REVIEW: Midnight Swamp (2026 Video Game) - on PS5

Review by Jon Donnis

Midnight Swamp arrives as a dark point and click adventure that leans heavily into eerie fairy tale energy, dropping the player into a strange world where nothing feels entirely safe or familiar. The setup is simple but effective, a restless night by a lake, a strange laugh from the water, and one wrong step that pulls you into a shifting swamp filled with odd creatures and hidden secrets. From there it builds a compact but focused experience that feels deliberately old school in its structure and pacing.

The strongest part of Midnight Swamp is how confidently it commits to its classic point and click identity. It feels like something that could have comfortably existed in the 1990s Amiga era, not in a dated way, but in a way that understands the charm of that design approach. The puzzles are the highlight, offering a balance that feels challenging without tipping into frustration. There is enough logic and restraint in their design that most solutions feel fair, even when the setting itself is deliberately strange. The hand drawn visuals also deserve credit, with a style that suits the swampy, fairy tale tone and helps sell the unsettling atmosphere without overcomplicating it.

There is also a pleasing variety in how the game builds its world through encounters and mechanics. Meeting unusual inhabitants, following the guidance of a talking Cat, and learning potion basics from a Witch in a gingerbread house all contribute to a sense of playful unease. It is not trying to overwhelm the player with complexity, instead offering small, self contained ideas that fit neatly together. Exploration feels straightforward, and the lack of unnecessary systems keeps everything readable and accessible.

The main drawback is length. Midnight Swamp is very short, and it can realistically be completed in under an hour on a first run. That brevity leaves it feeling more like a concentrated vignette than a full adventure. Completionists will find a bit more to do on a second run, particularly for achievements, but even then the content is limited. One missable achievement involving feeding the cat adds a small layer of replay attention, though it also highlights how easily the experience can be exhausted in a single sitting.

Midnight Swamp is a charming and compact point and click adventure that understands exactly what it wants to be. It is straightforward, lightly eerie, and rooted in old school design principles where puzzles and atmosphere do most of the work. There is no excess here, no overthinking required, just a short journey through a strange swamp world that knows when to end.

I enjoyed Midnight Swamp enough to go back for a second run after missing the "feed the cat" achievement, which feels appropriate for a game of this size and style. For fans of classic point and click adventures, it is an easy recommendation despite its short runtime.

I score Midnight Swamp a solid 8 out of 10.

Out Now on PlayStation

https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/concept/10017538

REVIEW: Morels: Out of This World (2026 Video Game) on PC (Steam)

Review by Jon Donnis

Morels: Out of This World is one of those games that immediately knows exactly what it wants to be. It does not chase action, major survival mechanics, crafting systems, or endless busywork. Instead, it leans fully into slow exploration, mushroom hunting, and wildlife photography across strange alien planets, and to its credit, it sticks to that vision from beginning to end.

Set across four handcrafted alien worlds, the game drops players into environments that feel genuinely unusual. One moment you are wandering through glowing jungles filled with strange plant life, the next you are crossing dusty desert landscapes or exploring forests where dinosaurs still roam freely. The variety in atmosphere is honestly impressive. Even when the actual objectives remain familiar, the visual creativity keeps things feeling fresh for quite a while.

The strongest part of the game is easily the atmosphere. Morels: Out of This World is incredibly relaxing. There is no combat, no danger constantly breathing down your neck, (except for running out of energy and the screen turns black and white) and no pressure to rush. You simply walk, observe, collect mushrooms, and photograph creatures at your own pace. It creates a calm and cosy experience that feels almost therapeutic at times. Sitting quietly while waiting for the perfect wildlife photo, or stumbling across a hidden patch of rare alien fungi, becomes strangely satisfying.

Visually, the game is pretty in places. The alien planets are packed with colour and imagination, and there is a real sense that the developer enjoyed creating these environments. Some locations genuinely feel otherworldly without becoming too chaotic or difficult to navigate. The lighting effects, unusual vegetation, and bizarre wildlife all come together nicely, making exploration rewarding even when you are technically doing very little.

The photography side of the game is probably the most engaging aspect overall. Hunting for the perfect creature shot gives you a reason to slow down and pay attention to your surroundings. Building up your photo book also adds a nice sense of progression. There is something satisfying about documenting creatures and slowly filling out your discoveries over time. For players who enjoy virtual photography in games, this may end up being the main reason to keep playing.

