REVIEW: Stunt X Mania (SXM) a 2026 VR Video Game on MetaQuest

Review by Jon Donnis

Stunt X Mania (SXM) is a VR motocross game built around one simple idea, learn to ride, learn the tricks and then see how far you can push yourself. Rather than making freestyle motocross feel like a collection of instant button presses, SXM puts more emphasis on actually controlling the bike and earning those spectacular moments.

The controls are one of the game's strongest aspects. Shifting and braking feel intuitive, while the motorcycle has a convincing sense of weight and movement. There is also a manual gear system for players who want greater control over their bike. It takes some practice to become comfortable with the clutch and gears, particularly when you are also trying to concentrate on landing a stunt, but thankfully there is a simplified option for anyone who wants a simpler experience.

The riding itself is enjoyable enough that the objectives are not always necessary. Free Roam provides a useful space to practise without timers or targets, and simply tearing around the dirt tracks can be good fun. The combination of speed, uneven terrain and aerial manoeuvres gives the game plenty of excitement.

SXM also gets its stunt system right. There are 12 authentic FMX tricks to learn, including Superman, Tsunami, Cliff Hanger, Heel Clicker, Lazy Boy, One-Hand Heart Attack, 9 o'clock Nac and MC Metz. You can begin with wheelies and endos before working towards the more demanding tricks and eventually attempting to chain manoeuvres together in mid-air.

That progression gives the game some longevity. The more advanced stunts are not simply handed to you, so improving your technique has a tangible purpose. Career Mode adds further structure through points and timers, while Challenges Mode provides specific objectives designed to test particular aspects of your riding.

Customisation is another welcome addition. Players can change their rider's clothing and helmet, as well as modify parts of the bike including the engine and exhaust. It is not the main reason to play SXM, but it gives you some opportunity to make the rider and machine feel more personal.

The presentation is less impressive. The graphics do the job, but they are functional rather than spectacular. With the game placing so much emphasis on the physical experience of riding, the visual presentation can feel secondary.

Unfortunately, motion sickness was a much bigger problem for me. I found SXM particularly uncomfortable in VR and struggled to play for more than around 20 minutes at a time. The problem was most noticeable on tracks with lots of bumps and grooves, where the constant virtual bouncing became unpleasant. This will obviously depend on the individual player, but for anyone susceptible to VR motion sickness, it is an important drawback.

The steep learning curve may also put some players off. While the basic riding controls are approachable, mastering the more complicated tricks requires patience and repeated practice. That will appeal to players who enjoy having something to master, but it can be frustrating if you are expecting immediate success.

There is also no multiplayer at present. That feels like a missed opportunity for a game based around stunts, scores and riding ability. Co-op sessions and competitive multiplayer lobbies are planned, but until those arrive, SXM remains a strictly solo experience.

The music helps maintain the game's energetic atmosphere, with electronic and synthwave tracks accompanying the action, while the dynamic sound effects add to the impact of riding and performing tricks.

Stunt X Mania (SXM) therefore has a solid core. The motorcycle controls are satisfying, the stunt system gives you plenty to learn and the automatic option prevents the manual transmission from becoming a barrier for less experienced players. There is also enough variety between Career Mode, Challenges and Free Roam to give you different reasons to keep riding.

Its biggest weakness is the VR experience itself. For me, the motion sickness was severe enough to significantly limit how long I could play, and the lack of multiplayer currently leaves the game feeling like it is missing an important feature.

If you are comfortable with VR movement and enjoy the idea of gradually mastering freestyle motocross, Stunt X Mania is worth a look. If motion sickness is already a problem for you, however, this is one I would approach very cautiously.

For now, I score Stunt X Mania (SXM) 7 out of 10.

