Sam Dixon
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Articles by Sam Dixon
NASCAR 26 review: Another year around the track
NASCAR 26 review: Another year around the track While competent in form, Sam tells us that NASCAR 26 doesn’t do enough to separate itself from, well, itself. This review is based on a Steam code sent to the SideQuesting by the publisher. This video first appeared on The SideQuest Live for September 20, 2026.
ReStory review: A casual day at the shop
The nostalgia gadget business is booming A video game, by definition, requires an electronic device to participate. However, an interest in video games does not require an interest in those devices. ReStory is hoping to bridge that gap in the venn diagram by having players run an electronics repair store. It’s casual, early 2000s vibes, and player focused mindset keeps it more inline with discovering a hobby rather than a part time job.
Wild Blue Skies review: Stormy skies
Wild Blue Skies tries its best to capture what makes Star Fox so great, but doesn’t connect in the same way. The indie modernization of classic game genres is nothing new, and Wild Blue Skies hopes to continue the trend by revitalizing arcade on rails shooters from the 90s. This nostalgic trip attempts a revitalizing of an icon, but It’s unfortunately a cover song with not many instruments changed out.
D-TOPIA review: An imperfect perfect civilization
D-TOPIA works towards the theme of man’s imperfection to create perfection, but in the process may not be able to capitalize on how it tries to actually get there Players take control of the sector’s new Facilitator, a resident whose job it is to help facilitate the smooth operation of facility resources and the happiness of the residents.
Star Fox hot take: A faithful, must-play remake
The newest Star Fox is the ultimate remake of the series. Sam and Dali are mighty happy with where the new version by Velan Studios and Nintendo ended up. This review is based on a copy purchased by the SideQuesting editors. This video first appeared as a part of The SideQuest Live for June 25, 2026.
Hands-on at The MIX: Victor’s Video Vault & Alice Goes to Wonderland pinball
Check out a few games Sam saw at The MIX in LA during Summer Game Fest 2026! We had the chance to check out a ton of great projects at The MIX in Los Angeles during Summer Game Fest. Check out these impressions from our hands-on! Victor’s Video Vault What happens when you traverse through an 80s video rental store and get sucked into the movies? Sam finds out with his hands-on of the upcoming psychological horror game.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 [Preview] The donning of Age 1000
A fresh start in the future of Dragon Ball Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 has been a long time coming. It will be over a decade since the last release in the series, with at least that time’s worth of new characters and stories from the universe to pull from. Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama seemingly wanted to honor that time and the entire timeline with the shift to Age 1000. This time period has been explored before, but this will be the first dedicated experience in it.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok [Preview] Setting sail with new friends and your favorite guy from town
We chat with the team behind the massive game in our preview Granblue as a series is always growing bigger and to double down on that, Cygames has added an additional title to one of their games with Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok. More story, more characters, more modes, more power, and more player choice is at the heart of this new expansion.
Stage Tour [Preview]: Still got the rhythm
Stage Tour feels like exactly what we’d want a real successor to the plastic instrument craze to be The RedOctane story is an interesting, albeit slightly sad, one. The original producers of the Guitar Hero series, they were eventually absorbed into and then shut down by Activision.
Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival [Preview] Keeping a healthy distance from the cube
Hands on with the horror IP’s latest game I’m not often made to feel uncomfortable when playing games. Sure horror games might want to make you tense and to release some of that tension with a scare, but they want you to enjoy yourself at least to the extent of finishing the experience and maybe suggesting it to others. My brief time with Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival at Summer Game Fest made me want to put as much distance between it and myself as I possibly could.
Stuntman: Hollywood [Preview] Checking the dailies on a franchise revival
Hands-on with the next great vroomer If there is a video game equivalent of having your cake and eating it too, it might be getting the return of a beloved stunt based driving franchise after 19 years and partnering with Universal to bring actual blockbuster movies into the game. Saber Interactive is doing just that with Stuntman: Hollywood, an arcade-driving take on some of the best moments in movies, the car scenes.
The Wolf Among Us Remastered [Preview]: Refreshing their fur
Back again for the FURst time Following an announcement for its frequently requested sequel, The Wolf Among Us is getting a refresh with The Wolf Among Us Remastered. At Summer Game Fest, PM Studios brought an early portion of the game that has received this remastering, and we had the chance to go hands-on.
