Hitman 2 is surgical – it’s a focused experience that knows what it wants to achieve and exactly how to do it, much like its protagonist. All six maps are wonderfully replayable, and in reshuffling older content, IO seems to be on the cusp of the “games as a service” wave in a way not attempted by other developers. More locations would have been welcome, and Hitman 2 feels like somewhat of a supplementary package to its episodic brother at times, but there is nothing else out there like it.

Despite the slow start and the weak melee combat, I will go out of my way to recommend Phoenotopia: Awakening. The developers went above and beyond building a captivating world that will suck you in. There are funny characters, interesting locations, unique puzzles, and satisfying platforming. What are you waiting for? Grab your fishing rod, frying pan, bomb sack, spear, and dust off your flute, and prepare for an adventure.

Nongunz: Doppelganger Edition is one of those games where you feel yourself getting better the more you play, and I usually enjoy games that give me that experience. Once you get an understanding of the gameplay it’s a very rewarding and fun game although getting to that point can be a bit unconventional. Discovering everything on your own can be a fun endeavour but I also understand why some players might abandon the game because of its obtuse nature. It starts out slow, and you have to build up your arsenal and inventory, but overall the journey is very fun. It can feel somewhat grindy at points, especially the end game, and it would be nice if there were one or two more levels and/or some boss variety. In the end, I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is a fan of roguelite platformers, especially if you like shooting tons of Gunz and exploring an exquisitely designed morbid pixel art setting.

DiRT Rally 2.0’s relentless difficulty truly knows no bounds, making it an experience that’s clearly been designed exclusively for rally sim enthusiasts. The game packs a respectable variation of tracks, vehicles, and modes, with a plethora of customization options present to aid you in finding comfortable handling. Despite its few technical issues, it doesn’t get much better than this. It’s tense, it’s engaging, and it’s constantly exciting.

Although not quite as refined as one would have hoped, Dark Souls Remastered takes the critically acclaimed 2011 game and brings it back for a sharper, more fluid experience. Bugs and annoyances occur infrequently, but in the face of its stable framerate, its improved lighting and effects and its inclusion of Artorias of the Abyss, this is easy to overlook. Simply put, this is the best version of the game to date.

Between its fairly deep serving of content, its multi-tiered progression system and its innovative community death mechanic, Next Up Hero is certainly one of the better dungeon crawlers to release in recent memory. Its steep difficulty may not be for everyone, but if you relish a heavily challenging experience with heaps of replay value, this game should most certainly be on your radar.

With improved movement mechanics, new dog Luna’s abilities, and a lot of content to get to, Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is a better overall game than its predecessor. The optional levels are a bit easy, and Luna makes playing as Pablo feel a bit weak, but this is still an easy recommendation for anyone looking for some pure, fun platforming action.

Cult of the Lamb might not have the most complex systems, but it has a magnitude of quick and fun activities for you to engage in, and everything fits together wonderfully. The management system can feel a little frustrating at first while you learn the ropes, and there were many times when I just wanted to get back to the frantic action of the dungeon diving portion, but once you understand the best ways to proceed you’ll have a ton of fun just like I did. Massive Monster have created a winning combination here and they plan to add more content in the future so I’ll definitely keep my eyes open for it because I would love to continue my tenure as a cult leader.

Those looking for tough, but fun, arcade shoot-em-up action should absolutely check out SophStar. It plays well, offers a great challenge, and has a decent amount of extra modes to check out when we’ve been beaten down for the fifth time in a row in the main game.

Slime-san: Superslime Edition is packed full of exciting and diverse content. Not only does this game cater for those that relish a 2D platforming challenge, but it offers a decent learning curve that’s suitable for newcomers too. The controls are tight and responsive, the game’s mechanics are unique and function well, though above all else, it’s fun, thrilling and addictive. For its price, this game is an absolute steal.

If you’re a fan of the Crysis series, then Crysis Trilogy Remastered is definitely going to be a collection to experience once more. Whilst the initial representation may be too buggy at present, the true value of this franchise could really shine with the right patches and some additional polish. Those yet to experience this game shouldn’t be put off by the negatives in this review; sure, there is some illusion breaking bugs, and some irritation can be caused for anyone who knows the games from the originals, but in general, this trilogy still offers up the same fantastic sci-fi stories that they always have and if you’re an FPS fan who enjoys a good story, then you really shouldn’t pass this up, especially when all 3 games are available for the price of one typical release.

Crown Trick warrants a play from all Roguelike or turn based games, a worthy challenge with a change in pace from a typical one life only game. A truly joyful movement-based game with amazing art and combat depth, try it out if you’re a part of Game Pass day one.

