Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown Xbox Series X Review 8/10 ‘Turtle Renaissance’ 💙🐢 @StrangeScaffold #IndieGame #GameDev

Leonardo leads.

Donatello does machines.
Raphael is cool but crude.
Michelangelo is a party dude.

Anyone (over forty) knows this to be true. Though “doing” machines is not something one ought to interrogate too closely. Anyway, I, like everyone I knew at school, loved the Turtles (NB. ‘Ninja’ in America, ‘Hero’ in soft-shelled Britain). And this game from Strange Scaffold promises to bring back the radicalness of the teen greens and blend it with turn-based tactics.

I am a great fan of the XCOM and Rabbids games, and as a starting point, TMNT:TT (as I’ll snappily refer to it) can be summed up as just that, a mix of those two. It’s not as detailed as XCOM, and it isn’t as silly and fun as Rabbids, but it manages to succeed on its own terms.

Psygnosis: Games People Play - Tome One - Book Review By Britt – Author - Christophe Boucourt / Publisher - Editions 64K 🔖📖 @editions64K

This is the first book that we’ve covered from French publishing house Editions 64K, and after reading it, I very much hope that it isn’t the last! For those out there with an interest in the early days of computing – and especially the Amiga – Psygnosis: Games People Play – Tome One covers the beloved UK developer / publisher Psygnosis from the days of their original formation right up until the mid-‘90s, leaving you thirsting for more, as Tome 2 promises to take us from 1995 through to the eventual studio closure in 2012.

First off, Editions 64K are a pleasure to work with and take their processes seriously, the book turned up swiftly and was incredibly well-packaged, almost to Bitmap Book levels of safety, with thick polystyrene corners ensuring that even during a bumpy delivery ride, your book will turn up in pristine condition. The cover of the book is mostly black, with a bold and stylish classic Psygnosis logo taking centre stage. ‘Psygnosis Tome One’ in a classic Psygnosis typeface runs down the spine, with the close-up ‘Owlface’ logo on the back, with a couple of blocks of synopsis text below.

Is OFF Still Brilliant in 2025? Nintendo Switch Ten Minute Taster Gameplay📴 @‌OFFtheRPG @pr_pirate @MortisGhost

Rich steps into the eerie, minimalist world of OFF by Mortis Ghost—now on Nintendo Switch! In this gameplay episode, we explore Zone 1, uncover cryptic lore, and battle ghostly adversaries in a turn-based system unlike anything you've seen before.

Acclaim Returns: A Bold New Chapter Begins September 10th 2025 🎮

The legendary publisher Acclaim is officially back—not as a reboot, but as a full-blown rebirth. Once a dominant force in gaming with classics like Mortal Kombat, Turok, and NBA Jam, Acclaim is stepping into a new era with fresh energy and a clear vision for the future.

On September 10 at 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT, Acclaim will host its first-ever Play Acclaim Showcase on its official YouTube channel, offering fans a glimpse into its upcoming 2026 slate. A newly released teaser video, titled Transmission Received: A New Era Is Coming, hints at what’s next—flashing fragments of new titles through the glow of CRT static, blending legacy with innovation.

🔥 Not Just Nostalgia — It’s Retrofuturenostalgia

Acclaim’s revival isn’t about chasing ghosts. It’s about channeling the chaos and creativity that defined its past into something fresh and forward-looking. As CEO Alex Josef puts it:

“The old screens are cracking, and what’s coming through is something exciting and different.”

This new phase embraces Acclaim’s DNA while building a future that’s bold, energetic, and shaped by its own story. Expect surprises, indie collaborations, and a renewed commitment to high-quality, premium games.

EA AND FULL CIRCLE REVEAL SEPTEMBER 16 EARLY ACCESS RELEASE DATE FOR SKATE 🛹

 

🛹 skate. Drops Into Early Access September 16 — A New Era for Skateboarding Games Begins

Electronic Arts and Full Circle have officially announced the Early Access launch of skate. — the next evolution of the beloved skateboarding franchise — landing on September 16 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and the EA app.

Free-to-download, fully cross-platform, and supporting cross-progression, skate. is built to be as accessible as possible for both longtime fans and newcomers. Set in the sprawling city of San Vansterdam, players will explore four unique neighborhoods — Hedgemont, Gullcrest, Market Mile, and Brickswich — each packed with skateable spots, from rooftop ramps to repurposed churches.

