Matt Gardner
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Articles by Matt Gardner
‘Faraway’ Review: One Of 2026’s Finest Games Is Also Its Simplest Original
'Faraway' is so beautifully simple. Steph Thirion / Annapurna Interactive Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the best. Faraway strips gaming down to its bare bones to deliver what might be one of the best indie titles of 2026 so far, even though you only need one digit to play it. Faraway comes from Steph Thirion, who spent 16 years getting the formula right before releasing it today (November 5) on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and Switch, for a whopping $10.
Lego Godzilla Is The Biggest Ideas Set Yet, And It’s A Monster Original
Lego Ideas Godzilla (21375) is absolutely humongous. The Lego Group Lego has revealed its biggest Lego Ideas set ever, and given the source material, it’s no surprise it’s a monster. The new Lego Ideas Godzilla (21375) comprises a whopping 5,363 pieces and stands over two feet tall. Visit Advertiser websiteGO TO PAGE At 27.5 inches (70cm) tall when posed with its Heat Ray, Godzilla is so enormous that a standard Lego minifigure barely reaches its ankle.
Pokémon And Fender Reveal Stunning $2,600 Guitars With 8-Bit Sound Original
The Pokémon Red Stratocaster and Green Telecaster are works of art in their own right. The Pokémon Company / Fender Pokémon’s 30th anniversary celebrations have hit their peak with one of the most bafflingly brilliant collaborations to date. The Pokémon Company and Fender have partnered to create a pair of special-edition electric guitars inspired by the original Pokémon Red and Green games, and they’re much more than instruments with a few sprites slapped on them.
‘Toy Story: Retro Roundup!’ And ‘Toy Story 3’ Review: Making Lemonade Original
'Toy Story Retro Roundup!' and 'Toy Story 3' are well worth the money, if you're willing to overlook the sins of the games' previous creators. Digital Eclipse Digital Eclipse cannot miss.
‘Over The Hill’ Is The Escapist Driving Game You Might Need Right Now Original
'Over the Hill' isn't perfect, but it really doesn't need to be, because it delivers where it truly matters. Funselektor Labs We’ve all had times when we can’t seem to switch off from what life throws at us. Over the Hill offers a tonic: a beautiful, lo-fi wilderness you can disappear into, with no pressure to achieve anything, nowhere you particularly need to go, and next to nothing to worry about. Visit Advertiser websiteGO TO PAGE I’ve looked forward to Over the Hill for months.
The Best Lego GWP Set Of 2026 Is Here, But Not For Long Original
The Lego Build, Paint and Play! (40889) gift-with-purchase is a little stunner. The Lego Group The most impressive Lego gift-with-purchase (GWP) set is finally available in-store and online for paying customers. Build, Paint and Play! (40889), which was only revealed last week, is now thrown in for free with basket values of over $130 (£115; €130) from today – but it’s gone after November 8.
Golden Joysticks Unveil 2026 GOTY Nominees, With Some Snubs Original
Metacritic's top-rated game for 2026, Big Walk, is in the hunt for the top honor at the 2026 Golden Joysticks. House House The 44th Golden Joystick Awards have finally unveiled the frontrunners for the 2026 Ultimate Game of the Year. It’s a decent line-up that’s genuinely hard to call, unlike the 2023 ceremony, but you can’t help feeling like a few better options were left on the cutting room floor.
One More Tile: Lego And Daft Punk Start Partnership With Fan-Made Set Original
Lego x Daft Punk isn't exactly on any bingo cards, but it really works. The Lego Group Just when you thought brick-based collaborations couldn’t get any more surprising, the Lego Group has partnered with Daft Punk to deliver, well, not much — not yet, anyway.
Nacon’s New Wireless Xbox Controller Offers World-First Joystick Tech Original
Nacon's Revolution Pro X - Special Edition has a lovely little trick with its joysticks. Nacon Nacon is at it again, revealing another intriguing Xbox controller that could be a real winner for serious gamers, or at least carve out a welcome niche. The Revolution Pro X – SE has a delightfully simple USP: it’s the first-ever wireless Xbox and PC controller with adjustable joystick tension.
Lego PlayStation (72306) Review: Nothing Gray About This Box Of Tricks Original
The Lego PlayStation is among the very best gaming-themed sets out there. Matt Gardner This week, gamers — me included — rushed to the PlayStation Store to grab a real rarity: a Lego Astro Bot gift with purchase (GWP) which, for once, was sold separately. Now it’s sold out; the only other way to get it, for free, is to buy the Lego PlayStation (72036) before the end of Wednesday. It’s a much better deal, because the Lego PlayStation is superb.
