Julian Price's Reviews
Doggy Don’t Care is not my personal favourite game of the year. In fact, there’s a good chance I would have moved on from it pretty quickly. My daughters, on the other hand, absolutely love it. And not just because the game has a dedicated “pee” button.
STAR WARS: Galactic Racer is one of the best racing games, let alone Star Wars games, I’ve played in a long time (ago in a galaxy far away).
For the second time this year, I’ve experienced genuine fear while playing a video game. The first was Resident Evil 9. The second is Silent Hill: Townfall, a game that had me white knuckling my controller so tightly I’m surprised it didn’t break — and genuinely questioning why I willingly put myself through this.
One thing is clear: The Blood of Dawnwalker definitely doesn’t suck. In fact, after over 50 hours with The Blood of Dawnwalker, I’d go as far as saying it’s one of the best RPGs I’ve played this year. It just has some teething problems…
While Resynced improves the presentation and performance, it doesn’t completely reinvent the experience. At its core, this is still a focused pirate adventure built around exploration, storytelling and the thrill of life on the open seas. There’s no endless gear grind or constant stream of RPG systems — just a great story, a memorable world and one of the best pirate fantasies in gaming. Whether you’re experiencing Edward Kenway’s journey for the first time or returning all these years later, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a great excuse to set sail again.
Space is already terrifying. Being trapped on a ship with an alien threat while your crew slowly falls apart makes it worse. Throw in a scattered story, broken tension, and some lacklustre gameplay mechanics… and that’s the icing on the cake.
If you’re looking for a true Japanese convenience store simulator, this isn’t quite it. But as a slower, more narrative-driven experience, inKONBINI still delivers an emotive and charming slice of small-town Japan — one that can be completed in six to ten hours, depending on how much of a perfectionist you are. inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories blends heartfelt storytelling with light convenience store sim mechanics, creating a cosy atmosphere that never quite reaches its full simulation potential.
This is the bloodiest, boldest, and most cohesive Resident Evil yet. Capcom has delivered a survival horror experience that respects its legacy while pushing the series forward.
Skate Story is weird, confident, and completely committed to its vibe. It doesn’t care if everything makes sense, as long as it feels right — and more often than not, it absolutely does.
The game slowly eases you into the madness with deformed — yet oddly cheerful — Tingus that evolve as you play. The further you progress, the more dark and f***** up the world becomes. It’s wonderful.
Keeper is one of the most enlightening games I’ve played this year. A lighthouse sprouts tendril-like legs, learns to walk and travels through an artistically inspired and mysterious world. It's a wild concept, but it works so wonderfully. The game also features an incredible gameplay flip that left me in awe.
After spending the past week jumping across platforms, battling it out on pirate ships, swinging through caverns and operating LEGO cranes, I couldn’t be more impressed. LEGO Party clicks into place perfectly — a new party favourite in my household.
Is it the ultimate open-world samurai experience? Not quite — but it doesn’t need to be. Yōtei is one of the most beautiful PS5 titles yet, with stellar combat, a gripping story, and a deeply personal protagonist. While its immersion doesn’t quite match other recent titles, it still holds its own.
The Drifter is bold, bizarre, and full of surprises. It’s the kind of game that lingers long after the credits roll.
Overall, A Pirate’s Fortune is a fun, engaging expansion that that feels even better thanks to nearly a year of updates and polish to Outlaws. While it doesn’t reinvent the game, it adds meaningful depth to Kay Vess’ journey. Initially, I questioned whether this new quest was true to the Kay Vess’ character, but it all unravelled nicely.
Doom: The Dark Ages isn’t without its demons. Its slower story struggles to keep pace with the chaos, and the metal soundtrack rarely reaches its iconic heights. But when it works, it really works — crushing combat, intricate exploration, and a Slayer who still defines fury in motion.
Look Outside absolutely nails the horror-apocalypse vibe while blending in RPG and puzzle mechanics. It’s messed up, creepy, and downright fun… in a weird way. Retro gamers and horror fans — this one’s definitely worth checking out.
"Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t just capture Feudal Japan — it immerses you in it. From breathtaking landscapes to intricate gameplay systems, it’s a game that understands the value of exploration, storytelling, and letting players carve their own path."
Split Fiction isn’t just one of the best co-op games I’ve played — it’s one of the best games I’ve ever played, period. A truly unforgettable experience, its relentless creativity, thrilling set pieces, and emotional storytelling set a new bar for co-op adventures.
Avowed delivers a compact, choice-driven RPG experience with all the qualities of an Obsidian game. Skyrim fan? You’ll love this. It’s not the next genre-defining epic, but it doesn’t need to be — it’s a solid adventure, and for many, that’ll be enough.