REVIEW: Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders (2025 Game) - On Xbox

Review by Jon Donnis

Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders, released in 2025 for Xbox, is a downhill skiing game that finds an interesting balance between challenging gameplay and a laid-back vibe. From the moment you start slicing through thick snow, gliding over icy lakes, or launching off jumps, the game feels like a fresh winter escape, especially with friends by your side.

One of the biggest new additions to this installment is the online multiplayer mode, which offers both cooperative and competitive play for 2 to 8 players, complete with multiplatform crossplay. You can work together to descend the mountain, sharing limited checkpoints carefully, or go head-to-head in a fast-paced race to the bottom. It's a neat way to bring the Lonely Mountains world to life in a social setting, even if the "Lonely" part of the title feels a bit at odds with this multiplayer focus.

Graphically, the game is excellent. The mountains look stunning, and the snowy landscapes are immersive, creating a convincing winter playground. The gameplay itself strikes a good balance: the faster you go, the more you need sharp reflexes to avoid wiping out, making it genuinely rewarding when you nail a run. For those who prefer to take it easy, the Freeplay mode removes the pressure of racing or beating times, letting you explore and enjoy the slopes at your own pace. This chilled-out option is a welcome counterbalance to the more intense challenges.

That said, the game isn't without flaws. The camera viewpoint, which the game controls, can sometimes become a real obstacle. It can make it difficult to see where you're headed, forcing you to rely on ski tracks from your previous attempts, which isn't always reliable. This can be frustrating, especially when precision is crucial. Additionally, once you've completed a track's challenges, there isn't much incentive to return to it in single-player mode, as the content feels limited. Given the game's relatively short length, about five hours to complete, the replay value is fairly low unless you're keen on multiplayer.

Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders is a solid and enjoyable game, though it could benefit from more content and variety. It's easy to imagine future downloadable content expanding the experience, though it's unlikely to be free. While the multiplayer feature adds a fun social layer, it somewhat contradicts the game's "lonely" theme. Despite these issues, the game remains a satisfying ride for anyone who loves skiing or simply wants a winter-themed challenge.

The game is fun, visually appealing, and offers a decent challenge, even if its brevity and camera quirks hold it back a bit. Overall, it's a good pick for a quick, enjoyable skiing experience on Xbox.

Out Now - https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/lonely-mountains-snow-riders/9pf3mc3v9q27

REVIEW: Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition (2025 Backworms Compatible Update)

Review by Jon Donnis

Twenty-five years after it first wriggled into the strategy game scene, Worms Armageddon returns in a newly packaged Anniversary Edition for the Nintendo Switch. First released in 1999 by Team17, this fan-favourite entry in the long-running Worms series is back with a faithful update that stays true to its original charm while adding a few welcome extras.

If you've never played it before, Worms Armageddon is a turn-based strategy game where players control teams of cartoon worms across destructible 2D landscapes. Every match becomes a mix of tactical play, slapstick humour and outright chaos, thanks to the game's huge arsenal of bizarre weapons. The Anniversary Edition brings all of that back, just as it was, but with better compatibility for modern displays and consoles.

One of the biggest additions is the digital museum, which acts as a playable tribute to the history of Worms. It features a timeline of the series and an interactive documentary, giving fans a look behind the scenes at how Worms Armageddon was made and how it fits into the wider legacy of Team17's work. The new edition also includes emulated versions of earlier Worms titles: the Game Boy Color version of Worms Armageddon, Worms World Party for Game Boy Advance, and the original Worms for both Super Nintendo and Mega Drive.

Gameplay-wise, not much has changed, and that's entirely the point. Each match is still played turn by turn, with one worm from each team acting at a time. Movement is deliberately clumsy in a way that adds to the tension, and combat remains a test of both precision and mischief. Players still get to pick from over 55 weapons and tools, from classics like the Bazooka and Holy Hand Grenade to the truly strange, such as the French Sheep Strike. There's also a cheat toggle for the fan-favourite 'Boggy B' code, which instantly unlocks all content if you want to dive straight in.

