How Splatoon Raiders blasts expecations, plus Magic: The Gathering – The Hobbit, Halo: Campaign Evolved, FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster and more.
Splatoon is one of the most interesting franchises in Nintendo’s line-up. It’s clear that Nintendo holds a great deal of affection for the multiplayer-centric squid shooter without proper mainstream appeal, but Splatoon Raiders may very well change that.
That’s because Splatoon Raiders does the unthinkable and throws the series’ staple competitive multiplayer aside in favour of a predominantly solo experience. A PvE looter-shooter you’ll throw on the ink-filled shoes of the mechanic – a blank canvas who finds themselves working with a trio of swashbuckling musicians searching for treasure in the Spirhalite Islands. Narrative is hardly Splatoon Raiders’ strength, but it does the job of setting up the action-packed treasure hunting.
The occasional platforming or puzzle diversion helps break up the pace gameplay, but for most of Splatoon Raiders you’ll be finding new items, building up your base of operations and tinkering with your loadout in order to pump out maximum damage and take out all sorts of threats, especially the boss battles.
These shootouts are consistently engaging because the action feels so good to control, especially if you utilise the game’s gyro controls for more precise aiming. There’s a reason Splatoon has become such a popular shooter in international markets, and those same mechanics shine all the brighter in Raiders. The adventure isn’t without its flaws though. The music is dissapointly so-so and boss encounters lack the strageic depth found in some of the series’ past outings.
For those missing the multiplayer action, co-op play is thankfully available and does certainly add to the core experience as you work together to maximise your ink-filled strategies and complete more difficult raids. As a whole package, Splatoon Raiders is an excellent pivot for the series and should do an excellent job at rapidly expanding the fanbase towards a whole new audience.
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If you’ve had any inkling to trying a Splatoon game, there’s never been a better time.
Splatoon Raiders is out now for Nintendo Switch 2.
Also out now…
Halo: Campaign Evolved (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC)
When Halo fired its way onto the scene it set a new benchmark for console shooters. The status has seen a number of remasters over the decades since, but Halo: Campaign Evolved is easily the best way to play through the classic experience so far.
It all starts with the complete visual overhaul, utilising Unreal Engine 5. It’s stunning and shows the familiar story in a whole new light. Gameplay meanwhile remains largely the same except for a few welcome touches. Weapons throughout the wider series have been included and scattered around, and core complaints like a sprint button.
It’s worth noting that campaign evolved is exactly that – focusing on the original campaign, but this remake does add in three additional levels – set before the events of the main game and pairing Chief with the beloved Sergeant Johnson. They’re a serious highlight and offer a promising glimpse as to what might be possible in the series’ future
It’s a little disappointing that there is no splitscreen or online multiplayer, especially considering how huge a role multiplayer has played in the series legacy, but it doesn’t dampen the solo experience that has been offered. The addition of Four-player online cooperative play also helps lessen the sting because it’s a boatload of fun with friends.
It’s also incredibly wild to see Halo on a PlayStation console. Seeing the sacred symbols appear on screen always felt odd, but it ran on PS5 Pro without issue, meaning for all those newcomers and longtime fans wanting to relive the action with a very fresh coat of paint, campaign evolved is exceptional work and an easy recommendation.
Heave Ho 2 (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch 2, PC)
Heave Ho 2 is a masterclass of couch co-op chaos. It all starts with a remarkably simple idea: control a head with two arms and gradually make your way through a variety of levels. But it’s the devilish execution that really makes this game special.
That’s largely because it’s not just the arm you need to control, but each connected hand – using them to grab onto ledges, items or even other players. Keeping track of each limb can quickly become a hilariously difficult challenge, especially as your team tangles itself amongst each other in an attempt to create a problem-solving chain.
A new Showdown mode also helps to give this sequel some more legs – pitting players against each other amongst a randomised selection of levels or objectives, like outlasting all opponents or madly racing to a finish line for ultimate glory. It doesn’t have a great deal of depth, but I was happy to see the series try to break new ground.
Whether you’re a newcomer or existing fan, Heave Ho is the perfect recommendation for rounding up a group of friends and having a few laughs.
Magic: The Gathering – The Hobbit
Wizards of the Coast have had a positively blazing 2026 so far, and it seems as though that momentum is showing no sign of slowing down. So even though fans are still clambering for the Marvel Superheros set, we have a fresh collaboration now making its way into your deck – Lord of the Rings – The Hobbit.
