REVIEW: Jingle Strike VR Bowling (2025 Video Game) - on MetaQuest

Review by Jon Donnis

Jingle Strike VR Bowling knows exactly what it wants to be and it leans into that with confidence. This is a festive VR bowling game that treats accuracy and silliness as equal partners. The core bowling feels reassuringly solid, with true to life physics that make each roll feel weighty and deliberate. When you line up a shot and send the ball down the lane, it behaves as you expect, which is vital in a game that relies on constant replay and quick handovers between players.

What gives the game its personality is the cast of workshop elves who never stop reacting to your performance. They cheer, mock, roast, and occasionally descend into outright childish behaviour. Miss a simple spare and they let you know about it. Land a clean strike and they completely lose control. It is juvenile, loud, and genuinely funny in short bursts, especially when played with other people in the room watching and waiting their turn.

The four festive lanes are colourful and busy without becoming visually overwhelming. Snow, lights, toys and moving characters keep things lively while never distracting from the bowling itself. When the Christmas theme starts to wear thin, the 85 Second Slam Down mode offers a faster arcade style alternative, swapping festive dressing for music, lights and pure bowling chaos. It is a smart inclusion that helps broaden the appeal beyond seasonal novelty.

Between frames there are plenty of small diversions. The complimenting soda machine is a silly but charming touch, and the ability to throw gifts or snowballs at the elves to trigger new reactions adds to the sense that the game wants players to experiment and mess around. Leaderboards give competitive players something to chase, but the real strength lies in pass and play couch VR for up to five players. Handing over the headset, laughing at each other's mistakes, and reacting to the elves together is clearly where Jingle Strike shines brightest.

There are limits, though. Content is fairly thin once you have seen all the lanes and spent time in the arcade mode. Played solo, the experience can start to feel repetitive quite quickly. This is very much a party game rather than something designed for long single player sessions, and it does not bring anything radically new to the VR bowling genre.

Still, what is here is well put together. The visuals are cheerful, the soundtrack suits the tone, and the game never takes itself too seriously. Jingle Strike VR Bowling succeeds by being accessible, funny, and easy to enjoy, particularly with friends or family around.

As a social VR experience it works extremely well, even if its appeal fades when played alone. For parties, gatherings, or introducing newcomers to VR, it is an easy recommendation.

Score: 7.5 out of 10.

Out Now on MetaQuest

https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/jingle-strike-vr-bowling/8135988243173894/

REVIEW: Oldest Golden Treasure (2025 VR Video Game) - Released on MetaQuest

Review by Jon Donnis

Oldest Golden Treasure is a 2025 VR escape room style adventure game for MetaQuest that places you in the role of a detective investigating the sudden disappearance of a colleague. From the opening moments it leans hard into atmosphere, pulling you into a world of puzzles, hidden clues and shifting locations that immediately spark curiosity. It starts out feeling very much like a traditional escape room, but it does not stay there for long.

The game's biggest strength lies in its puzzle design. The challenges are clever without being punishing, striking a balance that encourages careful observation and logical thinking rather than trial and error. Nothing feels insultingly simple, yet very little drifts into the kind of obscurity that breaks immersion. Solving each puzzle feels earned, and that sense of steady progress keeps the experience moving at a comfortable pace.

As the story unfolds, the environments continue to change, which helps avoid the staleness that can creep into VR puzzle games. Underground tunnels, ruins and secret hideouts all add variety, and each new space brings a slightly different flavour to the gameplay. There is a genuine urge to keep pushing forward, driven by a quiet but persistent need to understand what actually happened to your missing colleague.

A particularly welcome touch is the way the game weaves real historical elements into its narrative. Inspired by the Varna Necropolis and the oldest known gold treasure in the world, Oldest Golden Treasure feeds you factual snippets as part of the story rather than dumping them awkwardly on top. It gives the mystery a grounding that feels thoughtful rather than gimmicky.

Technically, the game performs very well for an indie VR title. Movement is smooth, interactions are reliable, and the overall presentation holds together nicely inside the headset. While the graphics are not cutting edge, they are more than adequate for the task and never distract from the puzzles or the story being told.

Once the main adventure is complete, SpeedRun Mode unlocks, offering a very different way to engage with the game. This mode is clearly aimed at competitive players, encouraging repeated playthroughs to optimise movement and puzzle solutions. With lap times and global leaderboards, it adds a layer of replay value that goes beyond simply revisiting the story.

That said, the experience does feel a little short. Just as the mechanics and ideas fully settle in, the credits roll, leaving a sense that there is room for more. There are also a few minor bugs scattered throughout, although it is worth noting that the solo developer is actively releasing updates to address these issues.

