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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Agatha Christie – Murder on the Orient Express Review 

Agatha Christie - Murder on the Orient Express is the best Poirot game of recent times and really brings out your inner detective.

Paintball 3 – Candy Match Factory Review

Paintball 3 - Candy Match Factory conjures up creative and engaging match-3 gameplay that will hook you in for hours.

SWORD ART ONLINE Last Recollection Review

SWORD ART ONLINE Last Recollection fails to deliver a memorable climax to the series.

Harmony’s Odyssey Review

Harmony’s Odyssey is a delightfully whimsical adventure full of puzzling and charming dioramas.

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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Trending

Titan Books announce official companion book for indie horror, Sally Face

A fan of Sally Face? You’re going to want to get hands-on with Titan Books’ Sally Face: Art, Lore, and More when it releases this September. 

5 of the best fishing games on Xbox One

As I've played almost every fishing experience that you can find on the big black box, I thought I'd attempt to rank them, nailing a list consisting of 5 of the best fishing games on Xbox One, if you will.

11 Xbox or Game Pass releases you need to play in February 2024

What are the 11 Xbox or Game Pass releases from February 2024 that you should be playing?

Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist Weekly Challenges Guide Series 29 – Spring

It is the final week of Festival Playlist Weekly Challenges for Series 29 over in Forza Horizon 5, and as always we can hope that the Series goes out with a bang, rather than a whimper. 

Beautiful Sakura: Surfing Club Review

Beautiful Sakura: Surfing Club is perhaps the most cynical, half-hearted attempt at weedling £10 out of someone’s pockets, and no amount of baby-oil and AI-generated creepy-fingers can justify its existence. If this is the future of gaming then stop the bus, because we’re getting off. 

Latest Reviews

Witch Rise Review

Witch Rise is a short and sweet adventure which has its charm, despite being incredibly easy to play.

Tardy Review

The story and narrative of Tardy will keep you going. It's a pulpy thrill ride across a planet with AI at the forefront and themes of friendship and companionship mixed in.

Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery Review

Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery is an entertaining way to spend three or four hours.

Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story Review

The story, world building, characters, and sound design are where Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story excels.

Persona 3 Reload Review

Go and play Persona 3 Reload; a truly stunning game.