Mile 0 is something of a pleasant surprise. The inclusion of Rides makes storytelling and decision-making riveting and fresh, underpinned by an insatiably likeable arcade hook. Mile 0 also boasts a greater focus on characters and relationships than the original, helped along by a pleasantly bite-sized price tag. The big dinger though, is that Rides can feel too on-rails for its own good despite its novel use in storytelling and decision-making. Mile 0 also fails to transmit the fervour of Rides to the rest of the experience-this despite some flashes of playful subversiveness and youthful hijinks present throughout. Ultimately Mile 0 can be softly recommended for what it does offer, but it is a lightweight entrée more than a transcendent main course-this one’s lacking the protein and bulk required to truly satisfy over the long haul.

For fans of titles like Silent Hills (P.T.) and Amnesia this is a must. Great atmospheric surroundings provide a truly horrific experience. With photo realistic graphics, great sound and tense moments that make you freak out, Infliction: Extended Cut does a fantastic job and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for this rising indie team.

While the live service nature might not inspire much excitement, as a game to play with friends Exoprimal is a worthwhile pickup. The action is immediate and hectic, but never overwhelming, and the rounds are generally well paced and fair to enable some exhilarating final moment reversals of fortune. It might not have to flash of some of the bigger multiplayer titles out there, but it has more than enough to come recommended, especially if you’ve got a Game Pass subscription.

When all things are considered, Sniper Elite: Resistance is a commendable entry in the Sniper Elite franchise, granting us more insights into Harry Hawker by shining the protagonist spotlight on him, which gives us a respectable reprieve from wearing the militaristic boots of Karl Fairburne. Most of what the series has established is present and accounted for, and although there are various new locations to be in awe of, and navigational options to test out, Resistance fails to truly push the envelope in exciting directions despite shifting the focus onto a new hero and a new story. If you loved previous Sniper Elite games, Resistance has got all the bang you could want from its particular buck, but Resistance is a day late and a nickel short as far as exciting and explosive new features are concerned. The bugs and garish seventh-generation character textures don’t help either, but thankfully Resistance is gratifying enough due to its strategic essences, even though it could – and should – have been so much more.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is the safe Fable and Oblivion fusion we remember from all those years ago, but it is a little too familiar, and inexplicably has numerous game-breaking bugs and technical hang-ups, despite the lack of truly awe-inspiring presentation or technical requirements. Nevertheless, it is a fun but safe RPG with wonderful combat, great crafting, and repetitive staple RPG quests and gameplay loops. But ultimately, if you still have the original and your Xbox 360, it is not worth it.

Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is an ambitious game. It’s beautiful, deep, and compelling but suffers from a lack of clear direction on how to navigate and appreciate everything that it contains. There hasn’t been a game quite like it before, which unfortunately doesn’t work in Ancestors favor because more time is spent figuring out it’s mechanics than actually enjoying it.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection brings age but also wisdom to the table. Most gamers have heard of Ninja Gaiden either by reference or by playing one of the original games. This collection brings the games to players who have not experienced it before and with the addition of the Hero easy mode there is no reason to fear the gruesome challenge these games used to be if you just wanted to experience it. For fans of the series, while it has not been remastered it has been spruced up with the new framerate and plays very smoothly on a Series S and X. If you need to get your ninja on and enjoy a fast combat action game, then this collection could be for you.

Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet isn’t as well rounded as other RPGs. There are far too many loading screens, and the combat will be very hit-and-miss for many. That being said, the game offers a surprising amount of depth in both play and progression. Furthermore, the story remains interesting throughout, and doesn’t at all alienate newcomers. Fatal Bullet may not be perfect, but it’s action-packed, engaging, and immersive, nevertheless.

Agatha Knife is well written, funny and unique. The gameplay doesn’t take the genre to new heights, but it does tick all of the boxes that it needed to, to ensure that the adventure remains fresh and engaging throughout. Group this with the fitting soundtrack and the colorful hand-crafted visuals, and there’s little reason to dislike what’s on offer outside of its potentially touchy controversial subject material.

Stay isn’t going to be for everyone. This is less of a traditional game and more of an interactive dialogue-heavy experience with a theme that largely revolves around motivation, self-esteem, will-power and anxiety. Stay’s clever “the clock is always ticking” mechanic holds up really well, as does the main character’s mood system. Though, issues with delayed input and the, at times, irritating pace, holds it back slightly.

I enjoyed We Were Here, and again Total Mayhem Games have made a beautiful, intricate and definitely more difficult game with this sequel. The communication needed and I suppose understanding of your partners humour (explaining symbols) really made this much longer than expected play throughly enjoyable. I will be going through it again and suggest you do too with a good friend.

There are so many games that are lost to the past and have sadly expired with their outdated consoles, hence the many modern 2D platformers that are currently being created to try to fill this void. Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King might just be the perfect example of what is truly needed in order to effectively relive those past experiences, back in the days when it took extreme perseverance and commitment to complete these games. For those who just can’t wait to be king… be prepared, for your wishes have just been granted.

Leisure Suit Larry – Wet Dreams Don’t Dry does nothing innovative with the genre or delivers any spectacular story but did we expect it to? Aside from the obvious keyboard and mouse roots and thus not as fun controls at times, the voice acting and art style make up for it. Fans of the franchise will enjoy this crazy trip back in the world with Larry.