Out Now on MetaQuest

https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/stunt-x-mania-sxm/23894287973498981/

REVIEW: This Bed We Made (2026 Video Game) on PlayStation 5

Review by Jon Donnis

Set in the Clarington Hotel on 17 February 1958, the game puts you in the role of Sophie, a chambermaid whose curiosity leads her far beyond simply making beds and tidying rooms. What begins with a strange discovery in room 505 gradually develops into a much larger investigation involving the hotel's guests, employees and the secrets they are trying to keep hidden.

The story is easily one of the game's biggest strengths. Rather than throwing everything at you immediately, it allows the mystery to build as Sophie discovers more objects, conversations, letters and clues around the hotel. Individual mysteries gradually begin to connect, giving the investigation a satisfying sense of progression. There is enough uncertainty surrounding the characters to keep you questioning what is really happening, while the personal stories discovered along the way add depth to the wider mystery.

The 1950s setting also works extremely well. The Clarington Hotel has a distinctive period atmosphere, with its rooms, corridors, lifts and other details helping establish the era. The game understands that a mystery like this benefits from its surroundings, and the hotel becomes more than just a backdrop. Exploring its three floors and gradually learning more about the people staying there gives the whole experience a strong neo-noir flavour.

A large part of the enjoyment comes from Sophie's willingness to investigate things that are really none of her business. Searching through belongings and inspecting rooms makes the player an active participant in her curiosity. There is something particularly satisfying about finding an apparently insignificant object and then realising that it has a connection to something else you have already discovered.

The puzzles are another positive. They generally strike a good balance, requiring you to search your surroundings and think about the information you have uncovered without becoming frustratingly difficult. The investigation feels more rewarding because the solutions usually come from paying attention rather than simply throwing arbitrary puzzle mechanics at the player.

The journal is particularly useful. As the investigation develops, it records Sophie's thoughts, information about characters and important clues, making it easier to keep track of the growing number of details. That is important in a story where several mysteries are developing at the same time.

The writing is also surprisingly strong. The dialogue is enjoyable and helps the characters feel like actual people rather than simply being there to deliver information to the player. The letters scattered around the hotel are especially effective. Even when they concern people you may never properly meet, they give those characters convincing personalities and complicated stories of their own.

The English voice acting complements this nicely. The performances do a good job of communicating the personalities and emotions of the characters, while the facial animation helps sell many of the conversations. Expressions are generally synchronised well with the dialogue, although this is not entirely consistent.

That inconsistency becomes more noticeable because some of the game's character animations can look poor at times. There are moments where movements lack polish, while some of the visual details around the hotel can look rather basic. Lip-syncing can also occasionally fall out of step with what is being said, which takes some of the shine off otherwise strong character interactions.

The sound design is another area where the game succeeds. Small sounds such as squeaking doors, keys, locks and the hotel elevator contribute considerably to the atmosphere. They help create a sense that something could be happening just around the corner, even when you are simply moving between rooms.

The game's biggest weakness is arguably its length. A typical playthrough can be completed in around three hours, depending on how thoroughly you explore and investigate. That makes it an easy game to get through over a couple of sittings, but it also means the experience can feel over before the player has had enough time with the world and its characters.

Some of the character backstories could also have benefited from greater development. The game introduces interesting people and gives you reasons to become invested in their lives, but not every character receives enough attention to make their individual stories feel fully explored.

The hint system is another minor irritation. It can be useful when you are genuinely stuck, but its suggestions can become repetitive. There are also occasions when important clues are surprisingly easy to miss, which can make progression feel more difficult than the actual puzzle solving deserves. Some of the controls are similarly sensitive, occasionally making interactions less precise than they should be.

The consequences attached to your decisions are perhaps the most important reason to return after completing the story. This Bed We Made gives your actions genuine significance. Doors you choose to open, information you uncover and the way you interact with other characters can influence how events unfold. Even seemingly mundane decisions can have consequences, which makes the player's curiosity feel like more than a simple gameplay mechanic.

