Out of the Blue Games already proved with Call of the Sea that it could blend puzzle solving with cosmic horror influences in a way that felt approachable rather than oppressive and scary, and Call of the Elder Gods pushes that formula further while also leaning more heavily into psychological unease. Set across collapsing realities, ancient ruins, and isolated academic halls, the story follows Professor Harry Everhart and student Evangeline Drayton as they investigate visions, disappearances, and artifacts tied to forces far older than humanity itself. The narrative succeeds because it balances its Lovecraftian inspirations with more grounded emotional stakes, particularly around grief and obsession, though the plot occasionally becomes so focused on layered mysteries and metaphysical concepts that some emotional beats lose their immediacy beneath the dense lore. Continue reading “Call of the Elder Gods review (PS5)”
MotoGP 26 review (PS5)
Milestone’s annual MotoGP releases have spent years more or less trapped in a familiar cycle where incremental tweaks were added year after year, but MotoGP 26 finally feels like a game that understands where genuine improvement was needed. Rather than chasing flashy reinventions or overhauling the presentation with superficial spectacle, this year’s entry focuses on the sensation of actually controlling a rider on a motorcycle rather than merely steering a machine around a circuit. That distinction sounds subtle on paper, yet it fundamentally changes how races unfold once the player begins pushing toward the limit. The PlayStation 5 version immediately benefits from that revised philosophy, delivering races that feel more physical, more reactive and, crucially, more human than previous installments. Continue reading “MotoGP 26 review (PS5)”
Mixtape review (PS5)
Annapurna’s Mixtape arrives with the kind of premise that could easily collapse under the weight of its own nostalgia, but developer Beethoven and Dinosaur largely avoids that trap by focusing less on broad “remember the 90s?” sentimentality and more on the intensely personal way music attaches itself to memory. Set during one final night before three close friends drift into different phases of adulthood, the game follows Stacey Rockford, Slater and Cassandra as they prepare for a farewell party while revisiting the moments that defined their friendship. Rather than building toward dramatic twists or major revelations, Mixtape succeeds because it understands how formative seemingly small moments can feel at that age – a late-night drive, a reckless decision, an awkward first kiss or an impulsive act of rebellion all become monumental in hindsight. Continue reading “Mixtape review (PS5)”
Dragon is Dead review (PS5)
Dragon Is Dead has a premise that immediately feels familiar to anyone who has spent time with modern dark fantasy action platformers. Developed by TeamSuneat and published by PM Studios, the game throws players into a decaying world poisoned by corruption following the death of the dragon Guernian, where immortal warriors known as Successors repeatedly throw themselves into increasingly deadly battles in search of answers and power. It’s a setup that leans heavily into grim fantasy aesthetics and cyclical death-and-rebirth storytelling, borrowing liberally from genre contemporaries while trying to fuse roguelite progression with the structure of a side-scrolling action RPG. The influences are unmistakable, especially visually, with echoes of games like Blasphemous appearing throughout enemy designs, environments and character animation, sometimes to the point where certain scenes feel almost overly derivative rather than merely inspired. Yet despite those similarities, Dragon Is Dead still manages to carve out its own identity through its heavier emphasis on loot systems, build customization and replay-driven progression. Continue reading “Dragon is Dead review (PS5)”
DLC roundup: Walkabout Mini Golf, Commandos: Origins & Two Point Museum
Recent weeks have delivered another wave of DLC releases that highlight just how varied post-launch support has become across the industry. Whether it is expanding a beloved VR staple, revisiting the careful stealth design of a classic tactics-based franchise, or injecting fresh absurdity into an already chaotic management sim, these add-ons all approach the idea of “more content” from very different directions. Mighty Coconut’s Blokhaven course for Walkabout Mini Golf doubles down on atmosphere and environmental storytelling, Claymore Game Studios uses No Man Left Behind to deepen the tension and camaraderie of Commandos: Origins, while Two Point Studios turns artistic expression itself into a management mechanic with Arty-Facts for Two Point Museum. None of these expansions radically reinvent their respective games, but each succeeds by reinforcing the strengths that made the original releases resonate in the first place, offering fans new excuses to spend even more time inside worlds they already enjoy inhabiting. Continue reading “DLC roundup: Walkabout Mini Golf, Commandos: Origins & Two Point Museum”