REVIEW: Echoes of the End: Enhanced Edition (2025 Video Game) - On Xbox

Review by Jon Donnis

Echoes of the End had a rough start last August, but the overhaul that arrived with the Enhanced Edition feels like the work of a studio that actually listens. Myrkur Games took every gripe to heart and rebuilt the game from the inside out. That effort shows the moment you step back into Ryn's shoes. Combat feels sharper, animations flow with far more confidence, and the new difficulty options finally let players decide how tough they want the journey to be. It all sits within a world shaped by Iceland's raw beauty, where glaciers and volcanic light give every chapter a sense of scale and danger.

The story carries a steady pull. You guide Ryn, a powerful vestige whose ancient magic is tied to a homeland on the brink of collapse, as she sets out to rescue her brother and face the conflict closing in around her. Abram serves as a grounded presence throughout. He fights with you, supports you in battles, and brings a bruised history that adds weight to their partnership. Their bond forms the heart of the narrative. It grows in small moments during quiet travel as much as in the chaos of combat, and the improved pacing makes their journey flow more naturally than it did at launch.

The biggest change lies in the moment to moment fighting. Sword strikes hit harder, parries land with a clear rhythm, and Ryn's magic feels genuinely dangerous. You can throw enemies into hazards, drain their strength to survive a tight scrap, or chain abilities across four upgrade paths that let you shape your approach. Abram's abilities complement yours by knocking enemies off balance or creating the perfect opening for a finishing blow. It all feels precise and satisfying.

Exploration sticks to a linear structure, which may disappoint those expecting an open world. The crafted path still looks stunning though. Each environment stands apart with its own visual identity and puzzle mechanics, from energy powered ruins to warped volcanic chambers. The platforming sections give a welcome burst of movement and variety. You leap across broken ground, twist through odd gravity shifts, and use Ryn's growing magical tricks to reach new spaces. Hidden chests add a bit of incentive to poke around side paths, even if you never wander too far from the main route.

Character work remains the area that holds the game back. Ryn's personality can feel harsh in ways that make her harder to connect with, and the script never quite digs deep enough into what drives her. The supporting cast also could have used more time to breathe. It is telling that the landscapes feel richer than some of the people you meet along the way. The story still entertains, but you get the sense that a little more patience with character development would have lifted the whole thing.

Get past that and you find a confident action adventure that looks gorgeous and plays even better. The upgrade system is generous, the outfits and relics add genuine variety to your builds, and the New Game Plus option gives the combat depth more room to shine once you have mastered the basics. The Journey difficulty is a smart touch for newcomers, offering a smoother introduction without stripping away tension.

Echoes of the End is still a linear experience with no side quests, so what you see is what you get. The difference now is that what you get is genuinely good. The Enhanced Edition turns an underwhelming release into a polished and engaging adventure, carried by its striking world, improved flow, and tight combat.

I had a great time with it from start to finish, and I would happily recommend it. A solid 8.5 out of 10.

Out Now on Xbox - www.xbox.com/echoes-of-the-end

PREVIEW: Mini Shopkeeper (2026 Video Game) - By David Moralejo Sánchez

Every once in a while, a game appears that takes a familiar idea and gives it a clever new shape. Mini Shopkeeper, from solo developer David Moralejo Sánchez, seems to be exactly that. Best known for Outpath and the Himno series, Sánchez has built a following for creating calm, satisfying worlds where small actions lead to big results. His next project carries that same spirit into an unusual place, your taskbar.

The idea is quietly brilliant. Mini Shopkeeper is an idle management sim that runs from your desktop. While you get on with your day, a tiny medieval shop operates at the bottom of your screen. You can check in whenever you like to restock shelves, hire workers, or send adventurers out for materials. It’s meant to sit in the background, ticking along as you go about other tasks. You’ll earn money, improve your shop, and gradually revive the surrounding town without ever needing to keep the game open full screen.

There’s a strong sense of depth beneath its cosy surface. Players can decorate their shops to attract different customers, each with their own preferences and budgets. You’ll haggle for the best prices, assign shifts to staff, craft and upgrade items, and even recruit regulars to go on expeditions for rare goods. As your shop grows, the wider city benefits too, unlocking new systems and upgrades that boost your business further. It’s an appealing loop of progress that rewards both careful planning and relaxed play.

