Reviews

Age of Mythology: Retold‘s new DLC Immortal Pillars breathes new life into a beloved part of the original series

When Age of Mythology: Retold first came out, featuring some of the best hits of the series, there was one notable absence from the classic games, one nation that had been left out. Now, finally, the excluded Chinese pantheon has returned in the Immortal Pillars DLC – and it looks better than ever. Rather than…

Read more

Atomfall serves up an engaging mystery but stumbles with awkward combat

In the wake of various post-apocalyptic RPGs like Fallout, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., or even the Metro series, Atomfall feels like it has plenty going against it. After all, it comes in the wake of a fully realised Fallout 4 DLC known as Fallout London, which echoes much of what we see here. But through it all, Atomall…

Read more

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition joyfully revitalises an undisputed classic

Originally released on the Wii U in 2015, Xenoblade Chronicles X is one of the final games from Nintendo’s previous console before the release of the Nintendo Switch. After a slew of successes with Donkey Koney Country Tropical Freeze, Bayonetta 2, Super Mario 3D World and New Super Mario Bros. U having made their way…

Read more

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a fantastic action adventure, even if it plays things a little safe

After its initial November 12, 2024 release date was pushed back to February and then again to March 2025, it stands to reason that Assassin’s Creed Shadows might have gained a little heat as far as expectations were concerned. After all, it’s a wonder it even took this long for the series to reach feudal…

Read more

WWE 2K25 is yet another solid addition to the franchise

Since 2K Games and developer Visual Concepts took a break from their WWE games, their return has been rather exceptional. Last year’s WWE 2K24 was probably one of the better wrestling games in recent memory, and in that sentiment, it holds some serious pressure on WWE 2K25, having to take things up at least a notch….

Read more

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC is a bug-filled web of disappointment

When Marvel’s Spider-Man was released in 218, developer Insomniac Games nailed the sensation of being super-powered, with exceptional web-swinging and agile combat. However, it faltered in providing engaging content within its visually stunning yet empty open world. Unfortunately, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, while great in terms of its story and presentation, repeated those lingering missteps. While…

Read more

Monster Hunter Wilds stacks up as one of the better titles in this long-running franchise

As a newcomer to the Monster Hunter franchise, I approached Monster Hunter Wilds with fresh eyes and an eagerness to understand the phenomenon that has captivated players for two decades. While the game didn’t disappoint in delivering epic battles and immersive lore, some aspects kept it from achieving true perfection. I couldn’t help but feel…

Read more

Split Fiction is an incredible cooperative adventure that should not be missed

I do have a soft spot for developer Hazelight Studios. While I enjoyed A Way Out, I simply adored It Takes Two. Having played through it with my wife, who I must state does not play games of any sort, and for her to love it as much as she did is a true testament…

Read more

Turbo Overkill brings that old-school heat to new-gen consoles

It’s so obvious to mention the original Doom at the slightest mention of boomer shooters. It wasn’t the first first-person shooter (FPS), but it still feels like the most important in terms of popularity and influence. Not only was the 2016 reboot a hit, but to this day, programmers and enthusiasts continue finding more and…

Read more

Two Point Museum doesn’t let its humour get in the way of being an excellent management sim

Two Point Studios are back after the success of their comedic management simulators Two Point Hospital and Two Point Campus – and you’ll never guess what you do in this new entry to their series. Yes, that’s right, after letting you kill (or cure) hospital patients and ignore (or teach) students, Two Point Studios are…

Read more

PGA Tour 2K25 puts itself confidently on the fairway of great golfing sims

Golf as a sport is something I’ve been getting into over the years, but rarely ever feel like I’ve taken huge strides forward. However, I feel a little more at home when it comes to gaming on the green. We had the pleasure of reviewing PGA Tour 2K23 and felt that while it wasn’t perfect,…

Read more

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii proves itself as a worthy swashbuckling adventure

RGG Studio’s latest spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, takes a bold leap into the high seas, blending classic Yakuza chaos with the swashbuckling adventure of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. While it’s not quite as expansive as Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, it still manages delivers a decent experience packed with explosive…

Read more

Civilization 7 bids the dawn of a new era in its latest building sim

Sid Meier’s Civilization series has long been the gold standard in turn-based strategy, offering players the thrill of guiding an empire through the ages and watching history unfold, one turn at a time. With Civilization 7, developer Firaxis Games reimagines many aspects of the franchise, introducing improvements to combat, a fresh take on diplomacy, and a…

Read more

Avowed provides the right ingredients for a solid RPG

Developer Obsidian Entertainment is no stranger to crafting dense, well-directed open worlds to explore and engaging narrative experiences to remember. Fallout: New Vegas still stands as one of my favourite games of all time, so their latest project, Avowed, immediately grabbed my attention. While it doesn’t necessarily change or redefine the current RPG structure, Avowed…

Read more

Sniper Elite: Resistance is functional where it counts, but plays things a little too safe

I’ve been a huge fan of the Sniper Elite series over the years, and have personally loved the gorgeous new locations and crazy missions that each instalment brings. While Sniper Elite: Resistance drops its predecessors’ numbered trend, it also makes this latest entry feel more like a side-step than a step forward. That’s not a…