The single-player campaign includes over 40 missions, but the real joy of Worms is always in multiplayer. This version keeps popular features like Handicapping, Allied Teams and the infamous Worms Disease mode. Whether you're playing with friends on the sofa or solo against the AI, the balance between tactics and chaos is still exactly right.

What also makes this release stand out is the Backworms Compatible Update, a free addition that celebrates the visual styles of the series' early years. It includes 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit variations that tap into the nostalgia of older consoles, without taking anything away from the updated experience on Switch.

There's no gimmick here, no forced reinvention. This is Worms Armageddon as you remember it. And for those who were there the first time round, that's probably all they want. As someone who spent a good part of their teen years glued to the Amiga playing the original Worms, this version feels like a return to form. Worms Armageddon was where everything clicked. The physics, the tone, the pacing. Later versions tried to shake things up but never quite landed the same way.

Yes, the bonus versions from other consoles are a nice touch. You'll likely fire them up once for curiosity's sake, but it's the core 1999 game you'll keep coming back to. The humour still lands, the chaos still builds, and the satisfaction of a well-placed banana bomb is as good now as it ever was.

For new players, this is the ideal place to start. For returning fans, it's a reminder of why Worms Armageddon has never really gone away. And if you're still on the fence after all this time, ask yourself: if Worms Armageddon isn't in your collection yet, where have you been?

It might not be cheap, but it's hard to think of many games that have held up this well. A quarter of a century later, it still delivers.

Out Now on Nintendo Switch and all consoles.

https://amzn.to/4k8e46B

REVIEW: Antro (2025 Video Game) - On Playstation 5

Review by Jon Donnis

Antro wastes no time pulling you into its world. One minute you're watching Nittch, a cynical delivery runner scraping by in the lowest levels of a ruined underground city. The next, you're sprinting through a collapsing tunnel to a pounding hip hop beat, every jump and dodge locked to the rhythm of the track. This is a game that knows exactly what it wants to be. Stylish, bleak, and fast.

Set in a post-collapse future where humanity survives in the dark strata beneath Barcelona, Antro throws you into a society split by class and crushed by a totalitarian regime known as the Dome. Music is banned, art is gone, and the city is split into layers where the poor suffer and the powerful control, basically a Communist hell hole. You play as Nittch, alone and bitter, until a routine delivery sends him colliding with a rebellion known as the Discordants. From there, it's a mix of exploration, puzzle solving, and sharp, unforgiving parkour, all driven by a soundtrack that never stops moving.

The game shifts between control styles in clever ways. Some levels let you explore at your own pace, solving environmental puzzles and absorbing the atmosphere as well as finding collectables. Others throw you into autorun segments where every jump, slide or wall-hop has to be timed to the music. One mistake and you're back to the start. It's frustrating in the right kind of way, and when it clicks, it feels great. The rhythm puzzles are also well executed, asking you to press buttons in sync with the beat. They're simple, but satisfying.

What really gives Antro its edge is the music. The blend of Spanish hip hop, drill, R&B and electronic tracks gives each level its own identity, and helps tell the story without saying much at all. The sound design ties into the gameplay closely, not just guiding your actions but shaping the emotional weight of each scene. It's a rare case where the soundtrack isn't just a feature, it's the spine of the game.

The biggest problem is that it's all over far too soon. You can finish the entire game in just over an hour, maybe closer to two if you take your time or replay sections. At £13 on PlayStation 5, that feels like a steep ask for something that ends before it really finds its groove. There's a free demo that captures the tone and mechanics well, and honestly, it gives you most of what the full game offers. That's a shame, because the potential here is obvious.

Some players might also prefer more traditional control. The sections where you guide Nittch freely through the city are the most engaging. They're slower, more thoughtful, and let you appreciate the world building. The autorun levels look great and feel intense, but the trial-and-error loop can get tiring fast. If you've played something like American Arcadia, you might find yourself wishing Antro leaned more in that direction.