Call Of Duty’s ‘Modern Warfare 4’ Campaign Will Be The Best In Years
In retrospect, I appreciate Treyarch’s decision not to try to create a story for Blops 4. Over the years, it’s turned out that no story mode can be better than a bad one. An interesting pattern has emerged since 2018 — one that makes me want to put good money on the Modern Warfare 4 campaign mode being one of the better releases of 2026 — but to see it clearly, let’s revisit the seven campaigns that came before.
Nacon’s Revolution 5 Unlimited PS5 Controller May Set A New High Bar Original
Nacon's Revolution 5 Unlimited (R5U) looks like an absolute game-changer. Nacon Nacon already makes my favorite PS5 controller of all time, and it’s about to take it to a new level. The Revolution 5 Unlimited (R5U), for PS5 and PC, is Nacon’s newest flagship pad, and promises to go far beyond its predecessor.
Lego Pokémon Is Finally Fixing Smart Play’s Biggest Problem Original
Lego Smart Play isn't a problem in itself, but it's working on solving its approach, starting with more honest designs for its base models. The LEGO Group Lego Smart Play arrived earlier this year with plenty of promise, but its Star Wars-themed launch sets raised a couple of pretty significant concerns about the concept. Six months later, after building two of its newest Smart Play-themed Pokémon sets, the technology is making a lot more sense.
CRKD’s New $70 Ult Pro Controller Packs In Some Serious Tech Original
The CRKD Ult Pro has a surprising amount of technology for a decent price. CRKD Game controller specialist CRKD has finally turned its attentions to the more premium end of the market, and on the face of it, its all-new Ult Pro promises an impressive amount of gaming tech for its relatively modest $70 price tag.
Lego Debuts Dragon Ball Partnership With Gorgeous Shenron And Goku Set Original
The Lego Icons Dragon Ball Shenron & Goku (11390) set is an absolute beauty. The LEGO Group Another week, another new Lego partnership, and it’s Super Saiyan. The Danish plastic king has unveiled its new partnership with Toei Animation, the anime studio behind Dragon Ball, and it’s started what promises to be a wider collaboration with a debut set dedicated to Shenron and Goku.
13 LEGO Sets That Every Gamer Should Have In Their Collection Original
LEGO Eevee is among the must-have Lego sets for gamers. The LEGO Group October’s a big month for Lego gaming tie-ins, which have really ramped up in 2026. Chief among the big drops are the Lego PlayStation (72306) and Iconic Trainer Moments Poké Ball (72154), but any self-respecting gamer should already have a handful of other sets on their shelves. Ahead of next week’s launches, here are seven absolutely cracking Lego sets you should look at getting.
‘Control Resonant’ Review: Not Better, Not Worse, Still Different Original
'Control Resonant' doesn't surprise fans of the series, until it does. Remedy Entertainment I adored Control, but I didn’t think it needed a sequel, and actively argued against it. It’s one of the very few action-adventures that had limitless potential because of its Objects of Power, Altered World Events, and mad ideas. But then, well, Remedy abandoned ship after its Foundation and AWE DLCs. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
‘I’m Not A Gamer’: How Vilma Jää Shaped The ‘Control Resonant’ Soundtrack Original
Vilma Jää, who wrote and performed “Manalan Mailla" for the 'Control Resonant' soundtrack, has set the bar for a soundtrack that aims to be as unique as the game. Anna-Maria Viksten Vilma Jää isn’t a gamer, but that hasn’t stopped her from creating something very special for Control Resonant.
‘Hot Wheels Infinite Rush’ Review: Another Weird Winner For Milestone Original
'Hot Wheels Infinite Rush' borrows heavily from 'Forza Horizon', but not to its detriment. Milestone On the face of it, Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is a surprisingly good game. On the other hand, it’s not shocking at all. Italian developer Milestone has created a solid reputation for enjoyable, specialist racing games, but has spent the last few years going even more niche — and quality refuses to drop.
Lego Downton Abbey (21373) Is Improbable, But You Should Be Delighted Original
Lego Downton Abbey (21373) is finally here, and it's surprisingly good, but probably fiddly. Mike Buck / Lego If you were told to draw a Venn diagram of “fans of Lego” and “fans of Downton Abbey”, you’d rightly think it’d be as close to two circles as you could get — but yet, after rumors aplenty, the Lego Group has unveiled another Ideas MOC commission to bring us Downton Abbey (21373).
