James Birks

Been gaming casually since the SNES as a youngster but found my true passion for games on the Playstation 1 (the forbidden word ooo). My addiction grew to its pinnacle with the purchase of an Xbox 360 & Xbox Live Service. A recovering GS hunter that will still play literally any game.

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Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy Review

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is a co-op puzzling masterclass encapsulated by a wonderfully charming world.

Let’s Build a Zoo: Aquarium Odyssey Review

Let’s Build a Zoo: Aquarium Odyssey is an excellent extension to an already brilliant game. It’s fantastic how much freshness the theme brings.

Jack is back! Hands-on with Ghostrunner 2

The fast and furious Ghostrunner 2 is looking mightily impressive, especially with its many noticeable improvements and additions.

The Expanse: A Telltale Series – Episode 3 Review

It’s difficult to weigh up episode three of The Expanse: A Telltale Series, because the positives are almost totally cancelled out by the negatives.

A Tale for Anna Review 

Prepare to be whisked away to an enchanting world full of magic and puzzles galore in A Tale for Anna.

Pinball FX – Williams Pinball: Whirlwind Review

Get ready to feel the power of the wind as the Williams Pinball: Whirlwind table has drifted into Pinball FX for a rather modest fee.

Venba is shaping up to be a tasty cultural appetiser

Venba is shaping up to be an ideal introduction to Tamil culture, which could invoke players’ curiosities to delve even deeper.

TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 170: ID@Xbox Showcase July 2023

The ID@Xbox showcase has aired and so the team have come together for TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 170 to see whether the future is bright for the indie scene.

Grappling across the territories with the upcoming RPG WrestleQuest 

I’ve had the privilege of going hands-on with a preview build of WrestleQuest in a bid to see whether it delivers a main event quality experience, or might end up jobbing on the undercard. And initial impressions certainly suggest it’s more likely to meet the high expectations wrestling fans will have, than not.

Marfusha Review

When all is said and done, Marfusha succeeds in providing mindless shooting fun, albeit at the expense of longevity.

AEW: Fight Forever Review

Can AEW: Fight Forever recapture the magic of the highly lauded wrestling games of yesteryear, while ensuring it’s not a dated experience that modern gamers can’t relate to?

Railbound Review

Railbound is described as a ‘comfy track-bending puzzle game’ featuring a pair of dogs. It sounds promising and there’s certainly potential for a chilled brain workout to be had here. So let’s find out whether you’ll see the Railbound journey through its final destination, or be looking to get off a few stops earlier. 

5 Outright Games family friendly titles to look forward to in 2023

I was fortunate enough to get the lowdown on some of their upcoming 2023 releases by attending the Outright Games Digital Game Showcase. So, let’s take a peek at five offerings, coming out this year, that could be perfect for entertaining the whole family.

Puzzle Quest 3 Review

So, can Puzzle Quest 3 recapture the addictive nature of its predecessors and create a memorable chapter in the series’ legacy? 

Last Labyrinth -Lucidity Lost- Review

Formerly an experience only possible in VR, Last Labyrinth has been reworked for PC and consoles; removing the need for a headset. So, let’s find out whether the haunting puzzling within still manages to succeed without VR.

TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 167: Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield

It’s finally time for us to get stuck into the Xbox Games Showcase and find out whether the future is looking bright for the players. You’ll also be treated to a deep discussion on Starfield as well as a roundup of what Ubisoft Forward had to offer. So please, settle down and enjoy our musings in TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 167.

Kingdom Rush Origins Review

Kingdom Rush Origins is a credit to the tower defense genre and greatly builds upon the success of the series.

TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 166: Summer Game Fest 2023

Buckle up for a Summer Game Fest 2023 special, with TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 166 covering the highs and lows of the showcase. If that’s not enough, don’t worry because the team also cast an eye on the offerings from the Guerrilla Collective and the Devolver Direct. You definitely won’t want to miss this one!

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 Review

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 takes what made the original an absolute belter of a game and improves almost everything.

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Embraced by Autumn Review

The intro promises some future dramatic, potentially even salacious turns, but not one of the four different stories delivers. It’s all too tentative. In the end, Embraced by Autumn could have done with just a little more confidence and sass.

Embrace the car culture of The Crew Motorfest

It's about going all-in and embracing the car culture of The Crew Motorfest. Start your engines - this is going to be a wild ride. 

Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist Weekly Challenges Guide Series 24 – Spring

The hot season has appeared in Mexico and the world of Forza Horizon 5. Are you ready to bring the virtual heat to the streets of Mexico, with a whole new bunch of events with the Festival Playlist Weekly Challenges for Series 24 Spring. 

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts – Film Review

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is definitely a better movie than the original non-Energon Transformers saga, but also a less exciting one.

Call of the Wild: The Angler Review

When all the aspects of Call of the Wild: The Angler come together, the resulting mix is actually a pleasant place to spend a few hours.

Latest Reviews

Immortals of Aveum Review

Immortals of Aveum should be praised for its original concept, writing, and new world-building. It's a new franchise that is brave.

XEL Review

For the good - the visuals, audio, navigation of paths and occasional combat moments - there are tens of things in XEL that will hold you back.

The Isle Tide Hotel Review

If you're an FMV fan then you're going to enjoy a lot of what The Isle Tide Hotel has to offer. But just remember - don’t ever leave your room at night. 

Childish Energy Review – the cool kids on the energy drinks block

Childish Energy must impress to get the likes of Sneak Energy and G Fuel turning their heads. Read on for our thoughts on the latest guests to the energy drinks party.

Mirrored Souls Review

Mirrored Souls does get frustrating at times and it will test your patience with every turn, but there is a lot to love here.