Visually, Mini Shopkeeper carries the same bright, friendly style that has defined Sánchez’s earlier work. The pixel art is crisp, and the colours are warm without being overwhelming. Even the smallest details, help bring life to the world. It feels built to charm rather than impress, and that works perfectly for a game designed to be glanced at between emails or browser tabs.

If there’s a downside, it’s that this might be a little too addictive for its own good. Having a game quietly running while you work is asking for distraction. A quick check on your sales could easily turn into twenty minutes of tweaking prices and adjusting staff schedules. But perhaps that’s part of its appeal. The idea of a living shop quietly thriving on your desktop while you get on with your day feels oddly comforting.

Based on what’s been shown so far, Mini Shopkeeper has the potential to be one of 2026’s most charming indie titles. The blend of idle mechanics, shopkeeping, and light automation looks like a perfect fit for anyone who enjoys gentle, background-friendly games. If it delivers on its promise, it could change how we think about idle sims altogether.

Mini Shopkeeper is set for release in early 2026 on Steam, and it’s absolutely one to watch. It might be small in size, but it could leave a surprisingly large mark.

The Steam page is live now, so go and Wishlist the game now!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3868550/Mini_Shopkeeper/

Thanks to David  for getting in touch about the game, it is definitely one we are looking forward to here at GCP.

NEWS: XREAL’s One Series and Beam Pro: The Future of AR Lands in Everyday Life

By Jon Donnis

Augmented reality has spent years hovering on the edge of mainstream use, waiting for the hardware to catch up to the promise. That moment might finally have arrived. XREAL, one of the most ambitious names in AR, has pushed the technology forward with its new One Series glasses and Beam Pro companion device. They don't just showcase clever engineering. They show how AR can slip quietly into daily life, changing how we work, play and connect.

The XREAL One and One Pro are, at a glance, sleek and wearable, nothing like the bulky headsets that gave early AR a bad name. The One Pro offers a wide 57° field of view, effectively giving you the experience of sitting in front of a 17-foot screen. The visuals are bright too, hitting 700 nits of perceived brightness, with the added bonus of adjustable lens transparency so you can fade the real world in and out as needed. It's a touch of cinematic immersion wherever you are, and at 87 grams, they feel surprisingly light.

Inside, XREAL's own X1 spatial processor drives the experience, handling real-time rendering without relying on a phone or laptop. It also delivers true 3-degree-of-freedom tracking, meaning your head movements are tracked naturally and without lag. Sound has been tuned by Bose, which makes a noticeable difference when you're watching films, gaming, or taking video calls. The design also includes modular options like the XREAL Eye first-person camera and Kaleido Frame snap-on finishes, letting users customise both look and function.

While the One Series glasses offer the showpiece experience, the XREAL Beam Pro quietly anchors the system. It's a handheld spatial computing device, designed to unlock the full potential of the glasses. Think of it as a compact, AR-ready smartphone that runs NebulaOS (based on Android 14) and can project millions of apps straight into your field of view. The Beam Pro houses a Snapdragon spatial companion processor, dual 50-megapixel 3D cameras for capturing depth and motion, and an impressive 6.497-inch LCD display with 1080 x 2400 resolution.

Connectivity is solid, with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and USB-C for charging and connecting your glasses. The 4300mAh battery supports up to 27W charging, and with up to 1TB of external storage, there's room for everything from films to design files. It's water and dust resistant (IP54 rated), and the cameras offer electronic image stabilisation and wide-angle correction. Basically, it's built to handle both your daily commute and your next creative project.

What's exciting about XREAL's current line is how it finally brings AR into practical use. You can browse the web, watch films, play games, or use it for productivity on a plane, train or sofa, without needing a screen in sight. It's the kind of tech that feels futuristic, yet instantly usable.

And with XREAL cutting prices from 20 November through 1 December, it's an easy time to get in on it. The One starts at $399 (down from $499), the One Pro drops to $599, and the Beam Pro now starts at $159 for the Wi-Fi 128GB model. It's rare to see innovation that's this accessible.

AR has been chasing its breakout moment for years, but XREAL might have finally nailed the formula. The One Series and Beam Pro don't just promise the future, they make it look effortless.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday: Up to $100 Off XREAL AR Glasses, remember to wait for the offers to go live from 20 November through 1 December to get the best prices.

