This roundup takes a look at three very different games, from the chaotic, physics-based challenges of Paddle Paddle Paddle to the intricate automation systems of Brave New Wonders and the charming, bite-sized platforming of Dino Odyssey. Whether it is coordinating with friends to navigate deadly obstacles, building complex factories with programmable robots, or helping a little dinosaur collect eggs across colorful stages, each game offers a distinct take on its genre. However, their strengths come with a few caveats, as awkward controls, frustrating mechanics and limited replay value occasionally get in the way.
Paddle Paddle Paddle review (Switch)
Paddle Paddle Paddle is a physics-based obstacle course from Assemble Entertainment and Zoroarts that puts players in control of a small boat surrounded by lava, deadly traps and tricky platforming sections. A bit of a runaway hit when it launched on PC, there is little in the way of a narrative, as the main objective is simply to reach the finish line without crashing into anything along the way. The straightforward premise works well for a game built around repeated failures and ridiculous situations, especially when playing with friends. However, its appeal depends heavily on how much enjoyment players get from difficult challenges rather than progression through an engaging adventure. There is only a limited amount of content here, so those looking for a substantial single-player experience may find little reason to return once the course has been conquered.
The gameplay revolves around controlling the left and right paddles to steer the boat through narrow passages, moving platforms, spinning blades and other hazards. The basic controls are easy to understand, but mastering the boat’s momentum is another matter entirely. On Nintendo Switch, the paddles are controlled using the shoulder triggers, while playing solo requires managing both sides simultaneously. The physics can make steering feel unpredictable, with seemingly well-timed movements occasionally producing unwanted results. That awkwardness is part of the challenge, but it can also make some failures feel more frustrating than encouraging. Checkpoints help reduce the punishment of repeating long sections, while optional challenges and cosmetic unlockables offer modest incentives to explore riskier routes.
Local and online co-op provide the game’s strongest selling point, turning every obstacle into a test of communication and coordination. Each player controls one paddle, so a lack of synchronization can send the boat spinning straight into danger. These mishaps can create some genuinely funny moments, particularly when neither player agrees on who caused the latest disaster. Solo play is arguably easier to manage because there is no need to coordinate with another person, although controlling both paddles still takes practice. Racing options and time-based challenges add some replay value, but the single main course limits the overall variety. The Switch version also offers touch controls, providing an alternative input method, while online play requires coordinating with others rather than simply joining a random player.
Visually, Paddle Paddle Paddle embraces a deliberately silly presentation, with googly-eyed characters, quirky boats and a succession of hazardous environments. The graphics are fairly basic and lack the polish that might make the world more appealing, although the unconventional style suits the game’s comedic tone. The traps provide some welcome variety, even if the environments themselves are not especially memorable. The audio is similarly functional: the music does its job, and occasional voice lines add some humor, but neither the soundtrack nor the sound effects are particularly remarkable. Ultimately, Paddle Paddle Paddle is a niche experience that delivers its best moments through shared frustration and the satisfaction of finally overcoming a difficult section. Its limited content and occasionally awkward physics prevent it from being an easy recommendation for everyone, but players who enjoy punishing challenges and chaotic co-op sessions may find that the repeated failures are precisely what make it entertaining.
Brave New Wonders review (PC)
Brave New Wonders takes a different approach to factory automation by removing conveyor belts and putting programmable automatons in charge of moving resources around. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, City From Naught’s simulation tasks players with rebuilding civilisation by gathering materials, constructing factories and gradually expanding across different continents. The ruined landscapes and steampunk-inspired machinery give the setting a distinctive identity, while the mystery surrounding humanity’s downfall provides a reason to explore beyond the immediate demands of production. However, the narrative does not always have enough personality to compete with the more absorbing factory-building systems, and the opening hours can feel slower than necessary.
