John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is everything that I wanted from a new game by World War Z developer Saber Interactive. It has all the moreish zombie shooting that you would expect from that team, though now noticeably enhanced by thoroughly modernized gunplay that not only looks and feels great, but actually lets you aim down your weapon's sights properly for the first time.

The charming ‘80s action movie script and a shift to more open levels also lend Toxic Commando a suitably distinct identity compared to its strictly linear spiritual predecessor. The same is true of the addition of vehicles, which benefits from some surprisingly meaty driving mechanics clearly inspired by the success of the studio’s MudRunner and SnowRunner games. Throw in seamless cross-play with up to three friends, and you have the recipe for an incredible time.

The campaign could certainly be a bit longer, and the progression system is definitely slightly too grindy for my taste (even when accounting for multiple playthroughs at each difficulty), but it’s hard to grumble when this modestly-priced release otherwise delivers such strong foundations.

With the promise of post-launch downloadable content (DLC) on the way, this is one co-op adventure that I’m going to come back to time and time again.

Going commando

Set in the near future, Toxic Commando takes you to an infested wasteland that’s been walled off from the rest of civilization. Once the site of a high-tech mining operation, it turns out that humanity has accidentally awakened the Sludge God - an occult, ancient being that corrupts everything that it touches with an insidious black ooze.

You’re one of the self-proclaimed toxic commandos, four low-cost, somewhat bumbling mercenaries that have been brought in by the mining company’s desperate CEO to unwittingly assist in the cover-up by blasting everything in your path.

It’s a decent framing narrative that’s explained through cutscenes dripping with ‘80s style, complete with dramatic animated title cards and a pleasingly retro film grain effect. Dialogue is unapologetically cheesy, and while some might find the constant quipping of the four playable characters a tad grating, a handful of well-executed jokes meant that I was eager to watch each successive cinematic on my first playthrough.

Unfortunately, there are some moments where the game’s lower budget becomes evident: the odd bit of floaty animation and a particularly jarring moment where a cutscene late in the game seems to end a few seconds too prematurely immediately spring to mind.

Crucially, all nine missions are plenty enjoyable thanks to a good range of objectives and plenty of unique mechanics to explore. They take place in increasingly large semi-open-world maps that offer a surprising amount of freedom. There’s always an objective marker on screen guiding you to the next story location, but you’re able to wander off and explore as a team without any penalties.

This is a massive departure from the very linear structure of World War Z, but taking the time to get to know each environment is vital as you crank the difficulty up. Hidden supply caches feed you a steady stream of valuable ammunition and health items, and rare Sludge Seeds (often nestled behind an army of powerful enemy types) can grant a vital second chance if you run out of lives.

Vehicles are littered throughout the maps to help you get around and are a key part of many objectives. Hopping into an armored all-terrain vehicle with a mounted gun dramatically increases your firepower, for example, while those who choose the comparatively fragile ambulance can give the team a much-needed health top-up.

SludgeRunner

Even if you choose the most kitted-out vehicles, you’re never close to invincible thanks to a range of environmental threats. Muddy terrain will stop you in your tracks as your tires lose traction, giving the many, many sludge zombies the opportunity to surround your vehicle and chip away at its overall health.

Most of the cars are equipped with an in-built winch that can be deployed to get you out of sticky situations with a well-placed pull, leading to delightfully frantic moments that have you crying out to your squad, desperately trying to free yourself before foes arrive.

Vehicles require plenty of fuel too, which has to be obtained from your environment and manually topped up whenever needed. There are generally a few cans of it in most locations, but the constant threat of running dry and ending up stranded without a ride adds a nice extra layer of tension.

I do wish the campaign was a little longer with a few more maps (I managed to roll credits in just under ten hours), but there are at least plenty of reasons to replay. There are four classes to choose from, each fulfilling the standard damage-dealing, healing, support, and tank archetypes with substantial ability trees to unlock and some unique specializations.

On top of this, the weapon arsenal is pretty meaty with a varied selection of assault rifles, shotguns, SMGs, pistols, sniper rifles, and so on - not to mention some powerful limited-use heavy gear that you can only acquire in the maps themselves.

In addition to an overall power level that affects its damage, each gun can be fully customized with a modest but impactful selection of attachments. They all come with corresponding visual upgrades, lending a solid sense of progression to kitting out your favorite gear.

When you max out a gun’s level, you can even ‘prestige’ it a la Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, resetting its unlocks in exchange for unique skins. Sadly, leveling everything up is especially grindy and would require you to undertake multiple full playthroughs for each gun. This can be frustrating, basically locking you into committing to a specific one, as high-level weapons are essential for tackling hard and very hard difficulty missions. I’m optimistic that this can be addressed in a post-launch balance update, though.

Some new special enemy types also wouldn’t go amiss. Don’t get me wrong, there's an okay selection here already, but the current roster of ‘tanky ones’, ‘exploding ones’, ‘fiery ones’, and so on isn’t anything that hasn’t been done countless times before in other zombie games. At least they’re endlessly satisfying to mow down.

Should I play John Carpenter's Toxic Commando?

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Accessibility features

John Carpenter's Toxic Commando doesn’t have a dedicated accessibility menu or many standard options like colorblind modes, but there are still a few useful settings.

The game features subtitles by default, which can be increased or decreased in size as needed. You can also add a background to make the subtitles a little easier to read. Keyboard and mouse controls can be fully customized on PC, and controller players have the option to enable aim assist.

How I reviewed John Carpenter's Toxic Commando

I played more than ten hours of John Carpenter's Toxic Commando on PC, which is a 5070 Ti-powered model from retailer Scan. It has a compact Corsair 2000d RGB Airflow case, Asus ROG Strix B860-I motherboard, Intel Core Ultra 7 265K processor, a 2TB WD Black SN770 SSD, 32GB of DDR5 Corsair Vengeance RAM, and an Asus Nvidia 5070 Ti graphics card.

These specs were more than sufficient to run the game on its high visual preset with DLSS set to native. During my time with the game, I completed the entire campaign and experienced a mixture of both solo and co-op play, forcing a handful of my TechRadar colleagues to go commando and face the sludge legion.

I frequently compared my experience to my playthroughs of other zombie shooters, including the likes of Left 4 Dead, Back 4 Blood, and World War Z, in addition to other games by Saber Interactive, like MudRunner and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.

First reviewed February-March 2026

The original GreedFall was something of a balm for people starving for a particular flavor of sub-BioWare action role-playing games (RPGs) - games about reading lore codices and speaking to party members about their unresolved family drama.

True to form for veteran “Temu versions of bigger RPGs” developer Spiders, it played like an earnest if haphazard version of The Witcher 2. GreedFall: The Dying World - no longer named GreedFall 2 to clarify its position as a prequel to the original - instead attempts to channel the spirit of classic late 90s or early 00s PC games as it becomes a real-time-with-pause tactical RPG.

The other big shift is in your perspective: the original game cast you as a member of a noble house from a Europe-inspired industrialised nation, as it’s in the middle of colonising a new world of feather-wearing, magic-infused natives with a culture built out of thoughtlessly mashed together indigenous stereotypes.

Presumably in response to criticism of their poorly handled parable of the colonisation of North America, Spiders has taken the bafflingly ill-advised decision to make it all an allegory for the transatlantic slave trade instead.

Troubled waters

In The Dying World, you play as a member of a tribe indigenous to the fantasy island of Teer Fradee who is quickly ripped from their home by soldiers and shipped to the mainland in a prison ship. It’s a bold opening for a developer that doesn’t have a great track record for handling this sort of thing with any degree of sensitivity or consideration.

Luckily, creative cowardice wins out, and you are immediately sprung from prison by a woman who is really very sorry about her job being to help ships bring back captured natives for cultish human experimentation. The rest of the game feels very much like a tour of apologism, as we find out that it’s actually only a few bad apples - and not the entire colonial apparatus - that has a penchant for human slavery and torture.

It’s a shame how familiar things are, how quickly the player character becomes second fiddle to more traditional RPG stories starring your roster of deeply uninteresting party members. There is no opportunity for righteous fury at what all of these people have been doing to your homeland. You can’t go on a revenge rampage. You can’t assassinate business leaders.

You just stumble along, being helpful and small while hoping someone in a position of power feels enough remorse to assist you in rescuing other captured natives or find a way home. The best you can hope for is for some official to possibly consider, maybe one day, looking into the whole slavery business.

The lack of player agency can sometimes reach comical levels; you would think a party member becoming a captain of her own massive ship would be a solid ticket back home for the island natives. Raising it as a possibility makes the rest of the party act as if you’re being completely unreasonable to demand such an expensive and time-consuming diversion. It makes far more sense to help everyone else with whatever lingering lifelong mission they’ve been on first.

It’s a bizarre decision for the studio to double down on the biggest weakness of the original game and flub the blank slate they had given themselves. There’s a game about a cool pirate lady going on adventures that they could have made, away from the baggage of the bad ideas they’d had. They’ve ended up with the worst of both worlds, lacking the conviction to focus on the indigenous storyline but also tarnishing the attempt to make a fun RPG about finding lost treasure and killing inexplicable packs of rabid monkeys in the countryside.

The trying world

The combat is also a step back. With GreedFall and Steelrising, it felt like Spiders had finally settled into a comfortable place with its attempts at real-time, vaguely soulslike combat. Here, it has looked at the success of Baldur’s Gate 3 and the rest of the computer role-playing game (CRPG) revival, and tried something more tactical - ending up with a system very close to Dragon Age: Origins.

Exploration is done via a traditional third-person camera, but at the press of a button, the camera pulls out to an almost isometric view, and time freezes - allowing you to get a handle on the details of each foe, queue up individual actions for each party member, and position them for defensive or offensive purposes.

Unpausing keeps you in the tactical view, letting you monitor how things play out and decide when you need to pause again and adapt to the battle as it unfolds. Not that you’ll ever be really surprised by anything.

Most encounters play out the same way; the same way they do in most CRPGs - sending out a tank to draw enemy attention away from your preferred assortment of spell casters, archers and thieves who all chip away at enemy defences or hit them with afflictions or cast favourable buffs on the tank. Sometimes there’ll be an explosive barrel.

It works fine. The studio has done a genuinely commendable job at mapping this sort of thing onto a console controller - you never feel like you’re struggling against the absence of a scroll wheel or a keyboard. You might find yourself struggling to stay engaged in your third, drawn-out battle against a dozen rabid monkeys in a row - as you find yourself pausing and pausing to carry out the same tried and tested tactics you’ve been relying on for 20 hours.

Outside of a few standout bosses, the game rarely throws you a curveball or forces you to think outside of the box.

Fortunately, The Dying World features some robust difficulty and control options - letting you do everything from making it so that a single badly timed or placed spell can result in wiping out your own party or turning the game into a third-person autobattler with infinite health.

If the combat ever starts to feel like a slog, you can essentially make it play itself while you enjoy exploring the world or furthering the narrative. Or if you prefer to turn it into something like a 90s computer classic, you could play the entire thing like it’s a real-time strategy with a fixed isometric camera as you click your way around the environment.

As a Spiders fan in general, this is ultimately a deeply frustrating experience. There’s a lot to be appreciated here. The towns and cities of the continent are a densely packed delight to explore, once you’re finally given the freedom to do so.

There’s a calming quality to being able to sit back and consider your options as you look down on the battlefield. But there’s only so long you can spend clicking on the same combination of skill icons in battles that all overstay their welcome. Only so many times you can grimace as the writing constantly trips over itself.

It’s heart breaking to say, given the effort involved - and knowing there’s a strong likelihood this could be Spiders’ swansong - but this is a world they should have let this world die in peace.

Should I play GreedFall: The Dying World?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility features

The game lets you change a variety of aspects of combat to taste, from friendly or enemy damage levels to when the game pauses automatically or how the camera reacts in certain contexts.

You can determine how much autonomy your party members have during a fight. There are three presets available, which offer different ways to experience and engage with combat, from minimal to exact.

Subtitle options are limited to one background and three sizes, but there are no colourblind settings. Commendably, they have included something that every video game should release with - an Infinite Health toggle switch in the options menu.

How I reviewed GreedFall: The Dying World

I played through the main storyline and the major companion quests of Greedfall: The Dying World for over 40 hours on a stock PlayStation 5 hooked up to a 50” OLED TV. The HDR really shows off the wide range of deep, rich browns and reds that make up the towns and forests you’ll be spending your time in.

I played using the Quality Mode, which caps the FPS at 30 frames per second (fps) - which I found had little impact on the tactical combat. The Performance Mode caps at 60, but the significant reduction in resolution makes the detailed environments appear fuzzy and cluttered.

First reviewed March 2026

Razer Enki Pro: One-minute review

The Razer Enki Pro is a premium, high-end gaming chair that provides you with immense comfort, to the point I would consider it one of the most comfortable gaming chairs I have ever sat in.

It offers exceptional lumbar support, even for those who enjoy sitting in weird positions in their chair - myself included. You get 4D armrests, which are a joy if you’re someone who prefers a certain position for typing and then another for gaming.

However, one of the major downsides here is the fact that it will set you back $999 / £999, which is double the cost of even some of the best gaming chairs on the market, like the Secretlab Titan Evo, which comes in at just $500 / £469.

At this hefty price point, you would expect a feature-packed seat with close to perfect ergonomics, but the Razer Enki Pro falls a tad short here. The Herman Miller x Logitech Embody gaming chair is another top-end premium seat, which comes with ergonomics designed to support your entire back and a 12-year warranty in comparison.

Another qualm I’ve got with the Razer Enki Pro, which is almost definitely more of a personal one, is the lack of style on offer from the chair here. It looks like a bog-standard gaming chair when it comes to colour, design and silhouette, which is a bit disappointing coming from Razer - whose products are typically very stylish.

Of course, this will be down to personal preference, but the hardback shell of the seat is just not for me.

Razer Enki Pro: Price and availability

• Costs $999 / £999 / AU$1799
• Pricey when compared to similar gaming chairs
• Only one colorway available

At just under $1000, the Razer Enki Pro is a pricey chair considering what’s on offer. Chairs that offer a similar feature set include the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 and the AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL, which both come in closer to the $500 mark.

You can pick up the Razer Enki Pro in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Stock is limited in other regions thanks to how large and heavy the chair is, which can make shipping difficult.

You can grab a couple of special editions for the Razer Enki Pro, including the Lamborghini, Williams Esports, or Koenigsegg editions, which come in at a higher price point of $1,299 / £1,299, but the base chair only comes in a black and green colourway.

The chair often goes on sale over at the Razer website, where you can typically grab the seat at $100 / £100 off making the value proposition a little better.

Razer Enki Pro: Specs

Razer Enki Pro: Design and aesthetics

• Extremely heavy
• 4D armrests
• Alcantara seat

One of the first things you’ll notice about the Razer Enki Pro, before even unboxing the chair, is the weight.

At around 30kg, this chair is extremely heavy, to the point that it feels weighty even when just moving it around or swivelling. While the weight does make the chair seem very heavy-duty, it can get annoying to constantly have to work hard to swivel the chair while you’re sitting in it, just because of how heavy it is.

A lot of this weight is likely down to the hard shell exterior of the seat, that isn’t my cup of tea in terms of style. It makes the chair appear bulky rather than sleek and slender, which is what I would prefer.

You have the benefit of 4D armrests, which is almost expected when spending this much on a gaming chair. These allow you to move the armrests completely so they can sit exactly as you like. They can be adjusted up and down, left and right, forwards and backwards, which makes this perfect for those who want their armrests a certain way for gaming and then another way for typing.

The Razer Enki Pro also comes with a 152-degree seat recline, which is pretty common in many gaming chairs. It also has weight-adjusted tilting, meaning you can lean back in the chair and it will adjust accordingly without the need for any manual adjustments.

I didn't use this feature very often because I’m currently trying my best to repair my absolutely awful posture by sitting up exceptionally straight all the time, but when I did decide to sit cross-legged in the seat, it was great to be able to comfortably lean back.

Something that sets the chair apart from alternatives on the market is the Alcantara leather, which feels like suede.

This is much harder wearing and moisture resistant when compared to typical leather, but still doesn’t absorb all of your sweat that some felt or cotton chairs do. Personally, I wasn’t a fan of the feel of the Alcantara, but again, this will be down to personal preference and taste.

In terms of the silhouette, you get 110-degree extended shoulder arches and a 21” base to allow for optimal weight distribution for long-lasting comfort and all-day gaming.

These wider shoulder arches make the chair suited to those who may have a wider frame, but it's worth noting that it has a maximum user weight of 136kg. You get built-in lumbar support - which isn’t adjustable - that encourages you to sit upright.

Razer Enki Pro: Comfort and adjustability

• Adjustable headrest
• Extremely comfortable
• Able to sit for long periods without strain

After constructing the chair, it was very quick and easy for me to determine that the Razer Enki Pro was one of the most comfortable chairs I have ever sat in. I typically find myself fidgeting a lot throughout the day, changing positions and trying to sit in weird ways just to feel comfortable, but this was an issue of the past - for the most part - with the Razer Enki Pro.

The lumbar support is pretty good; it would be nice to be able to adjust it to suit my back, but it still feels very comfortable even when I’m sitting at my desk all day long.

I feel content sitting in this chair for long periods of time without any strain. I often find myself getting up and stretching, and walking around every so often in my other chairs just because I feel achy and strained, but I didn’t need to do this in the Razer Enki Pro.

Of course, it's recommended to get up and move around at least once an hour if you’re sitting at a desk for long periods of time.

The one downside when it came to comfort was the headrest. It isn’t as well cushioned as I was expecting, so I ended up just removing it altogether. The headrest is magnetic, meaning that removing it or adjusting it is super simple, so no matter what your preference is, you’re able to get the headrest where you like it.

