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When I booted up last year’s tough-as-nails and long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong, I knew I had to focus up and lock in – this is a Metroidvania that doesn’t go easy on you. I loved it. At the same time, you don’t always want to settle down for an evening of gaming, knowing you’re going to be turned into a fine paste for hours on end. After the path of pain I willingly trudged through in Silksong, I’m thankful for a brilliant little gem called MIO: Memories in Orbit.

It’s a Metroidvania that certainly offers up its own level of challenge, but this is a simpler, friendlier, and more pensive affair, one that I’m sure anyone with a love of the genre will find charming, intriguing, and entertaining.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
Release date: January 20, 2026

Developer Douze Dixièmes is clearly a team that knows its chosen genre well, ticking all the boxes you’d expect across an adventure that lasts a dozen hours or so at a minimum. However, much more awaits beyond the game’s first ending, and I was driven to uncover more of the story, face the game’s hardest bosses and conquer the most demanding platforming sections.

This is the way the world ends

(Image credit: Focus Home Interactive)

You play as Mio, a nimble and fleet-footed robot, who must explore The Vessel and prevent this dilapidated AI-controlled spaceship that serves as home to a community of charming robots from a complete shutdown. To do so, you have to partake in that most classic of video game quests: collect the five MacGuffins that are scattered in the far corners of the facility and bring them together to breathe life back into the system.

Best bit

(Image credit: Focus Home Interactive)

Up until you enter the Vaults in the bowels of The Vessel, MIO: Memories in Orbit has been a fairly tame and breezy Metroidvania. It's here, though, where the game ramps up the challenge and asks you to make use of all the traversal abilities you've acquired so far. Plus, for the lore enjoyers, elements of the story start to become clearer, and enlightening secrets are revealed.

As you explore, the familiar language of the Metroidvania is all around you, showing you how Mio’s skills and abilities will grow and improve. These are the grappling points you’ll be able to latch onto later. Here are the doors that only open with a certain attack. There’s the chasm that can only be crossed once you can glide. Anyone with a good amount of experience with the genre will find Mio comfortable and understandable at a glance.

At first, I found this made the game a bit too relaxed for my liking, and I feel that other fellow veterans of the genre may also react this way to the game’s opening hours. Sure, I was still enjoying my time winding my way through the corridors of The Vessel, bashing corrupted robots into pieces, and breezing my way past the obstacles in my way, but I was hoping things would escalate.

What helped put off some of those initial worries was the fact that The Vessel is such a fun and fascinating place to explore. From the grandiose Metropolis with its gold-plated buildings and imposing architecture, to the overgrown gardens rife with threatening foliage that reaches out to grab you with its red tendrils, there’s an impressive variety to this constructed and isolated world floating through space.

And it looks gorgeous too: the vibrant colors and graphic novel-esque hand-drawn design make the game pop. Mio herself is a funky-looking character, too, with a swish cape and flowing strands leaking out the back of her head like hair. I especially like the general robots that inhabit The Vessel with their big blocky heads, stuck-on goggle-eyes, and expressive waves to Mio as she passes.

Special shoutout should go to the music as well, which does an incredible job of setting the tone and creating an atmosphere in each biome of The Vessel. Understated and ethereal choral singing mixes with funky electronic bops and pulse-racing boss music to create a diverse soundtrack full of originality and wonder. One particular section genuinely made me just stop and enjoy the music for a moment because it was so perfectly suited to the environment.

Flow state

(Image credit: Focus Home Interactive)

Eventually, you reach the mechanical bowels of The Vessel in its vaults, one of the most engaging areas to explore, where some of the toughest platforming challenges are found as you avoid lasers, spiked rollers, and fiery pits. And here’s where MIO started to come into its own and remind me of another genre great: Ori and the Blind Forest.

Here, you can combine the various moves you’ve unlocked to string together double jumps, wall climbs, glides, and other traversal abilities to explore new locations, zip through tight sections of platforming, and survive testing combat challenges. From here on, I had countless joyous moments of entering that wonderful flow state and emerging on the other side with immense satisfaction or in awe at a new location I’d discovered (or ingeniously implemented shortcut I’d unlocked).

Yet, while exploration and platforming are where the game excels, combat is where it slumps a little. It’s never bad, but it is missing a spark or idea to elevate it. I think it’s because you simply mash a combo string of three attacks and, well, that’s about it. Yes, there’s a dodge, and yes, you can use the Hairpin power to grapple towards enemies and keep combos going in midair, but it’s all just to continue that one-two-three punch again and again.