‘Orbitals’ Review (Switch 2): A Stunning Co-Op Masterpiece Original
'Orbitals' is real GOTY material. Shapefarm / Kepler Interactive Orbitals is a work of art. I usually hate this phrase, given how it’s often bandied about for things you’d once describe as “moderately pretty”, but Orbitals is nothing short of stunning. It’s just a huge relief that the wider experience lives up to the hype it’s generated over the last few months.
Lego X-Files (21369) Review: Proof We Need More Fan-Made MOCs Original
Lego's X-Files set raises the bar for fan collaborations, and frankly, we need more of them. The LEGO Group The Lego Group’s renewed commitment to fandoms with its 2026 Lego Editions range, which has already secured collaborations with Formula 1, the FIFA World Cup, and Olivia Rodrigo, has been consistently strong so far. However, the Lego X-Files (21369) proves its partnerships have been around for much longer.
Meet TopClubTen, Your New Favorite Daily Soccer Trivia Game Original
English Premier League winners Arsenal are among six teams to test your knowledge on, courtesy of 'TopClubTen'. Getty Images For Premier League Here we are, at the start of the 2026-27 Premier League season, and amid the endless conversations about who’ll win it this year (Arsenal) and who’ll underperform (Spurs), we could all do with a daily soccer trivia game to keep us on our toes. Finally, a bloke from New England seems to have cracked it.
Forza Horizon Devs’ ‘Clutch’ Finds New Publisher After Amazon Exit
'Clutch', coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in spring 2027, has finally found a publisher. Maverick Games One of the more exciting prospects in the world of racing games has finally found a publisher after Amazon decided not to move forward with its deal. Clutch, the brainchild of Maverick Games — a story-led, spiritual follow-up to the Forza Horizon series — is now bedfellows with French outfit Focus Entertainment.
LEGO Breaks New Record With 6,130-Piece UCS Super Star Destroyer
It was only a matter of time before we got the UCS LEGO Star Wars Executor Super Star Destroyer (75457). The LEGO Group The LEGO Group just can’t stop breaking records. Earlier this month, the $800 Sagrada Família (21065) broke the record for most pieces in a set, with 12,060 elements. Today, the newest big-boy addition to the LEGO Star Wars line-up is its longest, coming in at nearly 4.5ft.
Backbone Drops Gorgeous Retro Controllers For Xbox 25th Anniversary Original
The Backbone Pro Xbox 25th Anniversary Edition comes in three new (well, old) flavors. Backbone Xbox’s 25th anniversary celebrations are getting well underway, and Backbone, which makes arguably the best controllers for mobile gaming, is releasing three new variants of its premium pad that hark back to the more colorful days of the console.
Is The Gears Of War: E-Day Xbox Controller Microsoft’s Best In 2026? Original
The Gears of War: E-Day Xbox Controller has to be the best official pad in a long old while. Xbox It’s been a while since we’ve had a genuinely special official Xbox controller design. Sure, the Forza Horizon 6 pad seemed like a strangely enticing homage to the Saved by the Bell intro — pink Xbox light and all — but it didn’t exactly go all out. Not like the Gears of War: E-Day controller does, anyway.
‘Precognition’, ‘Immortality’ Creator’s New Game, Sounds Incredible Original
'Immortality' creator Sam Barlow's studio, Half Mermaid Productions, has finally given a name to 'Project C'. Half Mermaid Productions A woman who can see the future discovers that remembering her visions can change it. If that’s not a great concept for a new game, I don’t know what is. If you’re still in any doubt, it’s the plot of Precognition, from Immortality creator Sam Barlow, whose hands are among the safest in the business.
‘Dave The Diver’ Finally Gets September Release Date On Android, IOS Original
'Dave the Diver' heads to mobile devices in September. Mintrocket In around a month, the batteries of thousands of mobile phones around the world will take an absolute battering. That’s because Dave the Diver, Mintrocket’s runaway hit and arguably the best hunting-sushi restaurant hybrid game ever made, finally comes to iOS and Android.
Get 127 Games For Just $10 With Gaming Industry Hardship Fund Bundle Original
'A Short Hike' is among over 120 games you can have for just ten bucks. Adam Robinson-Yu As far as deals go, getting over 120 games for less than the cost of a Cantina Chicken Rolled Quesadilla Combo from Taco Bell is up there among the best, especially in light of recent news. The fact your $10 will go to a fantastic cause is even better — and you can thank itch.io for the bargain.
Team ICO’s Iconic Soundtracks Finally Re-Released On Vinyl Original
Here it is, one of the games of its generation. Team ICO Two of the best gaming soundtracks of the last 25 years are finally being re-released on vinyl — and another finally debuts. Shadow of the Colossus and The Last Guardian will once again return to turntables in Q4 2026, and the ICO OST will premiere, thanks to a new deal struck between Sony and iam8bit.
