Call of the Sea is a enjoyable first person puzzler that lays on said puzzles thick and fast. That it also looks stunning didn’t hurt my time with it. Having access to the journal is a great touch, and the story kept me hooked and keen to see what was next throughout.

Civilisation VI is very much a marmite kind of game – you’ll either love it or hate it. While I am indeed a fan (of marmite and Civ), I did feel slightly let down by the laggy performance and seemingly slower pace than I remember. The wonderful aesthetics manage to make up for this to a degree though, and if you’re after something to sink some real time into the Civ VI will absolutely be your cup of tea.

Space Marine II builds upon and improves on its predecessor in every way. Come for the big stompy Space Marines, stay for the intricate interplay between melee and ranged combat.

If you’re after a strategy game that’s not as stressful as others in the genre, Valkyria Chronicles 4 is a great choice. Its beautiful art, story and characters are the icing on a well balanced game that rewards the time and effort you put into it. Keeping on top of some of the nitty gritty can be a bit much at times, but thankfully this doesn’t entirely negatively impact the overall experience.

Although somewhat unusual in its theming, the level of detail and extensive research that has gone into the making of Felix the Reaper is vast and perhaps this is why it stands out so significantly. If anyone was wondering how to incorporate the artistic portrayal of Death in a mentally stimulating puzzle game with humorous and light hearted theming, they certainly need look no further than Felix the Reaper.

Helheim Hassle is another solid entry in to the gaming world from Perfectly Paranormal. It’s funny, has clever puzzle mechanics and designs, and there’s much more to do here than initial impressions might appear. Switching between the body parts is too fiddly to do with speed, so some sections suffer as a result and can be mightily frustrating, but other than that there’s a lot of fun to be had here.

It might not live up to its inspiration, but Doublehit Games have gotten pretty damn close. Some slight stodginess on the controls can lead to unwarranted failure at times, but it’s a small slight on an other wise charming, dark, and enthralling puzzle adventure that gives those heart strings a good old tug.

Many games try to capture the lightning in a bottle that was Fortnite or Rocket League, but with KungFu Kickball I feel Blowfish has a better chance than most to do so. Gameplay is simple and fun but with enough depth to really encourage some high level play, and it’s also easy to watch and follow along with. Ideal for gaming nights with friends or a Twitch stream audience.

This may well not be a perfect game, but it’s certainly a great one, it’s energetic, thrilling and engaging.

The core loop to Sparklite certainly holds some appeal, the loop sucking you into just one more go – time and time again. Fans of procedurally generated rogue-likes will find ample here to keep the interest and perhaps even new players may be drawn into the loop too.

V-Rally 4 is a deep and challenging experience. There’s an undeniable issue with the game’s somewhat overly loose controls, but with that to the side, this is every bit as engaging as V-Rally has always been. Everything from the game’s stunning visual and audio presentation to its dynamic systems and its content diversity, has been developed meticulously to produce one hell of a tense second-by-second racer.

The gameplay is tight, responsive and surprisingly accessible whilst remaining challenging throughout. The story may well indeed be basic in its delivery, but the plot does prove to be energetic and exhilarating nevertheless, however it is sadly held back slightly by a poorly voiced cast of forgettable characters.

I am glad these games are back, as there is a lot of joy to be had in these D&D based RPG’s which both newer and old RPG fans can enjoy. The controls designed for the Xbox controller make the game much quicker to steer and feel more fluid. The game flows a lot quicker than it did in the past too, without all the restrictive loading times associated with CD’s. If you are a big fan of in-depth story lines and interesting plot twists in your RPG’s, then this collection will be something you’ll love.

One Hand Clapping isn’t a masterpiece, but it is a refreshing and unique game especially on the Xbox platform which is woefully in need of alternative games such as this. I wish more developers would take risks like this; unfortunately, those risks aren’t usually rewarded. So if you want to try something different and reward creativity then don’t hesitate to pick up One Hand Clapping.

Elex 2 has come a long way from the first game back in 2017. Graphically it looks much better and the storyline feels much more robust. The story mode difficulty has made the game much more accessible for those just wanting to play and enjoy the story. The combat hasn’t pushed on too much but it’s not terrible, but it does feel a bit dated. But if you are a big RPG fan then there is plenty of content to sink your teeth into.

