REVIEW: EBOLA VILLAGE (2026 Video Game) on Xbox

Review by Jon Donnis

EBOLA VILLAGE wears its influences proudly. This is a survival horror game rooted firmly in the traditions of the 1990s, where atmosphere matters more than spectacle and progress is earned through patience rather than guidance. Played from a first person view on Xbox, it places you in the shoes of Maria as she travels to a remote USSR village following a chilling emergency broadcast about a biological threat. What follows is a slow, oppressive descent into something deeply unsettling.

One of the game's greatest strengths is its refusal to hold the player's hand. There is no glowing waypoint, no clear signposting, and no linear route laid out for you. You are expected to explore carefully, search rooms thoroughly, manage your inventory and piece together where to go next through observation and logic. Doors stay locked until you earn the right to open them, and new paths only reveal themselves once you have truly engaged with the environment. It is refreshing, and for fans of classic survival horror, deeply satisfying.

The atmosphere does most of the heavy lifting, and it succeeds. The sound design is particularly effective, with creaking floorboards, distant thunder, and the oppressive silence inside abandoned buildings creating constant tension. Music is often absent altogether, which only heightens the unease. The setting of a bleak USSR village feels carefully considered, and the environments are detailed enough to sell the illusion without becoming distracting. The visuals are solid rather than spectacular, but they serve the mood well, which is what matters here.

Puzzles are another highlight. They are balanced and thoughtfully designed, calling back to the style of 90s horror games where solutions make sense once discovered, but rarely feel obvious at first glance. Progress requires attention to detail and an understanding of the story, encouraging players to follow the narrative closely rather than rushing ahead. Combat, when it happens, is brutal and direct, supported by a variety of weapons, realistic enemy physics, and a damage system that does not shy away from dismemberment. Boss encounters add variety and reinforce the sense of danger lurking throughout the village.

That said, EBOLA VILLAGE is not without its drawbacks. The most noticeable is its length. A full playthrough can be completed in roughly five hours, which may leave some players wanting more once the credits roll. There is also the issue of motion sickness. Extended play sessions triggered discomfort for me on several occasions, something players sensitive to this should be aware of before diving in.

Despite these issues, EBOLA VILLAGE left a strong impression. I was genuinely surprised by how effective it is at capturing the spirit of classic survival horror while presenting it through a modern first person perspective. The atmosphere is thick, the gameplay is confident, and the experience feels focused and deliberate from start to finish.

EBOLA VILLAGE is a very decent game with strong atmosphere, solid visuals, and engaging mechanics that respect the player's intelligence. I would score it a confident 8.5 out of 10.

Out Now on Xbox

https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/ebola-village/9n6wqfsk8r3x

REVIEW: Black Jacket (2026 Video Game) - on Steam

Review by Jon Donnis

There is something inherently comforting about blackjack. It is simple, recognisable, and built on tension that anyone can grasp within seconds. Black Jacket takes that foundation and drags it somewhere far stranger. This is a rogue lite deckbuilder set in a hellish afterlife, where the cards bend the rules, the opponents have stories, and every hand is played for your chance at freedom. This review is based on an early demo and playtest, not the finished game, but there is already plenty here to talk about.

At its core, Black Jacket is still blackjack. You are playing against restless souls, winning their Soul coins, and trying to earn enough to bribe the ferryman and escape. The twist is that the deck no longer plays fair. Cards can force opponents to overcommit, alter card values, swap hands, let you peek into decks, or unlock hidden combinations that completely change how a hand unfolds. In practice, this works far better than it sounds on paper. There are moments where victory feels impossible, only for a carefully timed card to flip the entire table in your favour. Pulling a win out of nowhere is deeply satisfying, especially when the game has convinced you that you are already beaten.

The rogue lite structure gives each run a sense of possibility. Artifacts, card suits and curses gradually stack up, opening near endless combinations and strategies. No two runs feel quite the same, even within the limited scope of the demo. The added mechanics never feel random for the sake of it. Instead, they encourage you to think a few steps ahead, not just about the current hand, but about how your deck is evolving and what tricks you might unlock later.