Stranger Than Heaven [Preview] Teaching punks a lesson
Hands-on with the upcoming era-spanning story battler Amidst announcing Tupac’s appearance in Stranger Than Heaven, SEGA and RGG Studios had the fifty year-long story stop in three places for it’s Summer Games Fest combat focused demo: Kokura, Fukuoka 1915, to dust up with some street thugs, Kure, Hiroshima 1929 to fight with a gang and its much larger enforcer, and Minami, Osaka 1943 to go head to head with an out of control swordsman.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword [Preview]: If you’re headed that way so am I
We go hands-on with the famed blade prior to the game’s release It’s been 20 years since the last main line entry in the Onimusha series. Onimusha: Way of the Sword is looking to make up for all of that lost time with a new title for fans and a series entry point for new players.
Blood Dungeon [Preview]: A wiggly world of fun
What if we’re in a dungeon crawler but can crawl on everything in the dungeon? That appears to be the question Blood Dungeon, developed by Messhof of Nidhogg fame, is answering. This wiggly rouge-like keeps you moving to survive, and keeps you killing to thrive. Waves of increasingly stronger and weirder creatures force you to adapted to the environment around you, keeping you jumping from ledges, shimming down gates, and possibly flying around the labyrinths.
SILENT HILL: Townfall [Preview] – Discovering a new place on the telly
The fog is back again to obscure the horrors of St. Amelia island. SILENT HILL: Townfall continues the series’ tradition of narrative driven psychological horror that it is known for. This time players control Simon Ordell, who is on the island to ‘put things right’, instead of going to therapy about it. Simon finds himself alone in town but comes across a CRTV, a small portable CRT that can search for analog frequencies on the island.
[Preview] The Lost Wild, where we’re nothing more than prey
Dinosaurs are not to be messed with, apparently The Lost Wild is not a power fantasy with dinosaurs to dominate. Instead it is about surviving at the bottom of a food chain and having nothing but your wit to help you do so. These are wild animals living their lives and you’re nothing more than a potential next meal. We had the chance to sit in on a hands-off demo at Summer Game Fest that sees the game’s protagonist awaken in this environment unsure of what is going on or where they are.
Dead As Disco hot take: Ain’t dead yet
Dead As Disco is a novel rhythm take on beat’em ups with a stunning presentation, and Sam is gaga over it. It’s still early in the development of Dead As Disco, relatively speaking, but what the developers have created already is a solid start. The game is a mix of third person brawling action and music rhythm, and can appeal to fans of both. If we’re into the music rhythm aspect there’s a great soundtrack and gameplay that brings it together.
Neverness to Everness review: We may play this foreverness
Hotta’s NTE is somehow a mix of, well, EVERYTHING, and it still manages to be a ton of fun. NTE is a lovely new lifestyle sim gacha game that plays out like a slice of anime life, but with some spooky stuff happening all around us. It has a heavy story and a lot of produced cutscenes, voice acting, and presentation, and it shows that developer Hotta really have done the work to get this game right. This game is absolutely LOADED with content. There are racing seasons in it. Mahjong.
Don’t Lose Aggro hot take: Some tank-sized shoes to fill
Don’t Lose Aggro focuses on us being a powerful MMO tank that needs to assist others, but that doesn’t necessarily feel great to do so (yet). One of the big issues I’ve had with MMOs is that when we’re playing as the tank and doing raids we’re covering for a large amount of people, sometimes it’s two and sometimes it’s four. And sometimes it’s, like, TWELVE.
Parking Garage Rally Circuit — European Tour DLC review: Still tracking
Sam lets us know why we should keep the tank full and the engine running in PGRC’s latest DLC. It turns out that I’ve actually been playing Parking Garage Rally Circuit for longer than I thought might happen. While the base game is great, and the DX version also fun, the new European Tour DLC adds enough things to bring us right back. The DLC includes 8 more European tracks — you know, based off of your favorite European parking garages that you’ve definitely been to and definitely know.
