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Platform: Xbox Series X Time taken: 3 hours Mixtape is a unique experience. It isn't your traditional game but more so a walking simulator with a strong emphasis on music, narrative and overall vibe. The game follows 3 friends who have their final night together before one of them (Stacey) moves away. She has created a Mixtape to go with the evening and what ensues is a nostalgia filled adventure that 90s kids in particular will appreciate. Despite the gameplay being limited, I felt it added to the overall immersion of the game. Whether it was riding a skateboard, blowing up some fireworks or exploring a room it really added to the game. The real stars of the game are the voice acting and the music. Featuring songs from Silverchair, Smashing Pumpkins and Joy Division, the mixtape pairs perfectly with the game. Really emphasising what is happening in each moment. I absolutely loved this game, I don't think it will be for everyone, but for me the chilled nature and creative approach made for a fantastic experience. It is also great to see an Australian studio release such a well received game.

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Platform: Xbox Series X Time Take: 6 Hours I've always been a big fan of the Life is Strange/Walking Dead style games that are story and choice heavy. They feel like those old choose your own adventure type books and usually feel story focused instead of gameplay. For this reason, As Dusk Falls was on my watchlist after seeing it announced at the Xbox presser last year. I can say for sure that the game exceeded my expectations in pretty much every area. My main concern going in was the art style and I have to admit it was really disorientating for the first 10-15 minutes but then I kind of stopped noting the stop motion style that was used. I think towards the end I actually quite liked it. The gameplay, which is basically making choices and performing quick time events, was surprisingly engaging. I was worried I would get bored of the QTEs but I found they were used well. There are also quite a few accessibility options to open the game up to more audiences. The story follows two families whose lives intersect after a robbery gone wrong. I don't want to spoil how the story unfolded in my game but I really felt engaged to most of the characters I was in control of. For example, Vince, has a particular history in his story of being down on his luck, wanting to take control of things again and stand up for himself and I found myself naturally making decisions that pushed me in that direction. The story was really well told and unfolded at a steady pace. With the exception of one section, I never felt bored and I always wanted to see what would happen next. I do have one annoyance with the story, but it would be a massive spoiler to put in here, so I'll leave it out :) I think a couple of things that differentiate this game from Life is Strange and the Walking Dead games are the gameplay. There is not walking around, talking to people, it is like watching a movie but making split second decisions throughout. I actually think I prefer this style far more.

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Saros is the follow up to the 2021 release Returnal. It brings a very similar bullet hell approach with a rouguelike style of game. In each run you earn lucinite that can be used to update your key 3 stats and progressively get stronger and stronger. This results in the game feeling a bit easier after each run (it is still quite difficult though!) and also gives that sense that even with dying you are still making progress. The game play in Saros is like a faster paced Returnal and is incredibly satisfying. The movement is super responsive and engagi****me play and the game play loop are by far the best things about this game, and I would say it will be difficult to find a better feeling game in 2026. Where I did feel Saros took a step back compared to Returnal is the story. It never really grasped me, and while there is a mystery slowly being told I never felt any connection with the main character. I don't think it's bad by any means but it wasn't the thing making me want to play more. Overall, another fantastic release by Housemarque, I look forward to seeing what comes next from them.

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5 hours Keeper is the latest release by Double Fine and is a charming little puzzle game where you play as a light house that comes to life and grows legs. The art design is beautiful, they tell a great story with no dialogue and it is an overall enjoyable experiences. Some parts make me think the developers were on acid when creating this game but that definitely adds to the overall art design and approach. Keeper is on Game Pass and definitely worth a play if you are a fan of Double Fines' other games or mellow puzzle games.