(Image credit: Focus Home Interactive)

Modifiers you buy using the ‘Nacre’ currency dropped by defeating enemies give you a chance to optimise your build and personalise your setup to suit your preferred play style, but there are limits to how many you can equip. The majority only offer light tinkering at most, too, rather than anything that meaningfully expands your offensive options.

For example, you can mark enemies to receive more damage after a successful dodge, or add a heavy attack after a grapple. It helps a little. And I did find a few fights where it excels. Combat, though, is ultimately competent and serviceable, if repetitive.

It doesn’t diminish everything else I like about MIO: Memories in Orbit, though. It doesn’t always turn out this way, but developers with a reverence for the Metroidvania genre have gone out and made an excellent Metroidvania of their own – one that I encourage fans of the genre (or just great games in general) put at the top of their must-play list.

Should you play MIO: Memories in Orbit?Play it if…

You’re looking for your next great Metroidvania
Fans of the genre – with the likes of Ori and the Blind Forest, Nine Sols and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown on their completed list – should move this to the top of their pile

Atmosphere, story, and exploration are a priority
MIO: Memories in Orbit offers a unique, pretty, and enigmatic world to explore, with fun and stimulating exploration mechanics that reward curiosity, and a story with multiple layers to uncover.

Don’t play it if…

You want a challenge on the level of Silksong
There are spikes of higher difficulty and challenge, but for the most part, MIO is an accessible and manageable Metroidvania. So, if you’re here for a brutal challenge, you may come away slightly disappointed.

You prefer a more directed experience
MIO is clear about your overall objective and does nudge you in the right direction often, but like most Metroidvania games, it’s fairly hands-off when it comes to giving you a specific objective marker or direction to aim.

Accessibility

MIO: Memories in Orbit has a few but limited accessibility options that are mostly focused on the game's difficulty. These come in the form of three assists. One makes bosses easier over time by reducing their health every time you die, a pacifist option stops all enemies (except bosses) from attacking you, and the final one gives you more health after you stand on the ground for a brief period of time.

Outside of that, controls can be fully remapped, which I would encourage to more easily reach various abilities during challenging boss fights and platforming sections. Also, subtitles can be toggled on or off.

How I reviewed MIO: Memories in Orbit

I played MIO: Memories in Orbit for around 17 hours on a PlayStation 5 Pro on a Samsung S90C OLED TV using a DualSense Wireless Controller. A handful of hours of my playtime were also spent using the PlayStation Portal, which worked very well for this style of game.

Audio was played through a Samsung HW-Q930C soundbar, and I’d suggest a good-quality soundbar or a pair of headphones to fully appreciate the game’s excellent audio.

Although I reached an ending to the game in about 14 hours, there are additional areas to explore, bosses to fight, and secrets to uncover should you wish to go for 100% completion, which the developers say can take anywhere between 25 and 40 hours.

First reviewed January 2026

Offering a mysterious and gorgeous world to explore, smooth and creative platforming challenges, and competent if rudimentary combat, MIO: Memories in Orbit is a stellar Metroidvania that fans of the genre need to play.

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As an all-in-one platform, HubSpot CRM centralizes all your marketing, sales, customer service, and content management needs with a focus on inbound techniques. The platform is considered to be one of the best CRM platforms on the market. Over 30,000 organizations across 90 countries have adopted HubSpot CRM, making it an exceedingly popular choice for companies seeking the best CRM for small businesses.

After putting the CRM through its paces, I've found it to be a robust and intuitive solution for organizing contacts, tracking deals, and gaining visibility into the sales process. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, with helpful features like email tracking, meeting scheduling, and live chat that streamline communication with leads and customers.

At TechRadar Pro, our business software experts don’t just read feature lists - we live in the platforms we review. To evaluate HubSpot, our testers spent dozens of hours setting up real-world sales pipelines, importing complex datasets, and stress-testing the automation workflows that define the platform. Our reviews are 100% independent. We never accept payment for product rankings, ensuring that our verdict on HubSpot CRM - both its strengths and weaknesses - is based solely on hands-on experience and real-world value for businesses.

On the subject of weaknesses, if there was one thing to say against HubSpot CRM, it’s the fact that the software can get quite expensive as you scale your business. While the free offering and generous entry-level plans offer a great starting point for new businesses, it’s easy to end up paying for things you don’t need as your business grows.

HubSpot CRMs core capabilities

HubSpot CRM delivers the essential features I expect from a customer relationship management system. I can store up to 1 million contacts and companies in the CRM for free due to some generous cloud storage, with each record capturing important details like contact info, website, social media profiles, industry, revenue, and more. When you add a contact, HubSpot automatically populates key details about their company, saving data entry time.