Razer Enki Pro: Assembly

• All tools in the box including a pair of gloves
• Very heavy box
• I’d recommend two people for assembly

When first unboxing and constructing the chair, I struggled a tad. I’ve built countless gaming chairs in my time, thanks to the never-ending stream of review seats, but the Razer Enki Pro takes the crown for being one of the heaviest chairs I’ve ever built.

However, it was very easy to put together in spite of that, with everything just sliding into place. It only needed eight screws to attach the back to the base of the seat, which was very simple, but lifting the actual base up and trying to slide it onto the guide rail was so difficult to do alone, and I needed to call in some help in order to do this.

While it could be done solo, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Should I buy the Razer Enki Pro?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider...

If you’re not sold on the Razer Enki Pro or you just want to weigh up some other options then here’s how it compares to two other alternatives that we’ve reviewed.

How I tested the Razer Enki Pro

• Sat in all day for work and all evening for gaming
• Used for a month in total
• Compared to other gaming chairs

I spent all day, every day, using the Razer Enki Pro for a month, including working all day and gaming all evening.

I would sit in it for multiple hours at a time, including full working days. I would adjust the armrests and recline often to change seat positions or to relax in the evenings when I was gaming.

I compared my experience to multiple other gaming chairs I have reviewed over the years, right down to the build experience and design, to the features on offer and the comfort.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January 2026

One-minute review

The GTPlayer LR002 is a budget-friendly gaming chair that hopes to match the comfort levels of costlier competition.

It’s less aggressive in its gamer stylings than many others in this sector. You could even call it smart, and my review unit’s light grey and blue finish helped to showcase the chair’s lighter side.

However, the fabric doesn’t look or feel especially premium, and neither do the solid materials employed throughout the LR002’s construction. It certainly won’t trouble the likes of the Secretlab et al in terms of build quality.

An area where it does compete with the best gaming chairs, though, is cushioning. Not only is the seat soft and plump, but so too are the arm rests and backrest, which makes the LR002 a comfortable chair to sink into. The lumbar and head pillows are less plush, but still provide me with sufficient support in the right areas.

Things take a turn for the worse, though, when it comes to adjustability. The LR002 lacks any form of adjustments for the arm rests, and there’s no rocking function: if you want to lean back, you can recline the backrest to your desired angle, but once there, you’re locked in.

The included footrest also disappoints, owing to its poor design and construction. It consistently failed to slide out smoothly, and even when fully retracted, I found it stopped far too short to be usable, even for someone of my short stature.

Taller gamers are also likely to be disappointed with the seat height range. Although it goes lower to the ground than many (something I often welcome), I imagine those six feet and over would find its maximum elevation too low.

Assembling the LR002 was mostly a straightforward process, thanks to the relatively light seat base and backrest. However, some of the bolts proved difficult to screw in fully, while the angles of some of the holes were awkward to reach.

With its reasonable price, the LR002 makes a compelling case in the budget gaming chair segment. It’s an even more attractive proposition with the huge discounts we’ve seen GTPlayer offer. However, if you’re tall or like plenty of adjustments in your seat, the LR002 is unlikely to satisfy.

GTPlayer LR002 review: Price and availability

• $159.99 / £149.99 / AU$703
• Available worldwide
• Cheap for a gaming chair

The GTPlayer LR002 costs $159.99 / £149.99 / AU$703 and is available now in most territories around the world. It comes in multiple colorways, half of which are monochromatic; two shades of blue, a brown, and an orange finish comprise the rest.

This is a decent price for a gaming chair, putting the LR002 at the budget-end of the spectrum. What’s more, we’ve seen it on sale for less than half price in the UK, making it even more of a bargain. This was direct from GTPlayer's website, although the original price listed here is substantially more than that on Amazon.

It competes with the likes of the Corsair TC100 Relaxed, which commands a similar price to the LR002. We think this is one of the best cheap gaming chairs around, thanks to its comfort levels and adjustability; the LR002 can match the TC100 in the former area, but not the latter.

If you're willing to part with more cash, but still want to steer clear of the most expensive models, the Asus ROG Destrier Core is a solid bet. Not only does this gaming chair offer more adjustments than the LR002, its unique mesh backrest improves breathability and lends a certain style to the unit that sets it apart from many others in the sector.

GTPlayer LR002 review: Specs

GTPlayer LR002 review: Design and aesthetics

• Soft but basic looks
• Cheap-feeling materials
• Lightweight design

The LR002 takes the typical gaming chair approach in terms of overall form, although it’s softer and more rounded than others. These aspects make it a more inviting chair, in my view.

I was also fond of the light grey finish of my review unit, accented by light blue strips, which helps to make the LR002 look less austere than many others in this sector. Granted, it’s not the most elegant of designs, but it’s inoffensive and understated enough to suit most settings.

The lack of premium materials is perhaps the biggest aesthetic weakness of the LR002. The fabric, while smooth to the touch, looks and feels cheap. It’s more breathable than other gaming chair upholsteries, but I still think it’s too thick to keep me cool on a hot summer day.

The plastics used in the unit’s construction also look and feel like cut-price affairs. In their defense, they’re light, which helps to keep the chair’s weight down. In fact, the LR002 is one of the lightest gaming chairs I’ve come across.

There’s a strange hollowness to the backrest; it’s only partially filled, with what feel like small polystyrene balls. It crackled and popped as I leaned into it (it has plenty of give), which wasn’t something I was expecting or particularly wanting to feel, but fortunately, the effect wasn’t disruptive enough to ruin my time in the chair. The backrest is also very thin, which contributes to the aforementioned lightness of the LR002.

GTPlayer LR002 review: Comfort and adjustability

• Cushioned on all contactable surfaces
• Lacks fundamental adjustments
• Very poor footrest

The soft appearance of the LR002 translates to all-round comfort. It offers more cushioning than your typical gaming chair; this is especially true of the backrest and armrests, which put it ahead of many others, even those costing much more.

The strapped lumbar cushion works well, allowing for easy height adjustments while seated, yet it remains in place once you’ve found the ideal height. It’s smaller than those included with other gaming chairs, but it was sufficient to get the support I needed.

It’s a similar story with the head pillow. It’s less plush than others, but again, it provided just enough support for my head and neck. As you might expect, given the budget nature of the LR002, it doesn’t attach magnetically, but via a humble strap.

While the arms are comfortable, thanks to their generous cushioning, they’re quite narrow, which might pose a problem for some gamers. The bigger issue, though, is their complete lack of adjustability.

This is especially frustrating given that they move when the backrest is reclined — but this is the only scenario in which they do. I was lucky that their height was ideal for my seating position, but I imagine there’ll be many gamers who won’t find them suitable.

Equally disappointing is the LR002’s lack of a tilt function. If you want to lean back, the backrest can recline all the way to 140 degrees — but once it’s set, the unforgiving rigidity prevents any form of rocking. At least the recline mechanism is smooth with no discernible notchiness, and the lever is easy to operate.

A retractable footrest is installed underneath the LR002. However, this has to be one of the most poorly designed examples I’ve come across. Every time I tried to slide it out, it would get stuck partway, requiring a few jiggles to set it free.

What’s more, the cushion itself doesn’t stay upright, requiring constant leg pressure to hold it in place. Worst of all, though, is its short extension. While it managed to support my legs, the front edge of the rest dug uncomfortably into the back of my calves — and I’m only 5”7. Anyone taller than this will find it laughably impractical.

Another issue for taller gamers is the seat height. The minimum setting is quite low to the ground, which is something I often welcome, but the maximum isn’t all that high. And since there’s only one size of the LR002, this could cause a problem for the long-legged.

GTPlayer LR002 review: Assembly

• Light base and backrest
• Clear instructions
• Tight bolts

Assembling the LR002 was mostly an easy process, barring a few minor frustrations. It comes with a hex key that features a grip handle, which, while useful, was a little too short to get the leverage I hoped for when tightening the bolts.

What’s more, none of these bolts or their insert points were greased even slightly, which made them even more difficult to screw into place. Some also proved incredibly resistant to the point that I thought their threads must be misaligned.

Both the backrest and seat base are light relative to those of other gaming chairs. This is always a blessing, since wrangling these into place is nearly always the most laborious aspect of any build.

The instruction manual is largely clear, and aside from some aforementioned bold issues, installing the other elements is easy. This includes the under-seat bracket, which can sometimes be a fiddly process.

However, I found the spokes for the wheel base tough to fix to the central hub, since the bolt holes lie in a somewhat inaccessible position. The manual instructs hitting them with force to get them in place, and it’s not joking: I would take care not to damage your floor during this part of the process.

Should I buy the GTPlayer LR002?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

GTPlayer LR002 review: Also consider...

Here are some alternatives to the GTPlayer LR002 if you need more in the way of adjustability or quality:

How I tested the GTPlayer LR002

• Tested for several days
• Used for gaming and working
• Plentiful gaming chair experience

I tested the GTPlayer LR002 for several days. I sat in it when gaming, working, and general browsing on both desktop and laptop devices. I made sure to try every adjustment and function available.

I’ve been PC gaming for over a decade, and experienced many chairs in that time, from office to gaming models. This includes those from high-end brands, such as Steelcase and Secretlab. I’ve also reviewed a number of gaming chairs previously, running the gamut of price points and functionality.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February 2026.

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Two-minute review

Logitech definitely knows the strengths of the G325 Lightspeed, its new budget wireless gaming headset.

Advertised as a model that’s “just as suitable for an OOTD selfie or wearing out and about” as gaming, the impressively lightweight design and unique look make it well worth considering if you're after something more stylish than your standard gamer fare.

This is an incredibly comfortable headset that you should have no trouble wearing for extended periods of time, whether you’re gaming or taking calls at the office. Its memory foam earcups are super soft, and the thin plastic headband is reinforced with some effective padding.

The fact that it’s made almost entirely from thin plastic means that it doesn't feel anywhere near as premium as competitors like HyperX Cloud III or Razer BlackShark V3 X, but this is a reasonable compromise given the high level of comfort the resulting lightness brings.

The microphone represents a similar trade-off. On one hand, I love how streamlined the built-in beamforming microphone is - in fact, it’s almost invisible aside from a tiny little grille on the left earcup. There’s no messing around with a retractable arm or removable parts that you might end up losing.

On the other hand, there’s no denying that those models with dedicated microphone arms sound much better, even if they are a bit more frustrating to use. The mic of the G325 Lightspeed picks up a lot of background noise, despite the best efforts of Logitech’s “AI-powered noise reduction”, and leaves you sounding quite distant and grainy.

It’s perfectly adequate if you’re chatting with friends on a Discord call, but there are gaming headsets with much better microphone performance out there at this price, like those aforementioned alternatives.

This is also a very basic headset when it comes to features. The built-in controls are a volume rocker, Bluetooth pairing button, microphone mute switch, and that’s your lot. The headset is compatible with Logitech’s brilliant G Hub software, but it doesn’t offer much here aside from some EQ options and a couple of extra settings. This is going to be more than enough for most casual gamers.

The sound here is also good for the asking price, but not exceptional. Like other Logitech headsets, it sounds a bit flat out of the box without much bass, but it’s decently detailed and performs well in games.

With all of this in mind, you should already know whether the G325 Lightspeed is for you. If comfort and aesthetics are your priority, it’s an easy recommendation given the relatively low asking price - but those after booming sound or a crystal clear mic are better served with other options.

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Price and availability

• Costs $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$199.95
• Three colors available
• One of Logitech’s cheapest wireless models

Priced at $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$199.95, the G325 Lightspeed is one of the cheapest wireless gaming headsets Logitech makes right now.

This price point puts it in budget territory and, given the brand’s frequent generous discounts on other products, I wouldn’t be surprised you could scoop it up for around the $50 / £50 / AU$95 mark in the future.

At full price, it still represents quite good value, though, with much of the cost accounted for in the wireless capabilities and attractive design. There are three colorways available: a black with subtle purple accents, white with grey and mint green highlights, and a cute lilac with hints of orange.

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Specs

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Design and features

• Attractive overall look
• Very lightweight
• Basic set of features

The design of the Logitech G325 Lightspeed eschews the usual gamer aesthetic of most headsets in favor of a more subtle look.

They’re sleek and seem more like a pair of music listening headphones than a gaming headset, which I quite like. You could easily wear these out of the house or in the office without embarrassment, which is certainly one of the biggest reasons to choose this model over others.

At only 7.4oz / 212g, the G325 Lightspeed is impressively lightweight, though it’s easy to see where Logitech has made the biggest sacrifices to achieve this. The headband feels particularly thin and cheap, with lots of flex to it. Importantly, it is still comfortable thanks to generous memory foam padding. The earcups, which can be adjusted up and down by a few inches, are similarly well-padded with memory foam cushioning.

The right earcup is completely plain aside from some subtle G325 branding, with all of this headset’s controls located on the back of the left one. There’s a power switch (situated beneath an LED indicator to denote battery level and charging status), a Bluetooth pairing button, a volume rocker, and a button to mute the microphone with a built-in and flush design on the front of the earcup.

The headset is compatible with the Logitech G Hub app, though it doesn’t give you access to many extra features. You can turn on side tone (which lets you hear yourself as you speak) or enable the microphone’s AI noise reduction features. There are also a number of audio presets to choose from, but the default one is well-balanced and a good fit for most uses.

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Performance

• Decent, balanced sound
• As suitable for office work as gaming
• Microphone could be better

Like other Logitech gaming headsets, the G325 Lightspeed sounds quite neutral out of the box. There is definitely some bass, but not overemphasized, and the mids and highs are decently presented. Is it the most detailed or breathtaking sound I’ve ever heard? No, but it’s firmly in line with what you should expect at this price.

I’ve been using the Logitech G325 Lightspeed for a few weeks now, and I never found the listening experience unpleasant, even when bobbing along to music as I worked. In games, the sound is more than sufficient for an enjoyable experience for a casual player, and this has been my go-to throughout my recent co-op playthrough of Resident Evil 6 and daily Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 matches.

Although I do have access to much better-sounding models, the ease of use of this one, not to mention the sheer comfort, is hard to argue with. Just plug the USB dongle in, and you’re ready to go.

I even like the built-in microphone despite its obvious flaws, too. This is not a gaming headset that you should use to start your streaming career, but the fact that the microphone is always present and incredibly unobtrusive is a plus. When I’m using the Astro A20 X, for example, I always have to dig the removable microphone out of my drawer and consciously attach it to my headset before I play - often struggling to find it in the process. Here, you just put the headset on, and you’re ready to go.

I do wish it did a better job of picking up your voice, though. I found that I often sounded quite quiet in comparison to other headsets, with a noticeably grainy quality to my voice. It also lets in an awful lot of background noise, with everything from typing to controller button presses picked up. This is easy to remedy with something like the Krisp noise suppression built into Discord, but still a clear area for improvement.

The battery life here isn’t anything special, but it’s good enough. Logitech claims that this headset will last more than 24 hours at 50% volume, and, in normal use, I found that it easily lasted about 20 hours at a time.

Should I buy the Logitech G325 Lightspeed?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider...

Not sold on the Logitech G325 Lightspeed? See these two alternatives.

How I tested the Logitech G325 Lightspeed

• Tested for multiple weeks
• Used with PC, PS5, and Xbox
• Relied on for both work and play

I tested the Logitech G325 Lightspeed for multiple weeks, using it as my primary wireless gaming headset for both work and play.

I used it with my PC in addition to my PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles, squeezing in plenty of game time with friends to test out the built-in mic. I also wore it daily while working, wearing it for online meetings and while listening to music, and found it to be a worthy companion.

I frequently compared its performance to a range of other models that I’ve tested, including the Logitech G522 Lightspeed, Astro A20 X, and SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5, plus more premium alternatives like the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro and Astro A50 X.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February-March 2026

Following in the footsteps of Stalker: Heart of Chornobyl and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Avowed is another former Xbox-exclusive that has made its way to PlayStation platforms a year after its initial release.

Similar to those titles, Obsidian Entertainment's fantasy action role-playing game isn't just sloppy seconds on the PS5 and PS5 Pro, but rather the definitive edition of an already fantastic experience.

Avowed's arrival on Sony's consoles not only benefits from a year's worth of additional polish and bug fixes, but also plenty of fresh content and PlayStation-specific bells and whistles, like brilliant DualSense Wireless Controller integration.

DuelSense-fueled fighting

While I began an Avowed playthrough on my Xbox Series X a year ago, I didn't get to dig very deep into its rich, potential-packed universe. What I remember most from my brief time braving the Living Lands as an envoy of the Aedyr Empire is the game's rewarding combat, which feels better than ever on the PS5.

Fast, fluid, and superbly supported by weighty impacts of blades, bullets, and arcane abilities, the monster-slaying action was already satisfying as hell. But the combat's been amped up significantly thanks to the DualSense's immersion-ratcheting capabilities.

Obsidian didn't sleep on the gamepad's proprietary tech, fully leveraging its adaptive triggers and haptic feedback to make every input – from meaty melee strikes to slow simmering spells – feel as fantastic in your hands as they look on the screen.

Of course, this also folds in that fresh content I mentioned above, as the game's massive anniversary update introduces a new Quarterstaff for wizard builds. No mere reskin of an existing melee weapon, this two-handed tool of destruction allows mages to crack skulls up-close – as well as unleash powerful spells – in an epic fashion that'd make Gandalf proud.

Coupled with its next-level DualSense effects, it's quickly become my favorite way to bring death to the Living Lands.

An update worthy of the gods

While the Quarterstaff is my personal favorite addition, this sorcerer's best friend barely scratches the surface of the brimming update.

A deep photo mode – with plenty of options for customizing effects, filters, and color gradients – as well as a New Game+ option, will keep both existing envoys and new recruits busy. Beyond that, a trio of new races – Orlans, Aumaua, and Dwarves – join the Humans and Elves, bringing more character customization, perks, and fresh personality and lore to this already layered fantasy universe.

