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JBL Grip: two-minute review

The JBL Grip is a new entrant into the audio giant’s Bluetooth speaker lineup, sitting between the Clip and Flip lines. It has a seltzer-can-inspired look, attractive ambient lighting, and a highly durable exterior. Yes, it really has all the key design elements covered. But does the Grip sound any good? I tested it for two weeks to find out.

I’ve got to say, the JBL Grip is a pretty solid sounding speaker overall. Of course, it’s a pretty small model, so there are some limitations in terms of bass response, and when volume is pushed up high, music can sound pretty one-dimensional. But still, you’ll get clear, well-balanced, and decently punchy sound from this small cylindrical model.

Arguably the best thing about the JBL Grip, however, is its brilliant all-round design. I’m a big fan of its can-sized dimensions, and when you combine that with its textured exterior, it's both satisfying and easy to… well, grip. Like a lot of the best Bluetooth speakers, the JBL Grip is also dust and waterproof thanks to its IP68 protection against the elements, making it ideal for shower or beachside listening.

It’s also a real beauty, with the speaker coming in an appealing range of colors. I tried out the purple model, but there’s also pink, red, blue… you name it! An ambient lighting panel on the reverse side of the speaker is also very easy on the eye, though I do wish there was a light mode that synced to the speaker’s output for more immersive listening – something I’ve seen on speakers like the Marshall Bromley 750.

The lights on the JBL Grip are customizable via the JBL Portable app, which opens up a range of other options too. There’s PlayTime Boost if you want to get an extra couple hours of playtime, stereo group if you want to use two Grip speakers in stereo mode, and a range of EQ options, including a custom option.

On top of that, the JBL Grip supports Auracast, meaning you can link a bunch of compatible JBL speakers up to it for additional loudness and coverage.

At $99.95 / £89.99 / AU$129, the Grip isn’t exactly cheap for what it is, though it's hardly unfathomably expensive either. For me, I think its marginally larger sibling, the JBL Flip 7 just feels like a better value buy. It offers considerably better sound, with regimented, pumping bass and full-bodied, detailed sound. But it’s also got better battery life and the same durability – with only a slight increase in size and price.

Overall, though, I still think that the Grip is a neat addition to JBL’s vast lineup of Bluetooth speakers. If you’re digging its hand-held design and you want a sub-$100 option with personality, it’s one of the best models available to you right now – and you should totally get a Grip (thank you, I'm here all week). But if you’ve got a little more money to play with, I’d still recommend going for the Flip 7, which is an exemplary Bluetooth speaker.

(Image credit: Future)JBL Grip review: price and release date

• $99.95 / £89.99 / AU$129
• Launched in September 2025

The JBL Grip was launched in September 2025, and is the very first speaker in its line. It’s priced at a mid-point between the Clip 5 and Flip 7, and will typically cost $99.95 / £89.99 / AU$129. You can purchase this speaker in a range of colors too, including: Black; Blue; Pink; Purple; Red; Squad (camo); and White.

JBL Grip review: specs

Weight

0.8lbs / 0.4kg

Dimensions

2.5 x 6 x 2.6 inches / 64 x 153 x 65mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4

Battery life

14 hours

Speaker drivers

1x 16W full range driver

Waterproofing

IP68

(Image credit: Future)JBL Grip review: features

• Customizable lighting
• Multiple EQ options in JBL Portable app
• Commendable 14 hour battery life

The JBL Grip is equipped with just about everything you could want from a small Bluetooth speaker. And if you download the JBL Portable app, you get access to a whole lot of customization options.

For instance, the app features light adjustment, which lets you select from the following effects: freeze; bounce; trim; switch; and neon. You can also select from a small pool of colors and adjust brightness to get the precise look you want. It would be nice if there was a slight effect that synced to your music, but I still like the degree of personalization available here.

Another thing you can tailor to your taste is EQ. There are a handful of presets to choose from, like JBL Signature, Chill, and energetic. However, you can also create your own sound with the custom seven-band equalizer. This works nicely and I did stick with a custom tuning for a considerable chunk of my time with the speaker.

There’s even more to discover, though, like stereo pairing if you’ve got a second Grip, and Auracast connectivity, which enables you to link a load of compatible speakers for increased volume – models like the JBL Xtreme 4 and JBL Charge 6 support this.