Metal Eden is a fantastic title, brimming with explosive encounters and dazzling moments of traversal. It is as good as the other big budget run-and-gunner this year.

Movers In Paradise is a fantastic DLC and playing it with my wife was great fun and laughs (and mini arguments) all round. With Moving Out still being on Game Pass you only need to pick up the DLC and you won’t be disappointed if you enjoyed the original. Even if you haven’t played the original I still recommend picking this up as I actually think I enjoyed it more than the original.

Eternal Threads folds an interesting butterfly-effect narrative into a well put together puzzle, letting us delve as deep into the mystery as we see fit. Consistently intriguing enough to see us through just one more scene, and letting us change our story at will means it’s a game that had us hooked throughout.

DBZ: Kakarot has taken some interesting steps to move on from the Xenoverse games, but only some of them have paid off. While it’d great to follow Goku’s arc through the Z saga’s, the fact remains that this is far from the first time we’ve done so. The graphics, music, voice acting and cut scenes all look great though, and take some of the sting out of the repetition. The RPG elements are laid on quite deep, though the “open world” is hardly as open as first impressions suggest, with proper progression – both in the world and for your characters – locked off until you get to certain beats in the story.

Overall I really enjoyed my time with the game, as I said earlier I think the designers did a great job combining the three aspects of gameplay, which kept everything feeling fresh. The combat can feel a little basic at times but the fun puzzles and exploration of the fantastically designed levels make up for it. Anyone interested in helping a robot learn about itself and how the civilization that designed it fell apart by exploring three vast isometric levels should give this a try.

Forgotton Anne houses a gorgeously fitting art direction that’s not too dissimilar to Laputa: Castle in the Sky. This design sits extraordinarily well with its carefully crafted platforming and puzzle elements, collectively putting forward a wonderful adventure that never loses its grip. The dialogue may well be hit and miss at times, but the overarching plot is captivating, well paced and thoroughly entertaining.

Overall, I’ve had a decent time with Alone in the Dark. The Resident Evil reboots are a clear and massive inspiration, and while it might not be quite on their level, Alone in the Dark still manages to entertain with a weird and wonderful experience. The combat sections are definitely a weak spot, but the exploration and puzzle parts are able to balance this out nicely.

The characters we meet along the way are all unique and interesting, and I really liked how Polygon Treehouse interwove several of the arcs and puzzles across them. The sense of place and aesthetics are excellent too, with some lovely visuals complemented by nice ambient music and effects. The tale may be told via text, but Tove and the rest of the cast all make various grunts and mumbles as their text box pops up, helping to sell the emotion in the writing. All of this adds up to a game that was heart wrenching but gripping, and a pleasure to play.

Unpacking has found a unique voice in how it has chosen to tell a story and for that deserves to be on everyone’s play list.

If you can get over the poor graphics, bugs and the constant attempts on your life, Rust: Console Edition has plenty to offer you. The game is definitely suited to a very niche group and that’s OK because once you overcome the initial learning curve, Rust can be great (especially if you can group up with friends or even other in game players).

As a short, narrative adventure, The Last Case of John Morley is enjoyable thanks to a great sense of atmosphere, good story and well paced reveals that keep us second guessing right until the very end.

Not too many games go above and beyond to pay homage to the past like Trek To Yomi does. From top to bottom it is drenched in a dedicated and unshakable inspiration of Japanese cinema, which does its absolute best to make players spellbound by its sheer level of deftly crafted artistic intent. Similarly, the combat is super slick, stylish and gratifyingly nuanced, that it will please many who beg for a finely-honed, lethal and precise katana-thrusting gameplay core. Unfortunately, the repetition of enemies and their compositions do get in the way as there isn’t enough diversity in the enemy variety nor the deviation to manipulate curiosity in interesting ways, but ultimately if you want a brief, beautiful and brutal action game, you should certainly take this trek.

Hunt: Showdown is an amazing game and I’m glad Crytek have persevered over the years because this needed to happen. Anyone with a fetish for horror should pick up this title. The stealth and PvPvE work well and the game feels like a shot of adrenaline when a gunfight breaks out between players.