Still, there's no denying the creativity on display. The visuals are bold, the setting is rich, and the way the music feeds into the action makes it stand out. Antro delivers something memorable, even if it ends too soon.

It's an easy game to recommend to fans of rhythm-based gameplay or anyone looking for something short and striking. Just know what you're getting. I score Antro a solid 7 out of 10. The ideas are strong, the execution is sharp, but the length holds it back from being something more.

Antro is out now on PS5

https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/product/EP6325-PPSA26056_00-0760564794314778

Thank you to Selecta Play for providing the game key.

REVIEW: Xiaomi Smart Band 10 (2025 Release) - Smarter, Sharper, and Surprisingly Stylish

Images provided by Xiaomi Press

Review by Jon Donnis

With each new version, Xiaomi's smart bands edge closer to full smartwatch territory. The Smart Band 10 continues that trend. It's not just another fitness tracker. It's a polished, well-designed wearable that leans into style and customisation without ditching the fundamentals. Now that it's landed in the UK, it arrives with a sense of purpose and a price that undercuts most of the competition.

Right away, the 1.72-inch AMOLED display makes a strong impression. It's bigger than ever, but still sleek on the wrist. The 326 PPI resolution and 1500 nits brightness make everything pop. Texts are sharp, colours punch through, and the 60Hz refresh rate makes swiping feel fluid, not jittery. This display doesn't just look good in a shop window. It holds up in real life too, whether you're checking a notification in bright sunlight or skipping tracks mid-run. The 2mm bezels are barely noticeable. It's one of the rare bands that genuinely looks good worn every day.

There's some surprising versatility baked in too. The new Pearl White ceramic option feels premium. The band now supports four different wearing styles, including a pearl-chain pendant. That alone makes it stand out in a sea of plastic fitness trackers. With over 200 watch faces and even a few interactive mini-games, there's a definite sense that Xiaomi wants this to feel like more than a data collector.

As for performance, it holds its own. With 150+ workout modes, from running to rowing to things like zumba, it caters for casual users and data obsessives alike. Six of those modes are automatically detected, which removes the need for constant fiddling. The upgraded swim tracking is impressive, not just for the real-time heart rate monitoring, but for how reliably it counts laps. A 9-axis motion sensor helps here. The 5ATM rating means you can confidently take it into the pool without babying it.

Heart rate, stress, SpO₂, and sleep tracking are all here, and done well. What's new this time is a deeper dive into sleep quality. Xiaomi's added sleep efficiency and distribution metrics. These sound like minor tweaks, but they're useful if you're trying to spot patterns. It also kicks off a 21-day sleep improvement programme that ties in with guidance from sleep medicine experts. This might be one of the first smart bands to feel like it's genuinely trying to improve your habits, not just collect numbers.

Battery life continues to be one of Xiaomi's strongest cards. The 233mAh cell lasts up to three weeks in regular use. It still manages around nine days with the always-on display active. You only need an hour to fully charge it. That's rare for a device in this price range. It's the kind of battery performance that means you just stop thinking about it, which is how it should be.

Smart features are well integrated. It connects easily to Xiaomi HyperOS 2 devices. Even outside that ecosystem, syncing with a smartphone is straightforward. Notifications show up reliably. You can reply with short custom messages, and there's a precision linear motor inside that gives some surprisingly decent haptic feedback. It also supports silent mode toggles, calendar syncing, and real-time Bluetooth heart rate broadcasting to compatible devices. That opens up its usefulness beyond solo workouts.

Comfort is another strong point. Even with the bigger display, the band doesn't feel bulky or awkward. Whether you go for the TPU strap options in Black, Silver, or Rose, or the more premium Ceramic version with a Fluororubber strap, it sits snugly without digging in. At £39.99 for the standard model or £54.99 for the upgraded edition, the value is hard to argue with.

