REVIEW: Sea Walker Saga (2026 Video Game) - Released on Early Access on PC Steam

Review by Jon Donnis

Sea Walker Saga drops you into a drowned version of 1878 where the world has been swallowed by the sea and the last remnants of humanity cling to floating island settlements known as Isla Muvimi. It is a steampunk survival adventure with RPG and strategy elements, built around a mobile island that acts as your base, your weapon and your lifeline. There is a clear Waterworld influence in its tone and setting, but it builds its own identity through a mix of exploration, resource gathering and slow expansion into a wider, hostile ocean world while you follow the story of a missing father and a rumour of a mythical continent beyond the map.

What stands out immediately is the atmosphere and visual direction. The steampunk aesthetic fits the setting well, with battered machinery, improvised fortifications and a sense that everything has been salvaged from a broken world. The idea of growing and managing a living floating island is easily the strongest part of the design, and when it is working well it gives a real sense of progression as you expand your base into something that feels more like a travelling fortress than a simple hub. There is also a strong loop of missions that push you out into the ocean to recover resources and artefacts, which helps the world feel active even in early access form.

The main problems come from how it actually plays moment to moment. Movement is noticeably slow, even when sprinting, and this turns basic travel into something that feels longer than it should. During defensive encounters this becomes more frustrating, since you are constantly running between damaged systems like turrets and the lighthouse while trying to keep everything running. Instead of tension building in these moments, it often becomes repetitive busywork that breaks the pace rather than sharpening it. There are also technical issues that interrupt progress, including situations where movement between areas can cause the character to get stuck entirely, forcing a restart.

Even with these issues, there is a clear sense that Sea Walker Saga is still in early access and not yet in its final shape. Content feels limited and some systems are rough around the edges, but the foundation is promising. The core concept of a mobile steampunk island exploring a submerged world has enough strength to carry a much larger game if the pacing is improved, the bugs are addressed and the moment to moment gameplay is tightened up.

At the moment it feels like a game with strong ideas that have not yet been fully refined into a smooth experience. There is ambition here, and in flashes it is easy to see what the finished version could become, but it is not quite there yet.

Out Now on Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3169360/Sea_Walker_Saga/

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: Bright Lights of Svetlov (2026 Video Game) - on PlayStation 5

Review by Jon Donnis

There is something strangely compelling about Bright Lights of Svetlov. On paper, a slow paced first person narrative game about an ordinary Soviet family living through the mid 1980s does not exactly sound thrilling. There are no grand action sequences, no complex puzzles, and no real sense of danger hanging over every moment. Yet somehow, this short PlayStation 5 experience manages to quietly pull you into its world and keep you there until the final credits roll.

Set in a fictional industrial town somewhere in the Soviet Union, the game focuses on the daily routines and struggles of a working class family trying to get by. The setting itself is one of the game’s biggest strengths. The drab apartment blocks, faded interiors, repetitive life, and constant sense of exhaustion all feel carefully observed. Bright Lights of Svetlov does not romanticise the era, but it also avoids turning everything into misery for the sake of drama. Instead, it presents a grounded snapshot of ordinary people carrying on with life as best they can.

The atmosphere is excellent throughout. From the muted visuals to the understated sound design, the game captures a very particular mood. There is a lingering sense of weariness hanging over almost every interaction, but it never feels exaggerated or cartoonishly bleak. The Russian voice acting helps enormously here. Even if you are relying on subtitles, the performances add authenticity and emotional weight to scenes that could otherwise have fallen flat.

Gameplay is extremely minimalistic, and whether that works for you will depend entirely on your tolerance for narrative focused walking simulators. Most of your time is spent completing everyday tasks. Cooking meals, tidying rooms, fixing household problems, and preparing for family gatherings become the core mechanics. There is no challenge to these activities in the traditional gaming sense, but that is clearly intentional. The slow pace forces you to exist within the family’s routine rather than simply observing it from a distance.

At times, the deliberate pacing can feel a little too slow. Some players will absolutely bounce off the experience after the first hour, especially those expecting deeper gameplay systems or meaningful interaction beyond simple chores. Bright Lights of Svetlov asks for patience, and occasionally it tests that patience more than necessary. Certain sequences drag slightly, and there are moments where the game risks becoming repetitive.