A slew of new difficulty modifiers also invite adventurers of all skill levels to tweak and tailor their experience to their hearts' content. Factor in the past year of smaller updates – adding everything from polish, bug fixes, and quality of life touches – and PlayStation fans are getting yet another definitive take on a title that was born on Xbox.

If the PlayStation version stumbles at all, it's in its lack of PS5 Pro-specific enhancements. It packs the now-standard quality (30 frames per second) and performance (60 frames per second) options, as well as a more in-the-middle setting for those with 120Hz displays. You can also chase faster performance by unlocking the frame rate, a welcome inclusion for sure. But there are no meaty ray-tracing features or other enhancements that allow you to truly harness everything under the Pro's hood.

And what is offered didn't seem to make much of an impact during my testing. In terms of both visuals and performance, my time playing on the Pro looked and felt pretty comparable to my Xbox Series X experience. Similarly, the standard PS5 and Pro seem to offer near-identical visual quality and performance, with no notable differences between the two.

Don't sleep on it a second time

While Pro owners might pine for more features to justify their pricey hardware purchase, the finger can be partially pointed at the fact that Avowed already played smoothly and impressed visually upon its release a year ago. That same sentiment translates to many other elements of the game, including its fantastic storytelling, colorful character interactions, and vibrant, varied world, covered extensively in TechRadar Gaming's original review of the game.

Unsurprisingly, upon its release, Avowed was another compelling, polished action-RPG from a studio that's been honing and perfecting its craft for over two decades, starting with 2004's Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. Sadly, it got somewhat lost in the sea of last year's acclaimed genre entries.

Thankfully, that oversight can now be remedied with its PS5 release, which not only reintroduces everything that was great the first time we faced its fungal plague but also brings a brimming treasure chest of fresh features, enhancements, and content.

Whether you're a PlayStation owner craving the most immersive experience from behind the DualSense or an existing envoy ready to wield the Quarterstaff as one of the new races, Avowed's second coming is as impressive as a Living Lands sunset…which you'll definitely want to capture in photo mode.

Should you play Avowed on PS5?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility features

Prior to its PS5 release, Avowed already offered an admirable slate of accessibility options for camera adjustments, subtitle settings, difficulty levels, and even an arachnophobia mode for those averse to creepy crawlies. But the game's new version builds further on this solid foundation, especially in the difficulty department.

A new "custom" difficulty setting allows players to tweak over two dozen modifiers, adjusting everything from player damage and stamina to carrying capacity, enemy attack speed, and much more. But while Avowed more than delivers in most accessibility areas, it still doesn't offer the suite of colorblind options that have become pretty standard in other games.

How I reviewed Avowed on PS5

I explored The Living Lands for just over 40 hours, adventuring primarily on my PlayStation 5 Pro, but also putting plenty of time into my standard PS5 and Xbox Series X for visual and performance comparisons. I found the best, most balanced experience playing on my Pro in quality mode with the framerate unlocked.

I focused on testing the game's anniversary update additions, specifically its custom difficulty settings, new Quarterstaff weapon, races, and photo mode. I played primarily on my budget TCL 4K display, with HDR enabled and using its built-in stereo speakers, paying particular attention to the game's DualSense controller integration for vibration and audio effects. I also played a few hours on my PlayStation Portal with PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds.

First reviewed February 2026

GameSir G7 Pro: one-minute review

GameSir is a controller brand that’s only gone from strength to strength over the last few years. Reliably offering forward-thinking controllers for Xbox and Switch consoles as well as PC and mobile, they’re (typically) competitively priced and offer more features and longevity than even first-party gamepads.

That trend continues with the GameSir G7 Pro, which has easily entered my top three on the GameSir tier list alongside the GameSir Tarantula Pro and GameSir Kaleid. Many of the features that make those other two pads so desirable are present and accounted for here: Hall effect sticks that prevent drift, as well as fantastic trigger lock and remappable button options.

On top of that, the G7 Pro leans into modularity. Similar to the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded or Thrustmaster eSwap X2 H.E., the G7 Pro has swappable d-pad and stick top modules (though the extra stick tops here are identical and act more like spares). You’ve also got the option to swap out the controller’s face and grip plates, though that’s strictly for cosmetic purposes.

Almost everything about the controller exudes quality; I’d use the G7 Pro over the official option any day. The only slight misstep here that prevents it from earning a perfect five stars, for me, is the face buttons. While using tactile micro switch tech like others in the GameSir lineup, these have a strange halfway bump that makes for a pretty lumpy press feel. It’s something you’ll likely get used to over time, but I definitely prefer the cleaner presses found on the GameSir Kaleid and competing pads like the 8BitDo Ultimate 2.

GameSir G7 Pro: Price and availability

• List price: $79.99 / £89.99 (around AU$114)
• Available to buy now at GameSir’s website, as well as Amazon
• Multiple colorways and special editions exist at various price points

The standard GameSir G7 Pro comes in at $79.99 / £89.99 (around AU$114), slightly pricier than most other GameSir models, though this is understandable when taking the additional modularity into account.

Many colorways and special editions are available for the G7 Pro, some based on games developed by teams in China, including Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and Zenless Zone Zero. The latter even includes a layered keychain and is the one I received for this review.

As mentioned, prices vary for these special editions, and you can also pick up compatible face plates and stick tops from the GameSir website if you so desire.

GameSir G7 Pro: specs

GameSir G7 Pro: design and features

Like many controllers in the ‘Designed for Xbox’ stable, the GameSir G7 Pro bears the approximate silhouette of the Xbox Wireless Controller. It’s a similar size and weight, but there are a number of improvements here that put the G7 Pro lightyears ahead of the official model.

From a pure look and feel perspective, I love this thing. The swappable faceplates add a good bit of personality and put forward a more cost-effective solution than Xbox’s own Design Lab, if you’re into the cosmetics of a controller, of course. The rubberized grips on the rear of the pad are sublime, too; among the sturdiest and most comfortable I’ve ever had the pleasure of testing.

Staying on the rear of the controller for a second, you have a pair of remappable buttons that are strictly optional; you can flick a small switch on either side to fully lock the button, preventing you from pressing it if you’d prefer. You’ll also find the trigger lock toggles back here, as well as a switch for swapping between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity options.

The front of the pad is pretty standard stuff. You have an Xbox-like asymmetrical stick layout here, as well as the d-pad, face buttons, and Home and share buttons. A Multifunction button also exists here, as it does on other GameSir controllers.

This is immediately useful if you want to make quick and simple adjustments, such as headset and mic volume adjustment, and remappable button assignment. You can do all this in the GameSir Nexus app on Xbox and PC, too, but having on-device shortcuts in addition to that is a real boon.

GameSir G7 Pro: performance

Once again, GameSir has provided a near-luxurious play experience at a mid-range price with the G7 Pro. Hall effect sticks are pretty standard nowadays (and arguably expected), but they’re here and feel great nonetheless.

One thing that really impressed me about the G7 Pro is its trigger locks. Again, nothing new, but I almost always prefer the tighter press of a digital trigger if given the option. On the G7 Pro, they work flawlessly, and it offers one of the most tactile and responsive digital trigger options in the business.

Immediacy really is the keyword here. The micro switch-powered d-pad, as well as the claw grip bumpers and rear remappable buttons, all offer such clicky and immediate responsiveness that I can highly recommend this controller if you’re a competitive gamer.

The one misstep here has to be the face buttons, though, and it’s a real shame they don’t feel quite as nice as everything else on the G7 Pro. Here, as mentioned above, there’s an awkward half-press that makes the face buttons feel uncomfortably bumpy at first. I got used to it after some time with the controller, but the quality of them here is a noticeable step down from the brand’s other products.

On battery life, I managed roughly 12 hours on a single charge. That’s about average for wireless controllers at this price point, so no real complaints here. The inclusion of a charging dock is a really nice touch, and I found that it charges the controller fairly quickly, going from empty to full in about two hours.

Should I buy the GameSir G7 Pro?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider...

If the GameSir G7 Pro isn’t quite what you’re after, here are a couple more recommendations that might fit your preferences a little better.

How I tested the GameSir G7 Pro

• Tested for two weeks
• Primarily tested on PC with both wireless and wired connections
• Played a wide variety of single and multiplayer games

My GameSir G7 Pro testing largely took place on PC, using the controller in both wired and wireless capacities. As a fan of the best fighting games, I found the G7 Pro, its circular d-pad, and clicky remappable buttons, to be a wonderful fit for Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8.

I also got plenty of use out of its digital trigger option, allowing for quick and responsive access to alternate hotbars in Final Fantasy 14 Online.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January-February 2026

Razer Kitsune: One-minute review

Leverless controllers tailor-made for fighting games tend to be a sight more expensive than standard pads, and the Razer Kitsune certainly isn’t doing anything to change that. In fact, it’s one of the more expensive options available in the premium leverless bracket, coming in hotter than both the Corsair Novablade Pro and Victrix Pro KO.

It’ll put a serious dent in your bank account, so I definitely can’t recommend the Razer Kitsune to anyone wanting to dip a toe into leverless waters for the first time (the much cheaper 8BitDo Arcade Controller is ideal for that). Thankfully, those who do take the plunge will be rewarded with one of the most luxurious leverless controller experiences around.

What immediately stunned me about the Razer Kitsune was its weight - or lack thereof. It’s not much heavier than many of the best PS5 controllers, and manages this while presenting exceptional build quality and a remarkably razor-thin profile. Even compared to other impressively slim models like the Novablade Pro, the Kitsune would be the talk of the town at a Weight Watchers meeting.

The controller’s discreet nature makes it very portable-friendly, and thus ideal for taking to a buddy’s house for some casual 1v1s, or even to local tournaments if you’re the competitive type. That discreetness carries over to the Kitsune’s buttons, which are whisper-quiet and - as you’d hope - immediately responsive.

There are a couple of notable issues I have with the Kitsune. There’s no PS4 compatibility here, in terms of hardware, unlike the majority of its PlayStation-facing competitors. Instead, if you want to play older PS4 titles like Ultra Street Fighter 4 or Tekken 7, you’ll need a PS5 for that. You are getting PC compatibility here as well, at the very least.

I’m also not keen on the usage of Razer Chroma RGB lighting here. While not overly flashy or intrusive, it feels a bit tacked on and unnecessary, and probably drove up the price of the device all in all. And while I do wish there was a wireless connectivity option, I can see why Razer has kept the Kitsune strictly wired to allow for maximum responsiveness.

Overall, it’s a fine leverless controller if you’re willing to pay a premium for it. Its robust Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Directions (SOCD) cleaning options are also especially welcome, ensuring that you won’t flub directional inputs in the heat of the moment.

Razer Kitsune: Price and availability

• List price: $299.99 / £299.99
• More expensive than other mid-range to premium leverless options
• Some designs are exclusive to Razer’s store, and cost even more

The Razer Kitsune is available to buy now for $299.99 / £299.99 in its standard black colorway. A Razer store exclusive ‘Esports Green’ variant is also purchasable for $10 / £10 more, and this is the one I received for testing and review purposes. Though honestly, I’d give this one a miss; it’s a pretty ugly shade of green.

That’s notably more expensive than many of its leverless competitors, including the Corsair Novablade Pro and Victrix Pro KO, both of which retail for $249.99 / £229.99. Even the Hit Box, one of the more popular and renowned options in the leverless space, can be had for much cheaper.

Razer Kitsune: Specs

Razer Kitsune: Design and features

• Super impressive lightweight design
• Solid aluminum face plate
• Customizable 12-button layout

Purely from a design and build standpoint, the Razer Kitsune might be the nicest leverless controller I’ve ever used. It’s astonishingly discreet, being less than 2cm thick and coming in under a kilogram in weight. It’s noticeably smaller than many of its competitors, too, while still offering plenty of space to rest your hands on during play.

This compact design also doesn’t come with compromise. Build quality is - as I’ve come to expect from Razer - immaculate. The Kitsune is built from high-quality materials, fitted with a sturdy aluminum plate and a textured rubber grip mat on the underside for non-slip gaming.

That quality extends to the controller’s buttons. The Razer Kitsune has a 12-button layout that’s pretty standard for leverless controllers. Though you’ll also find a DualSense-like touchpad, and shortcut buttons for L3, R3, as well as Home, Menu, and Share inputs.

Rounding out the top of the controller are two small switches. One lets you toggle the Kitsune’s SOCD cleaning options (more on that in the performance section below), and the other switches compatibility between PS5 and PC. Be sure to have this one switched into the right place depending on your platform of choice.

At the top-rear of the controller, you’ll find a USB cable lock, which again is fairly standard for wired leverless devices. It simply does what it says on the tin; locking your cable in place so it won’t end up being detached during play.

My only real gripe with the Kitsune’s design is its Chroma RGB lighting. It’s not that I hate a bit of extra flair on a controller; RGB is something that helps some of my favorite controllers like the GameSir Kaleid and 8BitDo Ultimate 2 stand out, but it just feels a little unnecessary here, especially for such a competitive-focused controller. I get that Razer loves juicing up its products with RGB lighting from time to time, but it seems tacked on this time.

Razer Kitsune: Performance

• Immaculately responsive buttons
• Button presses are whisper-quiet
• Plenty of SOCD cleaning options

The Razer Kitsune’s buttons operate by way of low-profile linear optical switches. In short, that means you’re getting whisper-quiet, immediate, and accurate presses. There’s no loud clickiness here, and while there is a bit of tactility lost there, the controller nonetheless remains incredibly responsive and satisfying to play with.

I tested the Razer Kitsune across a wide variety of fighting games in both online and offline environments, including Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, and Capcom Fighting Collection 2, and I found it to be an excellent fit for all these titles. There were no compatibility issues to speak of whatsoever across PS5 or PC.

One major feature I’m a real fan of with the Kitsune is its robust SOCD cleaning options. Short for ‘Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Directions’, SOCD cleaning helps prevent misinputs when opposite directions are pressed simultaneously; either by accident or on purpose.

The Kitsune has four SOCD cleaning modes available, which you can switch between by holding the Share and Home buttons and pressing a direction. Neutral mode, for example, makes it so that no inputs are registered when an SOCD input occurs. ‘Absolute Up Priority’ mode, meanwhile, ensures that only the up input is registered when pressing up and down simultaneously. You can then toggle the lock switch to keep your preferred mode in place, with no danger of swapping it around during play.

It’s a shame that the Razer Kitsune isn’t compatible with the PS4 console, despite being an officially licensed PlayStation product. As mentioned above, you’ll have to play your old PS4 games on PS5 if you want to play them with the Kitsune, which is a slight shame for those with access to the older hardware.

Should I buy the Razer Kitsune?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider...

If the Razer Kitsune isn’t pushing the right buttons for you, definitely check out the following two alternatives.

How I tested the Razer Kitsune

• Tested for one week
• Played a wide variety of fighting games across PS5 and PC
• Compared with the 8BitDo Arcade Controller and Corsair Novablade Pro

I spent roughly one week testing the Razer Kitsune for this review. In that time, I racked up several hours of playtime both online and offline across multiple fighting games. These included Street Fighter 6, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, Tekken 8, and compilations like Capcom Fighting Collection 2.

As a leverless controller, I endeavored to test it in multiple play environments. That included at my desk with the controller both on my lap and on my desk, as well as sitting down on a chair to play on PS5. In all scenarios, I found the Razer Kitsune’s light weight and small profile to make for an extremely comfortable play experience.

I did prefer the design and performance of the Razer Kitsune compared to other controllers I’ve tested, including the 8BitDo Arcade Controller and Corsair Novablade Pro. That largely comes down to design and build quality, as well as the quiet nature of the Kitsune’s buttons. That said, I would still wholeheartedly recommend those other leverless controllers if you’re after a quality fighting game experience, albeit for less cash.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February 2026

Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720: two-minute review

The Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 is an open-back headset with a bass-heavy sound designed to impart as much impact as possible when playing games.

For a gaming headset, the Crusher PLYR 720 has quite a muted appearance; even the RGB lighting is restrained. In fact, the most prominent feature is the sheer bulk of the drivers, which are hard to ignore and aren’t exactly flattering when cupped over your ears.

The entire headset is built to a high standard. The materials feel premium and sturdy, and the various buttons and controls operate with a reassuring solidity. All this means the Crusher PLYR 720 ranks among the best wireless gaming headset in terms of construction.

Wearing the Crusher PLYR 720 is largely a joy, despite that aforementioned bulk. Even when wearing glasses, I experienced little fatigue on my ears or head, even after long sessions.

This is partly due to the thick padding of the earcups, although their inner circumference is smaller than you might imagine from the outside, which may be a problem for those with larger lobes.

The headband is also supremely comfortable. It has a second layer that stretches across the top of your head, therefore eliminating the soreness that single-layer headbands can cause — even those with soft padding.

However, the fit isn’t all that secure. Whenever I leaned my head back, the entire headset almost fell off completely, only saved by the grip of the headband.

Both the desktop and mobile apps for the Crusher PLYR 720 are easy to use and full of useful tweaks, complete with handy graphs and visualizations to help you make them. In my time with them, they ran smoothly without any glitches or stability issues.

The overall sound quality of the Crusher PLYR 720 is excellent. When gaming, every detail is audible and impactful, even with the bass dialed back. However, it perhaps lacks the treble clarity of the best headphones around. This is somewhat forgivable when gaming, but less so when listening intently to music. I still found the Crusher PLYR 720 enjoyable for the latter purpose, though, and it’s a better gaming headset than many in this regard.

Given the name, it’s no surprise that Skullcandy’s Crusher feature is the sonic highlight. This allows you to crank the bass of the Crusher PLYR 720 to frankly absurd levels. How much you need to dial in depends greatly on the specific source, but at its best it adds an unparalleled amount of weight to low-end frequencies, from gunshots to kick drums.