Las Flag review: The last and only
Last Flag aims to do one thing and do it well, but its adherence to that one thing means that it lacks in other crucial places. Imagine being back at a groovy summer camp, hanging with your friends and playing a spirited game of capture the flag. Last Flag hopes to capture that magic with a 5v5 hero shooter. It’s got an interesting art style, unique heroes, control points, an interesting take on the genre, it’s all here! But like a self drafted camp summer league, teams are unbalanced.
Echo Aviation Controller review: Time to pitch the old stick
The Echo Aviation Controller is a bespoke and exceptional way to control flight sims. If you haven’t heard of Honeycomb Aeronautical you’re probably not a diehard flight sim person (I certainly hadn’t) but hey, get them on your radar. The Echo Aviation Controller is an incredible little device that’s meant to simluate a full desktop flight simulator controller but on a gamepad that doesn’t take up an entire desk. And boy does it work.
Gear.Club Unlimited 3 Switch 2 review: Burnouts and spinouts
The latest Gear.Club Unlimited game aims for the win but never really comes close to the finish line, especially on the Switch 2. Gear.Club Unlimited 3 is trying to be a lot of things, but some poor decisions with visuals, pacing, and controls mean that it’s not really worth the ride. In the world of arcade racers we can do better, and we should do better. This review is based on a Nintendo Switch 2 eShop code sent to SideQuesting by the publisher. Images and video courtesy publisher.
Warhammer 40,000 Speed Freeks review: Hey kids, you like making things go boom?
Warhammer 40,000 Speed Freeks review: Hey kids, you like making things go boom? Warhammer 40,000 dips its wheels into the world of car combat, and according to Sam it’s silly, enjoyable fun. This review is based on a Steam code sent to SideQuesting by the publisher. Images and video courtesy publisher. The video first appeared on The SideQuest for March 20, 2026.
Hands-on with Riftbound Unleashed, the upcoming new expansion to the TCG [Preview]
Hands-on with Riftbound Unleashed, the upcoming new expansion to the TCG [Preview] Sam plays Riftbound for the first time, including its latest expansion, Unleashed Unleashed might just pull in new players with its adjustments and new cards. This preview based on hands-on at PAX East 2026. Images and video courtesy publisher and SideQuesting. This video first appeared on The SideQuest for April 02, 2026.
Hands-on with Mech Tech, the RTS/MOBA hybrid [Preview]
The 4v4 battle management game with some interesting multiplayer twists Sam goes hands-on with Mech Tech from sam_makes_games at PAX East 2026! The game is currently on Kickstarter. This preview based on hands-on at PAX East 2026. Images and video courtesy publisher and SideQuesting. This video first appeared on The SideQuest for April 02, 2026.
Aniimo hands-on preview
Aniimo might prove that monsters don’t belong in pockets, they belong on the big screen Aniimo aims to bring some fresh new ideas to the creature collecting genre. Sam goes hands-on with the upcoming free to play game and talks about what it manages to do right and what might really be exciting about it. This preview based on hands-on at PAX East 2026. Images and video courtesy publisher and SideQuesting. This video first appeared on The SideQuest for March 26, 2026.
Arknights Endfield hot take: It’s good!
Sam goes deep into Arknights: Endfield and talks about why this latest GACHA game has The Juice I didn’t know what an Endministrator was beforehand, but after playing GRYPHLINE’s Arknights: Endfield I implore you to understand that it’s now my official title. This Hot Take is based on a copy purchased by the SideQuesting Editor. Images and video courtesy publisher. This video first appeared on The SideQuest for January 30, 2026.
GOTY 2025: Sam’s Picks for Games of the Year
Sam gives us a project management update about his favorite games of 2025 Are our numbers going up? Maybe! We have a good game balance sheet, at least! Sam’s “Good but not the Best” Picks Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Donkey Kong Bananza Hades II Little Rocket Lab Megabonk Mario Kart World Sam’s Picks Arc Raiders Ball x Pit Roadcraft This video first appeared on The SideQuest LIVE! January 09, 2026: GOTY of the YEAR 2025.