🎮 What’s New in skate.?

• Flick-It System Returns: Rebuilt in Frostbite™ for precision and control

• New Tricks: Wallies, slappies, firecrackers, and more

• Off-Board Controls: Climb, roam, and discover new vertical playgrounds

• Quick Drop: Place ramps, rails, and benches anywhere

• Spectate Mode: Instantly jump into live sessions via Spectaport

• Skatepedia: Learn tricks and styles with ease

🌍 Built With the Community

From day one, skate. has been developed in collaboration with its player base. Full Circle promises seasonal updates during Early Access, including new challenges, cosmetics, music, and world expansions. As Jeff Seamster, Head of Creative, puts it:

“No gatekeepers, no barriers — just a city built for skating and a community that keeps it alive.”

Whether you're grinding rails or just vibing with friends, skate. is more than a game — it’s a living, breathing skateboarding sandbox.

🕹️ Hyperkin’s “Competitor” Controller Launches October 2025 — Built for Precision, Priced for Everyone 🎮 @Hyperkin

Hyperkin has officially announced the release of its long-awaited Competitor controller, set to launch in October 2025 with a retail price of just $49.99. 

Designed for serious gamers and casual players alike, the Competitor blends premium features with affordability—making it one of the most anticipated controller drops of the year.

🎮 GuliKit at Gamescom 2025 🎮 @GuliKitDesign

🎮 GuliKit at Gamescom 2025: The Future of Gamepads Has Arrived

GuliKit has officially raised the bar for controller tech at Gamescom 2025, unveiling a suite of next-gen hardware that blends precision engineering with player-first design. From the lightning-fast ES PRO to the customizable TT MAX, this year’s line-up isn’t just iterative—it’s revolutionary.

Whether you're a competitive gamer chasing milliseconds or a casual player tired of joystick drift, GuliKit’s new offerings promise to redefine how we interact with games. With innovations like the 720° tension-adjustable TMR joystick and Hyperlink 2 Bluetooth tech boasting record-breaking latency, the company is making serious waves across platforms.

Gaucho and The Grassland – “Latin Cowboy Life Sim!” 🤠 @epopeiagames #IndieGame #GameDev

Join Rich as he saddles up in Gaucho and The Grassland, a cosy adventure where farming, crafting, and healing the land collide in a mystical South American setting.

In this gameplay session, we explore the early mechanics, tame wild creatures, and uncover the secrets of the ghostly Gaucho dad guiding our journey.

Quick Look: Star Racer ~ PC Ten Minute Taster ~ "F Zero Vibes in 2025!" 🚀 @whatnotgames_ #IndieGame #GameDev

Rich buckles up for a neon-soaked blast through hyperspace as we dive into Star Racer—a lightning-fast indie gem that channels the spirit of F-Zero with a modern twist.

In this quick look, we test drive the game’s blistering speed, retro-futuristic visuals, and pulse-pounding soundtrack. Is this the spiritual successor fans have been waiting for?

Quick Look: Dear Me, I Was ~ Nintendo Switch 2 Ten Minute Taster 🎨🖼️ @ArcSystemWorksU

Rich takes himself on a short, emotionally resonant interactive adventure,

Dear me, I was... invites players into the quiet yet profound life of a woman navigating her personal journey. Through watercolour visuals and rotoscoped animation, the game captures her everyday experiences—joys, sorrows, and growth—woven together by the people around her.

🎮GAME LINK:

Dear me, I was ... | Nintendo Switch 2 games | Games | Nintendo UK

A Cat and His Boy (also available on PC) - Developer – Howdy Riceball *a short and simple adventure in a Game Boy style* 🐈👦 #IndieGame #GameDev

A very short little side quest presented in a black & white Game Boy style, A Cat and His Boy puts you in the shoes paws of a cat, your owner – a little boy called Leif – has gone to sleep and you are left to roam the house and surrounding areas in vintage top-down Game Boy adventure style, coming across other characters and areas that require some pretty light problem solving.

A simple little title that can be completed in under an hour, A Cat and His Boy evoke the Game Boy style pretty tastily, with suitably chip tune music provided by Beatscribe.