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Platform: PS5 Time taken: 11.5 hours This is my surprise game of 2023. Everything I saw before release didn't appeal to me, the main character seemed annoying and the gameplay repetitive. Then the reviews dropped and no one seemed to like this game. Nonetheless, I decided to give it a go when I saw it heavily discounted for Black Friday. In Forspoken you play as Frey, a 21 year old living in New York and currently struggling. She is in the bad books with some gangs, has been charged with some crimes and is basically homeless. Some events transpire where she gets transported to the world of Athia along with a magical cuff that she can't remove. She quickly works out that she has magical powers thanks to the cuff and begins her journey to try to get back to New York. I'm surprised with how much I enjoyed the story and the characters. I actually found Frey to be intersting and play well off of Cuff. The story has some great twists and turns, the pacing at the end goes a bit haywire but overall it is really solid with a mix of comedy, drama and unexpected twists. The dialogue is at times quite cheesy (about 15% of the time) but for the most part is well acted and serves the story well. The gameplay was really fun overall, with Frey developing a number of different styles of magic. You can work out some great strategies when switching betwen them. There is a lot more depth here than what it first appears. The traversal is fantastic and a lot of fun. At its best it rivals Spider-mans traversal but it isnt as good. The world of Athia is probably my biggest negative. It is a huge map with a bunch of repetitive objectives. I didn't even bother trying to finish them. Overall Forspoken is a fun game with an engaging story that was a bit hard done by at release. I think it is definitely worth picking up, especially while it is on sale.

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Platform: PC Time taken: 1 hour And Roger is a Visual Novel in a similar vain to Florence. It follows the story of a young girl who wakes up one day to find a strange man in her home. It is difficult to give any further detail without spoiling the story so I will leave it there. I felt like the game was impactful and the story well told. I did find the gameplay to be frustrating, but I'm 99% sure that was intentional as it fit in well with the overall theme. And Roger is 7ドル.50 AUD on Steam and only takes an hour to finish. I'd definitely recommend it if you like visual novels and impactful stories.

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Platform: Xbox Series X Time taken: 8 hours The original Super Meat Boy game was one I remember from pure frustration. It was incredibly hard and I ended up giving up on beating it. I always liked the concept though so when the 3D version was announced I was intrigued and have managed to complete all the main levels. The game is not as hard as the original, however the added complexity of a 3D world definitely means it is one of the more difficult games I've completed. The game controls well and some areas require pinpoint accuracy which the responsiveness accounts for. With that being said, it can be infuriating in sections trying ti determine the depth perception of where Meat Boy is. This feels more like a flaw than an intended challenge and almost resulted in me giving up on a few occasions. Super Meat Boy 3D consists of 5 worlds, each with 15 levels and one boss. The boss battles are fun and arguably one of the easier levels to beat. Each level has a time limit to beat and doing so unlocks the dark version which is an even harder challenge. I haven't checked these levels out and I don't intend to (the base gams was challenging enough). Once you complete a level it tells your time and how many deaths and then shows a video of all your attempts happening at the same time which is one of my favourite features of the game. Overall if you are looking for a challenging platformer then give Super Meat Boy 3D a go. I personally enjoyed my time with it but I have no intention of turning it on again any time soon.

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Time taken: 15 hours When 007 First Light was first announced as being made by IO Interactive I was expecting a Hitman clone with a light on 007 story. In the end, it was the other way around. 007 First Light is an authentic, cinematic experience with a mix of Hitman like game play, Uncharted style climbing and some satisfying gun fights. Overall it was a very different experience to what I was expecting, but I think IO Interactive really nailed the Bond story and the voice acting and pacing was great throughout. I did feel disappointed in the Hitman style game play overall. It felt way more structured with some elements of choice but ultimately a far simpler experience. It wasn't bad, just not to the level the Hitman games have provided in the past. In fact, I think the game is a lot more like an Uncharted game overall. I think any Uncharted or Bond fans will enjoy this game. I'm really looking forward to what we get next in this series.

