DeVuego

Beneath the surface of the record flipping sim lies a poignant story about the modern world. Repeater Records is under threat from corporate interests specifically a generic, soul sucking entertainment conglomerate that wants to replace the shop with something modern and upmarket. The game handles this stick it to the man story with a refreshing lack of sarcasm and more focuses on the regulars and togetherness. The regulars treat the shop like an escapism, teenagers looking to be influenced by music and a regular meeting spot for those with memories tied to the place. You get to learn and understand that the people you work with have seen things change and want to provide something for the community away from the shops and keep human connection fostered through the arts. Wax Heads is a triumph of focused love and labour it offers a musical imprint that stays with you long after the credits roll. Like buying your first album or your favourite this will be something in your collection that will stay with you and shape your enjoyment for the arts.

I was pleasantly surprised by Rally Arcade Classics, and I’ve had a ton of fun dipping into the huge feast of content on offer. If you’re a fan of older rally games such as V Rally or Colin McRae, then, like me, you’ll enjoy your time with this.

Super Woden GP II is an expansive package that will challenge your perception of what an arcade racer can offer. The quality of the presentation and the actual racing itself, is impeccable and full of tiny details. This is a great follow up to the original and delivers more of the same, but it feels much more refined. I loved the style of the whole thing. It tries to sell you old memories and it mostly succeeded for me. It reminded me of simpler times whilst bringing modern additions like a fleshed out career and race variety. I loved the challenge and the combative AI. The racing was exciting and wins felt earned. It’s a fantastic experience. If you fancy a different kind of racing game or have a love for these retro racers, you really can’t go wrong with Super Woden GP II.

The Occultist is one of those games that comes along and grabs you when you least expect it. It doesn’t arrive with the marketing roar of a blockbuster, nor does it pretend to be something it isn’t. Instead, it quietly invites you into a world of shadows, whispers, and lingering dread — and once you’re in, it holds you there with a surprisingly confident grip. At the centre of the story is Alan Rebels, blessed with the skill of mediumship and knowledge of the Occult. He is a man driven by a simple but powerful motivation: find his missing father, Gabriel; and his search leads him to a remote island where something terrible has happened — an entire population wiped out, their stories cut short, their spirits restless. It’s a classic setup, but it’s handled with enough restraint and atmosphere that it never feels tired. A lot of that comes down to the performance behind Alan himself. He’s voiced by Doug Cockle, best known as Geralt from The Witcher series, and that familiar gravel gives Alan a grounded, weary authenticity. It’s the kind of voice that sounds like it’s been through things — which fits the tone of the game perfectly.

Clue: Murder by Death on Xbox is a solid detective experience that modernises the classic formula with atmosphere and immersion. Its early hours are genuinely gripping, and its presentation — especially in audio and environmental design — creates a satisfying sense of suspense. The move from board game abstraction to explorable mystery is a smart evolution. However, repetitive investigation loops, pacing slowdowns, and limited mechanical depth prevent it from reaching its full potential. It’s a good mystery. Just not a legendary one. For fans of Clue or narrative detective games, there’s enjoyment to be found here — particularly in those tense early chapters. But those looking for groundbreaking innovation may walk away wanting more. Clue: Murder by Death delivers a respectable mystery wrapped in moody presentation. It’s engaging, occasionally tense, and thoughtfully adapted for Xbox — but it doesn’t quite commit the perfect crime

Luto is a tense, cryptic walking sim that’ll challenge players’ puzzling skills and patience as it moves relatively slow. The house is well designed and the game offers unique mechanics that will mess with players. Although given its sluggishness and puzzle based gameplay, this might turn off some gamers looking for some good scares and actions. If you’re a die-hard fan of the horror genre, you’ll absolutely want to play Luto. For those looking for something a bit faster and terrifying might want to look elsewhere.