Still, what keeps the experience engaging is the narrative itself. The story unfolds quietly across a series of chapters, gradually revealing tensions within the household and the emotional burden carried by each family member. Dialogue is sparse, but that restraint works in the game’s favour. Characters rarely deliver dramatic speeches or emotional outbursts. Instead, much of the storytelling comes through silence and the atmosphere within the apartment itself.

What surprised me most was how emotionally effective the game becomes by the end. Small moments of warmth cut through the bleakness in believable ways. Awkward moments and little acts of kindness give the characters humanity beyond their hardships. It stops the experience from feeling relentlessly miserable and gives the story genuine emotional texture.

Then there is the ending twist, which genuinely caught me off guard. Without spoiling anything, it adds an entirely new perspective to events and left me thinking about the game long after it finished. It is not a massive shocking blockbuster reveal, but it is clever, thoughtful, and meaningful enough to elevate the entire experience.

Bright Lights of Svetlov is not a game for everyone. Players looking for action, challenge, or fast paced gameplay will probably find it dull. But if you enjoy slower narrative driven experiences that focus on atmosphere, character, and emotional realism, there is something quietly memorable here.

I went into the game expecting to dislike it. Mundane life in the Soviet Union hardly sounds like an exciting premise for a video game, yet I ended up sticking with it from beginning to end. Partly because I wanted the Platinum Trophy on PS5, admittedly, but mainly because I became invested in the story and the world the developers created.

Bright Lights of Svetlov is a short but thoughtful narrative experience that succeeds through emotional authenticity and atmosphere rather than gameplay innovation. It will not appeal to everyone, but for the right audience it offers something surprisingly absorbing.

I score Bright Lights of Svetlov a solid 7 out of 10.

Out Now on PlayStation 

https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/product/EP1661-PPSA06641_00-SYPS5BRIGHTLIGHT

REVIEW: Lost Twins 2 (2026 Video Game) - on Nintendo Switch

Review by Jon Donnis

In a gaming landscape obsessed with combat, chaos, and constant noise, this Nintendo Switch puzzler takes the opposite route. It slows things down, trusts the player to experiment, and builds its entire identity around creativity and calm exploration. The result is one of the most charming puzzle platformers to arrive on Switch in quite some time.

At the centre of the game are Abi and Ben, two separated twins navigating a strange and dreamlike world made from shifting pathways and floating puzzle pieces. The core mechanic revolves around physically rearranging the environment itself. Entire sections of levels can be moved, swapped, or rotated to create new routes forward. It sounds simple on paper, but the way the game constantly builds upon the idea is genuinely impressive.

What makes the puzzles work so well is how carefully balanced they are. They are challenging enough to make you pause and think through your next move, but never so frustrating that progress grinds to a halt. Every solution feels logical once it clicks into place. That steady sense of reward gives the game a wonderfully satisfying rhythm, where each completed puzzle feels earned rather than handed to you.

Visually, Lost Twins 2 is absolutely lovely. The influence of Studio Ghibli and the work of Hayao Miyazaki is impossible to miss, though thankfully it never feels like outright imitation. The soft colour palette, handcrafted environments, and expressive animation give the game a warmth that suits its relaxed pacing perfectly. There is a cosy, storybook quality to the presentation that makes even the smallest moments enjoyable to look at.

The soundtrack deserves equal praise. Gentle piano melodies and ambient orchestral tracks quietly sit in the background, adding atmosphere without ever becoming intrusive. Combined with the game's slow, thoughtful pacing, it creates an experience that feels genuinely relaxing to play. It is the sort of game you can disappear into for an hour without noticing the time pass.

Importantly, the gameplay never becomes repetitive. New mechanics are introduced at a steady pace throughout the adventure. Pressure switches, lifts, breakable domes, water gates, and environmental interactions constantly reshape how puzzles are approached. The game keeps layering fresh ideas into the mix just before older mechanics risk becoming stale.

Playing solo works remarkably well thanks to the ability to switch between Abi and Ben, each often needing to stand in specific positions or interact with different parts of the environment. That said, local co-op is where Lost Twins 2 truly shines. Solving puzzles together with another player feels natural and genuinely rewarding. Communication becomes part of the challenge, and there is real satisfaction in figuring out solutions side by side on the sofa.