The Crusher PLYR 720 also gets THX Spatial Audio support. The head-tracking feature works well enough, although it lacks precision and subtlety. The surround sound distance adjustments also fail to impart a sense of space all that accurately.

Along with these features, there’s also the obligatory EQ graph, with four presets and four custom slots for tuning your own. However, I didn’t find any tweaking useful, as the default flat mode was sufficient for every scenario.

The microphone offers plenty of clarity, too, rendering my voice without distortion. It’s a small shame the stalk can’t be manipulated to the same degree as gooseneck designs can be, but I found the positioning adequate nonetheless.

Connecting the Crusher PLYR 720 to various devices was quick and easy, whether it was via the 2.4GHz USB dongle or Bluetooth. Also, being able to connect to your smartphone and your gaming system simultaneously is a blessing, as this allows you to alter settings in the mobile app mid-play.

The battery life of the Crusher PLYR 720 is quite impressive. Skullcandy quotes a time of 48 hours, and I believe this figure. Over the course of several days, when used with a variety of platforms, all sonic features activated, and RGB lighting on, it still had juice left.

All of these quality features come at a price, though, as the Crusher PLYR 720 sits firmly at the premium end of the market. There are great wireless headsets for considerably less, such as the Razer BlackShark V3 and the Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Wireless, but if you need untold amounts of bass in your life, the Crusher PLYR 720 scratches that itch like nothing else.

Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 review: price & availability

• $269.99 / £229.99 / AU$449.99
• Available now in two versions
• Top-end of the market

The Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 costs $269.99 / £229.99 / AU$449.99 and is available now. Two editions are available: Xbox and multi-platform. Both are the same price.

If you want to save some serious money, then the Razer BlackShark V3 might be for you. In our glowing review, we highlighted its comfortable, lightweight design that felt more premium than its mid-range price tag suggests, as well as its impressive noise isolation and versatile sonics. For these reasons, we think it ranks among the best PC gaming headsets around right now.

For those who prize audio quality first and foremost, the Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Wireless is a better option. We were impressed with its immersive sound stage, although we were less taken with its microphone. This headset is also a lot cheaper than the Crusher PLYR 720.

Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 review: specs

Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 review: design and features

• Very comfortable
• Excellent build quality
• Plenty of audio-based features

For a gaming headset, the Crusher PLYR 720 has a reasonably muted style. The design is devoid of any gamer-aesthetic touches typical to many in this sector. The premium-looking and feeling matte black finish even lends an element of sophistication.

The RGB lighting is similarly subtle: there’s some illumination strained through small strips and a honeycomb mesh on the drivers, but the lion’s share is reserved for the inside of the earcups — which, of course, you won’t see when wearing the Crusher PLYR 720.

I should also highlight the build quality of the Crusher PLYR 720, as it’s excellent. Despite it being a relatively light unit, it feels sturdy and well-made. I particularly liked the 180-degree rotating drivers, which is convenient when you want to take a break and hang the headset around your neck.

What makes the headset stand out above all else, though, is the bulky drivers. They’re very wide, which makes the Crusher PLYR 720 less than ideal as a travel companion; not only because the drivers take up a lot of space, but also because they don’t look particularly fetching around your ears.

Despite this bulk, the actual inner circumference of the earcups is quite small. Personally, I didn’t find them too small for my ears, but it’s possible others might.

In fact, I found the Crusher PLYR 720 exceptionally comfortable all-round. There’s plenty of padding on the earcups, yet its fabric is more breathable than many. Also, as a glasses-wearer, I can confirm that the cups don’t present any issues when sat on top the arms of frames.

The headband is solid yet flexible, and feels reassuringly durable. You don’t get any padding here; instead, there’s a supplementary band, made from an elastic material to fit snugly on your head, running underneath the main one. I found this incredibly comfortable; I didn’t experience any aching or fatigue at all, even after long sessions, as I have with many other headsets.

The adjustments for the earcup height are also excellent. They have a sufficient range to accommodate various head sizes, and the operation of these adjustments is very smooth with no notching. Despite this, the cups remain at your chosen height setting with a surprising amount of stability, which impressed me.

However, the overall fit of the Crusher PLYR 720 isn’t particularly secure. The earcup padding provided little friction to the side of my head, so whenever I tilted my head back the entire headset moved with it; only the grip of the headband kept it from falling off completely. However, this wasn’t an issue during normal use, so it’s a trade-off I’m willing to accept for the supreme overall comfort of the headset.

The switches and other controls on the Crusher PLYR 720 operate with a satisfying solidity and smoothness. There are three main buttons, all of which are easy to reach, thanks to their convenient positioning and generous size. One is named Custom, which is misleading, since as far as I can work out, can only be used to toggle THX Spatial Audio Head Tracking on or off.

The joystick for adjusting volume and other parameters is easy to use for the most part, although there isn’t much feedback when you move it. At least it’s hard to trigger accidentally, by, say, leaning against the back of your chair — something I’ve experienced numerous times with conventional volume wheels.

It’s a slight shame, though, that the jumps between the volume increments are quite large, meaning it's hard to dial in a very precise volume with the joystick; for such purposes, you’d be better served by the volume settings of your connected device or inside Skullcandy’s software.

Thankfully, the Crusher wheel doesn’t suffer from accidental triggering or overlarge increments. It’s tactile and smooth to operate, while the small point that sticks out makes it easy to know where exactly you are in the setting.

There are three ports on the Crusher PLYR 720: a USB-C port for charging and playback, a 3.5mm audio jack, and the microphone input. All are located on the left-hand driver. The various cables fit securely in these ports, and what’s more, they’re nicely recessed for protection from accidental disconnections.

The microphone appears to be as well made as the rest of the headset. The soft rubber feels more upmarket than many others, but while it can bend around, it’s not a true gooseneck, so gamers who are particular about their mic placement might be a little disappointed by its lack of maneuverability.

Skull-HQ, the desktop app for the Crusher PLYR 720, is feature-packed and quite easy to use. It has a faux-retro interface that employs the terminal font, tapping into that mid-nineties hacker vibe. It ran smoothly during my time with it; I didn’t experience any slowdown or bugs.

The layout is clear, although I was a little disappointed by the lack of explanations for certain features. Some are only denoted by symbols, which aren’t always self-explanatory. A tutorial for the joystick controls would’ve been appreciated, too, rather than having to always refer to the manual.

There are plenty of tweaks that can be made to the Crusher PLYR 720 in the app. These range from rudimentary RGB customizations and basic adjustments volume, game mix, and the sidetone function.

Beyond these, there’s an parametric EQ with FPS, RPG, Music, and Default (flat) presets to choose from. There are also four custom slots, allowing you to save your own sculpted sound. This is achieved by dragging eight points on a graph, with a range of 32Hz to 16KHz, to cut or boost frequencies by 12BD.

Various adjustments for THX Spatial Audio are available, too, including the ability to set speaker distance. Strangely, however, there isn’t a toggle for the Head Tracking function, as there is in the Skullcandy mobile app (which has a better, cleaner interface than Skull-HQ, by the by).

Then there’s a section for the Crusher bass enhancement. Here, you can alter the cut-off points for the low and high frequencies on another EQ graph. This is rather overkill for such a setting, but nonetheless I always welcome a visual representation for sonic settings. It’s also accompanied by a humorous ditherpunk face depicting various expressions depending on the strength of the Crusher setting.

Skull-HQ even features a hearing test, designed to calibrate the Crusher PLYR 720 based on your individual hearing. What’s more, a knock-off version of Space Invaders is buried in the app, too.

Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Wireless review: performance

• Skull-shaking bass feature
• Great overall for gaming and music
• Clear mic

The general sound of the Crusher PLYR 720 is punchy and clear, with all frequencies represented well. Overall fidelity isn’t quite up there with the best wireless headphones, though, which is most apparent when listening to music. This is due to the slight lack of crispness and clarity at the high end.

It’s the bass response that the Crusher PLYR 720 is sold on, though — thanks to its Crusher feature. Whether this is something you like comes down to personal preference, but I have to say that when the mood struck, I loved cranking the wheel to maximum and letting the drivers shake (and they really do shake) to my favorite bass-heavy tracks or to gunfire, something I certainly noticed when playing Counter-Strike 2.

However, you’ll find yourself riding the Crusher level frequently, as the prominence of the bass enhancement can vary widely between sources; even those you thought had a relatively tame low-end suddenly become a booming mess, causing the drivers to audibly rattle — even before you’ve enabled the extra Crusher Bass Boost on top. In fact, I wouldn’t want maximum “Crushing” for an entire session, even for sources that can handle it without distorting.

The THX Spatial Audio is reasonably effective. With Head Tracking enabled, changes to the audio space react quickly to head movements, without being too disconcerting or disorientating.

However, you’ll have to move your head by large degrees to notice the effect. Also, it’s a shame that the sensitivity of the effect can’t be adjusted, as it lacks the precision and subtlety of some of the best THX headsets and headphones. Adjusting the virtual distance of the surround sound speakers noticeably changes the soundscape, but at the cost of reducing fidelity. What’s more, I found it largely ineffective at imparting a realistic sense of space.

The microphone for the Crusher PLYR 720 is clear and largely free of distortion. The Sidetone mode allows an appropriate level of ambient noise to spill through, so you can hear your own voice more clearly.

During my time with the Crusher PLYR 720, it proved easy to connect to the various devices I tested it with. The 2.4GHz USB dongle allows for instant plug-and-play, and merely requires the flip of a switch on the dongle itself to change compatibility modes from PC to Xbox.

In terms of connectivity to Microsoft’s console, then, the Crusher PLYR 720 up there with the best Xbox Series X headsets. It also connected to my Nintendo Switch just as easily, via the dongle and Bluetooth.

Oddly, even though I had the Xbox version of the Crusher PLYR 720, it still worked with my PlayStation 5 via the dongle. There’s conflicting information as to whether this is intended or not: the printed manual states that the Xbox variant only works with the PS5 when connected via the 3.5mm audio cable, while the product page on Skullcandy’s website states that wireless play is possible with Sony’s console. If the latter is correct, it then begs the question as to why there are two versions of the Crusher PLYR 720.

It connected seamlessly to my Android smartphone via Bluetooth, with no discernable drop in audio quality. Better yet, you can connect to your phone and console or PC at the same time; during my testing, I was impressed by the ease with which it established and maintained these simultaneous connections. The benefit of this is that you can adjust settings in the mobile app on the fly, taking effect while playing your game.

Even with this multiplatform use, the battery of the Crusher PLYR 720 endured admirably well. Skullcandy claims it can last 48 hours, but with all the bells and whistles enabled, you can see lifespan deplete at a considerable rate in the software readouts. Still, it managed to last several long sessions over a few days, which, in addition to connecting to various devices, also involved activating all its various sound features and keeping the RGB lighting on.

Should I buy the Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Wireless?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Wireless review: also consider

How I tested the Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Wireless

• Tested for several days
• Used for various scenarios and with multiple platforms
• Experience reviewing gaming headsets

I tested the Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 for several days. Not only did I use it for gaming, but I also listened to music and watched videos with it on.

I tested it with a Windows PC, an Xbox Series S, a PlayStation 5, and a Nintendo Switch, connecting to each of these devices with the USB dongle. I also tested Bluetooth connectivity with the latter console, as well as with my Android phone. I used both the desktop Skull-HQ app and the Skullcandy mobile app to try out all the various features.

I’ve been gaming for decades, using a variety of headsets, headphones, and speakers for the activity. I’ve also reviewed a number of headsets professionally, all the way from budget wired offerings to premium multiplatform wireless options.

• First reviewed: February 2026
• Read more about how we test

Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: one-minute review

Fancy a Rematch? That’s right, Turtle Beach is back with the Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2, which comes equipped with an all-new design, trusty C button, and a few other technical touch-ups.

There’s a lot to love about the Rematch, whether that be its drift-resistant TMR (tunnel magnoresistance) thumbsticks, its eye-catching semi-translucent design – which even features Super Mario himself, or its customizable GL and GR buttons. It’s also a pretty comfortable controller to use, with responsive triggers and face buttons, and incredibly seamless pairing.

I was also delighted with the controller’s generous 40-hour battery life, which competes with top controllers in our guide to the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories. Despite that, though, the Rematch certainly isn’t without its flaws.

One of the most glaring drawbacks is the controller’s omission of rumble technology. This can be crucial for certain in-game segments, and is generally a vital instrument to immerse players more deeply in their gaming experiences. I was also sad to see NFC tech left out, which lets you scan Amiibo in titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond or Kirby Air Riders.

When you combine those things with the Rematch’s lack of a 3.5mm port and its inability to wake your Nintendo Switch 2 console from sleep, I think it’s fair to say it's missing a few crucial features. And yes, although this model costs a fair bit less than the official Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, it's not exactly cheap. At more than $60 / £50 / AU$90, I’d hope for more expansive functionality.

All of that’s not to say that I disliked the Rematch – far from it. It’s a solid model overall that feels comfortable and effective in use, and the TMR tech is something that Nintendo’s official Switch 2 pro controller doesn’t have. And even with some missing features, it does support motion controls, which worked well in my experience.

Ultimately, I’d probably recommend waiting for a sale for this model. It’s a trustworthy, appealing controller that gets a lot of the fundamentals right, and it will almost certainly serve you well. At full price, though, I just feel that it’s a bit too thin on features.

Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: price and release date

• List price of $64.99 / £54.99 / AU$99
• Which is $20 / £20 / AU$20 less than the official Switch 2 Pro Controller
• Launched in October 2025

The Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 was released in October 2025, a few months after Nintendo’s latest system came to market. This Nintendo-licensed controller will typically set you back $64.99 / £54.99 / AU$99 – that’s about $20 / £20 / AU$20 less than the official Switch 2 Pro Controller. You can purchase it with the Mario design – pictured throughout this review – or in a more basic Charcoal Black colorway.

Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: specs

Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: design and features

• Beautiful semi-translucent design
• Remappable GL/GR buttons plus C button
• No NFC support, no 3.5mm port

Looks-wise, I’m a big fan of the Rematch controller for Switch 2. It has a semi-translucent design and is adorned with the Super Mario logo, as well as the Italian plumber himself. It's beautiful, fun, and a bit more charismatic than the swathe of plain black controllers that dominate the market. Red details really cement the fact that this is a Mario-themed, Nintendo-licensed model too, which is a nice touch.

As nice as it looks, though, I would argue that the controller feels a touch cheaper than its price tag may suggest. It's got quite a plasticky build, and some components, like the D-pad for instance, just lack that premium finish you’ll get from Nintendo’s official Pro Controller.

That’s fairly understandable, given that the Pro Controller is $20 / £20 / AU$20 more expensive, but that cheaper build isn’t the only sacrifice you’ll make if you do indeed opt for the Rematch instead.

For instance, this model doesn’t have NFC technology built in, which means that you can’t make use of Amiibos in games like Donkey Kong Bananza or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. I understand that this won’t upset most players as much as me, but as an avid amiibo collector, this felt like a significant miss. Pair that with the lack of a 3.5mm port for a wired headset, and the omission of rumble (which I’ll discuss more down below), and you’re not getting the most feature-rich model on the market.

However, the Rematch controller does still have some commendable aspects, like its GL and GR buttons – these can be mapped to different controls for different games, and can come in handy for item management in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, for instance.

The C button in the center of the controller is also a big help if you want quick access to GameChat capabilities, something that you won’t find on a lot of third-party models.

Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: performance

• TMR thumbsticks feel pretty good
• A whole lotta battery life
• Lack of rumble and can’t wake the console

The Rematch is an ergonomic, well-sized model with a pleasing weight to it, and it’s a very solid controller performance-wise.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of picking this controller over Nintendo’s official rival is that you’re getting TMR thumbsticks. This ensures strong responsiveness and precision, while also making stick drift less likely. More generally, the textured thumbsticks feel pretty good, and I experienced no issues with them across hours and hours of play.

In fact, most of the buttons feel pretty pleasing to use, whether that be the main face buttons, plus and minus controls, or the triggers. I especially appreciated the form of the ZL and ZR buttons, which slope upwards and are satisfying to press. The aforementioned GL/GR buttons are a welcome addition to boot.

My only real complaint when it comes to the buttons is some of the placements. For some reason, the home and plus buttons, as well as the minus and screenshot buttons, have been swapped around. To begin with, I found myself continually pressing the home button instead of the plus one, just out of sheer muscle memory. When playing with friends, I found that they would do the same, so this change felt more bothersome than anything.

Back to the good stuff, though, and I’m pleased to report that this controller delivers plenty of playtime. Turtle Beach says you get 40 hours from the Rematch, and from my time playing, I’d report that as accurate. That’s the same amount of time you’d expect to get out of the official Switch 2 controller, and competitive against other third-party controller manufacturers.

This model also supports motion controls, which I found to be surprisingly accurate. During my playthrough of Super Mario Galaxy, it was nice ‘n’ easy to grab star bits and navigate through menus – I still find the Joy-Con 2 controllers to be superior for motion-controlled games, however.

Having said that, Turtle Beach did leave a few functions out that could’ve put this controller's performance on par with the best of the best. For instance, there’s no rumble here, which is crucial for certain in-game mechanics and delivering a more immersive experience overall. You also cannot wake the console with the home button – something I love about my go-to controller, the Mobapad N1 HD.

Should I buy the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: also consider

How I tested the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2

• Tested across multiple weeks
• Compared against other wireless controllers
• Played a range of Nintendo Switch 2, original Switch, and retro titles

I spent weeks testing the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2, during which time I played various games, exhausted its many features, and compared it against a handful of rivals.

In order to assess the controller’s capabilities in full, I played classic titles via Nintendo Switch Online, such as Chibi-Robo!, as well as games with motion controls like Super Mario Galaxy, and Switch 2 exclusives like Mario Kart World. Most of the time, I used the controller while my Nintendo Switch 2 was docked, and connected up to my Sky Glass Gen 2 TV and Marshall Heston 120 soundbar.

