rogue Incursion isn’t top-class, but it roots you in your surroundings, and, even without a clamp-on headset, you feel enveloped.

A rarity, Thank Goodness You’re Here! lovingly mocks the North of England, and it has several good laughs, but it does underwhelm in its play.

A fine example of twin-stick shooter fun, Tesla vs. Lovecraft proves rather moreish, and even more enjoyable with friends. You could say, it's electrifying.

A decent clutch of games, presented well enough, but with some duds in the mix, the Marvel MaXimum Collection is livened up by a couple of gems.

Lords of the Fallen is enough to tide you over until the next Soulslike, and it has some arresting sights, but it lacks a focus of its own.

Unless you absolutely thought Prince of Persia was one of the great games of last year, it’s truly hard to recommend the Epilogue to you. Sure the new level is great and the story is as we’ve come to expect from the series, but after the short 2 hour burst, there is nothing left to do.

Madder than a box of frogs, Manual Samuel is surreal, a bit dark and slightly sadistic, but will bring a smile to your face. There are annoying bits, sure, but overall, Manual Samuel is an enjoyable QWOP-alike that will put your dextrous digits to the test.

Addictive and entertaining, Sparkle Unleashed is a more than competent Zuma-style puzzler for Xbox One that's definitely worth a look.

Anarchy Reigns is good, clean fun while the appeal lasts, and demonstrates that online fighting games needn't be restricted to just versus fare. There's clearly room for something a little more... anarchic.

No Man’s Sky NEXT is certainly a massive step-up from what it was two years ago. With the addition of online multiplayer, base-building and some graphical tweaks it offers quite a bit to keep players busy for hours on end. While it does have a few flaws, No Man's Sky is still a unique and enjoyable game.

Don't be fooled by its simplistic, retro visual stylings. Crimsonland is enormous fun, and the perfect game to dip in and out of on occasion.

Sea of Thieves has the potential for some great tales, cruising the high seas, following the wind with them sails. Its lack of content and things to do hold it back, but at no point is the game totally whack. Arrr!

There are just enough flourishes, mechanical and artistic, to turn your head, but whether Wuchang: Fallen Feathers will keep your gaze is another matter.

A polished game overall that falls victim to crimes of the past.

'Anime Dark Souls' was its billing, but it’s not until Code Vein breaks free of the tried-and-tested formula that it shines brightly. With a difficulty balance that stretches from a leisurely stroll to hair-tearing madness, it’s hard to know who this game is for. Code Vein is fun, though. Really, really fun, and a great place to start for anyone keen to dip their toe into a more chilled and relaxed Souls-like title.

A solid first effort at Formula One on current consoles, F1 2015 is nevertheless hamstrung by a dearth of modes. The strength of the on-track action does bode well for subsequent F1 games, however, although F1 2015 feels like something of a stop-gap. That said, die-hard F1 fans will still love F1 2015 regardless.

While it’s not the most polished game from a graphical standpoint, Tides of Tomorrow is nonetheless a compelling post-apocalyptic adventure with a smart asynchronous multiplayer twist.

A fine twin-stick shooter, Tachyon Project is good, solid entertainment that's worth whiling away a few hours with.

Offering a good dose of blood and viscera for gorehounds and more than ample fan service for Evil Dead heads, Evil Dead: The Game is a solid entry to the 4v1 horror genre, let down ever so slightly by repetitive objectives and slightly annoying solo missions. Putting that to one side, what Saber has created here is pretty... groovy.

Not quite up to the standards of High Moon's Transformers: War For Cybertron, Deadpool is nevertheless a decent use of the Marvel license. That said, there's just something about the whole product that feels a little dated, and the lack of content doesn't help matters either.

Manic marine mayhem, Maneater is a one-of-a-kind shaRkPG that can feel a little one-note at times, but it's never anything less than an unhinged, knowingly daft piece of entertainment. You get to be a shark and eat people, for crying out loud. It's fun and guaranteed to make you smile, (you son of a bitch).

An intriguing sci-fi adventure with some neat concepts at its core, State of Mind's visual style and the prescribed nature of its action can be off-putting, but dig in for the ride, and you'll enjoy a smart narrative that eventually pays off. Definitely worth sticking with.

How much you enjoy Fable: The Journey will largely depend on what you want from a game. If you're after a great, lovingly told story, then you're in for a treat. If you're looking for exciting, responsive gameplay, then you may want to look elsewhere.

Pragmata is lusciously produced single-player action game, though not up to Capcom’s heights.