Parking Garage Rally Circuit DX (Wavedash review)
Parking Garage Rally Circuit is back in an updated version, now sporting more tracks and making the transition to the Wavedash service. Zipping onto a browser streaming platform for a racing game may not seem like it’s supposed to work, but Walaber Games has done a little magic in getting Parking Garage Rally Circuit DX to work — and work well. There are plenty of new garages to race in, but now we won’t need to download a Steam client to play by ourselves or with family or friends.
Little Rocket Lab review: Perfection in small sizes
The Persona 4: Dancing All Night of Stardew Valleys Little Rocket Lab takes one cozy life sim and two automation games to craft what could arguably be one of the best games of the year. Following the story of a young girl who has returned to her Aunt’s land to finish building the rocket ship her mother and aunt had started working on years ago.
NASCAR 25 review: What’s here is good, but is it good enough?
There are good racing and controls systems in NASCAR 25, but the online needs work. NASCAR has gone through quite the strenuous couple of iterations when it comes to video games. There have been a few arcade-focused games, but when it comes to the core, if you want to call it “NASCAR fill-in-a-year” title, they haven’t been doing great. iRacing Studios has decided to take the reins, or wheel rather, to push the series back towards relevency.
Gerry Cooney vs Mike Weaver Why Did The Fight Not Happen?
I was going back through some of my Boxing DVD's yesterday and saw two instances where Conney said he was going to fight Weaver for the WBA belt. One was after he brutally KOed Norton he and his manager(s) said Weaver was next they already had a contract drawn up. Another was after Holmes KOed Leon Spinks Cooney was in the arena and there was a hilarious scuffle between Cooney, Holmes, and Howard Cosell where Cooney again says he is to fight Weaver.
Western Hello Kitty and Friends Cloudheads™ Collection review: Stuffies for all of us
Hello Kitty and Friends bring some wild (west) stuffed toys that are maybe too much fun Chaos ensues when Sam gets delivery of the newest Hello Kitty stuffed figures. Have a watch, and get ready to put these on your Christmas list. This Review is based on a products sent to SideQuesting by the manufacturer. Images and video courtesy manufacturer and SideQuesting. This video first appeared on The SideQuest Live for October 21, 2025
Formula Legends review: Riding off the track
Interesting racing genre ideas, but they’re too few and far between to really make this worth our time on the track Formula Legends is like many of the art deco racing posters that it alludes to: a beautiful representation of the fast and energetic racing that inspires it. But unlike those works of art, the game is a little too unfinished and features too many blemishes to warrant hanging on our wall. Legends nails the references and constant evolution of the sport over its many decades.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure (PS5) review
The same Hello Kitty but now with a friendly performance boost Hello Kitty Island Adventure finally comes to PlayStation 5, and while it’s the same game as the version on Nintendo’s Switch it now brings with it improved visuals and a smooth experience. Sam tells us his thoughts in this conversational review, and why it might be the perfect game to get on your PlayStations while waiting for Animal Crossing to come back around.
[Review] Rooftops and Alleys gives us stylish parkour
From walls to steel girders to rails and, well, to alleys, it’s time to put our feet all over this city I’m a big movement guy when it comes to video games. From racing games to skateboarding, how we move in a gameworld is really important to me, so Radical Theory’s Rooftops and Alleys seemed to tick all the boxes. This is, for all intents and purposes, a parkour game with the addition of scoring via tricks, judgment of our movement and our talent in moving through the environment.
[Hot Take] Asgard’s Fall
A Vampire Survivors-like (garlic-like?) that has great progression and nice visuals Asgard’s Fall is a “Vamps” game, a Vampire Survivors-like with a focus on Norse mythology. It has a very cool leveling and archetype system, which seem to be at its core, with three standards: a physical melee character with a sword, a bow and arrow hero, and an elemental magician. The hook is that the arenas we’re placed in deliver different types of upgrades, mixing up ourt character’s abilities with that area.
[Review] #Drive Rally doesn’t stay on course with the actual driving
With #Drive Rally we’re influencing more than driving — and that’s not really all that fun Finally in 1.0 release, #Drive Rally is the follow up to Drive, a mobile game. This sequel is a classically-styled rally racing game — I played it on Steam, but it doesn’t forget its mobile pedigree. Unfortunately that’s where the game has issues. It doesn’t feel much like we’re driving, just more that we’re influencing something to go left and right.