More generally, I’ve tested a bunch of Nintendo Switch 2 accessories – not only controllers, but also cameras like the Hori Piranha Plant Camera, screen protectors including the Genki Aegis Shield, and cases such as the official Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case.

• First reviewed: February 2026
• Read more about how we test

Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless: one-minute review

The Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless is a controller compatible with both Xbox Series X|S and PC. It’s an unabashedly premium product at $189.99 / £199 / AU$349 but, for that price, it’s wonderfully responsive, beautifully designed and comes with a good array of accessories.

First off, the Raikiri II feels beautifully well built. It feels solid and substantial, yet it’s ergonomically designed. Elements like the rear buttons are perfectly placed under your fingertips to make them easy to access without shifting your grasp, while its textured grips meant it never once slipped in my hands. Its RGB lighting is also tastefully done, just subtle enough to not detract from its sleek appearance and coming with plenty of customizable options.

Both the thumbsticks and shoulder triggers are staggeringly accurate, thanks to Asus’s decision to use TMR sensors in each of them. Not only do I relish not having to worry about the dreaded stick drift anymore but I found them astoundingly precise, giving me spot-on control over everything from acceleration in racing games to aiming in FPSes. The fact that the shoulder triggers can be toggled to using micro-switches is just the icing on the cake – smashing parries out against the Paintress in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has never felt so satisfying to me.

This awesome sensitivity and precision is further supported by the Raikiri II’s blisteringly fast connectivity, which rivals that of many of the best Xbox controllers. Not only does it offer an absurdly rapid 1,000Hz polling rate but its 2.4GHz wireless connection and USB-C connectivity each trim input latencies down to just 3.5ms and 2.3ms. Naturally, it also offers Bluetooth connectivity but, honestly, I found the former options so fast that I’d opt for those every time.

Thanks to Asus’s Gear Link software, you can also customize a lot of the Raikiri II’s functionality. On top of basic options like button remapping, you can also set discreet response curves and deadzones for each thumbstick, as well as start and end points for each of the shoulder triggers. There’s also the option to tweak how intense the controller’s rumble settings are and map the pad’s four rear buttons to various functions.

While you can save all of these settings to one of five profiles, this does come with a pretty serious caveat. When playing on Xbox, you can only switch between them using the Gear Link software, meaning hooking it up to your laptop or desktop each time. To me, this feels like a pretty major oversight – can you really class this Raikiri II’s Xbox edition, if a key part of the functionality is inaccessible to Xbox gamers?

This one misstep aside though, the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless is a seriously impressive controller. While I think PC gamers will get even more out of it than those on Xbox, it’s still a fantastically responsive pad on either platform, offering some features I’ve not seen on many other products, like those TMR triggers. Yes, it’s relatively pricey at $189.99 / £199 / AU$349 but, if you’re looking for a trailblazing premium controller, it’s a great option.

Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless review: price and availability

• Launched December 10, 2025
• Retails for $189.99 / £199 / AU$349
• Offers a lot of accessories for that price

Having launched on December 10, 2025, the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless is available now. You can pick it up for $189.99 / £199 / AU$349, putting it firmly up the premium end of the Xbox controller market.

In return for that spend, though, you get a whole heap of functionality, plus a range of connectivity options: Bluetooth, a 2.4GHz wireless dongle or wired USB-C connectivity. On top of this, it also comes with a carry case, USB-C cable, charging dock and replacement thumbsticks, so it’s a very decent package for the price.

Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless review: specs

Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless review: design and features

• Long-lasting TMR sticks
• Excellent dual-mode triggers
• Attractive, ergonomic design

Over the years, I’ve built up quite the grisly mausoleum of dead controllers, both Xbox and otherwise. Eventually, the dreaded stick drift has claimed every single one. So it’s a relief to know that won’t happen with the ROG Raikiri II’s drift-resistant thumbsticks.

Asus has opted for TMR sticks here, which it says are not only more accurate but consume less power than Hall-effect alternatives. While it’s difficult to assess what kind of longevity you’ll get out of them, from the second I held the ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless in my hands, the thumbsticks felt incredibly responsive and enabled me to make surgically precise movements in a variety of games.

But perhaps even more than the Raikiri II’s thumbsticks, I really fell for its dual-mode shoulder triggers. When set to their micro-switch triggers, I found they were lightning fast to activate, making them perfect for hammering the trigger in FPS games. Meanwhile, their full-range TMR sensor mode is a real rarity on console controllers – we’ve certainly not tested many with that functionality here at TechRadar Gaming – and it gave me really wonderfully precise control for games like Forza Horizon 5.

At first, I found the clicky feedback of the micro-switch face buttons took a little getting used to, as I’m more familiar with the spongy softness of the Xbox Wireless Controller buttons. But once I’d adapted to their novel feel, I was fully converted – they activate seriously quickly and offer such an immediate response that you know almost instantly when you’ve hit your target.

Its extra rear shortcut buttons are perfectly placed, sitting right under where your middle and ring fingers naturally grab the pad. And they’re wonderfully versatile. Not only are they great if you want to set up extra macros in game but being able to set a couple as shortcuts for the shoulder buttons saved me ever having to switch my grip during sessions of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which reduced my response times in game significantly.

When it comes to looks, the controller styles itself after the recent Xbox ROG Ally X, riffing off design elements like its subtle decal. It also mimics its textured grips, which I definitely found made it easier to keep hold of the pad without them ever feeling rough. In fact, its matt plastic build always feels pleasantly tactile to the touch, while the whole device feels just substantial enough to avoid flimsy or hollow.

And while I know that for some people RGB lighting on a controller is an unnecessary gimmick, I have to admit that I’m completely suckered in by the ROG Raikiri II’s lighting. Partly this is because it’s relatively subtle and restrained, limiting itself to a strip down either side and the central ROG button, and it’s fully customizable, allowing you to decide quite how much you want to lean into full-blown esports styling.

Finally, the ROG Raikiri II has an impressive range of connectivity options. On top of Bluetooth, it also has 2.4GHz wireless connectivity via a dongle and a USB-C wired connection. These latter two are particularly impressive, offering an 1,000Hz polling rate and trimming input latencies to just 3.5ms and 2.3ms respectively, meaning you should easily get the drop on most of your enemies in game.

Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless review: performance

• Blisteringly fast response times
• Brilliantly customisable
• Custom profiles can’t be changed on Xbox

With its 1,000Hz polling rate in PC mode, it’s safe to say I was expecting the Raikiri II to respond to inputs rapidly. And it did not disappoint. Even when playing fast-paced FPSes like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, I couldn’t detect the least hint of lag over its low-latency 2.4GHz RF connectivity or USB-C cable.

But it’s not only its connectivity that make for lightning fast gaming – those dual-mode shoulder triggers are a literal game-changer. When I first tried them out while playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the difference compared to my previous budget controller was immediately appreciable. Especially when using them in their micro-switch trigger mode, I suddenly found myself going from fumbling three-quarters of parries to nailing them 80% of the time. Those triggers respond fast and I certainly found it had a palpable impact on my game play.

And with Asus’s Gear Link software you can tweak things even further to get the kind of performance you need for each game you’re playing and save them to one of five customized profiles. You can access this tool by hooking up the Raikiri II to your PC and accessing it in your browser.

This method does come with an unfortunate wrinkle, however. As it's browser-based, there’s no way to access it on the fly from your Xbox and the controller doesn’t offer any way to switch between profiles as you play. That means you can only ever access one tuning at a time on your console before you need to return to a PC to switch things up – which is a weird choice to make for a controller that literally has ‘Xbox’ in the name.

Honestly, that’s a bit of a shame as, otherwise, the Gear Link software offers really granular control over the responsiveness of your controller. For example, I was able to set one of my profiles with very quick response and shallow range for its triggers, making it really easy to fan the hammer when trying to gun down opponents on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Conversely, for Forza Horizon 5, I set the right trigger to activate over its full range, giving me really precise control over the throttle so I could better manage my speed during cornering.

And that’s just the beginning. You can also set independent custom curves for each of the TMR thumbsticks, enabling you to tweak how fast they respond the further they’re moved, as well as set the size of their deadzones. While playing Doom, I set the left stick to have a rapid curve and kept the right one set as linear – as a result, I was able to close the gap between Doom Guy and all those demons far quicker, without having the camera whip round too violently.

The Gear Link software also unlocks a bunch of other customization options. You can change the intensity of the controller’s vibration haptics, which I imagine is very useful for people who have sensory processing problems or find it difficult to grip on to a controller that’s vibrating too fiercely.

It also unlocks some aesthetic tweaks for that RGB lighting. You have the option to set each zone up separately, whether you want it in solid color, breathing, reacting to button presses or color cycling. My personal go-to though? It definitely has to be battery mode, which allows you to set the lighting to specific colors for different battery levels – I can now get a precise sense of how much juice my pad has left at just a glance, which is a lifesaver.

Overall, I found the performance of the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless to be seriously impressive. Don’t get me wrong: there are some odd choices along the way, especially the lack of a hotswap button for saved profiles on the Xbox. But if you’re not flipping through different genres at the drop of a hat or you’re playing on PC, it's an incredibly responsive controller with a great level of customizability.

Should I buy the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless review: also consider

How I tested the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless

• Tested it over two weeks
• Used it on both Xbox and PC
• Created multiple custom profiles

I tested the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless over a period of several weeks. I tried it out on both the Xbox Series X and on PC and tried it out on a wide range of genres, from RPGs like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, FPSes like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and racing games like Forza Horizon 5.

Not only did I try the Raikiri II using all three connection methods – 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth and wired – but I used the Asus's Gear Link software to tweak all of its available settings. That included creating multiple profiles with varying trigger ranges, thumbstick curves and button assignments.

In terms of my testing experience, not only am I TechRadar's reviews editor, with experience of reviewing a wide array of gadgets, but I've been gaming for 35 years. That's across a wide range of platforms, including PC, consoles and gaming handhelds, meaning I've got loads of experience in gaming across a wide range of genres.

• First reviewed: February 2026
• Read more about how we test

The 30th anniversary of Bandai Namco’s acclaimed role-playing game (RPG) series, Tales of, has been going quite smoothly.

With titles like Tales of Xillia and Tales of Graces f getting the remaster treatment, newcomers can experience the series’ rich past on recent consoles. The latest arrival is Tales of Berseria Remastered, an updated game which originally released in 2016 and marked a new direction for the series in more ways than one.

Its drama, charm, and thrill hit just as hard as they did back then, making it an apt title worthy of remastering.

Leaning on the edge

Despite being a prequel to Tales of Zestiria, the game takes on a rather different tone. Following Velvet Crowe, a hellbent half-human half-Daemon, as well as a ragtag team of misfits, you’ll travel the many islands of Midgand to hunt and kill those who wronged you. The game is a revenge story through and through.

Here, those darker elements are on full display, with monstrous beings, death, and wanton destruction around every corner. It can be a bit overbearing, especially if coming off titles like Xillia or Graces f, but it still keeps that signature charm.

As a newcomer, it was very surprising just how well a darker tone fits the Tales series. Usually one for bright colors and adventure over adversity, Berseria highlights a much more twisted tale, not straying away from killing or violence.

Even still, the cast of characters, like the tactful Eizen to the ever-frustrating-yet-lovable Magilou, bring levity to situations, albeit with underlying brooding beneath it. The party does rank among the franchise’s best, as the chemistry and dynamic mesh extremely well, both feeling like a well-oiled machine and separate entities all their own.

While returning fans know the story beats, newcomers will enjoy the direction the story takes and the journey they’ll go on. It can be a bit heavy with its edgy themes, but underneath it all is a tale of trust, family, and emotion. The many twists and turns will get you on the edge of your seat and are paced out quite well, so there are rarely any dull moments.

One of the highlights for me was a surprising one: the performances from the game’s cast. With the material being as deep as it is, the cast does a fantastic job. Much praise goes to lead Christina Vee, who brings the broken Velvet to life with finesse and grace. Other standouts include Erika Lindbeck’s hilarious Magilou, Benjamin Diskin’s adventurous Rokurou, and Taliesin Jaffe’s determined Eizen.

In open waters

Fortunately for fans of long RPGs, Berseria Remastered has got you covered. With its story taking roughly 35-45 hours, not counting grinding or side missions, it covers a lot of ground. Lots of that time is spent exploring the many regions, fighting enemies, and diving into its intense story. Luckily, it’s time well spent, as what’s on display is entertaining and gripping, especially the skits towards the middle and end of the title.

Like Tales of Arise, the game allows you to walk freely on the battlefield, not restricted to a single line like past titles. The Linear Motion Battle System (LMBS) is still present, as when you attack, you run towards the highlighted opponent. However, you can walk around and avoid attacks more easily. As someone who enjoys that style, Berseria’s combat was a joy to play and explore. Crafting attack sequences with simple button presses also allows you to string some great combos for you and your party.

As always, the Tales series excels in crafting intricate landscapes, with Berseria doing just that. Many of the regions, like Loegres and Maclir Beach, look incredible and showcase the game’s great artistic direction. Plus, with Motoi Sakuraba’s impeccable score (much love to Velvet’s Theme), the world comes to life beautifully.

Smooth sailing

Despite Berseria being released in 2016, the many quality-of-life improvements this remaster brings help it shine much brighter. Many of the additions go to the game’s map, which is more maneuverable thanks to better movement speed and easy-to-find guide markers. Autosave and quick save are also lifesavers when a save point is nowhere to be found.

Graphically speaking, the updated framerate and fidelity really make some of Berseria’s landscapes and cutscenes shine. It can still feel like a mid-budget 2016 game, with blocky textures or unvaried backdrops, but when it shows its creativity it looks great. Bringing in a lot more polish than Xillia, characters and battles look and feel great to interact with.

Unfortunately, character customization, especially with skills and upgrades, feels bare-bones and inflexible. Compared to Xillia’s Lillium Orb or even Arise’s upgrade system, there’s not much wiggle room to craft characters the way you’d like to. While characters are well-tuned to combat, with some more magic-based and others physical-based, it does feel like it can go deeper.

In short, Tales of Berseria Remastered took risks that, since 2016, have paid off, and we see that with this remaster. From open combat to a mature tone, it wasn’t afraid to go in a different direction. While it isn’t perfectly done, seeing it in a new light thanks to the remaster is a great way to see the versatility of the franchise and what may hold the key to future installments.

Should I play Tales of Berseria Remastered?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility features

Much like other remasters in the series, there are a few accessibility functions to adjust and tune, like difficulty. You can customize your playthrough via button mapping and the addition of map markers, as well as switching between English and Japanese audio at any time. Despite that, the lack of colorblind modes is a bit disappointing.

How I reviewed Tales of Berseria Remastered

I played Tales of Berseria Remastered for around 40 hours, finishing the main story with some side content. I also explored many of the islands and beat some of the optional bosses.

There is multiplayer available for battles, although I did not test it out for the review. I played the game on a base PS5 with the DualSense Wireless Controller and HyperX Cloud 3 wired gaming headset, all on a Roku 4K TV. If you played the recent Tales of remasters like Xillia and Graces f, you’ll find a lot of similarities in the upgrades here.

First reviewed February 2026

Commodore 64 Ultimate: One-minute review

The Commodore 64 Ultimate is a modern recreation of the classic home computer from the 1980s. It’s a tremendous achievement, taking me straight back to my childhood with glee, and also making me wonder how on earth seven-year-old me had the patience to truly figure it out. Using it is wondrous and occasionally frustrating and slow, but for fans of that era, it’s hard to resist (assuming money isn’t an issue).

It’s so much more than just an emulated machine like if you’ve Nintendo Classic Mini or the PlayStation Classic. It provides compatibility with most of your old Commodore 64 hardware if, like me, you’ve kept a huge box of cassettes, cartridges, and joysticks, but you can also go online to download some games too.

Capturing that nostalgia has some downsides that are only truly apparent now that we’ve moved forward. Loading times are slow, albeit not as slow as back in the day, while knowing what commands to hit on the keyboard isn’t as intuitive as it once felt. However, a comprehensive manual goes some way to helping you remember how you used to do things, and ensures newcomers aren’t left in the dark.

Think of this as like a project rather than a brief flirtation, and you should be delighted with the Commodore 64 Ultimate. I enjoyed rediscovering how to complete simple routines in BASIC, but also playing old favorites, even if they weren’t exactly games I’d still play for dozens of hours anymore.

It’s a fantastic love letter to the computer that sent me down a lifelong path of loving technology, but it also reminds me how far we’ve come. At times, you’ll find yourself a little frustrated by a system that doesn’t feel as logical as it once did, but if you were here back at the start, you’ll always return for more. Just be ready for a bit of a learning curve.

Commodore 64 Ultimate: Price and availability

• List price: $349.99 (around £260 / AU$524)
• Currently available for preorder for March / April 2026
• Beige and Starlight variants available

The Commodore 64 Ultimate is currently available for pre-order directly from Commodore. At the time of writing, it’s expected to ship in March or April 2026. The standard Beige variant is $349.99 (around £260 / AU$524) while the more futuristic-looking Starlight model is an extra $50, and the Founder’s Edition with 24K gold-plated badges is $549.99.

I went with the Beige version as it looks nearly identical to the one from my childhood (more on that in a moment), but even that model is pretty expensive compared to other retro games consoles and machines.

Of course, it’s far more than just an emulator, given it works with your original hardware, but this isn’t impulse buy territory. I’d think carefully about whether this is a novelty product for you or something that you truly plan on using for a long time to come.

Fortunately, if you’re like me and kept your old collection, you won’t have to worry about buying new games, joysticks, or a cassette deck. If you’re starting from scratch, there’s a USB stick full of games included, and an extra supply of games is available online via the computer’s storefront for free.

