Jordan Campbell's Reviews
I had a fantastic time with Peglin, and there is a potential for plenty of hours of gameplay if you want to achieve everything the game has to offer. It is indeed a game of luck in some respects, as you can only really project the direction of your shots, but you do influence how the game plays out with your choices throughout the game. Some runs take persistence, and you’re destined to fail many times, but I found this where the fun factor was. Working my way to the final bosses in the hope that how I played would either take them down quickly or chip away at them was intriguing. If you enjoyed the Peggle games and also like your roguelikes, then this is a mash-up that simply works well. For the amount of hours you get in return, it’s a worthy investment of just over £16. With a huge whack of user reviews being in the very positive category over on Steam on PC, that speaks volumes. Whilst this was released back in 2024 on PC and Nintendo Switch, it is one of the best indie titles I’ve had the pleasure of playing on an Xbox in 2025.
I’ve played plenty of games where you take on the role of a police officer, and the majority have been way below par. The Precinct has nailed the atmosphere and the feel of protecting the city and its community. It does get slightly repetitive in parts, especially when it comes to dealing with louts on the streets or issuing countless parking tickets. But I suppose, realistically looking at life in the police, that is part and parcel of being in the force. The gameplay is engaging enough to see it through, and the narration, along with a bit of backstory, helps make the playthrough a bit more personal than just being completely generic. For a game where you play the good guy, shake some potential criminals down, make arrests and get involved with some chaotic cat and mouse style police chases, it is a cracking time. If you’re looking for any multiplayer options here, then sadly, there aren’t any, but I don’t think the game would suit anything else alongside a solo experience. If you become reeled in by The Precinct, then you may want to check out American Fugitive by the same development team, which has you in a similar world on the other side of the coin as a criminal.
Fragpunk is a solid entry into the first person shooter genre. It is tough to tell whether this one will become a permanent fixture in the live service space or dissolve in the future. After 20 or so hours with this one, I am still enjoying the shard card and ranked modes. The true test of time is whether they keep changing up the formula, characters and weaponry to keep the appeal. If I had to explain this game in my own words it would be along the lines of CSGO and Valorant with its own unique twist. With the game being completely free to play on consoles and PC, it is well worth a try if you’re into your hero shooters or anything FPS related. I really struggled with crossplay on due to PC players potentially having faster reaction times, but there is the option to switch this off. As with any live service game, be prepared to spend a bit if you fancy some nicer skins or even unlocking features a bit quicker. Overall though, it is a shooter that is brings hours of fun if it hooks you in with the round based objective play.
When I first started my time with KIBORG I was in two minds whether I was enjoying it or not. The first few runs are punishing whilst you gauge how the game functions and how to time and perfect your attacking and defending. The experience really blossoms when you start to unlock more within the skill tree which in turn allows you to become a little stronger each time you start a run. Replayability is there if you want to keep repeating runs and try and max out the skill tree whilst reaching the end game. It sure is a challenging game and there is a repetitive nature to it after several hours. However, the varience in weaponry, implants, floors and enemies within them could give you enough longevity to justify its reasonable cost for a polished and finished brawler.
Sociable Soccer 25 finally lands on the Xbox console and is a nice little nod for the older gamers out there, but also an evolution of the past for the gamers new to this style of play. Admittedly, I was a bit frustrated at first getting to grips with the control scheme and how the players reacted to my button presses, but over time the game grew on me and I was playing with more fluidity and keeping possession. Sometimes the AI feels a little stale and doesn’t appear to be as reactive as I’d like, but then I remember this doesn’t have the enormous team and budget that something like EAFC has. This is a casual take on the football genre, and I love that it finally makes its way to my favourite console, because there is always room for more footballing fun. For this one, though, the experience is short-lived for me without online multiplayer, and I feel like they are missing a trick by not including it. If you’re not one for competing online, then it still provides a great slice of fun alone or in local multiplayer with family or friends.
It is an incredibly beautiful title from a talented studio that will no doubt run with this and perhaps make future titles along these lines. I loved that the map wasn’t some vast expanse but instead a series of areas that were still large enough to explore, scavenge and experiment throughout. Also, I’ve never played a game where I can crack someone across the back of the head with a cricket bat, call me sadistic if you want, but it was hilarious and satisfying at the same time. Atomfall will nestle amongst one of the most memorable games of 2025 for me and is a must-play, especially if you’re on Xbox Game Pass.