The Toaplan Arcade Collection is an absolute must for arcade gaming buffs and action game purists alike, and it offers a great opportunity for newcomers to check out some two-player classics. However, it is a bit disappointing that the collection comes with no supplementary materials. Plus, there's no getting around the fact that some of these arcade games just aren't very good!

Something of a disappointment then, consisting of a half-baked story that suffers from a lack of context or character, some pretty poor mission checkpoints, samey objectives and a surprising dearth of futuristic technology.

On the Xbox 360 though, it's a different landscape, and for now, Harmonix's Dance Central 2 has its flag firmly cemented at the top of Dance Mountain. Wait, wait… I have a better one… In Dancetown, Dance Central 2 is currently the Sheriff and Just Dance 3 is the Deputy. Yeah, that's better… Just Dance 3 does have 2 Unlimited though… and there's No Limit to how nostalgic that song is.

FIFA 24 in all but name, EA Sports FC 24 continues the series' tradition of slick, authentic, iterative football, with more Ultimate Team, more Career mode, more Kick Off immediacy... more of the same.

A slightly disappointing return for EA's racing franchise, Need for Speed doesn't do anything to push things forward. You'd think that a hiatus might have given Ghost Games time to inject a little extra vigour into Need for Speed, but the overall result is falls woefully short of expectations. Still, the racing part remains good, clean fun, which is what really matters.

Controversy aside, Atomic Heart is a robust first-person affair, albeit one that revels in glorified Soviet iconography and Wolfenstein-esque alternate history weirdness. The difference is, there's no ambiguity in shooting Nazis – here, however, you can’t help but have a sense of unease while playing.

Tense, dramatic and unique, Rainbow Six: Siege feels and plays unlike any other shooter on the market. It’s not perfect but it can be great fun. We just wish there was more of it.

Nobody Wants to Die is a fantastic, wonderfully cinematic sci-fi noir that's over all too soon. Its procedural detective work can be too procedural, but there's the kernel of something really great here.

A bit of a departure from Saints Row (though not really a massive one), Agents of Mayhem is an entertaining spin-off shooter laced with RPG elements that enhance an otherwise uncomplicated game. There's fun to be had here, providing you can get past the repetitive action.

The mechanics of Reanimal are slightly plodding and airless, with not much by way of creativity or challenge, but the spectacles are often impressive.

Yes, there are better co-op shooters out there, and many of those provide similar levels of relentless violence, but Killing Floor 3 deftly manages to conjure some pretty unique, gory thrills of its own.

For WWE fans past and present, WWE All Stars has plenty about it to enjoy, the only problem is the fact that the core combat is nowhere near as intuitive or slick as the actual presentation.

While many of the Street Fighter and Darkstalkers games included here are already available in previous collections, Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium still includes a plethora of arcade classics, and you're bound to discover, or indeed, rediscover, something well worth playing.

As a racing game for kids this is ideal, with easy to pick up and play controls and a variety of fun modes. However, with the removal of the sandbox style areas there is not much depth on offer here and just playing the same missions or multiplayer modes over and over again will rapidly lose its appeal. As a movie tie-in this game is certainly fun while it lasts but do not expect it to hold your attention, or that of your kids if you deign to give them a go, for long. Cars 2 is more Ka-chow than Ka-ching, but not by much.

An exemplary slice of fan service once again, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 also succeeds in being a rewarding game that even non-DBZ fans will find enjoyable. Obviously, fans will lap up every last bit, even if the combat does persist in being a bit of a button-mashing exercise. That aside, DBX 2 is a marked improvement over its predecessor.

The term 'more of the same' is bandied about a lot in this industry, but when it comes to Crackdown 3, it is absolutely more of the same. With a few tweaks here and there, and a new city, there’s no doubting that the gameplay still absolutely holds up. The structure and busywork tasks issues still persist from previous iterations though, which is perhaps the most disappointing aspect. Fun but repetitive best sums up Crackdown 3.

With Shadows of the Damned though, Grasshopper nearly has the makings of a franchise that could have a decent future. It does lack replayability and longevity though, and with some repetitious gameplay mechanics in terms of shooter and puzzle action, it's by no means a perfect start. In truth, if it wasn't for the likeable cast of characters, engaging story and Grasshopper's unique take on hell, Shadows of the Damned would almost certainly be a complete let-down.

Predictably enjoyable, Just Cause 3 is as big and ballsy as its forebear, but doesn't push the envelope quite enough. Yet, if it's action and explosions you seek, then look no further. Just Cause 3 is still the most fun you can have with a gun, a grapple and infinite parachutes. Boom.