The relationship system adds another layer to this. Sophie can form closer bonds with people around the hotel, including choosing between Beth and Andrew as her ally. Their different personalities and approaches to the investigation give the player another meaningful decision to make, while the possibility of seeing different outcomes provides a good reason to experience the story again.

This Bed We Made is ultimately a fun investigative story game that succeeds because of its writing, atmosphere and willingness to let the player influence the outcome. It does not have the scale or depth of the very best detective games, and its short length, occasional animation problems and uneven character development prevent it from reaching the highest tier.

However, there is a lot to like here. The mystery keeps building, the 1950s setting gives it an identity, the puzzles are well judged and the decisions genuinely matter. For anyone looking for a relatively short narrative experience built around investigation, character relationships and uncovering secrets, This Bed We Made is worth a look.

Score: 7 out of 10

Out Now on PlayStation

https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/concept/10008630

NEWS: Rayman Legends Retold Brings Ubisoft’s Platforming Icon Back This October

Images Courtesy of Ubisoft Press

By Jon Donnis

Ubisoft has unveiled Rayman Legends Retold, a reimagined version of its acclaimed platforming adventure, during Sony's latest State of Play presentation.

The new title is scheduled to launch on 1 October for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, Ubisoft+, GeForce Now and Blacknut, giving players across multiple platforms the chance to revisit the colourful world of Rayman.

Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and Ubisoft Milan, Rayman Legends Retold revisits the 2013 classic while introducing a fresh story, upgraded visuals and fully voiced cinematic sequences. The adventure sees Rayman and his companions returning to the Glade of Dreams, which has once again fallen under threat from a mysterious force spreading disorder across its many realms.

Players will be able to take control of familiar characters including Rayman, Globox, Barbara, Grand Minimus and Murphy. The game supports solo play as well as local co-operative action for up to four players.

According to Ubisoft, the new release expands on the original experience with an entirely new sixth realm, additional boss encounters and a host of hidden Teensies waiting to be rescued. Classic platforming mechanics return, allowing players to run, leap, glide and battle their way through a variety of imaginative environments.

"Rayman Legends Retold is our way of revisiting what makes Rayman so special, and re-telling that experience for a new generation of players," said Brand Producer Loïc Gounon. "We wanted to preserve everything fans love, and Legends gave us the perfect foundation to expand Rayman's lore, its world logic, and how everything connects together."

Alongside returning content, Ubisoft is introducing several new gameplay features. Players can tackle four original musical stages, soar through levels on dragon rides and test their abilities in the Cave of Trials. The Glade of Dreams itself has also been redesigned, featuring new encounters and additional secrets to discover.

Competitive mini-game Kung Foot is making a return as well, this time with refined controls, new power-ups and custom rule options aimed at extending its multiplayer appeal.

Music remains a major part of the Rayman experience, with the soundtrack blending returning fan favourites alongside newly composed material from Christophe Héral and Grant Kirkhope.

Rayman Legends Retold will be available from £39.99 for the Standard Edition. Ubisoft has also confirmed that every edition available for pre-order will include the Hoodlum Havoc Pack, featuring Rayman and Globox costumes inspired by Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc.

The Standard Edition includes the base game and Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition, an updated version of the original adventure featuring 4K resolution, 60 frames per second gameplay, additional collectibles and several quality-of-life improvements.

A digital-only Deluxe Edition will add the Retro Pack, containing four character costumes, alongside a digital art gallery. Retail buyers will also have access to a Launch Edition, which includes a printed Glade of Dreams map, a set of three lithographs and a collectible slipcase.

With new content, visual upgrades and expanded lore, Ubisoft is positioning Rayman Legends Retold as both a nostalgic return for long-time fans and a fresh starting point for a new generation of players.

