Our final hype-check on Elden Ring and Horizon Forbidden West, plus a whole lot of new gadgets perfect for your gaming/office setup.

Video games are bonkers now, there’s no other way to put it. So with more releases you can actually afford to throw your money at, we assess whether games like Elden Ring and Horizon Forbidden West live up to the hype.

That’s not all though, because we also run you through some of the latest gear and gadgets worth adding to your gaming/work hybrid.

Elden Ring (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, XBO, PC)

There’s no shortage of words we can use to describe Elden Ring, but let’s try a few anyways. Ambitious. Grand. Epic. Deadly. Magnificent.

Elden Ring is all these things and more, so it’s no wonder why it has taken the gaming world by storm with a whole lot of hype. Developer FromSoftware has dared to present its largest world to date, while still retaining its fundamentally challenging game design. And while you still might not entirely know what’s going on, as a ‘Tarnished’ warrior, you will make your way across The Lands Between doing battle with all sorts of otherworldly creatures.

Yes, the tough as nails gameplay of Souls’ titles remains, but Elden Ring is perhaps the most approachable entry so far. Getting pummelled in one area? Just hop on your trusty steed and head to another. Maybe try to summon some spirit-based pals to assist you, or even get some help from a friend.

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It’s an experience that won’t be for everyone, but if you’re even slightly interested, you should try what is bound to become a genre-defining video game. Oh, and don’t be afraid to use a guide if you feel like you’re struggling. There’s absolutely no shame if it helps you to enjoy what is an incredible package.

Horizon Forbidden West (PS5, PS4)

Five years after the breakout original, Sony has itself yet another winner with Horizon Forbidden West, and interestingly it’s kind of the polar opposite of Elden Ring. Where Elden Ring focuses on a large open world that you’re never entirely sure how to tackle, Aloy’s is equally expansive and gives you plenty of things to do.

The more guided experience will certainly resonate with gamers who want a clear idea of how to progress and what you should do next, but it’s worth stressing that this is never at the expense of fun. In fact Forbidden West’s combat is an absolute dream, and working out how best to tackle each encounter never grows tiring. Throw a new glider into the mix and you’re in for a hell of a good time.

Oh, and have we mentioned how absolutely gorgeous this game is? Truly, the team at Guerrilla Games have outdone themselves with one hell of a show pony for the power within the PS5.

There’s an engaging narrative following Aloy’s attempts to furiously prevent a mass extinction that does well to keep you engaged, but if you missed the original a brief recap at the start of this title should help bring you up to speed.

What we’re trying to get at is that if you’re one of the lucky ones actually have your mitts on a PS5, this is one adventure worth shelling out for.

Backbone (Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, XBO, PC)

There’s a hell of a lot of style in Backbone – a detective noir tale filled with anthropomorphic animals. The good news is that there’s plenty of substance to back up the adventure, as you play as Howard Lator, a racoon detective who innocently takes on a small case that becomes much, much more.

A modern point and click game, Backbone is perfectly suited for the Switch, and if you have an OLED model the pixel-art truly shines. The story is well-paced, doesn’t outstay its welcome and is naturally filled with plenty of twists and turns.

This is an especially great shout if you’re after a change of pace from the blockbuster release schedule.

Martha is Dead (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, XBO, PC)

Martha is Dead may have flown past your radar due to the controversy surrounding some of its more graphic content being censored for PlayStation gamers, but get past all that hullaballoo and what you’re left with is a rather run-of-the-mill horror experience.

Set in 1944 Italy, you’ll play as Giulia, a woman on a mission to find a murderer after her twin sister, Martha, is found drowned in a lake. To do this you’ll have adopt Martha’s identity (in rather gruesome fashion), and while that’s certainly intriguing premise it’s all unfortunately let down by some inconsistent gameplay that never managed to gel for us. Horror fans might get a kick out of Martha is Dead’s ambition, otherwise check out some gameplay to see if it’s right for you.

FAR: Changing Tides (Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, XBO, PC)

This indie treat might look simple, but packs a surprising amount of challenge beneath the surface. It all starts when you awaken to find yourself stranded within a world devastated by flood waters. Thankfully it’s not long before you land yourself a sturdy ship to travel amongst these troubled times, but although a simple side-scrolling adventure sounds simple in theory, in execution there’s a lot more too it than that.

