REVIEW: Monopoly: Star Wars™ Heroes vs. Villains (2026 Video Game) on PlayStation 5

Review by Jon Donnis

Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs Villains is one of those games that is likely to divide opinion before players even reach the first match. The reason is simple. Despite carrying the Monopoly name, this is not a traditional digital version of the famous board game. Anyone expecting classic Monopoly with a Star Wars coat of paint is likely to be surprised by just how different this experience actually is.

Instead of focusing on buying properties, collecting rent and driving opponents into bankruptcy, Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs Villains takes a team-based approach. Players join forces in competitive 2v2 and 3v3 matches, selecting characters from across the Star Wars universe and using their unique abilities to gain the upper hand. Battles, changing property ownership and dynamic events all play a major role, creating a game that feels very different from what the Monopoly name would normally suggest.

For Star Wars fans, there is plenty to enjoy. The presentation is excellent throughout. The graphics are fantastic, with characters and locations looking great, while the sound effects and voice overs feel accurate to the licence. The game does a good job of capturing the atmosphere of Star Wars, helping to make the matches feel more engaging.

The large number of unlockables also adds some extra motivation to keep playing. There is always something new to work towards, which helps give the game a sense of progression beyond simply winning matches. Another welcome feature is the ability to choose the length of games. This allows players to tailor the experience to the amount of time they have available, making it possible to enjoy shorter sessions rather than being locked into a lengthy gaming marathon.

Where Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs Villains performs best is when it is played with other people in the same room. Local multiplayer is clearly where the game shines. Having friends or family gathered around creates a far more entertaining experience than playing alone, and the team-based gameplay feels designed with this sort of setting in mind.

Unfortunately, the game becomes less impressive when there are no human players involved. Single-player matches against AI opponents are simply not much fun. A lot of time is spent waiting for computer-controlled players to take their turns, and while there are some options to skip parts of their actions, they only go so far. The result is a mode that often feels slow and lacks the energy that makes multiplayer enjoyable.

There are also some limitations that may disappoint certain players. The absence of a 1 vs 1 mode feels like a missed opportunity, especially for those who prefer direct competition. Online multiplayer is available, but PlayStation users will need an active PlayStation Plus subscription to access it, creating an additional barrier for anyone planning to play primarily online.

The menus are another weak point. Setting up games and selecting players can be more confusing than it should be. The layout is not always clear, and navigating through the options can feel unnecessarily awkward.

The biggest issue facing Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs Villains is expectation. Many players will approach the game expecting Monopoly with Star Wars characters and locations. That is not what they are getting here. This is a reimagined version of Monopoly that takes the basic idea and builds something very different around it. Players who specifically want a faithful Monopoly experience may well come away disappointed.

On the other hand, players looking for a fresh take on the formula, particularly those who enjoy Star Wars and regularly play with friends, may find a lot to like. The strong presentation, unlockable content and flexible game lengths all work in its favour, while the multiplayer-focused design delivers its best moments when real people are involved.

This is ultimately a difficult game to score because so much depends on what the player wants going in. Fans of classic Monopoly may struggle with the changes, while Star Wars fans looking for a social multiplayer experience are likely to have a better time. It is certainly not a game built around single-player content, and the requirement for PlayStation Plus for online play will not appeal to everyone.

Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs Villains succeeds more as a Star Wars party game than as a Monopoly game. If you understand that before you start, there is fun to be found. If you are hoping for traditional Monopoly, you may want to look elsewhere.

Score: 7 out of 10.

Out Now on PlayStation 5

https://amzn.to/3QT7Mzg

REVIEW: Sudden Strike 5 (2026 Video Game) on PlayStation 5

Review by Jon Donnis

Sudden Strike 5 arrives on PS5 as a large scale real time tactics experience set firmly in the Second World War, pushing players into sprawling battlefield scenarios where timing, positioning and planning matter just as much as raw firepower. Built around a campaign spanning 25 missions across Europe and North Africa, it offers a sizeable package, backed by more than 300 units and a focus on layered strategic options. On paper, it is the kind of game that rewards patience and careful thought, with every engagement designed to feel like a puzzle of movement, supply lines and opportunity.