Before we tie things up, a quick word on battery life. Technically, you can get up to 14 hours of playtime from this model, but that’s with volume low, minimal lighting, and use of the PlayTime Boost function – an option that essentially reduces sound quality for two additional hours of listening.

Usually, you’ll get up to 12 hours of listening, which is pretty solid for a model of this stature. You can fully recharge it in 3 hours too.

All in all, the Grip has just about every base covered. Sure, it doesn’t have an integrated mic for clear, hands-free calling – something you’ll find on a rival like the Edifier ES20. But still, there’s plenty of functionality to sink your teeth into.

• Features score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future)JBL Grip review: sound quality

• Clear, well-balanced audio with AI Sound Boost
• Some limitations with small size, especially at high volumes
• Decent weight to bass, but Flip 7 blows it out the water

As you may expect, the small size of the JBL Grip does come with some sonic limitations, but for a model in this weight class, it performs well overall.

When tuning into Black Eye by Allie X, the deep drum machine sounded fairly commanding, while vocals remained clear in the mix. In the track’s intro, strings suddenly pierce through, but these sounded a little restricted on the Grip – the attack just sounded a little blunt or dulled, reducing the dramatic tone.

In Never Would by M-High, I was again treated to surprisingly deep, impactful bass – but not at the expense of controlled, decently detailed percussion in the treble range. With volume pushed to the 90-100% mark, low end did sound a little thin, and instrument separation was diminished, resulting in a slightly narrow sound. But that’s pretty common for a lot of small speakers, in fairness.

Similarly, tracks with booming sub-bass won’t be replicated all too well on the Grip due to some inherent restrictions. If you’re looking for almighty low-frequency output, I’d suggest checking out one of the best party speakers instead, like the JBL Xtreme 4.

Still, overall bass performance is solid, especially as you can set a custom EQ with enhanced low-end output, if you’d prefer. And in less bass-heavy genres, the Grip performs very admirably. In Rains again by Solji, soaring vocals remained emotive, with the breathiness in the performance audible throughout – that’s even without higher-res codecs like LDAC or aptX.

The speaker’s wraparound design also means you get a pleasing listen from all angles, with AI Sound Boost also onboard to optimize output for “bigger sound with less distortion”.

I compared the Grip to the Flip 7, and if you want the best sonic quality in a small body, that’s where I’d suggest spending your money. The regimented bass and more full-bodied sound is simply intoxicating. Having said that, the Grip does perform nicely – you’ll just have to make a few sonic sacrifices to enjoy its smaller form factor and sleek design.

• Sound quality score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future)JBL Grip review: design

• Rugged, durable exterior with IP68 rating
• Easy to grip and ultra light
• Attractive looks with fun array of color options

I’m not always bowled over by the look of JBL’s Bluetooth speakers, but I actually love the Grip’s design.

When I visited JBL at the Nordisk Film studio in Copenhagen, an employee noted how research was undertaken in the food and drink industry finding that consumers widely preferred the slim and tall soda can style over the traditionally shorter and stubbier alternative. As a result, the Grip is made to resemble the former, and is “inspired by the proportions of a seltzer can”.

I for one love the shape and size of the Grip. As its name suggests, it’s easy to grab on to, with its textured exterior providing additional grip. Its also pleasingly light, earning it top-class portability.

Playback controls are elegantly positioned towards the ‘lid’, while power, Auracast, and pairing buttons sit on the top. A light control button can be found on the reverse side, where you can also find a fabric loop that can be used to hook the speaker onto something.

As is typically the case with JBL, the Grip comes in a beautiful array of colors, including: Black; Blue; Pink; Purple; Red; Squad (camo); and White. I tested the Purple variant and it really stands out from the crowd in the best way, and the inclusion of a light panel compliments the vibrant colorways even further.

But the good times keep rolling. Yes, the JBL Grip is extremely durable, largely thanks to its impressive IP68 dust and waterproof rating. This means that the speaker is fully dustproof, and can be submerged in 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. That makes it perfect for listening in the bath or shower, or even at the beach. JBL also calls the Grip ‘drop-proof’, so it truly is a hardy lil’ fella.

• Design score: 5/5

(Image credit: Future)JBL Grip review: value

• Not exactly cheap for its size
• JBL Flip 7 offers superior overall sound-per-pound value
• Still, plenty of quality here

JBL has positioned the Grip right between the Clip 5 and Flip 7, pricing it at just under $100 / £90 / AU$130.