One Last Breath” is a short 2.5D puzzle-based platformer. It combines haunting visuals with sharp, tension-filled gameplay. You play as Gaia, the earth goddess, navigating a post-apocalyptic world to restore life to an Earth devastated by pollution and greed. It’s a joy to play but over far too soon. “One Last Breath” is a beautiful blast of fresh air on a hot day. It’s a great little game to fill some time in your gaming schedule, just make sure you have plans for something else afterwards.

An emotional rollercoaster from the perspective of someone plagued with self loathing and doubt. A worrier who wonders not only why he is in this place but what he could have done to avoid it. Don’t dwell on the past, look to a better future and seek out the help you need. The world may seem big and scary sometimes but it’s what’s in our own heads that can be most terrifying.

The Cabin Factory is s surprisingly unique and enjoyable liminal horror experience. While the gameplay is limited, it does require a bit of thinking and investigating skills as the game will do things to throw you off. However, it is annoying that you have to start over everytime to miss a decision. Every horror game fans should definitely pick this up as it’ll keep you busy for an hour or so, depending on how your investigating skills are.

Post Trauma is a great, enjoyable, albeit short survival horror game. The environments, settings and characters all do their part to offer an unnerving experience. The fixed camera is a welcome addition and throwback to classic gaming. Despite its flaws; lack of map, backtracking, questionable voiceover and sometimes clunky movement, Post Trauma is a fun and creepy experience. I strongly recommend playing this little gem, whether you’re a long time fan of the genre or looking to dip your toes.

An emotional rollercoaster from the perspective of someone plagued with self loathing and doubt. A worrier who wonders not only why he is in this place but what he could have done to avoid it. Don’t dwell on the past, look to a better future and seek out the help you need. The world may seem big and scary sometimes but it’s what’s in our own heads that can be most terrifying.

As a whole, there’s nothing really wrong with Abathor. It’s a fun, straight forward action platformer. The setting and protagonists does give it a bit of Golden Axe to the game. It does make for a fun co-op experience. While it is annoying to have your gear/upgrades reset when you load the game is pretty stupid, it’s still a fun adventure game. If you’re looking for a simplistic co-op game for the holidays, you can’t go wrong with Abathor.

I enjoyed my time with Mika and the Witch’s Mountain and whilst the game is far from perfect, I had to remember the target audience and who this would appeal to. My seven-year-old loved joining and playing this one while I reviewed it. He enjoyed watching the conversations and how Mika interacted with people to gain information for the next objective and then using her broomstick to deliver parcels. It does become somewhat repetitive at times and it does fall a little short at around six hours of gameplay, but this is always the sweet spot for an indie for me. It holds enough quality, polish and great mechanics to make it a game to consider for your younger ones, but I’m not ashamed to say I enjoyed this one as an adult too.

A Pizza Delivery is a short-lived adventure, with interesting interactions that are brief but fun to experience. Some of the conversations you have leave you scratching your head at some points, but it all seems to become clear in the end.

Zeroptian Invasion is a real blast from the past, with some nice modern touches and a few twists here and there. If you love your classic shoot em up then this is one not to miss!

Dracamar will appeal to a niche audience despite its colourful and simple design. Although I appreciated the nod to a bygone era, I’m not sure it will attract a large following. This is a shame, as I think the safe gameplay, smooth action, and interesting stage design make this a low-key but great addition to the genre. Accordingly, I enjoyed it and recommend grabbing a copy from the Xbox store!

Glitch Hero is a great concept and has an interesting enough storyline to keep you engaged. The execution could be better in terms of how the combat feels and plays out. The puzzles are fun and it can actually serve to teach younger players about coding which is amazing if this interests them. Nothing is ever too much of a challenge and the game is suitable for all ages and abilities of player. If you’re looking for a child friendly game because there isn’t huge amounts of them on console, then this one may be worth a punt.

Submersed 2 The Hive definitely gets an A for effort, but F for execution. I forced myself to play this; I *really* wanted to enjoy it, but how the character moves made it impossible and mostly frustrating as some sequences require precise movement.