Oldest Golden Treasure may not be a sprawling epic, but it is a confident and engaging VR puzzle adventure. It delivers a strong atmosphere, smart puzzle design and a surprising historical angle, even if it leaves you wanting more by the end. For fans of escape rooms and narrative driven VR mysteries, it earns its place in a Meta Quest library.

I score Oldest Golden Treasure a solid 8.5 out of 10.

Out Now on MetaQuest

https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/oldest-golden-treasure/9132129896885275/

REVIEW: Aerosurfer (2025 Video Game) - On MetaQuest

Review by Jon Donnis

Aerosurfer delivers a surprisingly addictive VR experience that combines speed, precision, and the thrill of flight. Players control each wing through hand motions, carving through the air as they hunt the perfect balance between flow and mastery. It is easy to pick up, yet challenging enough to keep even seasoned players coming back for more.

The game's core appeal lies in its fast-paced, arcade-style gameplay. Gliding through 25 handcrafted tracks, you feel a genuine surge of adrenaline as you swoop close to the terrain to gain speed. Chasing your best times and racing against your ghost adds a satisfying layer of competition, while online leaderboards provide a global stage for skill comparison. Precision, timing, and rhythm are at the heart of Aerosurfer, making mastery a rewarding pursuit.

Graphically, the game is simple. It is not aiming for photorealism, and the modest visuals work in its favour, keeping the focus on the flow of flight and the thrill of speed. The music is another highlight, with funky, catchy tracks that complement the high-octane gameplay and help maintain the rhythm of your runs.

Aerosurfer does have its drawbacks. At £9.99, it feels slightly expensive for what is essentially an arcade-style experience. Beyond that, some players might wish for more visual detail or a few extra gameplay modes, but these are minor complaints in an otherwise engaging package.

Aerosurfer succeeds in what it sets out to do. It is fun, fast, and competitive, offering long sessions for those chasing perfection and quick flights for casual enjoyment. Despite its simplicity, it captures the joy of flight in VR with flair.

I score Aerosurfer a solid 8 out of 10.

Out Now on MetaQuest

https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/aerosurfer/32631602343151033/

REVIEW: Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition (On PS5)

Review by Jon Donnis

Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition arrives with the weight of a decade behind it, and that history matters. This is not a reinvention or a bold reboot. It is Bethesda Game Studios gathering everything Fallout 4 has become and presenting it as a single, definitive package. For newcomers in particular, that context shapes the experience from the moment you step out of Vault 111 into a Commonwealth still scarred by nuclear fire.

The core of Fallout 4 remains exactly as it always was. You are the Sole Survivor, emerging into a broken world driven by survival, choice and consequence, with the personal thread of searching for your missing son guiding the wider journey. The open world is vast and flexible, packed with locations, characters and quests that allow you to shape your own path. You can align with factions, forge alliances, or deliberately stand apart. That freedom is still one of the game's greatest strengths, and it gives the Commonwealth a sense of place that feels reactive rather than staged.

Character progression continues to be handled through the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system, which remains approachable while still offering depth. Whether you build a silver tongued negotiator, a stealth focused sniper, or a walking tank wrapped in Power Armor, the game supports that choice without pushing you into rigid class structures. Combat sits comfortably between real time gunplay and the tactical pause of V.A.T.S., letting you decide how much control or spectacle you want in any given fight. That flexibility helps Fallout 4 appeal to a wider range of players than many traditional role playing games.

Visually, the lighting and graphics still impress, even ten years on. The ruined streets of Boston, the blasted forests, and the quiet horror of abandoned interiors all retain a strong sense of atmosphere. It does not feel cutting edge, but it does feel confident and cohesive. The game also deserves credit for offering both first and third person perspectives. For players who struggle with motion sickness, that option can make the difference between playing comfortably and not at all, even if it occasionally complicates shooting and disrupts the flow of transitions and cut scenes.

Where the Anniversary Edition truly earns its name is in its sheer volume of content. This release includes the full base game alongside all six official add ons, from the story driven Far Harbor and Nuka World to the various Workshop expansions that deepen settlement building and crafting. On top of that, more than 150 pieces of Creation Club content are bundled in. These additions range from new weapons and power armour to building packs, player homes, gameplay tweaks, quest expansions, and even cosmetic changes such as alternative Dogmeat breeds. None of it fundamentally rewrites Fallout 4, but collectively it adds texture and variety that makes the world feel fuller.