Now, that’s hardly super expensive, but it's not exactly cheap for a speaker of this size. The mightier, more detail-oriented Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 is on-sale pretty regularly for around the same cost, and the larger JBL Flip 6 can often be found at a similar price as well.

On top of that, the new Flip 7, which we awarded a glowing five-star review, feels like a slightly better value pick, at least in some territories. OK, in the US, it’s a full $50 more, but in the UK, you can pay just £20 more for the Flip 7, and experience significantly better audio, with rumbling low-end output and improved dynamics. You’ll also get more playtime in an only marginally larger, heavier package.

I want to give the Grip its flowers, though. It's still a solid sounding, aesthetically pleasing, and feature-rich Bluetooth speaker. And for less than $100 / £90, I think a lot of consumers will enjoy its soda-can dimensions, durable build, and fun lighting.

• Value score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future)Should you buy the JBL Grip?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Customizable lighting, strong EQ options, multi-speaker pairing.

4.5/5

Sound quality

Good overall clarity and balance, noticeable compression at higher volumes.

4/5

Design

Beautiful looks, top-class dust and waterproofing, durable construction.

5/5

Value

A quality speaker that’s not exactly expensive, some rivals provide better bang for your buck.

4/5

Buy it if...

You want a hardy audio companion to take out and about
One of the best things about the JBL Grip is its incredible durability and protection against the elements. It has IP68-rated dust and waterproofing, meaning it can take a dunking underwater without a hitch – perfect for shower or beach-side use!

You want a vibrant, stand-out speaker
In typical JBL fashion, this speaker comes in a range of eye-catching colors, including purple, red, and squad (camo). The ambient lighting only makes it stand out further from the crowd, making this a great pick for any colorful tech lovers.

Don't buy it if...

You want the best sound quality around
The JBL Grip sounds good overall, given its size, but it didn’t exactly blow me away, sonically speaking. If you want the best sound quality around, a small rival like the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation is our top pick.

You’re looking for a speaker to get the party going
This model has a 16W power output, so it's not ideal if you want a powerful speaker for parties. If that’s what you’re after, I’d go for a larger model like the LG xboom Grab – or even the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2, if you wanna go all out.

JBL Grip review: also consider

JBL Grip

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4

Edifier ES20

Price

$99.95 / £89.99 / AU$129

$99.99 / £89.99 / AU$149

$89.99 / £49.99 / AU$99.99

Weight

0.8lbs / 385g

0.9lbs / 420g

0.7lbs / 326g

Dimensions

2.5 x 6 x 2.6 inches / 64 x 153 x 65mm

4.1 x 3.8 x 3.8 inches / 104 x 95.3 x 95.3mm

3.6 x 3.7 x 2 inches / 90.4 x 93.7 x 49.7mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4

Bluetooth 5.2

Bluetooth 5.4

Battery life

14 hours

14 hours

15 hours

Speaker drivers

1x 16W full range driver

2 x 40mm active drivers; 2 x 46.1 x 65.2mm passive radiators

1x 43mm full-range driver

Waterproofing

IP68

IP67

IP67

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
If the JBL Grip is the seltzer can, then the UE Wonderboom 4 is the traditional 12 fl.oz / 330ml can of Coca Cola or mug of coffee. It’s shorter, stubbier, and similar to the Grip in many ways. It has a great waterproof rating, solid audio, and good battery life. Read our full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 review.

Edifier ES20
This one’s a little smaller, but I absolutely loved my time with it. The Edifier ES20 is a square-shaped small speaker that combines retro style with customizable ambient lighting. It dishes out surprisingly punchy audio, has IP67 dust and waterproofing, and even makes use of a noise-cancelling enabled mic for clear hands-free calls. Read our full Edifier ES20 review.

JBL Grip review: how I tested

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for two weeks
• Used at home and at Future Labs
• Tested using Spotify and Tidal

I spent more than two weeks testing out the JBL Grip, using it instead of my typical go-to Bluetooth speaker, the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2. I exhausted all of the Grip’s features, using a range of light customization options and listening across a variety of spaces.