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Replaced is an ultra stylistic, 2.5D platformer with Arkham like combat. The overall feel of the game takes a little getting used to but once you get into it, it is such an amazing experience. I absolutely love the style of this game. From graphics, music, animations, it was incredibly engaging. There were so many moments where I was in awe for how cinematic they made a 2.5D platformer. The story is really good. It took me a bit to get into it but once I did I was hooked. Only thing that lets it down is the lack of voice acting. Overall this is a bit of a hidden gem and definitely worth giving it a go.

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Platform: PC Time taken: 17 hours Slay the Spire is a rougelike deck builder game where you collect cards, gold and modifiers called relics that you use to fight enemies battle by battle up a spire. The game is deceptively complex and can involve a lot of strategy for how you position each run. I found Slay the Spire to be incredibly addictive in that 'one more run' kind of way. Each battle feels so unique and I love that two separate strategies could be wildly different but equally as effective. I think this is the pinacle of a deck building roguelike, it is very balanced and almost feels like a game of chess at some stages. I would highly recommend, particularly if you are a fan of games like Balatro

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Time Taken: 70 hours What an amazing (and long) adventure this game is. KCD2 has a fantastic story, rewarding gameplay and some really clever AI. Story: You play as Henry from Skalitz who is a page for a young lord Sir Hans Capon. Capon has been tasked with delivering a letter and things go pear shaped quite quickly. The story is a long, slow burn but an absolute blast to play through. There are twists and turns and decisions that actually matter throughout. I think the 70 hour mark is a record for me for a single player game, I usually lose interest but this one kept me engaged throughout. World Building: One of the most impressive things about KCD2 is just how immersive and lived in the world feels. You hear NPCs having conversations about different events in the world. They remember and react to your actions which makes you really think about your decisions. For example, if you went through and robbed a bunch of houses in one town, the NPCs would become way more paranoid, guards may even perform random searches. It just feels so realistic and is very impressive throughout. Gameplay and Progression: Every action in KCD2 seems to build towards your skills. Spend time speaking to random NPCs, your speech skill will improve, take time to read a book, you scholar skill and the topic of the book skill will improve or if you get into a lot of sword fights your warfare and sword skills will improve. You never have a sense of wasting time because you know every action will have some benefit. Something that is worth noting however, the first 10-15 hours are rough! It was so challenging at the beginning that I almost didn't persevere. Once you are over this period and the world opens up, the game feels absolutely amazing. I can see a lot of new players not enjoying it however. Minor complaints: Bugs (a couple of freezes) and save system (just annoying overall and done by design) but both are nitpicking for sure.

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Dispatch is a superhero workplace comedy made by some of the developers from the original Telltale Games Studio (Known for The Walking Dead games among other things). The thing to make clear for anyone that doesn't know much about this game is that the gameplay is essentially an interactive movie with a superhero dispatch simulator built in. It isn't a game where you will be fighting or even walking around. Story and choices Where Dispatch truly shines is its writing, voice acting and overall story. I have not had a game make me laugh as much as this one while also being truly torn with some of the decisions you have to make. This is all made better with some stellar voice acting led primarily by Aaron Paul (Jesse from Breaking Bad) and Laura Bailey (Abbey from The Last of Us Part 2). The game is put together with some fantastic graphics, strong overall performance (old Telltale games used to struggle with this) and some of the best action scenes I've seen in gaming. They honestly nailed every aspect of the story and how it was put together. Superhero Dispatch Simulator One area of the game I wasn't sure I would like was the Superhero Dispatch Simulator. I'm pleased to say I thought it was fantastic. It tied in well with what was happening in the game, the back and forth with the characters during was always fun and I found it genuinely challenging and addictive. Overall this game surprised me, but I had so much fun playing through the story. The weekly release format worked really well and now that all episodes are out I cannot recommend people playing this enough. Just understand the type of game you are playing before buying.