Read more

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II delivers a fantastic medieval romp

We recently had the pleasure of previewing Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and apologise if we repeat anything here by chance. That being said, we must reiterate that when the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance was released in 2018, we were pleasantly surprised with the amount of freedom given to players, to explore a detailed and vibrant…

Read more

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD provides barrels of fun

The Donkey Kong Country series has had a resurgence on the Nintendo Switch system over the past few years. With the original trilogy getting the release as part of the SNES classics collection and the beautiful port of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze making its way over from the Wii and Wii-U, it was only…

Read more

Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer does its best to throw punches in bunches

Combining video games with exercise is an ambitious challenge, but Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer steps into the ring aiming to make cardio workouts engaging and accessible. While it won’t turn you into a championship boxer, it succeeds as a fun way to burn calories, get moving, and break a sweat—all without leaving your…

Read more

Farming Simulator 25 is a harvest of expansions and challenges

Farming Simulator has been around for quite a few years and has gone through many iterations to get to where it is today. The latest game promises a journey into worldwide farming with a few new tricks up its sleeve. These games pack so much depth and variety, that it’s hard not to get completely…

Read more

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 expands upon its predecessor in all the right ways

When we reviewed Microsoft Flight Simulator back in 2020, there was no doubt that we were playing something special. Something crafted for not only hardcore flight fans but also a new adventure for curious future enthusiasts to explore and experiment with. It’s something I can admit I never thought I would come to love, but…

Read more

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is nothing short of an incredible, whip-cracking adventure

Raiders of the Lost Ark is not only my favourite Indiana Jones movie, it’s one of my favourite films of all time. I also tend to soak up everything else this franchise has to offer. I’ve played the games, from Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, Infernal Machine, and the Emperor’s Tomb, and have…

Read more

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club offers a chilling triumph of mystery and suspense

When Nintendo announced remakes of the long-dormant series Famicom Detective Club, it seemed like a nostalgic one-off experiment and no sure thing that the revamped titles from yesteryear would work in the present gaming landscape. Fast-forward and it would appear that those remakes were just a prologue, with more in store for fans. Enter Emio…

Read more

Metaphor: ReFantazio sharpens its RPG blade to deliver one of the games of the year

Positioned as a spiritual successor to the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series, Metaphor: ReFantazio is the latest offering from Japanese studio Atlus, trading in school halls for castle walls. Boldly delving into heavy themes of inequality and the corrupting influence of power, Atlus has certainly crafted one of the standout RPGs of the year….

Read more

Stellar Blade x NieR Automata DLC is gorgeous, but feels like a missed opportunity

We personally loved Stellar Blade when it was released earlier this year, and based on our review, still stand by the fact that it’s one of the better action games we’ve played this year. I’m also personally a huge fan of NieR: Automata, and it’s one of the first reviews I had ever written for this…

Read more

Metro Awakening sets itself apart as one of the best VR games of the year

Metro Awakening might just be one of the best PSVR2 games to release in 2024. It utilises VR technology with the PlayStation 5 console by offering the most solid title that has been launched since the release of the peripherals. The game marks a considerable departure for Vertigo Games, the best-known developer for the Arizona…

Read more

Mario & Luigi: Brothership indulges in its worst RPG tropes without exploring its best bits

It’s been far too long between outings for Nintendo’s acclaimed Mario & Luigi RPG outing. This has supposedly been rectified by masterful remakes of two of the series’ most acclaimed titles, as well as a brand new adventure in Mario & Luigi: Brothership. The interesting release strategy is a smart move from Nintendo, nodding to…

Read more

LEGO Horizon Adventures packs in a decent amount of charm and fun

LEGO Horizon Adventures promised a captivating reimagining of the PlayStation modern classic, Horizon Zero Dawn. Infused with the beloved, lighthearted charm of the classic LEGO games, complete with their trademark sense of humour, collecting LEGO studs, bricks and unlocking characters. As a lifelong fan of Traveller’s Tales’ LEGO games, I eagerly anticipated reliving Aloy’s somewhat…

Read more

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions both soars and fumbles bringing the wizarding sport to console and PC

Following the massively positive reception of Hogwarts Legacy last year, one of the lingering questions among fans—particularly sports and mini-game enthusiasts like myself—was simple: where’s the Quidditch? Despite being a key part of the books and films, Hogwarts Legacy skirts this glaring omission with the headmaster cancelling the season due to an injury from the…

Read more

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered makes for a wonderful journey through time and innovation

The remastered edition of the first three Tomb Raider games perfectly encapsulates a huge era for gamers of the mid-to-late 90s, and the essence of the iconic series, all while revitalising its presentation for modern players. This collection encompasses not only the origins of Lara Croft’s adventures but also stands as a tribute to the…

Read more

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is the best the franchise has been in years

I admittedly play the new Call of Duty every year. While I prefer some more than others, I generally stick with the newest release and push forward for another year. While our review of Modern Warfare 3 was generally favourable for its solid multiplayer and satisfying gunplay, it ultimately disappointed us in the campaign department….

Read more