Dominic Leighton's Reviews
SNK vs Capcom Card Fighters' Clash was a brilliant game two decades ago, and the passage of time has done nothing to diminish that. If you're a fan of DCCG's, or the rosters of these two fighting game powerhouses, then Card Fighters' Clash is more or less essential.
Halo Infinite marks a clear moment in 343 Studios' handling of the series. They finally have a grasp on what makes Master Chief tick, and they bring all of that knowledge to bear in often-spectacular fashion. While some issues nag, it's clear that Halo Infinite is a brilliant new entry in the series, and one that makes this particular sci-fi FPS relevant once again.
Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain is a pleasant little diversion for your grey matter, but it’s one that doesn’t do enough to justify its asking price.
Jurassic World Evolution 2 is bigger, better, and bolder, and smooths off some of the original's rough edges. Frontier has tinkered with the management sim aspects, and brought in a canonical campaign into the mix that follows directly on from the events in Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom, but the dinosaurs remain the star of the show. If you're a fan of the franchise – and really, who doesn't love uncontrollable carnivores? – then Jurassic World Evolution 2 is a perfect sequel.
Forza Horizon 5 continues the series' legacy, usurping Forza Horizon 4 as the new pinnacle of open-world racing and as a graphical showcase for the new generation of Xbox console.
As engrossing as ever, with hours of approachable tactical content to get stuck into. It's just a shame that it still very much looks like it was made 11 years ago.
Age of Empires 4 is a deeply enjoyable return for the series. It puts history front and centre, and opts to refresh its gameplay instead of reinvent it. That may not be enough for some. Then again, when you've got a series that's remained the base template for RTS games for more than twenty years, who can blame them?
Lemnis Gate is intoxicating. Lemnis Gate is excruciating. Lemnis Gate is both these things. It's also a unique, compelling, strategic shooter, but one that might be too far ahead of its time.
The Artful Escape is an enigmatic coming of age story, wrapped in reverb-laden riffs and space opera shenanigans. It is quite unique, and absolutely unmissable.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is a solid, unglamorous return to the series greatest moments. We’ve been steering monkeys in balls across increasingly difficult landscapes for 20 years now, and while Banana Mania doesn’t return the series to its hallowed position of old, I don’t want it to stop quite yet.
Hot Wheels Unleashed puts the brand to perfect use, marrying bright and bold toy car racing with powerful track creation.
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.