During traversal, for example, you’ll constantly want to be tinkering with your Okomotive’s components like its engine, or its mast to ensure you’re making the most of the wind.

There’s also a good amount of platforming at play in FAR: Changing Tides and this change of pace really helps make the experience shine with puzzles that almost never frustrate within consistently interesting environments. While we enjoyed our time with this one on Switch, it’s worth noting it’s also on Game Pass and worth checking out if you’re signed up for the service.

Gadgets and gear for any gaming/office hybrid

Looking to create the perfect blend of work and play? Here are a few items we recommend to spruce up your office/gaming setup.

Whether you need to brighten a dark room or want to get serious about your streaming potential, a good light is an essential bit of kit for your setup. With that in mind, we can’t look past the Logitech Litra Glow Premium Streaming Light. This wonderfully nifty unit is both affordable (you can pick one up for as low as 90 bucks) and compact. Even better, thanks to an integrated monitor mount, you can easily adjust the Glow’s height, rotation or tilt level painlessly and without covering your monitor with some annoying tripod or contraption.

The good news doesn’t stop there either. By tying into Logitech’s robust Logitech G Hub software hub, you can control a whole range of bells and whistles to suit your particular needs. During our testing, we played around with all different kinds of colour options but the software makes it a real cinch.

Trust us, you’ll want one of these bad boys pronto.

No hybrid station is complete without a headset that can do it all, and Razer’s Kaira offering does exactly that. By utilising a USB C adapter you can use the Kiaria not just for PC gaming, but for your PS5 and Switch as well. Switch over to Bluetooth audio you can even hook it up to your smartphone.

We’re big fans of the black and white combo which is both sleek and stylish, making it perfect if you need something that’ll look good on a Twitch stream and a work Zoom call at the same time. Even better is that the Kiara isn’t just comfy on the noggin, it’s got quality sound to boot. We have been mighty impressed with the depth in sound during our various gaming sessions while the adjustable microphone is able to produce clear audio for listeners.

Twelve South ParcSlope + SuitCase for MacBook

A whole bunch of new tech is great, but you can’t forget about ergonomics and practicality either. Enter two of Twelve South’s latest and greatest products.

The ParcSlope, for example is designed to help elevate your laptop screen for more comfortable viewing while providing your keyboard with an 18-degree angle that will be much friendlier to your wrists and your posture. Should you also have an iPad, the stand can double as a desktop easel – perfect for sketching. We’ve been impressed not just with how sturdy this contraption is considering how slender it is, but how well it grips onto any device we rest in it thanks to some well-placed ridges and a good amount of grip.

The SuitCase on the other hand, is one of the strongest laptop cases we’ve ever seen. The thermoformed hard-shell feels rock solid without turning into a beefcake, and the simple grey diamond pattern helps keep the overall package looking professional and minimalist. Starting at $139.95, they’re certainly not cheap, but you’ll definitely feel confident that your most prized possession is safe when it’s all zipped up.

Your setup isn’t going to get far without a keyboard, and one of the newer entries our fingers have been enjoying is the G413 TKL SE. The TLK in that wordy title, by the way, refers to tenkeyless – meaning the extra number keys on the side of most keyboards has been given the boot. This makes for a much more compact affair and is great to provide you some extra room, especially if you never utilised that side of the board.

But while there’s less keys, Logitech hasn’t skimped on the rest of the package, with white LED lighting, tactile mechanical switches and a swish black-brushed aluminium finish that will help it to blend into most setups. Logitech definitely provides flashier, feature-rich alternatives, but as a cheaper entry point to gaming keyboards, this one’s worth checking out.

It’s also worth noting that the G413 comes in a full size version should you have the extra room.

It’s often said great things come in small packages and the Razer Pro Click Mini is no exception. We’ve been using this tiny wonder for some time now and honestly, we couldn’t imagine our work day without it. The big seller here aren’t just its super swish design and classic white colour palate.

No the big winner for the Pro Click Mini is its silent, tactile mouse clicks. It’s shocking how quiet this thing is, without sacrificing any actual usability. You can easily switch between Bluetooth or 2.4GHz compatibility (both allowing connections to multiple devices) and two AA batteries are said to last a minimum of 465 hours, or 725 using Bluetooth.

We’re confident you won’t regret grabbing one of these.

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