GameSpew's Reviews
Undoubtedly one of the best family party games we've ever played, LEGO Party! is beautifully presented and an absolute riot to play. With game boards made entirely out of LEGO bricks and a suite of brilliant minigames, it gives Mario Party a good run for its money.
Nicktoons & the Dice of Destiny feels a little like Baby's First Diablo at times, but it's a surprisingly good take on the ARPG genre, suitable for kids and adults alike. Filled with familiar Nickelodeon characters, and packed with humour (and loot!), there's a lot to like.
Including both the original and a new enhanced version of the classic tactical RPG, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is fantastic for fans and newcomers alike. The enhanced version is the real draw here, though, mostly because of its revised story and full voice acting, which really adds to the experience.
This flat-screen version of Alien: Rogue Incursion – Part One isn't as tense as its VR counterpart, and its gameplay isn't as exciting as a result, but it remains a solid experience for Alien fans. Just be prepared to backtrack a lot in the latter half and perhaps be disappointed by its unsatisfactory ending.
Its title may be a mouthful, but Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian is an excellent entry into the long-running Atelier series. Series fans will love the wealth of familiar faces that pop up, and JRPG fans will love its tight story, its fun combat and its varied gameplay.
An adorable Survivors-like that casts you as a capybara, Extremely Powerful Capybaras is fast-paced, frantic and downright fun. A few performance issues hold it back a little, but this is still a moreish roguelike you'll find yourself being drawn back to time and time again.
You won't find any major changes or new additions to modes in EA Sports FC 26, but what you will find is gameplay that's improved across the board. On top of that, you have presets which allow you to choose between a more competitive or authentic experience, though the latter's unfortunately not available in online modes.
A true love letter to classic samurai films, Ghost of Yotei is wonderfully presented and an absolute joy to play. Its stunningly-realised world will have you immersed from the outset, spurring you to explore and discover its secrets in order to develop Atsu into a fearsome ghost. And its combat remains thrilling throughout.
Thanks to its abundance of playable characters, large selection of vehicles and neat Gadget Plate system, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is one of the best kart racing games currently available.
For detective game fans, Agatha Christie: Death on the Nile is a must-play. Excellent presentation and a varied mix of puzzles make this Poirot-led adventure a joy, whether or not you're familiar with the original novel. Poor lip syncing lets the experience down a bit, but it's a small gripe in an otherwise easy-to-recommend adventure.
Challenging you to make your way up a mountain, Baby Steps is likely to be one of the most divisive games of the year. With its hands-off approach, you're left to find your own fun as you ascend, and struggle with the simple act of walking. Ultimately, it just feels a little too aimless and punishing for its own good.
An oppressive atmosphere. An unsettling story that will keep you guessing from beginning to end. Engaging combat. Stunning visuals. A fantastic soundtrack. Silent Hill f has all of these, making it one of the best entries in the series yet.
For a game set in a jail, Back to the Dawn offers an impressive amount of freedom. Coupled with a conspiracy-minded story, and more side-quests you can shake a shiv at, you'll be hooked.
Designed for 16-bit hardware, Earthion looks and plays like a blast from the past. That's not a bad thing, though, and had Earthion released 30 years or so ago it would have blown my tiny mind. In the modern day it's still extremely impressive, but it's somewhat let down by a lack of modes.
Henry Halfhead is a novel idea, putting you in control of a half-headed man who can possess the items around him. It's both a sandbox and a narrative experience, although some sections can be as dull as the parts of our life they're supposed to represent.
Techland made the right choice turning Dying Light: The Beast into a standalone entry in the series as it might just be the best yet. Taking control of Kyle Crane again is fantastic, especially now that he can tap into the power of his inner beast. But despite this, it remains mostly a tense experience, with a fantastic open world that begs to be explored.
Don't let its disarming visuals fool you – Formula Legends is a pretty serious racing game at its core. The problem is, the racing on offer isn't all that fun. Add in a lack of game modes, and you're better off picking up any of the recent official Formula One games – they're more accessible and have features such as multiplayer, after all.
A co-op only game in the vein of It Takes Two, LEGO Voyagers challenges players to navigate a wonderfully designed world as a couple of small bricks, rolling around while navigating platforms, building structures and solving puzzles. Its controls can be a bit fiddly at times, but overall it's a pleasure to play from beginning to end.
If you played Strange Horticulture, you'll know exactly what to expect from Strange Antiquities, and you're in for quite the treat. Revisiting the macabre town of Undermere is a joy, and puzzling through as you help its residents find weird and wonderful antiques imbued with mysterious powers is almost (almost!) as fun as it was with plants.
A macabre adventure about a zombie boy and his human friend, Gloomy Eyes is a single-player game that requires players to switch between two characters. It can be frustrating at times, but its wonderfully creepy art style and some enjoyable puzzles make it a decent way to spend a few hours.