Seasonal changes also deserve praise. Mushroom locations shifting, wildlife behaving differently, and weather conditions changing between seasons help the worlds feel more alive. It stops the maps from becoming completely static, and it encourages repeat visits to familiar locations. Weekly tasks and unlockable hunter manual pages also add small goals that help give structure to the experience without ruining its laid back tone.

That said, the game absolutely will not appeal to everyone.

The slow pace can become repetitive surprisingly quickly. As beautiful as the worlds are, the core gameplay loop never really evolves beyond walking around, collecting mushrooms, and taking photographs. There are moments where the lack of variety starts to catch up with the experience, especially during longer play sessions. If the atmosphere does not fully grab you early on, the gameplay alone may struggle to hold your interest.

I also found that progression can feel a little too slow at times. It took me far too long to find my first proper Morels, and by that point I was already starting to lose interest. The game clearly wants players to embrace patience and careful exploration, but there is a fine line between relaxing and tedious. Morels: Out of This World occasionally drifts into the latter.

Some players may also find certain mushroom designs and alien textures uncomfortable to look at. The heavy focus on clustered fungi, organic growths, and unusual surface patterns could easily trigger trypophobia for some people. It is worth mentioning because the visual style leans heavily into that kind of imagery throughout the game.

Ultimately, Morels: Out of This World is an extremely niche experience. For the right audience, it could become a genuinely relaxing escape, a peaceful game where you slowly wander alien planets photographing weird creatures and searching for hidden mushrooms. There really are not many games doing exactly this right now, and that uniqueness works heavily in its favour.

At the same time, anyone looking for challenge, faster progression, or deeper gameplay systems may struggle to stay invested. The beautiful presentation can only carry the repetitive gameplay loop so far.

Morels: Out of This World feels designed for a very specific type of player, and those players will probably adore it. I just cannot see it attracting a massive audience beyond that niche.

I score Morels: Out of This World a fair 6 out of 10.

Out Now on Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4394020/Morels_Out_of_this_World/

REVIEW: GUNNAR Optiks Gaming/Office Glasses - Style MAMMOTH - Frame Onyx - Lens Amber

 

Review by Jon Donnis

There comes a point during a long gaming session where your eyes start fighting back. Colours feel harsher, brightness becomes tiring, and after a few hours you end up rubbing your eyes more than focusing on the game itself. That was exactly why I decided to put the GUNNAR Optiks Mammoth glasses to the test, and after several lengthy gaming sessions, I came away seriously impressed.

The Mammoth glasses sit within GUNNAR’s King Collection, and the name fits perfectly. These are bold, masculine glasses with a thick rectangular frame that instantly stands out without looking over the top. The Onyx frame colour keeps things stylish and professional enough for office use, but they still carry enough personality to feel right at home in front of a gaming setup.

Fit is one of the biggest selling points here. I have a slightly larger head, or so I keep getting told, and finding glasses that do not pinch around the temples can sometimes be frustrating. The extra wide dimensions on the Mammoth frame made a huge difference. They sit comfortably without feeling tight, and even after hours of use they never became uncomfortable. The lightweight polymer frame also helps more than expected. Despite the chunkier appearance, they never feel heavy on the face.

The amber lens tint works brilliantly during gaming sessions. I tested these while playing several colourful modern games on a large television, exactly the kind of setup that would normally leave me with noticeable eye strain after a few hours. The difference was immediately noticeable. Bright effects felt softer, menus were easier to focus on, and my eyes simply felt more relaxed throughout. Most importantly, I finished long sessions feeling exactly as I had when I started, with no tiredness or irritation creeping in later.

GUNNAR’s lens technology continues to be one of the strongest parts of the package. The claimed 65 percent blue light blocking feels genuinely useful in real world use, especially during late evening gaming. The anti reflective and smudge resistant coating also deserves praise because the lenses stay cleaner than expected, even after regular daily use.

Build quality is excellent throughout. The sturdy multi barrel hinges give the glasses a reassuringly durable feel, and nothing about them comes across as cheap or flimsy. These feel like glasses designed to last, which is exactly what you want from something you may end up wearing every single day.

As for negatives, honestly there are none worth mentioning here. They are comfortable, well made, stylish, and most importantly they actually do what they promise. Considering the quality on offer, they also feel reasonably affordable.

At this stage, most people probably already know I am a big fan of GUNNAR glasses, and the Mammoth model only reinforced that opinion further. The quality is exactly what you would expect from the brand, but the standout feature here is definitely the design and fit. They look fantastic, feel fantastic, and genuinely improve comfort during long gaming sessions.