The controls can also take a little time to settle into. Shifting the world around and swapping between characters occasionally feels fiddly during the opening stages, particularly in handheld mode. Thankfully, once the control scheme clicks into place, it becomes far easier to navigate instinctively.

On the positive side, the game feels perfectly suited to the Nintendo Switch Lite. The pick up and play structure, relaxing pace, and compact puzzle design make it ideal for handheld sessions. Few games this year have felt so naturally at home on Nintendo's portable hardware.

What really separates Lost Twins 2 from so many other puzzle games is its complete lack of pressure. There are no enemies chasing you, no timers counting down, and no punishment for experimentation. The game simply invites you to explore, think, and enjoy the process of discovery. That design philosophy gives it a broad appeal that works equally well for younger players and adults looking for something more thoughtful and relaxing.

The story itself is fairly light, and those hoping for deep character development or major narrative twists may come away slightly underwhelmed. Still, the game understands exactly where its strengths lie. The creativity of the puzzles, the warmth of the art direction, and the peaceful atmosphere carry the experience effortlessly from beginning to end.

It is rare to find a puzzle game this inventive while also remaining so welcoming and accessible. Lost Twins 2 manages to feel clever without becoming smug about it, and relaxing without ever becoming dull. Beautifully designed and consistently engaging, this is one of the Switch's most delightful hidden gems of 2026.

9/10

Out Now on the Nintendo Switch for about £13.49

https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Lost-Twins-2-3055149.html

Thank you to Playdew for the Key.

REVIEW: Adorable Adventures (2026 Video Game) - on PlayStation 5

Review by Jon Donnis

There is something immediately charming about Adorable Adventures from the moment you take control of Boris, the energetic little baby boar at the centre of this gentle exploration game. Set against the backdrop of a forest recovering from a devastating fire, the game takes a surprisingly heartfelt approach to what could have easily been a far more basic family friendly platformer. Instead, it delivers a relaxing and often rewarding adventure that feels designed for players who simply want to wander, explore, and enjoy the journey at their own pace.

The game follows Boris as he searches for his missing family across a sprawling natural landscape inspired by the Cévennes National Park in Southern France. It is a genuinely beautiful world to spend time in. Rolling hills, shaded woodland paths, rocky caves, streams and open meadows all feel vibrant and alive on the PlayStation 5. The lighting is especially impressive, with warm sunlight filtering through trees and reflecting naturally across water and stone surfaces. For a game built around peaceful exploration, the visuals do a fantastic job of pulling you into its world.

Movement also feels playful and full of personality. Boris is constantly darting through fields, scrambling over rocks, splashing through rivers and rooting through bushes like an excitable animal discovering the world for the first time. Simply moving around is enjoyable. There is a carefree quality to the game that makes even small activities feel rewarding.

One of the most interesting mechanics is Boris’s developing sense of smell. Scents act as both navigation and puzzle solving tools throughout the adventure. What initially seems simple gradually becomes more layered as Boris learns to identify different smells and filter them out. You might begin tracking one scent trail only for another smell to interrupt the process completely, forcing you to investigate something else first before returning to your original objective. It creates a natural flow to exploration that keeps the gameplay engaging for quite a while.

The side activities are another pleasant surprise. Unlockable races where Boris sprints through checkpoint trails are genuinely entertaining, mostly because controlling the little boar is so enjoyable in the first place. Photography challenges, environmental clean up tasks and hidden secrets all help the world feel more interactive and lived in. There are countless small touches throughout the game that reward curiosity. One particularly memorable example comes from discovering a football and nudging it into a nearby goal, triggering a charming narrated response. Moments like that appear constantly across the adventure and give the game a warm personality.

The narration itself deserves praise as well. Maxime, the park ranger guiding Boris through his journey, adds a comforting tone to the experience. The voice work never feels overbearing and instead quietly complements the exploration and storytelling. The game understands that silence and atmosphere are just as important as dialogue.

Adorable Adventures also works brilliantly as an introduction to open world game design for younger players or newcomers to gaming. Objectives are easy to understand, the world encourages experimentation without punishment, and progression feels organic rather than stressful. It manages to teach exploration naturally through play instead of overwhelming players with endless markers or tutorials.

That said, the game is not without problems. The camera can become frustrating in tighter areas, especially when climbing steeper terrain or navigating enclosed spaces. There are moments where the camera angle fights against the player more than it should, occasionally making movement awkward. It is not game breaking, but it does happen often enough to stand out.

