Today’s batch of ports for the PS5 arrivals covers a surprisingly broad spectrum, from the conclusion of a modern indie horror trilogy to the revival of a cult football-themed platformer and a retro-inspired racer making the jump from Switch. Whether revisiting the past or extending the reach of more recent releases, each offers a different perspective on what makes a port worth revisiting – and how well those experiences hold up on Sony’s current-generation hardware.
Amanda The Adventurer 3 review (PS5)
Amanda the Adventurer 3 arrives as the concluding chapter in Riley Park’s strange journey through cursed videotapes, corporate conspiracies, and one of indie horror’s most unsettling children’s television shows. Rather than reinventing the formula, MANGLEDmaw Games focuses on delivering answers to long-running mysteries while moving the action into the abandoned Hameln facilities where much of the series’ dark history originated. The result is a finale that feels rewarding for returning players, especially as it sheds more light on Amanda, Wooly, and the wider mythology, though newcomers will likely find themselves struggling to fully appreciate the significance of many story beats without prior knowledge of the earlier games.
The core gameplay remains rooted in escape-room puzzle design, with players watching VHS tapes, searching for clues, and interacting with their surroundings to unlock the next piece of the story. It’s a formula that continues to work remarkably well thanks to the clever connection between what appears on-screen and what must be solved in the real world. Most puzzles strike an enjoyable balance between observation and experimentation, rewarding careful attention to detail, although a handful can still feel overly obscure and occasionally interrupt the game’s pacing when the intended solution isn’t immediately clear.
The series’ analogue-horror presentation remains its biggest strength. The contrast between the cheerful, low-poly children’s programme and the increasingly disturbing reality surrounding it creates a constant sense of unease, while strong voice performances and excellent sound design help maintain tension even during quieter moments. The visuals themselves remain somewhat rough around the edges, however, with simplistic environments and awkward character models that sometimes look more budget-constrained than intentionally unsettling. Fortunately, the creepy VHS segments and atmospheric audio do much of the heavy lifting when it comes to selling the horror.
As a finale, Amanda the Adventurer 3 succeeds more often than it stumbles. Its relatively short runtime and occasional puzzle frustrations prevent it from reaching the very top tier of horror adventures, but it delivers a satisfying blend of mystery, atmosphere, and puzzle-solving while bringing the trilogy to a meaningful conclusion. Fans who have followed Amanda’s story from the beginning will find plenty of payoff here, and even if some lingering questions remain, this final tape leaves the series on a strong note.
Soccer Kid review (PS5)
Soccer Kid arrives on PS5 as a revival of a distinctly early-’90s platformer, one built around a premise that’s as silly as it is memorable. After an alien thief steals the World Cup and accidentally scatters its pieces across the globe, a football-loving youngster sets off to recover them. The story is little more than a framework for a world-spanning adventure and some soccer mechanics, but it gives the game enough personality to stand out from the countless mascot platformers that filled the era. Even decades later, its combination of British charm, colorful locations and eccentric enemy designs remains surprisingly appealing.
What still makes Soccer Kid interesting is its football-based gameplay. Rather than relying solely on jumps, nearly every interaction revolves around controlling a ball that can be kicked, chipped, headed and bicycle-kicked. The mechanic gives the game far more depth than a typical side-scroller from that era and creates a satisfying sense of mastery once the controls click into place. At the same time, that complexity can work against the experience, especially during more demanding sequences where precision is required and losing possession of the ball leaves you vulnerable. Newcomers expecting a straightforward retro platformer may find the learning curve steeper than anticipated.
The level design encourages exploration, with large stages packed with secrets, collectibles and alternate routes. Travelling through caricatured versions of countries such as England, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States adds variety, while the search for trophy fragments gives each area a clear objective. However, the game’s age occasionally shows through in the form of maze-like layouts and difficulty spikes that can lead to repetition. Success often depends as much on patience and memorisation as on skill, which won’t appeal to everyone.
Visually, Soccer Kid remains an attractive retro release, with vibrant sprites, smooth scrolling and colourful backdrops that preserve the appeal of the original game. The upbeat soundtrack and cheerful sound design complement the action well, although the music can become repetitive during longer play sessions. As a whole, this PS5 release showcases a platformer that earned its reputation through originality rather than imitation. Its inventive football mechanics and energetic presentation still shine, even if its unforgiving difficulty and occasionally dated design prevent it from being an easy recommendation for every modern player.
4PGP review (PS5)
Having previously reviewed 4PGP on Nintendo Switch, it’s interesting to see how the game translates to PS5. The core concept remains unchanged: a fast-paced arcade racer inspired by the glory days of 1990s Formula-style racers rather than modern simulation-heavy alternatives. With championships, quick races, time attacks and local multiplayer for up to four players, it embraces accessibility and immediacy above realism. That approach works well when you’re looking for short bursts of racing action, although the limited structure and relatively modest amount of content can make the experience feel somewhat lightweight once the initial novelty wears off.
What continues to impress is the sheer sensation of speed. Races are short, reaction times are crucial, and learning track layouts quickly becomes part of the challenge. Beneath the straightforward arcade handling sits a surprisingly engaging layer of tyre management and boost usage, with pit stops adding a small strategic element without slowing the action down. The controls are generally responsive and easy to pick up, although some design choices feel less refined. Vehicle balance can be inconsistent, difficulty spikes become noticeable on the higher settings, and the lack of deeper customization options occasionally limits how comfortable the game feels to play.
The circuit selection is one of the game’s stronger features. While the tracks are adapted into more arcade-friendly layouts, many clearly evoke famous real-world venues and give the racing a welcome sense of variety. Multiplayer is also where 4PGP arguably shines brightest, turning what can be a somewhat repetitive solo experience into a far more entertaining couch-racing session with friends. The progression system provides unlockables to chase, but some players may find that the campaign structure and short race lengths don’t provide enough depth to sustain long-term engagement.
Visually, 4PGP opts for a deliberately retro-inspired style that prioritizes smooth performance over visual spectacle. The result is clean and functional, though hardly cutting-edge for the PS5, with simplistic environments and low-detail presentation that won’t impress players looking for modern racing-game production values. Audio proves similarly mixed. The soundtrack successfully captures the spirit of classic arcade racers, but the sound design can occasionally feel repetitive or overly aggressive. Even so, the combination of speed, accessibility and local multiplayer gives 4PGP a distinct identity. It may not have the depth or polish needed to stand alongside the genre’s all-time greats, but as a modern throwback to arcade racing’s golden years, it delivers more than enough enjoyable moments to justify taking it for a spin.