Hayden Nelson's Reviews
Overall, Pac-Man World 2 Re-PAC is a faithful and polished return to one of Pac-Man’s most underrated adventures. It manages to stay true to its 2002 roots while upgrading the experience with sharper visuals, cleaner sound designs, and smoother gameplay that feels right at home on the PlayStation 5. The fast-paced levels are easy to jump into, while the tougher boss fights provide a welcome layer of challenge.
Skygard Arena offers a solid and engaging turn-based tactical experience that balances strategy, team customisation, and accessibility. The game rewards careful planning, smart positioning, and clever use of abilities. The vibrant visuals, dynamic camera controls, and satisfying audio help immerse you in this game.
FC 26 feels like a true step forward for the series, finally striking the right balance between competitive sharpness and authentic realism. From the overhauled gameplay fundamentals to the smarter Career Mode features, refined Archetypes, and a deeper FUT experience, EA has clearly been listening to the community. The presentation is slick, the sound is immersive, and the controls are fine-tuned for both newcomers and veterans.
Overall, Mars Attracts is a charming, darkly comedic twist on the park-building genre that manages to be both approachable and engaging. It balances humour, strategy and management in a way that keeps you invested in wanting to play the game and become the biggest park on Mars.
skate. is a revival that doesn’t just live off nostalgia; it reimagines what skateboarding can be in 2025. Full Circle have kept the heart of the series intact, with the beloved “Flick-It” system, free-flowing gameplay, and a world that encourages you to create your own fun. The shift to a more stylised, cartoonish look gives it personality and separates it from the hyper-realistic titles we normally see, while the sound design and killer soundtrack capture the skate culture perfectly. After years of waiting, the series has returned and, for the most part, sticks the landing.
Supercar Collection Simulator is a charming little management game that captures the addictive thrill of collecting and selling, wrapped up in a store-sim setting. The core loop of opening surprise boxes, building collections and customising the shop is genuinely fun, and there is enough side content to keep you amused for hours. It nails the relaxing, casual nature of simulators but comes with some rough edges that could use some polishing.
Cronos: The New Dawn is a thrilling, high-stakes survival horror experience that pushes the Nintendo Switch 2 to deliver on every front, story, gameplay, visuals and sounds. Bloober Team have crafted a game that demands strategy, patience and adaptability, rewarding players with tense, cinematic moments and satisfying combat.
Truck Driving on Nintendo Switch feels like a bare-minimum effort that doesn’t really justify its place on the platform. Between the outdated graphics, lack of audio design, and mobile-style gameplay, there’s very little here to recommend unless you’re looking for the most basic truck-driving experience possible.
Metal Eden is a visually stunning, adrenaline-fueled sci-fi shooter that delivers a thrilling blend of fast-paced combat, fluid movement, and satisfying progression. The graphics and world are breathtaking, and the controls are super responsive. The game’s overall polish, cinematic storytelling, and engaging combat make it a standout title in the sci-fi shooter genre.
Mafia: The Old Country delivers a deeply immersive experience that transports players back to the early 1900s with a compelling narrative, rich atmosphere, and polished gameplay. The blend of stealth, combat, and exploration keeps the gameplay fresh, and the sound design creates a unique atmosphere, which draws you into an immersive experience.
Liminal Exit is a haunting, minimalist experience that thrives on discomfort, uncertainty, and eerie familiarity. It does not rely on traditional storytelling or jump scares to pull you into the game.
EA Sports College Football 26 builds on the strong foundations of last year’s return and delivers a deeper, more refined college football experience across the board. With its stunning visuals, realistic gameplay, revamped modes, and increased attention to the college tradition, it’s a love letter to the fans of the sport.
Ready or Not will make a strong debut on Xbox Series X with some fine-tuning and polishing. It delivers a tense, tactical shooter that doesn’t shy away from realism and consequences.
F1 25 stands out as a major step forward for the franchise, offering meaningful improvements across gameplay, visuals, audio, and immersion. With the revamped My Team 2.0 mode, enhanced handling mechanics, and deeper customisation, it delivers the most realistic and engaging Formula 1 experience ever. This is going to set a new benchmark for racing games.
I loved my time with The Siege and the Sandfox. Its stunning visuals, pixel art, and sound design were smooth and immersive, and the controls felt well-polished. The developers created a memorable experience. It’s clear some passion and care went into this title, and it shows. The developers need to give themselves a pat on the back.
Days Gone Remastered brings a loved and gritty survival experience back with a fresh coat of polish, offering returning players and newcomers an upgraded way to experience Deacon’s emotional and action-packed journey. Whether exploring the open world and taking on massive hordes of Freakers or just exploring on the bike, you are in for a treat with Days Gone Remastered.
MotoGP 25 offers a comprehensive, immersive racing experience, blending advanced technology with deep, immersive gameplay features. Thanks to Unreal Engine 5 and the introduction of different bike types and small tracks, the enhanced visuals make MotoGP 25 an experience for those seeking a full simulation feel or more of an arcade feel.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a perfect example of how a development company can respectfully modernise a beloved classic. With its updated visuals, smoother controls and meaningful gameplay improvements.
Steamworld Heist 2 is a beautifully crafted game that delivers on every front, from its engaging story and stunning visuals to its surprisingly rich and immersive audio design. It builds on the charm and tactical depth of the original while introducing fresh ideas and keeping the game exciting.
Amerzone—The Explorer’s Legacy is a visually stunning masterpiece that blends a beautifully crafted world with a genuinely engaging storyline. Despite being a remake, it retains an original and unique feel that sets it apart from modern titles.