Jordan Campbell's Reviews
Let Them Come: Onslaught is fantastic, and the fact that it is an Xbox Play Anywhere title is the cherry on the cake. If you’re a huge fan of the genre like I am, then you’ll certainly enjoy the addictive gameplay loop on offer here. It is somewhat lacking in content, with only four levels and a handful of characters. Hopefully, in time, we will see more content drop to extend the longevity and replayability. If you’re looking for a roguelite bullet heaven title with gorgeous retro visuals, then I highly recommend this one.
Football Manager 26 is far from perfect and still doesn’t feel like a finished product, but this is just the start of the journey. I truly believe that Sports Interactive have laid solid foundations for what will become the future of the franchise. I’d urge new and old players to come into this experience with an open mind, as you won’t be able to use the muscle memory of the older titles. If you’re a PC player with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, then you’ll be able to download and play the full game there. You could even use this as a method to try before you buy if you’re on the fence this year. One thing is for sure, though: the magic of FM is still there for me. It still brings me the same joy and excitement of the previous games in this fresh new blanket; it just needs a bit more time to get truly comfy. Many thanks to SEGA PR for giving us access to the PC version of the game on Steam. Both the Steam & Xbox Game Pass versions of the game were played for this review.
Battlefield REDSEC has started fairly strong, but I can’t help but question its longevity and replayability. Launching as a free-to-play model is a great start, but after spending a huge chunk of time within the mode, it does get stale in comparison to other contenders like Warzone and Fortnite. That isn’t to say I haven’t enjoyed my time here; it has some unique moments of its own. Destruction is a big strong point, and firefights can be very intense. One thing I do admire here, though, is that you don’t just have everyone running wild with souped-up loadouts. Finding amazing weapons is quite rare without upgrading them, and you can still compete against players who take guns from the custom drops. The real excitement and draw for me personally was in the new Gauntlet mode. It remains to be seen whether Battlefield REDSEC will survive in the long run. There are some solid foundations here, but there needs to be more points of interest, more reasons to explore and more variance in squad challenges before it gets too stale.
Amanda the Adventurer 2 builds on the foundations of the first and again offers a short but strong experience. Puzzles seem smarter, with a slightly more polished presentation, along with a deeper dive into the lore. What I love about these games is that they encourage exploration with a bit of brain power. If you’re after a creepy indie horror title with great animations, puzzling and figuring things out, then it will be worth your while. I’ll likely be back in a year for the Xbox review of AtA3!
BALL x PIT took me by surprise and instantly sits in my pile of contenders for my personal game of 2025. I loved that no two runs ever felt identical, and whilst there is more failure than success when it comes to each run, it’s super addictive. It is the perfect pick-up and play game if you only have half an hour to spare. Being able to bounce from the Xbox Series X to my gaming laptop and even my Lenovo Legion Go. There have been many moments where I’ve intended on a few quick runs, and it’s turned into hours. This is one of the definite must-play games of this year. If you have an Xbox Game Pass subscription, get it downloaded. Otherwise, just buy it, it’s an incredible indie gem.
Battlefield is so back! The development teams have delivered on the promise to bring the series back to its best. Whilst everything isn’t perfect, it isn’t far from being perfection across the board. Whilst the campaign isn’t the most memorable experience, it is worth playing through its five-hour-long adventure. Where Battlefield 6 really shines is in the multiplayer modes, with impressive cinematics, destruction, and that 64-player classic gameplay we all know and love. I’d say this is a potential game of the year contender, which doesn’t just deliver gunfire and explosions, it catapults you into the immersion of modern warfare, where every single moment feels intense as it does unforgettable.
Supermarket Simulator is incredibly addictive, and I spent a lot more time with this one than I was anticipating. After seeing various streams earlier in the year for this one and the plethora of very positive reviews on Steam, I am not surprised this one is faring very well. This is possibly one of the deepest simulators I’ve played in some time. The game isn’t just about buying stock and stacking shelves; it’s about growing your business and managing the logistics of driving your profit margins. It’s a fun time, whether playing solo or co-op with up to four players. For £16.74 on Xbox Series X|S, it is well worth the money for the amount of potential hours of gameplay. At the moment, though, it is a no-brainer to at least give it a go if you have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
Formula Legends is a quirky and unique racer that celebrates the decades of Formula One. Sure, it isn’t on par with the offerings of the official games that arrive annually, but it does serve as a solid alternative that can be fantastic fun. It can be occasionally frustrating, but that’s more of a skill issue on my part. If you don’t mind the fact that there is no licensing or online multiplayer, then it’s a vibrant and fun experience that will give you a good amount of enjoyment.
Dovetail Games has made significant strides forward in Train Sim World 6. It is refreshing to see them experimenting with how trains run along routes. Having random events added this year made me feel like I was in the cab, having signal delays, temporary speed restrictions, and even rescuing trains from the Dawlish Sea Wall are part and parcel of what we may have to do on a tough day. Whether you’re a driver, conductor or even a dispatcher in TSW6, the game feels more true to life than it ever has. It’s not just about driving trains anymore; it’s about living the railway. The changes the development team has made have introduced more immersion, unpredictability and the familiar polished product we are used to.
Sonic Racing Crossworlds is an impressive return from SEGA and Sonic Team. This outing easily stands with its arm around Mario Kart World on the same pedestal. With its depth, numerous tracks, and customisation options, alongside competitive online racing, there is plenty of replayability and longevity here. Having the crossworlds mechanics makes for spontaneous races that can turn on their head in a split second. It’s a seamless experience on Xbox Series X, running at a solid 60 frames per second, even during maximum screen intensity. It may have taken some time, but this Sonic kart-racing formula is perfection after several instalments and experimentation. There is an excellent fusion of brand-new mechanics and true nostalgia alongside its roster of well-loved characters and excellent soundtrack. For fans of Sonic and the karting genre, this game is a triumph that is well worth buying.