For the most part, I used the Grip in my kitchen while cooking and cleaning – but I also used it while taking showers and for analytical listening at our music testing room at Future Labs. Here, I went through the TechRadar testing playlist, which features tracks from a range of genres. I also listened to songs from my personal library – via both Tidal and Spotify.

More generally, I’ve reviewed dozens of speakers, headphones, earbuds, soundbars, and more here at TechRadar, where I have a particular focus on audio-visual technology. I’ve tested most of the Grip’s competition, so I know what it takes for a speaker to stand out in a highly convoluted market.

• First reviewed: October 2025
• Read more about how we test

The JBL Grip is a fun entry into the audio giant’s Bluetooth speaker portfolio, and largely impresses with a top-tier design, attractive lighting, and good overall sound.

An update is giving existing Google Nest speakers some new colored lights, reminiscent of Gemini's branding.

SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2: review

If you’re looking for one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express cards, then you can’t go wrong with the SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2.

This recent release from storage giant SanDisk is officially licensed by Nintendo, so you don’t need to worry about any potential compatibility issues. It also boasts an attractive Mario red design that helps it stand out compared to the numerous non-gaming options on the market.

It even comes in cheaper than some unlicensed alternatives like the PNY microSD Express Card - at least for the time being - so you’re not getting ripped off for wanting a Nintendo-approved model. The card performed well in benchmarks, achieving an average read speed of 894.4 MB/s and write speed of 674.1 MB/s and even beating the manufacturer’s own claimed figures (though this is likely just the result of different testing conditions).

It was actually the fastest read speed among the models that I tested for comparison, which included the aforementioned PNY alternative and the officially licensed Samsung microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2.

(Image credit: Future)

It also impresses in the real world. As you would expect, given those strong benchmark results, I never experienced any noticeable loading time slowdowns while playing fast-paced games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza.

File transfer speeds on the console itself were good, too. My 60.5GB installation of Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition was copied to the micro SD Express card in a total of 14 minutes and 25 seconds, then moved back to the internal storage in 12 minutes and 1 second. A smaller game, the brand new Pokémon Legends: Z-A, moved to the card from the internal storage in 1 minute 48 seconds, then back in 1 minute 16 seconds.

This is one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories, and the only downside is your limited options when it comes to the card’s capacity. There’s just one 256GB model, which should be enough for most users, but not if you have a particularly large game collection. Hopefully, there will be some more variants on the way, but in the meantime, the great value Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card has you covered with its mega 1TB capacity.

SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2: Price and specs

Price

$59.99 / £49.99 / AU$79.95

Capacity

256GB

Quoted read speed

880 MB/s

Quoted write speed

650 MB/s

Benchmarked read speed

894.4 MB/s

Benchmarked write speed

674.1 MB/s

Should I buy the SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2?Buy it if...

You want a simple storage upgrade
The SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 is an easy choice. It’s officially licensed by Nintendo, so it will work perfectly with your console and doesn’t come in any more expensive than unlicensed options.

You need reliable performance
This model also performed well not only in my benchmark tests, but also in real-world use. Pick it up if you need a storage device you can rely on.

Don't buy it if...

You’re after larger or smaller sizes
Sadly, this card only comes in one capacity: 256GB. If you need something bigger or even smaller for your game library, then you need to choose something else.

Also consider

Not keen on the SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2? Check out these worthy alternatives.

SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2

Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card

PNY microSD Express Card

Price

$59.99 / £49.99 / AU$79.95

$58.98 / £59.45 / AU$119.34 (256GB)

$59.99 / £59.99 / around AU$100 (256GB)

Capacity

256GB

256GB / 512GB / 1TB

128GB / 256GB

Quoted read speed

880MB/s

900MB/s

890MB/s

Quoted write speed

650MB/s

600MB/s

550MB/s

Benchmarked read speed

894.4MB/s

831.97MB/s

893.74MB/s

Benchmarked write speed

674.1MB/s

310.03MB/s

713.42MB/s

Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card
The Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card was the first 1TB microSD Express model on the market, and it remains the best choice if you want a high-capacity option that performs well on Nintendo Switch 2.

Stay tuned for our full Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card review

PNY microSD Express Card
The PNY microSD Express Card isn’t licensed by Nintendo, but still performs well. It also has a cheaper 128GB capacity, so it could be the better pick if you have a small game library and only need a modest storage boost.