The introduction of a dedicated in game Creations menu also makes a real difference. It simplifies discovery and access to content created by both professional developers and passionate community contributors. For players who have never engaged with mods or Creation Club material before, this integration removes much of the friction and makes experimentation feel safe and supported.

That said, the Anniversary Edition does raise an awkward question. If you already own Fallout 4 and its major expansions, is there enough here to justify buying it again. For many existing players, the answer will be no. Some were clearly hoping for hours of entirely new story content rather than a comprehensive bundle of existing add ons and curated community creations. Those expectations were likely unrealistic, but the sense of underwhelm in parts of the community is understandable.

For those who never played Fallout 4 at release, however, this edition is difficult to fault. It offers the complete experience, polished by time and packed with content, without the need to piece it together from multiple purchases. As a snapshot of one of the most celebrated open world RPGs of its generation, it feels generous and confident rather than indulgent.

Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition is not about surprise. It is about completeness. If you are new to the wasteland, this is the version to play. If you already know every inch of the Commonwealth, it may feel more like a respectful archive than a revelation. Either way, the game still holds up, and it remains easy to lose dozens of hours rebuilding, exploring and surviving on your own terms.

Score: 8.5 out of 10

Available now at https://amzn.to/3Nc6Mnu

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REVIEW: INK INSIDE (2025 Video Game) on Playstation

Review by Jon Donnis

INK INSIDE arrives as a confident and genuinely distinctive indie action RPG, built around a visual hook that immediately sets it apart. Inspired by the idea of a lost cartoon pilot, the game drops you into a world that looks like it has been scribbled into existence inside a stack of notebooks. It is colourful, messy, and full of personality, with hand drawn animation that feels deliberately rough around the edges while still moving with real fluidity. This is not a cheap sketchbook gimmick. It feels like a playable cartoon brought to life with care and technical skill.

You play as Stick, an unfinished doodle trapped beneath a leaking ceiling where water seeps into the notebooks and slowly corrupts the world. Friendly characters become soggy monsters, environments twist and buckle, and memories are scattered across the pages. The setup is imaginative and oddly charming, and it provides a strong foundation for the game's story driven approach. The idea of uncovering shared Genetic Memory, or Gene Meme, between creator and creation is woven into the narrative, giving the adventure a surprisingly personal edge.

Combat is where INK INSIDE makes its strongest impression. What initially looks like a straightforward beat em up quickly reveals a deeper system built around dodgeball style mechanics. Battles revolve around movement, timing, and positioning, with projectiles flying across the screen and combos forming through smart play rather than button mashing. The ball combat system adds a tactical layer that keeps encounters lively, and when everything clicks it feels fast, reactive, and genuinely fun. Filling the COOL MOVES bar and breaking through enemy defences adds a satisfying sense of momentum to fights.

The world itself is packed with personality. From Fuzzball Forest to the Sugar Swamp, each area is gorgeously illustrated and bursting with visual detail. Characters are fully voiced, animated, and memorable, helped along by strong performances from Brian David Gilbert and Deneen Melody. There is real effort put into making every major character feel distinct, from Detective Fuzz to Traff, whose rough edged attitude matches her heavy hitting combat style. The overall presentation is one of the game's biggest strengths, blending humour, nostalgia, and creative flair.

That said, INK INSIDE is not without its frustrations. The game leans heavily on dialogue, and there is a lot of it. Too much, frankly. Progress is frequently slowed by long stretches of reading when all you want to do is move, fight, and explore. While the story and characters are well written, the constant interruptions damage the pacing and make it harder to stay engaged. For players who prefer action over exposition, this becomes a real sticking point.

Exploration also struggles to maintain interest outside of combat. Despite the imaginative settings, moving through the world can feel tedious, especially when broken up by repeated dialogue sequences. The core combat loop is enjoyable, but the surrounding structure does not always support it as well as it should. There is a sense that the game wants to be many things at once, and not all of them land equally.

Ultimately, INK INSIDE is a game I admire more than I enjoy. It is original, visually striking, and clearly made with passion by a talented team. The combat is genuinely fun and surprisingly deep, and the living notebook art style is fantastic. However, the heavy reliance on dialogue and the less engaging exploration meant it never fully clicked with me. The jokey humour did not always land, and it is not entirely clear who the game is aimed at, whether kids, adults, or somewhere in between.

INK INSIDE will undoubtedly resonate with many players, particularly those who value creativity, storytelling, and experimental mechanics. For me, though, it falls short of being consistently enjoyable. If this had been a more focused, combat driven beat em up, I suspect I would have come away far more positive. As it stands, it is an interesting and ambitious game that misses the mark for my tastes.

Score. 5 out of 10.

Out Now on Playstation

https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10011260