Visually, the game is clean and readable, which is exactly what a card focused experience needs. Cards are easy to distinguish, extra abilities are clearly communicated, and the table never feels cluttered. Even when the rules begin to twist and bend, it remains easy to follow what is happening and why. That clarity is crucial, because without it the more complex mechanics would quickly become overwhelming.

The opponents are another interesting touch. You never see their faces, only their hands, which suits the afterlife setting and keeps the focus on play rather than spectacle. As you encounter them repeatedly, their playstyles and curses become familiar, and fragments of their stories unfold. There is a quiet ambition here to tie narrative and mechanics together, encouraging you to learn not just how they play, but who they are, and how breaking the cycle might require more than just winning hands.

That said, the demo is not without its frustrations. The unskippable tutorial is an immediate annoyance. Blackjack is one of the most widely understood card games in the world, and being forced through basic explanations feels unnecessary, especially for players drawn to the game precisely because they enjoy card games. A simple option to skip would go a long way.

There is also the lingering question of longevity. For all the clever twists and added systems, this is still blackjack at heart. The new mechanics are fun and often genuinely clever, but it is hard not to wonder how long they can sustain interest on their own. Sometimes adding too many layers to a very simple formula risks working against it, rather than enhancing it. The demo hints at depth, but it also raises doubts about whether that depth will be enough to keep players coming back run after run.

In its current form, Black Jacket is an enjoyable and intriguing experiment. The idea of giving cards extra powers and letting players bend the rules works, and when it clicks, it really clicks. As a demo, it leaves a positive impression, even if it does not yet feel essential. There is a solid foundation here, but it feels like it needs more modes, more variety, or a stronger hook to truly elevate it beyond an interesting take on a classic. So far, so good. The final release will need to push harder if Black Jacket wants to deal itself a winning hand.

Wishlist on Steam at

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3100370/Black_Jacket/

REVIEW: Planet of Lana (2025 Mobile Video Game) - on Android

Review by Jon Donnis

Planet of Lana arrives on mobile as a thoughtful, quietly confident puzzle platformer that wears its influences openly. Developed by Wishfully Studios, this 2025 release brings its cinematic ambitions to Android devices, placing players in control of Lana, a teenage girl navigating a beautifully imagined world under siege by hostile alien machines. It is a gentle game at heart, but one that understands how to layer tension, mystery and emotion without ever raising its voice.

From the outset, the presentation does a huge amount of the heavy lifting. The hand painted visual style is striking, clearly inspired by the softness and warmth of Studio Ghibli films, even when depicting a planet scarred by mechanical invasion. Lush landscapes, subtle animation and careful use of colour create a world that feels alive and worth saving. There is a constant undercurrent of unease, balanced by moments of calm beauty, which keeps the pacing taut without ever feeling rushed.

The story is simple but effective. Lana is searching for her abducted sister, and that clear motivation anchors the adventure nicely. There is no excess exposition, and the narrative unfolds naturally as you move through the world. It works because the game trusts its imagery and atmosphere to do the talking, which suits the genre well.

Gameplay follows a side scrolling puzzle platform structure, heavily influenced by cinematic titles such as Inside. Lana is not a fighter, and neither is her cat like companion Mui. Instead, progress comes through observation, timing and cooperation. Lana can swim and issue commands, while Mui's smaller size and agility allow it to reach places she cannot. Puzzles are built around this partnership, asking you to think carefully about positioning, timing and environmental interaction. Mui's ability to hypnotise certain creatures and, later on, the power to temporarily tame creatures and hack machines, add welcome layers without overcomplicating things.

The puzzles themselves are well executed and nicely paced, even if they rarely feel truly original. They are satisfying to solve, logically structured, and varied enough to avoid monotony. The real hook is how seamlessly they are integrated into the world, rather than feeling like obvious obstacles placed in your path.

Stealth plays a key role, as Lana and Mui cannot directly attack enemies. Avoiding detection and using the environment to bypass threats keeps encounters tense, especially when timing is tight. It reinforces the vulnerability of the characters and fits the tone of the story well.