Stay tuned for our full PNY microSD Express Card review

How I tested the SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2

• Tested against other microSD Express Cards
• Using a range of benchmarks
• Real-world use also evaluated

I reviewed the SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 alongside three other Nintendo Switch 2-compatible microSD Express models, including the Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card and PNY microSD Express Card, for the purposes of side-by-side comparison.

I tested the sequential read and write speed of each card using a standardised benchmark via CrystalDiskMark in its default flash memory settings. In order to facilitate this, I relied on the Lexar Play Pro MicroSD Express Card Reader, which features active cooling via a fan.

To see the real-world performance, I used each card with my personal Nintendo Switch 2 - playing a range of games and timing different file transfers on the system itself.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed October 2025

The SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 is an easy and effective way to expand your system’s storage capacity.

The Parisians return to action after the international break with a tricky-looking home game against Le Racing.

More than 14,000 websites were seen distributing malware with the help of blockchain technology.

Taking control of a lighthouse wasn't on my video game bingo card for 2025, but that’s the thrust of Keeper, a puzzle adventure game from Double Fine Productions, with an emphasis on strange style and atmosphere over mind-warping challenges and obstacles.

Inspired by Creative Director Lee Petty’s musings during the COVID-19 pandemic, Keeper imagines a post-human island where metamorphosis has run riot with unusual lifeforms now occupying structures and environments, all built around a central mountain.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Xbox Series X
Available on: Xbox Series X, Series S, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PC, Steam
Release date: October 17, 2025

There’s a surrealist feeling here, as if Double Fine reached into the minds of artists Salvador Dali and Max Ernst, while drawing inspiration from some of the odder music videos from Radiohead and Gorillaz; this vibe is only given more weight from music that blends soft uplifting tracks with glitchy, darker tunes that wouldn’t be out place on an album like Kid A.

(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)

Petty describes the game style of Keeper as “weird, but chill” and I can’t disagree. There’s a sense of discovery and wonder as the adventure progresses, yet without the angst to constantly press on at speed.

Lighthouse leanings

(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)

This journey begins in a suitably bizarre manner: a run-down, dormant lighthouse suddenly erupts with light to rescue a seabird, who you soon discover is called Twig, from a cloud of dark and malevolent bat-like creatures.

Flipping to the player’s control, the lighthouse shakes awake, crumbles to the ground, and then sprouts a quartet of legs to shakily stumble down a rock outcrop and begin a journey to the top of the mountain, with Twig in tow.

And that’s about as much as Keeper reveals in its opening chapters.

There’s no narration, no spoken or written dialogue, or any other text to give voice to the characters or setting. Rather, the world react to the lighthouse and Twig's squawks, while an authored camera acts as your guide, being fixed in place from scene to scene, which ensures your attention is directed to important parts of the environment without being overtly obvious.

(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)

While I would have liked a bit more movement to better peer at some of the weirder and wonderful details of the island and its inhabitants, this approach works well and meant I never really got lost or turned around in what can be a visually bombastic setting.

Keeper also drip-feeds abilities and ways to interact with the environment, initially starting with the simple move to shine the lighthouse’s light independent of its direction of momentum, which has the satisfying effect of prompting some plants and fungi to bloom and sprout.

(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)Best bit

(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)

The game’s strong and striking art style and its gorgeous world, which you’ll traverse in increasingly creative ways, are the true highlights of Keeper. This is accompanied by a trippy but compelling soundtrack, evolving with each new area.

This quickly evolved into the ability to focus an intense beam of light onto surfaces, which melts away some obstacles and prompts reactions from onlooking critters. It scratches a very innate human itch to try things, and had me blasting light at all sorts of objects and outcroppings to see how the game would react.

The lighthouse then gains the albeit to dash, helping it traverse obstacles. And as the game progresses, there’ll be new ways to navigate the world; I don’t want to spoil any surprises, but it kept Keeper feeling fresh over some 39 chapters.

In general, the light is the main way the lighthouse can interact with the world, but Twig is not merely here for the ride and effectively serves as the lighthouse’s hands. When a little blue star emits from an object, be it mechanical or natural, Twig can be sent to interact with it, which switches the player into using a button, key, or joystick to have the seabird peck, pull, or turn the object.