Pre-Orders are open now! https://amzn.to/4vqEGWA

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: Guilty Gear Strive Version 2.0 - (2026 Video Game) by Arc System Works

Review by Jon Donnis

Arc System Works has never been shy about reinventing its flagship series, but Guilty Gear Strive Version 2.0 feels like a deliberate attempt to redraw the lines entirely. Marketed as a reconstruction rather than a simple update, it still carries the DNA of a franchise that has been evolving since 1998. What stands out immediately is how confidently it balances that legacy with a push towards something broader, cleaner, and more inviting.

The visual overhaul remains one of its strongest assets. The 2.5D presentation is striking without feeling excessive, blending hand drawn style with sharp modern rendering. During fights, the camera work adds a sense of drama that rarely lets up, especially when a wall break triggers and the entire stage shifts around you. It feels fluid, almost theatrical at times, and that sense of motion carries through to the animation itself, which is consistently smooth and expressive. There is a rhythm to it all that makes even simple exchanges feel impactful.

Sound plays a huge role in that rhythm. The rock soundtrack is relentless in the best way, pushing each match forward with a kind of urgency that suits the pace of the combat. It is loud, confident, and perfectly in tune with the chaos on screen. Combined with the visual flair, it creates an atmosphere that feels intense without becoming exhausting.

Underneath that presentation sits a combat system that demands patience. This is not a game that rewards careless button pressing for long. At first, it can feel stiff or even unforgiving, especially if you are not used to the genre. Moves require precision, timing matters, and defence is just as important as offence. The game does try to meet players halfway through its tutorial, mission, and training modes, all of which are surprisingly thorough. Spend time there and things begin to click. Combos start to flow, positioning makes sense, and the chaos becomes something you can control rather than just survive.

The new Wall Break mechanic adds a fresh layer to that control. Corner pressure has always been a staple of fighting games, but here it leads to dynamic stage transitions that reset the pace and shift momentum. It keeps matches from feeling too static and encourages a more aggressive, forward moving style of play.

Beyond the core fighting, there is a surprising amount to explore. The Combo Maker allows players to create and share sequences, turning practice into something almost communal. Digital Figure mode goes in a completely different direction, letting you stage scenes with characters, poses, and effects. It feels like a creative sandbox tucked inside a fighting game, and while not essential, it adds a layer of personality.

The Duel Tower online system is designed to match players by skill, dividing competitors across different floors. In theory, it works well, giving a sense of progression and keeping matches fair. In practice, there is an unavoidable barrier. Ranked online play sits behind a PlayStation Plus subscription, which will frustrate anyone hoping to jump straight into competitive matches without extra cost. There is plenty to do offline, including a branching arcade mode with character specific stories, but the restriction still feels unnecessary.

Cost becomes a recurring issue the deeper you go. The base game is reasonably priced, but unlocking the full roster through season passes quickly adds up. Factor in the subscription for online play and the total climbs steeply over time. For dedicated players, that investment might feel justified. For newcomers or casual fans, it is a harder sell.

The story, positioned as the conclusion to a long running narrative, is dense but engaging if you are already invested. Sol Badguy’s final conflict with Asuka R. Kreutz, alongside the chaos brought on by I No and Happy Chaos, brings a sense of closure that the series has been building towards for years. It leans heavily on its own history, which can make it difficult to follow for new players, but it does deliver a clear ending for its central character.

At its best, Guilty Gear Strive Version 2.0 is exhilarating. It looks incredible, sounds even better, and offers a combat system that rewards dedication. At its worst, it can feel overwhelming, both in terms of its on screen intensity and its overall cost. It asks a lot from its players, whether that is time, patience, or money.

Even so, there is no denying the craft on display. This is a polished, confident fighting game that knows exactly what it wants to be. It just does not make it easy for everyone to fully enjoy it.

Guilty Gear Strive Version 2.0 earns a solid 8 out of 10. It is a brilliant experience for those willing to commit, but the barriers around it stop it from being an easy recommendation for everyone.

Out Now on Playstation

https://amzn.to/4cRtSKM

Thank you to Arc System Works for the game key.