Another excellent pair of glasses from GUNNAR Optiks.

Out now for under £50

https://gunnar.co.uk/product/gunnar-mammoth-computer-glasses-onyx-amber-gunnar-focus

Thanks as always to the great Gunnar Optiks for providing the glasses for review.

REVIEW: Tale of Dark Lands (2026 Video Game) on PS5

Review by Jon Donnis

Tale of Dark Lands arrives on PS5 as a low poly fantasy action RPG that tries to channel the feel of a modern fairy tale wrapped in darker myth. You play a mercenary pulled from simple village work into something far more ominous, as an ancient force begins to spread across the land. It is a straightforward setup, built around progression, gear upgrades and a steady climb towards becoming a legendary figure.

There is an immediate charm to the visual presentation. The low poly style gives the world a soft, storybook quality that suits the fantasy setting surprisingly well. Villages, forests and dungeons carry a certain handmade feel, and when the lighting hits right it does manage to look appealing in a stripped back way. The character editor and equipment variety also add a small layer of personalisation, giving you room to shape your mercenary and experiment with different builds and gear combinations as you progress.

Where the game struggles is in almost everything tied to moment to moment play. Combat quickly settles into repetitive attack spamming, with very little need for timing, dodging or tactical thinking until the very late stages. Encounters begin to feel routine long before the credits roll. Navigation is another weak point, with an awkward structure that funnels you through portals and narrow paths rather than encouraging any real exploration. The story also never rises above functional fantasy filler, lacking tension or intrigue despite its darker premise. Controls feel loose, which only adds to the sense that the systems are not quite as refined as they should be, and the overall experience is short, running for only a few hours without much variation along the way.

In the end, Tale of Dark Lands is a game that looks more interesting than it plays. The visual style carries it for a while, but the shallow combat, weak storytelling and restrictive design hold it back from anything memorable. It is a brief experience that feels underdeveloped, and while it has moments of charm, they are not enough to sustain the journey. I would score Tale of Dark Lands a disappointing 4 out of 10.

Releases 2nd June on PlayStation

https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/concept/10015595

REVIEW: Gunnar Pinnacles in Onyx/Silver with the Amber Lens

Review by Jon Donnis

Gunnar Optiks have been in this space long enough that expectations tend to be high, and the Pinnacles in Onyx/Silver with the Amber tint slot neatly into that reputation. The first thing that stands out is the design. The modified navigator style has a clean, modern edge without trying too hard, and the layered magnesium aluminium and stainless-steel frame gives it a more premium feel than many rivals in the same category. They sit lightly on the face at 29 grams, and that matters more than it sounds when you are several hours into a working day. The flexible spring hinges help them settle comfortably without constant adjustment, which is one of those small details that quickly becomes noticeable when it is missing.

Performance is where these glasses do their most convincing work. I tested them across a full day in a hot UK office, (Yes I am working during the UK heatwave!) with strong sunlight pushing through a side window and long screen exposure, they handled eye strain better than expected. By the afternoon there was a clear absence of the usual headache build up that tends to creep in during extended computer use. The Amber lens tint does its job without overly distorting the screen, and the G Shield Plus coating keeps reflections and smudging under control, which helps maintain visual clarity throughout the day. It feels like a straightforward case of the technology doing what it claims rather than overpromising.

There is also the practical side of the package that should not be overlooked. The included quad fold case, microfiber pouch and cleaning cloth give it a more complete presentation than many competitors, and it reinforces the sense that this is a product designed for regular daily use rather than occasional wear. The UV protection and blue light filtering are now expected at this level, but they are still reassuring to have working quietly in the background.

The negatives are difficult to find in any meaningful sense. The design will not suit every face shape, particularly if someone prefers a more subtle or traditional frame, and the navigator style does carry a slightly more pronounced visual profile than minimalist alternatives. That said, this is more about personal preference than an actual flaw in the build or performance. Personally I loved the shape and design of the frame, and I got a few compliments on them too.

Overall, the Pinnacles feel like Gunnar Optiks operating at full confidence. They are comfortable, effective, and visually sharp enough to double as both office and casual wear. In practical terms, they do exactly what they are meant to do, and they do it without fuss.

Available now at https://gunnar-optiks.eu/product/gunnar-pinnacles-computer-glasses-onyxsilver-amber-gunnar-focus

Thanks again to GUNNAR for providing the glasses for review.