You can add up to 1 million contacts on the free plan. (Image credit: HubSpot)

Segmenting contacts into lists based on any criteria is simple with HubSpot CRM's powerful filtering tools. I can easily create dynamic lists that automatically update as contact properties change. For example, I set up a list of contacts from companies with 500+ employees who have visited my pricing page in the last month.

The deals dashboard is easy to navigate. (Image credit: HubSpot)

Deals and tasks keep things organized as you manage leads through the sales pipeline. I can create deal stages that mirror my sales process, drag and drop deals from one stage to the next, and easily see the value and quantity of deals in each stage. Tasks ensure critical to-dos never slip through the cracks. I can assign tasks to team members, associate them with specific deals or contacts, and set due dates.

For those who rely strongly on inbound, HubSpot CRM's built-in prospecting tool is useful for lead generation, identifying potential customers who are engaging with your website for the first time. It shows me which companies visited my site, even if they haven't filled out a form yet, and provides key details about those organizations pulled from HubSpot's database. I can review prospects and add promising leads to the CRM with one click.

Reporting features give me a clear picture of my sales pipeline and team performance. The dashboard displays my deal forecast, number of deals created and closed, productivity metrics, and more. I can dig into reports to see deals won and lost, sales leaderboards, and individual rep performance. Reports are easy to filter and customize.

Email tracking and templates help my team communicate efficiently with leads and customers. I can see who opened an email, clicked a link, or downloaded an attachment, then follow up accordingly. Templated emails save time on common messages. The Gmail and Outlook integrations allow me to log emails to the CRM and access templates, tracking, and more without leaving my inbox.

Live chat is another channel for real-time conversations with website visitors. I can configure targeted messages to specific web pages or audience segments. AI chatbots help qualify leads and schedule meetings 24/7. All chat conversations are automatically saved in the CRM.

Finally, the mobile app gives me access to key CRM data and features on the go. I can look up contacts, update deals, track emails, and more from my smartphone. This is invaluable when traveling or walking into a meeting.

Beyond the essentials, HubSpot CRM includes some handy tools that enhance productivity. The email integration with Gmail and Outlook is fantastic - I can track email opens, log sent emails to contact records, and create new contacts directly from my inbox. The meeting scheduler makes it painless for prospects to book time on my calendar, eliminating the usual back-and-forth. I also get a lot of value from the task reminders and automated workflows that keep me on top of follow-ups and outreach.

While the free HubSpot CRM is generous with its features, upgrading to one of the paid Sales Hub plans unlocks even more advanced capabilities like sales automation, predictive lead scoring, smart notifications, custom reporting, and more. But for many small businesses and sales teams, the free version provides the core tools needed to organize customer data and manage deals efficiently in one centralized system.

How easy is HubSpot CRM to use?

From the moment I first logged into HubSpot CRM, I found the dashboard to be clean, well-organized, and easy to understand. Whether working on contacts, deals, tasks, or reports, the layout and controls remain familiar and intuitive. The main navigation menu is clearly labeled and logically structured, making it simple to find the tools and data I need. The design consistency reduces cognitive load and allows me to move between various areas of the CRM without having to relearn the interface each time.

HubSpot CRM provides a wide range of options for tailoring the platform to my specific needs, but it does so in a way that is approachable and straightforward. I can easily add custom fields to contact and deal records, create personalized views, and build custom reports and dashboards without needing extensive technical skills. The drag-and-drop interface for building workflows and deal pipelines is particularly user-friendly, enabling me to automate processes and visualize my sales funnel with minimal effort.

When it comes to onboarding and training, HubSpot CRM offers a wealth of resources to help new users get up to speed quickly. The HubSpot Academy provides a comprehensive library of courses, certifications, and tutorials that cover every aspect of the CRM. I found the courses to be well-structured, engaging, and practical, with a mix of videos, quizzes, and hands-on exercises. The in-app guidance and tooltips are also helpful for discovering new features and understanding best practices.

It's worth noting that HubSpot CRM's ease of use extends beyond the core functionality. The platform's integration with tools like Gmail, Outlook, and Google Calendar is seamless, allowing me to manage my email and schedule without leaving the CRM. The mobile app is also well-designed and provides access to all the essential features, enabling me to stay productive on the go.