Bladed Fury is what I would call a sleeper game. Its art style and fast paced 2D action is what help it stand out the most. Beneath that layer however is a game that is missing a more developed story and upgrading and fighting system to keep things fresh. For a game that can be finished in under 2 hours, if you're looking for something quick and easy to play then Bladed Fury is your game.

Cosmic Top Secret is a 3D platformer with a unique pulled-from-a-scrapbook look. It is clearly a personal story that I am glad exists, even if I didn’t find it captivating.

Little Orpheus is an experience more than it is a game. This hilarious story takes you on a wild ride with awesome aesthetics and funny quips all over the place. Where the simple and sometimes boring gameplay lacks, the narrative picks up the pieces tenfold. Don’t go in expecting a challenge and you’ll enjoy your time.

Qomp2 offers a fresh take on the classic Pong formula, introducing a unique premise and challenging gameplay. While it may not appeal to everyone due to its departure from the raw simplicity of the original, fans of puzzle games and those seeking a unique gaming experience will find enjoyment in its artful reimagining. The game’s diverse boss fights and hidden collectibles add depth and replay value, making it a worthwhile endeavour for those willing to embrace its challenges.

If you enjoy arcade-style open-wheel racing, Formula Legends has something to offer you thanks to its retro presentation and its accessibility, along with some strategic nuance with regards to tires and fuel. There’s plenty of content to get stuck into, which is quite surprising for an indie title, but Formula Legends is well stocked to keep you racing on and on. The question of whether you’ll want to continue racing on and on is questionable due to the lack of a damage model and fairly non-dramatic races, but the straightforward arcade pleasures and those playful name spins of drivers, teams and tracks do give you reasons to keep your foot on the accelerator. Formula Legends is therefore competent and fine, though it is overlapped by its stern competition and some of its less-endearing archaic design choices.

Deep, fun, and wholly entertaining, Stranger Things 3: The Game is a must-have treat that sits remarkably well with its exceptional source material. Despite some hit and miss puzzle work, everything from the combat and the progression framework, right the way through to the world design and its many hidden secrets, collectively put forward a well paced, well balanced adventure that rarely grows tiresome. If you love the show, you’ll love this.

SIMULACRA is a great horror experience. It might not look it off the bat but I thoroughly enjoyed the jump-scares that this game provided. When the story pulls you in you’ll be surprised at how far down the rabbit hole you go. Shock value and great story line await in this title and I hope it gets the attention it deserves.

With its vibrant visuals, addictive gameplay, and familiar Lego theme, Lego 2K Drive is a must-play for Lego enthusiasts and racing aficionados. There are a few missteps and they might have borrowed heavily from other arcade racers, but overall, I highly recommend this game for anyone looking for a fun and engaging open-world racing experience.

If you’re looking for a new way to jump into the world of Hot Wheels, Unleashed is certainly not a bad way to go, after all, we’ve seen worse in the series’ history. That said, the price point may prove steep for what feels like a more basic use of this beloved licensed property, and with very basic options for included game modes, a lack of substantial variety in race types, and no suitable way for the community to share their impressive track builds, it feels like Milestone has undercut themselves in a possibly rushed attempt to capitalise on this potentially fruitful racing franchise.

At the end of the day Outcast – A New Beginning did keep drawing me back to play it whether that be advancing the story (or trying to figure out how) or to get a few more trials under my belt for the limited time I had. So, it wasn’t all bad but definitely nothing I’m going to remember aside from having some fun flying around a colorful and open world. Lastly, to conclude I don’t usually bring price into the equation, but this is one of those games that has broken the barrier of our standard pricing and I think that should be considered with what you get in this game compared to others. At what today can be considered a premium price (for a normal base game mind you) I don’t think you are getting a premium product.

Double Kick Heroes is a decent rhythm game with plenty of challenge and is considerably tricky to master. It has a fun zombie story line with a nod to Romero’s classics. The metal tracks are decent to listen to if you are a fan of the genre, and it is fun to play along to at the correct difficulty level. It probably would have been easier to play with a makeshift instrument device, but the experience isn’t lessened by playing with a controller.

There’s nothing new, it bears all the visual marks of its dated version with no fresh lick of paint (pardon the pun), and it’s far too repetitive by standards today.

I could talk for ages about Twelve Minutes as I loved everything about it, but there’s not much that can be said without spoilers. The voice acting is fantastic and the gameplay is very enjoyable. It’s a fantastic title and the fact it comes straight to Game Pass is brilliant. I can’t recommend this enough.

The Invincible is definitely propped up on its art direction and story, both of which are really rather good. Dialogue choices and alternate options mean there should be scope for some replays, though that’ll also depend on how much of Yasna’s slow movement speed you can stomach again. All in all, The Invincible was enjoyable enough to recommend, but I’d hope to see future outings from the team fine tune the character controls and movement.

Destroy All Humans 2 Reprobed in my opinion is better than the original due to the fact that there is more for players to do as it has more variety. While the game takes a more goofy and playful tone to the whole “conquer the human race” trope, it still proves itself to be a fun experience that any player should try out.