James Bond games, just like LEGO movie tie-ins, were once a yearly fixture of the gaming calendar. This trend came to an end after EA and Activision milked the spy franchise completely dry. Fourteen years on from the dismal 007 Legends, 007 First Light sees Bond blessed with a fresh vision – something clearly needed …
There’s something very appealing about slot machine roguelikes. The mechanics of a gambling device translate well to the genre, lining up matching reels perfectly either for a huge payout or a damaging blow. The flashing lights, pitched sound effects, and chinking of coins are all pleasing to the senses too. Recently, CloverPit and Luck Be …
Newborn publisher Acclaim are heading to the BITSummit expo in Kyoto, armed with two releases. The vibrant looking HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate – inspired by SSX and Jet Set Radio – was announced several months ago, and is fast nearing completion. Kidbash: Super Legend meanwhile is a new acquisition, looking promising even in this early state. …
Claiming that the ‘90s platforming mascot ZOOL is about to make a comeback would be hyperbolic, as the first game starring the ninja ant (from the Nth dimension) was re-released digitally not long ago, in addition to headlining the Evercade’s Gremlin Collection. Nevertheless, retro enthusiasts can add a new physical set to their collection this …
So, there we were, ready to discuss LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight’s positive critical reception, only to be hit with the sudden realisation that, unbelievably, it isn’t hitting the Switch 2 this week. The LEGO franchise has always performed well on Nintendo platforms, even sticking with the Wii U throughout its much-maligned life, …
Back in 2021, the relaxed town-building art tool (of sorts) Townscaper hit PC and Switch, and more crucially, Xbox Game Pass. Now, five years later, comes SUMMERHOUSE – a similar chilled experience centred around creating cosy neighbourhoods, with a special focus on sun-drenched locations. While it isn’t available on Game Pass, which is the ideal …
Describing Yodelee Golf as the craziest golf game ever is a pretty bold claim when Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am exists. Developer Q-Games, of PixelJunk fame, may just be able to pull it off, though. Based around four-player matches, Yodelee Golf sees players pursue a single ball across low-poly ray-traced courses while using motorbikes, …
Many indie games in the roguelike genre can be considered unassuming. Rune Dice fits that bill, predominantly featuring a single screen consisting of a dice pit and little else. The same could also be said for the smash hit Vampire Survivors, with its diminutive crudely animated sprites. It’s not until playing these games for a …
There’s more shuffling than usual going on in the latest UK retail (physical) chart, along with a few new arrivals, re-entries, and surprise belated appearances. After making a comeback at no.1 last week, EA Sports FC 26 has fallen to #8. It’s no longer no.1 in any of the single format charts either, making way …
Considering Playground Games’ track record, there was no doubt that Forza Horizon 6 was going to be great. What has come as a surprise, however, is just how great it is – it’s currently the highest rated release of 2026 so far, boasting a 92% Metacritic score that beats the likes of Resident Evil Requiem, …
Two new Evercade cartridges are on their way, both due out in June for £19.99 each. While neither Activision Collection 3 nor NeoGeo Arcade 4 come as a surprise, the latter does contain eight games over the past collection’s six, making it decent value for money. Activision Collection 3 meanwhile fills in a lot of …
Without wanting to sound like a broken record, there was a time in the late ‘90s and early noughties when 2D visuals had fallen out of fashion. Some ‘90s critics even scoffed at the PS1 and Saturn versions of In The Hunt – a precursor to the almighty Metal Slug, sporting a similar art direction. …
The Switch eShop is home to releases great and small this week, from Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to Smalland: Survive the Wilds. Machine Games’ whip crackin’ first-person adventure Indiana Jones and the Great Circle reportedly performs well on Switch 2, even in handheld mode. The Metacritic score currently sits at 84%, on par …
Do you believe it’s okay to judge someone entirely on their taste in music? American teen Stacy Rockford thinks so. She also believes that life should be accompanied by a bespoke soundtrack, full of transcendent highs and melancholy lows. When the time comes to move home and say farewell to her closest friends – the …
If you’re familiar with the GBA’s library, you may have come across Blender Bros. – one of the few 2D platformers for the handheld that wasn’t based on a kids’ show or animated movie. Originally developed by Hudson Soft and published by Infogrames in the US, it’s one of the GBA’s rarer games nowadays, routinely …