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South of Midnight brings platforming, simple but fun combat and a compelling, emotional story into a tight 9-10 hour game. I was surprised to find the story to include so many heavy hitting themes including slavery and child abuse and it really made for an impactful story. The main character Hazel was fleshed out and easy to relate to. The gameplay is a mix of exploration, platforming and combat. The combat does become a little repetitive but for me the highlight is the platforming which is buttery smooth and makes the exploration to be really satisfying. Overall, South of Midnight is a fantastic experience with a beautiful art design and demonstrates you don't need a 50 hour epic to be a great game. My preferred game length is between 10-20 hours and this tight nit experience is a perfect example as to why. Also a quick shout out to Xbox Play Anywhere. I was able to jump between my xbox and my Rog Ally with ease. I actually finished the game in a hotel room.

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The Precinct is an indie game that is basically a police sim with an overarching story. You play as Nick Cordell, a new recruit with the police force. Your father formerly the Police Chief but was murdered in an unsolved case years prior. The core gameplay loop is to go on shift for particular objectives. This ranges from patrolling the streets by foot, traffic duty, parking tickets, tow truck and helicopter or a specific story mission. During these missions you will collect evidence to help take down two gangs. I really enjoyed just patrolling the streets, checking IDs, performing searches. It is well done, albeit a little repetitive. The driving feels smooth and the gun battles are mostly good. I was actually surprised with how well it played with the top down style view. Overall I think this is worth picking up when it's on sale. The story is decent and the gameplay is fun.

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The Alters has a unique premise and a fascinating and fun gameplay loop. You play as Jan Dolski who is the lone survivor on a space mission with the objective to mine a special resource called Rapidium. In order to survive Jan uses the Rapidium to essentially clone himself, but has the ability to alter his life events to ensure the clone has certain skills to assist in completing the mission. The game involves managing your happiness of your alters, directing them on where to focus their time and to meet objectives. All while the looming threat of the sun is coming towards you. For a game with so many different systems, it does an excellent job of not being overwhelming or overcomplicated. It adds tension and problems that require some thought on the best way to tackle them but never feels impossible. The key decisions feel like they have an impact here too, which requires some deep thought in the best way to proceed. I think my favourite thing about this game is how unique they made each Alters personality. You really get to know them and see how their experiences differed throughout their life. It works really well and makes you care about each character. This isn't the type of game I usually play. I manage a fairly large team in my job and am consistently having to solve problems. Usually the last thing I'd want to do is simulate a management game when I get home, but this game's story and gameplay really grabbed me. I'd definitely recommend giving it a try, especially if you have Game Pass.

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Platform: Xbox Series X Time taken: 28 hours Exhibition 33 isn’t just one of my favourite games of 2025, it is one of my favourite games of all time. I have trouble thinking of flaws in the game. I loved the story, the characters, the graphics, the atmosphere, the gameplay and most of all the music. The story contains a bunch of well thought out twists and turns and while complex is also easy to follow. They did such a great job in developing the characters throughout as the story unfolds. I also think the pacing is perfect and adds to the overall journey. They managed to secure some big name actors in Andy Serkis, Charlie Cox and Ben Starr, but even the actors that I wasn’t familiar with did an exceptional job. The gameplay is exciting and such a fresh take on turn-based combat. You can dodge and parry attacks and you’ll be required to at least learn how to dodge to make it through the game, although parrying is way more fun and rewarding. They also have a mechanic called Pictos in the game where you can find certain enhancements and apply them to the characters. These add such a uniqueness to how you play the game. This is one of the first games where I intend to listen to the soundtrack outside of the game. It is fantastic throughout and adds to every world, fight and cutscene. They absolutely nailed it from start to finish. I can’t recommend this game enough. Even if you don’t like turn-based combat or you are worried about the parry system, give it a go. It is absolutely worth it.