The LEGO Group’s Up-Scaled Minifigures Should Be A Serious Cash Cow Original
The LEGO Group's Up-Scaled Minifigures are growing in number, and it's about time the company formalized them as a core range. Matt Gardner LEGO Up-Scaled Minifigures are becoming more common, and the range has gained real momentum. In the last 12 months, we’ve had four new additions to the line-up, including two tie-ins: the upcoming Pokémon trainer, and last month’s inevitable Darth Vader.
‘SSX’ Reborn? Arcade Snowboarder ‘Carveout 2160’ Shows Real Promise Original
'Carveout 2160' is an ambitious indie snoboarding game which, if done well, could be very special. Byteparrot Every now and then, a game preview drags you along on a nostalgia trip at lightspeed. Carveout 2160 is one of the best examples of this: a snowboarding hopeful that takes you back to the late 90s and early 2000s, where extreme sports titles were ten a penny, and nearly all of them completely ignored gravity.
First-Ever LEGO Star Trek: TOS Set Takes It To The Bridge Original
The LEGO Icons Star Trek USS Enterprise NCC-1701 Bridge (11385) is the second major set dedicated to the iconic franchise. The LEGO Group Given all the fanfare for the LEGO Group’s first foray into the Star Trek franchise last November, you wouldn’t think we’d have to wait nine months for the sequel to 2025’s impressive USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D (10356) set — but today, fans finally get one.
Gillian Anderson On The New ‘X-Files’ LEGO Set: ‘It’s Delicious’ Original
Gillian Anderson ranks becoming a LEGO minifigure as one of the best moments of her career. The LEGO Group Gillian Anderson is elated that she’s been immortalized in minifigure form for the new LEGO X-Files set. Among the more unusual honors of her career, she puts it alongside her cameo in another of the world’s most celebrated TV shows. Speaking exclusively ahead of the launch of LEGO Ideas The X-Files (21369), which was unveiled today, she says: “It’s way at the top, I’d have to say. Definitely.
LEGO Unveils Biggest-Ever 4,000-Piece Art Masterpiece Set Original
Gustav Klimt – The Kiss (31221) is exactly 4,000 pieces, and is the range's biggest addition yet. The LEGO Group LEGO has unveiled its largest LEGO Art Masterpiece set to date, recreating one of the world’s most famous paintings in bricks alongside its real-life counterpart in a swanky event at Vienna’s Belvedere Museum.
‘The Caribou Trail’ Review (PS5): The Walking Dead Original
'The Caribou Trail' can be beautiful and deep, but remarkably inconsistent. Unreliable Narrators Don’t say a bad word about so-called “walking simulators” — some of the finest moments in indie games have come from Dear Esther, What Remains of Edith Finch, Still Wakes the Deep, and, most recently, Mixtape. It’s just a shame that The Caribou Trail, which lands on PS5 this month, doesn’t quite make the list. It has the chops on paper.
LEGO’s Huge Poké Ball Diorama Is Gorgeous — And An Investment? Original
The Iconic Trainer Moments Poké Ball (72154) set is arguably the LEGO Group's best Pokémon build yet. The LEGO Group Last week, the latest LEGO Pokémon sets were announced with little fanfare, but perhaps the company wants them to speak for themselves; it’s probably the most consistent line-up in the partnership yet, save for one fumble. The new five-strong collection follows a rocky start for LEGO x Pokémon.
How The LEGO Group Has Turned Soccer Fandom Into Its Next Big Play Original
LEGO's immortalization of soccer icons is its latest step to satisfy fandoms across entertainment, sport, and more. The LEGO Group The LEGO Group’s recent collaborations have underscored its growing focus on fandom. You could argue that football has been its most ambitious target in recent years — its 2026 FIFA World Cup lineups, which seem omnipresent in stores worldwide, are proof that it’s going all in on the sport.
Will LEGO’s Olivia Rodrigo Sets Start Its Music Partnership Boom? Original
LEGO's new partnership with Olivia Rodrigo isn't just well executed; it has the potential to unlock a whole new range for the company. LEGO LEGO’s “2026 In Review” will be defined by collaborations: the launch of its Pokémon sets, a massive expansion of its operations with FIFA and Formula One, plus its never-ending work with the Star Wars license. Finally, it’s breaking properly into music with Olivia Rodrigo, and the sets are genuinely impressive.