If you picked up last year’s Lord of the Rings set you’ll notice a lot of visual similarity in art style, which makes sense between the inherent synergy that exists between the two releases. If you’re a fan of the previous set that’s hardly a negative because there continues to be some exceptional interpretations of the shire, recreations of popular scenes and moments from the popular Hobbit novel. There’s also well-known characters like Gollum and Elrond, plus for the ultimate collector there’s also an extra special Smaug gold headliner card at play, but there’s only around 500 printed in Collector Boosters.
While Lord of the Rings introduced a slew of new mechanics a few years ago, this new set is a much smaller affair. One of the big draws with The Hobbit is the return of adventure cards – which can either be played normally or cast as an adventure spell. This in turn sends said card on an “adventure” which places them into exile, leaving you to potentially cast later as a permanent.
Storied, meanwhile, smartly takes inspiration of the beloved Bilbo Baggins and the various characters and artefacts he eventually comes to chronicle. Simply control three or more permanents that are legendary, Sagas, and/or artefacts you’ll trigger an ‘enduring story’ which will continue for the duration of your entire game, like granting certain cards or creatures buffs or abilities. It’s always enjoyable when Magic tries to play around with its source material and that’s no different here.
When you look at the entire package on offer, Magic: The Gathering – The Hobbit, is unlikely to make as big a splash as the series’ last few collaborations, but there’s still plenty to enjoy here for the Tolkien faithful, or if you’re looking to expand your Lord of the Rings set. And if it’s not for, you can rest assured that Wizards of the Coast will be cooking something else up that’ll be just around the corner.
Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition (Switch 2)
When Sonic Frontiers first launched on the Switch things were a little… rough. A few years later the Switch 2 is able to right a handful of those wrongs, even if the whole package isn’t a massive reinvention. Framerate for example now hits a much smoother 60 and makes some pretty big strides with the pop-in that the game suffered through on almost every platform. Switch 2 owners will also nab all the previously released DLC making it a pretty stellar deal.
Where the deal falls apart is with its upgrade path – namely because there is none. Own the original Switch 2 version and you’ll be forced to shell out the cash for this new version as well which is a bit of a sting.
If you’ve yet to experience the blue blur’s open world adventure, Sonic Frontiers Definitive Edition is your go-to option. Existing owners may want to give it a second glance.
FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster (Switch 2)
Final Fantasy VII might be getting all the love and attention from JRPG fans of late, but for those wanting a different bite at nostalgia, look no further than FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster.
The classic tale remains unchanged, centring around the beloved Tidus – a popular blitzball player who must battle against Sin to save the world alongside summoner Yuna. It’s certainly not a conventional tale, but it’s one that is consistently engaging and
Already released on the original Switch back in 2019, this Switch 2 edition reins both visuals and performance across docked and handheld modes and the result is pretty impressive. No matter the amount of action on screen the game remained steady.
Bizarrely, if you already own this remake on the Switch 1 Square Enix has refused any kind of traditional upgrade path, meaning if you want the fancier bells and whistles you’ll to shell out full price for the privilege. That will make it a much harder sell for those fans, even though the visual improvements are definitely noticeable. If you’re a newcomer to the game though, this is a no-brainer purchase for your Switch 2.
Denshattack! (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC)
You could be forgiven for thinking the elevator pitch of Denshattack! attack was a joke. Hop aboard your bright yellow, gravity-defying train do your best to stop an evil corporation while grinding rails and stringing together trick moves in the vein of Tony Hawk and Jet Set Radio.
But this utterly ridiculous, bombastic setup is what gives this arcade gem so much of its charm. It’s big, bright and colourful in all the right ways. Controlling your bus you’re given a wide range of activities to complete throughout its substantial campaign, like traditional races, grabbing collectibles, score chasing or just simply surviving.
There’s a surprisingly complex control scheme at play here that does have a bit of an adjustment period, but once you come to grips with it all you’ll be strapping on your seatbelt and hitting the boost. Once you do, Denshattack!’s gameplay is silky smooth, even amongst the complete chaos on screen. Get amongst it.
Titanium Court (PC)
D-Topia (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC)
Ranging from AI, to life and one’s overall morality D-Topia tries to ask some interesting questions as it builds its utopian world. It’s just the underlying gameplay isn’t always as engaging.
As Facilitator Shiro, it’s your job to roam around D-Topia, keeping its residents happy and droids serviced. Much of this occurs through either logic puzzles or decision-focused ‘Brain Meetings’, as you interact with quite a varied cast of characters with all sorts of troubles and tribulations you’ll be entrusted to solve.
Learning more about the world’s inhabitants and gaining more insight into D-Topia’s behind the scenes operation is interesting, but the experience is let down by slightly repetitive puzzles that never truly develop. It leaves D-Topia to be a little one note and mainly worth recommending for puzzle enthusiasts searching for a unique approach.
