REVIEW: Gobliiins Collection (2026 Video Game) - on Nintendo Switch

Review by Jon Donnis

Gobliiins Collection arrives on Nintendo Switch in 2026 as a sizeable archive of puzzle adventure history, bringing together the first five entries in the long running series originally released on PC between 1991 and 2023. It presents itself less as a modern remake and more as a carefully preserved museum piece, and in that respect it largely succeeds.

What stands out immediately is how faithful the collection feels to the originals. These are not reinterpretations or softened reworks, but direct reproductions of the classic games, including multiple versions of the early entries such as MS DOS, CD-ROM and Macintosh builds. For anyone who remembers the series from its early days, there is a clear sense that the developers have tried to preserve the odd, slightly chaotic identity that defined Gobliiins from the start. The humour is intact, the tone remains stubbornly peculiar, and the puzzles still demand patience and lateral thinking in equal measure.

There is also a surprising amount of extra material included, which goes some way to broadening the appeal beyond nostalgia alone. The music player draws from all five games and offers a simple but effective way to revisit the series’ distinctive audio identity. The inclusion of 3D models of original packaging and a gallery of design documents adds a layer of archival interest that feels genuinely thoughtful rather than decorative. The documentary mini series, featuring a new interview with Pierre Gilhodes, co creator of Gobliiins, gives the package a human anchor that helps explain why these games still matter to a small but loyal audience.

On Switch, the games themselves translate reasonably well to console play. Point and click design has always been a tricky fit outside of a mouse driven environment, but the adaptation is serviceable enough that it rarely becomes a barrier. The underlying challenge remains intact, which will please long time players. These puzzles are still uncompromising, sometimes almost wilfully obscure, and that difficulty curve has not been softened for a modern audience. There is a charm in that stubbornness, even if it occasionally tips into frustration.

That said, the collection is not without its shortcomings. The omission of Gobliins 6: The Madmen of the Year 1000, released earlier in the same year, feels like a glaring gap in what is otherwise marketed as a comprehensive set. It is difficult not to see this as an oversight, particularly given the emphasis on completeness elsewhere in the package. There is also the simple reality that these games remain extremely tough by contemporary standards. What once felt like playful experimentation can now feel opaque, and not every player will have the patience to push through its more punishing moments.

Taken as a whole, Gobliiins Collection is best understood as a preservation project aimed squarely at returning fans and puzzle enthusiasts rather than newcomers. It captures the spirit of the original games with care, supports them with meaningful archival extras, and presents them in a convenient modern format. At the same time, it does little to smooth their rough edges or address the long standing difficulty spikes that defined the series from the beginning.

Gobliiins Collection ultimately feels like a well curated time capsule rather than a reinvention. For those who grew up with the series, it is an easy recommendation, even with its gaps and frustrations. For everyone else, it is a curious, often demanding glimpse into a very particular corner of puzzle game history. A solid 7 out of 10 still feels about right, balancing preservation, nostalgia and the occasional reminder that these games were never interested in being easy.

Out Now on Nintendo Switch

https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Gobliiins-Collection-3108751.html

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: Syberia - Remastered (2025 Video Game) - on Playstation 5

Review by Jon Donnis

Syberia Remastered arrives with a clear intention. It wants to let players experience Benoît Sokal's world with a modern polish while keeping the bones of the 2002 classic untouched. The result is a curious mix. It looks far better, it moves a little more smoothly, yet it still carries the quirks and charm of the original adventure. That will delight long time fans, although newcomers might find themselves wondering why some parts feel locked in a different era.

The visual overhaul is the star of the show. The updated graphics give the clockpunk world a crisp, almost storybook quality, and the reworked cutscenes sit nicely on a widescreen setup. The new camera movement adds a touch of fluidity that the original simply could not offer. There is something oddly comforting about stepping back into this world, meeting its eccentric cast, and settling into the slow burn of Kate Walker's journey from a New York lawyer on a routine job to a traveller chasing the dream of Hans Voralberg. Oscar shines again as a loyal companion, and the addition of a few fresh puzzles helps give returning players something extra to chew on.

The trouble begins once the game asks you to move around for any length of time. In 2002 this slower pace felt acceptable. In 2025 it borders on irritating. A run button would have softened things, especially when backtracking becomes part of the rhythm. The gameplay itself shows its age. It is functional and still has charm, but it sits at odds with the modern sheen of the visuals. The music is another weak point, sitting in the background without ever adding much atmosphere.

Syberia Remastered is a tricky one to judge. The essence of the original remains intact and the visual upgrade is impressive, yet the lack of deeper changes holds it back. It feels like a thoughtful preservation project rather than a bold reimagining. Fans of the first release will feel right at home. New players may wonder why the experience has not been rebuilt for today's expectations.

A classic returns with a cleaner face, though not quite a new soul. A generous 7 out of 10.

Out Now - https://amzn.to/4al6mVn

REVIEW: Simon the Sorcerer Origins (2025 Video Game) - On Xbox

Review by Jon Donnis

Three decades after Simon first insulted a goblin and bumbled through a magical world of sarcasm and spells, Simon the Sorcerer Origins proves that a classic can find new life without losing its soul. Developed by Smallthing Studios and published by ININ Games, this prequel takes us back to the weeks before the 1993 Amiga adventure, showing how the world's most reluctant sorcerer began his journey.

From the opening scene, it feels like coming home. The humour is unmistakably Simon, dry, biting, and perfectly British. Chris Barrie returns as Simon's voice, and hearing him slip effortlessly back into character is a joy. His timing is spot-on, and every line lands with the kind of warmth and wit that made the original such a cult hit.

The hand-drawn art style is gorgeous. It's full of detail and personality, with lush backdrops and expressive characters that look straight out of a storybook. There's something lovely about seeing a modern game embrace traditional animation in this way, and it gives every frame a touch of charm. The world feels alive, packed with odd wizards, talking beasts, and peculiar devices that constantly draw your eye.

In terms of gameplay, this is pure point-and-click comfort. The puzzles are cleverly designed, often testing both your logic and your patience. Some of them are tricky enough to make you question your intelligence for a while, but the sense of reward when you finally figure things out is exactly what you want from this kind of game. The dialogue and item combinations keep things light, and you can tell the team had fun writing all the absurd scenarios Simon finds himself in.

That said, playing on Xbox takes a bit of getting used to. The controls work fine, but it's hard to shake the feeling that this sort of game still feels best with a mouse. Navigating menus or interacting with smaller items can be fiddly with a gamepad, though switching between control options is quick enough. On the positive side, playing on a big TV really shows off the artwork and helps you get lost in the world.

If there's one thing that might test your patience, it's the puzzle difficulty. A few of them border on obscure, and the temptation to reach for an online guide is always lurking. But if you can resist that urge, the satisfaction of solving everything on your own is worth the effort.

Simon the Sorcerer Origins is a fine example of how to revive a classic properly. It doesn't try to reinvent what made the original special. Instead, it leans into its roots with care, delivering a funny, clever, and beautifully drawn adventure that feels both nostalgic and fresh. For fans of the series, it's everything you'd hope for. For newcomers, it's a charming introduction to one of gaming's great comic heroes.

A well-earned 9 out of 10. Here's hoping Simon's next spell isn't too far away.

Out Now on Xbox - https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/simon-the-sorcerer-origins/9nnm6qrczx76