EA Sports FC 26 feels like it has made some exceptional strides forward this year. Having played for approximately 25-30 hours since Early Access was released and having invested a similar amount of time in the Closed Beta build, I can confidently say it’s the best version of the game we have had in several years. The key feature is the introduction of two gameplay modes: Authentic and Competitive. It’s nice to see that a lot more attention has gone into Career Mode as well as Ultimate Team. EA have for sure put the work in this time around to try and please every player type that dives into the yearly release. The game is almost polished to perfection this time around, and whilst I have struggled finding my feet in Ultimate Team so far, I am having a bloody great time. If you haven’t dipped into the series for some time, then this year is an ideal opportunity to return. If you’re a regular, then you’ll be right at home with a sprinkle of exciting new features.
Bad Cheese is a truly unique experience that has a fantastic art style that is clearly inspired by the early days of cartoons. I’d liken it to a mash-up between Steamboat Willie and Cuphead. The storyline is what kept me playing through this, with some emotionally heavy narrative and unsettling gameplay that has you on edge. Whilst the game is super short at around 4-5 hours to finish, it is quality rather than quantity. Whilst I was left wanting more, I felt satisfied with its runtime, but the replay value is limited since there aren’t any alternative paths or endings that I am aware of. For the reasonable price of £10.74, it’s worth buying.
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor is a standout experience in the bullet-hell auto-shooter roguelite genre. It stands toe-to-toe with some of the best experiences out there, such as Vampire Survivors, Brotato, Army of Ruin, and more. Since the game landed on Xbox Game Pass, I have poured close to 30 hours in so far, and I can still see so much replayability and longevity here. The fact that I’ve wanted to install the game on all of my devices to get my fix just speaks to me about how much of a great game this is. If you’re on a budget and want a game that will give you potentially hundreds of hours of gameplay, then for the price of £19.99, it is so worth it. Alternatively, if you have an Xbox Game Pass subscription, get it downloaded immediately; it’s an addictive masterpiece.
Ruffy and the Riverside is an enjoyable experience and clearly draws inspiration from platformers from the early ’90s and beyond. With its unique SWAP mechanics and neat presentation, featuring hand-drawn visuals, this platformer caters to gamers of all ages and skill levels. The game is surprisingly deep with a lot of NPCs to engage with, plenty to collect and lots of puzzles that’ll see you clocking around 10 hours of gameplay. For the reasonable price of £16.99, it’s well worth the cost for the amount you’re getting in return.
Deadzone: Rogue is an incredibly moreish rougelite shooter that I can’t get enough of. So much so that I’ve played it for a week straight at every opportunity I could get, and I still want to keep playing. The game features exceptional gunplay and cross-play co-op, allowing players to drop in and out with randoms. For the reasonable price of £19.99, it is well worth it
Cronus: The New Dawn is a challenging slog of a game, but if you’re determined to get through the tough times within the game, it is fantastic. If you’re into your survival horror titles, then you won’t be disappointed with how this game plays. They have nailed the atmosphere, audio and strategic combat throughout. As someone who isn’t too fond of challenging experiences, this was just on the edge for me. Bloober Team have certainly delivered with a beautifully polished and presented adventure that easily nestles amongst the best titles in the genre.
Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights is a decent competitive racer that isn’t going to break the bank. During the early hours of the night, I had difficulty finding races with human opponents, so I do have some concerns about its longevity. Overall, though, for its price point and the fact that it features crossplay functionality, it can be an absolute blast, and I had a great time with it. If you’re into racers that are quick, short and snappy with a quick adrenaline rush, then I do recommend you check this one out. Especially if you’re into some of the older arena racers such as Blur, Wipeout or even Mario Kart.
There aren't many free-to-play titles that have wanted me to keep playing and be my go-to game. Delta Force is far from perfect, but it gets the key ingredient right, and that is fun and engaging gameplay. As you'd expect with any game that has no entry cost, it is riddled with opportunities to spend cash. However, it is all cosmetic-based, so you have peace of mind that no one will have the upper hand on you unless they are cheating. I've poured in excess of 30 hours into Delta Force in the first week on consoles, and I would highly recommend anyone to try it. It'll be a game that I'll keep dipping into if they keep the content fresh and exciting, which I'm sure they will. It's hard to tell if it will be a gap filler for me until Battlefield 6 arrives, but I know this will always be here if I need to switch. Don't hesitate, get it downloaded!
Shinobi: Art of Vegeance becomes yet another classic game that has been exceptionally well recreated. I had no doubts that Lizardcube would do great work, given their success with Streets of Rage 4. It retains what made the original games so memorable and becomes a well-polished experience. It’s visually stunning, combat is super satisfying, and the story is well told. There is plenty of bang for your buck here as well, depending on how much you want from the game. If you want to achieve everything on offer, then you’re easily going to push 30-40 hours of gameplay. But if you’re just after ticking through the levels and seeing out the story, then you’ll still have a reasonable 15-20 hours. They say it’s all about quality instead of quantity, but here you get both with a big green tick. This is a beautiful game and will be one of my most memorable of 2025 for sure. A must buy!
If you’re a fan of the cosy simulation genre, then Discounty offers a 20+ hour experience that is fun to engage with. It’s charming, colourful and well designed. Nothing is ever too complex, and despite a few moments where controls are a little fiddly, on the whole it’s an excellent indie title. It takes a lot for this type of game to keep me invested all of the time, but Discounty hooked me from the start.