One of the game’s clearer strengths is how it leans into moment to moment battlefield storytelling.

"Somewhere near Remagen, Germany

We’ve just taken the bridge at Remagen, made a breakthrough they never saw coming. Speed was our ally. The day was chill, no snow luckily, but nevertheless our breath was forming clouds in the crisp air. And yet, we took to action, flanked their Pak 40 positions with our Shermans, locked down the east bank with a barrage by 75mm M1 Howitzer and pushed forward before they could react.

The whole thing was wired to blow, but we moved too fast. They didn’t have time. This wasn’t about firepower, but timing. Planning. Discipline. Every move counted, and we made it to the other side! This could well be the beginning of the end for this gruesome war."

In terms of gameplay depth, there is plenty to appreciate for genre veterans. The sheer variety of units, from Sherman tanks and T 34s to German Messerschmitt fighters, gives battles a broad tactical palette. Capturing and holding key points such as depots and rail stations adds an extra layer of decision making, while commander abilities allow for small but meaningful shifts in strategy. The camera flexibility also helps, allowing a wider strategic overview or a closer look at frontline engagements, which suits the scale the game is aiming for.

The problems begin when the game asks too much of the player too quickly. The tutorial is limited, and the learning curve is steep enough that newcomers are likely to feel lost within the first few missions. Rather than easing players into its systems, it assumes familiarity with the series and with RTS conventions more broadly. This makes the opening hours feel more like trial by fire than structured learning, which can be off putting for anyone without prior experience in the franchise. On top of that, the visual presentation struggles to justify its price point, with graphics that feel underwhelming for a modern £45 release on PS5.

Ultimately, Sudden Strike 5 is a demanding and intricate RTS that clearly knows its audience. It is detailed, methodical and often rewarding when everything clicks, but it is also unwelcoming to anyone outside its established player base. The complexity is part of its identity, yet it comes at the cost of accessibility. For experienced RTS players, there is likely a deep and challenging system to master here, but for newcomers it can feel overwhelming and poorly introduced. As a result, it lands at a 6.5 out of 10, interesting in design, but difficult to fully embrace.

Out Now for £44.99 on PS5

https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/concept/10012979

REVIEW: The Boss Gangster: Criminal Empire (2026 Video Game) - Out On Early Access on Steam

Review by Jon Donnis

The Boss Gangster: Criminal Empire sits in that hybrid space between simulation, RPG and open world crime strategy, where management and mayhem are constantly pulled together. It builds its identity around the idea of running a glamorous nightclub empire while also steering a criminal operation that stretches into gang wars, bribery and street level control. It is an early access release, and that context matters when judging how far it currently reaches and where it still stumbles.

At its best, the game presents a clear and easy to grasp loop. You meet the main figure of authority, take on some starting funds, and begin building your nightclub empire from the ground up. From there, it expands into hiring staff, improving your venue and managing the flow of guests and money. It never feels overly complicated in those early hours, and there is a certain satisfaction in how quickly it lets you get into the rhythm of building and upgrading.

The presentation also helps carry the experience. The top down view will feel familiar to anyone who remembers older crime management games such as Gangsters Organized Crime. There is a similar sense of overseeing a living system from above, watching your influence spread across a city that feels like it is constantly shifting between business and violence. Visually, it does enough to make the world readable and appealing, and the soundtrack, made up of custom in game tracks, does a solid job of supporting the nightlife atmosphere without becoming intrusive.

Where it becomes more ambitious is in its mix of systems. The game pushes you to juggle club management with criminal activity, from handling VIP guests and running your venue to dealing with rival gangs, illegal trading and corrupt officials. It wants you to move between legitimate business and organised crime almost seamlessly, and when it flows properly, that combination gives the game its identity. There is a clear attempt to make your decisions matter across both sides of the empire you are building.

It is also worth noting how straightforward the core structure feels at its best. You are essentially growing a business while building a criminal family, assigning roles, upgrading your influence and expanding into new areas of the city. There is a sense of progression that is easy to follow, even when the systems begin to stack up.