Commodore 64 Ultimate: Specs

Commodore 64 Ultimate: Design and features

• Matches the original aesthetic well
• Traditional interface paired with more modern menu system
• Works with original accessories and games

The Commodore 64 Ultimate is an instant nostalgia trip if you owned the original. Even the box design is similar. Open it up, and you’re presented with a USB drive disguised as a cassette tape along with a wire-bound User Guide which looks a lot like the one I gazed over in wonder as a kid. The computer itself also looks nearly identical to the original, right down to the power switch on the side and all the ports possible.

Such ports include the modern essentials like USB and HDMI, but also older connectors for adding your original cassette deck, your joysticks, or a disk drive. It also works with C64 cartridges if you have any of those lying around.

It’s all plug and play, which is great if you’ve got an old collection ready to try out again, tapping into a similar model as the Atari 2600+. It also even sounds like the Commodore 64 from what I remember, with a bit of a creak as anything loads coming from the sound chip.

The Commodore 64 Ultimate’s user interface is just like how you might remember, too, which is both good and bad. Back in the day, there was no drag-and-drop, and everything was done through a keyboard with arrow keys that needed the shift key to switch between directions. That’s replicated here, and it takes a hot minute to remember the old ways.

To offset that aged way of doing things, there are menus to navigate. It’s still a little awkward, but it opens up more functionality, such as being able to go online to download community-made games or access bulletin board forums.

There’s a ton of depth to these menus, so if you like to tweak and adjust settings, you’re in luck. This is a far more feature-rich model than the original it’s taking after. How far you want to go mostly depends on your enthusiasm. It can still be a relatively plug-and-play device if you just want to download games.

Commodore 64 Ultimate: Performance

• Loading times are faster than the OG but still slow
• Overclocking options
• BASIC is just how you remember it

Remember when the Commodore 64 would take 10 minutes or more to load a cassette, then sometimes simply fail? Those days are gone with the Ultimate! That doesn’t mean it’s fast, though. The processing power is there, but presumably, waiting around for a game to load is there to remind you of the simpler times.

That goes for whether you’re loading a tape image from USB or online, so this isn’t an old media issue. In the long term, I plan on adding a Tapuino to make it easier to load my original cassettes, but you don’t actually need anything extra besides what’s in the box.

Going online is as simple as connecting any other device to your network, and in no time, you can search for games or browse bulletin boards. While I never found my new favorite game through these methods, it was fun to take a look.

Curiously, you can dive into a menu and activate turbo boost to improve performance from 1MHz to 64MHz with a RAM expansion unit, increasing RAM to 16MB, which feels mind-boggling for a Commodore 64 machine.

My favorite part about using the Commodore 64 Ultimate actually has nothing to do with gaming performance, though. I loved coding in BASIC again. It was my first time programming anything, and also arguably when my programming knowledge peaked. The wire-bound manual guides you through the early stages of BASIC, and digging out a few old books and magazines with programs was a ton of fun.

Variety is where much of the joy comes from with the Commodore 64 Ultimate. It’s truly a whole home computer rather than a restrictive games emulator. Being able to switch between playing some old games and discovering new ones online, or simply coding something, gives it tremendous depth compared to something like the C64 Mini that came before it.

Should I buy the Commodore 64 Ultimate?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider...

Not sure if the Commodore 64 Ultimate is the retro hardware for you? Here’s how it compares to two similar products.

How I tested the Commodore 64 Ultimate

• Tested for about 20 hours
• I used it solely out of the box, and I also added my own original joystick and cassette deck to play games
• I also spent time using it to code simple programs in BASIC

I used the Commodore 64 Ultimate after digging out my old collection of C64 games and hardware. Unfortunately for me, not all the cassettes survived their time untouched, and one joystick was temperamental at best, but it gave me an opportunity to see how well the new and old hardware worked together.

I also went online with the Commodore 64 and browsed through seemingly every menu within the original user interface. I downloaded new games to play to see how well that experience worked, and I spent substantial time typing out BASIC programs and reveling at how easy it was, and feeling some lovely nostalgia to child me who thought they could rule the world because they knew a little BASIC.

The Commodore 64 Ultimate is very different from other retro machine comebacks, so I mostly focused on comparing it to the original machine.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January 2026

Resident Evil Requiem is quite literally a game of two halves.

Its dual protagonists, newcomer Grace Ashcroft and series veteran Leon S. Kennedy, both represent disparate aspects of the long-running survival horror franchise brought together to appease fans of tense first-person exploration and resource management and bombastic third-person action, respectively.

An intriguing formula which, on paper, should offer something for all kinds of Resident Evil lover and this is certainly true throughout the game’s strong first half. Navigating wonderfully designed, interconnected environments filled with mysterious puzzles to scrounge for resources while dodging prowling horrors, as Grace is a consistent delight, punctuated by the refreshing moments where you can briefly let loose as Leon and tear through zombie hordes with an almost unlimited supply of guns and ammunition.

Unfortunately, this careful balance is upset by the overwhelming number of sequences in the action camp later on. They’re still a blast to fight through, even as the plot becomes increasingly bizarre, but I still found myself hoping for more of the serious scares experienced early on.

Spencer Mansion memories

It’s clear that Resident Evil Requiem is intended to be a celebration of the series, smartly blending elements from almost every entry thus far. Grace inherits not only the first-person perspective of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, but also the classic puzzle-solving of the original Resident Evil and its immediate follow-ups. The Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center, the first section where you play as Grace, is a showstopping example of this formula at its best, with some of the greatest level design in Resident Evil history.

The whole area is an unsettling blend of tight corridors and small rooms, with objectives that require you to carefully scour your surroundings as you match keys with their respective locks, decipher secret codes, or collect other important items. Moving forward is always intuitive, and I never found myself scratching my head, wondering what to do next, in part because there are often multiple possible ways to progress with what you have on hand.

Rooms like the ornate banquet hall and the facility's expansive main foyer also echo the iconic design of the Spencer Mansion, a tasteful throwback for long-time fans, while a barrage of new enemy types keep things feeling fresh and prevent you from ever getting too comfortable. The new viral strain at the heart of this game's outbreak gives us some of the most intelligent zombies yet, repeating phrases that often hint at ways to counter their unique behaviours.

A zombie obsessed with turning off the lights, for example, can be lured out of your path by the flicking of a distant switch in order to preserve valuable ammo. Even if you do choose to go guns blazing, a handful of powerful horrors like the kitchen's huge, mutated chef can only be taken on with ample reserves of equipment. Successfully down them and you're treated to a deluge of goodies, namely collectible coins that can be spent on useful upgrades, appropriately rewarding those players prepared to take the risk.

Saving is restricted to set points where you can access a typewriter in dedicated safe rooms, adding an extra layer of tension even if, in reality, their plentiful nature means you're never really short of opportunities to use them.

Despite this safety blanket, as Grace, you're never really out of harm's way, as you’re perpetually on the run from an invincible foe. A terrifying, long-limbed woman, she appears in both scripted scares and more dynamic moments where she stalks you through the building.

She has a good range of possible behaviors, like suddenly reaching under tables to grab you if you make too much noise, or prowling towards your path after catching a whiff of your scent as you creep by. The creature is easy to outsmart if you make liberal use of distraction items like glass bottles, but the persistent dread that she might appear around any corner is hard to shake.

Your fear is reflected in Grace, who is an incredibly relatable protagonist compared to the emotional brick wall that was 7 and Village’s Ethan Winters.

Her trembling hands and haggard breaths are a brilliant contrast to Leon’s quippy confidence, and she’s endearingly awkward in the many stunningly animated cutscenes, too. Her desire to discover the truth of her mother’s grisly murder eight years ago is also a compelling hook that drives you to push on in spite of the horrors that you face.

Back in '98

It’s a shame, then, that she practically vanishes from the story at the halfway mark as the focus turns almost entirely towards Leon. Returning to the ruins of Raccoon City in some surprisingly hefty semi-open-world sections, it’s an unrelenting bombardment of combat gauntlets, boss fights, and cinematic action sequences.

Some moments, like a rocket launcher motorbike chase that extends up the side of a collapsed building, are certainly reminiscent of the much-derided over-the-top events of Resident Evil 6, while others feel like something you’d watch stone-faced in one of the franchise’s many terrible live action movies.

Throw in heaps of gratuitous fan service and an unsatisfying ending that leaves loads of unanswered questions (presumably for the sake of setting up future sequels or DLC), and it left me yearning for a tighter, more self-contained, and emotionally impactful experience.

That’s not to say that these moments are ever dull, though. To developer Capcom’s credit, while events may veer unapologetically into the camp and ridiculous, I was practically on the edge of my seat, wondering what on Earth could possibly happen next.

It definitely helps that Resident Evil Requiem is never boring to look at. This is a visually stunning game that really pushes the envelope with environmental fidelity, beautiful ray-traced reflections, fluid animation, and even subtle character details like strands of hair or droplets of blood and sweat. Yes, even on Nintendo Switch 2, despite some noticeable cutbacks to resolution and the odd framerate stutter.

I enjoyed my playthroughs thoroughly, but I can’t help but wish that Capcom was a little bolder with the plot. After more than 30 years, surely now is the time to be moving the series forward decisively rather than constantly harking back to the past?

Should I play Resident Evil Requiem?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility features

Resident Evil Requiem has multiple difficulty levels, including a Casual mode that’s designed to be more forgiving as well as Standard (Modern) and Standard (Classic). Standard (Classic) restricts your ability to save during Grace sections, requiring a consumable ink ribbon item each time.

The game has a dedicated accessibility menu with a suite of available options geared towards visual, auditory, motion sickness, and physical accessibility. On the visual front, you can customize the HUD and text size, plus subtitle presentation and size.

For auditory needs, you can enable closed captions with optional speaker name display, while motion sickness settings allow you to adjust camera wobble, motion blur, and turn on a dot in the middle of the screen to focus on.

Physical accessibility options include the options to disable repeated inputs in favor of holding a button, turn of vibration, and configure your controller layout.

How I reviewed Resident Evil Requiem

I played more than 20 hours of Resident Evil Requiem on Nintendo Switch 2, my primary platform for review, in which time I completed the game and then began a second run. I tested it almost exclusively in handheld mode, relying on the Joy-Con 2 controllers and the system’s built-in speakers.

I then tested the PC version on my system from retailer Scan. It features a compact Corsair 2000d RGB Airflow case, Asus ROG Strix B860-I Gaming Wifi motherboard, Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU, a 2TB WD Black SN770 SSD, 32GB of DDR5 Corsair Vengeance RAM, and an Nvidia 5070 Ti manufactured by Asus.

This proved more than capable of running the game on maximum graphics settings with full path tracing enabled at 1080p 60fps. On PC, I relied on my Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro mouse and Cherry XTRFY K5V2 keyboard, plus an Astro A20 X gaming headset for audio.

I’m a long-time Resident Evil fan and have played almost every entry (most on more than one occasion). Yes, I’ve even subjected myself to the likes of Operation Raccoon City and Umbrella Corps.

Throughout my time with Requiem, I compared my experience to the other games (particularly Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, the remakes of 2, 3, and 4, Village, and the original three games) plus the wider survival horror and action horror genres.

First reviewed February 2026

ThunderX3 Core gaming chair: one-minute review

Having spent the past two years glued to the ThunderX3 Core gaming chair, I can say with confidence that the technology packed into the backrest is not, in fact, a gimmick. Looking at this racer-style gaming chair with its wiggly backrest protruding out, you might think it's undergone some kind of malfunction. But sit down and prepare to be amazed, because the ThunderX3 Core goes above and beyond for the price point, and it does so with impeccable style.

I've always steered away from gaming chairs with a separate lumbar cushion like that of the Corsair TC100 Relaxed; their rigidity does little for me as someone who moves around a lot, and I always feel like there's too much of a gap in the middle of my back. With the majority of racer-style gaming chairs opting for this solution, or some form of adjustable lumbar like the AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL's practical but not-so-elegant, built-in side dial, I had thought my only other option was to spend over $1,000 on an office-style gaming chair that would adapt and reform itself to my body in motion. Then I spotted the ThunderX3 Core.

This ergonomic gaming chair features Lumbar 360° technology that sees almost the entire backrest deftly responding to your body as you bend and lean in the sitting position. I've felt consistently supported from the lower back right up to the upper back since the moment I started using it, helping me avoid the usual back pain that arises from all those awkward sitting positions I've been warned off.

The gently-bucketed seat can be tilted forward and locked at a slight angle, and the backrest can tilt and lock in several positions up to around 45 degrees. That does mean you don't get the full recline, but all that adjustability adds up, not to mention the four-dimensional armrests that even some mega premium chairs I've tested have omitted. Granted, the ThunderX3 Core doesn't come with an adjustable headrest like more premium ergonomic designs do, but it does include a gorgeous memory foam headrest with winged sides, as well as a footrest with two zippable sections and a non-slip texture on the bottom. All this while oozing premium design, without the premium price tag.

The major drawback for me has always been the armrests, which have always been a little rattly, but more so after a few years of learning. They've also always felt a little far forward for my liking, and don't move back as you recline, so the gap tends to see me leaning forward to reach them with my little arms. Over the years, the back of the armrest has been dented by my elbows while the rest hasn't, but it's still comfy as anything. I can't feel the plastic under the padding even after two years of everyday use.

Even the best gaming chairs will start to rattle a little after a time, and while it does get picked up by my mic every now and then, these little gripes haven't compromised the overall adjustability and comfort of a well-aged chair. If you're looking for refined aesthetics that combine steady comfort with dynamic and highly-adjustable ergonomics, I can wholeheartedly recommend the ThunderX3 Core. Not least thanks to the money saved compared to premium ergonomic chairs like the X-Chair X2 K-Sport Management.

ThunderX3 Core gaming chair: price and availability

• List price: $399.99 / £249.95 / around $595
• Footrest cushion is extra in the US, but totally unavailable in the US
• Affordable end of the spectrum and good value for money

Available in the US and the UK from Amazon and other big retailers, the ThunderX3 Core is easy to get a hold of and well worth the price of admission. It only comes with the footrest cushion in the UK, sadly, meaning US citizens will need to pay extra for the privilege, but with the money saved, you could buy two or three of these babies for the price of other premium gaming chairs like the Herman Miller x Logitech Embody.

For the price, it's rare to spy a chair design with no corners cut. That's exactly what we like to see in a gaming chair: zero compromise and exceptional comfort, two things the ThunderX3 Core has in droves, and all at an exceptionally affordable price point. Plus, a three-year warranty is always much appreciated.

ThunderX3 Core gaming chair: specs

ThunderX3 Core gaming chair: design and aesthetics

• Lovely refined colorways
• Extra storage in the back
• Racer wing shape is a bit much

With several options when it comes to aesthetics and materials, the ThunderX3 Core doesn't pigeonhole gamers looking to live ergonomically enjoyers of the standard gamer aesthetic. While the Core Racer option caters to that with its high-contrast, almost neon blue strips along the back, the Loft and Modern options lean more toward refined colourways. Their ashy greys, muted red and navy give mature gamers the option to go subtle, or even opt for a suede-trimmed weave fabric chair if Pleather isn't your thing. I appreciate not having to peel myself off a Pleather seat in the summer heat, too.

I will say that cleaning a light grey fabric chair has been a minor challenge, but it's worth it for the gorgeous snowy look and plush feeling. Besides, over the years, it hasn't started to bobble, tear, or discolour.

The overall shape is a little over the top, with wings protruding unnecessarily far from either side of the head, but that's the only thing that gives it away as a racer. With the addition of a multifunction footrest, you're getting an extra boost where ergonomics are concerned, either for propping your feet up or leaning your arms on while gaming with a controller. Plus, the little pocket in the back is great for storing anything from a small laptop to a folder, or even a secret love note if that's how you roll.

ThunderX3 Core gaming chair: comfort and adjustability

• Auto-adapting comfort
• Cushioned to perfection
• Armrests could be nicer

The Thunder X3 Core nails overall comfort, with oodles of latex foam padding that doesn't immediately deflate. Like our long-term favorite, the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022, the fantastic combination of dynamic ergonomics and versatile adjustability is great for getting awkward sitters like me through long days at my desk without feeling stiff before the week is out.

Since the armrests are a little too far forward for my frame, they have dented slightly due to constant pressure on the back. Still, those with a larger build will be best pleased. The wide, only-mildly-bucketed seat is yet another indicator that this chair caters to larger gamers. It also means I can sit with my legs crossed like an ergonomic heathen, because what's the point of joint hypermobility if you can't exercise it?

ThunderX3 Core gaming chair: assembly

• Super short assembly time
• Simple instructions
• Heavy to get it where you need it

It took me under 20 minutes to get this whole chair up and running, though that's discounting the time it took me to lug it up the stairs and get it unpacked. Considering the amount of greebles, I was amazed I hardly needed the instructions aside from figuring out a practical order of events.

Out of the box, the arms are already screwed in place, and with no mechanisms left bare for me to mangle myself in there was no need to have my partner supervise the process either. Sure, it doesn't come fully assembled like the Herman Miller Vantum, but sixteen minutes of time for years of comfort is well worth the effort.

Should I buy the ThunderX3 Core gaming chair?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider...

If the ThunderX3 Core isn't quite for you, then consider these two fine alternatives that we think really highly of.

How I tested the ThunderX3 Core gaming chair

• Used the chair nearly every day for almost two years
• Tested all the mechanisms
• Compared long-term wear with out-of-the-box condition

I've been using the ThunderX3 Core almost every day for the past 2 years, and having put it together and dragged its bulk up and down the stairs several times, I've had enough hands-on experience with it to give an informed opinion.

I check the ease of use where mechanisms are concerned, the overall comfort then versus now, and have noted the general wear that's happened over the years.

First reviewed between 2023-January 2026

Read more about how we test

Razer BlackShark V3 X review: One-minute review

The bells-and-whistles version of Razer’s latest BlackShark V3, the V3 Pro, is one of the best wireless gaming headsets on the market. This model might share the name and the basic chassis design, but it’s available at a very different price, and that means the feature spec sheet looks wildly different too.

