Should you be in the market for a fun puzzler that never takes itself seriously, PHOGS! on Xbox is the game for you. It works well as a solo experience, but goes up a level when split across two players, whether they be sofa or online-based. A few issues crop up from time to time but for the majority of the playthrough Red and Blue are two of the most well-behaved doggos you could ever wish to meet. You’ll most certainly want to give these two dogs a bone.
With instantly gratifying multiplayer game types and also a substantial single player mode to top it off, Ponpu combines entertaining gameplay with an excellent stylistic presentation like very few games can.
Nine Witches: Family Disruption on Xbox doesn’t reinvent the graphic-adventure wheel, and you won’t find it on any end-of-year lists. What it does do, though, is tell a spooky, kooky story, tickle your ribs as it does it, and wrap it all in a frustration-free experience. Having saved the world with them, we’d happily follow Alexei and Akiro to other supernatural jaunts.
Overcooked! All You Can Eat on Xbox is one offering that will satisfy your appetite, thanks to the wealth of content on offer. It’s a hugely entertaining bundle of games that, despite the occasional niggles, will see you coming back for seconds, and thirds, and fourths…
Chronos: Before the Ashes on Xbox may be chronologically set before the events of Remnant, but playing it after the brilliant Remnant: From the Ashes feels like a step backwards. By transitioning to a melee-focused action RPG, it loses a lot of identity that made Remnant memorable and unique.
Did I have fun with Towaga: Among Shadows on Xbox? Yes. Do I wish that there was more to it? Even bigger yes. The alternate game modes and unlockable spells all feel pointless, and the story is lacking in many ways. Yet, despite these flaws, I couldn’t put the game down. Though it doesn’t feel like it lives up to its true potential, Towaga: Among Shadows is a unique shooter that I hope to see more of in the future.
Now, I know what you’re thinking, but no this isn’t going to be a review for the long-awaited third instalment of the Speed film series starring Sandra Bullock. What you should expect however, is an in-depth look at a high-octane racing game from developers Lion Castle, who previously dipped their toes into the genre as publishers for Super Street: The Game. Billed as an accessible and fun transformation of the usually overly technical motorsport games, Speed 3: Grand Prix will be hoping to explode onto the scene to a great reception from the folks who have a hard time with the hardcore sims.
Having already established itself as one of the best fighting games of the previous generation, in its upgraded form Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate on Xbox looks set to wear that crown into the new generation of consoles. The combat is some of the best in the genre, and you can make your favourite character - from the generous offering of 37 - completely your own with the amount of customisation options.
If you are a fan of Destiny and the wider stories around the game, Destiny: Grimoire Anthology - Dark Mirror (Volume 1) from Titan Books is an easy sell.
I'm not sure how much of the atmosphere of Five Nights at Freddy’s 4 on Xbox is down to the fact that we are in the tiny shoes of a child, but this game has a much more unsettling vibe than the third one. Trying to keep an eye on the doors, and attempting to keep the little Freddies off the bed, will have you whirling about the place like a dervish, while trying to keep the light illuminating all the darkened places.
Wunderling on Xbox is a fun little puzzle platformer, and even if you’re not too blown away by its bite-sized casual platforming action, then the rest of the presentation will be something that genre fans will appreciate and enjoy.
With Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War on Xbox you get a hell of a lot of game for your money. It’s a game in which you could easily spend hundreds of hours in, and then you can throw Warzone on top. It's a great package and one that provides a thoroughly enjoyable campaign, a deep multiplayer mode, and tons of the usual Call of Duty theatrics.
That’s not to say that Five Nights at Freddy’s 3 on Xbox is a bad game, far from it, but it is like a faded photocopy compared to the original; you can see that you should be scared, and the effects are more polished to make you feel that way, and yet the whole is less than the sum of its parts.
If you haven’t had a chance to play the original, this is the perfect time, but if you have previously played and liked it, and can’t see yourself going back, this won’t change your mind. Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition on Xbox is, quite frankly, the best way to play the game - but it won’t convince you to part ways with your funds if you were lukewarm on the original.
The esports scene is booming these days, with pro gamers worldwide training hard to shine during solo and team-based tournaments for many different games. Not only can folks compete to be the very best in fighters like Tekken and Mortal Kombat, but also sports, shooters and multiplayer online battle arena games (MOBAs). The latter of which is the focus of casual management simulation Esports Life Tycoon, as you attempt to build your own MOBA team and lead them to glory. Will it be a championship winning formula from developers Raiser Games, or is it as disappointing as getting knocked out in the first round?
