Jon Scarr's Reviews
Call of the Elder Gods has a strong mystery, useful sequel connections, and memorable locations, but unclear clue paths, underused character switching, and limited exploration payoffs keep it from matching the promise of its mystery and character setup.
Darksiders Warmastered Edition brings War’s first campaign back with direct combat, clever dungeon tools, and a comic-book apocalypse that still has personality. The PS5 version improves the return with 4K rendering, 60 FPS, DualSense support, Activities support, and Photo Mode, though the camera, platforming, and older visual details show the game’s age. It’s a clear fit for newcomers and returning fans who want War’s campaign with a cleaner console upgrade.
NBA The Run delivers fast arcade basketball with strong 3v3 action, rotating Knockout rules, and a roster that makes team choice count. Cred unlocks and no microtransactions are welcome, but the online-first design, lack of dedicated offline mode, and repeated tournament cycle leave the game depending on future support. It is best for anyone who wants quick online basketball tournaments more than a deep single-player sports game.
EA Sports UFC 6 is the most complete entry the series has had in years, especially once Flow States, Signature Movement, and Real-Time Contact start making individual fighters feel more distinct. The Legacy and Hall of Legends add useful structure around the fights, while the learning tools make UFC 6 easier to approach without stripping away the sport’s depth. Menus drag and Career Mode still repeats itself, but UFC fans who wanted athletes to feel more specific inside the Octagon have a lot to like here.
Echo Generation 2 is a compact turn-based RPG with strange character chapters, clear card decisions, and Cococucumber’s familiar voxel style. Its separate hero stories and deck-focused combat make it a more interesting sequel, but short chapters, light exploration, and a tougher late-game gauntlet make it better suited to RPG fans who don’t mind a demanding final stretch.
The 7th Guest Remake brings Stauf Mansion back as a strong horror puzzle adventure built around room puzzles, hidden clues, ghostly performances, and the spirit lantern. Some controls still show the remake’s VR origin, especially during object interactions and perspective-heavy puzzles, but the mansion and mystery hold the experience together with only minor loading hiccups along the way.
Schrödinger’s Call is a focused visual novel about Mary, Hamlet, and a telephone that connects them to people caught in their final moments. Its choices don’t reshape the story in a major way, but the phone-call structure, Mary’s notes, and strong emotional writing make the guided experience work. Repeated flashbacks slow the pacing at times, but the story, art, music, and intimate conversations make this a strong fit if you enjoy visual novels built around listening, memory, and one clear path forward.
Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis: Next! is a fun arcade tennis game built around quick matches, character abilities, power-ups, and local 1v1 play. Story Mode and cosmetic unlocks put some structure around solo play, but the missing online multiplayer holds it back once couch matches run their course. If you have someone nearby and want a fun Nickelodeon sports game, it’s an easy pick. If you need online competition or deeper tennis, its limits show quickly.
Mina the Hollower turns burrowing, weapons, Sidearms and hidden paths into a tough top-down adventure built around careful observation. The no-map structure can frustrate when clues don’t connect, but Spark recovery, and build choices keep Tenebrous Isle moving. It’s an excellent choice if you enjoy challenging exploration and don’t mind working out the path forward.
007 First Light turns a young Bond campaign into a spy adventure built around bluffing, gadgets, and recovering when missions fall apart. MI6, Q-Branch tools, and close-range fights keep the campaign moving, but the shooting, driving, and limited replay value hold it back. It’s a good fit if you want a story-led Bond game focused more on spy work than giant stealth sandboxes.
Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition brings the base game and Beyond the Dawn to Nintendo Switch 2 with enjoyable party combat, a memorable cast, and a full single-player RPG package. The 30 fps gameplay target, visible pop-in, and softer handheld image make this version a clear tradeoff, but it’s still a good way to start if Nintendo Switch 2 is where you want to play.
Bluey’s Quest for The Gold Pen turns a family drawing game into a kid-friendly adventure for younger fans.Bingoose, optional collectibles, and stage toys keep the maps busy, but the repeated stage pattern and lack of co-op hold it back. It’s a sweet first adventure game if your household wants more Bluey beyond the show.
Coffee Talk Tokyo is a good sequel for anyone who wants a late-night café story built around careful listening and drink clues. The Tokyo setting gives the series a new identity, Tomodachill adds useful context, and the drink-making gives your barista role real purpose. The café itself doesn’t grow enough, and liked posts should be easier to revisit, but the character writing makes the 15-night story worth seeing through if you want a thoughtful visual novel with light recipe puzzles.
ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies is a strong story-first RPG about Hershel Wilk, CASCADE, trying to survive Portofiro’s lies as much as her own past. Fatigue, Anxiety, and Delirium make failed rolls sting, and the writing gives every conversation a clear purpose. Some unclear stat feedback, stutters around Portofiro, and voice/text mismatches hold it back slightly. If you like RPGs built around reading closely and living with ugly choices, this is game is for you.
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book turns a gentle Yoshi adventure into a clever creature-research game built around Mr. E’s missing entries. Carrying creatures, testing odd interactions, and revisiting pages give the book structure more personality than a standard platformer. The softer challenge and shorter main path won’t be for everyone, but if you enjoy games that reward curiosity, this one is easy to get behind.
R-Type Dimensions III is the definitive way to experience a notoriously difficult classic, blending a full 3D visual overhaul with essential modern quality-of-life additions like Infinite Mode and local co-op. While the original 1993 design can still be punishing, these updates remove the frustration that once defined the campaign, making it a must-play for both genre veterans and newcomers who were previously locked out by the brutal difficulty.
ChainStaff is a genuinely clever, uncompromising action platformer. The chain weapon is inventive and fun to master, the moral choice paths give you real reasons to play again, and the retro sci-fi look hits exactly the right notes.
Outbound delivers a unique spin on survival exploration by turning an electric camper van into a fully customizable mobile base. Driving through scenic biomes and modifying your rooftop homestead is incredibly charming, and it works wonderfully as a cooperative experience. However, Outbound unnecessarily anchors its blueprint progression behind a slow, repetitive recycling grind that forces you to hunt constantly for garbage. If you have the patience to dig through piles of litter for resource coupons, there is a cozy road trip worth taking here.
DON’T NOD took a massive gamble by ditching combat, and it completely pays off. Aphelion hooks you through the raw panic of climbing frozen walls, babysitting your oxygen tanks, and tricking a blind, sound-tracking creature using your visor gear. The instant-fail stealth sequences against the giant tracking eye of The Nemesis is a bit punishing, but the incredible audio design and DualSense feedback turn this brutal trek into a memorable ride.
Forza Horizon 6 finally provides the Japanese festival fans have been wanting for years. It gives the sandbox a much-needed backbone. Reintroducing structured wristband progression and mixing in handling routines from Forza Motorsport fixes the aimless energy of previous entries. If you’re tired of participation trophy racers and want a massive playground that actually requires you to earn your keys, this is an essential day-one buy.