(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)

It’s the combination of the lightbeam and Twig that holds the key to most of the Keeper’s puzzles. Starting off as simple one-stage puzzles, such as shining a light on an organic growth to get it to react, then sending Twig out to pull it out of the way, building to ones with multiple stages and interactions at once.

One of the more complex puzzles involved jumping between three points in time, in a rather creative and satisfying way to bring back life to a machine; oddly enough, it reminded me of the brilliant Effect and Cause mission in Titanfall 2.

(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)

None of these puzzles were particularly challenging. And I only had a couple of moments of head-scratching where the tight camera angles meant I missed a path to an object or interaction I needed to complete a puzzle.

There was one area where I had to get past a blocked tunnel, where I could see the solution, having followed previous interactions, but the game’s logic wasn’t playing out here. With mounting frustration, I’d hit my head, and indeed the lighthouse’s, against it multiple times, thinking I needed to perfectly time a suite of moments to blow away the blockage. Instead, I simply had to first take another path, which, given the camera angle and the color palette of the area, seemed more part of a wall than a navigable route.

Ultimately, I was expecting more complexity to some of these puzzles, so I would overthink potential solutions, rather than poke around in a few more corners, which, to Keeper’s credit, is exactly what I was supposed to do.

While I lack the patience to ponder really tricky puzzles, I do wish there were a little more challenge to the ones Keeper throws up.

Some are so simple that they almost feel like busywork, such as needing to rotate a thumbstick to crank a wheel rather than just pressing a button and having it done. Keeper just about keeps to the right side of this, but there are times when interactions can feel there just for the sake of it, rather than leading to interesting discoveries.

The world is enough

(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)

The absence of brain-wracking puzzles, or indeed any failstate for Keeper, is intentional, with Double Fine wanting the journey through the world to be front and center.

And what a world it is.

You start out crunching through a ruined and near-fully obscured seaside town – you can just make out a tarmac road now lost to eons of passing time – to traversing seaside paths, caves, forests, mini archipelagos, and towns and structures that wouldn’t look out of place in a Zelda game.

Adopting a cartoon-like aesthetic that reminds me of Disney Pixar movies, these areas are all gorgeous and richly detailed despite using the soft, painterly-esque textures. There’s a vibrant color palette here, too, which just begs Keeper to be played on an OLED display, such as those you’ll find on some of the best 4K TVs.

Naturally, light plays a big part here, with the beam of the lighthouse cutting through right shadows and intermingling with volumetric fog. But it's the way the light triggers a reaction from the flora and fauna that makes the environment feel alive.

(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)

There’s nearly always some creature on screen, be it Twig quietly chirping as the lighthouse enters a foreboding cave, to flocks of birds soaring across a blue sky, jellyfish floating in technicolour plateau, and hulkling beshelled creatures walking, flying, or swimming in the background.

Animation is also top-notch, from the scuttling of tiny creatures to Twig’s wonderfully expressive movements. I can’t help but be impressed at how Double Fine manages to inject so much character into the lighthouse, blending its scuttling insectoid legs with the jaunty wobble of its broken body and metal roof, which serves as at pseudo hat that shields the light-holding structure, itself able to convey a surprising amount of emotion in cutscenes.

Add in some detailed soundwork that even has the quiet clicks of gears moving as the lighthouse ‘looks’ around, and deft use of cinematic camera angles, and Keeper presents a an absorbing world I could just sit and stare at; there are some platforms and outcrops in the journey that exist solely for this with the camera pulling back and giving you a surreal landscape to drink in.

Surreal feel, Pixar plot

(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)

Keeper’s artistic presentation and aesthetic wear the theme of metamorphosis very much on its sleeve. The idea of how nature could evolve without human interference, then taken to a surreal level, isn’t subtle but is certainly eye-catching.

Yet for all the weirdness Double Fine touts, including one set piece where it felt like pseudo-70s psychedelia was being forced into my eyes, I found the core narrative of Keeper to be fairly normal. The story of an unexpected journey to reach a destination with a newfound companion, while avoiding an unknowable malevolent force and encountering strange but companionable characters on the way, could be picked from a Disney movie.

While there were some really fun and captivating set pieces across Keeper’s adventure, I could see the direction of the story and its beats from miles away. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as Keeper is more about the vibe of the world than an unfurling plot.

(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)

However, with inspiration from Dali and mycelial networks, I was hoping for a story that embraces bizarreness below the surface or had a more thought-provoking story than one that could be boiled down to being a buddy adventure.

