NextPlay's Reviews
Silent Hill f’s transit to a fictional 1960s Japan changes the tone of the series you’d come to expect, but delivers by pushing boundaries in the themes it tackles. The game leaves nostalgia at the door, bringing with it a high-tension and emotional experience with ambition. Silent Hill f does more than just scare; it lingers.
Hide The Corpse dresses its dark humour in a visage of ’70s slapstick with its over-the-top camp, ragdoll physics, and chaotic gameplay that’ll test the quick wits of players, but only for a short while.
Mafia: The Old Country is a formidable entry into the series, one with an engaging yet overly cliché and predictable story filled with beautifully crafted set pieces and great cast performances. While these are all great, the occasional knife fight or stealth sections stall the momentum of the experience at times.
Lies of P: Overture is a triumphant return to the city of Krat, one that tests even the most confident of soulslike gods. This is DLC crafted with purpose, one that expands the game in all the right ways, exploring character relationships and lore like never before.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach takes a brave trip down under with the expected Kojima Productions gusto. With insane graphics, a cinematic soundtrack, and a narrative that doesn’t go lightly, it’s a fairly safe follow-up that easily keeps pace with its predecessor. It’s open world shines with recognisable plants and animals, yet it still glazes over indigenous and Australian culture in favour of an enviable celebrity cast. While it’s not breaking the mould by any means, it’s a thrilling romp back through the Death Stranding world.
Giant Squid Studios has created another fantastic game that combines the best elements of its previous titles into a gorgeous adventure that emphasises fast-paced and fun movement. With a tremendous soundtrack, beautiful art style and subtle storytelling, Sword of the Sea will appeal to those who love artistic gaming experiences. Though short and with a final area that discourages its best elements, Sword of the Sea is well worth diving into.
Gears of War: Reloaded is a must-play for PlayStation fans and a brilliant entry point for any Gears of War newcomer, especially with Gears of War E-Day on the horizon. The campaign offers a cinematic action-movie-like thrill ride, establishing the Locust threat and hinting at major narrative moments that will occur down the line.
Whether you’re a fan of classic side-scrollers, a Shinobi veteran, or simply a player looking for a high-quality 2D action game with depth and style, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an essential play in 2025’s gaming lineup.
Midnight Murder Club has a strong perception of what it needs to be, but fails to brew up anything that would survive more than one games night with the gang thanks to its one map and little to nothing to work towards.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a legendary remake of a genre-defining game that doesn’t add much extra flavour, but presents top-notch graphics and retains the best parts of the original game, like the cast and their performances and the engaging stealth espionage gameplay.
Len’s Island generates enjoyment primarily out of its building mechanics, providing a serviceable experience amongst every other aspect of the game. While this is still an easy recommendation for gamers with an appetite for a new survival game, it won’t appeal to everyone.
Donkey Kong Bananza is, simply put, one of Nintendo’s finest games and a must-buy for the Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo consistently innovate with its flagship titles, and Bananza is the latest to achieve this with its relentlessly exceptional level design. The gameplay is addictive, and the soundtrack pays tribute to the older games while recreating new DK sound beats for this new generation.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 reheats the series’ nachos, bringing back both games with a fresh new coat of paint. Old fans and newcomers are sure to find this next slew of remakes just as entertaining as the last.
Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2 faithfully allows players to re-experience Tanjiro Kamado’s trials and tribulations through some of the anime’s best Story Arcs. While there’s not much deviation from the source material, its hard not to recommend this to Demon Slayer fans and anime fans alike.
uper Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV is a welcome addition to the Switch 2’s library, but one that relies too much on the original package. While Jamboree TV provides some fun moments, especially with the mouse mini-games, Super Mario Party Jamboree ultimately carries it on its back in this new package.
“While sharing similar genetics to other games in the soulslike genre, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers provides a deep and involved combat system that blossoms alongside fluid animations and a beautifully depicted Eastern setting.”
Powerhoof continues to be one of the most exciting developers out of Australia, achieving a tight point-and-click that anyone can get into with The Drifter. The performances from the cast are wonderful and sell the story well, while the quality gameplay clears the bar that the rest of the package sets. The beautiful work with the environments, animations, and soundtrack elevate this Aussie pulp thriller to fantastic heights.
Broken Arrow does enough to differentiate itself brilliantly from what already exists in the market. Unfortunately, the heavy focus on multiplayer holds it back due to cheaters and leavers. Whether the game survives depends heavily on the coming weeks.
Final Fantasy IX is a masterpiece that will stand the test of time. The captivating story is paced perfectly, and is equipped with a lovable cast of characters, and a charming art style allows it to effortlessly justify its place as one of the best in the franchise.
Ruffy and the Riverside is a throwback to platforming greats of the ’90s that is brimming with the charm, level design, and colourful characters that made you fall in love with video games to begin with. While the game isn’t the ultimate platforming experience, Ruffy and the Riverside is sure to bring joy to those who play.