Expelled! An Overboard! Game sees Amelia Tyler try not to get kicked out of boarding school in a looping puzzle game, and while it can sometimes feel repetitive, Amy Eastland is finding that there is more than enough good stuff to keep her invested.
The startmenu Podcast | 007 - Load Bearing Gex
Dave is back in the hosting chair to talk with Lex, KM and Vivian Winn about 50 Cent Blood On The Sand, Giant Bomb buying Giant Bomb, and more.
![[PATREON UNLOCK] Update Patch - April 2025](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5caf2dea93a63238c9069ba4/1746984490688-XBYBL64FYPFRCCLWF3U6/Update+Patch+April+0.jpg)
[PATREON UNLOCK] Update Patch - April 2025
An eventful month for the games industry saw Marathon getting shown off, Oblivion Remaster getting released and the BAFTAs handing out awards.
Joe Richards rounds up everything that happened in April.
A Guide To Freeware Games That Will Run On Anything
Gaming is a hobby that seems to be getting more expensive by the day.
Thankfully, Adam Wescott has collated a list of fully fledged experiences you can play right now for free.
Review | Skin Deep - More Than Meets The Eye
Nina Pasadena is here to save cats and kicks ass, and she’s all out of ass… wait, what?
Kate Robinson breaks down this irreverent immersive which is anything but surface level.
Review | Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds Ultimate – Thirty-Eight Eclectics from the Seventh Gen
Phantom Breaker is a delightfully engaging pixel art, beat ‘em up romp, however, some strangely dated character designs make it hard for Jay Weaver to wholeheartedly recommend it.
Review | Synergy - Gorgeous But Deadly
Synergy tasks you not just with building a city, but fostering an ecosystem.
Cee takes a closer look at this gorgeous and unique take on the genre.
The startmenu Podcast | 006 - You DIDN'T Get Jecht Shot ft. TurboShawn
With Dave out on assignment, Lexi was joined on the podcast this week by KM, Michael Beckwith, and special guest, TurboShawn, to discuss Clair Obscur, The Hundred Line and Blitzball... for some reason.
Review | Cuisineer - Needs More Seasoning
Cuisnieer’s mix of action rogue-lite gameplay and cooking management should deserve a Michelin Star, but sadly, Branford Hubbard found that some elements of the dish need a bit more of a kick.
Mini-Review | Monarchy - A Special Announcement
Monarchy has the nugget of a good idea, but in its current state, it is impossible to recommend because it simply does not function.
Branford Hubbard delivers this special announcement.
Frog Encompasses Everything That Makes Chrono Trigger Great
Chrono Trigger is a certified classic, but Mazen Haggag believes that Frog is the beating heart and soul of the game.
sonicmenu | What Can The Sonic Games Actually Do With Team Chaotix
Much like how this article got lost in the shuffle of sonicmenu, Team Chaotix has struggled to find a place in modern Sonic.
Mazen Haggag investigates where Espio, Vector and Charmy have gone.
The startmenu Podcast | 005 - Tom Hall Killed Xalavier Nelson Jr With A Chainsaw In Galway
Lex, Dave and KM gather to discuss the FÍS Games Summit, Trump's Tariff Chaos and its effect on the Switch 2, and the BDS boycott on Xbox and Microsoft.
![[PATREON UNLOCK] Update Patch - March 2025](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5caf2dea93a63238c9069ba4/1744131913201-HN4CZG991G4R6MIHI64F/Update+Patch+March+2025+0.jpg)
[PATREON UNLOCK] Update Patch - March 2025
Despite the Switch 2 not being announced until April, March was full of gaming news.
From Split Fiction to Tomodachi Life, Amy Eastland rounds it all up in last month’s Update Patch.
sonicmenu | Sonic The Hedgehog (2006) - A Retrospective Of A Beautiful Disater
You knew it was coming, someone was going to talk about Sonic 06, and who better than its biggest defender, Eoghan Watters.
He chronicles the chaotic development, troubled release and the game’s strange legacy.
sonicmenu | Sonic Boom – Why It's Okay To Keep Watching This in 2025
The Sonic Boom games aren’t exactly classics of the franchise, however, the TV show released alongside this sub-series is not only excellent, but holds up in 2025.
Scott Nowbaveh sums up why he’s still watching.
sonicmenu | The Architecture Of Sonic Unleashed - And Why It Just Works
The Sonic franchise is home to some of the most famous level designs in games, but Joe Richards feels Sonic Unleashed might the series peak.
Why? It’s architecture.
sonicmenu | How Shadow The Hedgehog Got His Groove Back
Few video game characters have had as varied depictions as Shadow The Hedgehog.
Michael Beckwith puts forth where Shadow started, how things went wrong, and how Sega has righted the edgy ship.
sonicmenu | Why Sonic Robo Blast 2 Matters
Sonic is a franchise for sickos [positive], DOOM is a franchise for freaks [positive].
DOOM wads that are actually Sonic fan games, well Adam Wescott thinks those are quite special.
sonicmenu | Why Knuckles Rapping Is Important Or: Why Sonic Adventure 2 Is The Apex Of Sonic Games
Sonic Adventure 2 is the apex of Sonic games and Branford Hubbard doesn’t just think that because of Knuckles rapping.