Whilst this is a fun little game that touches on topics such as alienation and how an unstable household can affect the children involved, it’s such a breezy experience that things don’t get too heavy. 

Lovely sprite work and music push this simple adventure along at a nice pace, whilst its short length means it can be completed over a cup of tea – or perhaps a saucy glass of wine. Looking forward to seeing what Howdy Riceball dream up next!

Giant Machines 2017 Xbox Series X Review 5/10 *Big machines with big problems* 🚜

Recently released on X Box Series X, Giant machines 2017 comes from Polish studio Code Horizon, also know for The Way, 911 Operator, and Gold Mining Simulator. This being a title from 2017 means that it is showing its age somewhat, in terms of the visuals, but there also other, more serious issues that wind up making what could have been a wonderful trip through over-sized construction vehicles in various situations a plodding, technical mess that boils down to performing repetitive manoeuvres whilst hoping the controls don’t freeze up on you.

The game begins with a pretty solid opening, yes it all feels very ‘assety’ – par for the course with a lot of ‘simulator’ type games – but the Southern American drawl that acts as your mission co-ordinator comes over the radio and tells you that you need to get into a transport cart and head on over to an enormous structure to prepare it for silicon ore mining. Leaving the vehicle shed, there is an incredible sense of scale as you flick through the radio stations on offer and trundle across the empty desert ground to the excavation machine, first fixing a hose, then moving lining it up for the mining, drilling, filling up the haulage truck, and finally getting the ore out of the complex. Played mostly in first person perspective, with various cameras selectable when on a vehicle / machine, the sounds of construction work really well, with each machine having a real sense of weight and power to them. It’s when you want to actually ‘move’ them that the real problems come into play.

Alien Breakout Nintendo Switch Review 8.5/10 "An accessible, 100 level alien platformer!" 👽 @Vergiuu @eastasiasoft #IndieGame #GameDev

It’s easy to get burned out on certain genres, many times over the years I’ve moved from one epic RPG to the next and just sighed at the sheer weight of time-suck that I know is about to take place, and I’ve learned to switch to shorter, more succinct titles whenever this happens so that I don’t lose interest in gaming for a while. 

I was recently at this very point, and so fancied covering a few titles that were a little more pick-up-and-play friendly in style, cue Alien Breakout from developer Vergiu and publisher Eastasiasoft, folks who very much have a taste for this genre of games - a simple 2D platformer that’s perfect for beginners, has a player-friendly learning curve, and is just the ticket for some quick blasts of action!

Slaughter: The Lost Outpost Nintendo Switch Review 6/10 "Take Back Control of A Prison Run By Inmates!" 💥 #IndieGame #GameDev #SlaughterTheLastOutpost

Inmates of a massive, labyrinthine prison  have broken free and anarchy reigns, cue the entrance of your lone hero – named Russell, natch – a man who is here to bring law and order to chaos…by shooting everyone dead in a blizzard of bullets and gore.

A third-person shooter with a focus on head-on action as opposed to strategic, cover-based gameplay,  Slaughter: The Lost Outpost makes a solid first impression, running at 60 fps on the ageing Switch hardware, and the initial sections consisting of tense, close-quarter combat with armed prisoners, either blasting you from afar and dashing behind doors, or rushing you with knives. The industrial surroundings, little shortcuts through vents, and smooth ambient work gave off some pretty positive vibes for my first thirty minutes or so with the game.

Golden Tee Arcade Classics Xbox Series X Review 7/10 "True Golf Classics Approach The Tee Once More" ⛳ @DigitalEclipse #RetroGaming

The Golden tee series of golf games were a mainstay in arcades here in the UK back in the ‘90s, and I have many fond memories of playing them throughout the country on various holidays and trips (and more recently, thanks to the awesome folks at Timewarp Arcade in Bridgwater). It was always good to see golf games in amusement centres, with the main two being the Golden Tee series and of course, the mighty Neo Turf Masters.

What set Golden Tee apart, however, was the trackball…which we will talk about later.

Collectible Cars Shop Simulator Nintendo Switch Review 7.5/10 "That Endless Loop Has Become Oddly Relaxing" 🚗 @nostra_games_ #IndieGame #GameDev

Being the father of a four year old that has more Hot Wheels cars in our house than Oliver Reed has receipts from Oddbins in his back pocket, the chance to cover Nostra Games’ Collectible Cars Shop Simulator was one that I leapt at. 

