Jim Smale
Street Racer Collection (QUByte Classics) is a fun, nostalgic ride that blends racing with combat in a way few titles dare. While its limitations in online features and dated mechanics may deter some, the sheer variety of modes, characters, and extras make it a worthy addition for fans of retro chaos. It’s a celebration of 90s gaming that earns its place in the kart racing genre, offering both laughs and challenges for those willing to embrace its quirks.
Bob the Brick Breaker is a fun, reflex-driven arcade experience that modernises a timeless formula. Its strengths lie in simple yet addictive gameplay, clever boss fights, and fast performance. However, the lack of tutorials, limited online features, and shallow replay value mean it’s best suited for short bursts of nostalgic fun rather than long-term engagement. For players chasing scores and trophies, it’s a quick and enjoyable ride.
The Last Case of John Morley is a suspenseful detective adventure that thrives on atmosphere, puzzles, and exploration. While accessibility issues, slow pacing, and uneven voice work hold it back, the strong visuals, engaging environments, and haunting narrative make it worth experiencing for fans of noir mysteries and horror-infused storytelling. It may not be flawless, but its immersive world and memorable story carry it far.
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault delivers a bigger, smoother, and more engaging experience than its predecessor. The combination of shopkeeping, dungeon crawling, and strategic relic management creates a satisfying loop that keeps players hooked. While performance hiccups and accessibility gaps hold it back, the charm, variety, and depth of gameplay make it a strong Early Access title. With future updates promising more content and refinement, Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is well worth exploring for fans of adventure RPGs and merchant-driven gameplay.
Lumo 2 is a puzzle-heavy metroidvania that’s not for everyone, but if you click with its style, it’s a rewarding ride. It’s a game for particular players who enjoy quirky challenges, retro vibes, and layered puzzle design. The lack of guidance and accessibility might frustrate some, but those who embrace its eccentricity will find a game that’s both nostalgic and inventive.
Formula Legends is a nostalgic blast of arcade racing wrapped in a motorsport history lesson. It’s not trying to be Gran Turismo, it’s more like Micro Machines meets F1 with a dash of era-specific flair.
Borderlands 4 isn’t just another loot grind; it’s a full evolution. The childish humour hasn’t vanished, but it’s been tempered by a more serious tone, smarter mechanics, and a world that finally feels alive.
Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition is a solid upgrade to a genre classic, offering hours of strategic gem-matching and RPG progression. It’s easy to pick up, hard to put down, and packed with replayable quests, party management, and citadel upgrades.
Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek is a charming, spooky adventure that balances light scares with accessible gameplay. While it has some rough edges in accessibility, tutorials, and pacing, its engaging world, fun mechanics, and nostalgic atmosphere make it a worthwhile experience for both younger audiences and older players looking for something different.
Hirogami perfects the charm of papercraft platforming, offering a console-focused experience rich in exploration, replay value, and creative mechanics. Despite some quality-of-life shortcomings, its blend of engaging gameplay, evolving combat, and a visually captivating world makes it a standout platforming adventure worth adding to any rotation.
Herdling is a unique, meditative adventure that blends herding mechanics, puzzles, and exploration into a memorable alpine odyssey. Its accessibility features, calming pace, and emotional storytelling make it a standout for players seeking something different. While it has technical hiccups and limited replay value, the journey itself is worth experiencing for its atmosphere, charm, and the quiet satisfaction of guiding your herd through a world stitched with silence and snow.
Madden NFL 26 is a feature-rich, highly customizable football simulation that blends authentic NFL presentation with deep gameplay modes. Its AI-driven playbook, improved animations, and variety of modes make it a strong entry for both newcomers and veterans. While some presentation elements and customisation options fall short, the core gameplay and depth of content make it a satisfying experience for fans of the sport. For those seeking a complete gridiron package, Madden NFL 26 delivers on the field.
Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids is a chaotic, colourful mashup of RTS and action that’s easy to pick up and hard to forget. It’s not perfect; some design quirks and accessibility gaps hold it back, but its charm, creativity, and sheer fun factor make it a standout experience. Whether you’re storming alien bases or farming Brainium with bots, it encourages experimentation and rewards strategic play. If you’re after a game that lets you build, bash, and blast your way through a comic-book galaxy, this one’s worth a look.
Mafia: The Old Country is a cinematic mob saga that excels in atmosphere, storytelling, and gameplay depth. While it’s not without flaws, especially in pacing and polish, it offers a compelling experience for fans of stealth, crime dramas, and immersive world-building. If you can push past its quirks, there’s a rich, blood-soaked tale waiting to be unravelled.
Ringlorn Saga is a compact, challenging retro RPG that respects your time and rewards your persistence. It’s not for everyone, especially those who prefer hand-holding or modern conveniences, but for fans of Hydlide, Ys, and old-school bump combat, it’s a nostalgic gem. With randomised runs, layered interactions, and a rich pixel world, it offers plenty of replay value. Just be ready to die a lot before you find your rhythm.
Ready or Not is a gritty, immersive tactical shooter that excels in realism and tension. It’s best experienced with friends, where coordination and chaos create unforgettable moments. While the single player feels more like a training ground, the multiplayer delivers the full thrill. The game’s depth, from loadout customisation to career tracking, offers plenty for strategy fans. But technical issues, frustrating AI, and DLC-locked content may test your patience. If you’re after a serious cop simulator with high stakes and atmospheric gameplay, Ready or Not is worth a shot, just be ready to adapt when things go sideways.
WILD HEARTS S delivers a satisfying fusion of feral fantasy and steampunk survival, leaning hard into monster hunting without losing sight of exploration and player empowerment. Accessibility tweaks, generous multiplayer support, and inventive combat elevate the experience, even if it takes time to fully click. It’s layered, demanding, and rewarding, especially for those willing to stick through the slower ramp-up and complex systems. With its bombastic boss battles, strategic build tools, and deep upgrade paths, WILD HEARTS S stands strong as a bold evolution of the hunting genre.
For long-time fans and RPG purists, Neverwinter Nights 2 Enhanced Edition is an unapologetic time capsule deeply rooted in tradition and overflowing with options. It’s a game of commitment: rewarding if you push past the awkward start, the jank, and UI baggage. Modern comforts like controller support and crossplay offer a refreshed layer for returning adventurers, but don’t expect hand-holding. It’s old-school in every sense, for better and worse, and despite its faults, the heart of a true Dungeons and Dragons journey beats strong beneath the surface.
Upin & Ipin Universe is a heartfelt celebration of kampung life that will charm nostalgic players and younger audiences alike. It’s brimming with personality, curiosity, and low-stakes fun, but its technical limitations and lack of polish hold it back from wider appeal. As a digital sandbox, it succeeds in capturing childhood imagination, but players looking for tight controls, refined structure, or expansive storytelling may find its charms stretched thin. Those drawn to its cultural roots and laid-back pacing will find Upin & Ipin Universe an affectionate, if occasionally clumsy, open-world hug.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is an introvert’s dream complex, deliberate, and quietly cooperative. It’s a game that asks you to find your own meaning through motion, structure, and silence. If you enjoyed the original or crave slow-burn, meditative gameplay with bursts of strategic action, this sequel doesn’t disappoint. It rewards the persistent with constant surprises and ever-expanding options, even if the journey occasionally stumbles under its own weight. For those who thrive in games that feel like puzzles, planning sessions, and solo adventures laced with subtle social feedback, this is a deep and satisfying loop.