Hayden Nelson's Reviews
Anno 117: Pax Romana stands out as a confident and compelling evolution of the franchise, successfully transporting the series into the Roman era without losing the economic depth and city-building sophistication that define Anno. Ubisoft Mainz has delivered an experience that is both familiar to long-time fans and inviting to newcomers. The PS5 version demonstrates how well a traditionally PC-focused title can adapt to console without compromising on its complexity or control.
Hot Wheels Let’s Race: Ultimate Speed is a vibrant, family-friendly racer that perfectly captures the energy and imagination of the Hot Wheels brand. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel; it’s here to deliver pure, pickup and play fun, and in that sense it succeeds.
Fast & Furious: Arcade Edition had the potential to be a fun, over-the-top racer that embraced the chaos and flair from the film series it’s known for. Unfortunately, what we get instead feels like a mobile port with a coat of paint. While the car lineups and locations are a solid nod, everything else, from the controls to the sounds and visuals, feels rushed and unrefined.
The Outer Worlds 2 is a worthy successor that expands on the first game in almost every aspect. With its sharp writing, engaging choices, deep RPG mechanics, and vibrant, fully realised world, it captures the humour, charm and moral complexity that made the original a hit.
Battlefield 6 isn’t just another entry into the franchise; it’s a full-scale evolution of everything we love about the series. From the moment you load into the campaign or jump online, it’s clear the developers have poured their hearts and souls into this game with every detail, and the result is something beautiful.
Overall, Little Nightmares III is a worthy continuation of the series known for its chilling atmosphere and inventive storytelling. The game shines with its cinematic visuals, haunting sound design, and the fresh dynamic that online co-op brings, making the Spiral feel alive. The attention to detail in the character and creature models, combined with the eerie environments and inventive puzzles, reinforces the series’ signature mix of innocence and terror.
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.