Jordan Campbell's Reviews
Frostpunk 2 is an outstanding sequel that goes deeper into the storytelling and survival mechanics. For the most part, the game ran smoothly on Xbox Series X without any visual hiccups, really. It’s a solid transition from PC to console, and I would urge anyone with an Xbox Game Pass subscription to give this experience a go. There is some patience required with the learning curve involved, and this may be frustrating to some. However, those who love RTS titles or anything involving survival strategy and mechanics will love what the game has to offer.
Dave the Diver is one of my favourite indie titles of all time. If you haven’t played it yet and you’re on the fence, I say just buy it with no hesitation. Part of me is extremely jealous of anyone who plays this for the first time, as it is fantastic. There aren’t many indie games I’ve played through multiple times, but this one is an exception. With Xbox Play Anywhere functionality, I’ve managed to play this on my Xbox Series X, gaming laptop and Lenovo Legion Go. The game is polished and well-presented across all devices, with no visual hiccups. With plenty of content, including two free DLC packs, it’ll keep you busy for anything between 25-50 hours, depending on whether you want to achieve everything on offer. You can purchase a copy of Dave the Diver for Xbox HERE.
I was staggered when I learnt that Silly Polly Beast is the work of a solo developer. There are several success stories of indie titles coming from the work of one individual, and this is absolutely one of them. You’d genuinely think that this was the work of a small indie team of developers because it’s super polished and mechanically sound in every area of the game. Combat is satisfying, the art style is fantastic, and the gameplay loop kept me engaged throughout the entire experience. If you’re after a memorable 10 or so-hour experience with a surreal, strange survival horror that is a delight to play, then give this your time. You can purchase the game for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S HERE for the worthy cost of £16.74.
Sektori is an indie sensation and a game I simply can’t get enough of. The first time I played this, I popped it on at 1 am in the morning with the intention of having a quick go before covering it properly in the days following. It was almost six in the morning by the time I dragged myself away. Beware, this game is insanely addictive. It has that “just one more run” vibe, and each time, I am convincing myself I can perform better. I am now drawn to trying to climb the online leaderboards, so there is plenty of life in this one for me yet, after more than 24 hours of gameplay. If you’re after a twin stick shooter that has lots of similarities to titles like Geometry Wars 1|2, then I urge you to buy this; it’s well worth it.
Arc Raiders is simply magnificent in what it sets out to achieve. Even if you haven’t played the game, all you have to do is look at videos to witness how spontaneous this game can be. If you’re after a third-person shooter experience that has you constantly on edge with repeated runs always being different, intense and exhilarating, then this is right up your street. This is one of those games that can create and unlock core gaming memories with friends, matches that you’ll discuss and remember for years to come. Not only do you have to salute Embark Studios for creating one of the most polished and atmospheric games of 2025, but you also have to take your hat off to their pricing. Whilst the game has shifted from a promised free-to-play shooter as it was announced in 2021, what we have ended up with is potentially a game of the year contender for many. For a very reasonable cost of £30.99 for the base edition of the game, which you can purchase on Xbox Series X|S HERE, it is well worth the investment for the amount of content and gameplay on offer. If you’re a fan of shooters, then this is a must-buy.
Ubisoft have done it again with the Anno series. It’s pleasing to see that the functionality with an Xbox controller is still fantastic. Ultimately, the game probably plays best on a PC with a mouse and keyboard, as this genre always does. But the experience isn’t hampered in the slightest, with great work on the UI and controller-friendly interfaces. If you, like me, enjoyed Anno 1800 and are looking for a similar experience in an alternative era, with different scenarios and pacing, you’ll adore your time with it.
A Pizza Delivery is a short-lived adventure, with interesting interactions that are brief but fun to experience. Some of the conversations you have leave you scratching your head at some points, but it all seems to become clear in the end.
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.