A solid detective yarn with decent puzzles and a procession of absorbing mysteries to unravel, Agatha Christie: Death on the Nile is an intricate and enjoyable, albeit slightly shabbily presented, adventure with a slightly unusual 1970s style.

It’s an occasionally annoying but often enjoyable game.

I was truly hopeful that the change of direction would be good for the series, but it just seems like a major step in the wrong direction. Instead the game sits uncomfortably between an arcade and a simulation racer, and never really excels in either department. Plus, the loading times border on the outright unacceptable.

A good solid slab of real-time strategy, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin will please ardent fans of the Games Workshop fantasy universe, while keeping those well-versed in the genre well occupied. If you love goblins and all that other stuff, you'll be loving this.

There is enough pleasant fun here to divert you, and there are flutters of real invention. You just wish that it ran a little further.

The truth is, Forza Motorsport feels like it was released to tick a box on the Game Pass release calendar, rather than it striving to retain its place at the pinnacle of video game racing. And if this is the future of Microsoft's first party games, Game Pass might not be the big deal it's been treated as. Forza Motorsport no longer feels like a love letter to racing car fans, but instead feels like a leaflet someone has shoved through my letterbox.

A bold and interesting Inception-inspired crack at delivering a twisty turny story, Get Even succeeds in making exploration and collectibles enjoyable, while the later combat engagements prove to be a grind. Overall, however, Get Even is a fun, if somewhat convoluted, first-person yarn.

Evolve is brilliant in the right circumstances and with the right people, but it’s hard to unreservedly recommend to everyone. Those with dedicated teams will get the most out of the game while those in matchmaking will find mixed results. Still, Turtle Rock deserves recognition for attempting - and almost nailing - such an ambitious project.

An impeccably made multiplayer dino shooter, Exoprimal has all of the right stuff, but, with only a single mode to play over and over again, it can quite get repetitive rather quickly.

Metro: Last Light should have been fantastic. Instead, 4A Games has delivered a broader, less interesting, less cohesive title that borrows from elsewhere when it should have built upon its own unique qualities. There’s still plenty to love, but it’s a wasted opportunity.

An improvement on its predecessor, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India is a more varied game that at it’s best, is pretty damn good. But a handful of poor choices and underdeveloped ideas hold it back.

Overall it’s hard to see what Treyarch were aiming for here, as the story retreads old ground and most of the set-piece moments seem to have been lifted directly from the previous games. Coupled with dodgy A.I and the ever present endless rush of foes and it’s just not that great.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will likely be seen less as the definitive way to play than as simply another way to play. Its reverence for the original makes this one feel oddly anticlimactic.

Promise Mascot Agency does a lot of things, and does most of them rather well. The result is an unusual genre mish-mash that takes a little while to get going, but once it does, is quite hard to put down.

Zombie Army Trilogy isn’t an especially well made game. It’s a bit buggy and cheap and it’s decidedly dumb. But it’s also capable of being really fun. Get online with a few friends, get the beers in, and laugh together as you massacre Hitler’s undead army, one squishy head at a time.

LEGO Jurassic Park is, as ever, a sizable package with plenty of replay value when it comes to finding every hidden nook, cranny and minikit. However, the same gameplay persists as do some of the same bugs and glitches – often revolving around co-op play. So while it is nice to revisit locales both new and old, it’s not so great to see the same issues and problems when you get there.

A sequel that delivers a glut of content, but locks too much of it away, Star Wars Battlefront II is nonetheless a clear labour of love and a robust multiplayer shooter, sadly buried in an over-complicated progression system. To try or to try not, then? If you're prepared to put in the time and effort, then Star Wars Battlefront II can be enormously fun and rewarding, even if it might not necessarily be the game you were looking for.

A solid but glitch-riddled open-world tactical shooter that falls agonisingly short of realising its full potential, Ghost Recon Wildlands is the very definition of a 'nearly' game. It's so very nearly brilliant, but there are a few too many problems with it that mar the overall experience. Shame.

A remarkably pleasant, entertaining and pure stealth puzzle game, Spy Chameleon is one of the best games starring a lizard we've played in some time.

For those people craving a wrestling game with all of their classic heroes then they should look no further, but with a less than comprehensive career mode and a seemingly tacked on online feature, it will fail to grip you long term.

‏Despite the beautifully produced 30 Years of WrestleMania mode, WWE 2K14 is lacking. It should feel like Hulk Hogan in his pomp, but it’s in danger of becoming like Mickey Rourke’s The Wrestler; ageing, injured and living off past glories.