Razer’s positioning this as an esports model, based on the low-latency wireless connection its Hyperspeed 2.4GHz wireless dongle offers, and the impressively svelte 9.6oz / 270g weight. In reality, as welcome as those attributes are, they’re probably more relevant to a non-professional gamer who wants to save some cash, stay comfortable while they play, and avoid connection dropouts more than a professional player in a stadium.

One thing that translates very well all the way down the BlackShark range is the comfort and adjustability of the headband and earcup design. There’s a brilliant balance of clamping force and headband weight distribution that makes this headset immediately comfy, and it stays that way into the last moments of your 40-player World of Warcraft raid.

The microphone isn’t especially standout, but it offers decent clarity and noise cancellation, and it’s detachable, which means if you opt to connect the headset to your smartphone via Bluetooth, you can wear these on the train or bus without looking like you’re organizing air traffic.

Your mileage of the 7.1 virtual surround may vary, but to this reviewer’s ears, it sounds thin and artificial, inevitably detracting from the original audio source rather than widening it. These aren’t the same titanium drivers as you’ll find in the standard Razer BlackShark V3, and they’re not quite as precise or authoritative in their sound production, which means there’s less leeway for affecting audio sources with virtual surround.

But if you can live with merely good audio and mic quality, the huge 70-hour battery, lightweight, comfortable feel, and clean look are a pretty considerable upside.

Razer BlackShark V3 X review: Price and availability

• Costs $99.99 / £99.99 / around AU$141
• Comparable to Microsoft’s Xbox Wireless headset
• Considerably cheaper than the V3 and V3 Pro, so don’t expect a similar experience

This version of the Blackshark is really all about the price. A lot of the V3 and V3 Pro’s luxury trimmings have been jettisoned in order to meet a sub-$100 price point, but Razer’s decades of experience mean it knows which bits are essential: comfort, reliability, and usability. Those have stayed, of course.

The specs compare favorably to rivals at this price point, like the official Xbox Wireless headset and RIG R5 Spear Pro HS, a wired model that we’ve been digging lately in the sub-$100 pool.

Razer BlackShark V3 X: Specs

Razer BlackShark V3 X: Design and features

• Similar design to the flagship BlackShark V3
• Hyperspeed and Bluetooth, but not simultaneously
• Simple control layout

The basic headband, earcup, and hinge design will be familiar to anyone who’s familiar with previous versions of the BlackShark, or indeed the pricier variations of this current V3 generation. The wireframe hinge allows for plenty of adjustability, and there’s a near-perfect balance between the weight carried by the wide, well-cushioned headband and the clamping force generated by the earcups against your temples.

Around those earcups, there’s a generous slice of memory foam to keep that horizontal force from digging in too much and becoming uncomfortable, and there’s a good amount of extension in the wireframe to allow for larger heads.

The control layout is simple and effective. On the left earcup, just above the USB-C cable input, there’s a textured power button, volume scroll wheel, and a mic mute button, while on the right-hand side, you’ll find the holy grail for gaming headsets, particularly more affordable models: a game/chat balance scroll wheel. Having grown accustomed to having this luxury through years of use with Arctis 7 headsets, I always miss it when it doesn’t feature, and I’m seriously grateful to find one on a cheaper headset like this one.

While one probably wouldn’t expect simultaneous 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity at this price, it should still be noted that, unlike the V3 and V3 Pro, it isn’t available on this model.

The Hyperspeed wireless connection is very stable in my experience, though, suffering no dropouts over the several years I’ve been connecting wirelessly with Razer devices. It does invite some very infrequent audio artefacting in my experience, but that only manifests as a glitchy half-second of audio here and there when connecting to a PC.

Overall, the combo of comfort and looks of this model makes for a powerful one-two punch. Material choices and finish quality are both fantastic at this price range, and really distinguish this headset from rivals priced similarly.

Razer BlackShark V3 X review: Performance

• Decent sound but lacking that spark
• Capacious battery
• Mic does the job

The drivers within this V3 X’s earcups are a similar design to the V3 and V3 Pro’s drivers, with some important differences. All feature a 50mm size, but while the V3 Pro uses a bio-cellulose construction for its flagship version of the Tri-Force driver and the V3 uses titanium, this cheaper version uses… something else. It’s not stated in Razer’s materials.

That’s all academic until you get into road-testing the sound, and I’m bringing up the materials of various driver variations because those materials allow for faster and more supple articulation, which in turn gives you more sparkly high frequencies and more convincing, visceral lows. It’s in the raw sound quality category where I felt the V3 X’s pricing most obviously, and that certainly doesn’t mean they sound bad.

They’re clearly tuned for a balanced sound reproduction instead of wow factor, and that’s the right call. While at the extreme ends of the frequency response range, they sound a little dull, the overall quality is nice and neutral, and that speaks to the esports positioning of this headset. Pro players would probably use a more expensive model, of course, but if they did use this, they wouldn’t have to contend with vital audio cues being drowned out by over-emphasised bass.

Elsewhere, the battery deserves some serious acclaim. All the BlackShark V3s boast a 70-hour battery life, and while that’s boosted in part by the absence of RGB, it’s still an insane number. And it holds up in reality. I found I was even able to eke out a bit more than 70 hours from one charge, and charging is very quick via USB-C.

More muted praise – if you’ll excuse the excellent pun – for the microphone, which is simply serviceable. The audio reproduction lacks a little body, but it’s certainly crisp enough to cut through the mix and ensure your callouts are heard.

Should I buy the Razer BlackShark V3 X?

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Still not sold on the Razer BlackShark V3 X? Here's how it compares to two similar sets.

How I tested the Razer BlackShark V3 X

• Weeks of daily use on PC and Xbox Series S
• Both connection types tested
• Compared to the flagship Razer BlackShark V3 Pro

I swam the waters of low-budget gaming headsets for two weeks with the V3 X Hyperspeed, which meant the usual mix of gaming, Discord, and work calls to get a feel for the driver and mic performance alike.

The meditative, ambient soundscapes of Cairn comprised a lot of that time, along with some callout-heavy Counter-Strike 2 sessions, a few co-op Minecraft adventures, and some long drives in Assetto Corsa Evo.

Both compatible devices were tested, and I kept track of each charge’s duration to check Razer’s stated 70 hours checks out in reality.

First reviewed January 2026

Read more about how we test

Drop + Epos PC38X review: One-minute review

Not necessarily a new model, but still a great one, the Drop + Epos PC38X is an excellent wired gaming headset and comes through with the promise of delivering top-shelf audio for the discerning gaming sound enthusiasts among us.

Featuring immensely enjoyable audio, no matter the game, a simple wired connection, a reliable mic, solid build quality, and a level of comfort that makes it a joy to wear for hours on end, it really is a do-it-all wired gaming headset that can be a one-stop solution across platforms.

The standout feature is easily the audio. I’ve tested some of the best and most expensive gaming headsets of the last decade, and only a few really blow me away; the Drop + Epos PC38X does that, too, for a sub-$200 price tag. It’s even played beautifully with an external sound card as well.

It’s by no means a flashy or outlandish gaming headset when it comes to design and build, but it does sport the level of quality you’d expect from Sennheiser and Epos. A symphony of piano black, the headset is slick, and its over-ear, open-back earcups are robust but supremely comfortable. The only blemishes on the scorecard here are a slightly plasticky-feeling build and that the microphone is a bit of a chunky one, despite it being a handy flip-to-mute model.

In brief, if you’re happy to be (or prefer being) a wired gamer, then the Drop + Epos PC38X is a superb option. It’s now my go-to wired headset - though it’s in constant battle with my Sennheiser HD 550s - and I’ve had a blast listening to all my music and entertainment, and playing games across PC and PlayStation 5 with it.

Drop + Epos PC38X review: Price and availability

• Current approximate prices as of early 2026: $199 / £180 / around AU$305
• Availability is spotty, but it represents excellent value for money
• Pricing puts it in the mid-to-high range for gaming headsets, but good value for audiophile sets

The main point of discussion around the Drop + Epos PC38X gaming headset’s price and availability in 2026 is that it is not as readily available as its competitors. I’ve seen listings come and go at retailers, both US and UK, and prices go up and down like yo-yos, too.

There’s also some variation in the headset’s name when it comes to retailer listings. However, if you can find one of any Drop + Epos PC38X, DROP PC38X, or Drop + Sennheiser PC38X (or similar), know that it’s the same headset regardless of name, and you’re still getting a quality product.

Despite stock wobbliness, Drop’s own website has been a reliable seller of the headset, and currently has it in stock for $199, but has had it as low as $169 at times, too. It does very much look like you’ll be limited to the all-black variant if you do find it in stock, though - the version that had yellow-colored cups appears to not be available for purchase anymore.

Given that ‘roughly $200 / £200’ price point, that does put it in pretty lofty territory and in the company of some absolute belters - in both gaming headset and headphone territory. I’ve been comparing the PC38X most closely to my Sennheiser HD 550 headphones ($299.99 / $249.99 / AU$479) and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro headset ($279.99 / £249.99 / AU$565); both are wired, both have great audio, and both are a little bit more costly, but are viable alternatives for gamers wanting seriously strong audio.

Drop + Epos PC38X review: Specs

Drop + Epos PC38X review: Design and features

• Open-back earcup design
• Flip-to-mute boom-arm mic
• Sleek and understated black finish

When it comes to design, the Drop + Epos PC38X doesn’t really stand out. It’s a slick black-on-black unit, with only black metal covers for the open earcups and mic punctuating the cloak of darkness. There used to be a slightly more exciting green/yellow colorway, but I haven’t been able to spot a listing for that in all my time testing this black model.

Away from aesthetics, it does feel like any other gaming headset to wear, too, in all honesty. The frame is a little plasticky, and there’s nothing too special here - but there are upsides to that. It’s just an easy-to-wear, very comfortable headset with padding in the right places, and a deliberate and appropriate use of materials.

The cables provided make for easy connection too: you get both a mic-and-headphone split cable perfect for those who prefer the split (or to use their headphones with other devices), as well as a straight-up 3.5mm audio jack connection too - perfect for use with a gaming console controller.

My only small criticism is the boom mic, which is a chunky monster. Located on the left cup, every part of it feels large in the hand, and when inspecting or holding the headset.

The caveat to that is - when it’s flipped up, especially - it’s totally out of sight anyway, and is in no way an immersion or multiplayer-ruiner. It feels like something from one of the older Sennheiser gaming headsets, too, so it doesn’t feel out of place either. Completing the onboard set, the volume dial on the right cup is the only onboard control and is intuitive and easy to interact with.

Drop + Epos PC38X review: Performance

• Brilliant, immersive audio
• While massive in design, the mic is crisp and clear
• Comfortable to wear for long periods of time

The audio on offer from the Drop + Epos PC38X is excellent, across the board. It certainly punches above its weight and can certainly hold its own against even the most recent of premium headsets.

Bass notes are rich and thumpy without being muddy and unpleasant, mids are rich and full, and highs are always crisp and punchy, but not piercing. It really does channel some excellent Sennheiser and Epos pedigree that makes its out-of-the-box audio some of the best I’ve tested.

On PC, the echoes and spookiness of The Oldest House in Control were beamed to my brain superbly, while hearing every detail of my cities in Frostpunk 2, and every crunch and thwack in encounters in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 3 were joyous. On my PS5 Pro, I experienced some wonderfully atmospheric and rich audio in Death Stranding: Director’s Cut, which really upped my immersion to brilliant heights.

Elsewhere, every punch of a Nazi’s face in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was fulsome and full of oomf, and gunfire in Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, as well as Battlefield 6, were excellent, giving me the right balance of rich chaos, but punchy action and crisp gunfire audio. No matter what I played on either platform, the Drop + Epos PC38X really did excel, and I can’t sing its audio praises high enough.

As an everyday work headset, it also performed admirably, transporting my voice beautifully down the internet as well as giving me clear audio on calls and meetings, and also becoming a stalwart companion for a range of music and entertainment.

While that mic is chunky, it’s easy to use and doesn’t impact the comfort of the headset during use. I wore the headset for hours and hours at a time without ever feeling uncomfortable, and the mic being flip-to-mute at least makes for a convenient design.

As I’ve mentioned elsewhere in this review, I’ve also been able to test the Drop + Epos PC38X with external sound cards. This enabled me to get even more out of the headset - so if you have the luxury of having one of these devices in your setup already, or fancy adding one, then know that it’s an ideal combination. Be it on PS5 or PC, adding an extra layer of excellence to augment the experience the Drop + Epos PC38X gave me was great - but I still defaulted to the out-of-the-box audio on more than one occasion away from the sound cards.

All in, however, you won’t need an external sound card at all with the Drop + Epos PC38X. If you can find it in 2026 and are after a top wired gaming headset with pedigree and sublime audio, then it won’t let you down.

Should I buy the Drop + Epos PC38X?

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Drop + Epos PC38X review: Also consider...

Still not sold on the Drop + Epos PC38X? Here are two competitors that might hit the mark instead.

How I tested the Drop + Epos PC38X

• Tested for around six months
• Used across multiple platforms and with multiple devices, including USB sound cards
• Compared performance across game types and against other headsets and headphones

I used the Drop + Epos PC38X on and off over a period of around six months, on PC and PS5, and for games, music, entertainment, and work. I was able to compare it to a bunch of other headphones and headsets to gauge its place in the market in 2026.

On my PS5 Pro, I used the PC38X set across games like Dying Light 2, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice and Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced, Death Stranding Director’s Cut, Ghost of Yotei, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Battlefield 6, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and more. I plugged it into both a DualSense Wireless Controller and a Creative Sound BlasterX G6 sound card during sessions as well.

When testing the headset on my old RTX 3090 gaming PC and my newer RTX 5070 gaming PC (provided by Acer), I dove into a host of games such as Frostpunk 2, Control, and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 3, while also using the headset daily for music, entertainment, and daily work commitments and calls.

First reviewed July 2025-February 2026

Read more about how we test

Styx: Blades of Greed isn’t an Assassin’s Creed game. It’s not a Sniper Elite, a Hitman, or part of any of the other popular stealth action franchises that have received new entries in the last couple of years. This is a proper, old-fashioned stealth game - the kind that you really don’t see much of anymore.

The focus is entirely on the act of sneaking, surreptitiously sticking to shadows, and creeping around environments in order to avoid detection entirely, rather than trying to blend in or silently take out enemies from afar.

As the titular green goblin Styx, you’re certainly not a fighter, and detection means an almost certain demise. Sure, you can fend for yourself against one or even two low-level enemies in a pinch, but your health pool is extremely limited, and open combat quickly spirals out of control as more guards are alerted by the sound of the fray.

You can hardly break out of a crouch when you’re moving around maps, as your footsteps alone are enough to trigger a chain reaction that inevitably ends with you getting skewered by an army of heavily armed goons. It sounds frustrating, and believe me, it sometimes is, but I simply wouldn’t have it any other way.

Nothing beats the satisfaction of pulling off the perfect heist, and some smart quality-of-life features stop the experience from ever becoming too exasperating.

Styx and stones

Its big innovation is a clever quick save system. You might see the phrase ‘save scumming’ (the practice of frequently reloading saves made before your mistakes) tossed around as a derogatory term in discussions about other titles, but in Styx: Blades of Greed, it’s not only necessary for success, but actively encouraged.

It’s instant and bound to pressing down the left thumbstick on your controller, with a successful save signaled by a small on-screen notification that doesn’t break your immersion. Get slashed by a guard, fall off a ledge, or accidentally come into contact with water (goblins dissolve instantly like the Wicked Witch of the West, apparently), and you’re back to your save point after just a brief loading screen.

It’s a little awkward at first, but after a few hours, saving every time you make any significant progress becomes second nature, and it’s absolutely liberating.

Rather than annoyingly setting you back, deaths become your signal to experiment. "What would happen if I tossed an acid trap on that carpet just as the guard saw me?” “Can I actually take out that worker without his mate seeing me?” “Would that falling chandelier really land on that armored patrol if I timed it just right?"

The game’s three main levels are mammoth and filled with multiple avenues of approach that really reward trying new approaches. With endless ledges, chimneys, the undersides of tables, inside barrels or chests, and maintenance passages, you’re never short of places to hide, and making full use of every available spot in order to infiltrate somewhere flawlessly is satisfying.

Don’t be worried about the fact that there are ‘only’ three maps either. Side quests and collectibles incentivize you to scour them thoroughly, and an intelligent metroidvania-esque progression system sees you gradually acquire new traversal tools like grapple hooks or gliders that open up vast new zones in them to explore.

Each story chapter also ends in unique, more linear segments that are a refreshing change of pace after such openness and help you get acquainted with each new mechanic as they come.

Carrot and Styx

Styx is a seasoned master of infiltration, so he has a wealth of abilities to play around with that are unlocked through a modest but impactful upgrade tree. The most interesting of these are tied to your acquisition of Quartz, the sinister new material that Styx and his rag-tag crew of allies are pursuing.

Mind control has you manually piloting adversaries that would otherwise be too powerful to defeat and commanding them to jump to their deaths, while slowing down time helps you escape otherwise impossible situations in a flash.

This is on top of some returning favorites from the past Styx games, like invisibility, throwable clones that latch on to the faces of foes, plus basic tools like throwable bottles, acid mines, and more. It’s perfectly possible to get through the game without using the majority of these, but fully engaging with every tool at your disposal invites exciting gameplay possibilities.

It’s unfortunate that there are plenty of jagged edges here that might trip up those coming over from more casual stealth experiences. I really appreciate the commitment to make Styx: Blades of Greed a faithful sequel to both Master of Shadows and Shards of Darkness (not to mention a prequel to Of Orcs and Men), but it’s almost too faithful at times when the last instalment was almost ten years ago.

