Category: Indie

Indie releases continue to carve out distinctive corners of the PlayStation 5 library, often prioritising personality and focused design over scale. In this roundup, we dive into three very different takes on retro-inspired gaming: the slapstick point-and-click antics of Fred and Jeff: The Atomic Sulfate, the Norse-tinged side-scrolling ambition of Book of Korvald, and the tight, dreamlike precision platforming of Pogui. Each aims to channel familiar genre foundations through a smaller studio lens, with varying degrees of success. What unites them is a clear creative intent – whether through comedy, mythic drama or cozy challenge – and a reminder that in the indie space, execution matters just as much as imagination. Continue reading “Indie roundup: Fred & Jeff: The Atomic Sulfate, Book of Korvald & Pogui”

Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown on PlayStation 5 wears its heritage proudly: Gamexcite’s strategy-heavy adaptation thrusts players into the Delta Quadrant with a focus on long-term survival and thematic fidelity rather than blockbuster spectacle and action. Right from the shattered corridors of the U.S.S. Voyager to the high-stakes decisions that echo across sectors, the game underlines that this is not a shoot-’em-up spinoff but a slow-burn simulation of command where choices matter. If you relish the idea of managing hull breaches, juggling morale, and watching every decision ripple forward, there’s an unmistakable draw here that captures much of Voyager’s narrative spirit. Continue reading “Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown review (PS5)”

Under The Island positions itself as a loving tribute to old-school top-down adventure games, and on the new PlayStation 5 port that nostalgic impulse is immediately evident from the moment you step ashore on Seashell Island. The premise – that protagonist Nia has uprooted her life only to discover her new home is fated to sink unless its secrets are unraveled – sets a brisk pace for exploration, but the game’s narrative delivery keeps things light and breezy rather than deeply emotional. Relationships with quirky locals, including Nia’s fast friendship with Avocado, are more about character flavor than dramatic tension; this can make for a pleasant, chatty world, but rarely yields memorable story arcs. That balance between whimsy and substance is emblematic of what Under The Island ultimately achieves: a charming, character-filled setting that avoids heavy storytelling in favor of playful engagement. Continue reading “Under The Island review (PS5)”

Our latest batch of ports landing on PlayStation 5 ranges from the grief-soaked tactical deckbuilding of Death Howl to the gothic, therapy-infused visual novel stylings of Vampire Therapist, from the tabletop-inspired communal adventuring of Baladins to the absurdist sci-fi escapades of No Sleep for Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files. Each arrives with its own tonal ambitions and mechanical priorities intact. What unites them is not genre or scale, but the question every port must answer: how well does this experience translate – not just technically, but contextually – when given new life on Sony’s current-gen hardware? Continue reading “Port roundup: Death Howl, Vampire Therapist, Baladins & No Sleep For Kaname Date”

From the moment Love Eternal drops you into its world on PlayStation 5, it’s clear this isn’t a conventional platformer. Developed by brlka and published by Ysbryd Games, the game trades spectacle for an intimate, often disquieting tension that’s stitched together through atmosphere more than exposition. You play Maya, a girl ripped from her ordinary life by a strange, lonely deity, forced to traverse a labyrinthine castle built from fragmented memories – a premise that unfolds in fragments rather than clear narrative beats, leaving players to stitch the story together from clues rather than cutscenes. This deliberate ambiguity is part of the allure for some, though others may find themselves craving a more direct emotional hook. Continue reading “LOVE ETERNAL review (PS5)”