There are some neat storytelling flairs, such as having details and context layered in achievement text; for example, you only find out that the antagonistic force that’s threatening the island is called The Wither via the first achievement and chapter titles – the latter you’ll only see in the chapter select menu.

But these don’t really go deep enough for my liking, and I was left wanting to know more about the island, the societies that inhabit it, and The Wither.

Hidden objects in Keeper unlock achievements that sprinkle in detail to the story. (Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)

It could be argued that any deeper elements of the story are open for interpretation, but I don’t think there’s enough environmental storytelling here for that to play out. I’m all for games being considered art, but I don’t think they work as vehicles for abstract interpretation in the same way as paintings.

None of this would matter if Keeper lent more into its puzzles and systems of interaction to present more of a challenge and depth to its world. Take Astro’s Playroom as a prime example: it hardly has a plot, but it throws up a bounty of puzzles and system-led interactions all wrapped up in an oddball world.

(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)

But Keeper eschews the puzzles for a more absorbing adventure, yet I feel it needs more of a story to hold that up.

A great example of this can be seen in 2012’s Journey, which tells its emotional story through its environment, music, and exploration, without the need for any text or puzzles.

None of this is to say Keeper fails at what it set out to do, especially as I enjoyed my time with it and happily jumped back into chapters to drink in its visual splendour.

(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)

Were this a decade ago, I’d have happily applauded a Pixar-style narrative and aesthetic in an adventure game.

But it's 2025, and my expectations from artistically focused games are higher than what Keeper delivers.

Ultimately, with all the turmoil at Xbox right now, I’m pleased to see Double Fine have the chance to create something esoteric and original, rather than a remaster of an existing game. And for that reason and more, Keeper is worth experiencing over a weekend to immerse yourself in its art, world, and creativity.

Should you play Keeper?Play it if...

You want a gorgeous, weird world to explore
Keeper’s art style is undeniably special, awash with colors and surreal flair that’s worth taking the time to take in. If you have an OLED TV, then it's a feast for the eyes.

You want an atmospheric game for the weekend Around seven hours long, Keeper is a game you can play over a weekend, yet not feel like you’ve been short-changed on the experience thanks to its solid pacing.

You have Xbox Game Pass
Keeper is a day-one release on Game Pass, so if you have a subscription to the service, it’s well worth checking out, especially as oddball creative games coming from a Microsoft-owned studio deserve to be experienced.

Don't play it if...

You want a thought-provoking story
Keeper’s main story has a lot of heart and emotion, but ultimately it feels a bit too Disney-esque despite the surreal setting. You’ll enjoy the story, just don’t expect it to stay with you.

You want a challenge
There’s absolutely no failstate in Keeper, and its puzzles are very straightforward. So if you’re looking for an adventure game that’ll work out your grey matter, you might want to look elsewhere.

Accessibility

Keeper has a selection of accessibility options that you can adjust to suit your needs. UI text size can be adjusted, and screen narration is also on offer. There’s also the option to adjust how frequently prompts pop up. There’s a standard option to tweak different volume settings, such as turning down the music but keeping the main sound up. At launch, Keeper will feature 26 interface languages.

Most importantly, there are fully remappable controls and the ability to accept alternative inputs, along with the standard options to tune aim sensitivity and vibration feedback.

Keeper can have a lot going on screen at once, which can be a challenge for people like me with somewhat compromised sight. There's not much that can be done here, but the pacing of the game means you have time to take in the details and spot areas of interest at your leisure.

(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)How I reviewed Keeper

I played Keeper to completion, over around seven hours, which involved poking around in corners for secret paths and achievements. As a fairly linear game, there aren’t any extra modes or features to tap into, with Keeper all being about its main story experience.

I reviewed Keeper on an Xbox Series X connected to an LG C1 OLED TV running in its gaming mode, playing with a standard Xbox Wireless Controller. There are no performance or graphics settings to choose from, and I simply ran Keeper on my setup as it came, with no adjustments, and got a rather smooth experience.

On the audio side, I played Keeper using a Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal Xbox headset for the course of the game, which worked well with the soundscape and music the game pumped out.

First reviewed October 2025

Anno 117: Pax Romana serves up a well-done but familiar formula and has pulled me back into the series, hard.