You can purchase from Amazon UK at https://amzn.to/4i6KfUR (aff)

And from Amazon US at https://amzn.to/47LPxAe (aff)

REVIEW: Racer Overdrive (2026 Video Game) - A Flashy Throwback That Needs Fine-Tuning

Review by Jon Donnis

Racer Overdrive, the upcoming 2026 arcade racer from IntActive, is a game that wears its influences on its sleeve. It's loud, brash and packed with enough colour and chaos to keep adrenaline junkies glued to the screen. Beneath the noise, though, it's a familiar experience that struggles to balance its nostalgic energy with modern polish.

The premise is pure arcade fantasy. You start as a rookie desperate to prove yourself, climbing the ranks of a global racing tournament that hops between Japan, China, America, Europe and Africa. There's a storyline too, which is rare for this kind of game. It adds a layer of intrigue with talk of rogue AIs, mysterious conspiracies and cyber-races that take you beyond traditional circuits. It's over-the-top but enjoyable, giving the endless tournaments a clearer sense of purpose.

Where Racer Overdrive shines is in its sense of speed. The drift system, once mastered, can deliver some genuinely satisfying moments. Pulling off a clean corner before blasting past rivals with a nitro boost feels great, and the catch-up system means races never feel decided too early. Even when you're behind, the game gives you just enough power to keep hope alive. The variety of modes also helps. Standard races, eliminations, and duels keep the pace fresh, while quirky side missions, like assisting police chases or starring in a sci-fi movie, add personality.

The problem is that everything looks and feels dated. Visually, it's more 2010 than 2026. Lighting effects and particle bursts do their best to liven things up, but most environments look flat and lack detail. For a game built around spectacle, it needs sharper edges and more style. The controls also leave something to be desired. There's almost no point braking during corners, as the drift mechanic dominates everything. Unfortunately, it's far too sensitive, turning every bend into a gamble. That lack of control can quickly sap the fun, especially for players who prefer precision over chaos.

Despite its flaws, Racer Overdrive has heart. It's rough, sure, but there's promise beneath the surface. The developers have shown they're open to feedback, and with a little refinement, it could evolve into a solid budget racer. At £9.99, it doesn't need to reinvent the wheel, but it does need a smoother ride before launch.

Racer Overdrive is fast, flashy and full of potential. It just needs a bit more grip on the corners.

Wishlist now

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3756020/Racer_Overdrive/

REVIEW: Lumo 2 (2025 Video Game) - A Bright, Brutal Love Letter to Retro Platforming

Review by Jon Donnis

Lumo 2 from "Triple Eh? Ltd" is a bold throwback to the home computer era, the kind of game that proudly wears its love for the Amiga and Commodore 64 on its sleeve. It's charming, colourful, and often clever. It's also infuriatingly tough. This is a sequel that remembers exactly what made old-school puzzle-platformers so rewarding, and at times, so punishing.

The world of Lumo 2 unfolds as a labyrinth of interconnected rooms, each a self-contained challenge that blends careful timing with sharp puzzle-solving. One moment you're dodging collapsing floors and moving platforms, the next you're scratching your head over switches, keys, and obscure routes. The satisfaction of finally cracking a tricky setup never gets old, and the controls, while not perfect, are crisp enough to make success feel earned.

Visually, it's a delight. Bright, detailed environments shimmer with nostalgic flair, and the soundtrack nails that balance between retro charm and modern polish. You'll find sly nods to the '80s and '90s tucked into the design, from the mini-games inspired by arcade classics to the hunt for hidden cassette tapes and collectible ducks. It's a game that clearly wants you to slow down and explore every corner, rewarding curiosity with tiny bursts of joy.

Still, Lumo 2 doesn't always play fair. Some jumps feel just slightly off, and a few of the puzzles cross the line from challenging to outright cruel. The collision detection can be a little too precise, leaving you cursing at falls that never felt like your fault. And while that might be the point for those craving an authentic retro challenge, even seasoned players will find themselves grinding their teeth now and then.

Despite its flaws, there's something deeply satisfying about Lumo 2. It's an unapologetic nod to an era when patience, timing, and a little stubbornness were part of the fun. For players raised on Amigas, Spectrums, or the early PC scene, it's a heartfelt return to form. For everyone else, it's a reminder of why those old games mattered in the first place.

Lumo 2 is tough, nostalgic, and full of heart. It's not for everyone, but those who stick with it will find plenty to love. A solid 7 out of 10 for old-school fans who like their puzzles punishing and their platforming pure.

Out Now on Xbox

https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/lumo-2/9NP986C45P27