Where the mobile version stumbles slightly is in its controls. Directing Mui can be fiddly at times, and touch screen input does not always feel as precise as the game demands. This is clearly a title designed with a gamepad in mind. Using a controller dramatically improves the experience, making movement and commands feel far more natural. While it is possible to connect the game to a larger screen and use a Bluetooth controller, that does somewhat undermine the appeal of having the game on a phone in the first place.

Despite these issues, Planet of Lana remains a strong example of the puzzle platformer genre. It may not reinvent the formula, but it executes its ideas with confidence, charm and a clear artistic vision. The sense of mystery carries you forward, and the bond between Lana and Mui gives the journey real emotional weight.

Planet of Lana is a beautiful, absorbing adventure that occasionally shows the limitations of its mobile format. With the right controller, it becomes a genuinely rewarding experience. Even with its lack of originality in places, it stands out thanks to its atmosphere, pacing and visual splendour. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it and would comfortably score Planet of Lana a solid 8 out of 10.

Out Now on Android

play.google.com

NEWS: Maestro All Aboard! Conducting Chaos, Classical and Cannon Fire in Virtual Reality

By Jon Donnis

Maestro, the virtual reality conducting game developed for Meta Quest, was originally released in 2024 and quickly positioned itself as one of the platform's most distinctive musical titles. Built around hand tracking and real-world conducting techniques, the base game places players on the podium of a full orchestra, allowing them to shape performances through physical movement rather than traditional controller inputs.

The core experience sees players step onto fully rendered concert stages and conduct interactive orchestral performances with complete visual and audio immersion. Maestro features a wide range of music across thirty tracks, spanning classical composers such as Beethoven and Vivaldi alongside well known cinematic scores from franchises including Star Wars and Harry Potter. Players can also customise performances by unlocking different stages, costumes, gloves and batons. The game was named Meta's Game of the Year for 2024.

On December 17, 2025, Maestro expanded with the release of All Aboard!, a pirate themed downloadable content pack rather than a standalone release. The DLC introduces a nautical setting and a new musical programme inspired by the sea, while retaining the same conducting mechanics as the base game.

All Aboard! centres on a fictional voyage aboard La Cultivée, with players leading a rough-edged pirate orchestra through five new pieces. The tracklist includes Hans Zimmer and Klaus Badelt's He's a Pirate and Zimmer's Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean, the traditional sea shanty Wellerman, Rimski Korsakov's The Shipwreck from Scheherazade, and the overture from Ralph Vaughan Williams' A Sea Symphony.

The update frames its content with theatrical pirate imagery, inviting players to assemble a buccaneer crew and conduct amid canvas sails and seafaring atmosphere. Despite the change in tone, the DLC is designed to integrate directly into Maestro's existing structure, offering an additional themed experience rather than altering the underlying game.

Out Now on MetaQuest

https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/all-aboard/1310468043816380

REVIEW: Stunt Bike Extreme (2025 Video Game) - on PC (Steam)

Review by Jon Donnis

Stunt Bike Extreme wears its influences proudly. From the first few minutes it is obvious this is a game built in the shadow of TRIALS HD, and for many players that will be its biggest selling point. It delivers the same arcade-focused motocross formula, stripped of heavy realism and designed around quick retries, smooth flow, and constant forward momentum.

The controls are simple and welcoming. Anyone can pick it up and start clearing levels within minutes. That ease of entry is both a strength and a weakness. While the game is described as hard to master, in practice it is far more forgiving than TRIALS HD across the board. Rider lean rarely feels critical, recoveries are generous, and most tracks can be completed without the precision that defines the genre at its best. As a result, the overall difficulty curve stays on the easy side, even as new mechanics and obstacles are introduced.

Content is where Stunt Bike Extreme truly delivers. With over 400 levels spread across more than ten environments, the sense of scale is impressive. Tracks take you through sunny beaches, busy city streets, frozen lakes and more, with each environment offering its own visual flavour. Alongside the main tracks are tougher bonus routes, though even these rarely push into truly punishing territory.

Each level hides treasure chests that reward exploration and risk-taking. These collectibles are one of the game's smartest additions, encouraging replay and experimentation rather than simple completion. Finding them often means attempting trickier routes or committing to jumps that are easy to miss on a first run. It adds just enough tension to stop the experience from becoming entirely mindless.