However, the early access label is impossible to ignore, especially when it comes to usability. The controls are one of the biggest barriers right now, feeling fiddly and inconsistent in places. There is also a surprising lack of clarity around them, with no option to review controls in the menu, which leads to unnecessary confusion early on. Even simple things like adjusting the viewpoint take longer than they should, which interrupts what is otherwise a fairly smooth gameplay loop.

There are also moments where the ambition outpaces the current polish. The idea of switching between nightclub management and open world missions without loading screens is strong on paper, but in practice the experience can feel uneven depending on what you are doing at any given time. It is a game that clearly has systems with potential, but they are still settling into place.

As it stands, The Boss Gangster: Criminal Empire feels like a solid foundation rather than a finished statement. It has a strong concept, a readable structure and enough variety in its systems to suggest something much bigger underneath. The presentation and atmosphere already work in its favour, even when the mechanics are not fully refined.

There is a good game here waiting for more time and development to bring everything into sharper focus. It is ambitious, occasionally messy, but built on an idea that is strong enough to carry it forward if the rough edges are smoothed out.

Out Now on Early Access

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2774040/The_Boss_Gangster_Criminal_Empire/

REVIEW: Build a Bridge (2025 Video Game) - By BoomBit

Review by Jon Donnis

BoomBit's 2025 puzzle game Build a Bridge is a celebration of creativity, problem-solving, and the occasional spectacular failure. From the very first level, it makes clear that this is a sandbox where players can be meticulous engineers or wild inventors, experimenting with ideas and learning through trial and error. Every level offers a chance to craft a bridge that works perfectly or watch it collapse in a brilliantly entertaining way. The satisfaction of seeing a blueprint turn into a functioning structure is immense, and the game does a fantastic job of making both success and failure equally rewarding.

Players face a variety of environments and vehicles, from standard cars and buses to trucks and monster trucks, all testing the strength and ingenuity of your designs. The game's 2D planning phase allows for precise design using wood, metal, and cables, each with its own physical properties, before watching your construction come alive in a stylised 3D mode. The physics engine is remarkably reliable, making each collapse feel natural rather than forced, and the game's visual clarity ensures every bridge, every vehicle, and every fall is easy to follow and enjoy. The 86 levels offer a smooth progression in difficulty, and optional extra challenges push players to revisit previous levels, adding an extra layer of depth for those chasing full completion. Challenges might involve building within a budget, testing how much of a bridge can fail while still succeeding, or other clever twists that keep players thinking creatively.

What truly sets Build a Bridge apart is its accessibility. Unlike some puzzle games that punish experimentation, this one encourages it. Players can approach levels with a careful, analytical mindset or dive in with reckless enthusiasm, knowing that each failure is a lesson rather than a setback. The game balances fun and challenge well, offering a relaxed mode for casual experimentation alongside the more demanding standard puzzles. The design encourages creativity while maintaining a sense of structure, ensuring that even the more complex levels remain approachable and satisfying.

However, Build a Bridge is not without its limitations. The bridge-building genre is crowded, with a long list of competing titles, many of which follow similar principles. This makes true originality a challenge, and while the game executes its concept exceptionally well, it does not reinvent the wheel. Players seeking something radically new might find themselves longing for a fresh mechanic or narrative element beyond the established formula. Despite this, the game's polish, level design, and balance of creativity and challenge make it one of the stronger entries in the genre.

Build a Bridge is a thoroughly enjoyable puzzle experience that rewards ingenuity, patience, and a sense of fun. Its combination of precise engineering challenges, playful experimentation, and satisfying physics-based results creates a game that is easy to pick up but endlessly engaging. The graphics, physics, and level design are all top-notch, and the optional challenges provide plenty of replayability. While it lacks a truly original twist to distinguish it from its competitors, it more than makes up for this with sheer enjoyment and accessibility. For anyone who loves puzzles, design, or watching glorious collapses, Build a Bridge is hard to beat. I would give it a solid 8.5 out of 10, with only the crowded market and lack of true originality holding it back from a higher score.

Out Now on Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/694110/Build_a_Bridge/