Not everyone will agree with me when I say this is probably the best Assassins Creed game to date and that is totally OK. Whilst I can draw many comparisons to Ghost Of Tsushima and still find that game a bit better, it comes very close in terms of scope and polish. Assassins Creed Shadows features a map that is absolutely stunning, it feels lived in and full of intriguing and interesting wildlife. You can approach everything stealthily Tenchu style or go in and kick some ass. Yes the story is predictable and some of the missions are pretty much fetch quests or go and kill someone. But half the beauty of this game is exploration and engaging with the side quests, soaking in the cutscenes and admiring the season changes along with their elements. Whilst I wasn't lucky enough to receieve a review code, I feel I needed to write about this experience as it is up there as one of Ubisofts best for sure.
My Little Universe surprised me with its addictive gameplay loop to the point I kept coming back for more until I finished it. Whilst the game is never particularly challenging, you do feel a sense of progression as you dive deeper into each area. I put a little over 20 hours into the game, so there is plenty of content here if you want to achieve 100%. Whilst I couldn’t seem to get hands on with my Lenovo Legion Go alongside my Xbox Series X, I am looking forward to playing again in handheld mode. The game should be Xbox Play Anywhere on launch, so those with PC/Handheld devices should be able to get their fix.
Monster Hunter Wilds is probably the first game in the popular franchise to really consume me. Whether it was because I played a lot of it with a couple of friends or just didn’t really give the previous games enough chance, I am not entirely sure. What I can be sure of though is that it is a rich and detailed world that feels fantastic to play, both for veterans of the series and newcomers also. I have read various comments from fans stating that it is a little easier than previous experiences. For me though, it was challenging enough without becoming too difficult to drive me away. The fluidity of combat seems drastically improved on what I have delved into before. Sure there could still be some minor improvements going forwards, most notably the cluttered and untidy UI. But for the most part I had a great time and will continue to do so after 20+ hours with the game. For those solo players out there like myself who tried and didn’t like Monster Hunter, try and grab some mates to enhance the adventure. If not you could try the looking for game feature on Xbox, which I used for the very first time to find others to slay giant monsters with.
For those who have never heard or engaged with anything Dog Man related, you may find this just an average platformer. It very much is just that when it comes to how it feels to play. Having watched the movie I did feel like I understood the mechanics better and why the characters intertwine within levels to work with certain elements. It is a faithful nod to the brilliant cartoon design of the books, a few of which I have purchased for my Dog Man obsessed little lad. If you’re after a family friendly platforming title that even smaller children can enjoy, then Dog Man is worth your time. Those who enjoy a challenge however, may find this a little on the easy side.
I've had an exceptional time playing Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii and even after 60+ hours I still feel like I could put in an equal amount of hours to tick off every last task within the game. There is no getting away from the fact these games are always packed with content and things to discover and explore. The storyline is rock solid and having Noah by my side throughout genuinely made me want to protect him as if he was my own. Admittedly I was a little anxious of whether they would pull a game that focuses on being a pirate off. Somehow they have managed to strike a fine balance of retaining the serious nature of a great story whilst also having those wacky moments still ever present. Whilst the game bears many similarities to Infinite Wealth, there is more than enough here to warrant your hard earned cash. It is oar-inspiring to see pirate ships in a Yakuza game, and its the greatest pirate title we have seen since Sea Of Thieves gained popularity.
Idle Zoo Park provides a good few hours of fun if you want to work through the experience for all the achievements. Unfortunately though it becomes extremely repetitive with little variance througout the different Zoo locations. Going from one Zoo to another feels like you’re just repeating the same level again with the odd single enclosure being the only difference. After two hours I had gained all of the achievements apart from the last two, one of which wants you to spin the wheel fifty times, and the other unlocks once you have gained all other achievements. Sadly I didn’t feel the need to return for close to three more hours of clicking on completed levels to get the full one thousand gamerscore. Completionists may find that it is worth their time to boost their personal gamerscore. But this experience will last you a few short hours at best.
Two Point Studios and SEGA have done it again and smashed it out of the park with Two Point Museum. The presentation of the entire game oozes quality and fantastic polish in every aspect. In my review of Two Point Campus which you can read HERE, I touched on how I felt each individual had their personality, that is still the case here. The satisfaction of starting with a blank canvas and fine-tuning your very own museum becomes a slight addiction. One of my first play sessions for this review weighed in at about 7 hours and I had to force myself away from my Xbox Series X to sleep. If you adored Two Point Hospital and Campus, you’re getting that same moreish formula here with the unique atmosphere of the museum setting with interesting and wacky artefacts. If you can, I’d urge you to go for the deluxe version of the game that comes with all the extra goodies and kudosh, but you’ll have an equally cracking time with the base game if you can’t stretch to it. After close to 50 hours for this review, I still find myself going back for more so I can assure you the amount of gameplay on offer could easily run into hundreds of hours. This will be one of the best games of 2025, one for the history books!