‘Over The Hill’ Should Be 2026’s Perfect, Cozy Multiplayer Game Original
I hate Steam Next Fest. My inbox gets destroyed, announcements drop 24 hours a day, some games barely scrape alpha status, and it feels like there’s no way to pick favorites. Still, the odd title manages to sneak through, and Over the Hill is one of the scrappy few you need to wishlist. Over the Hill was originally revealed in January 2025, and after its limited-time demo, the ongoing wait seems very much worth it.
LEGO’s Biggest-Ever Car Is A Stunning, 4,100-Piece Monster Original
The Koenigsegg Sadair's Spear Megacar (42232) is LEGO's biggest car build to date. The LEGO Group The latest addition to LEGO Technic’s 1:8-scale Ultimate Car Concept Series (UCCS) is probably its best-looking yet, and its biggest: clocking in at a massive 4,104 pieces, the sixth entry in the range is the first four-wheeled LEGO creation to break the 4,000-element barrier.
A Stupid ‘Forza Horizon 6’ Horn Offers 2026’s Biggest Jumpscare Original
'Forza Horizon 6' may be a positive, happy arcade racing experience, but it has a horrible trick up its sleeve to shock players. Playground Games As a latecoming fan of truly scary games, the last 12 months have given me some genuinely enjoyable brown-trouser escapades like Resident Evil Requiem, Silent Hill f, Hollowbody, and Crisol: Theater of Idols. I never thought that Forza Horizon 6, of all things, would give me the single biggest fright.
LEGO Breaks Record With Stunning, 12,000-Piece Sagrada Familia Set Original
They’ve been building the real-life Sagrada Familia for over 140 years. At 12,000 pieces, LEGO’s Architecture version may take just as long. LEGO LEGO just can’t quit with the big builds. Last year, the Death Star (75419) became the most expensive set of all time; nine of the top 10 sets by brick count have been released in the last six years — three in the last 12 months. Now, the Danes have broken the record again.
Long-Awaited Soccer Game ‘GOALS’ Now Free To Play On PC, Consoles Original
After years of development, 'GOALS' is finally available to play for free on PC and consoles. GOALS After years of waiting, GOALS, the latest free-to-play online football game, has finally arrived on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, just in time for the World Cup. It caps off a long development journey to create an alternative, skill-focused experience to rival EA Sports FC and fellow FTP soccer game eFootball — and hopefully, it’s worth the wait.
LEGO Unveils A Whopping 12 New Pokémon Sets, With A Catch Original
Cubone and Gengar’s Spooky Showdown (72166) is among the best sets in the latest LEGO Pokémon range. LEGO LEGO’s partnership with The Pokémon Company has finally expanded its collection to include 17 new Pokédex entries, but not in a way you may have expected — or, given the response to its latest technology, hoped. A massive 12 new sets are lined up for August 1, but they’re part of the SMART Play line-up.
LEGO F1 Ferrari Helmet Review (43014): Rough Build, Spectacular Finish Original
LEGO's F1 helmets set a new standard in this more niche product range, but it comes at the expense of build experience. LEGO Credit where it’s due: of all its recent corporate partnerships, the LEGO and Formula 1 collaborations are probably the most consistent, and its debuting helmets for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are no exception. At least, the finished product looks great; the build experience isn’t so fun. The clue’s in the number of pieces.
‘Wax Heads’ Review: Somehow The Vital Connection Is Made Original
Roll up the shutters for one of the best indie games of 2026 so far. Patattie Games It’s one thing to enjoy an escape to a familiar world, but it’s another to feel genuinely gutted when it finally comes to an end. Wax Heads is cozy gaming in the purest sense, where you can connect with people, however flawed, over a shared love — a rare experience in 2026. It’s just a shame it has to finish.
$100 Games: With ‘GTA6’ Looming, Here Are The Cases For And Against Original
If any launch-day game will break the $100 price tag, surely it's 'GTA6'? Rockstar Games Paying $100 for a standard game release has been a thorny subject for a while. With GTA6’s upcoming launch, there’s every reason to believe that Rockstar Games could be the first to adopt a day-one, three-figure price point, thanks to the 13-year wait and the millions (and millions) of dollars spent on it.
Still Waiting For ‘Forza Horizon 6’? Give ‘Screamer’ A Try
'Screamer' may be have one of the most punishing learning curves in racing, but the payoff couldn't be more rewarding. Milestone Screamer appeared out of nowhere in March, and probably disappeared from wider gaming consciousness as quickly as it arrived. It shouldn’t have, because there’s a great chance that once you play it, you won’t be able to let go. I’ve repeatedly gone back to spend minutes, hours, or days between the likes of MotorSlice, Absolum, and Mixtape.
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