Whilst it feels very ‘assety’ as a lot of the ‘simulator’ games can be, the lack of variety in NPC character models, fiddly controls, and endlessly looping music couldn’t put a dent in my enjoyment of the core gameplay – opening the store, hiring staff, upgrading where possible, and making dosh off flogging those sweet, sweet toy cars before closing up for the night and doing it all over again the next day.

Quick Look: Operation Night Strikers (Operation Wolf, Operation Thunderbolt, Night Striker and Space Gun) on Nintendo Switch 💥💣

Operation Night Strikers blasts onto the Nintendo Switch with retro-fuelled action and chaos! In this gameplay video, Rich dives into high-speed missions, dodges relentless enemy fire in Operation Wolf, Operation Thunderbolt, Night Striker and Space Gun and has a heap of FUN!

🕹️ X Rocker Levels Up: New Brand Identity & RGB-Powered Product Lineup 💺🎮

Celebrating 10 Years of Innovation with Veleno 2.1 RGB, Sparta RGB & Battlebunk XL RGB

X Rocker™, the global leader in gaming furniture, has officially entered a bold new chapter. Marking a decade of innovation, the brand has unveiled a striking new identity — complete with refreshed logo, dynamic iconography, and two new mascots, Neo and Melody — designed to reflect its evolution from audio-first chairs to full-spectrum gaming environments.

The rebrand, revealed in a cinematic brand film, celebrates X Rocker’s transformation under CEO Gary Shaw, spotlighting its rise as a powerhouse in immersive gaming furniture. To mark the occasion, X Rocker is launching three standout products that embody its new design direction and lifestyle-driven ethos.

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🎧 Veleno 2.1 RGB Gaming Chair – £169.99 (Smyths)

Built for eSports and everyday play, the Veleno 2.1 RGB puts gamers at the centre of the action.

• Neo Motion™ App-Controlled RGB Lighting for infinite customisation
• Integrated 2.1 Audio System with twin headrest speakers and subwoofer
• Ergonomic Foam Padding for long-session comfort
• Universal 3.5mm Compatibility with PlayStation®, Xbox®, Nintendo®, and PC
  Compact, stylish, and performance-packed — it’s a throne for serious players.

🎮 Gioteck™ Adds a Splash of Summer to Switch 2 🎮 @GioteckArmy

Introducing the Colourful New WX5 & WX5+ Wireless Controllers — Available Now!

Gioteck™ has unveiled its vibrant new WX5 and WX5+ Wireless Controllers — fully compatible with both Nintendo® Switch™ and the new Switch™ 2 consoles.

Designed to deliver next-gen performance without breaking the bank, the WX5 and WX5+ offer lag-free wireless gameplay across Switch 1, Switch 2, and PC. With bold summer-inspired designs and advanced features, these controllers are built to elevate every session — whether you're grinding through RPGs or battling online with friends.

Rallyallyally Nintendo Switch Review 5.5/10 *A chaotic racer that’s fun…for a few minutes* 🛣️ @hairyheartgames #IndieGame #GameDev

A multiplayer racing title from wonderfully named Scottish developers Hairy heart Games, Rallyallyally can be played with up to eight vehicles (a mixture of players and bots), in a game wherein the main goal is to grab a hold of a roll of road, and unroll it to the finish line! 

Upon completion of each section, points are awarded accordingly, and the hectic action rolls on until all three rounds are complete. Scattered powerups help add to the frenzy, and the simple visuals suit the on-screen action.

There are very few options available to customise your approach to Rallyallyally - although you can choose from a large variety of vehicles – and the game quickly becomes repetitive, with some of the environments getting in the way, and the zooming single-screen action sometimes tipping over from chaos into seeming randomness, as you struggle to even find yourself onscreen, or which direction in which you are currently zooming!

SUMMARY
A game that is fun for a short while, but the lack of customisation options combined with the fact that variety in the gameplay means that this is a tough one to recommend beyond those gamers that enjoy true, pure chaotic action in their racers.

5.5/10

🧊💦MELTING 🧊💦