I enjoyed my time with Mika and the Witch’s Mountain and whilst the game is far from perfect, I had to remember the target audience and who this would appeal to. My seven-year-old loved joining and playing this one while I reviewed it. He enjoyed watching the conversations and how Mika interacted with people to gain information for the next objective and then using her broomstick to deliver parcels. It does become somewhat repetitive at times and it does fall a little short at around six hours of gameplay, but this is always the sweet spot for an indie for me. It holds enough quality, polish and great mechanics to make it a game to consider for your younger ones, but I’m not ashamed to say I enjoyed this one as an adult too.
I was pleasantly surprised by Robodunk and spent far more time with the game than I anticipated. This was down to the addictive and short yet snappy gameplay loop with plenty to unlock. The development team have done a fantastic job at combining such a familiar experience with classic games such as NBA Jam and Playgrounds yet introducing the roguelite elements within the experience, and it works! Admittedly I would have loved to see some online multiplayer elements here as I feel the game would suit the competitive style of playing against real-life opponents. For those who love same-screen fun though, you’re in luck with 2 player co-op options and also local multiplayer with up to four players. For £12.49 it’s a reasonable price-point for potentially hours of fun, alone against AI or with players from the comfort of home.
Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator was disappointing and didn’t meet my expectations. I encountered a myriad of bugs throughout the experience, repetitive dialogue and gameplay, and poor visuals. This is unfortunate, as the concept and the way some of the scenarios are put together are fantastic. This isn’t to say there isn’t fun to be had here and you’ll struggle to find an experience that is on par and as accurate within the ambulance/paramedic genre. I do feel though that this game could have been done with a little more time in the oven to give it some extra polish and perhaps that will come in the form of future updates. There is plenty within the gameplay loop here for a good 20+ hours or maybe longer if you enjoy grinding your way through everything on offer.
Yellow Brick Games should be super proud of the project they have produced here. Both the Xbox and Playstation platforms especially have been crying out for a game like this for some time and Eternal Strands is a journey that is well worth your time. The fact I could play this on my Legion Go on my handheld in downtime at work and then pick up where I left off at home on my Xbox Series X made it an absolute pleasure to play. It is refreshing to see a real success story in gaming from a new studio and IP from an industry that has struggled and suffered layoffs en masse in the last few years. I highly recommend picking up and playing Eternal Strands whether it is on Xbox with Xbox Game Pass, Playstation or Steam. It is a title that oozes fantastic design choices right across the board with a compelling storyline and engaging gameplay consistently. You’ll get a good 30+ hours out of this game depending on your pacing and whether you want to explore every nook and cranny as I did. This is the first stand-out game of 2025 for me and deserves to be a roaring success, I can’t wait to see what Yellow Brick Games create next!
Well, I think we have found the first near-masterpiece indie game of 2025. Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders takes everything that made Megagon Industries’ first title great and strides forward with a super-polished experience. I’ve managed to play this across several devices for this review: Xbox Series X, Lenovo Legion Go, and even cloud gaming on my mobile phone. It is the perfect game to engage with anywhere you are and with the Xbox play anywhere feature it is available freely once in your personal library too. The addictive nature of just one more run, as you strive for perfection, is ever-present. It’s a game which is a challenge to master but is oh-so-satisfying when you hit courses perfectly. If you’re an Xbox player, you’re in luck since it has been integrated into the Xbox Game Pass library for January 2025. But even at its £20.99 price point, it is well worth every penny for the number of hours you could sink into its slopes.
SlavicPunk: Oldtimer gets the combat and gameplay loop bang on and I had a great time with the overall experience. Unfortunately, it misses the execution of the storyline and immersion with the irritating small text. I could only actually read this by taking a photo on 10x zoom with my phone camera, this is how bad it was on a 55-inch TV. That isn’t to say there isn’t fun to be had here though, it looks and plays fine but can be easily finished in one 4-5 hour session if you hammer through it like I did. For £14.99 though, if you’re into Cyberpunk-esque environments and you’re after a twin-stick shooter with a story that you’re not too fussed about, this one may be for you.
Super Solitaire is a solid entry into the Xbox store and whilst it is available on mobile and also Nintendo Switch, it is nice to sit and play with a controller to hand. The developers have kept things simple here, with the ability to jump on and just play. If you want to extend the fun then there are harder difficulty levels and also daily challenges. But it is just Solitaire at the end of the day and if you’re a fan then you’ll probably love it.