Without knowledge of the previous entries, the otherwise surprisingly decent story isn’t going to make a lick of sense, and many of its coolest moments, like returning to the ruins of an old map, simply won’t resonate.

Even true Styx heads like me might struggle to stay fully engaged with it, given the fairly dire voice acting, though. The performance for the protagonist is excellent, especially his many ironically charming one-liners, but the lines for side characters and NPCs are often amateurish. Cutscenes feel cheaply animated, with stilted motion and odd cuts that never seem to flow quite right.

There’s plenty of more general jankiness to get past, too, from frame rate stutters and typos in subtitles to bugs that see you fall through the floor, get seen through solid objects, or have the entire game crash without warning. Thanks to its strong foundations, the experience was never truly spoiled for me, but I do hope there are some patches in the works to make everything more stable.

Should I play Styx: Blades of Greed?

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Accessibility features

Styx: Blades of Greed has three difficulty levels, in addition to a modest accessibility menu. Aside from the option to disable controller vibration, all of the settings relate to color blindness.

There are three vision filters: deuteranopia, protanopia, and tritanopia. Subtitles are enabled throughout the game by default.

How I reviewed Styx: Blades of Greed

I went full goblin and played more than 20 hours of Styx: Blades of Greed on PC over the course of a few days. During this time, I completed the entire game, thoroughly explored all of the levels, tested every single ability, and worked my way through many of the side quests.

The keyboard and mouse support is pretty dire, so I relied on a DualSense Wireless Controller to play in addition to my Astro A20 X gaming headset.

I reviewed the game at full graphics settings on my system, which is a 5070 Ti-powered model from retailer Scan that features a compact Corsair 2000d RGB Airflow case, Asus ROG Strix B860-I Gaming Wifi motherboard, Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU, a 2TB WD Black SN770 SSD, 32GB of DDR5 Corsair Vengeance RAM, and an Nvidia 5070 Ti manufactured by Asus.

First reviewed February 2026

Fractal Scape review: one-minute review

The bar keeps being raised in gaming peripherals lately, and as such, there’s no room for overpriced or feature-bloated models whose specs don’t translate to a great user experience. Fractal Design clearly knows this very well as it enters the wireless gaming headset market with a $200 model that looks like something Apple would try to sell you for $500, and comes with a charging dock and feature set that you’ll be more accustomed to seeing from pricer Astro headsets.

The looks will be a big selling point for many, as you’d expect from Fractal and its reputation for understated, Scandi-style PC cases. Available in both black and white, it’s got a grown-up look quite apart from the gaming peripherals of yesteryear, and with a detachable mic and Bluetooth connectivity, you can quite comfortably leave the house wearing the Fractal Design Scape as your smartphone’s headset without broadcasting an overstated ‘gamer gear’ look to the world and its judging eyes.

Also included is a wireless charging station, which will juice up the headset with up to 40 hours of use when RGB is disabled, and up to 24 when it’s enabled. Taking the headset out of the magnetic dock automatically powers it on, which feels like an incredibly decadent feature for this price.

While the materials and design generally lend themselves well to comfort – with a particular shout-out due to the high-grade memory foam earcup covers – this definitely favors a smaller head size, and I have concerns about the amount of padding on the headband itself. If you’ve got a larger head, you may start to feel the headband dig in during longer sessions.

It’s not perfect then, but that imperfection is effectively offset by how generous Fractal has been by adding not just a detachable boom mic but a built-in omnidirectional mic too. Not to mention fundamentally crisp and clear sound with some meaty bass response.

Fractal Scape review: price & availability

• List price: $199.99 / £169.99 (around AU$285)
• Astro-like features for a far lower price
• Priced competitively against Razer Blackshark V2 Pro and PlayStation Pulse Elite

The price point is a big win for Fractal out of the gates. How the manufacturer has managed to bundle a high-quality headset and charging station that look ready to sit in the window of an Apple store is anyone’s guess, but somehow that very thing has been achieved. The choice of two mics and strong construction materials and finish quality are further bonuses that make this a frontrunner in the $150-$200 market.

The competition? Probably still two members of the old guard. PlayStation’s official PS5 Pulse Elite headset features similarly elegant looks and hassle-free wireless operation, while Razer’s older Blackshark V2 is more of an all-rounder that features similar device compatibility to the Scape.

Fractal Scape review: Specs

Fractal Scape review: Design & features

• Typically minimalist looks
• Wireless dock will beautify your desk
• Sensible controls layout

Fractal’s headset was never going to be an aggressive, overwrought affair. Its cases are recognizable for their elegant minimalism, and the same is very much true of this Scape. It’s reminiscent at first glance of Steelseries’ Arctis range, but has a ‘debadged’ look and the most minimal of RGB zones that carries through the Scandi operation’s less is more philosophy.

The dock features magnetic connections that keep the headset in place and carries through the understated look, guaranteed to bring some culture and sophistication to your desk, no matter how many Funko Pops it’s sharing the real estate with. A USB-A dongle is hidden on the underside of that dock so that you can plug the dongle into the dock and use the USB cable from the dock to your device’s USB port, keeping things nice and clean and giving you a bit more choice over where to position the dock.

In addition to the usual physical controls at the rear of each earcup (power, wireless/Bluetooth connection, and mic mute on the left, RGB on/off on the right), there’s a ‘control crown’ in the upper-left rear which controls volume and provides some multimedia controls for pausing music and skipping tracks. While every other control works well, feels sturdy, and is easy to find without having to take off the headset, I find the control crown a bit fiddly. It’s too small to make precise volume changes easily, and pressing and holding the crown to pause or skip feels awkward.

With that said, it’s extremely impressive that the two mic options have bespoke mute mechanics. The boom arm is flip-to-mute, whereas the built-in omnidirectional is controlled with a button.

Fractal Scape review: Performance

• Strong and precise sound
• Great battery performance
• Headband comfort can be an issue

Great care has clearly been taken to build a lot of comfort into these cans. That’s most evident when you give the earcup cushions a squeeze and find the most luxuriously squishy memory foam pads you ever squished. This is seriously high-grade material, equivalent to flagship Bose models.

And it’s a vital piece of the comfort puzzle, because the Scape offsets its middleweight heft (11.9oz / 338g is on the lighter side of average for wireless sets now) with a lot of clamping force. The idea is that the tighter the earcups clamp around your ears, the less weight hangs from the headband on top of your head. Plus, you get a nice bit of passive noise cancellation and a tight acoustic chamber for low-end frequencies to resonate in.

That works on two of three fronts. It’s great at blocking out noise, and the bass response sounds full-bodied. But personally, I still notice the weight of the headband during longer sessions, and when I examine its construction, I find considerably less padding and considerably lower-grade cushion material.

It’s still absolutely possible to adjust the Scape so that it sits comfortably for marathon sessions, by extending the headband as big as possible and thereby placing more emphasis on the horizontal clamping force. But it’s something to keep in mind if your mind is kept within a larger skull.

The sound quality isn’t audiophile stuff, but with a standard-issue 20Hz-20KHz frequency response range, its drivers are more than capable of articulating power, detail, and nuance all at the same time in your game mix. Even with a Discord buddy shouting callouts with their 2011 headset mic.

The battery goes for just as long as the specs suggest, and during my real-world testing, I found more than 40 hours could transpire before I got the beeps. It’s so welcome to have an RGB off button on the headset rather than having to delve into Fractal’s (actually very decent, zero-footprint, web-only) software app, and similarly, I found that enabling the lighting didn’t quite reduce the charge life down to 24 hours. Perhaps I like to play at a lower volume than Fractal does.

Onto the choice of mics. It’s a double-edged sword, this feature, because although it’s incredible value to have two inputs on one headset, the noise cancellation on the unidirectional boom mic isn’t very strong, and external noises can leak into your voice chat. That’s even more true when using the omnidirectional mic, obviously. So: yes to dual mic design, no to the noise cancellation. This is the sort of thing that can be remedied in firmware updates, though, and I really hope it is because otherwise this is an exemplary package, and it’s priced low enough to have established brands like Razer, Logitech G, and Corsair worried.

Should you buy the Fractal Scape?

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Does this Fractal leave you in two minds? Consider these premium wireless alternatives.

How I tested the Fractal Scape

• Weeks of daily use on PC, PS5 and iPhone
• All connection types tested
• Tested in online games, Discord comms, and work calls

This being a wireless product with a ton of usability options, including an on/off RGB battery saving setting, it was important to stress-test the Scape’s stated battery capacity and wireless stability.

That meant tracking hours of use without charge, putting in some long mountaineering sessions in Cairn, and plenty of Discord walk-and-talks to test out the wireless range.

First reviewed February 2026

Read more about how we test

Romeo is a Dead Man is an action game in which you play as a guy named Romeo Stargazer who - in the first five minutes - has his face ripped off by some kind of demonic creature, only to be saved from the brink of death by his time traveling scientist grandfather and enlisted into the FBI’s Space-Time Police division and reborn as a cyborg known as DeadMan. Your enjoyment of the game may hinge on whether or not you vibe with this bewildering setup.

It’s a bonkers premise that could only come from developer Grasshopper Manufacture, and the oddball creative minds of Goichi ‘Suda51’ Suda (killer7, No More Heroes, The Silver Case) and Ren Yamazaki (No More Heroes 3).

It’s quite appropriate, then, that Romeo is a Dead Man’s difficulty selection screen is presented as a literal box of chocolates, because you never really know what you’re going to get from a Grasshopper-developed game.

Romeo is a Dead Man is not a visually stunning tour de force for the action game genre. Its story that traverses time and space can be tough to follow along with, and its cast of utterly bizarre characters seems as random as they are deeply charming. It may even disappoint those looking for something as fleshed out as, say, a Devil May Cry or Bayonetta, with its relatively straightforward combat and short runtime.

Me, though? Outside of some wonky performance issues (and a somewhat disappointing final act), I greatly enjoyed almost every moment of Romeo is a Dead Man in the 12 hours it took me to finish the game. And I loved it even more when turning up the difficulty for a New Game Plus run, as that’s where the game really forces you to learn the nuances of its combat, varied enemy types, and the hilarious ‘Bastards’ summoning system (more on that in a bit).

It might not be your pick for game of the year, but considering it’s not a full-price title, I highly recommend Romeo is a Dead Man if you’re in the mood for a wonderfully weird action game that’ll stick in the memory long after you roll credits.

Killing the past, again and again

So what is the deal with this Romeo fella? Long story short, he falls in love with a woman he finds injured on the road while out on patrol. She’s rather fittingly named Juliet, and after being rescued himself and enlisted with the Space-Time Police, Romeo learns that she’s an extraterrestrial capable of duplicating herself, adopting various powerful forms, and generally disrupting the flow of time. Hey, happens to the best of us, right?

Thus, Romeo embarks on a quest (aided by the spirit of his grandpa, who assumes the appearance of a large patch on the back of Romeo’s jacket) to save space-time from Juliet and a menagerie of other very evil people.

It sounds utterly nonsensical, and that’s because it is, but that’s nothing out of the ordinary for games developed by Grasshopper Manufacture. What’s here in Romeo is a Dead Man isn’t as immediately parseable as, say, No More Heroes or Lollipop Chainsaw, but it doesn’t reach the dizzying ‘what on earth is going on’ heights of killer7 or The 25th Ward.

Romeo is a Dead Man, like the No More Heroes series, is a third-person 3D action game, but it loves to play around with other styles. Your hub is a spacecraft called the Last Night, and here you’ll be presented with a top-down, 2D pixel-based art style.

The ship is a joy to explore between missions, as there are plenty of colorful NPCs you can interact with for some fun dialogue. You might even recognize a couple of them from past Grasshopper works. My favorite has to be GreenRiver, a woman with - and I promise I’m not joking here - an encyclopedic knowledge of Premier League football/soccer club Manchester United and its most iconic strikers.

Vamos!

Jumping into combat, then - the thing you’ll be doing most in Romeo is a Dead Man - you’ll find gameplay that’s very easy to pick up, but deceptively tricky to master. Especially at those higher difficulties.

Playing like a mixture of No More Heroes and Shadows of the Damned, Romeo primarily attacks with melee and ranged weapons, of which there are four of each. The weapon types are your pretty standard affair at a surface level. On the melee front, a balanced beam katana-like weapon is accompanied by a heavy but slow greatsword, and fast and agile fists, for example. Your ranged weapon options include a highly accurate pistol, as well as a shotgun, machine gun, and even a rocket launcher.

Going into Romeo is a Dead Man for the first time, I quite wrongly assumed that the ranged weapons wouldn’t feel nearly as useful or impactful as their melee counterparts. In actuality, they’re arguably your most essential option in combat.

Your standard zombie-like ‘Rotter’ enemies will tend to rush you down (some even plagued with nasty status effects) and thus are best dispatched with melee. However, more specialist enemy types that dot mobs in less frequent numbers will typically require you to shoot at weak points first for massive damage. These targets should take high priority, too; one is a ballerina-like monster that can buff all other enemies around it. While another can drop dangerous landmines in your vicinity.

Combat can be tough as you dance around mobs and prioritize certain enemy types. Rotters are largely fodder, but they effectively act as fuel for Romeo’s ‘Bloody Summer’, a devastating attack that does massive damage to anything it touches, which you’ll charge up by landing hits on enemies in the first place.

The game’s superb boss fights will then take everything you’ve learned - knowing when to attack and avoid, and carefully hunting for weak spots on these larger targets - and bookend each chapter with style. Bosses have terrifyingly grotesque designs and come with several mechanics and moves of their own you’ll need to learn. Especially, again, at those higher difficulty levels.

Bring in the Bastards

Without a doubt, Romeo is a Dead Man’s weirdest, quirkiest, and most charming gameplay system is the ‘Bastards.’ You might want to sit down for this one. Bastards are zombie-like creatures (that honestly look alarmingly similar to killer7's Heaven Smiles) that you’ll grow and cultivate at home base on the Last Night.

They come with their own stats and parameters (such as attack power and cooldown rate), and a specialty to aid you in battle. During stages, you’ll collect Bastard seeds of three rarities, with the most desirable ones offering the most power, naturally.

By holding L1 and pressing another button, you can summon one of the four Bastards you’ve brought into a stage. There are so many different types, and almost all are useful and can help you form a playstyle all your own. One Bastard, for example, draws the attention of all enemies around it. Others still can freeze enemies, form a powerful energy beam between themselves and Romeo, and even plant a temporary weak spot on a foe.

There are tons of different Bastard types, to the point where I don’t think I even saw the majority of them in my initial 12-hour playthrough. You can even fuse two Bastards together, forming a new seed that, upon cultivation, will create a more powerful version based on those base Bastards’ stats.

It’s not the most straightforward system, but once I had my head around it, creating new and powerful Bastards almost felt like a game in and of itself. And with everything carrying over to New Game Plus (Bastards, Romeo’s stats, weapons, and more), there’s plenty of replay value to be had with Romeo is a Dead Man thanks to its fast-paced action and relatively short runtime.

Out of time

There’s a decent amount of side content in Romeo is a Dead Man, too, often rewarding you with upgrade currency and badges that you can equip to give Romeo various effects in battle. Partway through the game, you’ll unlock a Boss Rush-style mode, as well as Palace Athene; a procedurally-generated dungeon of four scaling difficulties that you’ll gradually unlock throughout the story.

I found Palace Athene to be the weakest aspect of Romeo is a Dead Man. All difficulties of it share a pretty bland street-like aesthetic, and its narrow corridors can make dealing with enemies a real pain. Worst of all, though, these dungeons completely tank the game’s performance - likely due to the entire thing being rendered all at once. It’s horrendous to play at the highest difficulty setting, as that’s where the largest dungeons lie, and those are populated by the highest volume of enemies.

Another thing about Romeo is a Dead Man that, I think, could’ve been handled better is its closing chapters. The final two levels heavily reuse assets and locations found elsewhere in the game. And while the last couple of bosses are brilliant, the act of getting to them is a seriously painful gauntlet that completely ditches the often clever and semi-explorable design of earlier levels.

It’s something that really strikes me as odd; Romeo is a Dead Man is a self-published game. Which means Grasshopper, presumably, wasn't tied down by strict publisher deadlines. It’s a real shame, especially given the relatively high quality of the rest of the game. Well, bar one horror-themed stage that strips all your weapons away for a forced stealth section. Wasn’t too keen on that part, either.

Stages are often interspersed with trips to an alternate dimension known as Subspace, and I'd say these were the weakest parts of the game for me. While they do provide a nice break from combat, they can often drag on a bit too long with mazelike design and extremely simple puzzles. They get worse as the game progresses, too, as they tend to get longer with each passing stage.

These issues aside, I found plenty to love about Romeo is a Dead Man. As a huge fan of Grasshopper’s prior works, I certainly wasn’t let down by the game, and I’m happy to see the creative juices flowing once again at the developer. Especially after the rather rushed and divisive (but still mostly great) No More Heroes 3.

Romeo’s eclectic shifting of art styles, amazing soundtrack, the way it tells its story across cutscenes, comic books, even one or two visual novel-style sections - it all adds up to form a wonderfully unpredictable ride; one I really didn’t want to get off.

Should you play Romeo is a Dead Man?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility

There’s little in the way of dedicated accessibility options here. You can toggle melee and ranged weapon aim assists, and there are three distinct colorblind settings (protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia) available. You can also adjust the intensity of these colorblind options, too.

How I reviewed Romeo is a Dead Man

I completed Romeo is a Dead Man from start to finish in around 12 hours, on PlayStation 5. That playtime included the whole main campaign, all Palace Athene instances, some Boss Rush time, and heading off the beaten path to find optional upgrades and collectibles. I played the game with a DualSense Wireless Controller, on an LG CX OLED TV, and with my gaming headset of choice, the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS.

First reviewed February 2026