The real attraction lies in the way players automate their operations. Rather than laying conveyor belts, they instruct robots using plain-language commands, with the game translating these requests into behaviors that can be adjusted and reused. Initially, this makes the genre more approachable for those unfamiliar with programming, but the system becomes increasingly rewarding as factories require more complicated supply chains. Colored signals, conditional instructions and reusable blueprints allow for some ingenious solutions, while the ability to duplicate entire production setups makes expansion considerably easier. The excellent sense of accomplishment when a complex system finally works is one of the game’s biggest strengths. Unfortunately, writing instructions is not always as straightforward as it sounds, and troubleshooting poorly behaving automatons can become frustrating when the game offers insufficient guidance about what went wrong.
There is plenty to manage beyond the factories themselves. Hostile machines make certain areas dangerous, requiring players to establish defences and organise ammunition supplies, while four distinct regions introduce new environmental obstacles and resource-management challenges. The airship is a particularly appealing addition, functioning as a mobile factory rather than merely a means of travelling between locations. The top-down presentation keeps the sprawling world reasonably easy to navigate, and the steampunk-inspired visuals give the machinery and landscapes plenty of character. However, once dozens of robots, vehicles and buildings are operating simultaneously, it becomes harder to understand what is happening at a glance. The controls offer useful camera shortcuts and map navigation, but selecting individual units in a crowded factory can still be awkward. The audio is less distinctive than the visual design and automation mechanics, leaving the game’s atmosphere to rely largely on its world and the activity unfolding across it.
Brave New Wonders is an intriguing alternative to established factory-building games, and its natural-language automation offers a genuinely different kind of creative challenge. It can even introduce players to basic programming concepts without requiring them to learn a conventional coding language. Yet the central mechanic is also its greatest weakness: when instructions behave unpredictably or debugging becomes a guessing game, the freedom to experiment can turn into unnecessary busywork. Some tutorials and quality-of-life features could also use refinement, while combat feels less compelling than the industrial planning at the game’s core. For players who enjoy optimising systems and do not mind wrestling with the occasional stubborn robot, there is a lot to appreciate here. Those who prefer the immediate clarity of conveyor belts may find the approach unnecessarily convoluted.
Dino Odyssey review (PS5)
Published by Ratalaika Games and developed by Nibb Games, Dino Odyssey places players in control of a determined little dinosaur tasked with securing the survival of its kind by gathering eggs across a series of hazardous stages. While the narrative premise relies on the high-stakes threat of species extinction, the actual experience is a delightfully low-stress affair. The straightforward goal in each single-screen stage is to collect three scattered eggs and safely reach the nest while avoiding environmental hazards and hostile creatures.
The core gameplay loop centers on accessible, rapid-fire platforming mechanics that are instantly easy to grasp. Stage progression flows at a brisk pace, with early levels taking mere seconds to complete, which quickly gets players into a satisfying rhythm. Throughout the 50 stages, you will encounter classic platforming elements such as springy mushrooms, bouncy bubbles, and vertical vines, alongside enemy dinosaurs that introduce light stealth and timing challenges. While the difficulty remains relatively gentle overall, certain platforming mechanics can prove finicky. Specifically, leaping off vertical climbing vines requires unusually strict alignment to clear adjacent ledges, and interacting with specific hazards like bounce bubbles demands precise vertical contact rather than side or bottom approaches. The slippery movement controls further amplify these occasional control quirks, though the brief nature of each level ensures that failing rarely causes much frustration.
Visually, Dino Odyssey presents a bright and charming 2D pixel-art aesthetic that gives its varied biomes a pleasant retro personality. The accompanying chiptune soundtrack fills the background with cheerful energy that complements the lightweight tone of the game, even if the musical tracks themselves are fairly simple. Across all technical fronts, the PS5 version delivers smooth performance, making the short journey crisp and visually appealing from start to finish.
Ultimately, Dino Odyssey functions best as a short, whimsical palette cleanser or a swift victory for trophy hunters. While it lacks deep mechanical complexity or long-term replay value, its colorful presentation, accessible design, and breezy completion time make it an enjoyable, bite-sized platforming adventure for an afternoon session.