Gareth Brierley

The Stellaris: Console Edition Apocalypse and Humanoids DLC on Xbox One certainly gives fans of this great strategy game some extra content to play with, and once more they deliver a host of hours to sink into the experience.

The Great Perhaps will take you roughly three hours or so to finish, and it’s certainly possible to conclude it in one sitting. The puzzles can get tricky and you will need to experiment with the clues you find in both worlds in order to find success. But when you do find the solutions the feeling is hugely rewarding, and this in turn ensures that the journey is never frustrating.

Ultimately, there is a deep sense of regret from playing Waking on Xbox One because I feel there is something brilliant and life-affirming underneath all that is presented. The meditative sections and use of your personal details are unique and something I enjoyed, and there are certainly some great ideas within. However, Waking will divide gamers, with some loving this intriguing premise and others being put off by the overly long, randomly generated areas.

If you love a deep strategy game that is full of intrigue, decision making, and provides a whole load of stats to play with then Realpolitiks New Power on Xbox One is the perfect game for you. Yes, the screen text is too small, and I feel it might be a much easier playthrough with a mouse and keyboard, but there are loads of things to love about this experience, especially as there aren't many games of this genre on the console market.

Edna & Harvey: The Breakout - Anniversary Edition on Xbox One is a big old game, but if you wish to get your teeth into a world of eccentricity and the bizarre it should just suffice.

Honestly, it took me a little while to really get my head around Isle of Spirits on Xbox One. The permadeath was initially annoying and the look and design was just too simple for my tastes. But after a while, I began to enjoy the casual island life, beginning to understand the ways of survival on these randomly generated islands. In the end I grew to love the crafting systems, and found intrigue in the way the dangers rocked up with no warning.

Those Who Remain on Xbox One is a decent exploration horror that will take you around seven hours to complete. I enjoyed the story, the characters, and what the game was trying to achieve through the narrative. The gameplay - with its focus on light and the alternate reality - has a unique selling point that is intriguing enough to delve into. But the stealth sections and the overriding motion sickness let the whole thing down.

It has been good to go back to Mafia II after a decade. The visual upgrades that have been implemented to the cityscape are great, and it has been hugely entertaining to be reminded of the story again, one that tells a great tale with enough twists and turns to keep any Mafia crime fan happy.

The Taller I Grow is a game that everyone should have a go at. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this neat, well-designed platform puzzler, and if you've got a mind that is capable of handling puzzlers then you should find yourself blasting through this in a couple of hours.

Emma: Lost in Memories on Xbox One is a solid platformer, but it is certainly aimed at the more hardcore gamer; those who like to find, and enjoy, a proper challenge. Some of the controls can be less accurate than I would like, especially in regards to the climbing mechanic, but there is definitely a couple of hours of decent gameplay here for those with the staying power and skills.

If you're after a baseball experience that comes with real-world visuals, the licensed players and teams that you love and all the bells and whistles of an in-depth sim, then you might be disappointed here. But if you're just looking for a game that gives you thrills, spills, and a lot of fun, then Super Mega Baseball 3 might just be for you.

If you're after some nicely paced retro adventuring and want to laugh when doing so, then you can't go wrong with some Guard Duty.

If you like games like Myst and the more recent newcomer Obduction you are going to love Quern - Undying Thoughts on Xbox One. With the amount of content included it is great value for money, and whilst the puzzles can seem pretty hard everything you need is around you; trial, error and patience is rewarded.

Help Will Come Tomorrow is most definitely one of those games that survival enthusiasts should try. The options available and the reliance on stats and daily tasks while balancing the needs and traits of your characters is a constant tension and some will relish in the challenge.

Active Neurons on Xbox One provides a pleasant and enchanting experience, with its few hours of running time near perfect for what it delivers. You can complete this game at your own pace, maybe a few levels a day, or purge it all in one afternoon. And that said, while some points are reasonably tricky, it is never soul-draining, instead creating a relaxing atmosphere that ensures you are never left frustrated or stressed.