Dominic Leighton's Reviews
Young Souls isn't just one of the best indie games on Stadia, it's one of the best indie games of 2021. A pitch-perfect side scroller that barely puts a foot wrong, this is one game you don't want to miss out on.
Lost in Random is a beautiful Burton-esque fantasy that comes close to evoking the same levels of craft and character as its obvious inspirations. It doesn't quite sustain the wonder from start to finish, but it remains an easy recommendation.
WRC 10 is a great rally package that hones many of the WRC 9's strengths to a finer edge. There's a couple of visual glitches that need working on, but all in all, rally fans will love what KT Racing have put together this year.
Madden 22 is a clear step up over last year's entry in the long-running series. Improvements to Franchise mode, gameplay enhancements that feel authentic, and a taut, competitive game of football all make this a year worth re-joining the roster for – assuming that they can get on top of the technical hang-ups.
Death's Door is an atmospheric adventure through an inviting fantasy world. It's perfectly crafted, generously provisioned, and an instant indie classic.
Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox Series X|S is a remarkable achievement, and one which brings the flight simulator experience into your living room with emphatic effect. There's no sense that this is a cut-back console port, but one that widens the genre's influence into places it's never conquered before.
The final new addition is a fresh new timed challenge scenario, tasking you with turning a hidden oasis bazaar into a thriving tourist trap while updating its power grid and amenities. It’s a stiffer challenge than some of the previous packs, but there’s every chance that you’re a Planet Zoo master by this point so that’ll probably be welcome. At this stage, Planet Zoo’s ability to transport you across the planet is the escapism we all need, and few games do so with the joy and vibrancy that Frontier have created here.
Experiment 101 have certainly tried to make the world of Biomutant all the more unique via its language, but it performs the cardinal sin of overloading you with new vocabulary every few moments.
Monster Hunter Rise is an incredible game. While it may not feel quite as ground-breaking for the series as World did, it boasts a stronger and distinctly Japanese identity, and the changes and streamlined gameplay simply focus on the franchise's true stars – the monsters. Rise is easily one of the best games for the Nintendo Switch, and one of the finest Monster Hunters ever.
PixelJunk Raiders plays like an interactive sci-fi album cover from the 70s; one full of Vangelis off-cuts that you're going to try and share with a bunch of your friends despite the fact they're more interested in Rod Stewart.