Keeper is awash with style but lacks a little in deeper substance to captivate me through some seven hours of exploration.

There's been something of a narrative that new Prime Video movie Hedda is simply a Saltburn-style retelling of Henrik Ibsen's classic play Hedda Gabler, but that doesn't remotely do it justice. Those who think the gender-swapped characters and LGBTQIA+ romance are the most interesting things about it aren't digging deeply enough.

If there's anyone that knows a thing or 35 about sapphic movies, it's me. I report on them every chance I get, and if I'm not doing that, I've likely worked Carol, Ammonite or Bound into conversation. I'll confess that Hedda caught my interested because of Nina Hoss – who played Cate Blanchett's fictional wife in Tár – but little did I know what a treat I was in for.

Of course this film isn't perfect. Considering how messy Hedda is as a character alone, it was never going to be. But there's no doubt that this is the strongest entry in director Nia DaCosta's body of work to date. She received an unjustified amount of flack for The Marvels and the 2021 version of Candyman, and I hope the same doesn't happen here.

We almost need to read between the lines to fully see the brilliance of what Hedda has to offer, and that's half the fun. A friend described it to me as a whodunnit mystery where you already know who the killer is (instead you're searching for the motive), and I think that's a fair assessment.

It's sexy, scandalous and as wild as you'd hope it to be, but it's also controlled, pulling back when it needs to. When it comes to creating a memorable dinner party, that's exactly the balance of tension that you're looking for.

Hedda is more than simply sex and scandal – it's a moving mirror

If you're unfamiliar with Ibsen's original story, this is what we're dealing with: Hedda (Tessa Thompson) is an unhappy newlywed, feeling like she's being stopped from being her true self. When her husband George (Tom Bateman) wants a new position at work, Hedda decides to throw an extravagant party so George can invite boss Professor Greenwood (Finbar Lynch) and try to seal the deal.

During the evening, George's rival Eileen (Hoss) arrives to poach Professor Greenwood for the same role, prompting the party to fall into chaotic disarray. Eileen's writing partner and lover Thea (Imogen Poots) tries to keep her on the straight and narrow, but Hedda takes her meddling too far.

The most satisfying part of Hedda is how effortlessly DaCosta pulls off dangerous power play dynamics between women, with the man's world around them becoming peripheral in the process. Thompson's Hedda isn't a woman that you'll like, or who even seems to consciously know what she wants.

She's acting on impulse, and everyone around her feels the consequences of the decisions she makes. This means a hell of a dinner party for us, bringing long-buried tension and trauma to the surface, where they explode onto whoever is nearby. That's usually Eileen and Thea, and boy is their romantic triangle a complex one.

Where the structure falters, the cast hold it up

Tessa Thompson, Nina Hoss and Imogen Poots in Hedda. (Image credit: Prime Video)

The core structure of Hedda isn't playing to shock factor like Saltburn, and it arguably could have deepened and ultilized the intimacy and pure romance between the three women a lot further. But even with these small faults, our cast deliver something to be in awe of.

While Thompson's accent is… interesting in the Prime Video film, her conviction and gumption can't be faulted. It's not easy to make us completely devoid of empathy for a character while still making them likeable, and she maintains the balance at all times. Poots plays an effective counterpart as anxious Thea, calling out Hedda's manipulation like she's shouting into the wind.

For me, it's Hoss who gives the performance of the movie. There's an exceptional scene after Eileen gets drunk and swims in the lake, entering the drawing room to talk to her male rivals while her dress is wet and see-through. She tells explicit stories on top form, and by the time she has them metaphorically eating out of her hand, the dress is dry.

This is the level of detail that's worth paying attention to, making the overall effect of Hedda as filling as a sumptuous cake, caressing every possible details of humanity to serve up an ugly truth worth devouring. It's tough to make odious people appealing, but we love to watch when it works (that's why reality TV is so popular).

Without spoiling anything, DaCosta also changes the ending of Ibsen's play. With one simple tweak, she removes sapphic media stereotyping that Hedda could have easily fallen prey to, and that alone is a fantastic way to sum up what she has achieved.

We've all had enough of classics being adapted, but when they hold a mirror up to who we've become and what we're capable of so deftly, who are we to look away?

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Hedda is more than the original play or a Saltburn wannabe, and Nia DaCosta's craft makes all the difference