The main story is also relatively short if you focus only on the central objectives. Players who rush through the family rescue storyline will probably finish sooner than expected. Thankfully, the game encourages exploration strongly enough that completionists and curious players will find plenty more hidden throughout the world, including easter eggs and optional activities.

The biggest issue is repetition. While the smell tracking system is clever, the gameplay loop can start to feel familiar after extended sessions. Searching for scents, following trails and solving similarly structured tasks eventually loses some of its novelty. Whether this becomes a serious problem will depend entirely on the player. Younger gamers or those completely new to exploration games may never tire of it. In fact, it feels like exactly the sort of game many casual players will completely fall in love with.

Adorable Adventures succeeds because it understands exactly what it wants to be. It is not trying to reinvent open world games or deliver massive cinematic spectacle. Instead, it focuses on creating a peaceful, charming and genuinely relaxing experience filled with rewarding exploration and lovely little details. Between its beautiful presentation, enjoyable traversal mechanics and heartfelt atmosphere, it becomes very easy to simply relax and lose yourself in Boris’s adventure for a few hours.

Adorable Adventures is a warm, comforting and consistently enjoyable game that delivers exactly the kind of relaxing exploration experience it promises.

8.5 out of 10.

Out Now on PS5 - https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/concept/10017971/

REVIEW: Fatherhood (2026 Video Game) - On PC Steam - DEMO

Review by Jon Donnis

Fatherhood arrives with a clear sense of purpose. This is not a war game about soldiers, glory, or firepower. Instead, it narrows its focus to something far more fragile. You step into the role of Basir, an ordinary man trying to guide his blind daughter Asma through a collapsing world. That choice alone gives the game a different weight. Every step feels considered, every pause carries tension, and even the smallest action can have consequences that linger.

The core of the experience rests on its relationship mechanics, and this is where Fatherhood finds its identity. Holding Asma’s hand is not just a simple interaction, it becomes essential. Let go for too long and her anxiety builds, which can quickly spiral into danger as her distress draws attention. The hugging mechanic, simple on paper, works surprisingly well in practice. It is used to calm her, to reassure her, and at times to steady yourself as the player. It adds an emotional rhythm to the gameplay that sits alongside the stealth systems, creating moments that feel intimate even when the world around you is anything but.

Movement and exploration strike a nice balance. While the game is built as a 2.5D side-scroller, it does not trap you on a flat path. You move through buildings, step in and out of spaces, and occasionally break from the strict left to right structure. It gives the environments a sense of depth without overcomplicating things. Stealth plays a major role, and it makes sense within the story. Basir is not a fighter, and the game reinforces that at every turn. Avoiding soldiers feels natural, not forced, and the tension builds as you rely on timing and awareness rather than brute strength.

Visually, the low-poly art style stands out in a quiet way. It does not chase realism, but instead leans into mood and contrast. The most striking touch comes when the screen shifts colour during violent moments, moving into black and white or flashes of red and black. It is a simple effect, though it lands effectively and reinforces the emotional cost of those actions. Combined with the war-torn setting, it creates an atmosphere that feels bleak without becoming overwhelming.

The narrative itself is one of the game’s strongest elements. The story of Basir and Asma unfolds through the choices you make, and those decisions rarely feel easy. Helping someone or harming someone in front of Asma shapes how she sees you, and in turn affects your relationship. The game leans into this idea of long-term consequence. You are not just trying to survive the moment, you are shaping the person your daughter believes you to be. That tension sits at the heart of the experience and gives even small decisions a sense of gravity.

That said, there are limitations that are hard to ignore at this stage. Playing the demo makes it clear that the full scope of the game is still out of reach. What is here is promising, but it is also brief. It does not take long to see everything currently available, which makes it difficult to fully judge how the pacing, variety, and long-term decision making will hold up across a complete playthrough. There is a sense that the ideas are strong, but not yet fully explored.

Even so, Fatherhood leaves an impression. It is thoughtful, focused, and willing to slow things down in a genre that often does the opposite. The mechanics around Asma are handled with care, the story has genuine weight, and the presentation supports the tone without distracting from it. There is still more to see before it can be fully assessed, but what is here already suggests something worth paying attention to.

Download the Demo at

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2180850/Fatherhood/