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Yakuza: Like a Dragon was my first ever Yakuza game and I was immediately engrossed in the world and the characters. Ichiban Kasuga was such a surprise standout and I couldn't wait to see how his story continued in Infinite Wealth. Gameplay: Overall the game plays very similarly and is turn-based with a lot of exploration and side content included. I love the turn-based battles and how wacky they can get and genuinely found some of the boss battles to have the perfect mix of difficulty and fun. I will say that the game is designed to make you have to grind levels at time, which depending on your gaming preferences may be annoying. The side content is amazing, it feels like there is always something going on where ever you are on the map. Dondoko Island is by far the biggest piece of side content and it is basically Animal Crossing and its own game in itself. I finished the Dondoko Island potion of the game and found it to be very addictive. Story: The story is excellent, albeit not as good as Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The picks up not long after the last game and Ichiban is now seen as the hero of Yokohama. However, after some twists and turns he finds himself having to travel to Hawaii and this is where the game really kicks off. All of the main characters return and a bunch of new ones are introduced. I will say that this game cemented Ichiban Kasuga as one of my favourite video game characters of all time. His positivity and overall energy is so engaging and exciting. Overall: Overall this game was fantastic. My only real criticism is there is a lot of go from point a to point b and once you get there you have to head back to point a. Not a major concern really and overall it didn't take away from my enjoyment.

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Platform: Xbox Series X Time taken: 13 hours The favourable reviews got me interested in giving this one a go. I found the first few hours to be a little difficult to engaged in, but once it finds its momentum it goes from strength to strength. Positives: The story – they absolutely nailed it, it was so engaging and really felt like an Indiana Jones story. Indiana Jones – Troy Baker does an amazing job of portraying Indiana Jones, absolutely capturing Harrison Ford's voice which added to the authenticity of the game The villain – I won't go into detail for spoilers, but I found the villain to be done so well. They just nail the typical Indiana Jones villain Music – The music takes this to another level and again is true to the Indiana Jones franchise Puzzles – The puzzles are challenging and fun and not repetitive at all The camera mechanic – During the game you get a camera, this is used to document Indiana's journey and by doing so you earn points to use towards upgrades. What I really like is that it prompts dialogue to add to the story and is also a way to trigger clues for the puzzles. Neither positive or negative: The combat – I found this to be a bit clunky, but also fun Negative: The open zones – Some areas are a bit of an open world style level and I just felt like these disrupted the pacing overall. I'm still looking forward to going back and completing the fieldwork, but in terms of story it really took me out of it at times I'm so impressed by this game, I really didn't expect to like it as much as I did. I can't wait to see what Machine Games does with the next one.

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This is the first COD game I've played in well over a decade and I was very impressed by the campaign. There is great mission variety, quite a few big set pieces, an interesting story and characters and some really solid gunplay. I think if you have Game Pass this is a no brainer to give it a go.

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Platform: PS5 Time taken: 34 hours It took me a while to get into this one, I think the first 10 hours I played over a few weeks, then suddenly I became hooked and started playing about 3 hours per day. Dragonage: The Veilguard reminds me a lot of Mass Effect 2 in its design and gameplay. It is not a traditional open world game but more so open zone and I think this works really well for what Bioware are going for. The non-spoiler story summary is that you play as Rook, who has suddenly been tasked with assembling a team to take down two elven gods that are going to destroy the world. The campanions you recruit along the way is definitely one of the highlights here, with each one have their own optional side story to complete. The main story and companion stories are really engaging, I found myself wanting to see what happens next after each session. I love the mission structure in Dragonage The Veilguard, each mission ranges from 15 minutes to about 2 hours making it easy to just pick up and play through one or two without feeling over committed. Really good pacing and story structure throughout. The gameplay is fantastic, it reminds me of a mix of Guardians of the Galaxy and Mass Effect. You always have two companions with you and you can give direction on who they attack and what special moves they should use. I find it like Spiderman in the sense that I never got bored of the action in this game despite it being a bit repetitive. Overall, I strongly recommend this game. It would have been a 10/10 if the start had been a bit more engaging but the final 2/3rds are absolutely amazing.

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