Game review stories
Lost Soul Aside, a decade in the making and inspired by Final Fantasy XV, launches on PS5 and PC with thrilling combat but flawed jumping and checkpoint design.
Metal Eden offers fast-paced, sci-fi FPS action on Xbox Series X, combining thrilling platforming and combat in a short but intense experience.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater revives the classic 2004 hit with stunning Unreal Engine 5 visuals but offers no new content or modernised gameplay.
Helldivers 2 launched on Xbox Series X/S in 2025, bringing crossplay chaos and co-op missions to over 600,000 new players despite minor visual flaws.
Midnight Murder Club on PS5 offers limited content and requires a PlayStation Plus subscription, making its NZD $34 price tag hard to justify.
Echoes of the End, a decade in the making by Icelandic studio Myrkur Games, offers a linear action-adventure with rich magic and puzzle-solving on Xbox Series X.
Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol. 1 and 2 bring 16 classic '80s and '90s shoot-em-ups to Xbox Series X with difficulty aids and modern features.
Operation Night Strikers for Switch revives four classic '80s light-gun shooters, playable via analogue stick or Joy-Con gyro controls, scored 8/10.
Drag x Drive for Switch 2 innovatively captures wheelchair basketball using new Joy-Con mouse controls but lacks variety and vibrant characters.
Mafia: The Old Country brings the iconic series to PS5 with a 1900s Italian setting, stunning visuals, and engaging gameplay in a compact 10-hour story.
Demon Slayer 2 on Switch 2 delivers fast, fluid combat and a rich story mode, continuing the popular manga's saga with 46 fighters and multiple game modes.
Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights on Xbox Series X combines neon-lit racing with combat, but limited tracks and gameplay issues hold it back.
WWE 2K25 on Switch 2 impresses with smooth 60fps gameplay, rich features, and fast load times, marking a vast improvement over the original Switch version.
Donkey Kong returns in the Switch 2 exclusive Donkey Kong Bananza, featuring destructible levels and new animal-inspired abilities in a vibrant 3D adventure.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 remakes iconic games with sharp visuals and smooth gameplay, but cuts to content and soundtrack disappoint longtime fans.
Anger Foot, a violent FPS from South African indie studio Free Lives, kicks off on PS5 with brutal humour and unique sneaker powers in crime-ridden Shit City.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach for PS5 greatly improves on its predecessor with enhanced gameplay, new enemies, fast travel, and stunning photorealistic graphics.
Atlus remasters its 2006 JRPG, Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army, for Switch 2 with HD visuals, voiceovers, and action-packed combat in a gripping supernatural mystery.
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster on Switch 2 offers a visually stunning jRPG experience with an innovative combat system and an affordable NZD $69 launch price.
Sega launches three enhanced games for Nintendo Switch 2: Sonic X Shadow Generations, Yakuza 0 Director's Cut, and Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S with new features.