Progression is steady and satisfying. Completing levels unlocks new bikes, with more than ten available, each offering a slightly different playstyle. Customisation is extensive, with over a hundred visual items and paint jobs allowing you to personalise both rider and bike. None of this changes the underlying mechanics in a dramatic way, but it does give you a reason to keep pushing forward.

Visually, the game is solid but clearly rooted in its mobile origins. The graphics are clean and colourful, if a little simple, and lean towards a cartoony style rather than realism. It works well enough for clarity and performance, but those hoping for something more visually ambitious on PC may feel underwhelmed.

The biggest issue is originality. Stunt Bike Extreme does very little to push the genre forward. There are no separate skill games, no bold mechanical twists, and few surprises beyond the sheer quantity of content. It feels less like a fresh take and more like a respectful imitation. For fans of the TRIALS series, that familiarity will be comforting. For others, it may feel overly safe.

Despite those criticisms, the game is undeniably addictive. The classic "just one more level" pull is strong, driven by short tracks, instant restarts, and an almost endless supply of stages. Even when the challenge feels muted, the rhythm of play remains enjoyable.

Stunt Bike Extreme is, at heart, a very good TRIALS HD style game that prioritises accessibility and volume over difficulty and innovation. It may be too easy, and it may not bring much new to the table, but it succeeds at what it sets out to do. For fans of arcade motocross games, it is an easy recommendation.

Score: 8 out of 10

Out Now on PC 

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3212130/Stunt_Bike_Extreme/

REVIEW: Jingle Strike VR Bowling (2025 Video Game) - on MetaQuest

Review by Jon Donnis

Jingle Strike VR Bowling knows exactly what it wants to be and it leans into that with confidence. This is a festive VR bowling game that treats accuracy and silliness as equal partners. The core bowling feels reassuringly solid, with true to life physics that make each roll feel weighty and deliberate. When you line up a shot and send the ball down the lane, it behaves as you expect, which is vital in a game that relies on constant replay and quick handovers between players.

What gives the game its personality is the cast of workshop elves who never stop reacting to your performance. They cheer, mock, roast, and occasionally descend into outright childish behaviour. Miss a simple spare and they let you know about it. Land a clean strike and they completely lose control. It is juvenile, loud, and genuinely funny in short bursts, especially when played with other people in the room watching and waiting their turn.

The four festive lanes are colourful and busy without becoming visually overwhelming. Snow, lights, toys and moving characters keep things lively while never distracting from the bowling itself. When the Christmas theme starts to wear thin, the 85 Second Slam Down mode offers a faster arcade style alternative, swapping festive dressing for music, lights and pure bowling chaos. It is a smart inclusion that helps broaden the appeal beyond seasonal novelty.

Between frames there are plenty of small diversions. The complimenting soda machine is a silly but charming touch, and the ability to throw gifts or snowballs at the elves to trigger new reactions adds to the sense that the game wants players to experiment and mess around. Leaderboards give competitive players something to chase, but the real strength lies in pass and play couch VR for up to five players. Handing over the headset, laughing at each other's mistakes, and reacting to the elves together is clearly where Jingle Strike shines brightest.

There are limits, though. Content is fairly thin once you have seen all the lanes and spent time in the arcade mode. Played solo, the experience can start to feel repetitive quite quickly. This is very much a party game rather than something designed for long single player sessions, and it does not bring anything radically new to the VR bowling genre.

Still, what is here is well put together. The visuals are cheerful, the soundtrack suits the tone, and the game never takes itself too seriously. Jingle Strike VR Bowling succeeds by being accessible, funny, and easy to enjoy, particularly with friends or family around.

As a social VR experience it works extremely well, even if its appeal fades when played alone. For parties, gatherings, or introducing newcomers to VR, it is an easy recommendation.

Score: 7.5 out of 10.

Out Now on MetaQuest

https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/jingle-strike-vr-bowling/8135988243173894/

REVIEW: Oldest Golden Treasure (2025 VR Video Game) - Released on MetaQuest

Review by Jon Donnis

Oldest Golden Treasure is a 2025 VR escape room style adventure game for MetaQuest that places you in the role of a detective investigating the sudden disappearance of a colleague. From the opening moments it leans hard into atmosphere, pulling you into a world of puzzles, hidden clues and shifting locations that immediately spark curiosity. It starts out feeling very much like a traditional escape room, but it does not stay there for long.