Overall, HubSpot CRM really sets the standard for ease of use in the CRM space. Its intuitive interface, consistent design, and customization options make it accessible to users of all skill levels. The comprehensive onboarding resources and rapid time-to-proficiency ensure that teams can start realizing value from the platform quickly. While there may be a learning curve for some of the more advanced features, HubSpot's commitment to usability makes the journey smoother and more enjoyable than with many other CRM systems I've used.

HubSpot CRM integrations

You can integrate HubSpot with the business tools you already use - like Gmail. (Image credit: HubSpot)

HubSpot CRM offers a wide range of pre-built integrations with popular business applications, making it easy to connect your customer data with the rest of your tech stack. The HubSpot App Marketplace is a treasure trove of integrations, with over 1,000 apps across various categories like marketing, sales, customer service, and more. I was able to quickly find and set up integrations with Mailchimp, Slack, and Zendesk. Setting up these integrations was a breeze — most required just a few clicks and minimal configuration.

While the pre-built integrations cover a wide range of popular apps, there may be instances where a specific integration is not available out-of-the-box. In such cases, HubSpot's integration with Zapier is a major lifesaver. Zapier is an automation platform that allows for connecting HubSpot CRM with over 3,000 apps. I was able to set up a custom workflow that automatically creates a task in my project management tool whenever a new lead is added in HubSpot, all without writing a single line of code.

For more complex integration needs, HubSpot provides a robust API that allows for custom integrations. API documentation is comprehensive and includes code examples in various programming languages. I also haven't encountered any significant issues with API performance. On the rare occasion when I did need assistance, HubSpot's support team was responsive and helpful in resolving the issue promptly.

Beyond all this, I also appreciate HubSpot's focus on data sync performance. The platform uses a two-way sync that ensures data consistency across integrated apps. Changes made in HubSpot are automatically reflected in the connected tools. I don’t have to worry about manually updating information in multiple places or dealing with conflicting data. Data sync capabilities extend beyond just syncing contact and deal information. For example, the platform also allows for syncing of marketing assets, such as email templates and landing pages.

How good is HubSpot customer support?

When implementing a new CRM system, having access to responsive and knowledgeable customer support is crucial. During my experience with HubSpot CRM, I appreciated the variety of support channels offered here.

However, it's worth noting that the level of support can vary depending on your subscription tier. While all users have access to the Knowledge Base and Community Forums, live support channels are limited to Professional and Enterprise tiers.

With a Professional or Enterprise subscription, I have access to phone, email, and chat support. The support representatives are friendly, knowledgeable, and always willing to go the extra mile to resolve my issues or answer my questions. The average first response time for support inquiries is impressively short, often within an hour or two for email or chat and immediate for phone support.

Beyond live support, HubSpot offers an extensive library of self-service resources. The HubSpot Academy is a standout, providing a wealth of courses, lessons, and certifications on every aspect of the CRM. I've found the courses to be well-structured, informative, and engaging, with practical examples and hands-on exercises. The Knowledge Base is another powerful self-service resource, offering a searchable database of articles, tutorials, and FAQs.

When these resources prove insufficient, HubSpot also maintains an active community forum where users can ask questions, share best practices, and learn from each other. This is a great place to ask questions that haven’t been covered in the other self-help resources. Personally, I've found the community to be welcoming, knowledgeable, and eager to help.

When it comes to overall customer satisfaction, HubSpot consistently receives high marks. The company is transparent about its customer satisfaction scores (CSAT), which typically fall between 75% and 85%. This is a strong indicator that the majority of users are happy with the support they receive.

HubSpot’s AI capabilities

Artificial intelligence is everywhere - even if you haven’t realized it yet - and many CRMs are competing to outdo each other in terms of their AI functionality. HubSpot's AI tools include its AI-driven sales assistant and predictive lead scoring, both of which work to streamline sales processes and provide actionable insights for employees.

Although using AI can sound somewhat complicated at first, HubSpot makes ease of use a priority for its AI features. HubSpot's AI is designed to be user-friendly and integrated into the platform, making it accessible even for those without a technical background.

Also, in terms of recent additions, HubSpot has now fully integrated its Breeze AI suite, going beyond simple chatbots. Breeze Agents can now autonomously research prospects, summarize entire deal histories, and even draft personalized social media content based on your CRM data.

HubSpot CRM: Plans and pricing

Plan

Free

Starter

Professional

Enterprise

Price

$0/user/month

$15/user/month

$90/user/month

$150/user/month

Best for

Small businesses or startups testing the waters

Growing businesses seeking basic marketing and sales tools

Experienced teams needing advanced features

Large enterprises with complex requirements

Features

Basic CRM functionality; Contact management; Email tracking

Email marketing; Sales automation; Content management tools

Omnichannel marketing automation; Custom reporting; Sales analytics

Custom solutions; Advanced security features; Multi-domain reporting

Limitations

Limited automation and no advanced features.