The Xiaomi Smart Band 10 doesn't just meet expectations. It quietly exceeds them. It connects without hassle, looks better than you'd expect, and delivers meaningful health and fitness insights without overcomplicating things. You'd be hard-pressed to find another band this complete at this price. If you're in the market for something that balances cost, features, and style, it's probably the easiest recommendation around.

Out Now at https://www.mi.com/uk/product/xiaomi-smart-band-10/

Thank you to Xiaomi for providing a review sample.

REVIEW: Hidden Pictures: Agent Q (2025 MetaQuest VR Game) - A Clever and Charming VR Puzzle Adventure

Review by Jon Donnis

Hidden Pictures: Agent Q is one of those rare games that knows exactly what it wants to be. It's light-hearted but smart, playful without feeling shallow, and surprisingly rich in detail for something that invites you to explore tiny floating worlds. Designed for Meta Quest, this single-player VR puzzle game combines hidden object challenges, narrative progression, and a bit of collectable hunting, all set inside vibrant dioramas that appear in your home through mixed reality.

You take on the role of Agent Q, an elite operative from B.A.R.D., whose mission is to stop the Tumai, a group of space pirates trying to steal powerful Galaxy Orbs. These orbs have been shattered and scattered across more than sixty miniature planets. Each one has its own distinct theme, from Western towns and Halloween haunts to futuristic cities and cluttered museum exhibits.

At first glance, it seems simple. You search each world for items, clues, or fragments of the Galaxy Orbs. But it quickly becomes more involved. The locals in each setting, called Muddles, often have requests. They might hold up an item they want you to find, or ask you to complete a task in exchange for a clue. It's a smart way of pushing you to examine each world more closely, encouraging you to look behind buildings, rotate the entire level, or zoom in on the tiniest of details.

The game's presentation is one of its biggest strengths. The visuals are colourful and full of character. The Muddles have an odd, friendly design that makes them feel like animated toys, while each environment is packed with tiny moving parts. It's not just decorative. Almost everything you see might be a part of a puzzle, a hint, or a collectible. And thanks to the mixed reality system, these worlds can be placed right into your real space. Whether you're sitting or standing, you can adjust the game height, lean in to inspect objects, or simply move around the scene as if it's a living model on your table.

The game has multiple modes. Adventure Mode lets you work through the main story, exploring each level at your own pace. Puzzle Mode gives you timed challenges that lean more towards memory, observation, and logic. Then there's Boss Mode, which introduces the Tumai pirates in more dramatic scenes. These are bigger, louder encounters that shift the rhythm of the game just enough to keep things exciting.

There's also a strong collecting element. Each world hides one Tumai pirate, and once you catch them, they're added to your pirate collection. The same goes for the Muddles, many of whom have their own unique look or role in the story. It gives the game a satisfying sense of progress, even if you're only playing in short bursts.

In terms of difficulty, the game builds things up well. Early puzzles are straightforward and help you get used to how the controls work. Later stages require more observation and problem-solving, with some levels asking you to juggle multiple tasks at once. There's also the occasional rhythm mini-game, which works well enough, though it might not appeal to everyone. Fortunately, it doesn't overshadow the core gameplay.

The puzzles themselves are the right mix of relaxing and stimulating. Nothing ever feels like a chore. You're always nudged gently toward the solution, either by a character's comment or a visual clue. The satisfaction comes from figuring things out without being told exactly what to do.

Easy to pick up whether you're new to VR or already comfortable in that space. The interface is clean, the pacing is calm, and the tone is warm throughout.

Hidden Pictures: Agent Q is a strong addition to the growing catalogue of thoughtful, well-designed VR games. It's suitable for players of all ages, and while it leans into fun and whimsy, it still delivers meaningful interaction. The game understands how to use space, movement, and curiosity to keep you engaged.

Score: 9 out of 10

Imaginative, accessible, and packed with smart details. A rewarding experience that feels just as good for a quick session as it does for a long sit-down play.

Out Now on MetaQuest

https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/hidden-pictures-agent-q/6494700220578310/

Thank you to Newmatic Co., Ltd. for providing the game key.