REVIEW: Hot Wheels Let’s Race™: Ultimate Speed (2025 Video Game) - On Xbox

Review by Jon Donnis

Hot Wheels Let's Race: Ultimate Speed from Bamtang Games and GameMill isn't trying to be the next Forza or Gran Turismo. It's loud, colourful, and proudly aimed at the younger crowd who already adore the Netflix series it's based on. And in that regard, it mostly succeeds.

The first thing that hits you is how slick everything looks. The bright, looping tracks feel like they've been pulled straight off a living room carpet and dropped into a video game. Each course pops with colour, wild shapes, and over-the-top jumps that make even adults grin the first few times around. The cars themselves, from classics like the Super Twin Mill to the daftly charming Duck N' Roll, look fantastic and all have their own distinct handling quirks. It's the kind of game where even just picking your vehicle feels fun.

The handling is pure arcade. You'll be drifting around corners with ease, collecting flames, and boosting through loops before you know it. It's very forgiving, which makes sense given the target audience, but there's still a nice sense of speed and flow once you get the hang of it. Boss battles are a neat surprise too, especially when you're racing a giant cobra or dodging a fire-breathing dragon. They bring a bit of spectacle to the usual lap racing formula and help break up the action.

Track Builder mode is another highlight. It lets players create their own chaotic circuits filled with loops, jumps, and tight corners. It's not particularly complex, but it gives kids the freedom to make something that feels like their own. Add in four-player split-screen and you've got a setup that's perfect for family sessions, especially when siblings are involved.

Of course, it's not all perfect. If you're an older gamer hoping for a deep, skill-based racer, you'll be disappointed. The AI is simple, the challenges are fairly easy, and the whole experience is built to be accessible rather than demanding. There's also the fact that, outside of the Hot Wheels branding, it doesn't do much that's new. You've probably seen all these ideas before in other arcade racers, just dressed in different colours.

Still, that's not really the point. This is a kids' racer that does exactly what it sets out to do. It looks great, plays smoothly, and keeps little players entertained for hours. The £30+ price tag might raise an eyebrow for parents, but considering the quality and the tie-in appeal, it's hard to complain too much.

For younger players, Hot Wheels Let's Race: Ultimate Speed is fast, flashy, and genuinely fun. For everyone else, it's a charming but forgettable detour.

Score: 7/10

Out Now on Xbox, PS5 and Switch

https://amzn.to/4qslOVi

REVIEW: Reach (2025 VR Video Game) - On MetaQuest

Review by Jon Donnis

When a VR game makes you forget where you are, you know it's doing something right. Reach, from nDreams Elevation, is one of those rare experiences that aims high and mostly gets there. It blends shooting, climbing, and a touch of role-playing into a world that feels alive, dangerous, and genuinely inviting to explore.

The visuals are the first thing that strike you. It's easily one of the most impressive-looking games on MetaQuest, with sharp detail and light effects that give every space a sense of depth. The opening tutorial deserves credit too. It's clever, well-paced, and teaches the core mechanics without slowing the action.

Once you're set loose, the game shines brightest in motion. Parkour feels smooth and intuitive, from leaping across ledges to zip-lining through open stretches. Combat has an arcade feel, more forgiving than realistic, which keeps it fun rather than frustrating. The bow is a particular highlight, giving each encounter a nice rhythm between movement and aim.

Not everything hits the mark, though. Standing play feels unfinished. You can duck and crouch in real life, but the game still wants a button press to register it. It breaks the illusion a little, especially in moments where immersion should matter most. Motion sickness can also be an issue. Even with the comfort settings on, it can catch up with you if you're sensitive to it. Players used to VR movement will likely be fine, but it's something to be aware of.

Despite those small setbacks, Reach gets a lot right. It looks great, plays well, and feels built with care. The story has enough heart to keep you engaged, and the freedom of movement gives it a sense of adventure that few VR titles manage.

Reach might not redefine VR, but it proves how far it has come. It's confident, good-looking, and full of moments that make you glad you took the leap.

Score: 8/10

Out Now on MetaQuest

https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/reach/9707487579328855/

REVIEW: Moony: Black_Lotus (2025 Vide Game) by Icegrim Softwork

Review by Jon Donnis

Icegrim Softworks' Moony: Black_Lotus invites players into a world of corrupted memories and shattered identity, where a ruined city hums with mechanical ghosts of its past. It's a 2.5D side-scroller that blends traditional jump-n-run mechanics with puzzle solving and light stealth, framed by a hauntingly beautiful orchestral score. On paper, it's familiar territory. In practice, it's a moody and thoughtful experience that manages to charm, even if it occasionally stumbles.

The atmosphere is Moony: Black_Lotus's greatest triumph. The visual storytelling carries the weight of the game's mystery without the need for dialogue or exposition. Every flicker of shadow and echo of metal feels deliberate, pulling you into its dreamlike world. The environments, though restrained in palette, are textured with decay and memory. It's the kind of world that feels alive despite being long dead.

