Gaming/Game Reviews

Halo isn’t the only Xbox staple returning this December. Forza Horizon takes the motorsport series and shifts gears into wilder street racing scenarios. The newest game takes drivers to an open-world map inspired by the diverse landscapes of Mexico. The first for the Xbox Series X/S, Forza Horizon 5 makes the cars and terrain feel and look spectacular.

The foundations of gaming are the impenetrable 50+ hours of Japanese roleplaying games that exist in the periphery of your vision. Largest among them is Shin Megami Tensei, which has been going since the NES but only more recently sunk its fangs into the public consciousness through a spin-off series, Persona. Now in the spotlight, the cult summoning saga returns on the Nintendo Switch. Explore a hidden Tokyo, ravaged by a war between angels and demons. Recruit monsters and try to prevent the apocalypse in this surreal adventure.

Millions of people spent their pandemic decorating, gardening and playing tambourine with friends … in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which spread faster than, well, some things in March of last year. Fans have been restless for more content in their imaginary island life, and Nintendo is finally ready to airdrop supplies.

Version 2.0 of New Horizons comes with new animal villagers and home options; the addition of yoga, farming, cooking; and the return of Brewster’s cafe and Kapp’n’s boat tours, the mysterious gyroids and most importantly: that frog chair.

But that’s not all! For an additional fee, New Horizons gets an entirely new game, Happy Home Paradise, in which you can become a realtor to set villagers up with their dream home, island or even business.