A fine remaster of a good 3D Sonic game, Sonic Colours: Ultimate delivers speedy thrills aplenty, with its rainbow of Wisps injecting a smart twist to platforming. With more than enough replay value to keep you coming back, Sonic Colours: Ultimate will last far beyond its initial 4-5 hour runtime and slake your thirst for speed.

Each year, WWE 2K seems to be gradually getting better and better, and in WWE 2K19, the series appears to be making moves towards reestablishing itself as the enjoyable grappling game it once was. We live in hope that even bigger changes will be introduced for WWE 2K20, because WWE 2K19 is certainly a step in the right direction.

While the new additions to High on Life 2 make for a more enjoyable shooter experience than its predecessor, there’s a lack of technical finesse that holds it back. Overall, however, this is a leaner, meaner, and just all-round better game than the first one.

A clear labour of love, The Little Acre is an endearing and enjoyable adventure game whose main crime is being an all too brief experience that fails to provide a satisfying ending. Overlook these quibbles, however, and you'll find it hard not to relish your stay in The Little Acre's magical world.

A welcome revamp to a more than decade-old cult classic, NieR Replicant ver.122474487139... will be equally inviting to Automata fans, NieR veterans, and newcomers alike. Only a lack of variety, a lightweight combat challenge, and disappointing boss encounters put a downer on proceedings.

A decent revisit of a fondly remembered classic, Strider gives its ageing source material a modern twist to solid effect. Beware though; if you’ve no patience for tough, pattern-filled, old-school boss fights, you may want to look elsewhere.

Where The Precinct succeeds is out in Averno, coaxing us into fine police work. Fallen Tree has found its niche.

While it's undeniably wonderful to have Battletoads back after such a lengthy hiatus, not everything in here hits the mark. When it does work, however, Battletoads will tickle your funny bone and maybe even conjure warm, fuzzy memories of the '90s originals. You should toadally play it.

The arcade style of the races is crisp and difficult, and if you find yourself bored by the plot, feel free to skip through it.

Bristling with energy and a bright, breezy '90s-inspired style, ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove harks back to a simpler time, when life was a little bit funkier. And fun. This is a fun game.

Silent Hill f is a strange concoction. It should be played, if you are a fan, but it suffers a lack of first-rate scares.

A neat continuation of the LEGO DC series, Super-Villains offers a neat twist in casting your custom character and a range of iconic faces from the comic books as the protagonists in a raucously fun story. Yes, it's the same old LEGO game that you'll have played several times before, but damn it, it's still good. And indeed, good to be bad.

A great opportunity to revisit the origins of a leading Xbox series, Fable Anniversary is an enjoyable trip down memory lane. Brought up to date with new visuals, extra content and a brilliant achievement list, its charms just about overpower its ageing, decade-old gameplay. A must for fans.

A fun distraction from the mainline Final Fantasy games, this is a game you’re going to want to digest in small pieces. World of Final Fantasy Maxima is so sickeningly cute and twee that it sometimes comes off as unbearable (thanks to the main characters) but when you get past that, there is a compelling and intelligent battle system waiting for you. And obviously, the new Xbox One additions are welcome, even if they're not particularly huge. If you’re a die-hard Final Fantasy fan and can put the time into this game, you’re going to get a lot out of it.

Simplistic it may be, but there's an inherent charm to The Big Con that proves infectious. A sweet, coming-of-age yarn that happens to involve a lot of stealing and skullduggery, Mighty Yell's game is full of heart, soul, and '90s nostalgia.

If you're in the market for simple, viscera-packed thrills, then you could do a lot worse than Shadow Warrior 2. Yes, it's a bit repetitive (it's getting repetitive writing the word 'repetitive'), but it's also a lot of fun.

Surprisingly, controls are quite intuitive and easy to use, and the navigation menus are pretty straight forward.

Monument Valley 3 is a very pleasant and enjoyable perspective-shifting puzzler, that despite being a bit short and simplistic, is nonetheless a nice way to spend a couple of hours.

A perfectly decent chunk of linear extra-terrestrial shooting, with a sprinkling of mild Soulslike elements, nice puzzles, and plenty of exploration, Scars Above is a double-A budget game that's worth a look.

A soothing and enjoyable adventure with a smattering of smart LEGO-building puzzles and a dose of metroidvania exploration, LEGO Bricktales is a polished and fun way to while away a few quiet evenings.

For those that relish this style of survival horror, there is fun to be had in Cronos: The New Dawn, but only for a time.

A fun but frustrating cooking experience, Overcooked is a fantastic couch co-op party game that will put your friendships to the test. Expect to be shouting and swearing at one another a lot; it gets pretty damn hot in Overcooked's kitchen.