Cappy and Tappy hands-on preview
A charming pixel platformer that has smart, asymmetric play with themes of Indiana Jones and Tetris Cappy and Tappy, First Pancake Studios latest project, puts co-op and asymmetric multiplayer at its core. In the game, one player controls Cappy, a little cute capybara that does all the jumping, and another controls Tappy, a character that drops or destructs Tetris block-like platforms that allow the first player to advance, essentially.
Windswept hands-on preview
What if Mario was Duck and Turtle? We go hands-on with the retro-inspired but modern controlling Windswept from Top Hat Studios. Windswept is a 2D side-scrolling platformer in which we’ve got a little buddy that follows us around. On its face value it looks very much just like a 16-bit era platfomer, but it has a really interesting move set where we need both companions to do certain actions.
Desktop Survivors 98 hands-on preview
What happens when you mix Vampire Survivors with Rusty’s Retirement? Our next indie obsession. Sam, Taylor and the team discuss this novel upcoming indie from Brandon Hesslau Games. It even lets us hide the game from our bosses at the office! Sweet! Desktop Survivors 98 is set to release later this month. SideQuesting had a chance to play the game at PAX East. This video first appeared on The SideQuest LIVE for May 9, 2025.
Glaciered hands-on preview
According to Sam, Glaciered is basically Dark Souls but underwater Set 65 million years into the future and focusing on massive beasts, we had a chance to try Glaciered at PAX East. In the game we play as an underwater monster, rough at first but able to evolve over time. We battle equally huge enemies, carry eggs/flasks to improve ourselves, and generally explore an undersea world. Glaciered is set to release some point in 2025. SideQuesting had a chance to play the game at PAX East.
Wildkeepers Rising hot take
A novel new bullet-hell survivor game that has enough charm cooking in Early Access Coming up with a new idea in a Vampire Survivors-esque genre can be difficult, but Wildkeepers Rising adds in an extra dynamic that may give something fresh. Instead of just picking up weapons, we capture monsters and use them alongside us in battle. As we go through different missions we can get these creatures and and build up teams.
What firms need to know about deploying Gen AI tools across their business
We all know it’s coming. Some might let others go first. Some might still be telling themselves it won’t disrupt their business because they are special. But, deep down, everyone knows that they will have to put generative AI (Gen AI) into the hands of all of their lawyers if they are to continue to deliver truly excellent client service. So, when that moment comes, how do you make it a success?
Assetto Corsa EVO (hot take)
A good start that’s a little lite on content, Assetto Corsa EVO‘s early access campaign is off to the races. Early Access is early access for a reason, and this is exactly that reason. Right now, what’s in the game is about three or four different circuits, a couple of variations of a few of those circuits and a number of cars, also with some variations. It’s feature light, and aimed at getting us into the engine more than anything else.
GOTY 2024: Sam’s Favorite Games of the Year
Gotcha gacha! Sam chooses games that have us putting in the hours! From puzzles and shapes to grinding for adventures, Sam’s favorite games of 2024 span across surprising genres that keep players endlessly engaged. Sam’s picks Shapez 2 Balatro The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Parking Garage Rally Circuit Zenless Zone Zero This video first appeared on The SideQuest LIVE! for January 2, 2025: SideQuesting’s Game of the Year 2024 Super Show
VIDEO: Fred Apostoli vs. Freddie Steele
Two of the most underrated and overlooked middleweights of all time collide, in one of the biggest MW fights of the '30s. [yt]fE8KiGA4EEU[/yt] This was in fact a rematch. They had previously fought a few years earlier, before either one was champion, when Apostoli had only had about 5 fights and Steele had had about 100 (gee, brilliant matchmaking there... atsch:roll.
Hatch Tales review
A little throwback platformer years in the making Hatch Tales: A Heroic Hookshot Adventure is a long title for a game that’s deceptively small. Though I’m a big character action platformer guy, I didn’t necessarily know anything before getting sent a review code, so when I first looked at this game it seemed to be simple. But it’s not! Atooi’s Hatch Tales is actually quite involved, with a lot of stages and puzzles and a huge collect-a-thon built in.
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