The game's biggest strength lies in its puzzle design. The challenges are clever without being punishing, striking a balance that encourages careful observation and logical thinking rather than trial and error. Nothing feels insultingly simple, yet very little drifts into the kind of obscurity that breaks immersion. Solving each puzzle feels earned, and that sense of steady progress keeps the experience moving at a comfortable pace.

As the story unfolds, the environments continue to change, which helps avoid the staleness that can creep into VR puzzle games. Underground tunnels, ruins and secret hideouts all add variety, and each new space brings a slightly different flavour to the gameplay. There is a genuine urge to keep pushing forward, driven by a quiet but persistent need to understand what actually happened to your missing colleague.

A particularly welcome touch is the way the game weaves real historical elements into its narrative. Inspired by the Varna Necropolis and the oldest known gold treasure in the world, Oldest Golden Treasure feeds you factual snippets as part of the story rather than dumping them awkwardly on top. It gives the mystery a grounding that feels thoughtful rather than gimmicky.

Technically, the game performs very well for an indie VR title. Movement is smooth, interactions are reliable, and the overall presentation holds together nicely inside the headset. While the graphics are not cutting edge, they are more than adequate for the task and never distract from the puzzles or the story being told.

Once the main adventure is complete, SpeedRun Mode unlocks, offering a very different way to engage with the game. This mode is clearly aimed at competitive players, encouraging repeated playthroughs to optimise movement and puzzle solutions. With lap times and global leaderboards, it adds a layer of replay value that goes beyond simply revisiting the story.

That said, the experience does feel a little short. Just as the mechanics and ideas fully settle in, the credits roll, leaving a sense that there is room for more. There are also a few minor bugs scattered throughout, although it is worth noting that the solo developer is actively releasing updates to address these issues.

Oldest Golden Treasure may not be a sprawling epic, but it is a confident and engaging VR puzzle adventure. It delivers a strong atmosphere, smart puzzle design and a surprising historical angle, even if it leaves you wanting more by the end. For fans of escape rooms and narrative driven VR mysteries, it earns its place in a Meta Quest library.

I score Oldest Golden Treasure a solid 8.5 out of 10.

Out Now on MetaQuest

https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/oldest-golden-treasure/9132129896885275/

REVIEW: Aerosurfer (2025 Video Game) - On MetaQuest

Review by Jon Donnis

Aerosurfer delivers a surprisingly addictive VR experience that combines speed, precision, and the thrill of flight. Players control each wing through hand motions, carving through the air as they hunt the perfect balance between flow and mastery. It is easy to pick up, yet challenging enough to keep even seasoned players coming back for more.

The game's core appeal lies in its fast-paced, arcade-style gameplay. Gliding through 25 handcrafted tracks, you feel a genuine surge of adrenaline as you swoop close to the terrain to gain speed. Chasing your best times and racing against your ghost adds a satisfying layer of competition, while online leaderboards provide a global stage for skill comparison. Precision, timing, and rhythm are at the heart of Aerosurfer, making mastery a rewarding pursuit.

Graphically, the game is simple. It is not aiming for photorealism, and the modest visuals work in its favour, keeping the focus on the flow of flight and the thrill of speed. The music is another highlight, with funky, catchy tracks that complement the high-octane gameplay and help maintain the rhythm of your runs.

Aerosurfer does have its drawbacks. At £9.99, it feels slightly expensive for what is essentially an arcade-style experience. Beyond that, some players might wish for more visual detail or a few extra gameplay modes, but these are minor complaints in an otherwise engaging package.

Aerosurfer succeeds in what it sets out to do. It is fun, fast, and competitive, offering long sessions for those chasing perfection and quick flights for casual enjoyment. Despite its simplicity, it captures the joy of flight in VR with flair.

I score Aerosurfer a solid 8 out of 10.

Out Now on MetaQuest

https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/aerosurfer/32631602343151033/