The live-recorded orchestral soundtrack deserves a spotlight of its own. It's rich, dynamic, and seamlessly adjusts to your actions. When the strings swell as you leap across crumbling platforms or fade to a lonely piano during quiet exploration, it hits with real emotion. It's a reminder that even smaller indie titles can reach cinematic heights with the right musical direction.

Gameplay is accessible and responsive. You'll be running, leaping, and solving environmental puzzles within minutes of starting. The introduction of special abilities such as teleportation or walking through barriers adds a welcome layer of complexity without overcomplicating the core flow. The stealth segments, while not revolutionary, bring tension and variety to the pacing.

That said, the genre is saturated. For every creative spark Moony: Black_Lotus offers, there's an unavoidable sense of déjà vu. It sits in the shadow of giants like Little Nightmares and Ori and the Blind Forest, which set a high bar for emotional storytelling and mechanical precision. Icegrim's effort doesn't quite reach those heights. 

Some sections suffer from mild repetition, particularly during climbing sequences where one small mistake sends you back through long, uneventful stretches. It's not difficult, just tiresome.

Still, there's heart here. The game's willingness to tell its story through imagery rather than dialogue gives it a poetic quality. It trusts the player to pay attention, to notice, to piece things together. That's rare, and it's refreshing.

Moony: Black_Lotus is a quietly compelling experience. It doesn't redefine its genre, but it doesn't need to. For those drawn to atmospheric platformers that whisper their stories instead of shouting them, this is a fine addition to the collection.

7.5 out of 10, Beautiful, moody, and familiar. Not groundbreaking, but well worth your time.

Out Now on PC (Steam) - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2900900/MOONYBlack_Lotus/

REVIEW: Motel Business Simulator (2025 Video Game) - on Playstation

Review by Jon Donnis

Motel Business Simulator, released in 2025 on PlayStation and published by Nostra Games, puts players firmly in the role of a motel manager. From the moment you step behind the front desk, the game tasks you with juggling housekeeping, guest satisfaction, and property upgrades. It is a straightforward management experience that keeps things simple, offering a glimpse into the logistics of running a roadside motel.

One of the game's strongest features is its addictive core loop. Cleaning rooms, furnishing them, and renting them out provides a satisfying rhythm, particularly during the early stages. The progression system, which includes achievements and opportunities to upgrade and expand the motel, adds a clear sense of purpose. For its price point, (£6.49) the game delivers good value, making it accessible for those looking for a casual management simulation.

On the other hand, the gameplay can become repetitive once the motel is fully operational. The early variety of tasks gradually gives way to a routine of repeating similar actions. Graphically, the game feels dated, with visuals that lack polish compared to other titles in the genre. Players seeking deeper management mechanics may find the options restrictive, as the game does not provide much beyond maintaining rooms, handling supplies, and keeping guests satisfied.

Motel Business Simulator is a decent, no-frills simulator. It offers enough engagement for a short playthrough or a casual gaming session, but it lacks the depth and variety to sustain longer-term interest. The straightforward approach is both a strength and a limitation, making it approachable but somewhat shallow for dedicated simulation fans.

Score: 6/10 - A simple, accessible management game that delivers a basic motel experience but lacks lasting depth.

Out Now on Playstation

https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/concept/10015006/

REVIEW: Sonic Wings Reunion (2025 Video Game) - For Nintendo Switch

Review by Jon Donnis

There's something oddly comforting about a game that still looks and feels like it just rolled out of a 90s arcade cabinet. Sonic Wings Reunion, or Aero Fighters Reunion if you prefer the Western name, is exactly that. A throwback to the days when your job was simple: fly up the screen, shoot anything that moves, and try not to blink.

I'll admit, as someone who sank hours into the SNES version back in the day, as well as spending a fair wodge of coin in the arcade game, firing this up gave me that instant jolt of nostalgia. The pixel art isn't trying to impress anyone, and maybe that's what I like about it. It's rough in places, sure, but it's faithful to what those games looked like. You can almost hear the hum of an arcade cabinet behind it.

To its credit, there's a decent amount packed in. You've got more than eight characters, each flying their own aircraft with little quirks, and eight stages that whisk you around the world in rapid bursts of colour and chaos. 

The local co-op is still a joy, especially if you've got someone who remembers how to weave through a wall of enemy fire. And the Tate Mode, where you can flip the screen into a proper vertical setup, is a thoughtful touch for purists.

But let's be honest, the price hurts. Somewhere between £25 and £33 for what's essentially an old-school shooter feels off. Nostalgia only stretches so far, and this one pushes it. The soundtrack doesn't help much either. It's serviceable, but there's not a single tune that sticks. You'll hear it once and forget it ten minutes later.

That said, I still found myself having a good time. Maybe that's habit talking, maybe it's comfort. There's something satisfying about that familiar panic when the screen floods with bullets and you somehow scrape through untouched. It's not thrilling in a modern sense, but it scratches a very specific itch.

Sonic Wings Reunion isn't going to win over anyone new, and maybe it doesn't care to. It feels made for the people who were there the first time round. I can't quite decide if that's charming or lazy, but it works well enough.

Score: 7 out of 10.

Out Now on Nintendo Switch

https://amzn.to/3W7oEkP