Overall, Backfirewall_ is a unique and entertaining game that offers a fresh and original experience. The game’s clever puzzles, diverse app-characters, and numerous collectibles make it an engaging and rewarding game to play. Its humour adds an element of fun and playfulness to the game. If you’re looking for a narrative, adventure, puzzle game that is a bit different from the norm, then Backfirewall_ is a game you won’t want to miss.

Moons of Madness is a solid, well made horror cinematic experience which all horror fans should check out. The way Moons of Madness looks and feels is exactly like a sci-fi movie, featuring a great story and plenty of horrific action to keep you running.

EAFC 26 is still the leading football simulation game in the world, and it’s not even close. It’s a shame there is no real competition to keep them on their toes. They are keeping with the ‘if it’s not broke, don’t fix it’ mantra and appeasing their biggest money maker by putting a large amount of focus on the Ultimate Team game mode. They have made just enough graphical and gameplay changes so it can be considered a new game, but barely.

Savage Halloween caters to those who want a more casual run and gun play style and for those who are eager for a challenge. Regardless of which one you pick you’re guaranteed to receive a treat than a trick with this title.

The Medium is one of the best horror games I have played in a long time. Between the 2 worlds that have been created and the outstand sound score, Bloober Studios have absolutely smashed this out of the park. The fact that this game will be in Game Pass on day of launch is incredible and should make it a must download for anyone with a subscription.

Aragami: Shadow Edition builds upon the initial release with its inclusion of the Nightfall expansion. There’s no shortage of content to enjoy, all of which is served up as a wonderful open-stealth adventure that supports online co-op play. The game’s visuals are gorgeous and well detailed and its mechanics remain fluid and well rounded throughout. Despite some minor issues, this is one hell of a good game.

Overall, I had a great time with Cursed to Golf. The golfing mechanic is simple to learn, but between the random course layouts, hazards, and Ace Cards, actually beating a hole is anything but. Constantly fun, with the only drag being the boss battles, this is an easy recommendation.

Captain Spirit may indeed be short, but it packs one hell of an emotional punch nevertheless. The relationship between Chris and his abrasive father plays a significant role, but it’s Chris’ use of his imagination to get through day to day life that truly steals the show here. This atmosphere, grouped with the writing and the acting, makes for a very captivating two hour journey. Bring on Life is Strange 2.

Maxima is an accessible, welcome spin-off from the main series. The story is finely paced, the combat system is engaging, and the dungeon diving remains diverse and fun, but it’s its compelling Pokémon-esque structure that truly maintains its allure. There’s a few issues with its writing, specifically with a character that you cant avoid throughout the entirety of play, but that alone isn’t nearly enough to hold the game back from greatness.

Of all the legacy Final Fantasy games that have come to Xbox One, the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is the most comprehensive of the lot. The spiritually deep story is every bit as moving today as it was nearly twenty years ago, and surprisingly, each title here has aged remarkably well, both visually and mechanically. Sporting over 200 hours worth of gameplay, complete with refinements and added extras, returning to Spira should be a no-brainer.

The Onion Kingdom is bigger, better and more detailed than ever before. Overcooked! 2 takes its compelling concept to the next level through added mechanics, new additions and heaps of clever functionalities. The game’s difficulty may spike from time to time, but nevertheless, it goes without saying that Overcooked! 2 offers a robust co-op centric experience that rarely gets old, with online multiplayer to boot.

Celeste offers a bold and beautiful story that will touch anyone who can relate to its plot foundation. It’s a brilliantly designed and gorgeously presented experience throughout the entirety of play. Perhaps Celeste’s greatest achievement, however, is that it appeals to speedrunners, thrill seekers, and completionists alike. Furthermore, it doesn’t alienate genre newcomers thanks to how accessible it is.

Ys Origin is a remarkable JRPG that offers up a plethora of content for its generous price tag. There’s a great deal of variation within, from well designed environments to the wide selection of diverse enemies and interesting boss encounters. It helps that the game remains fluid throughout the entirety of play, despite some framerate issues later in. Simply put, fans of the genre shouldn’t overlook this nostalgic gem.

Atelier Yumia’s first bout is a fun, open world crafting game that offers more than just clearing icons on a map—its verticality while offering player creativity through movement and housing tools make for a good time. It’s everything its developer has been building towards, and I’ve come away quite impressed with what they’ve got to offer.

Discolored is exactly what we like to see from indie games: inventive puzzle mechanics, lovely audio/visual presentation and a run time that doesn’t overstay its welcome. If anything Godbey Games could have gotten away with another hour or so, but what’s here is perfectly enjoyable puzzling that is well worth an evening’s entertainment.

Lengthy loading times to the side, Hammerwatch is the pinnacle of couch co-op fun. The addition of timed exclusive console content, along with the promise of online play and new mods, makes Hammerwatch an absolute steal when you take the generous price tag into account. The game looks great and plays great, which is further bolstered when you bring your friends into the fold.