No workflow automation or advanced reporting.

Significant price jump from Starter.

an be costly for smaller organizations.

While it may not be the cheapest option on the market, HubSpot offers a compelling blend of features, flexibility, and scalability that justifies its pricing. That said, prices can add up quickly when you’re on one of the higher-tier plans, so you’d best stick to the features you need.

Unlike many other CRM providers, HubSpot actually offers a fully functional CRM at no cost, with unlimited users and up to a million contacts. This free tier includes essential features like contact and deal management, email tracking, and live chat. It's a great way for businesses to get started with a CRM without any investment.

Once your business has outgrown the free CRM, you can choose between a range of plans across different modules like the Sales Hub, the Service Hub, or the Marketing Hub. Each plan adds on to the capabilities of the free CRM with enhanced features unique to that module.

For example, Sales Hub Starter includes support for multiple currencies, along with eSign software and the ability to perform simple automations. Similarly, Marketing Hub Starter offers access to live chat integrations and email marketing support. Prices usually start from $15/user/month for the Starter plan for each Hub, going all the way up to several thousand dollars per month for enterprise customers.

For businesses looking to bundle multiple HubSpot products, the Customer Platform offers a discounted price that packs together essential features from the Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, Service Hub, CMS Hub, and Operations Hub into a single plan. This bundle is ideal for enterprise businesses that want to leverage the full power of HubSpot's ecosystem.

For new customers, HubSpot offers a generous 14-day trial, plus discounts and bundles that can provide significant savings. For example, they offer a 25% discount for startups and a 40% discount for nonprofits.

It's also worth noting that in a major shift for 2026, HubSpot has moved away from its previous all-or-nothing seat pricing. You can now mix and match Core Seats (for general users) and Professional/Enterprise Seats (for power users), making it more cost-effective to scale a large team.

HubSpot CRM review: Final verdict

After thoroughly evaluating HubSpot CRM across multiple criteria, I believe that this is a solid CRM for small and medium-sized businesses, offering a robust set of features for contact management, deal tracking, and sales automation.

HubSpot’s user-friendly interface and design make it easy for teams to learn, with responsive live channels and comprehensive self-service resources to iron out any hiccups during initial adoption. I also liked the amount of flexibility offered in integrating the platform with other workplace productivity tools, with options ranging from built-in connectors to iPaaS vendors to a custom API.

However, while this is a solid platform for businesses of any size, it’s not without its shortcomings. For example, the existence of support tiers makes it impossible to receive live assistance as an entry-level paid subscriber. But on higher-tier plans, prices can quickly add up depending on the number of users, making the partnership less than sustainable.

Still, HubSpot CRM should fit the needs of most small-to-medium enterprises, especially with its generous free plan that offers near-unparalleled value in the world of CRMs. For larger organizations, thorough cost calculation is necessary to prevent overspending on unnecessary licenses or features.

HubSpot CRM FAQIs HubSpot really free? What’s the catch?

Well, there’s no catch, per se, but, as always, you should read the fine print. While the core CRM is actually free for an unlimited number oif users and up to one million contacts, the "catch" is that more advanced features, such as advanced automation, custom reporting, and predictive lead scoring, are locked behind paid plans. If you want to access moire advanced features, you may have to fork out for Sales Hub or Marketing Hub - add-ons to the core CRM, which do come with a fee. Having said that, while the functionality of the core plan may be limited compared to the paid tiers, the free version remains generous.

What is the difference between HubSpot CRM and the other HubSpot "Hubs"?

Within the HubSpot ecosystem, the CRM is the free, foundational database. The other "Hubs" are paid subscriptions that add specialized tools and advanced functionality on top of the CRM. For example, Marketing Hub adds email marketing and lead nurturing workflows, while Sales Hub adds sales automation and e-signatures.

What integrations does HubSpot CRM offer?

HubSpot has a vast App Marketplace with over 1,000 pre-built integrations with popular tools like Gmail, Outlook, Slack, and Zendesk. For more complex needs, it offers an API for custom integrations and connects with automation platforms like Zapier.

What are some common use cases for HubSpot CRM?

Common use cases for HubSpot include managing and segmenting contacts, tracking deals through the sales funnel, automating follow-ups, analyzing sales team performance, and providing a centralized platform for sales and marketing teams to collaborate.

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